Nigeria's first lady lauds global efforts on abducted girls

The First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, on Wednesday lauded the global efforts to secure the release of the abducted Chibok girls from the Boko Haram insurgents.



Jonathan said this when she received members of the Association of Spouses of Heads of Mission in Nigeria in the State House in Abuja.

The association was led by its President, Wife of the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs. Mai Anh Shoji.

“May I take this opportunity to commend your various home governments for the support towards efforts in rescuing the abducted Chibok girls.

“Your visit is not only a clear testimony of your support and solidarity, it is also a manifestation of the long standing relationship between your countries and Nigeria.

“As mothers, we are very much worried because what concerns one concerns all, hence we are calling on Boko Haram to release our girls.

“Our prayer is that these young girls would be released soon by their abductors so that they can be re-united with their families and loved ones.

“I therefore wish to implore you my dear sisters as mothers, to also join us the Nigerian women in praying for the release of these our young girls,’’ the first lady said.

Mrs. Jonathan, who is also the President of the African First Ladies Peace Mission, reiterated the need for peace in the African region and in the rest of the world.

“Without peace, there can be no meaningful development in the world.

“Let us therefore spread the message of peace in our homes, in our communities, in our countries and in the world at large,’’ she added.

Mrs. Jonathan explained that AFLPM had initiated peace advocacy moves which were informed by the conviction that violence constituted threat to the health and survival of women and children.

“To this end, the peace mission has undertaken peace advocacy visits to some African countries, delivering relief materials to refugees and victims of violence,’’ she said.

She listed the countries to include Mali, Kenya, Saharawi Arab Republic, Guinea-Bissau and South Sudan.

The first lady also briefed the association on the activities of her NGO, the “Women For Change and Development Initiative” and the “A. Aruera Reachout Foundation.”

She said they were set up to further the interests of women, youths and children in Nigeria.

Mrs. Jonathan called for collaboration from the association to alleviate poverty, fight diseases, social exclusion and all forms of deprivation among women and children.