The Olabisi Onabanjo University Women Association (OOUWA) on Wednesday, 4th December, 2019 ended the year on a sound note with series of programme in line with the aims and objectives of the association as stipulated by the provision of its constitution. The programme which commenced with a charity visit of its members, led by the Vice-Chancellor’s wife, Dr. (Mrs.) Ganiyat Olayinka Olatunde to Ade Okubanjo Model School for the visually-impaired located in Ijebu-Igbo was crowned with a reception party for members and friends of the association.
While at the Special school, the President of OOUWA, Dr.(Mrs.) G. O. Olatunde who said the visit was in line with their community engagement activities to mark the end of the Year 2019 gave a brief about the association which she said was made up of female staff and wives of male staff of the University. She said “the aim is to promote friendship among members and support one another to grow in our individual, family, professional and social lives.” The President noted that “our activities are not limited to the University community alone, but we also engage with communities outside the Campus.”
Speaking further, Dr. (Mrs.) G.O. Olatunde expressed her passionate feelings to the staff and students of the school on behalf of other members of the Association. She thereafter, expressed her happiness for the success story of the promising children and for their personal development despite their limiting challenges as designed by nature.
According to her, “we believe that their physical status is the design of our Creator and no human being has control over this. We are happy that the children, despite their challenges, are living their lives, concentrating on their studies and vocation. We at OOUWA believe that with the right support, moral, financial and psycho-social, from individuals, government and non-governmental organizations such as OOUWA, these children can excel and be a force to reckon with in the society. They can also contribute to the development of Nigeria,” n her response, the School Head teacher represented by Mrs. Adetiba welcomed the team to the institution and expressed her deepest gratitude to the association for identifying with the school despite its special status. She added that the school would ever remain grateful to OOUWA for also deeming it fit to donate such quantity of food and non-food items in support of the welfare of the pupils.
Giving an insight into the background of the school, Mrs. Adetiba said the Special School started as a private one but later became a public school following its take-over from the founder, Mr. Ade Okubanjo in 1996 by the government of Ogun-State.
The highpoint of the visit was the donation of food items and daily needs such as bags of rice, yam tubers, packs of soft drinks, washing soaps etc, to the visually-impaired school for the upkeep of the pupils.
Back to the Campus, Dr. (Mrs.) Ganiyat Olayinka Olatunde expressed gratitude to God Almighty for His protection, grace, and mercies over every member of the association since the beginning of the year.
She also appreciated Him for the peace, progress, and development recorded so far in the University. According to her, we give praise and adoration to Almighty God for His mercy and grace over us since the beginning of this year. We are grateful to God for achievement of goals, progress and fulfilment of dreams in our individual lives, in our families and as an association. “We also thank Him for elevations, several happy moments and reaching milestones even as a University Community.”
Speaking further, Dr. (Mrs.) G. O. Olatunde who equally extolled the virtues of every member of the Association for their cooperation and commitment disclosed that their enviable gestures made the achievements recorded by the association in 2019 surpassed that of 2018. In her words, “Mr. Vice-Chancellor Sir, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to report that in spite of several challenges, we made modest progress. We had couple of meetings relative to only one meeting held last year.
Attendance at meetings has improved slightly. The Crèche is running smoothly. A major achievement this year, was the successful hosting of the Breast and Cervical Cancer Awareness programme held in October.”
The above feats, according to the President were not without some challenges beyond human control. She however, regretted some sad events.
“It has not been a bed of roses this year, as some of our members have experienced unpleasant situations. In particular, about three of our members lost their husbands this year and thus going through bad times.” Dr. (Mrs.) Olatunde observed that the association acknowledged the pathetic situations of her members who are now widows and had to cope with the challenges associated with this status, hence the reason for holding a low-keyed end of the year programme.
She thereafter, seized the opportunity of the day’s thanksgiving to express her personal appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor, other Management Staff of the University, Provosts, Deans and Directors, Chairmen of the various Unions – ASSU, SSANU, NASU and NATT, and other members of the University community, for their tremendous support.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde who congratulated and rejoiced with the members of the association on the occasion of their thanksgiving, could not hide his feelings when he applauded the feats recorded so far by the leadership of the Association. He said these were not achievable without the moral and financial supports, commitments, and sacrifices of other members of the Association. According to the Vice-Chancellor, “there is no good leadership without good followership”. While advising the Association leadership not to rest on its oars, Professor Olatunde equally sympathised with the bereaved members and enjoined all to be closer to God and not allow challenges of life to defeat them.
Giving his lecture on “Menopause: The Truth, the Myth, and the Reality”, a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Obafemi Awolowo College of Health Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Dr. Olusoji Edward Jagun, stressed that understanding the phenomenon called menopause, would require a thorough understanding of the biological life and the understanding of the biological woman.
He defined the concept as the “cessation of menses for six months in a woman with previous regular cycle”it is usually experienced between the ages of 48 and 50 (i.e. 50 ±2) years. He stressed that while normal menopause comes at ages greater than 45 years, early menopause is experienced from 40 to 45 years.
Describing menopause as a reality and a bus stop that takes a process to arrive at, the guest lecturer identified hot flushes, sweatiness, sleep problems, irregular menses, palpitation, etc. as the early pointers to menopause, while withdrawal of oestrogen, and atrophic changes like wrinkling, greying hair, loss of hair, vagina dryness, reduction in sexual libido, forgetfulness, urinary incontinence etc. constitute late changes that precede menopausal stage in a woman.
While acknowledging the enviable efforts of OOUWA especially at helping women folks, Dr. Jagun advised that other women’s groups, just like the Association should arise to help fellow women to be healthy. This, he said became imperative since “a woman is not healthy if she has challenges as a result of attainment of menopause.” According to the reproductive health expert, the stage of menopause is one of the cardinals of reproductive health.
