Last Saturday, women from different walks of life converged at the Havilah Events Centre, Yaba, Lagos for the sixth edition of Dabira Women Conference 2018.
With the theme as ‘Re-Defining You!’, the conference covered various factors affecting women’s lives including sexual abuse, adverse childhood experience, social and cultural factors, poverty and other traumas. The annual one-day conference is aimed at helping women influence change in their lives.
Moderated by the MD of Z-Edge, Mrs. Kikelomo Ikepo Abass and a hospitality consultant, Mrs. Ekaete Augustine-Edet, this edition had a discussion panel which included award-winning Nollywood actor Bolanle Ninalowo aka Nino, gospel artist Peter Linus, OAP, Oscar Oyinsan and business analyst, Kayode Odebiyi. And the event also has Dr. Olatokunbo Oseni as the Master of Ceremony.
Speaking on the theme, the host, Lara Odebiyi, expressed her joy for being consistent throughout the six years when she started the mission.
“Today is nothing but excitement for me,” she said.
“For a change in the life of tomorrow’s women for 6 years and it’s a joy fulfilling the mission again this year. The Bible says is, ‘when God sent you to do something, He’ll surely make provision for it’, so it is something I heard clearly when I got to do this. It is not just me waking up and say I want to do this, it was a call that I got and I can’t give up, even when things doesn’t look right.”
While acknowledging she doesn’t have what it takes to participate in politics, she urged more women to contest for politics.
“Politically, I think more women should go into politics but it should not just be an ambition for them, it should be what they have a deep passion for. They must have a good heart for the people, they must ready to serve and make a change. But can they make a change? Can they really face what the men face? These are the question they need to answer before they can contest.”
Others like renowned United Kingdom speaker Norva Semoy Abiona and Dr. Kemi Jorge-Oyewusi also encouraged the women to understand her worth and push beyond boundaries.
Miss Chidinma, one of the participants appreciate the organiser for encouraging women to take charge of their life, “It was a life-bulb moment because this is my first time at Dabira Women Conference and I promise to be here next year.”
“I love the panelists and speakers they were very real, talking about a lot of problems women going through but are silent about. They used their life experience to motivate the audience, showing people that change can only happen when you take the responsibility,” she expressed.