ABUJA – (Wife of the President’s Office Report) – The Wife of the President, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari has pledged to continue championing the cause of women and children. She made the pledge during an event to mark the 3rd Anniversary of the Future Assured Programme at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Abuja on Saturday 27th of October, 2018.
Aisha Buhari expressed satisfaction that the programme has made such giant strides in such a short time, thanking the partners who have made it possible.
She hinted on the programme’s engagement in addressing the deteriorating health status of women, youths and children as well as its work to reduce the rate of maternal, neonatal and child mortality. She cited nutrition, lack of health education, lack of clean drinking water and poverty as the inherent problem. Adding, these have necessitated the programme to provide clean drinking water, nutrition supplements and health screening exercises against killer diseases like breast and cervical cancer, diabetes, kidney disease as well as hypertension in many parts of the country. She also mentioned about her interventions in de-worming exercises on children.
Speaking on the programme’s involvement in empowerment schemes, Aisha Buhari said that poverty has to be tackled through deliberate programmes to develop entrepreneurial skills and provide women and youths with working tools. She identified the tools to include: rice mills, fish dryers and groundnut extruders as well as grinding mills, sewing machines, rickshaws and spaghetti makers.  She also spoke on the efforts of the programme in protecting the human rights of women and children against abuse, violence and rape as well as supporting surgeries and advocacy on the conditions relating to inter-sex and hydrocephalus.
The Wife of the President further revealed that the event recognizes that many Nigerians are working to change lives like the programme is doing and they need to be emulated.
In an allied development, some organisations and persons were recognized and honoured for their contributions to humanity. They included: Abba Kyari (DCP), a police officer for uncommon dedication to duty; Ruona Meyer – a journalist for producing a documentary on Codeine leading to its ban and Tobore Ovuorie for her report on human trafficking. Also, corporate organizations like FlexiSAF Foundation, among others were honoured for their innovations and social services.
As part of the event, goodwill messages were delivered by the Federal Ministry of Health, UNFPA and Friesland Campina.
Highlights of the event was the cutting of a birthday cake and unveiling of the Future Assured Magazine as well as a platform to promote youth creativity. The event was attended by the Wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo, government officials, the Wives of State Governors and members of the Diplomatic Corps.
