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First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola (M), at the Law Week 2007 organised by International Federation of Women Lawyers.
First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola (L), presenting a distinguished trailblazer award to a recipient during the Law Week 2007.Jun 13, 2007 - Law Week 2007 Organised By International Federation Of Women Lawyers
I congratulate the Chairperson, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Nigeria, Lagos State Branch, Mrs. Sylvia Shinaba and the entire members of her team on this occasion of the formal opening of the Law Week 2007. Let me also thank you for the honour of your invitation to be part of this event which is the second organized by female members of the learned profession that I will be attending in one week.
FIDA, Lagos State branch and the Organizing Committee in particular deserves a big commendation for the choice of the theme for this law week “Fortifying Social Structures Towards a Nigerian Renaissance”. I consider this theme very apt and relevant to the process of actualizing the Nigeria of our common dream because it seeks to focus attention on challenges facing the family system.
There is no gainsaying the fact that the family is the oldest and smallest social unit known to man and the foundation upon which an efficient and purposeful socio-economic structure in any society is built.
It therefore follows that any social re-engineering process that fails to give due consideration to the family system may not achieve the desired result.
It is common knowledge that the family system as it exist today is not what it used to be some decades back when it really took a village to raise a child. It is unfortunate that the African family institution/system which emphasises the importance of bonding and promoting the norms and collective interest of the society has been the worst victim of the effects of civilization and very recently globalization.
Today, the consequence is very visible for everyone to see. Time honoured values of hard work, dignity of labour, integrity, honesty and decency are becoming exceptions rather than the rule.
The challenge posed by this situation requires active participation of every segment of the society in order to reverse the trend and facilitate the achievement of the Nigeria of our collective dream.
We need to change our orientation, restore, protect and strengthen the family system. Parents in particular must rededicate themselves to the duty of giving good upbringing to their children in an atmosphere of love, care and affection. I wish to emphasize the fact that parents need to be pro-active in the discharge of their responsibility against the backdrop of developments in the Information, Communications Technology especially the internet through which the young ones are imbibing undesirable behavioural attitudes.
The society also must unite in condemning and discouraging all unethical and anti social acts and behaviours, whether in private or public sphere, that are capable of distorting the cherished value system and norms of the society.
On a final note, we must continue to work towards sustaining and strengthening democracy and the rule of law as a guarantee for the enthronement of good governance under which the general well being of the people can be assured. I believe this is very crucial because the challenge of poverty which results from bad governance will play a major role in determining the extent to which people will be committed towards upholding those values that will facilitate the process of bringing about the desired renaissance.
Once again, I thank the chairperson and the entire members of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, Lagos State Branch for inviting me and also giving me the opportunity to make these short remarks.
I wish you a successful Law Week. I thank you for your kind attention. God bless you all
Her Excellency
Mrs. Abimbola Fashola
First Lady of Lagos State