Catholic Women Stage Peaceful March in Lagos For Free Education, Employment

PHOTO: LAGOS STATE GOVERNOR, MR BABATUNDE RAJI FASHOLA, SAN.

LAGOS, May 14, (THEWILL) - Hundreds of catholic women Thursday trooped en mass in Lagos State and other 35 states of the federation, asking the federal and state governments to take firm and decisive action in generating gainful employment and providing free education.

The march commenced at Saint Leo Catholic Church in Toyin Street, Ikeja and ended at the Lagos House of Assembly Complex where the group under the aegis of Catholic Women Organization (CWO), delivered a two-page letter of appeal to the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji.

The participants comprised aged and middle aged women who carried placards with various inscriptions like: "Women are builders. Women preach peace. Women are stakeholders" "Singing songs of peace, equity and virtues of women" amongst others. They urged the federal and state government to rescue Nigerians from the pangs of hunger, joblessness and illiteracy.

The march caused traffic gridlocks in such areas as Allen Avenue, Awolowo Road, Governor Avenue and Central Business Districts in the state secretariat.

In its letter, the group "wants the governments to begin the process that would ensure provision of jobs for thousands of unemployed graduates as well as access to good and affordable healthcare to all especially the young and the aged."

In her address, President of the Lagos Archdiocesan Council, Lillian Famoroti who led scores of women on a peaceful march to the Lagos Assembly as part of its activities to mark the 100 years anniversary of the CWO lamented the decay in the education system, high level of corruption and unemployment besieging the nation warning it would have a telling effect on the future of the nation.

According to her, as women, wives and mothers, we are concerned about the future of our children and society in general and we have come to request that government to be more proactive where these issues are concerned.

She praised Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) and the state House of Assembly for working together and implementing the free education policy in the state, urging other states to follow suit and that the many years of sermonizing on these painful issues has not resulted into the kind of actions expected.

While presenting a letter of appeal to the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Famoroti added that any start no matter how little "will be highly appreciated by the people and give us hope for a better tomorrow."

While receiving the women on behalf of the Speaker, an officer in the information unit of the Assembly, Mrs. Kofo Olokoga thanked the women for their concern towards the plight of the youths in the country, promising to deliver the letter to the Speaker.

She added that the Speaker and the 39 members of the House were on a retreat holding at Akodo, hence their inability to see receive them.