By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan.
Wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Buhari on Wednesday said there is no going back in her efforts at elevating the lives of women in Nigeria.
Hajia Buhari stated this while speaking at the opening of a three-day 5th National Women’s Summit 2016 convened by wife of the Oyo State Governor, Chief Mrs Florence Ajimobi with the theme “The Ultimate Woman at a time like this” held at the Emeritus Professor Ogunlesi Hall, UCH, Ibadan,
Speaking through the wife of the Zamfara State Governor, Hajia Asmau Yari, the wife of President declared that the importance of women to the society cannot be quantified in the modern day world.
Hajia Buhari maintained that she has been working since the emergence of her husband to improve the lives of women, children and the aged.
While pointing out that she was in Oyo State to support the wife of Oyo state governor, Chief Mrs Florence Ajimobi in her zeal to celebrate women, she advocated enviable position for women in the society
“We are here as sisters to help our dear sister and wife of the Oyo State Governor to celebrate women. The wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Hajia Aisha has worked tremendously in elevating the lives of women in Nigeria. Our able sister in Oyo state is doing same. We should always remember the saying that whatever you teach a woman, you teach a nation” she said.
In his remark, Governor Abiola Ajimobi said the role of women “either in the home front or in public space is unquantifiable” and that “family is the building block of any nation and so women’s role cannot be under-estimated”.
The governor while welcoming the delegates and dignitaries to the occasion on behalf of the government and the people of the state, said the theme was not only appropriate but timely in this period when the country is facing many challenges.
Governor Ajimobi stressed that the event which started five years ago was aimed at celebrating women who have done well for themselves and will continue to do well and that the role of women in the family cannot be underestimated.
Describing women as the pillar of man’s success in all ramifications,Governor Ajimobi declared that women across the world were noted for playing vital roles in the socio-economic and political empires which is not limited to Africa and Nigeria” and have actually contributed to the development of the country in all ramifications.
“Let me end my speech as Governor Ajimobi that I confirm that women have contributed to the development of the country in all ramifications”.
Governor Rauf Aregbesola while speaking at the summit said “the future of any society is determined by the quality of women in it”.
“Women determine how the societies we live in will be tomorrow. Men grandstand. The real content of every individual is determined by the mothers. The most resilient specie of beings is women. They don’t die easily. They are the greatest survivalists in the world. They usually have five more years life expectancy than men, though they appear fragile,” he said.
Governor Aregbesola added that “women are the custodians of values in the society” saying, “the ultimate woman must be a champion to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)”.
“We must jettison anything that denigrates the values or status of women in our society. Ultimate women should prepare their children for a digitalized world. Crude oil will no longer be the mainstay of our economy. Government must develop capacity for the employment of women. I demand government to have prerogative for the empowerment of women. Our religions give special roles to women, especially being the custodians of the society”.
The summit was attended by Governors Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Akinwumi Ambode (Lagos) and his wife Bolanle, Chief Alake Adeyemo (Oyo State Deputy Governor), wife of the Imo State Governor Mrs Nkechiyere Okorocha, wife of the Kwara State Governor Deaconess Omolewa Ahmed, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State Adejoke Adefulure, Mrs Adebisi Sosan (Deputy Governor of Lagos State), Hajia Bintu Tinubu (the Iyalode of Lagos State), the APC Women Leader in the South West Mrs Kemi Nelson, as well as the APC Chairman in Oyo State Chief Akin Oke, among many other dignitaries.
