The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has said women in the country are capable leaders and capable as their Counterparts anywhere anywhere in the world, despite limited opportunities given to them.
This was contained in a statement by the Ooni’s spokesperson, Moses Olafare, obtained in Osogbo on Tuesday, who noted that the royal father spoke at the celebration of this year’s Edi Festival.
Edi Festival is an annual ritual in Ile-ife done in acknowledgment of the heroic life and sacrifice of Moremi Ajasoro, an Ife woman who helped to secure the land from foreign invaders in the early days.
Oba Ogunwusi further explained that the culture of the Oduduwa race dignifies the female gender like their male counterparts, adding that these virtues must be upheld and practiced daily in the society.
The statement read in parts, “We all are witnesses to the outstanding performance of some ministers, commissioners, head of companies and even countries across the globe, our women here in this part of the world are as capable as their counterparts anywhere globally. The difference is the opportunities that we create for them to perform optimally.”
Speaking in her capacity as the Global Ambassador of ‘Queen Moremi Ajasoro Initiative,’ a wife to the royal father, Olori Aderonke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi, said the festival equally signals the commencement of activities for the annual Queen Moremi Ajansoro contest by young talented ladies.
She used the occasion to announce the official opening of the portal for application for the 2022 edition of Moremi Ajasoro Cultural and Leadership Pageant, the winner of which will be crowned as the Queen Moremi Ajasoro 2022.