By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
A One day meeting of Nigerian Governors Wives’ Forum was held in Bauchi. The meeting deliberated on many issues that affects vulnerable target groups in Nigeria and how it can impact positively on the lives of Nigerian women.
The meeting also adopted the resolution to change the name of the Forum from the Nigeria Governors Wives’ Forum to Nigeria Governors Spouses’ Forum.
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting held at Government House, Bauchi which was read by chairperson of the forum and wife of Kwara State Governor , Prof. Olufolake Abudulrazaq, the Forum also endorsed women digital upskilling programme, in partnership with the Lagos Business School and Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) – an initiative to have the first ladies sponsor girls and women from their states for training to reduce the gender gap in the technology industry.
Other achievements recorded by the Governor’s wives in the period under review was the mobilization and engagement of the governors’ wives in the World Breastfeeding Week sensitisation, hand washing awareness, Human Papillomavirus Vaccine awareness, drug eradication campaigns, sustained advocacy on sexual and gender-based violence, improved nutrition, women and girl child education, skills acquisition and empowerment of women and youths among others have given them more visibility in their various states.
Earlier before the commencement of the meeting, Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Auwal Jatau appreciated the significant strides made by the Nigerian Governors Wives’ Forum in addressing various social issues through empowering women and promoting gender friendly policies.
Auwal Jatau gave the commendation when the executives and members of the forum paid a courtesy visit to Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed at the Council Chambers, Government House, Bauchi.
The Deputy Governor who spoke on behalf of the Governor, noted that, through education, healthcare, skills acquisition programs, and economic empowerment projects, the forum has exemplified what “service to humanity” truly means.
He described the Nigerian Governors Wives’ Forum as an excellent platform for exchanging ideas that will help to shape government’s policies and programs towards achieving gender equality and empowering women across states of country and stressed the need for using the platform to forge long-lasting partnerships and establish networks that will address social, economic, and political barriers faced by women.