WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP: MEET COMR. LIJIRIN RUTH AYOMIDE, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER LIRA FOUNDATION

 The Root Gazette Africa

By: Tayo Gbesoevi

Who is Lijirin Ruth Ayomide?

Lijirin Ruth Ayomide, born in Shomolu Local Government, Lagos State, Nigeria, approximately 33 years ago, initiated her educational journey at Idowu Primary School in the 90s. Her secondary education took place at Arerin Grammar School, Odele Irele Ondo, where she excelled in obtaining her WEST AFRICAN EXAMINATION COUNCIL (WAEC) with high grades.

For her post-secondary education, she enrolled at Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) Ikorodu, Lagos, earning a Higher National Diploma (Upper Credit) in Business Administration. Subsequently, she pursued a Master’s in Business Administration from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Currently serving as the Senior Revenue Supervisor at Lagos State Inland Revenue Service, Alausa Ikeja, Lagos, Ayomide previously held the role of Senior Transaction Associate at Sterling Bank Plc, starting as a Trainee. Her strengths lie in attention to detail, communication, planning, organization, and a dedicated work ethic. Married with children, she values honesty, teamwork, and is passionate about family and people.

Beyond her corporate roles, Ayomide is an entrepreneur, heading RuthOwen Nigeria Limited (RONL), specializing in office equipment, vehicle registration, autoreg, hackney and insurance registration, haulage, and transportation. As the CEO and Co-Founder/Chairman of LIRA FOUNDATION, a charity organization, she focuses on children's wellbeing through back-to-school programs and various donations in Lagos state.

Engaging in politics since 1999, Ayomide is a member of APC in Bariga LCDA, Lagos State. Her political pursuits include vying for positions like Aspirant, Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA) in 2022. Noteworthy awards include the 2019 Impactful Women Award in ACCRA Ghana for contributions to education, youth empowerment, and community development. In 2021, she received the Role Model Award for outstanding contributions to the community.

During the 2023 election campaigns, Ayomide played crucial roles, including being a Member of Jagaban Army (Lagos Brigade) and Deputy Director (Orientation) Youth Directorate, Independent Campaign Council, Lagos-State. She maintains a strong connection with the All-Progressives Congress, demonstrating commitment both at the grassroots and the state level.

Delving into your past and present, can you highlight key milestones or challenges faced by Comrade Ruth Lijirin in your efforts to foster positive change, particularly in the context of youth engagement and women's leadership in Lagos?

I want to thank you for this privilege, on the peripheral, fostering positive change has to do with the roles one has played within its immediate environment, I can remember vividly before and during the 2023 general elections, part of the drives that I took upon myself is the advocacy for PVC registration which was a pointer to a significant measure within our reach as at that time, I, alongside my team encounter and engaged different shades of youth circle that are willing to key into our mission, there by seeing beyond even the elections itself because of our resolve to be a change agent for a better society. While challenges are bound to occur, that hasn't in any way drawn me back, perhaps it keeps me stronger and forward looking to the bigger picture.

In exploring the impact of the Lira Foundation in Lagos, could you provide examples of the narratives that have been successfully changed, and how these changes have influenced the lives of individuals within the community?

While the issue of women's leadership in Lagos has been tremendous, even though the numbers are still not within the required benchmark, We will continue to implore and seek ways of getting the attention required for more women into leadership position because they're a reflection of the positivity the future holds

Thank you once again, LiRA Foundation was my pet project that started 4-years ago, the name Lijirin Ruth Ayomide was coined to form (LiRA) . It has been an awesome outting year-in, year-out. As the Executive Director of the foundation, our Vision was to complement the efforts of parents, while our mission is to make sure every child counts. Part of our approach is to make sure we find a way of taking this program every year to a different venue within a particular area in order to expand our reach. Like this year's event, school kids have arrived at the venue since about 6:00 am despite the downpour, it has become a source of courage for us at LiRA Foundation...

Our slogan is grooming today for a better tomorrow

Thriving through hard times, how do you think the voices of the youth and women can be amplified for sustainable goals? And also in 5 years where do we hope to find comrade Ruth Lijirin?

Considering the adverse effect occasioned by the removal of subsidy on petrol which had caused a surge in the price of commodities, Nigeria is having a $10bn funding gap annually on the SDG timeline. This again is another factor that requires the attention of all and sundries, the delivery it is poised for in relation to youth and women, however the government of the day has announced various measures to stem the tide of this hard times in other to cushion and ameliorate the effects at hand. 

Lastly, In the course of service to humanity through the little quota I am privileged to have rendered, only God can determine who becomes what as time advances, But one thing is sure, we are not where we used to be, and definitely little by little, we are growing in God's glory.