The Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO) Group, on Thursday conferred its outstanding women leadership awards on 24 women for their contributions to development of the society.
The women were honoured at the 8th edition of the LAPO Outstanding Women Leadership Award held in Benin.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), LAPO Group, Dr Godwin Ehigiamusoe said the awards, initiated in 2013, was being conferred on Nigerians who had distinguished themselves in Business, Farming and Professional endeavours.
He said many women were being relegated to the background as their roles and contributions were not being adequately acknowledged and rewarded.
The CEO, represented by Dr Kenneth Okakwu, the Director-General, LAPO institute, said the Group would continue to be at the forefront of women empowerment and acknowledgement.
Ehigiamusoe said that the 8th edition was also part of activities to mark the 2020 International Day of Rural Women.
He said “rural women have continued to be the bedrock of social and economic development and form a substantial proportion of the country’s agricultural labour force’’.
In her address, the Vice Chancellor, University of Benin, Prof. Lillian Salami, congratulated LAPO group for spurring women to fulfil their full potential in their various endeavours through its women award.
Salami said the award would no doubt reinforce the positive image of women in the country and help in reducing the influence of negative attitudes and practices that discriminated against women.
“It is important that such success stories be publicly recognised so that such women become role models and mentors to future generations of Nigerian women’’.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 2020 awardees were Mrs Evelyn Akpomedaye, business category, Mrs Ugbo Magdalene; farming category and Mrs Nkechi Aham; Professional category among others.
