BEVERLY HILLS, March 08, (THEWILL) – Aisha Buhari, wife of President Muhhamadu Buhari has called on Boko Haram insurgents to leave Nigerian girls alone.
She expressed the concern in Abuja on Thursday while delivering a speech she titled: “Leave Our Daughters Alone’’, to mark the 2018 International Women’s Day saying she shares in the sorrow and agony of parents of abducted Dapchi schoolgirls and other abducted girls in the country.
“As a mother, I share (in) the sorrow and agony which the parents are going through up to this moment,” she said.
“I am aware of the efforts being made for the release of the remaining Chibok girls as well as the recently (abducted) Dapchi girls. It is my sincere hope that the efforts will yield positive results.”
The wife of the president said the abductions have exposed the long-standing evil perpetrated against women in the society and therefore, called on relevant stakeholders, especially the media, to stand against the issue.
“It is a disturbing issue for which we must put heads together, pray, speak out, show concern and ensure that the situation comes to an end,” she said.
She said it was unfortunate that celebration of the 2018 International Women`s day came with pains and agony following the abduction of the Dapchi School girls.
Aisha also expressed concern over the use of young girls by insurgents to carry out suicide bombing.
She, however, congratulated Nigerian women for successfully marking the day and prayed for greater opportunities for the Nigerian woman.
On her part, Dolapo Osinbajo, wife of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, said the 2018 event came at a time of celebrating the progress made by Nigerian team at the Winter Olympics, and a time of unhappiness over the abduction of the Dapchi schoolgirls.
Dolapo also called for equal opportunity to the women.
In the same vein, the Director-General of the National Center for Women Development, Barrister Mary Ekpere-Eta, said this year, there was an unprecedented global movement for women’s rights, equality and justice.
She said sexual harassment, violence and discrimination against women have captured public discourse, propelled by a rising determination for change, which she noted were instrumental to the declaration by the Wife of the President on the harmful practices affecting women and girls in Nigeria.
The DG drew attention to the plight of rural women, who despite their hard work lack basic infrastructure and services, decent work and social protection, and are left more vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
She called for urgent action to reverse this trend and ensure better life for the rural women. Goodwill messages were delivered by UNICEF, UN Women, UNFPA and a host of others.
