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After years of male-only representation from Nigeria at the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF), a powerful female voice has finally re-emerged. Hon. Folasade Adeyemo, Ph.D, Chairman of Odeda Local Government in Ogun State, is participating in this year’s CLGF training summit in Accra, Ghana, bringing renewed visibility to women’s leadership in grassroots governance.
Her presence marks a turning point in Nigeria’s delegation history, where women had long been excluded from the conversation.
Adeyemo’s participation is not just symbolic; it underscores the growing recognition that women’s perspectives are essential to building inclusive governance ecosystems. She is championing dialogue on gender balance, tolerance, and service delivery, insisting that women’s contributions must be mainstreamed into the architecture of local government.
The three-day Executive Strategic Leadership and Management Course for Effective Local Governance has provided a platform for Adeyemo and her colleagues to interrogate governance models, exchange peer-review templates, and craft blueprints for grassroots transformation.
She emphasized that the timing of the summit aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s increasing focus on rural governance, making the deliberations both urgent and strategic. 
Adeyemo is part of a distinguished ALGON delegation led by Hon. Ikenna Adikibe, Deputy National President of ALGON, alongside Ibrahim Hassan Jauro (Taraba), Hon. Hamisu Anani (Plateau), Hon Chief Isaiah Esiovwa (Delta), Hon. Olusegun Ojo (Ekiti), Hon. Lelei Isaach Tariye (Bayelsa), principal officer from ALGON Secretariat, Elder Otuonye I, and other Senior Local Government Executives from some LGAs in Nigeria from ALGON.
Together, they are redefining the role of local governments — no longer passive administrators but active architects of regional economic potential and community-driven development.
Hon. Adeyemo’s tenure as Chairman of Odeda Local Government has already left an indelible mark. From transformative projects across ten wards to her unwavering commitment to public service, she has cemented her reputation as a leader of uncommon vision and dexterity.
Her reintroduction of a female voice into Nigeria’s CLGF delegation is a milestone that validates the role of women in governance.
She expressed heartfelt gratitude to Governor Dapo Abiodun for his commitment to gender balance and the developmental strides achieved under his administration, noting that his support has created fertile ground for women leaders to thrive.
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