Aisha Buhari Blames Politics For Poor Women Empowerment
The wife of the President, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, has blamed the problems facing empowerment of women in the country on political intrigues.
Mrs. Buhari disclosed this Tuesday in her goodwill message during the first National Workshop on the Role of National Council For Women Societies (NCWS) in Economic Diversification Programmes of Government, held in Akure, the Ondo state capital.
The President’s wife noted that whenever the issue of women empowerment is raised in any political dispensation, it appears to those in power as if they are being asked to throw away the keys of the offices they are occupying.
Hajiya Buhari, who was represented by the National President of NCWS, Dr.(Mrs) Gloria Laraba Shoda, however said that those in power should be delighted by their suggestions about Agricultural Empowerment of women.
Hajiya Buhari, addressing the workshop, themed ‘Nigeria Women in Agriculture Development, Participation And Empowerment in a Practicing Democracy’, noted that the huge sums of money expended on the remedial measures for national insecurities could have long been voted for the preventive and more cost efficient measures of empowering women in agriculture.
According to her, “We all know too well today that we indeed need a new Agricultural development model and the former model has become obsolete. My belief is that women are ready, willing, available and above all, we are strong enough emotionally, physically and psychologically to take on the full challenges of providing the food needed by this country to become a food sufficient nation.”
The President’s wife urged participants at the workshop to focus on what government needs to put in place against the backdrop of what already exists in the country.
According to Ogbe, women have enormous amounts of potential that must be tapped to grow an agricultural sector that is the envy of Africa.
The minister, who said the rest of the continent looks up to Nigeria as the most populous nation in Africa, noted that the country must be able to feed itself.
His words, “This giant must arise. And for it to arise, it must be able to feed itself. It must be able to unlock the great potential within its agricultural sector. And for this, we must provide massive support for our women. That is why the women in Agriculture hold the keys to shaping Nigeria’s future and securing its destiny. Women are great builders, great managers and savers. ”
