The Northern Governor’s Wives Forum (NGWF), held their 14th meeting of the forum to coincide with the date of the event, 14th April, 2014. It was hosted by the wife of Nasarawa State Governor, Salamatu T. AL-Makura, in Nasarawa State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro.
In her welcome address at the occasion, Mrs. Al-Makura enjoined Nigerians to come together for peace. “Let’s continue to pray for peace, unity and progress of this great nation”, she said. He believed that members would make good use of the information they would get from the presentations by resource persons.
Two eminent personalities were chosen to present papers at the occasion. They are: Dr. Asma’u Abdulkadir SSA to the President on Gender Issues with the topic, “Gender Issues and National Development in Northern Nigeria; and Dr. Janet Angbazo, Executive Chairperson Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency with the topic “Promoting Women’s Health, from Conception to Menopause”.
The Chairperson of NGWF, Arc. Dooshima Yemisi Suswan, in here keynote address said that Nigerian women especially those from the North have been heartbroken since Boko Haram insurgency since 2009. She said it is the sincere prayer of the forum that the insurgency had reached its climax with the abduction of the Chibok school girls. She commended Nigerians and the International community for their unwavering support and resolve that the girls must be brought back.
Speaking further on the level of insecurity in the country she pointed out that: “A hopeless and hungry person as the saying goes is an angry person. Efforts therefore must be made to reduce the number of people who are in the bracket so as not to compound our security challenges”. According to her, “Advocacy campaign on security, education, empowerment, sports, healthy living, neo-natal and maternal mortality will continue to be issues of top on our agenda. Due to our determination and dogged efforts, polio and other killer diseases will soon be a thing of the past in Northern Nigeria”.
A communiqué was issued at the end of the meeting and was read by the Chairperson of the forum, Arc. D. Y. Suswan. The forum discussed four major issues; Logistics on polio eradication; Promoting women’s health from conception to menopause; Gender based violence; and The growth enhancement support program (GES) of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.
The forum made ten resolutions in the communiqué, among which are: That the Federal Government be commended for her effort to check the security challenges in the country; That the abducted Chibok Secondary School girls be released forthwith; The forum identified the urgent need to distribute relief materials to persons who suffered insecurity in Borno, Yobe, Benue and Nasarawa; That parents should continue to ensure girl child education as no society can make serious progress if her female population is uneducated; That the Aimajiri education system be integrated into the formal existing education system, etc.
Eleven states were represented at the 14th meeting of the forum: Arc. Dooshima Yemisi Suswan (Benue); Mrs. Adama J. Dankwambo (Gombe); Mrs. Jummai B. Aliyu (Niger); Hajia Halima L. Wada (Kogi); Hajia Asmau Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara); Salamatu T. Al-Makura (Nasarawa) and others.
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