The Ekiti State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to gender inclusion and women empowerment, describing women as contributors and decision makers, not just beneficiaries of development.
Speaking on behalf of Governor Biodun Oyebanji at the VOW 2026 Conference held at Harbour Point Victoria Island ,Lagos , the founder Inclusive Pathway Development Initiative (IPADEV) , Dr Margaret Fagboyo said Ekiti currently has the highest number of women in leadership and political positions in Nigeria .
The gender and development activist who disclosed this after she received the award in recognition on behalf of governor Oyebanji said the Ekiti under the leadership of Governor Biodun Oyebanji has been ranked as the most women-inclusive state in Nigeria, surpassing the 35% affirmative action benchmark for women participation in governance.
The administration’s commitment to gender inclusion has seen women occupy strategic and sensitive positions across the executive, legislative and local government levels, a development stakeholders have described as unprecedented.
Fagboyo noted that Ekiti currently has the highest number of women in the State House of Assembly, a feat she attributed to the Governor’s deliberate policy on inclusion.
“At the apex of governance, key engine rooms of the state are led by women. The Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, is a woman. Other top positions held by women include the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), the Head of Service, Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, the Accountant General and the Auditor General of the state.
She added that the gender inclusion drive extends to the grassroots. At the local government level, seven Local Government Chairmen are women, with 15 Vice-Chairpersons and 33 female Councillors holding elective positions across the 16 local government areas and 22 LCDA areas of the state.
“Please can we keep clapping, the highest number of women in the state in the House of Assembly. The Governor recognized that women should not be ordinary beneficiaries of development but contributors, decision makers and that is why our Governor has been supporting Women Radio consistently for the past three years,” she said.
She assured that the support will continue: “We still have the mind to continue, as long as Women Radio exists, Ekiti State Governor will continue to support them.”
She also congratulated the founder of Women Radio, Toun Sonaya, for raising the bar in amplifying women’s voices.
“I just want to congratulate you my darling sister, you have raised the bar, you have counted where it counts and you have made a great difference. We are super proud of you,” she added.
The Voice of Women Conference & Awards 2026, themed “A Decade of Amplifying Women’s Voices & Impact”, brought together women leaders, policymakers and advocates from across Nigeria.