Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has called on international agencies for more collaborative efforts to reduce the country’s malnutrition and maternal/new born deaths even as she praised the agencies for the various support they have been providing for the country.
She however said except vigorous efforts are made collectively, the goal might remain a mirage. Mrs Buhari’s recent intervention and support for many nursing mothers across the country, especially those in rural areas, point to the fact that she is not leaving anything to chance at ensuring that the plight of women and children is attended to by the present government.
Mrs Buhari is already giving the needed support to reproductive, maternal, newborn child and adolescent health, as well as improving nutritional standards in the country even as she is extending a hand of help to these mothers who sometimes are ignorant of the nutritional needs of their children. According to her, Nigeria accounts for the highest number of internally displaced persons on the continent with more than three million in various camps and places spread across the country.
The First Lady has also has reiterated her commitment to support all efforts aimed at improving the standard of education especially girl-child in the country. Aisha stated this during her visit to the Army Day Secondary School, Mambilla Barracks, on Friday in Abuja. “I will support all efforts aimed at improving the standard of education in Nigeria, especially the girl-child education,’’ she noted.
She urged children to embrace education with a view to enhance their living standard and to promote national development. She advised parents and guardians not to thwart the zeal of their children and wards, especially female children in acquiring formal education.
She said lack of adequate education for younger generation would affect the future of the country, adding that the quality of education children receive determines the future of any nation. Aisha advised the students to read hard to make Nigeria a great nation, adding that she got married shortly after secondary education and today she had “Master Degree’’ with the support of her husband.
“Getting married is not a deterrent to education rather it is an additional value to assist them in child spacing, curbing outbreak of diseases among others,’’ she said. She urged teachers to impact qualitative education and knowledge to the students as they would be the future leaders of this country as well as paying attention to girl-child education.
