By: Tolulope Oluwole
The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) Ondo state chapter yesterday 4th August, 2022, inaugurated new executives of the women committee.
The new executives of the women’s committee are ; Com. Sherifat Odole as the chairperson, Com. Mayowa Adedeji, as the vice chairaman, Com. Paulina Ayinuola as the Secretary, Com. Iyabo Dada as the Treasurer, Com. Mabel Adigun as the Auditor and Com. Oyenike Awoseye as the Publicity Secretary.
52 delegates were accredited and for Chairperson’s position, Sherifat Odole scored 48 votes to beat Janet Ibideji with 4 votes; while for Secretary, Paulina Ayinuola got 48 votes and Fatorisa Olufunke with 4 votes.
The auditor, vice chairman, publicity Secretary and treasurer were elected unopposed.
Addressing the delegates, the National President of MHWUN, Com. Dr Biobelemoye Josiah, represented by Mr Steve Modupe, the South West Zonal Secretary of MHWUN, who is the presiding officer of the election opined that Delegates conference is a very important phase in the history of every Trade Union and its strata as it provides avenue for evaluation and self- appraisal which helps in re-engineering our efforts towards revamping areas that requires assistance, repairs and improvement.
“As a Union, we have gone extra mile to promote gender mainstreaming and today we are consolidating on the gains of gender mainstreaming. There is no doubt that our women are confronted with myriads of challenges at the works place encompassing harassment of every kind, discrimination and all forms of gender based violence”.
“It is important to emphatically state that I’m impressed with the eftorts and contribution of our Women Nation Wide and l am also very grateful to the current and past Women Leadership for a job well done,” the President said.
The Ondo State Chairman of MHWUN, Comrade (Chief) Ajiboye Oluwasegun expressed his appreciation to God and the members of the union for their cooperation and support towards arriving a peaceful election.
He noted that women are very important in every area of life and in any union or organization.
Ajiboye advised the newly elected executives to perform very well and not to see themselves as the best among others.
The newly elected Chairperson of Women Committee, MHWUN, Comrade Mrs Sherifat Odole, in her acceptance speech, thanked God for making it easier for her to emerge and for the success of the election, stressing that she wasn’t expecting it to be as easy and peaceful as it went.
While promising the members never to disappoint or betray them, Odole urged her fellow executives to look up to God, they shouldn’t fight to get to any position and never involve themselves in anything that will tarnish their image in the society.
the Director, Environmental Services Department, Akure South Local government, Sanitarian Grace Ikuomola, while addressing the women noted that the importance of women wing in the union is for women to have a say in the union, for the union to feel their impact and to be officially recognized when it comes to union matters.
She advised the women to have integrity, have passion for their profession, manage their homes properly and never neglect it because of union.
Ikuomola also encouraged women to participate more in unionism and in politicts.
Mrs Yemisi Musa, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC Women’s wing chairperson, while acknowledging the presence of the women at the union’s event, stated that unionism is coming together of people with common interest.
She urged women to show interest in unionism and politics, they should encourage and support themselves, engage in regular training, read wide attend to their homes and take care of themselves.
