Nigerian women honour First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, inducts her into the prestigious National Women Hall of Fame.

[FMINigeria]

                        The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan has been inducted into the NationL Women Hall of Fame in honour of her role in advocating for positive change concerning women and President Goodluck Jonathan's administration's record role as the most gender-friendly administration in the history of the country.

The First Lady was so honoured when she performed the formal commissioning of the transformed Nigerian Women Hall of Fame, after about twenty years of its existence.

First Lady Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan, unveiling of the First Lady's portrait in the National Women Centre The commissioning of the transformed Hall of Fame was done by Dame Patience at Abuja very recently.

While the First Lady was speaking at the occasion, she said, "It is appropriate to celebrate every success that is achieved by Nigerian women, considering the rough roads through which they have journeyed to attain their present status in the affairs of the nation."

Dame Patience said, evidence of the newer status of women can be seen in the impressively large number of women serving in her husband's administration, with special reference to the strategic roles they are saddled with, both in the cabinet and other appointive positions.

Highlights of the commissioning were the induction of the First Lady into the most coveted national women hall of fame, as well as the graduation of over 1,900 trainees, who are beneficiaries of various vocational skills acquisition programmes of the National Centre for Women Development.

Dame Jonathan further said that it is appropriate to celebrate every success that is achieved by Nigerian women, considering the rough roads through which they have journeyed to attain their present status in the affairs of the nation.

First Lady Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan being inducted in to the Nigerian women hall of fame by The Minister Of Women Affairs Hajia Zainab Maina, during the ceremony According to her, it is commendable that the women of Nigeria remember with affection and appreciation, their fore-runners who sacrificed their comfort and privileges to pave the way for the giant strides of today's woman, stressing that their contributions to all aspects of national life will forever be written in gold.

A tumultuous ovation signifying the agreement of the audience, followed the first lady's assertion that the administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, no doubt holds the historical record as the most gender-friendly administration in the history of the country, especially when she said evidence of this can be seen in the impressively large number of women serving in his administration, with special reference to the strategic roles they are saddled with, both in the cabinet and other appointive positions.

Dame Patience used the occasion to commend this category of women for not betraying the confidence of both the government and people of the nation, by shining forth as diamonds in the critical areas of national life where they have been called to service.

Turning to the graduands, she admonished them to be disciplined, dedicated and prudent, by taking advantage of the opportunity to acquire skills to push through the peculiar socio-economic barriers confronting women, to demonstrate their capacity to excel, given the right circumstances.

She thanked all Nigerian women for the honour of her induction into the national women hall of fame, accepting the attendant responsibility to recommit herself to the advocacy for the improvement of the welfare of Nigerian women, children and other vulnerable groups.

First Lady Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan presenting a certificate to Mrs Uya Margaret Asuquo, during the graduation ceremony of the Vocational Skill Training Programmes at the National Centre For Women Development Abuja . She also promised to pursue with renewed vigour, the enlargement of opportunities for the women in the nation's socio-economic and political space.

Other dignitaries that graced the occasion included wife of the Vice President, Hajia Amina Namadi Sambo, members of the National Assembly, wives of ministers and other top government functionaries, wives of service chiefs and friends of the First Lady.

Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria

[Folami David]

Well she's an influential woman in Nigeria already so it's logical for that to happen. I say congratulations to her big time.