By Mike Oboh
African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) has promised to employ advocacy toward encouraging parents to send back their girls to schools in the northern part of Nigeria despite the cases of kidnappings in schools.
The Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Africa First Ladies Peace Mission, Dr Mairo Al-Makura said on Monday that though the attack and kidnapping of the school girls in the north was discouraging but the fear of the parents not to allow their kids back to school will be counter productive as the aim of the criminals would have been achieved.
Dr Al-Makura said that the Mission will do all it can to encourage parents to ensure the girl’s return to school to continue with their education as the rate of women involvement in education was low and not allowing them to come back to school would have negative impact on quest to raise the level of education in the north.
The Special Assistant who spoke at a press briefing to herald the International Women Day with a theme: “Women in Leadership: achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 World” said though tremendous progress on women’s right and leadership over the last few years, the pandemic was threatening to reverse the gains that have been made.
She said the pandemic has disproportionately impacted women in many areas, particularly gender based violence while the world implemented lockdown measures to curb the pandemic, there has been a spike in reported domestic violence and conflict related violence against women and girls.
Dr Al-Makura said women need to have a seat at the decision making table to ensure the success of the measures put together to eradicated the pandemic.
She said the Mission celebrate African women for their role Ini furthering peace on the continent though the body will not lose sight that gender equality and women rights are fundamental to the continent’s progress on peace and protection for all women and girls across the continent.
“The development of Africa cannot be achieved without women’s efforts and contributions. On this International Women’s Day, let’s empower and encourage African women and girls to ensure their participation in all decision making levels “she said.
