Aisha Buhari urges women to collaborate to change ‘the narrative’

First Lady Aisha Buhari, has urged women groups across the country to collaborate and speak together with one voice to be able to set the agenda and change the narrative.

Represented by a former first lady of Nasarawa State, Mairo Al-Makura, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, made the call on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking at the 2022 National Council for Women Societies (NCSW) townhall meeting, attended by over 50 women groups nationwide.

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“As women we are faced with many challenges take for instance the rejection of the five gender bills by the ninth assembly, although being reconsidered this is the time to change the strategy and mobilize ourselves as women to ensure we get the inclusiveness we are seeking for,” she said.

While commending the activities of the NCWS, a former first lady of Imo State, Mrs. Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha, said that under the leadership of the newly elected NCWS president, Hajiya Lami Adamu Lau, issues surrounding women will be re-positioned and will be treated with urgency.

“If we must move forward as Nigerian women, we must chant a common song of peace and unity disregarding what state or tribe you belong to. Women play a critical role in elections and we must make them understand that we are not here to compete with them rather to complement them.

“If a woman is given the chance to play her divine role, not only will the family get it right but the economy and nation as well,” she said.

Also, the NCWS President, Hajiya Lami Adamu Lau, said that the townhall meeting sought to bring all women groups together to identify new strategies in which women challenges can be addressed and also to develop a practical roadmap for improved law and policy environment for gender development in Nigeria.

She said, “It is easier to address a challenge when we speak with one voice and that’s one of the aims of this meeting. As we seek for inclusion in governance and policies, we want to make sure that we are the speaking the language of every woman, despite the association, political party or the state you come from.”

In her remarks, President, National Association of Women Entrepreneurs, Barrister Vera Ndanusa, said that the incessant need for women to be financially empowered was to reduce the economic gap between men and women.

“There’s a need for women to be economically empowered and this means including women in financial policies which will help break the barrier as without financial inclusion for women, the economy cannot move forward,” she said.