The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dame Patience Jonathan yesterday Wednesday, in Abuja performed the formal commissioning of the transformed Nigerian Women Hall of Fame, after about twenty years of its existence.
Highlights of the occasion were the induction of the First Lady into the most coveted national women hall of fame, as well as the graduation of over 1,900 trainees, who are beneficiaries of various Vocational Skills Acquisition programmes of the National Centre for Women Development.
Speaking at the occasion, Dame Jonathan said it is appropriate to celebrate every success that is achieved by Nigerian women, considering the rough roads through which they have journeyed to attain their present status in the affairs of the nation.
According to her, it is commendable that the women of Nigeria remember with affection and appreciation, their fore-runners who sacrificed their comfort and privileges to pave the way for the giant strides of today’s woman, stressing that their contributions to all aspects of national life will forever be written in gold.
A tumultuous ovation signifying the agreement of the audience, followed the first lady’s assertion that the administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, no doubt holds the historical record as the most gender-friendly administration in the history of the country.
Evidence of this, she said, can be seen in the impressively large number of women serving in his administration, with special reference to the strategic roles they are saddled with, both in the cabinet and other appointive positions.
Dame Patience used the occasion to commend this category of women for not betraying the confidence of both the government and people of the nation, by shining forth as diamonds in the critical areas of national life where they have been called to service.
Turning to the graduands, she admonished them to be disciplined, dedicated and prudent, by taking advantage of the opportunity to acquire skills to push through the peculiar socio-economic barriers confronting women, to demonstrate their capacity to excel, given the right circumstances.
She thanked all Nigerian women for the honour of her induction into the national women hall of fame, accepting the attendant responsibility to recommit herself to the advocacy for the improvement of the welfare of Nigerian women, children and other vulnerable groups.
She also promised to pursue with renewed vigour, the enlargement of opportunities for the women in the nation’s socio-economic and political space.
Other dignitaries that graced the occasion included wife of the Vice President, Hajia Amina Namadi Sambo, members of the National Assembly, wives of ministers and other top government functionaries, wives of service chiefs, friends of the first lady and parents of some of the graduands.
