Aisha Buhari Speaks On What Maryam Babangida Did For Nigerian Women

The First Lady, Aisha Buhari has commended the wife of General Ibrahim Babangida, Maryam for being the pioneer of the first lady office in Nigeria.

The wife of the former military president was identified for her “Better Life Programme” created for women in the rural area.

The spokesperson to Aisha Buhari, Aliyu Abdullah, noted that the first lady stated this during an event organized to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Maryam Babangida.

The event with the theme “Mothers of the Nation: History Revived 2020,” was attended by former First Ladies.

The first lady commended Maryam for “initiating the National Women Commission as the first institutionalized machinery for women’s development in the country, which led to the concept of women in development becoming a permanent feature in development planning.”

She further stated, “all first ladies that came after her initiated programmes in order to add value to the work of their husbands.”

Aisha Buhari while speaking on the future of the Programme, she said, “focuses on the challenges of women as captured by the various development goals including health and well-being of women and children, empowerment of women and youths, equitable quality education for women and girls, as well as protection of women’s rights.”

She condemned the consistent challenges of gender-based violence and drug abuse in Nigeria, she called for an effort to end the menace.

Aisha lauded the daughter of Maryam, Aisha Babangida for upholding the ideals of her late mother.

Mrs Uche Azikwe commended the first lady for her various initiatives and programs, she called on her to shun any negative criticism.

Mrs Azikwe recalls that as first lady to her husband she was advisors and co-pilots to her husband and not passengers.

The event was attended by the wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo, the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience Jonathan.