… As COWLSO Highlights Achievements In Education, Inclusion, Healthcare, Community Development
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, and his wife, Dr. (Mrs.) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, have urged women to discover their purpose, maximise their potential and become positive examples for others to emulate, stressing that purposeful leadership remains essential in a rapidly changing world.
The Governor and First Lady made the call on Tuesday at the 26th National Women’s Conference organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), where they urged women in public service, business and the professions to use their experience and influence to make the path to success easier for those coming behind them.
Speaking on the conference theme, “Anchored in Purpose: Be the Blueprint,” Governor Sanwo-Olu said women who had attained positions of influence should look beyond personal accomplishments and take deliberate steps to prepare younger women for leadership and professional success.
He challenged accomplished women to consider how many younger women they were mentoring, how many doors they were opening and what opportunities they were creating for girls and women who might otherwise face barriers to fulfilling their potential.
According to the Governor, the young woman entering the workforce today should have access to greater opportunities than the generation before her, while girls growing up in communities across Lagos should be able to pursue their ambitions without being held back by circumstances beyond their control.
Sanwo-Olu described the conference as particularly significant for him and his wife, the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, as it marked the eighth and final edition they would host in their current capacities as Governor and First Lady.
He expressed gratitude for the journey and commended his wife for the dedication, compassion and commitment she had brought to her leadership of COWLSO, while acknowledging the contributions of members and other stakeholders responsible for the organisation’s programmes and annual conference.
The Governor also highlighted COWLSO’s continuity across successive administrations as an example of how institutions can sustain their impact beyond the tenure of individual leaders.
“Leadership is temporary, but the institutions we strengthen and the opportunities we create can endure long after our tenure,” he said, emphasising the importance of building structures and initiatives that continue to benefit society over time.
He noted that women’s economic participation remained important to Lagos State’s development, pointing to government interventions in entrepreneurship, skills acquisition, education and healthcare as part of efforts to expand opportunities for women and young people.
While acknowledging progress in these areas, Sanwo-Olu maintained that the effectiveness of government policies and social interventions should ultimately be judged by their impact on the daily lives of residents.
He said the responsibility to create a better future was shared by government, institutions and individuals, urging women to make mentorship, inclusion and the advancement of others central to their understanding of leadership.
Reflecting on COWLSO’s history, the First Lady, who is also the Chairman of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), acknowledged the contributions of its founding matriarch, the late Dame Olufunmilayo Johnson, and successive First Ladies of Lagos State, particularly Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, who revived the organisation in 1999, as well as Dame Abimbola Fashola and Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, whose leadership contributed to its growth.
She described COWLSO as a platform for women’s mobilisation, leadership and development, established to complement government efforts through interventions in education, healthcare, women’s empowerment, environmental protection and social welfare.
Reviewing the organisation’s achievements during her tenure, the First Lady disclosed that COWLSO had renovated and improved 50 schools across the six education districts in Lagos State since 2022, including 26 special-needs schools, as part of efforts to improve learning environments and promote inclusive education.
Sanwo-Olu’s wife also disclosed that COWLSO had supported more than 70 licensed orphanages through needs-based interventions since 2020, aimed at improving the living conditions and opportunities available to vulnerable children and other residents in their care.
Other interventions highlighted included the completion of the Ogombo Senior Secondary School project, the renovation of the COWLSO Legacy Villa, and the rehabilitation of the Recreational and Vocational Centre for Boys in Isheri and the Tajudeen Olusi Rehabilitation and Vocational Centre for Girls in Eti-Osa, just to mention a few.
Tracing the evolution of the National Women’s Conference, Dr. Sanwo-Olu said each edition had reflected the changing needs and aspirations of women, from learning and adaptation to personal development, boundary-breaking and the promotion of visionary legacies.
The Chairman of COWLSO explained that the 2026 theme called on women to remain firmly anchored in purpose while developing the capacity to respond effectively to changing circumstances.
She particularly acknowledged the support of the Wife of the Deputy Governor and COWLSO Vice Chairman, Chief (Mrs.) Oluremi Hamzat, describing their eight-year working relationship as one built on cooperation, shared responsibility and commitment to the organisation’s vision.
Mrs. Sanwo-Olu urged participants to leave the conference with a renewed commitment to making a difference in their respective spheres of influence, emphasising that the true measure of purposeful leadership lies in its positive impact on others.
The First Lady expressed appreciation to the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, and the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, for their support for COWLSO and its programmes.
She also commended the conference planning committee, led by Dr. (Mrs.) Olayemi Oke-Osanyitolu, alongside COWLSO members, development partners, sponsors and other stakeholders for their contributions to the organisation’s activities.
The three-day conference, which runs from October 26 to 28, 2026, features knowledge-sharing sessions, networking opportunities, wellness activities and other engagements designed to strengthen women’s capacity to contribute to family and societal development.
