By Ibukun Emiola
The Iyamopo Centre for Peace, Women and Youth Development has advised market women in Igboora and other parts of Ibarapa land in Oyo State to unite to realise their interests and development.
The Executive Director of the centre, Mrs Sherifat Taleat-Afafat, gave the advice during an advocacy visit to the palace of Oba Jamiu Badmus, the Oluaso of Iberekodo, Ibarapa Central Local Government Area of Oyo State, on Tuesday.
Taleat-Afafat said that to achieve this objective the Coalition of Market Women Associations in Oyo State had been established to provide a united platform through which women could speak with one voice and advocate for issues affecting their livelihoods and wellbeing.
She stressed that fragmentation of women groups had limited their ability to access opportunities and support as done in other parts of the country.
She said that the coalition sought to promote the inclusion of women in governance, leadership and decision-making processes.
“We want women to have the opportunity to make demands from government for the protection of their rights.
“We want women to be able to advocate for issues that concern their livelihood, community and wellbeing,” the centres’ director said.
Taleat-Afafat said the advocacy visit was also aimed at creating awareness among market women and youths engaged in various trades about the objectives and benefits of the coalition.
She said the Iyalọja and market women of Towobowo Market in Iberekodo, Igboora, had expressed interest in joining the coalition.
The executive director commended the Oluaso of Iberekodo, who is also the leader of Towobowo Market, for his support and commitment to the initiative.
According to her, his involvement had strengthened the campaign for greater unity among market women.
Earlier, Oba Badmus commended commodity traders in Igboora and Ibarapaland for ensuring the inclusion of members in various programmes of benefits to their associations.
The traditional ruler urged women, particularly market women, to remain united, especially during the ongoing electioneering process, to enable them to secure benefits and opportunities due to them.
“Ask for development; electricity has helped to improve market life in Ibarapaland.
“Ask for facilities and services for the wellbeing of market people,” he said.
Also speaking, a market women leader in Oyo State, Chief Alice Adesokan, urged women to unite to break stereotypes and secure support for the expansion of their trades.
Adesokan called for the various women groups in Igboora and its environs to operate under one umbrella body.
“The various women groups must be united under the same umbrella body in Igboora and environs.
“There must be a day set aside for market women trading in various commodities to meet under the umbrella body,” she said.
Adesokan added that the Coalition of Market Women Associations in Oyo State also accommodated youths engaged in different vocations and trades.
Responding, the market women leader in Iberekodo, Igboora, Alhaja Sidikatu Awotunde, expressed readiness to support initiatives aimed at improving the welfare and development of women through the coalition.
Awotunde, however, expressed concern over previous coalition initiatives which she said had failed to adequately include market women.
“Many people have hidden under goodwill to defraud market women.
“Let whatever benefits that belong to us get to us,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the advocacy visit featured the presentation of the “Charter of Demands: Voices of Market Women in Oyo State” and the Needs Assessment of Market Women and Commodity Associations in Oyo State
The event was attended by Iberekodo community and market leaders, including High Chief Samson Adeleye, the Ikolaba of Iberekodo. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Bukola Adetoye/Bayo Sekoni