In a celebratory nod to International Women's Day, Thomas Adewumi University (TAU) held a one-day symposium themed "Promoting Diversity, Inclusion, and Women Empowerment in the Higher Education System." The event, attended by members of the University community, staff, students, and esteemed guests, aimed to foster dialogue and action towards gender equality, diversity, and empowerment.
The symposium was graced with the presence of the University's Co-Founder, Dr. Mrs. Gloria Adewumi, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Francisca Oladipo, the Olori of Oko Irese land, Olori Grace Olawuyi, staff from sister institutions: Thomas Adewumi International College, Thomas Adewumi Nursery & Primary School, Oko, and distinguished guest speakers.
The event commenced with an introduction of the University's leadership and guests by Dr. Adekemi T. Dahunsi, the Director of DRIPDEV. Following this, the Vice-Chancellor (Prof. Francisca Oladipo) delivered the opening remark, emphasizing the significance of diversity and inclusion in higher education. Immediately after her remarks was the Co-Founder’s speech who doubled as the Chairperson of the event, Dr. Mrs Gloria Adewumi.
A highlight of the day was the keynote speech by Prof. Charity Aremu, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of Landmark University, who is also a Professor of Agriculture. She delved into the complexities of diversity and inclusion in education. Prof. Aremu stressed the importance of embracing individual uniqueness and highlighted the role of education in empowerment, particularly for women.
In recognition of her contribution, the Co-Founder, on behalf of the University community honored Prof. Aremu with an award of appreciation as the Keynote speaker to the one-day symposium in commemoration of International Women's Day. Subsequently, the first speaker of the day, Dr. Oludolapo Ojediran from the Department of Performing Arts, University of Ilorin discussed the importance of building an inclusive society for the betterment of women and girls. In her presentation, she emphasized inclusion and the importance of creating a better society for women and girls. After her presentation, she received an award of appreciation in acknowledgment of her insights presented by the mother of the day, Olori Grace Olawuyi.
The second speaker, Mrs. Olaide Shobowale, CEO of TVJ Bags, then addressed the audience on the topic of scaling up women's financial empowerment. She underscored the transformative power of financial independence for women and outlined strategies for achieving this, including financial literacy programs and policy advocacy. She also received an award of appreciation presented by the esteemed Vice-Chancellor of the University.
The symposium also featured a lively question and answer session providing attendees with the opportunity to delve deeper into the day's themes. As the event drew to a close, distinguished male staff members took to the podium to express their unwavering support for women's empowerment, and concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks from Mr. Solomon Ileladewa, the University Acting Registrar, followed by a closing prayer and a commemorative photo session.
The event served as a platform for meaningful discourse and action towards gender equality,equity, belonging, and empowerment, reaffirming TAU's commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive educational environment.
