The First Lady, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan, has said that for women to advance their rights, a comprehensive approach that could combat all obstacles such as socio-economic and traditional beliefs which “hinder women equality must be taken.’’
Speaking at the launch of her pet-project, Women for Change Initiative, Kaduna state chapter, Dame Goodluck said there was need to work “towards placing more value on each other and be there for each other by avoiding the “pull her down” syndrome.’’
According to her, they must come out in large numbers to vote for credible people in the forth coming elections must be focused united and build alliances in order to secure meaningful change.
She said the president had vowed to “see that every person’s vote counts in the 2011 elections,’’ and, therefore, urged women to come out en masse to participate in the electoral process.
The president’s wife said women played a significant role in the development of any nation, but lamented the situation whereby while women constituted only 8 per cent of the population in the parliament.
She said Women for Change Initiative was not to challenge the men, but to complement their efforts, adding that without the support of their husbands, they could not achieve anything.
In his speech, Kaduna state Governor, Mr. Partick Ibrahim Yakowa, said he was convinced that the “women for change initiative”, couldn’t have come at a better time than now “when there is an urgent need to mobilise, sensitise and arouse the collective conscience of the Nigerian women to the fact that the time has come for her to take mighty place in the society.’’
Earlier, in her welcome address, Wife of the Governor of Kaduna state, Mrs Amina Patrick Yakowa, assured of her commitment to “encourage, support and sensitise women to seek more elective positions’’ that would bring about holistic changes to all women in the state for good governance and political relevance
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Report by -Lawal Sadiq Sanusi, Kaduna
Wednesday 11 August 2010
Tuesday 10 August 2010
Wyclef Jean to Run for President of Haiti
If there were ever a time to dare, to make a difference,
to embark on something worth doing, it is now.
Author Unknown, from Dream Big
We all have our different gifting for different reasons and that is why you must never think you cannot give something back to your nation.
I admire the role Wyclef Jean is playing in his country Haiti. The latest being his declaration to run as president of the country.
Many may say he is not a politician, more could even say he is using his stardom to oppress his people indirectly. But I choose to see it differently.
I think he is the needed voice for Haiti to get the worlds' attention to their continued plight.
Every nation needs a vibrant economy and tourism is a revenue generating industry that adds to its GDP.
His position as president will enable that to happen in two folds, for the outside world to come see the rebuilding of the nation Haiti as well as explore its potential for investing. Aid and donations, will not be sufficient, If that is where they have to start from. Also this has to happen for the country's rebuilding.The people need to survive, so job creation is essential, with him as president and enlightened he will safeguard the country from investors exploitation through his policies.
The diplomatic world I will assume will accord him more respect and deal with his nation sensitively this time because he has the power to garnish media attention to any foul play or inconsistencies.
Secondly his fame will not dwindle and I for see his celebrity friends rallying round him for this exemplary role he has embarked on, they will not forsake him now or in the near future and that is an invaluable asset he has got and should optimise.
I think he is putting his fame and fortune to good use, thinking beyond just himself but how that can help rebuild the nation and most importantly, he is living his purpose on earth, he is doing his own bit. That is what counts.
May God help you Wyclef Jean, May God help Haiti.
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2008588,00.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30rWm84z-zg