126 women serving under President Jonathan, says Patience

The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, on Friday said 126 women were occupying political positions in President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Dame Jonathan stated this at a women town hall meeting organised by Senator Florence Ita-Giwa in Lagos.

The First Lady, who was represented by Olajumoke Akinjide, the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, said women were contributing to national development in various sectors of the economy.

She said President Jonathan had demonstrated a strong commitment to his social contract with Nigerian women, adding: “Indeed, the women of Nigeria can confidently say that this is their administration.”

She noted that given the direction of political activities in the country currently, the meeting, which had “Women in Action” as theme, could not have come at a better time.

“This is so now that there is increasing awareness about women activism and participation in politics in Nigeria,” she said.

Earlier, the Convener, Ita-Giwa, expressed gratitude to Jonathan for his respect for and recognition of Nigerian women.

She said that there was the need for continuous support of women “and the grooming of young girls to become politicians”.

NAN reports that women groups in attendance in included those in business, banking and legal industries.