Wife of Nigerian President Mrs Ashia Mohammed Buhari has said that the decreasing number of women in government was alarming calling on the present administration to create equal opportunities for women to enable them to contribute towards nation building.
Mrs Buhari who was represented by the former Deputy Governor of Plateau state, Dame Pauline Tallen at a two-Day International Women Security Workshop in Abuja, urged women to unite for a common goal. She said that most women politicians are worried over declined in numerical strength of women currently in appointive and elective positions in Nigeria despite their population.
The Wife of the President, while declaring the workshop open, spoke extensively on the theme “Women, Peace Advocacy & Security Matters For Nation Building,” advising women to always be “good listeners” in order to impact positively on their well-being, families and society. In her address, the Wife of Zamfara state governor and Chair Lady of Nigeria’s Governors Wife Forum,Hajia Asma’u Abdulazeez Yari said men should not be blamed for women backwardness in politics as most a times women are problem to themselves.
She used the occasion provided by the event to advised parents to always take proper care of their children and wards as such measure might prevent them from becoming wayward in the future. Hajia Yari who also lamented against what she calls “reckless marrying of many wives” by some men who could not cater for even “one wife” in some states of the north part of the country, noted with shock that most children raised by such parents have no alternative in life than to become prostitutes, Boko Haram, armed robbers among other vices.
The Zamfara first lady also advised women to always work on their mindset adding that positive impact might come their way once they make up their mind to accomplish any given task they want for themselves. She admonished, “mothers must always be ready to play active role in the maintenance of peace and security in the country because they are the most vulnerable all cases of violence outbreak, war or epidemic.”
Also speaking, the wife of Kogi State Governor, Hajia Farida Bello advocated for support to each other so as to achieve their collective dreams of better Nigeria. The Director General, Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) Professor Osita Osita was represented by Mrs.Grace Audu, a Director in the Institute . The managing director of Skyhigh Security Safety and Skills Limited, Mrs Folake Yoba explained that the workshop was meant to address topical issues affecting the female gender in Peace advocacy and security matters.
