Buhari describes Nigerian women as bedrock of society

By Egena Sunday Ode

President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with Nigerian women on the occasion of this year’s International Women’s Day, describing them as the bedrock of society.
This was disclosed in a statement Monday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.
Noting that the theme of the 2021 celebration: Choose To Challenge, is quite apt, according to the statement, the President rejoiced with the womenfolk and restated his administration’s commitment to addressing the multifarious challenges confronting them at various levels of the society.
With seven female ministers, and two of them heading strategic Ministries of Finance, Budget and National Planning; and Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, in addition to scores more in charge of key parastatals and agencies, as well as serving as presidential aides, President Buhari applauds their contributions to the successes recorded by the administration.
“I am proud of our women who have shown by dint of hard work and capacity that they can perform creditably if given the opportunity at home and on the global stage,” he was quoted to have said.
The statement said President pledged further support towards female gender inclusiveness in all sectors of national life, stressing that women are key to a happy and stable family, society and nation.
With females forming about half of the country’s population, President Buhari averred that any “government which neglects such a crucial component of its demographic asset, stands the risk of stunted growth and likely failure.”
He condemned all forms of gender-based discriminations, abuse, harassment and violence targeted especially at the female folk at work places, schools, community and national levels, the statement noted.