Health
NIGERIA and Women for Africa Foundation, a Spanish entity are to partner on promoting education, leadership training and empowerment for women in the country.
Dr Teresa Langley, Director-General of the Women for Africa Foundation, during a courtesy visit to the Director General, Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (MBNCWD) in Abuja said the collaboration would promote leadership skills to Nigerian women.
Langley added that it would also aid in harnessing women’s potentials, break stereotype against women in Africa and improve access to research and documentation for development and planning processes.
“This is our first time working on the ground in Nigeria. We have a pilot project in the university of Lagos with women professors on leadership training.
“So that the leadership skills expands to the students and beyond the younger generations.
“I hope that we can figure out some synergies and specific collaborations that will contribute to having more powerful in the country,” she said.
Patricia Gomez, First Secretary , Spanish Embassy, said: “it is an honour for Spain to find in our private sector Women for Africa Foundation that are really thinking ahead thinking of all the talent that exists in the continent.
” So it is a pleasure for the embassy to be accompanying them today to this visit.”
Responding, Dr Asabe Vilita-Bashir, DG, MBNCWD, said the partnership would empower women and improve their participation in leadership positions.
Vilita-Bashir assured them that the centre’s mandate revolves around research and documentation, training and women empowerment, which was inline with the foundation’s core values.
She, therefore, stressed the need for more collaboration with the organisation and others to empower women on economic, leadership and political skills.
” This is a hub of the Nigerian women and I want to appeal to you that whatever programs you want to set up in Nigeria, you should consider this centre as your starting point.
“Because this is the most conducive institution that can partner with your foundation effectively.
“Nigeria is going through challenges, and the women are not finding it easy and we believe that your coming will bring some succor to our women, especially in the area of empowerment.
“Women are at the forefront of economic activities, if given the opportunity to boost their businesses, or to empower them, they will generate income.
“Our core mandate is research and we have alot ongoing, which if we collaborate with you it will help Nigeria, especially in areas on violence against women, leadership positions, education, capacity building.
“So if given the opportunity, we want to collaborate with you so that we can have robust training for our women, “she said. (NAN)
8th March, 2024.
C.E.
Tags: Maryam Babangida Teresa Langley
