The Director of Women Empowerment and Legal Aid, Mrs Funmi Falana, SAN, has charged young girls and women generally in Nigeria to take their proper and rightful position in society.
Funmi, who is the wife of human rights activist, Femi Falana, SAN, said it is no longer fashionable to say that the place of a woman is in the kitchen.
She spoke in Ado Ekiti on Saturday at the State Banquet organized by the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice in honour of new silks of Ekiti origin as part of activities for the second anniversary of Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
The senior advocates honoured on the occasion are Funmi Falana, Chief Lawrence Falade; Mrs Folasade Alli, Mr Adeoye Babatunde, Emmanuel Olayiwola, Ayoola Ajayi, Mrs Oluronke Adeyemi and Mr Adeola Adedipe.
Falana who expressed delight with the honour conferred on her and other senior advocates by the Ekiti State Government, described it as a wake-up call to the younger ones to aspire to the top.
She said, “The lesson is that you can still be honoured in your own state. The idea that a prophet is not honoured in his town does not arise again. We are glad that our state has recognized our worth and honour.
“We have been placed in a position of role model unto the younger ones coming to see that if you put a lot of work into whatever you do, you can get to the top”.
The women’s rights advocate said, “My own personality has been the fight for women’s rights and the defence of the oppressed people of Nigeria. That has been my work and I am sure I got this honour as a result of my work and contribution to the development of women’s law.
“Women are not where they are supposed to be, that is why a few of us that have come to this length are examples unto them that the saying that the place of a woman is the kitchen is no longer fashionable.
“A woman can get to the top of her career if she puts in hard work. So, it is a lesson for all women to rise and take their proper place in society realizing that they are as important as their male counterparts.
“There is no limitation for women wherever they find themselves, they should refuse to be marginalized, they should refuse to be discriminated against,” she said.
Also speaking, Mrs Alli, who appreciated the state government for the honour, also congratulated Oyebanji on the second anniversary.
Alli, who is the eldest daughter of Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, described the honour as a testament to excellence, saying, “This is an encouragement to all that wherever you are, do your best as an Ekiti person”.
Ekiti State Governor, Oyebanji, who presented the awards to the eight senior advocates congratulated them on their recognition, which he said was occasioned by hard work.
Earlier, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Dayo Apata, SAN said those recognized were among Ekiti indigenes who have distinguished themselves in the legal profession to become Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN.
Apata said, ‘In 1978, this journey started with Aare Afe Babalola who was conferred with the SAN. Today, we have as many as over 50 SANs in Ekiti State.
“It should be noted that we have many of them in Ilawe and Ikere Ekiti while many other towns and communities are following them”.
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