Toyin Saraki Urges Women to Believe in their Equality, Value and Place in Society

To further commemorate International Women’s Day 2016, the Wife of Nigeria’s Senate President and Founder of The Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), H.E. Mrs. Toyin Saraki, called for women to be placed at the centre of development and national progress, during the Daily Trust National Women’s Summit and Exhibition 2016. Organized by the Daily Trust Newspaper, in partnership with Octlan and Mayfun Limited, the one-day national summit held on 10th of March, 2016 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, and brought together Nigerian women from diverse backgrounds, while providing a platform to address issues and challenges that collectively affect women and impact gender equality in Nigeria.

Encouraging women to work together to empower each other and mentor the next generation, Mrs. Saraki stated, “We have to believe in ourselves – our equality, our value, and our place in society… By finding the power within their own voice, and standing up for the policies and values that they hold dear, I believe women in Nigeria – and across the African continent- can be an unstoppable force for development and progress.” Alongside H.E. Mrs. Toyin Saraki, invited guests at the Summit/Exhibition 2016 included H.E Mrs. Aisha Buhari, Wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; H.E. Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, Wife of the Nigeria Vice President; and H.E. Dr. Nkosazama Dlamini Zuma, African Union Commission Chairperson.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Mrs. Saraki – who serves as the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) Global Goodwill Ambassador, in addition to serving as the Grand Patron of the White Ribbon Alliance (Nigeria) for Safe Motherhood, has further called for the elimination of gender-based violence and the empowerment of pregnant women who are at a higher risk of domestic violence by their partners.

[The Wellbeing Foundation Africa]