Ogun State Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, has emphasized the need for strategic growth and adaptability in women’s organizations, citing the Criterion, a Professional Muslim women organization, as a prime example.
While hosting the Criterion’s National Executives and members, Engr. Salako-Oyedele urged the organization to engage in innovative advocacy programs to attract young Muslim women.
“You have to continue to adapt because what works 40 years ago when the organisation started may not work today because we live in a different world,” she said.
Engr. Salako-Oyedele commended the organization for its efforts in empowering women and inaugurating the Abeokuta District, noting that some members were indigenes of Ogun state.
She encouraged the Criterion to initiate programs supporting the needy and addressing contemporary women’s issues.
Engr. Salako-Oyedele emphasized the importance of staying relevant and up-to-date to attract and retain members, especially with many similar organizations competing for membership.
On her part, Alhaja Medinat Akanni, the National Amirah of the Criterion, highlighted the organization’s 40-year history and its expansion plans.
“We were formed 40 years ago by six Muslim women who were actively involved in Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) and willing to continue after graduation,” she said.
The Criterion has over 1,000 members across Nigeria and Ghana, with plans to extend to the Northern and Eastern parts of the country.
