Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, has appealed to employers of labour to make provision of crèches part of their policies enhance the productivity of nursing mothers in the workplaces.
She made the appeal during the inauguration of a crèche donated to the state chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) by the Ekiti Development Foundation, in Ado-Ekiti. The EDF is a non-governmental organization established by Erelu Bisi Fayemi .
At the ceremony were the Acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ayodeji Daramola and the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Dayo Akinlaja.
Commending the union for the bold initiative, the governor’s wife called on public and private establishments to address the challenges confronting working class women, especially nursing mothers.
The governor’s wife lamented that it was becoming more difficult for nursing mothers to cope with the demand of their jobs and the care of their babies in the face of unfriendly work environments.
She said, “Governmental or private institutions should ensure that the need of women in the labour force, particularly the needs of young women who are still raising children, are addressed so that they are comfortable to enable them fulfil their full potentials.
“The fact that this body has deemed it fit to ensure that the welfare of nursing mothers and whatever challenges they might have in terms of being able to achieve their potentials as professionals are addressed is commendable.”
The crèche, which took off with a population of 25 children, was named after Erelu Bisi Fayemi in appreciation of the huge contribution of the EDF to its establishment.
The governor’s wife also pledged to periodically provide necessary logistics and materials for the children to enhance their mental capability and wellbeing.
At the occasion, the First Lady donated cash to twelve widows who are staff of the judiciary, as well as a baby orphan, Toluwani Ayodele, who she placed on monthly stipends for his upkeep.
Erelu Fayemi also disclosed that Ekiti was the first state in the federation to domesticate the national gender policy that was adopted by the Federal Government in 2006.
According to her, the document provides a framework through which the administration could cater for women empowerment and gender equality, as well as for the wellbeing and welfare of women in the work places.
In a short remark, the acting chief judge applauded the JUSUN executive for embarking on such laudable project, which he said would bring succour to nursing mothers in the employ of the state judiciary.
Justice Daramola, who described JUSUN as critical stakeholders in the judiciary, pledged his continued support for the union.
The Chairman of the union, Mr. Michael Ibiyemi, said that the leadership of the union embarked on the project having realised that women constitute about 75 per cent of the workforce of the state judiciary, majority of who fall within child-bearing age.
The JUSUN boss said that the new facility would enhance the productivity of nursing mothers as it would enable them to breastfeed their babies and motivate them to concentrate on their jobs.
He thanked the wife of governor and the chief judge for their support towards the completion of the project.
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Last modified: October 20, 2011
