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Edo women on Friday, stormed the University of Benin Sports Complex for a one day summit, to celebrate women and their contributions to the achievements of The Edo State Government.

The Edo Women Summit, is part of the events lined up to mark the 3rd year anniversary of the Obaseki led administration.The event kicked off with a march past from the Nigerian Police Force that held viewers spell bound.

Thereafter, the novelty match between female teams that saw the First lady take the first kick. The match which lasted forty minutes ended in an 8-0 win for the Edo Female Youth Footbal Club against the Focus Football Club.

Another match past followed, this time the women from ⁹the 18 LGA's in the State were competing. The women dressed in colourful costumes spiced the match with dance and rich display of their cultural heritage, whilst waving four fingers of each hand in the air to show their support for the Governor in his bid for second term.

"We are here to celebrate good governance and appreciate the governor and his deputy for celebrating women in the state.Edo has produced one of the best performing government in the country going by its support for women initiative".

She announced that the governor had agreed to support the appointment of more women into his administration through the propose appointment of women as Senior Special Assistants from across the 18 local government Councils of the state.

"Last year the governor appointed women as Special Assistants on Gender, he has also promised to appoint Senior Special Assistants on Gender across the 18 LGA before the end of the year".

The first lady however appealed that women were given special consideration during campaigns and elections for effective support.

The Governor, speaking at the event, said most of the successes made by his administration were due to efforts of women in his cabinet."The areas we have made the most improvements had been headed by women. in the areas of Basic education, housing, Health, Child Right laws, reducing Human trafficking and irregular migration, had been chaired by women".

He said with the Edo jobs, Edo production centre, Edo BEST, also headed by women, there would no longer be thuggery in the state in the nearest future.

He also commended the level of mobilisation of the women from across the state to the summit saying their willingness to identify with programs had opened up the political space in the state.

"We are here to acknowledge your support and we will continue to support you.Politics have started and we acknowledge your role. We will never use you again and dump you. We will acknowledge your role and give you the positions you deserve. Women must be at all levels of our government and women must chose their representative".

The summit had in attendance women from all walks of life, such as the Edo women drivers, lady mechanics, Edo Best teachers, Fida, girls guild, and the Market women association. Women from other ethnic groups like the Kalabari, Ijaw, Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa were also in attendance.

Prices were given to all participating groups,with awards and cash Prizes to Ikpoba okha women,Orhiomwon, and Igueben LGAs who came first, second and third positions in the match past respectively.

Ten women also went home with live chickens courtesy the Edo women for Agriculture and Enterprise an initiative of the wife of Edo state Governor which had empowed over two thousand women in Edo State in poultry farming.

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