Buhari reiterates commitment to women’s welfare

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his administration’s commitment to women’s welfare as demonstrated in the rescue, rehabilitation and re-integration of the 21 released Chibok girls.

The government, he said, would not relent in securing the release of the remaining girls.

The president made the remark at the 31st annual national conference of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) held in University of Lagos main auditorium in Akoka.

Represented by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, the president urged Nigerians to keep the hope of a better Nigeria alive as his administration was poised to surmount the present challenges.

“I urge you not to despair, but pray and trust in almighty Allah, the only one that can guarantee the safe berthing of ships, irrespective of any magnitude of turbulence on the high seas,” he said.

In the speech that was read by the Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, Buhari urged Nigerians to support the government in its efforts at taking the country out of the present economic challenges.

The president commended FOMWAN and congratulated the umbrella body of all Muslim women organisations in the country on its 31st yearly national conference.

Aregbesola, in his own capacity as a special guest, commended FOMWAN for restoring sanity in the society.

He described women as nation builders, enjoining them not to relent in shaping the society in positive ways.

Lagos State deputy governor, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule, lauded FOMWAN for its consistency in discussing relevant issues since its establishment 31 years ago.

Mrs Adebule said: “There can be no more appropriate time than now to use our influence as women to correct the negative perception of Islam due to the activities of those who use the platform to perpetrate heinous crimes against humanity.”

The guest speaker, Dr Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef, Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, said peace and security could be attained when Nigerians change their negative attitudes and collectively support government to transform the nation.

“We must also have respect for the rules and Nigerians must unite for prosperity. If we adhere to all these, development will set in,’’ he said.

FOMWAN National President, Hajia Amina Omoti, said peace and security were important components of development in any society, adding: “Where peace and security are threatened, there will be no development in terms of the infrastructure, social, economic and educational sectors of the nation.

“We urge government to formulate and implement policies to meet the immediate needs of Nigerians as a way of ensuring peace and security.”

Hajia Omoti lauded President Buhari’s anti-corruption stance and urged the administration to pursue to a logical conclusion all cases against corrupt officials that contributed to the current hardship faced by Nigerians.

She also commended the Federal Government’s efforts on the release of 21 of the abducted Chibok girls and called for sustained negotiation for the release of the remaining girls.