Dame Patience For Lady Mechanic Initiative 10^th Anniversary

Uzo Chikere

Despite none intervention by government agencies both at the federal and state levels in its efforts to empower young women through training as author mechanics, the Lady Mechanic Initiative School of Automotive Engineering will on Thursday celebrate  its 10^th anniversary in Lagos.

This was made known by the first lady mechanic in Nigeria and Executive Director cum founder of the initiative, Mrs. Sandra Aguebor at brief press parley held on Monday. The event which is billed to hold at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, she further informed is expected to be graced by the presence of Nigeria’s first lady, wife of the president who is the grand matron of the Lady Mechanic Initiative, Dame Patience Faka Jonathan as well as such state governors as Babatunde R. Fashola, Adams Oshiomole, and Ibikunle Amosu of Lagos, Edo and Ogun States respectively. To be in attendance also is the Kano State governor, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso among other dignitaries.

Sandra who expressed joy and sense of fulfillment with regard to the sustenance of the project and the enablement it has provided for young ladies in the last 10 years, also stated that the event provide the opportunity to celebrate all those who had contributed in one way or the other to the training and empowerment of over 700 female mechanics in Nigeria.  

She howeverrevealed that her only regret was that governments and their agencies at all levels had not been forth coming in providing support for the initiative which has through its programs given hope to over 700 ladies who are presently earning descent livelihood as auto mechanics either on their own or as employees of automobile manufacturing companies.

She therefore called on governments at all levels to reconsider their position and collaborate with the initiative so as to widen the scope of its resolve to empower more women as well as reducing the rate of trafficking in ladies in the country.  

Highlight of the event will be the presentation of awards to the Governors in attendance for their women-friendly policies.