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Tag: Aisha Buhari

  • Aisha Buhari to Chibok girls: Forget the past, acquire skills

    Aisha Buhari to Chibok girls: Forget the past, acquire skills

    The wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, on Wednesday pledged her support in the resettlement of the recently rescued Chibok school girls.

    She also advised them to forget the past and acquire skills to be self-reliant.

    Aisha made these remarks during her meeting with the 82 freed Chibok school girls in Abuja. She was accompanied by the Minister of Information Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Minister of Women’s Affairs, Sen. Jummai Alhassan.

    Also at the meeting were the wife of the Vice-President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Dr Hajo Sani, and some wives of state governors.

    Aisha urged the girls to also focus on their education as soon as they were reintegrated into the society.

    “When you were away, we cried and prayed with your parents for your safe return,” she said.

    “It gladdens my heart that after years of hoping, crying and praying, 82 of our Chibok daughters are out of captivity. I am still hopeful that the rest of the abducted girls will also return safe and sound, ” she said.

    Aisha, who prayed for the safe return of the remaining girls, assured them that their future would be bright and presented gifts to them.

    The wife of the president expressed gratitude to relevant agencies involved in the release of the girls.

    On her part, the wife of the Vice-President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, expressed her happiness for the safe return of the girls.

    Senator Alhassan, the Women’s Affairs minister, said that the girls would be reintegrated back to the society after they had undergone psycho-therapy.

    Alhassan also said that the government made provision for skill acquisition for the girls to enable them earn a decent living.

    The minister thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his serious commitment towards the recovery of the girls.

    Alhaji Lai Mohammed said: “What is paramount to us is the release of the remaining girls”.

    The minister also assured the girls that in a matter of days, they would be reunited with their families.

    “We will take care of you physically and psychologically,” he said.

    Responding on behalf of her colleagues, Miss Rhoda Chibok, thanked the federal government for ensuring their safe return and appealed for the rescue of all Nigerians held in captivity by the insurgents. (NAN)

  • Rape of six month old baby: Aisha Buhari, Sanusi, demand justice

    Rape of six month old baby: Aisha Buhari, Sanusi, demand justice

    •Kano State wants life imprisonment for suspect

    Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari and the Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sanusi II are demanding that the man who raped a six month old baby in Kano be made to face the full wrath of the law.

    They condemned in strong terms the rape of baby Khadijat Bashir, now eight months old, by 30 year-old, Muktakar Muhammad.

    Muhammadu is said to have committed the offence with the help of his wife.

    Their motive remains unknown.

    Mrs. Buhari on a visit to the baby at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano yesterday, described the act as inhuman.

    She hailed the state government for its immediate response which saved the life of the defiled minor.

    The First Lady’s visit was preceded by that of the Emir of Kano.

    He urged security agencies and the state government to ensure that the culprits were brought to book.

    The Emir sympathised with the parents of the child and promised the Emirate Council’s assistance for the child and her parents.

    For its part, the state vowed justice for the baby.

    As a first step, it is pushing for life jail for the suspect, according to Information Commissioner Muhammad Garba.

    Garba, in a statement, said it was “deeply saddened” by the story of rape by a close confidant of the baby’s parents.

    He declared that government “will make whoever is found guilty to pay the supreme price of life imprisonment.”

    He added:”Governor Ganduje has directed the State Ministry of Justice to handle the matter properly by ensuring that it is delivered to the letter.

    “Whoever is involved in this sordid sexual crime will be prosecuted under the relevant provisions contained in the Kano State Penal Code amendment law referred to as the ‘Principal Law’ as amended under Section 283.

    Government further promised to foot the bill for the treatment of the baby, and advised parents to “look after their wards, their movement and those they keep company with,” as part of the collective efforts to bring to an end the appalling incident of rape cases, particularly, against minors.

    It charged clergies to use their places of worship to propagate the ills of rape.

    Health Commissioner Kabiru Ibrahim Getso who gave an update on Khadijat’s treatment, said: “she was initially admitted at the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital where she stayed for three weeks receiving treatment and she was treated for rape and other associated medical condition like malnutrition.

    “She has done very well and that was why she was discharged based on the clinical assessment and the laboratory parameter  that were assessed and based on this, the physician that was managing the case felt that she was fit enough to leave the hospital.”

    He said Khadijat  was first admitted at the Referral Centre in Murtala Muhammed Hospital where cases like this  are being handled.

     

  • Aisha Buhari to present certificates to over one thousand women in Kano

    The wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, will on Saturday present certificates to over 1,000 women graduates of her skill acquisition programme in Kano.

    The first batch of the women trainees, who rounded up their one month training on May 5, were specialised in fashion designer, interior decoration, spice and condiments, souvenir work, soap and shoe making as well as event management and decoration skills.

    The programme was organised by the “Aisha Buhari Foundation” a pet project of the wife of the President.

    The women were selected from 44 Local Government Areas of the State and trained based on their choice of vocation.

    The Director, Information to the wife of the President Suleiman Haruna, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the beneficiaries were also trained on how to produce cosmetics, household cleaning products and processing of household spices.

    “Because of their number, the women were divided into two groups at different centres: the women centre at Gyadi gyadi and Salfat women centre at Goron Dutse.

    Haruna said that the wife of the president embarked on a similar training programme with the aims of assisting and engaging less privileged families.

    He said that the move would also prevent them from engaging in anti-social vices as a result of unemployment.

    He explained that Mrs Buhari had performed similar empowerment programme in Lagos, Katsina as well as medical outreach programme in Enugu, Kogi, Benue, Ibadan, Nasarawa, Imo among others.

  • Buhari, NPC call for urgent investment in Africa’s out-of-school girls

    Buhari, NPC call for urgent investment in Africa’s out-of-school girls

    The Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari and the National Population Commission (NPC), have called for urgent investment Africa’s out-of-school teenage girls.

    Buhari and the commission, made the call at a side event organised by the Federal Government in collaboration with the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) at the UN headquarters on Wednesday in New York.

    The Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was part of the ongoing 50th session of the UN Commission on Population and Development.

    Buhari, whose speech was read by Rep. Asabe Bashir, Deputy Chairperson, House of Representatives Committee on Women in Parliament, said the population of Africa’s out-of-school teenage girls was alarming.

    “Out-of-school teenage girls – ages 10 to 19 years – represent almost a quarter of the female population in Sub-Saharan Africa.

    “These girls are without opportunities to attend schools or complete their education because of severe economic, social and cultural issues.

    “These issues include poverty; early, forced or child marriage; childbearing and motherhood; and lack of access to quality and timely reproductive health care services among others.

    “The conditions are particularly worse for those girls caught in the web of insurgency.

    “Thus, they are on the verge of losing the opportunities of achieving their aspirations,” Buhari said.

    According to her, the event was Nigeria’s means of calling global attention on the three enumerated areas of investment that are prerequisite to realising the girls’ full potential.

    “First is addressing their sexual and reproductive health needs, family planning counselling and services.

    “Second, re-enrolment into formal schools to at least secondary school completion level; and third, skills acquisition and entrepreneurship”.

    The wife of the president explained that the event was aimed at presenting different dimensions of the challenges that these out-of-school teenage girls encountered.

    “It is also to showcase how a modest investment in their lives can make difference and accrue benefits that are important for realising the future we want in Africa.

    “The future that we want is reaping demographic dividends, achieving sustainable development and relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to our development aspirations.

    “By this, Nigeria welcomes partnerships and collaborations that will support efforts in Africa.

    “Such efforts must be tailored towards ensuring that these girls are not left behind as we strive to achieve the SDGs.”

    Also speaking, the Chairman, NPC, Mr Eze Duruiheoma, said “if we must reap demographic dividend in Africa, all population segments, particularly those further left behind, must be included.

    “The demography in focus – out-of-school teenage girls – constitutes a huge resource for reaping the dividend we seek, which is full implementation of the 2030 agenda.

    “The agenda seeks to realise the SDGs, if the right and timely investments are made to address their needs.

    “The event is to showcase the far-reaching benefits derivable from investing in the girls’ education – re-enrolment to completion of at least secondary school level”.

    The Director-General of the commission, Mr Ghaji Bello, called for the enforcement of the relevant laws that made provision for ensuring that children are educated to a basic level.

    “We have the resources to do that in Nigeria and we have to hold our leaders accountable to the promises they made to the people.

    “If our leaders can spend only 10 per cent of the resources on those things which make life meaningful for the masses, there will be great improvements in the lives of the citizens,” Bello said.

    In his remarks, the Charge D’affaires, Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the UN, Anthony Bosah, regretted the impacts of culture and corruption on the continent and its citizens.

    Represented by the Spokesperson for the Mission, Bolaji Akinremi, Bosah said the mission recently sponsored a resolution on “Illicit Financial Flows and Asset Recovery” at the UN.

    According to him, this is in tandem with the President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption agenda.

    The theme of the event, attended by African representatives and partners, was: “Investing In Out-of-school Teenage Girls: A Priority for Achieving Demographic Dividend, Sustainable Development and SDGs in Africa”.

     

  • Mrs Buhari visits Engr Galadima over son’s death

    Mrs Buhari visits Engr Galadima over son’s death

    Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari on Tuesday visited the home of Engr. Buba Galadima to offer condolences over the death of his son, Aliyu Buba Galadima, who died in a road accident recently.

    The First Lady described the death of the young man as very painful and prayed Almighty Allah to grant him access into paradise.

    Mrs. Buhari was accompanied on the visits by wife of the Governor of Nasarawa state, Hajiya Mairo Tanko Almakura, wife of Zamfara state Governor, AsmaúYari, wives of service chiefs and many others.

  • I thank God my husband is back – Mrs Buhari

    I thank God my husband is back – Mrs Buhari

    The wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, received her husband, President Muhammadu Buhari, amid cheers from families and well wishers, who joined her to welcome the President from medical vacation.

    Mrs Buhari, who received the President at about 9a.m. at the official residence in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, thanked Nigerians for their support and prayer for the President.

    The wife of the President was joined by Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, the wife of the Vice-President, wives of State Governors, Ministers, family members and her close associates.

    Mrs Buhari, who was happy at the return of her husband, expressed gratitude to Almighty God for the successful return of the President.

    In the same vein, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, has expressed her happiness for the successful return of the President.

    Oyo-Ita urged Nigerians to continue praying for their leaders to enable them deliver good governance to the people.

    Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the wife of the President Dr Hajo Sani, expressed her joy for the return of the President to the country.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that President Muhammadu Buhari, returned to Nigeria in the early hours of Friday from London, after 51 days of medical vacation.

    Buhari touched down at the new Kaduna International Airport at about 7.40 a.m on Friday, amid tight security.

  • Women’s Day: Buhari’s wife challenges stakeholders on gender equality

    Women’s Day: Buhari’s wife challenges stakeholders on gender equality

    The wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, has challenged governments at all levels to rise to the global challenge of ensuring gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls.

    Mrs. Buhari, who gave the challenge in her message to mark this year’s International Women’s Day, appealed all stakeholders to rise to the global challenge of ensuring the achievement of the goals in line with the objective of sustainable development goals.

    The Director of Information, Office of the wife of the President, Mr. Suleiman Haruna, issued the statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Mrs. Buhari, who congratulated the Nigerian women and women all over the world on the event, reaffirmed her commitment towards the cause of women through her initiative, “Future Assured”.

    According to her, the event has provided yet another opportunity to reflect on the condition of women both at the global arena and national level with a view to providing a way forward for the betterment of the Nigerian women.

    “Today is a historic day in the struggle for the upliftment of Women across the continents.

    “I recall with happiness the series of steps taken at different levels to drive attention to the plight of women in the areas of health, education and opportunities in the scheme of things.

    “However it is my wish therefore to felicitate with fellow Nigerian women and women all over the world on this very memorable and important day,’’ she added.

    The wife of the president also urged the women not to be discouraged by the seeming socio-economic challenges they had been experiencing in their journey towards greatness in the society.

    He said: “As you may be aware, records have shown that women are the most vulnerable and poorest group globally.

    “In Nigeria, this gap exists as a result of socio-economic and other factors. Despite these challenges that women face in their journey, however, they must not be deterred as they are the fountain of wisdom and endurance.’’

    The United Nations had set aside March 8, of every Year as a day to mark the International Women’s Day.

    This year’s theme, “Be Bold for Change”, encourages taking groundbreaking action that drives the greatest change for women; accelerating gender parity and helping women advance and unleash their limitless potential.

     

  • Aisha Buhari to host West African first ladies

    Aisha Buhari to host West African first ladies

    THE President’s wife, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, is convening a high-level meeting of first Ladies of West African states towards providing adequate social and economic support to refugee women and children in the Lake Chad Basin.
    This was disclosed yesterday at the technical session convened to marshal the strategy in Sokoto.
    The meeting has been fixed for February 28 in Abuja and will attract the First Ladies of Niger, Cameroon, Chad, Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali and development, voluntary and civil society organisations.
    According to a statement by the Director of Information in the Office of the Wife of the President, Suleiman Haruna, Mrs. Buhari had initiated discussions on the issue with the First Lady of Niger, Dr. Malika Issoufou Mahamadou, at the sidelines of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly, last year.
    It reads: “Mrs. Buhari and Dr. Mahamadou were concerned with the spate of fleeing populations and refugees moving within and across national borders in search of safety and settled life, especially in the Lake Chad Basin, which has been described as conflict-prone, with UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) reporting 3.8 million people facing severe food insecurity and going hungry, as at July 2016.
    “Key among the areas of interest are establishment of a coordinating mechanism in the region, distribution of relief materials, provision of psychosocial support to the victims and empowerment of women and girls. There is also the issue of advocacy to expose the magnitude of the humanitarian crisis in the region.”

  • Buhari’s wife denies abusing privileges in London

    Buhari’s wife denies abusing privileges in London

    The Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, on Friday distanced herself from any linkage to an alleged bleeding of the Nigerian High Commission in London.

    According to her, she didn’t abuse any privilege of the High Commission.

    The Special Assistant on Media to the Wife of the President, Adebisi Olumide Ajayi, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.

    She said: “The attention of the Wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Buhari, has been drawn to a report in Sahara Reporters where, she was amongst other things accused of abuse of privileges at Nigerian High Commission in London.

    “It is not in her interest to join issues with anyone or defend others mentioned in the report. It is however paramount to put the record in proper perspectives as it concern her trips to United Kingdom vis-à-vis the Nigerian High Commission in London.

    “Aisha Buhari has never traveled to London with a large entourage as was carried in the report. The highest number of people on a trip involves her three kids, ADC, and her personal physician.

    “The Nigerian Commission in London has never offered any favour either monetarily or materially to her or her so called entourage on any of her trips to London.”

    She explained that the State House Abuja caters for her meal when necessary. Other healthy food and variety needed by her children are her personal responsibility.

    She added: “It is on record that the Nigerian Commission in London does not receive Aisha Buhari at the airport with any official distinction or privileges as was accorded other first ladies before her

    “Her drivers are privately arranged without any recourse to the embassy for staff.

    “She has never complained or raised dust about any of these acts by the High Commission because of the understanding, as clearly spelt out and practiced by her husband, that public office must be separated from the private lives of the occupants.”

     

     

  • Aisha Buhari: I’ve not received gratification from anyone

    Aisha Buhari: I’ve not received gratification from anyone

    Wife of the President Mrs. Aisha Buhari, yesterday, said she had not collected gifts from anybody since her husband was inaugurated.

    She said she was protecting the name and integrity of the President’s family.

    The First Lady said the same thing applied to wife of the Vice President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo.

    While she described herself as a Sunni Malama, she said it was evident Mrs. Osinbajo was a committed pastor.

    Mrs. Buhari, who spoke at the launch of Nigerian Women Against Corruption (WAC) in Abuja by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in collaboration with her office, said she would mobilise women against corruption.

    She said: “I hereby urge wives of governors to key into the initiative and launch similar projects in their states.

    “I hereby call on women to support the anti-corruption war. Let me remind everyone that the home is our first institution, we cannot be good citizens in the larger society without imbibing  integrity, virtues and accountability as our way of life.

    “In addition, as you’re aware, we have passed through the campaign season in which me and my sister, wife of the Vice President, Mrs Osinbajo who is known as a pastor and myself, a Sunni Malama, we have never ever collected a penny from our supporters or donors in the name of campaign.

    “We’ll rather ask them to go and put the logo of APC on top of items and bring them in large quantity, instead of N100, 000 or N200, 000 to be given to us. That was the beginning of the fight against corruption.

    “ I know the type of husband that I have and I stood firm to maintain the integrity and name of the family. Till today, I don’t receive gifts.

    “Right from the day we won election, people have been trooping in with gifts but I have never collected gifts and till today, I’m not ready to do that. In the end, long live Nigeria, long live Nigerian women and long live EFCC.”

    Mrs. Buhari appealed to women to support the war against graft.

    She added: “This is a clarion call for women to team up and wage a determined and sustainable war against corruption as bane of development.

    “As we are aware, corruption has eaten deep into every fabric of this nation.  It has crippled the development of our country, which has resulted in the deplorable state of our vital infrastructure.

    “We are feeling the resultant effects of corruption in our erratic electricity supply, poor health care services, falling standard of education, dilapidated infrastructure, unemployment and the recession.”

    She said corruption was behind increasing crimes in the society, including kidnapping.

    Mrs. Buhari added: “Corruption fuels serious crimes, such as terrorism, kidnapping, child trafficking, drug trafficking, gun running and a number of others that directly and severely impact women of all ages and backgrounds.”