Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has called for greater inclusion of women in political and elective positions, describing them as critical to national development.

Speaking at the launch of the APC’s 774 Explode Project in Akure, the governor said women should be given more opportunities in leadership and decision-making, stressing that competence, not gender, should determine leadership.

He also urged political stakeholders to remove barriers limiting women’s participation, while the APC National Women Leader, Mary Idele, called for more opportunities for young women to serve in elective and appointive offices.