Buhari promises more support for women

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that the Ministries of Women Affairs and Justice will work with the National Assembly to ensure that necessary reforms are passed in the ongoing constitutional and electoral reform processes to support women’s course. The president gave the assurance on Friday while speaking at the State House where he received national […]

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that the Ministries of Women Affairs and Justice will work with the National Assembly to ensure that necessary reforms are passed in the ongoing constitutional and electoral reform processes to support women’s course.

The president gave the assurance on Friday while speaking at the State House where he received national and international working groups of the Supporting Advancement of Gender Equity (SAGE) to commemorate the 2021 International Women’s Day (IWD).

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The president, who said he remained fully committed to seeing more Nigerian women in leadership positions at national and international institutions, assured that access to credit would be further eased, and that more space would be created for women to participate in politics.

He lauded women for their invaluable contributions in sustaining the socio-economic fabric of the country, from the corridors of decision making to rural communities.

He said, “I am very proud of the achievements of my former Minister of Environment and now United Nations (UN) Deputy Secretary General, Amina Mohammed; Fatima Mohammed Kyari as the African Union (AU) Permanent Observer to the United Nations and the newly elected Director General (DG) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

President Buhari further said the twin evil of limited access to education and poverty and gender-based violence remained strong inhibitors to women’s participation in politics and governance.

“However, our resolve remains unshaken in tackling these issues. Despite the spike of incidents of abduction of school children and other security challenges, this government remains resolute in its pursuit of a just and credible society devoid of inequities and promotion of the rule of law. Let me assure you all that we remain committed to working with groups such as yours to address these challenges.

In her remarks, the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, said women needed more, particularly in economic empowerment, quality education and legislation that would favour participation in politics.

A former President of Malawi, Dr Joyce Banda, also gave a goodwill message at the event.