As national elections approach, the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Noimot Salako-Oyedele has delivered a clear message to women: step forward, support one another, and take an active role in shaping leadership outcomes.
Speaking at her annual Ramadan Tafsir/Lecture held at her residence in Abeokuta, Salako-Oyedele hosted various Muslim women organisations across the state, using the spiritual gathering as a platform to encourage greater female participation in civic and political decision-making.
She emphasized that women must not downplay their abilities or limit their influence, especially at a critical time when the nation is preparing to elect its leaders. According to her, the annual Tafsir has evolved beyond a religious assembly into a forum for empowerment, growth in faith, knowledge-sharing, and strengthening bonds of sisterhood.
The Deputy Governor explained that the initiative specifically addresses issues affecting women, while encouraging them to be responsible citizens, devoted wives, and nurturing mothers — balancing faith, family, and societal impact.
She described Ramadan as a season of reflection, spiritual renewal, and intellectual development, urging women to uphold Islamic values while remaining proactive contributors to community development.
Also speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Mariam Oloko, praised Salako-Oyedele for her consistency and accessibility, describing her as selfless and grounded. She encouraged attendees to emulate those qualities in their own personal and professional lives.
Representatives of various Muslim women’s organisations echoed similar sentiments in their goodwill messages, calling for increased visibility and participation of women in public life. They offered prayers for the Deputy Governor, commending her for institutionalising the annual lecture and for amplifying women’s contributions within the state.
Delivering the sermon themed “Muslim Woman’s Journey in Modern Times,” Sheikh Nurein Rabiu, Imam of the Governor’s Office Secretariat Mosque, underscored the high status accorded to women in Islam. He challenged misconceptions that the religion sidelines women, noting that a complete Surah in the Holy Qur’an honours and highlights women’s virtues — a testament to their elevated position.
Rabiu stressed that a woman’s worth is defined by Allah, not by societal expectations. He urged women, particularly those in leadership roles, to exercise authority with fairness, kindness, and justice, while maintaining respect for their spouses and commitment to their homes.
With elections on the horizon, the gathering subtly positioned faith-based engagement as a catalyst for civic responsibility — reinforcing the message that empowered women are not just participants in society, but architects of its future.