Bimbo Akintola, Falode canvass support for working mothers

JULY 13, 2013  

Star actress, Bimbo Akintola, broadcaster, Aisha Falode and lawyer, Dolapo Awosika, have called for increased welfare packages for pregnant women in the Nigeria.

They made this call at a recent audition for one of the episodes of Amazons, a show co-hosted by the three on Africa Independent Television every Friday. It addresses issues bordering on the plight of women.

According to them, the 12-week maternity leave usually given to women who put to bed is grossly inadequate to  nurture and look after a new born.

They lament that leaving an infant who is just a few weeks old in care of a nanny robs the baby of the  one-on-one care and attention needed to  mould him to become responsible citizens from the outset.

For instance, an expectant mother of two, Chigozie Ogbonnaya, says experience has shown that babies left with nannies usually take to their the nannies’ habits and urged government to improve on the number of maternity leave.

Akintola noted that some of the objectives of the show, during the new quarter, is seeking  to encourage government to launch initiatives such as zero or reduced hospital bill for expectant and nursing mothers; free milk vouchers for the babies; and an increased period for maternity leave so that mothers can spend quality time to inculcate the right values in their children.

“I am a woman and I do feel the plight of women. We can make life better for women in Nigeria. To whom much is given, much is expected and that is why government should focus greater attention on women in the country and put in place things that will make life easy for us,” Akintola notes.

Falode, who also doubles as the executive producer of Amazons, says the show, since its inception 12 months ago, has been a veritable platform where issues that concern women are  being placed in the front burner.

She adds, “The show in this third quarter will be taking care of such aspects of women, which include financial education, family planning, child labour and abuse and managing of conflicts in marriage.”