Aisha Buhari vows to strengthen advocacy for advancement of women, girl-child education

The First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has expressed readiness to strengthen collaboration with other development partners to provide the needed support for the advancement of women and girl-child education.

Buhari said this on Thursday, when she received members of the Nigerian Association of Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Scientists (NAPPSA) from the U.S., who paid her a visit in Abuja.

She said her foundation, through the collaborative effort of development partners, provided support to women, youths and other less privileged families, especially on medical outreaches, building maternity clinics and improved girl-child education.

The first lady also told the visitors that the Aisha Buhari Foundation built a college in Maiduguri with the aim of supporting the educational pursuit of the girl-child, especially children whose parents died as a result of Boko Haram insurgency.

“The establishment of the Future Assured College in Maiduguri, Borno State recently is to provide for the education of young girls affected by insurgency.

“This intervention provides a lead way of what we can do together to support these young brains to attain brighter future because of the challenges facing girl-child education.

“Prospect of promoting quality health and education of girl-child both at school and at home are seriously challenged,” she said.

She therefore urged stakeholders not to lose focus on the desire to ensure conducive atmosphere for women and girl-child to achieve their aspirations in future.

“I am optimistic that our common interest in promoting girl-child education can expand beyond its present scope,” she said.

Buhari used the visit to remind the gathering that much was expected in the task of improving the living standard of women and children.

In her response, the President of NAPPSA, Mrs Teresa Pounds, commended the effort of the first lady in championing the course of women, youths and children.

Pounds said they were at the State House to express their commitment in supporting the first lady’s effort in providing support to Nigerian women and children, especially to address domestic violence, women empowerment and drug abuse among women and girls.

It was reported that NAPPSA is an association of Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Scientists based in the U.S. consisting of members from the U.S. and Canada.

The group was formed in 2007 in an attempt to provide platform for Nigerian Pharmaceutical Scientists and Pharmacists in the spirit of professionalism to articulate ways to support growth and development in Nigeria.