Soroptimist International Surulere Installs New President
Ugo Aliogo, Afolabi Lawal and Nofiscat Malik
Soroptimist International Surulere, Lagos, has installed Mrs. Orienda Onyilofor, as the new president of the SI Surulere.
Onyilofor who takes over from Soroptimist Angela Ezechukwu will be the 11th president of SI Surulere from 2016-2018.
Speaking at the installation/change of insignia celebration and fund raising ceremony in Lagos, at the weekend, Onyilofor said the flagship project for SI Surulere was to build a safe halfway house and skills centre for women who are victims of domestic/sexual violence and those displaced.
She explained that the flagship project would provide a temporary safe sanctuary, offer a sustainable means of livelihood through skills acquisition, provide legal services where necessary, provide medical care if the need arises and other services.
The new Surulere SI president said they have purchased a plot of land for the project in Ajah, adding that they are hopeful with the necessary support they would commence the project in her tenure and also pursue other projects initiated by her predecessors.
Onyilofor further stated that a recent study conducted in Lagos and Oyo states indicated that 65 per cent of educated women are abused and 56 per cent of market women experience similar attacks, stating that women around Nigeria suffer domestic violence, including widows who are forcefully dispossessed of everything after the demise of their husbands.
She added: “In addition to the skills acquisition and halfway house project, we have numerous other projects such as some of which were initiated by my predecessor such as the breast cancer awareness in collaboration with Prof. Ifeoma Okoye’s Breast Without Spot Initiative targeting women of all ages. The BTE hearing aids project, whereby we fit hearing aids to people with impaired hearing. The Atunda Olu School for the physically and mentally challenged people which SI Surulere adopted and continues to support. The empowerment of widows through skills acquisition. The eye screening/dental checks in conjunction with Odotonville dental clinic and distribution of eyeglasses.”