TELL Magazine

If elected governor of Edo State, the Osagie Ize-Iyamu administration would establish a special victims’ unit to handle cases of sexual assault and the care of survivors of rape and other gender-based violence. The government would also prioritise the care and empowerment of vulnerable groups in the state. Ize-Iyamu is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the September 19, 2020 governorship election in the state.

Wife of the pastor of Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Idia Ize-Iyamu, professor of Orthodontist, who disclosed this on Thursday when she featured on a popular morning show, Your View, on Television Continental (TVC), described herself as an empowered woman because of her husband’s support.

Prof. Ize-Iyamu, who recently flagged off a free medical outreach across the three senatorial districts of Edo State to provide access to quality healthcare to residents of communities lacking health centres and personnel, said her husband is a strong believer in the capacity of women to inspire change in the society and contribute to growth and development when provided with an enabling environment and offered the right support.

Recounting her husband’s continuous support and encouragement in her journey to being a Professor following their marriage in 1992 when she had just completed her university education. “I am an empowered woman because my husband, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, supported me all the way. I had just completed my university education when we got married and he told me not to rest on my oars. He actively supported me in my academic journey to becoming a Professor.

“At a time in my career, I had to go for posting for two years, and my husband not only allowed it, but also made sure I had all that I needed. There were times when the cost of research became a challenge; as you know, funding for research in this part of the world is almost non-existent, and my husband would ask how much I needed to complete my research and provide the funds.

“Even when I grew tired, he encouraged me and gave me the moral support to continue publishing. He always reminded me of the mantra ‘publish or perish’ and encouraged me to keep going”.

Prof. Ize-Iyamu was confident that her husband would offer similar support and empowerment to all Edo women in their chosen endeavors if he emerges as the Governor.

When asked of her husband’s involvement in politics as a clergy, she emphasised the importance of having righteous and honest leaders in political office, quoting the Bible book of Proverbs which says ‘when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.’

She however clarified that her husband’s spirituality and proven integrity are not his only strong points, but also his wealth of experience in public service as a former chief of staff and secretary to the state government, as well as his credentials as a home-grown politician who knows the true problems of the people and the right solutions to them.