33 Years in Service, One Unexpected Reward: Lagos Teacher Wins Three-Bedroom Apartment
Kehinde Adeleye
For Mrs Francisca Olaitan Lawal, the end of a 33-year career in the Lagos State public service came with a reward she never imagined would mark her retirement.
After decades of teaching, nurturing young minds and contributing to the development of generations of pupils, the retiring Grade Level 17 teacher emerged as the winner of a three-bedroom apartment at the 26th National Women’s Conference of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO).
The apartment, provided by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was announced during the conference gala night, turning what was already a memorable gathering into an unexpected celebration for the retiring educationist.
For Mary Odofin, a Level 9 officer with the Lagos State Ferry Services (LAGFERRY), the evening was equally remarkable as she went home with a brand-new sports utility vehicle (SUV).
The two women emerged as the biggest winners at the three-day conference, held from October 26 to 28, 2026, at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Other participants also received gifts, including shopping vouchers and return tickets to Ghana and London.
But beyond the excitement of the raffle draw, the conference carried a broader message about women, leadership, public service and the responsibility of creating opportunities for others.
It also marked a defining moment for COWLSO, as Governor Sanwo-Olu and his wife, Dr Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, hosted their eighth and final National Women’s Conference in their current capacities as governor and First Lady of Lagos State.
With the end of their administration approaching, the gathering provided an opportunity to reflect on the organisation’s achievements and, more importantly, examine how its programmes and institutional structures could be sustained beyond the present leadership.
At the centre of the conversation was the need to ensure that the organisation’s achievements do not disappear with a change of administration.
Addressing participants at the closing ceremony, Sanwo-Olu challenged members to move beyond the annual conference and translate its resolutions into practical programmes that would make measurable differences in the lives of Lagos residents.
He said COWLSO’s relevance should not be measured by the success of its conferences, the quality of discussions or the relationships established during its gatherings, but by the tangible changes its interventions produce in communities.
“You must preserve the legacy of service while translating the resolutions of your annual conferences into practical programmes that improve the lives of residents,” the governor said.
He urged members to document the recommendations and outcomes of their annual conferences, describing the records as important resources for future leaders, stakeholders and succeeding administrations.
According to him, proper documentation would preserve institutional memory, strengthen accountability and prevent worthwhile initiatives from being abandoned whenever leadership changes.
The governor also commended COWLSO for its interventions benefiting widows, children, elderly people and other vulnerable residents, noting that resources mobilised through conference activities, registration fees and other contributions had supported medical outreaches, school projects and community-based initiatives.
He said the organisation’s programmes demonstrated how collective action could complement government efforts and address social needs beyond the capacity of individual institutions.
For Sanwo-Olu, the responsibility before COWLSO is to strengthen the partnerships, structures and programmes that would enable it to remain relevant after the current administration.
“Leadership is temporary, but the institutions we strengthen and the opportunities we create can endure long after our tenure,” he said.
The message was consistent with the position he advanced at the opening of the conference, where he challenged women in positions of influence to look beyond personal achievements and deliberately create opportunities for younger generations.
Held under the theme, *“Anchored in Purpose: Be the Blueprint,”* the conference encouraged women to discover their purpose, maximise their potential and become examples worthy of emulation.
At the opening ceremony, the governor urged women in government, business, professional organisations and other fields to examine how many younger colleagues they were mentoring, how many doors they were opening and what opportunities they were creating for girls and women facing barriers to success.
He argued that the true measure of leadership was not simply attaining a position of influence but using that position to make progress more accessible to others.
He also highlighted government interventions in entrepreneurship, skills acquisition, education and healthcare as important tools for expanding opportunities for women and young people.
However, he stressed that the success of such policies and programmes should ultimately be determined by their impact on the daily lives of residents.
For the First Lady, the conference offered an opportunity to review COWLSO’s activities during her tenure, recognise the contributions of members and reaffirm the importance of sustaining the organisation’s interventions.
As chairman of the committee, Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu described COWLSO as a platform for women’s mobilisation, leadership development and social intervention, established to complement government efforts in education, healthcare, empowerment, environmental protection and social welfare.
She acknowledged the contributions of the organisation’s founding matriarch, the late Dame Olufunmilayo Johnson, and successive First Ladies of Lagos State whose leadership helped preserve its relevance.
She particularly recognised Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who revived the organisation in 1999, alongside Dame Abimbola Fashola and Mrs Bolanle Ambode, for their contributions to its growth and continuity.
The recognition placed the achievements of the current administration within a broader institutional history, highlighting the role of successive leaders in sustaining an organisation established to improve the welfare of women, children and families.
Reviewing its interventions, the First Lady disclosed that COWLSO had renovated and improved 50 schools across the six education districts of Lagos State since 2022.
The projects included 26 special-needs schools, reflecting the organisation’s efforts to improve learning environments and promote inclusive education for children with different learning needs.
She also disclosed that more than 70 licensed orphanages had received needs-based support from COWLSO since 2020.
Other projects highlighted included the completion of the Ogombo Senior Secondary School project, renovation of the COWLSO Legacy Villa and rehabilitation of the Recreational and Vocational Centre for Boys in Isheri and the Tajudeen Olusi Rehabilitation and Vocational Centre for Girls in Eti-Osa.
The interventions reflect the organisation’s involvement in education, rehabilitation, inclusion and social welfare, extending its activities beyond the annual conference.
For the First Lady, the projects demonstrate that being a blueprint requires more than personal accomplishments or inspiring speeches. It involves creating structures that improve lives, supporting vulnerable people and expanding opportunities for others.
She urged participants to ensure that the organisation’s programmes remained relevant and adequately supported beyond the current administration.
Tracing the evolution of the National Women’s Conference, she explained that successive editions had reflected changing priorities and aspirations, ranging from learning and adaptation to personal development, breaking barriers and building enduring legacies.
She encouraged participants to return to their communities with renewed commitment to service, stressing that the real measure of purposeful leadership lies in the positive difference it makes in the lives of others.
She also expressed appreciation to the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Governor Sanwo-Olu; and Deputy Governor Kadri Obafemi Hamzat for their support for COWLSO and its activities.
The First Lady commended the conference planning committee, led by Dr Olayemi Oke-Osanyitolu, as well as COWLSO members, development partners, sponsors and other stakeholders for their contributions.
At the closing ceremony, she urged participants to translate the lessons of the conference into meaningful action, noting that its impact would ultimately be determined by what members did after returning to their respective communities.
She called on women to move beyond admiring successful role models and become examples themselves through service, compassion, mentorship and practical support for those in need.
She also thanked the governor for recognising COWLSO’s contributions through the special gifts presented during the gala night, describing the gesture as an encouragement to members and a reinforcement of their commitment to improving the lives of women, children, families and communities.
Congratulating individuals recognised for their contributions to society, she said true impact should not be measured solely by titles or positions but by the lives touched and positive changes achieved.
She urged participants to sustain the spirit of sisterhood, celebrate one another’s achievements and extend support to those facing difficulties.
The wife of the deputy governor, Mrs Oluremi Hamzat, also emphasised the importance of integrity, excellence, purposeful living and genuine concern for the welfare of others.
She urged women to remain united and peaceful while contributing to the development of Lagos State and Nigeria, noting that their collective efforts were important to building stronger families, nurturing the next generation and creating supportive communities.
As the Sanwo-Olu administration prepares to leave office, the challenge before COWLSO is to preserve the programmes, partnerships and institutional knowledge accumulated over the years while adapting to the aspirations of a new generation.
For Lawal, the three-bedroom apartment provided an unexpected reward after 33 years of service in education. For Odofin, the SUV turned an ordinary conference outing into an unforgettable experience.
Their victories brought excitement to the gala night, but the larger message of the gathering went beyond the prizes.
The conference challenged women to recognise that leadership is not only about personal success but also about creating opportunities, strengthening institutions and making it easier for others to succeed.
As the organisation prepares for another chapter under future leadership, its ability to sustain the interventions established over the years may ultimately become the most enduring measure of the legacy celebrated at this year’s conference.
