In the face of the various advocacies for gender equality and girl-child education, Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari
on Wednesday, urged parents to allow their children especially the girl-child to attain some level of education before marriage.
She said this will serve as a form of empowerment for the girl-child even after marriage.
Mrs Buhari spoke in Abuja, at the International SHEROES forum, Themed: Advancing Women’s Roles in Business Leadership and Governance.
She said:”As you are all aware, empowerment of women is the major content of my future assured programme.
“I advocate for enrolment of children into school by encouraging parents to allow their children to attain a certain level of school before marriage, I believe education is the foundation for the empowerment of women and children especially the girl-child.”
Speaking through the wife of Nasarawa State governor, Hajiaya Salamatu Tanko Almakura, she affirmed that gender-related issues are such that demands holistic efforts to tackle.
“We have to come together with men and women as partners to confront gender equality issues, we need to work with government, civil societies and private sectors to address the underlining bias and social norms that permit women and girls to be treated as lesser breeds than men and boys,” she said.
She noted that progress on the achievement of gender equality campaign has rather been on a snail pace despite the 1995 Beijing plan for action.
“Despite the gains made on women right since 1995 Beijing plan for action we still have a long way to go in enjoying a gender equal world. We also need to guide against sliding back on progress already made.
“The power of ratifying an agreement to bring about change in legislation, working on the design of progressive laws and ensuring that the laws are effectively implemented, in order to be successful in our goals for equality.
Women need to come together by supporting and encouraging each other in creating a positive impact,” she noted.
To this end, she called on the government at all levels, Non-Governmental organisation to ensure that issues related to women and less privileged are prioritised.