Retired Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, says discrimination against women in all sectors will be dealt with, if he is elected in the March 28 election. Buhari spoke at a Town Hall meeting with Nigerian women on Thursday in Lagos.
He said that his administration would be committed to ensuring that gender was mainstreamed in key areas such as the economy, education, health, security, governance, power, agriculture and other areas of national development.
“Nigerian women have always played a visible and competent role in nation building. “In addition to their various activities, which sustained communities in pre-colonial times, they also played key roles in struggles for independence and the political processes that followed.
“However, these very important roles, while widely documented, have not been fully appreciated. “I am on a mission to restore Nigeria’s fading glory and reposition our great nation on the path of greatness.
“I am, however, aware that this will not be possible without addressing the needs and concerns of those who constitute half of the population of this country, the women,” he said. Buhari said that 20 years after the Beijing conference, Nigerian women had not fully benefited from the promises made by governments at the conference.
According to him, an APC government under his leadership will promote anti-discrimination legislations and policies to afford women equality and equity, especially in employment, education, housing and entrepreneurship.
“My administration will have zero tolerance for violence against women and girls. “We will provide women with greater legal protection from all forms of violence and sexual harassment and there will be commitment to the implementation of all existing legislation on violence against women,” he said. The candidate promised to implement the 2005 National Gender Policy which served as a roadmap for the promotion of women empowerment and gender equality in the country.
“We will include gender as a component of the federal character and we will make a concerted effort to empower women in rural areas, who constitute the majority of Nigerian women,” Buhari said. He said that his administration would improve and strengthen support for women in all sectors of the economy through access to capital, training and skills acquisition. “Ours, will be an administration that firmly believes that women hold up half the sky, my vision is for my daughters and your daughters to enjoy a world in which discrimination will be a thing of the distant past.
“It might be a long journey, but with your support and votes, we will be on the right path together. “Nigerian women have been promised so much for so long. I stand before you now to make a solemn promise that I will not take your votes for granted,” Buhari said. Earlier, Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers stated that the essence of the meeting was to afford the women to know what Buhari would do if he assumed office.
Political leaders present at the event include APC leader, Chief Bola Tinubu, Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs Titilayo Laoye- Tomori and a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Ghali Na’Abba. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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