Nigeria’s Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has declared that women’s contribution to nation-building is second to none.
The minister made this declaration when the women in the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) Kaduna zone conferred on her “Woman of Value 2021” award, as part of activities to commemorate the International Women’s Day celebration.
Aliyu, who expressed delight over the recognition noted that women are beginning to attain greater height in various sectors of the economy including the oil and gas sector.
She also used the occasion to commend President Muhammadu Buhari for giving women a voice to push for policies and programmes that would bring about development in the society, stressing that any society that engages women in the process of policy and decision making grows faster than those that relegate women to the background.
The minister said, “Women are beginning to attain great heights in various sectors including the oil and gas sector. This gives me great joy. When women are committed to doing something, they do it with all passion and dedication, even the meagre resources could be managed with all prudence and, there is no impossibility with a woman in her strive to achieve something.
“That is why the contribution of women in nation-building is second to none. Any society that engages women in the process of policy and decision-making grow faster than the society that refuses to engage women. But we are happy as Nigerians especially under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, who has engaged women and move away from paying lip service to women issues to the actual engagement of women”.
Earlier, Comrade Hasiya Audu Hassan, Chairperson Women in PENGASSAN, Kaduna zone comprising the 19 northern states and FCT, commended the FCT Minister of State for embarking on meaningful projects aimed at boosting the standard of living of rural communities.
According to her, “We are aware of a lot of meaningful projects she has embarked upon and most of the projects are to boost the standard of living at the grassroots. For instance, the renovation of the dam in Gwagwalada, rehabilitation of healthcare centre in Kado, launching of the FCT Health Insurance Scheme in Kwali, improving healthcare in rural communities amongst others.
“Most of the people who visit these healthcare centres are women and children. It is positively affecting women and children in the FCT and anything that affects women and children is what women in PENGASSAN stand for”.
Zainab Sa’id
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