AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY PRINCESS YETUNDE JIBOWU THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE OF THE INAUGURATION OF THE BUNU WOMEN DEVELOPMENT FORUM HELD ON 25TH OCTOBER 2025 AT ODO APE BUNU.
Protocols.
My wonderful sisters, a very good morning to you all! It fills my heart with so much joy to see your beautiful faces here today. From everywhere far and near, you have all come together to celebrate this inauguration. Thank you. Thank you for answering this important call. To all our special guests, mothers, and leaders in our midst, we welcome you. Today is a special day, a day that our children and grandchildren will read about. Welcome.
Why are we here? We are here because we believe that women play a significant role in the change we want to see in Bunu. It doesn’t matter if you wear red, green, blue, or any party colour—we all want good schools for our children, hospitals that work, safe streets, and food on every table. This group is not about fighting each other. It is about fighting FOR each other. When women come together, mountains move. When we speak with one voice, the leaders will listen.
My sisters, for too long, politics has divided us. During election time, we work against one another because we are from different parties, but when the elections are over, those we worked for forget us. They forget the promises they made to us, our children, and our communities. This is why we must come together and agree on what is a common good for everyone, regardless of the political party to which you belong.
So what are we here to do? We are here to speak with one voice on the issues that affect us all, regardless of our party affiliation. We are here to demand that our government remembers their promises after the elections are over. We are here to ensure that when opportunities come—for jobs, for our businesses, for our children—they are shared fairly. When one of us is celebrating, we will all celebrate with her. When one of us is in need, we will all be there to lift her up. We will be a voice for the voiceless.
In this group, nobody is too small, and nobody is too big. The woman selling tomatoes in the market has the same voice as the woman in the government house. We don’t care which party gave you your card—we care about your heart for Bunu as a whole. We will teach each other, support each other, and lift each other. If you fall, we will pick you up. If you succeed, we will celebrate with you.
From today, we make this promise: We will work together to put more women in leadership. We will train women who want to contest elections. We will support women who are already serving. We will speak up for those who have no voice, and I am asking each of you to be an active member. Attend our meetings. Bring other women. Share what you learn. Don’t keep this blessing to yourself. Together, we are stronger than any political party. Together, we are the mothers of Bunu.
As I close, remember this: You are not just a woman. You are a Bunu woman—strong, wise, and powerful. This inauguration is not the end; it is our beginning. Let us work together, pray together, and build the Bunu that our children deserve.
May God bless each one of you. May God bless our group, may God bless Bunu, may God bless Kogi State, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Thank you, and once again, you are all welcome!
