SAN FRANCISCO, August 15, (THEWILL) – Vice President Namadi Sambo on Thursday in Abuja declared that that the pivotal role of women in national development cannot be over-emphasised
Sambo, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the Carnival Road Show and Rally in Celebrations of the Nigerian Women for Peace and Empowerment at the Eagle Square in Abuja, said the President Goodluck Jonathan administration believed in the dictum that says: teach a woman, teach a generation.
The event organised by the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady, with the theme “Let’s Celebrate Nigerian Women for Peace and Empowerment” was marked with pomp and pageantry and witnessed goodwill messages from several dignitaries and was graced by women from various parts of the country.
“We are aware of the need to carry women along in nation building and accordingly have identified with their plight leading to our evolving a national gender policy to promote a gender-sensitive and gender responsive culture in our policy planning and national development,” Sambo said at the occasion.
In a statement by his spokesperson, Alhaji Umar Sani, Vice President Sambo enumerated several areas of intervention by the administration towards empowering the Nigerian woman, which, according to him, included, establishment of the Women Political Trust Fund, to increase their participation in politics; increased women representation in governance; as well as the implementation of national and international policies, treaties, conventions and protocols regarding women and children.
He listed other areas to include the institution of micro credit finance schemes, enrolment of over 500,000 women and youth annually into the SURE-P employment scheme and the training of over 9,000 women in various vocational skills by the National Centre for Women Development, among others.
“National survey in three geo-political zones attests to our resolve to constructively engage women in national development. We have significantly increased women’s representation in governance, which has set the stage for the attainment of the 35 percent Affirmative Action and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target on Gender Equity and Women Empowerment,” Sambo explained.
He expressed satisfaction with the recognition given to President Jonathan for his various efforts in promoting women gender, particularly the prestigious award conferred on him.
The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, had earlier lauded Nigerian women, urging them to champion the course of peace, which they were traditionally known for and also to speak with one voice and work together for the attainment of peace and unity in the country, saying the event was to celebrate the brilliant achievements of the Nigerian woman.
She said the presence of Vice President Sambo at the event was an indication of his unwavering support to women, as she enjoined Nigerian women to rally round the federal government to achieve development.
In a remark , the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Amina Namadi Sambo, said the Nigerian woman over the years had contributed immensely to national development. She stressed that the President Jonathan administration had shown considerable confidence in the abilities of the Nigerian woman and her contributions and capabilities towards national development.
She therefore appealed to women to work for peace, emphasising that without peace development would be difficult to achieve.
SAN FRANCISCO, August 15, (THEWILL) –
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