PRESIDENT'S WIFE INAUGURATES NGO IN A'IBOM

Patience Jonathan
THE wife of the President, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, on Tuesday inaugurated the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Women for Change Initiative, with a call on women to seek more elective positions.

Jonathan, who arrived the state on a two-day working visit, also canvassed 35 per cent representation for women across the 36 states. She expressed worry that only eight per cent of the women were represented at the federal level, saying that in some states, women were not adequately represented.

Jonathan said that the W4CI would improve the economic wellbeing of women in the society. She assured the crowd that gathered at the veneue that women were not into competition with the men in any form.

She explained that Kaduna, Anambra and Enugu had approved 35 per cent affirmation for women representation while calling on the Akwa Ibom State government to do same.

She said, 'Let me say it again that we are not competing with the men. We can only appeal to them to give us more representation. Women have to be united, if we are to overcome the challenges facing us as a nation.

'Imo State has granted us 30 per cent representation for women. The W4CI offers the women a great opportunity to solve the challenges facing us as a nation. A woman, who is economically empowered, will be able to stand up and demand her rights. Discrimination against women should not be allowed in any form.'