Mrs Jonathan lauds group’s scholarship, women empowerment schemes

ABUJA – The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has commended the Ohuhu Welfare Union (OWU) of Abia for its community Scholarship Endowment Scheme.

Ohuhu is the maternal home of the first lady.

Jonathan made the commendation on Wednesday when she received members of the group, who paid her a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

She also lauded the group for its women’s wing empowerment programmes toward making significant impacts in the lives of women its community.

“I have always believed that when you empower a woman you empower the nation, thereby enabling her to contribute meaningfully to the development of the larger society.

“This realisation is what is driving our advocacy for effective implementation of the 35 per cent affirmative action.

“We have also, through various programmes of my NGOs, the Women for Change and Development Initiative (W4CDI) as well as the A. Aruera Reachout Foundation, tackled poverty among Nigerian women and youths.

“Through these NGOs, we have given opportunities to unlock the potential of our women, youths and the indigent,’’  Jonathan said.

She commended President Goodluck Jonathan for supporting women’s aspiration for empowerment by providing them opportunity to serve in key government positions. [eap_ad_2] She also commended the president  for implementing a transformation agenda, saying:  “He has focused on the rehabilitation of roads, airports and seaports and the provision of water and other social amenities.

“The award of the 2nd Niger Bridge is another remarkable achievement of His Excellency, the President, in the Southeast,’’  Jonathan said.

She urged the group to continue to be agents of positive change “which Ohuhu people are known for’’.

Earlier, President of OWU, Mr Daniel Agwu, expressed gratitude to the first lady for the honour and privilege accorded the group to pay her a visit.

Agwu said it was a demonstration of the value and regard she for her maternal home and that they were proud of her modest and outstanding achievements.

He listed the first lady’s achievements to include championing the 35 per cent affirmative action for women in public positions, from which indigenes of Ohuhu had benefited immensely.

Agwu informed her that the women’s wing of the group had adopted her initiative of women empowerment through the establishment of a Women Empowerment Fund.

He said that the objective of the fund was to economically uplift and assist Ohuhu women engaged in various economic activities in Abuja.

“Our women are also embarking on the construction of a Skills Acquisition Centre,’’ he added.

Agwu further expressed the group’s support for President  and encouraged him to run for a second term in office. (NAN) [eap_ad_3]