Dame Jonathan commended for commitment to women emancipation

The First Lady of China, Peng Liyuan, has commended Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan’s commitment to improving the lots of women through her NGOs, A. Aruera Reachout Foundation and Women for Change and Development Initiative.
Liyuan acknowledged Jonathan’s advocacy for the inclusion of women in governance and mobilizing support for the implementation of the 35 per cent affirmative action.
Liyuan spoke in Beijing, China when she met with her Nigerian counterpart, Dame Patience Jonathan, on the sidelines of the bilateral talks between Nigeria and China as part of the Five-Day State visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to that country.
The First Lady of China noted with satisfaction Jonathan’s efforts towards poverty alleviation, gender equality and women empowerment.
Liyuan noted with happiness, the excellent relations between China and Nigeria and expressed optimism that the visit will further enhance the opportunities for mutual cooperation between the two First Ladies.
She informed Dame Patience Jonathan about her appointment as a WHO Goodwill Ambassador and her readiness to work with Nigeria in achieving the zero-target of HIV transmission in the world.
Jonathan restated her commitment to ensuring effective participation of women in the socio-economic and political sphere in the country, explaining her various programmes geared towards improving the lots of women, especially those targeted at strengthening the capacity of women economically and politically.
She informed Liyuan of the vision of her NGO, A.Aruera Reachout Foundation, which has trained about 4,000 men and women in various skills and vocations to make them self-reliant and help contribute to national development.
She also described the A. Aruera Reachout Foundation as a twin organization to the Women for Change and Development Initiative, her other NGO, which seeks to empower women economically, socially and politically.