All is set for the twenty-first National Women Conference, of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials, COWLSO.

Six thousand participants are expected to attend the event which would be hyprid physically and virtually from October twenty-six to twenty-eight at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to Wife of Lagos State Governor, Doctor Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, at a news briefing, the theme of this year’s conference “Awake” was carefully selected.

She says it is aimed at equipping participants with the skills and information to cope and stay above board, empowering women and youth to contribute positively to the development of the State and Nigeria at large.

The governor’s wife said the conference would be streamed live on different COWLSO social media platforms to give opportunity for the public to participate in the conference.

Outlining some activities slated for the event, the First Lady disclosed that women who have made a positive impact would be honoured as inspirational women of the year, while the maiden inspirational youths of the year category will be introduced this year.

She also announced that there will be COWLSO Virtual and Physical Markets for participants to visit and buy various items at greatly reduced prices from the accredited vendors, just as free legal clinics and medical care would be available.

On other activities, Sanwo-Olu said: “This year, our Gala Night will return and it promises to be a bumper package mixed with a potpourri of entertainment and raffle draws that will bring about exciting prizes for lucky participants.

“As part of the pre-Conference preparations, last week, we had a fellowship and prayer service both at the Chapel and Mosque in Lagos House, Ikeja. On Saturday, 16th October 2021, we shall embark on an Awareness Walk, with the theme: “Awake! Stop the Violence!”

Disclosing that Nigeria’s First Lady, Dr. Aisha Buhari is scheduled to declare the conference open, Sanwo-Olu added that Ondo State Governor, Arakunri Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, will be the Special Guest of Honour at the opening ceremony while Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, is slated as Special Guest of Honour at the closing ceremony.

Also speaking, Deputy COWLSO Chairman and wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat, commended the quality of vision and leadership provided by the First Lady, saying the purposeful initiatives had translated into welfare and socio-economic empowerment of women, the boy child, girl child, as well as the vulnerable in the State.

In her opening remarks, Chairperson of NWC Planning Committee, Nkem Sofela said members had worked assiduously in the last couple of months to firm up all necessary arrangements to ensure that the 21st COWLSO Conference is a huge success.

The press conference ended with an awareness walk by the First Lady and COWLSO members in Alausa, Ikeja.