Ambassador Ebunoluwa Oyagbola: First female minister route for female presidency

Ahead of the 2015 general election, the first female minister in Nigeria, Ambassador Ebunoluwa Oyagbola, on Saturday in Abuja called for the election of a female president, saying it would bring positive developments in the country.

She also called for more respect and commendation for ex-President Shehu Shagari who, despite protest by politicians in Ogun State, made her the Minister of National Planning.

The 81-year-old former Ambassador to Mexico spoke with journalists in Abuja at a workshop organised with the theme, ‘Effective leadership through attitudinal healing’ organised by the Centre for Attitudinal Healing.

She decried the fact that despite women’s ingenuity, their appointment into public offices was always seen as a compensation for sexual gratification.

Oyagbola said, “I want my fellow women here today to remember Shagari as the first president to consider women as worthy for any position in Nigeria.”

She noted that once a woman is dedicated to a cause, nothing can hinder her from accomplishing it.

The former minister said, “We have started having some very corrupt women. But that notwithstanding, you will agree with me that when a woman is dedicated to doing something, nothing can stop her.”

Oyegbola attributed corruption to fear of the unknown which drives people to accumulate wealth for future.

Also speaking, the President, Centre for Attitudinal Change, Mr. Mike Omotoso, stated that “Attitudinal healing is highly regarded by the academic and professional community as an effective therapeutic approach for individuals, groups, and organisations. It is neither religious nor dogmatic, and it does not conflict with any spiritual or religious orientation, but instead, it often enhances them.”