Girl child education foundation for launch soon
By
May 3, 2008, 19:31

Media practitioners in Nigeria have been called upon to help attract foreign investors to the country by portraying good image of Nigeria.

The First Lady of Nigeria Mrs Turai Umaru Yar’adua made this call when she hosted the out-going United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) Country Representative in her office on Friday May 2.

Mrs. Yar’adua said girl-child education will be uplifted particularly in the northern part of the country where there is lower enrolment of girls in schools, the 19 northern states governments will start awarding scholarship to girls from across the states, and the governors’ wives will each launch girl-child education foundation and also provide some of them with scholarship, the wives of Local Government chairmen will also introduce girl-child foundation in their respective areas, this initiative will make the grassroots to be beneficiaries of the scheme. Mrs. Yar’adua said the efforts will empower women from every strata of society; the empowerment policy will geared the women to send their wards to school.

The problem of food shortage will soon come to an end, Mrs Turai stated that Nigerian women farmers constituted over 70% of the farming industry, they will presently receive micro credit loan for farm implements and fertilizer, the First Lady said however, her office is only to facilitate the process; the banks will issue the loan directly to farmers.

The UNICEF Country Representative, Mr Ayalew Abai, earlier called on the First Lady to mobilize and galvanize the nation to rise up and reverse the negative impact of ill health and lack of education that affect the vulnerable groups.

Mr. Abai said UNICEF will in particular; provide her with outmost support in two critical areas; maternal and child health and girls education, he further said UNICEF as member of the UN team will provide this support and coordinate with WHO, UNFPA, UNIFEM for health and with UNESCO for girls education.

The outgoing representative finally congratulated the First Lady for her unquantifiable passion for children and women, most evidenced by her unflinching support to maternal and child health, girls’ education and women empowerment through the Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation (WAYEF).

In the same vein, Mrs. Yar’adua received Philanthropists of the year 2008 Award by
Zahara Children Foundation, Montréal Canada. Acting High Commissioner, Canada,
Mrs. Ifeoma Akabogu Chinwuba, who presented the award, said it is in recognition of the First Lady’s passion for women and children. Mrs. Chinwuba said the foundation monitors the activities of women and children, it also collects donations and disburse it other nations.

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