(Ilorin)
The Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ilorin, Prof. Gafar Ijaiya, has advised government at all levels in Nigeria to look beyond the economic empowerment of citizens and empower them politically, psychologically and socially as well.
Ijaiya, who stated this at the 2020 Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) Week Celebrations in Ilorin explained that government must adopt all the four layers of empowerment to achieve all-round development.
The don, who was the Guest Speaker on the occasion, pointed out that lack of psychological empowerment of the people was seen in the distribution and collection of palliatives to cushion the effect of lockdown brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic. He noticed while some people collected more than what was assigned to them, others were left with little or nothing in some cases.
Speaking on the topic, ”Empowering Communities in Result-oriented Projects to Enhance Sustainable Development”, Ijaiya noted that ”people in government seemed to emphasise on economic empowerment and avoided other aspects of life.
According to him.they did that because they know the implication empowering people politically so that people will not come and compete with them.
“And you know, our politicians don’t want people to compete with them, ” he added.
The academic commended the leadership of FOMWAM for empowering its members and communities with social and economic empowerment.
Also at the FOMWAN week, the CEO of HO Naturals, Ms. Hameedah Oladimeji, put members through on how to make alcohol-based Hand Sanitiser.
Oladimeji, an alumus of the University of Ilorin, is a cosmetologist and communication expert.
Earlier, the chairperson, National Committee On Community Development Humanitarian Services, Hajia Khairat Sodique, urged Kwarans to continue to observe all the necessary safety protocols as advised by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
i
These she said were necessary to defeat the rampaging Coronavirus pandemic in the country.
In her own remarks, the former Head of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Ilorin, Dr. Saudat S. Abdulbaqi, prayed ”for continued good health, peace of mind and spiritually rewarding engagements for our Amirah, her team, National Officers, Our Mummy BOTs and the entire FOMWAN members, home and abroad”.
