After disappearing from the spotlight for over five months, Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buahri has resurfaced and expressed disappointment over the impact the recent abduction of female students will have on the fight for girl-child education and early marriages.
Mrs Buhari who made her emotions known via a statement to mark the International Women’s Day on Monday, expressed sorrow at the continued abduction of women and girls by insurgents and bandits in the country.
She observed that the 2021 edition of the women’s day, offered yet another opportunity for humanity to review and reflect progress made on issues of women and girls
She said this year’s theme, “Women In Leadership: Achieving on Equal Future in a COVID-19 World”, is a strong call to appreciate the efforts of women and girls in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aisha noted that COVID-19 has had a huge impact on women; disrupted education and careers, lost jobs, descent into poverty, and proliferation of domestic violence.
“Many have also died or suffered due to lack of access to basic information on the pandemic, It is therefore important, not just to continue spreading the message of the COVID-19 protocol, but to remember and support those who have been affected negatively by the pandemic in one way or another.
“Away from COVID-19, women and girls in Nigeria have continued to suffer abductions both in the hands of insurgents and bandits.
“As a mother, I share the sorrow and agony of the victims and their families. I am also not unaware of the impact that these abductions could have in reverting many successes we have hitherto achieved, especially in terms of girl-child education and early marriages.
“I call on all stakeholders to continue to exert their different levels of influence and bring these abductions to an end and to assure us that girls are safe anywhere they may find themselves,” she said.
