First Lady calls for empowerment of women, youths

The wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has urged Northern State Governors’ Wives to consider the empowerment of women and youths.

The First lady stressed that this is the best way to eradicate the increasing rate of drug addiction in the north.

Buhari made the call when the governors’ wives paid her a visit at the State House in Abuja on Tuesday to brief her on the progress made in efforts to tackle drug addiction in Northern Nigeria.

She said that drug addiction was a major challenge facing women and youths in the region.

Buhari said she intended to use her pet project, `Future Assured’’, to rehabilitate and empower victims of drug abuse by using some existing structures as rehabilitation centres.

“So, I think in your next agenda you should consider training as your priority; it is not easy to deal with drug abuse but we need to empower the parents.

“By doing so, I think it will reduce the chances of having so many drug addict children because the parents will be financially independent to take care of the children,” she said.

Buhari thanked the women and Nigerians for their love and prayers for the success of President Muhammadu Buhari`s administration.

The leader of the delegation and wife of Zamfara Governor, Mrs Asma'u Yari, said the group planned to organise a sensitisation and advocacy campaign against drug abuse in the north.

Yari said that the members of the group had resolved to contribute toward strengthening existing rehabilitation centres.

Those at the meeting were the wives of Nasarawa State Governor, Mrs Salamatu Al-Makura, Mrs Rashida Bello of Kogi, Mrs Zainab Bagudu of Kebbi, and Mrs Nana Shetima of Borno.

Mrs Hadiza Abubakar of Bauchi State, Mrs Hadiza El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Mrs Regina Lalong of Plateau, among others also attended.