Aisha Buhari receives special commendation by UNICEF
Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, was Friday presented with UNICEF special commendation and award of excellence for humanitarian service.
Presenting the award, the wife of the President was said to have deserved the honour in recognition of her selfless service to humanity, especially children’s education.
Mrs Buhari’s Future Assured Programme received special mention at the event.
Malam Suleiman Haruna, Director of Information to the Wife of the President, said in a statement he issued in Abuja, copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER on Saturday, the event that was part of the Legends for Children campaign, initiated by Blaugrana Sports International in collaboration with the National Center for Women Development to promote children’s Education in Nigeria, held at the International Conference Center, Abuja on Friday.
Speaking during the award ceremony, Mr. Muhammad Malick Fall, who is the Country Representative of UNICEF, while honouring the awardee, appreciated Mrs Buhari for her “unending amiable support to the cause of children in Nigeria” and for the important initiatives she had evolved for children, with the most recent one launched during International Women’s Day 2018, “Leave Our Daughters Alone”.
On the huge burden of out-of-school children, Mr. Fall said Nigeria has a record 10 million and warned that “if Nigeria doesn’t succeed in reversing the trend, sub-Saharan African won’t;” he therefore called for leadership from Nigeria, saying that this leadership has been exemplified by wife of the President as well as her compassion and wisdom.
Fall said further that a combination of Mrs Buhari and football is sure to draw attention to the problem of children’s education.
Mrs Gimbiya Dogara, wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who represented Mrs Buhari at the event expressed gratitude for the recognition given her by UNICEF, promising to do more, not only through advocacy but acting for the good cause of children’s education in Nigeria.
Director General of the National Center for Women Development, Barrister Mary Ekpere-Eta in her speech warned that the Nigerian situation is beyond the capacity of government, advising that attaining the anticipated future has to be a collective responsibility. Getting involved in solving the educational challenges, she added, guarantees a brighter, peaceful, viable and sustainable society. “In the light of this, it is our responsibility to get involved as that is the only way the future is assured.”
Many of Nigeria’s football legends attended the event to identify with the cause of children’s education in Nigeria.
Ministers of the FCT and Foreign Affairs and other senior government officials, many wives of Governors, and captains of industry attended the high octane event.
