Vice President Namadi Sambo has said that the pivotal role that women play in national development cannot be ignored. The Vice President stated this as the Special Guest of Honour at the carnival road show and rally in celebrations of the Nigerian Women for Peace and Empowerment, which held on Thursday, 15th August, at Eagle Square in Abuja.
Vice President Sambo, who said the President Goodluck Jonathan's administration believed in the dictum that says: teach a woman, teach a generation, stated that "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."
Arc Sambo enumerated several areas of intervention by the administration towards empowering the Nigerian woman, which include the establishment of 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.
Other areas he mentioned include the institution of micro credit finance schemes, enrolment of over 500,000 women and youth annually into the SURE-P employment scheme and also the training nationwide of over 9,000 women in various vocational skills by the National Centre for Women Development, among others.
To this end, Vice President Sambo said, "A 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% affirmative action and the millennium development goals (MDGs) target on gender equity and women empowerment."
He expressed delight with the recognition accorded President Jonathan for his various efforts aimed at the promotion of the women gender, particularly the prestigious award conferred on him. Earlier, the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, was full of praises to 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; noting that the event was to celebrate the brilliant achievements of the Nigerian woman.
The First Lady, who observed the presence of Vice President Sambo at the event, said, it is a strong indication of his unwavering support to women. She therefore, enjoined Nigerian women to rally round Government to achieve development. In her remarks, the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Amina Namadi Sambo said that the Nigerian woman over the years, had contributed immensely to national development. She praised President Jonathan and the First lady for their commitment towards women development and empowerment.
Hajiya Amina Sambo stressed that President Jonathan's administration had shown considerable confidence in the abilities of the Nigerian woman and her contributions and capabilities towards national development. She appealed to women to work for peace, emphasising that without peace, development would be difficult to achieve. The event organised by the National Council of Women Societies in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady and 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 a mammoth presence of women across the country.
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Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria