The Oyo State Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Hon. (Mrs) Toyin Balogun, has been honoured with the Award for Distinguished Leadership and Excellence by the Council of Traditional Baales in Ibadanland (COTBI), in recognition of her exemplary leadership and impactful contributions to women affairs and social inclusion across the state especially with respect to the wefare and wellbeing of citizens of the state
The prestigious honour was conferred by the Council under the leadership of its President, the Baale of Aroro in Akinyele local government; Baale Oladapo Wasiu Aare (ANMN), with other executive members of the Council also present during a colourful ceremony held in thè Ibadan metropolis.
The Honourable Commissioner was unavoidably absent at the event due to exigencies of official state assignments but she was ably represented by Chief (Mrs) Monsurat Sanda, Wife of the ALGOS Chairman and First Lady of Egbeda Local Government, who received the award on her behalf.
The Council commended Hon. Balogun’s dedication to inclusive governance, community-focused programmes, and policies that uplift women, children, elderly, physically challenged and other vulnerable groups through various Poverty Alleviation interventions through her ministry and personal efforts.
The Baale Aroro stated further that he did not have a personal relationship with her but she was identified for the honour and recognition becausethe council was inundared with various reports from myriads of citizens from different backgrounds, many of them downtrodden who recounted how the recipient had touchd their luves at one point or the other through her perspnal and official charitable acts and interventions,describing her efforts as worthy of recognition by credible institutions.
Chief Mrs Sanda, speaking on behalf of the Honorable Commissioner,dedicated the award to His Excellency; Governor Seyi Makinde, whose visionary leadership and unstinting support for the programs and interventions of the Commissioner targeted at the vulnerable among us made it possible to do more than she would have done in her personal capacity
She also dedicated the award to the vulnerable among us, the women, children, elderly, physically challenged etc stating that this honour will only spur her to be even more committed to improving the welfare of our people whose trust and cooperation inspire public service.
The Commissioner further expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Council of Traditional Baales in Ibadanland for this high honour and reaffirmed her commitment to advancing access to sustainable empowerment, equity, and sustainable social progress under the aegis of the Governor Makinde led administration.
