Member representing Oluyole Federal Vonstituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe has assured her constituents that she would continue to deliver effective and responsive representation to them.
Akande-Sadipe, who is the Chairman House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, made the promise while giving account of her stewardship after one and a half year in office as a lawmaker in a townhall meeting held on Saturday.
The event packaged in collaboration with the UN Women, Canada and the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, NILDS was held in Ibadan.
The town Hall Meeting was themed: “Enhancing Women Political Representation: Female Legislators Constituency Outreach in Nigeria”.
The Lawmaker said she was on course to change the narrative of representation, adding that she has been able to give her people quality representation despite being the only female representative from Oyo State.
Akande-Sadipe had donated some electricity transformers, solar energy panels, boreholes, and constructed some schools, health centres and reconstructed roads in some communities in her constituency.
The high-ranking lawmaker has contributed immensely to Oluyole distributing cars, tricycles and motorcycles worth millions of Naira to some constituents and provided free health services to hundreds of people in her constituency.
She also provided scholarship awards to indigent students in tertiary institutions aside from hundreds of job opportunities and empowerment programmes that she freely shared to members of her constituency.
Akande-Sadipe said the months of rigorous, tensed and traumatic election litigations, did not stand on her way, in delivering dividends to her constituency.
As a lawmaker, Akande-Sadipe affirmed that she has facilitated the construction and rehabilitation of over seven roads in her constituency.
“It has indeed been a trying period for me, but as the Trustee of the Peoples’ sacred mandate, I deliberately and continuously keep the hope of the people alive by working assiduously to deliver on the promises I made to them during the electioneering campaign.”
Her words: “Despite the trials and tribulations, I embraced the challenge and refused to be distracted from the electoral promises I made to my people. Besides sponsoring and co-sponsoring many bills and motions in the floor of the House, I have also contributed to Oluyole”.
According to her, the road infrastructure gap in Olomi-Olojuoro was making it difficult for the community to fulfil its growth aspirations and potentials as a manufacturing and business centre, and expressed joy that the road was already getting attention from the federal government.
She added that the issues surrounding the road have been resolved with the Federal government allocating the job to a worthy contractor.
“Through my office, I have facilitated boreholes projects, solar lights, transformers, school buildings and other infrastructure in my constituency”.
“I also got jobs for some of my constituents into the Public/ Civil Service and have also facilitated the admission of our qualified constituents into our state-owned university”, she said.
“In fulfilment of my legislative agenda, I have sponsored many Bills and motions which cover different sectors including health, infrastructure and the provision of the legal framework for the reduction of the cost of governance. I have also endeavored to offer our possible best towards providing effective representation for our people”, she added.
“My constituents medical wellbeing has been a priority; the scheduled surgeries following the recent medical outreach is a clear indication with people receiving surgical eye interventions, hip replacement surgery etc.”, the lawmaker noted.
She however said that in Nigeria, women are underrepresented as voters, as well as in leading positions, whether in elected office, the civil service, the private sector or academia.
The Lawmaker regretted that this occurs despite their proven abilities as leaders and agents of change, and their right to participate equally in democratic governance.
She said the current political landscape still reflects the stark gender disparity, saying as of today, women make up less than 10% of the members of the National Assembly.
She therefore appealed to the Nation not to silent the voices of women, who make up more than half of the country’s population in critical decision-making bodies.
Representative of NILDS, Dr. Ganiyu Ejalonibu, in his goodwill message, said “Female Legislators Constituency Outreach in Nigeria”, was important, because women’s leadership and political participation are restricted.
He said the programme is guided by a history of international commitments to women’s representation.
Ejalonibu said towards these ends, NILDS with support from UN Women, back gender equality advocates in calling on political parties, governments and others to do their part in empowering women.
He said NILDS with support from UN Women advocates for legislative and constitutional reforms to ensure women’s fair access to political spheres.
Speaking on behalf of Traditional Rulers in Oluyole, the Baale Olomi, Chief Oyewale, urged the lawmaker not to relent in her efforts in Oluyole.
The royal father also praised her for “her unequalled regard, love and respect for Oluyole people”.
The traditional ruler thanked the lawmaker for her timely intervention in the Olomi-Olojuoro road project, saying that her intervention will save many from untimely death.
He also lauded Akande-Sadipe for “restoring hope to the indigent old people in Oluyole”.
Counting her contributions, Baale Oyewale said she has donated some electricity transformers, solar energy panels, boreholes, and renovated some schools, health centres and reconstructed roads in some communities in her constituency.
According to the monarch, if the country could have the likes of Akande-Sadipe in abundance, the sufferings of the masses would be greatly reduced.
APC chieftains, led by the Ag. State chairman, Alhaji Moshood Abass, supported by the Chairman APC Oluyole Federal constituency, Senatorial Women leader, Oyo Central, among others described Akande-Sadipe as a rare breed politician who loves people of her constituency and could do anything to better their lots.
They stressed that Akande-Sadipe was a politician with a large heart who has given so much empowerments to communities and individuals in the state and should not be discouraged.
The event had in attendance representatives from all wards in Oluyole, community leaders, market men and women, as well as religious leaders.