The member representing Ibadan North State Constituency I in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. (Dr.) Chief (Mrs.) Olufunke Comforter Adeniyi-Olajide, has identified skills acquisition, educational scholarships and health outreaches as key interventions helping women, widows and young girls become self-reliant.
Adeniyi-Olajide, popularly known as Hon. Comforter, spoke in an interview with Ibadan City Announcer on women empowerment and efforts to improve the welfare of women in the state.
The lawmaker, who chairs the House Committee on Women Affairs and Community Development, said policies and programmes were in place to support women and young girls, adding that she had personally initiated some interventions within her constituency.
She disclosed that she recently partnered with the Kunle Awotikun Foundation on an empowerment programme, describing the collaboration as part of a series of initiatives aimed at equipping women with skills they could use to earn a living.
According to her, participants receive training in more than 14 skills, including makeup, soap making, baking, catering, arts and crafts, computer applications and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
“The aim is to bring out the best in young women and widows,” she said, adding that beneficiaries had shown excitement about the opportunity to learn and improve their livelihoods.
Hon. Comforter said similar skills acquisition programmes had also been organised at the local government level across the state’s 33 local government areas.
She commended the First Lady of Oyo State, Engr. Tamunominini Olufunke Makinde, for complementing Governor Seyi Makinde’s efforts to empower women and improve their welfare.
The lawmaker also praised the wife of the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs.) Ajibola Ajibike Lawal, for recently launching a programme that provided women and widows with financial assistance, educational support, health care and foodstuffs.
Speaking further on her personal interventions, Hon. Comforter said she provides scholarships for young girls and organises health outreaches for women in her constituency.
She explained that her partnership with the Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA) was intended to make women’s health a priority and improve access to health care within her ward and community.
Beyond women empowerment, the lawmaker said she had delivered other constituency projects, including a security post and several boreholes, to address residents’ needs.
She attributed the delivery of the projects to close collaboration with the Executive Chairman of the local government, Oluwasegun Onala, and the party chairman, Comrade Mustapha.
Describing their relationship as one built on teamwork, she said their collective efforts were directed at bringing relief to residents. She also acknowledged the contributions of her apex team to the smooth implementation of projects.
Hon. Comforter, who said she was seeking a second term on the platform of the Alliance for a Progressive Movement (APM), described women empowerment as a shared priority among herself and other candidates of the party.
She linked the agenda to Governor Seyi Makinde, whom she described as contesting the 2027 presidential election on the APM platform, and Hon. Abimbola Adekanmbi, whom she identified as the party’s governorship candidate backed by Makinde.
The lawmaker pledged to expand her interventions if returned to the House of Assembly.
“If I am elected for a second term, by God’s grace, I will do more,” she said.
