First Lady of Nigeria, Dr. Mrs. Aisha Buhari has distributed food items to 52 groups in Bauchi State through her pet-project Future Assured. This is part of the ongoing humanitarian activities that the First Lady has been engaging on across the Country. The Bauchi State distribution took place on Thursday, the 9th of January, 2020.

The First Lady was represented at the distribution by the Wife of the Bauchi State Governor, Her Excellency, Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed who delivered the First Lady’s goodwill message and distributed the food items to the group of beneficiaries.

Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed informed the gathering of the beneficiaries that “the mother of the nation was passionate about the less privileged and does not discriminate amongst the poor as religious, ethnic and other diverse groups have benefitted from the distribution of the food items which covered the 20 Local Government Areas of the State”.

Mrs. Hassana Harkila, leader of the Christian Association of Nigerian Women thanked Mrs . Buhari and said “the impact of the kind gesture by the Nigerian First Lady was very significant at a time like this when the poor needed it the most” while Mallam Mas’ud Suleiman speaking on behalf of the Muslim Beneciaries assured the First Lady that the food items will reach the intended beneficiaries.

Mrs. Bala Mohammed also speaking on behalf of Bauchi State beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the First Lady, Mrs.  Aisha Muhammadu Buhari and her Future Assured Program for the unprecedented humanitarian gesture to Bauchi State people, the first of its kind in the State.

The food items distributed included a large number of 50kg bags of rice, Cartons of Spaghetti and Gallons of Vegetable Oil.

First Lady of Nigeria, Dr. Mrs. Aisha Buhari has distributed food items to vulnerable groups in Gombe State through her pet-project Future Assured as part of a series of humanitarian activities that the First Lady embarked upon since November 2019, focusing on hospitals, charity organisations and the poor . The first lady’s delegation was on a mercy mission to Gombe state from 3rd to 4th January, 2020.

Mrs. Buhari, in her goodwill message delivered by Aliyu Abdullahi, Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, (Office of the First Lady) said the visit was to show love to the most vulnerable in our communities and to remind the people of Gombe State that the mother of the nation has not forgotten them and infact identifies with them in their time of need.

Mr. Abdullahi also informed the beneficiaries that the First Lady remembers their demonstration of love, support and solidarity to her husband, President Muhammadu Buhari by the people of Gombe State.

First Lady of Gombe state, Her Excellency, Hajiya Asmau Muhammadu Inuwa Yahya, who received the team and flagged off the ceremony was overwhelmed with the kind gesture of the Nigerian First Lady and for choosing Gombe State as one of the beneficiary states for this mercy outreach mission. She was accompanied by Wife of the Deputy Governor, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Naomi Joel Awak, and other Gombe State officials.

Hajiya Asmau Muhammadu Inuwa Yahya in her remarks stated that the human spirited initiatives being pursued by Mrs. Buhari through her pet project, Future Assured are in tune with Gombe State Administration’s programmes targeting the empowerment of women, youth, and other vulnerable groups. She also pleaded with the leadership and representatives of all beneficiary groups to ensure fair distribution process with a view to reaching out to the targeted beneficiaries.

The Flagging off the distribution of bags of 50kg rice, Cartons of Spaghetti, and Gallons of Vegetable Oil  was held at the Pantami Stadium in the city of Gombe before the First Lady’s delegaton extended its visit to the Gombe Orphanage and subsequently to ancient town of Tula where one of the oldest Nigerian Correctional Facility is located, all benefitted from the food items.

The delegation of the First Lady was taken round these locations by the wife of the Governor, Hajia Asmau Muhammadu Inuwa Yahya and her team.

At the Gombe Orphanage, the delegation was received by the Head of the Orphanage, Mallam Mohammed Adamu who conducted the team round the orphanage for the distribution. Mallam Adamu and the orphans expressed their gratitude to the Mrs. Buhari for remembering them.

At the ancient Tula Correctional facility in Kaltungo Local Government Area, the Tula Women Association and the Chief Warden received the delegation and also conducted the delegation round the facility where another goodwill message from First Lady was delivered for the inmates, Mrs. Buhari admonished them to use the experience of rehabilitation and become good citizens in order for them to be reintergrated into the society and contribute their quota to the development of the nation. The Chief Warden of the Tula Correctional Facility thanked the Nigerian First Lady for coming to their rescue, while the Tula Women Association were also full of appreciation to the First Lady, the Tula Women Leader recalled that this is the first time in history that they received any delegation of Nigerian First Lady in their community and remarked that they will remember the visit as historic moment in their community.

Among the groups that benefitted from the First Lady’s generosity included FOMWAN, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) women, Widows Group, Zaurawa Group, various youth groups, three Orphanage Homes, four Correctional Facilities, People living with disabilities, various Women groups in all wards of the 11 Local Governments of the State.

The First Lady’s delegation was led by Mr. Aliyu Abdullahi the Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity  (Office of the First Lady), and Mrs. Rose Audu of the Future Assured Program.

First Lady, Dr. Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari represented by the wife of the Hon. Speaker, House of Representatives, Mrs. Salamatu Gbajabiamila was at Gwagwa Primary HealthCare Centre where the first baby of the new decade and  year 2020 was delivered. The First Baby of the New Year, Master Muhammad Sani arrived at exactly 12. 00 am on the January 1st, 2020 to the family of Mallam Sani Ardo and Mrs. Hauwa.

Mrs. Buhari welcomed Muhammad and all the other children born on the new year day in FCT with baby gifts including post natal care products, other nutritional supplies and cash presents.

The Chief Host of the event, Executive Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Adamu Abdullahi Candido thanked the First Lady for her kind gesture and promised that the AMAC will take care of the post natal care of the child. While the organizers of the event, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs represented by its Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Ifeoma Anagbogu also expressed gratitude to the First Lady for her generosity and motherly role to the nation especially to the less privileged.

The First Lady, a mother and grandmother herself, while comforting the mothers, counseled them on the need for proper care for the new born babies in terms of exclusive breast feeding, immunization and timely pre-natal and post natal care.

The event was also attended by traditional leaders of Gwagwa Communities and aides of the First Lady.

Also today, The First Lady hosted a new year party for children at the banquet hall of the Presidential Villa where the children were treated to various fun activities and a delicious meal.

First Lady of Nigeria, Dr. Mrs. Aisha Buhari has distributed food items to hospital patients in Kaduna state through her pet-project Future Assured. The First Lady’s delegation was on a mercy mission in Kaduna state on Tuesday, 24th December, 2019.

The First Lady, in her goodwill message delivered by Mrs. Zainab Ikaz-Kassim, Special Assistant to the President on Domestic Affairs, (Office of the First Lady) said the visit was to show the most vulnerable in the society that the mother of the nation identifies with them in their time of need.

Wife of the Governor of Kaduna state, who received the team said she was overwhelmed with the kind of gesture of the First Lady and for choosing Kaduna as one of the beneficiary states for this mercy outreach mission. She was accompanied by the Commissioner of Health Kaduna state; Hajiya Amina Mohammed.

The delegation of the First Lady was taken round the four hospitals by the wife of the Governor, Hajiya Aisha Ummi El-rufai.

At Rigasa General Hospital, the delegation was received by the Acting Managing Director, Dr. Sule Mohammed, who took them round the wards where the food items were distributed to the patients.

St. Gerard’s hospital was also visited by the delegation and the same gesture was extended to them. The delegation was received by a representative of the Chief Medical Director, Mr. Sunday Ali.

At Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, the delegation was received by the CMD Professor Musa Tabari. At FOMWAN hospital, the Amira, Aishatu Isiyaka expressed her joy for the love and care the First Lady displayed for the unwell.

Among the First Lady’s delegation were Mrs. Hajiya Bilkisu Usman Halilu, Mrs. Aisha Bunu and Madam Rose Audu.

…Team visits Suleija too

In the same vein, the First Lady of Nigeria Dr.  Mrs. Aisha Buhari has sent a delegation to Suleja General Hospital in Niger State to distribute provisions and beverages to the sick and less privileged people on Christmas day, 25th December, 2019.

The delegation was received by the Chief Medical Director of the hospital Dr. Adedokun Adebayo Adekunle. In her speech, head of the delegation, Mrs. Aisha Bunu said the aim of the visit was to identify with the sick and less privileged and to give them a sense of belonging.

The Chief Medical Director conducted the delegation round the wards in the hospital for the distribution of items to the patients.

He expressed gratitude to the First Lady for being there for the patients in their time of need. He said she has proven to Nigerians the true qualities of a mother. According to him this is the first time they received this kind of gesture.

The delegation includes Mrs. Maryam Hadi, Mrs. Aisha Bunu and other members of the Future Assured Mercy Mission.

As part of her humanitarian activities of bringing succor to less privileged persons in Nigeria, First Lady, Dr. Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari has sent a delegation to Benin City, Edo state to present food items and other nutritious commodities to inpatients and outpatients currently receiving medical attention at various hospitals in the state.

The team were at Benin City on Friday, 20^th December, 2019.

Four hospitals where visited by the Future Assured team including the University of Benin Teaching Hospital where the Chief Medical Director. Prof. Darlington Obaseki received and conducted them round the hospital for the distribution.

In what the head of delegation, Zainab Kassim, Special Assistant to the President in the Office of the First Lady described as a mercy mission, the aim of the visit was to identify with the patients and to show them love as well as to give them a sense of belonging.

First Lady of Edo State, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki welcomed the team and commended Mrs. Buhari for remembering those in need, especially at this yuletide.  She called for the replication of such mercy missions to spread love and compassion in the nation.

The team also visited Stella Obasanjo Hospital for a similar gesture and the Medical Director of the hospital Dr. Ifohan Ebohmwonyi expressed appreciation for this intervention describing it as bringing hope to the hopeless. At the Central Hospital Benin where the delegation was received and conducted round by the Medical Director Dr. Moses Imologomhe, he expressed appreciation for the gesture on behalf of both the hospital’s management and the patients.

Faith Mediplex was also visited by the team for the same exercise. The Medical Director, Dr. Temple Oguike was overwhelmed with the gesture describing it as unprecedented.

About 1000 packs of Future Assured items comprising milk, sugar, noodles and other essential commodities were distributed.

Members of the team included Mrs. Bilkisu Usman Halilu, Madam Rose Audu, Mr. Saidu Suleiman and Adebisi Olumide-Ajayi.

The First Lady has been embarking on the mercy mission outreach since 2015. Only 5 days ago, the foundation was in Adamawa State where food items, and cash gifts was donated to 25 groups including the Christian Association, FOMWAN, Women in Da’awah among others.

This time around, the First Lady’s delegation was in Ebonyi and visited the Mile Four Hospital where the head of the Hospital, Mrs. Charity Munonye conducted the delegation to the various wards for the donation of the food items and other nourishment. The delegation was also at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki where the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Emeka Onwe Ogah represented by the Chief Medical Advisory Committee,  Dr. Robinson Onoh received and conducted them round the biggest hospital in the state. At both hospitals, the kind gesture of the First Lady was applauded especially during an auspicious time like Christmas. She was identified as a champion of the needy and underprivileged.

Speaking on behalf of the First Lady, Mrs. Bilkisu Usman Halilu said the spirit behind the visit was to show support to those who are sick and to remind them that she is with them in her thoughts. She used the occasion to call on Nigerians to visit hospitals more often and show love to those who are sick.

The First Lady thanked the Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Chief David Nweze Umahi and his wife, Her Excellency, Mrs. Rachael Umahi for their warm reception and for being the pillars of support for the women and children of Ebonyi State.

Wife of Ebonyi State Governor, Rachael Umahi thanked Mrs. Buhari for the kind gesture and prayed to God to give the patients speedy recovery. She also wished them a peaceful Christmas celebration in advance.

More than one thousands patients and other vulnerable members of the society in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State benefitted from the First Lady’s humanitarian gesture.

The First Lady’s delegation was led by Mrs. Maryam Hadi of the Future Assured Program

Wives of the 36 States Governors have been commended for the role they play in reducing the spate of maternal and child mortality in Nigeria. The commendation was made by First Lady of Nigeria, Dr. Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari during a Mid-Term Peer Review session on Governors Wives Advocacy Coalition (GWAC) held at the State House, Abuja.

Mrs. Buhari recalled the day in October 2017, when she signed a commitment with the wives of Governors to champion the cause of RMNCAH+N, the commitment that led to the Governors’ Wives Advocacy Coalition.

“We all realized the need to aggressively address the issues to avoid a situation where women will have to choose whether to give birth to a child or stay alive”, said the First Lady.

She expressed her excitement over their performance leading to several interventions for the improvement of RMNCAH+N in their various states, including the trickling down efforts to the wives of Local Government Chairmen thus complementing the effort of government in their states. She said as women and mothers, they understand better than anybody the problems and challenges being faced by women and children in the society.

Good will messages were delivered by the representatives of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr. Ekanem Isichei, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Laila Umar and Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC), Mr. Okeke Anya, respectively.

In a communique read at the end of the peer review meeting by the Wife of the Governor of Niger state, and chairperson Northern Governors Wives Forum, Dr. Amina Abubakar Bello, Wives of State Governors were identified as being uniquely placed to be effective champions for women and children in their states; this is because of their position and potential influence.

The meeting also stated the aim of the Mid-term Peer Review (MTR) of the Governors Wives Advocacy Coalition, which is to assess the progress made and provide insight on the future of the project. It further called on Development Partners both from the public and private sectors interested in working for the health and wellbeing of women and children to strategically engage the State’s first ladies.

Mrs. Buhari used the occasion to unveil the maiden edition of ‘The Antenna’ a magazine published to chronicle the developmental activities of her pet project (Future Assured), and those of the State’s First Ladies.

Highlight of the event was the investiture of wife of the Vice President, Her Excellency, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo and wives of Governors as champions in the fight against tuberculosis (TB), which Mrs. Buhari conducted, calling on them to “use every opportunity to advocate for the improvement in the services towards detection and treatment of TB in Nigeria.

]]> http://thefutureassured.org/african-first-ladies-at-icasa2019-reaffirm-commitment-to-hiv-aids/ Tue, 14 Jan 2020 16:07:36 +0000 http://thefutureassured.org/?p=3082

At a High Level Meeting on the sidelines of 20th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) themed “Leadership of African First Ladies in the fight against HIV and AIDs” African First Ladies reaffirmed their commitment to the leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The meeting held on Monday, 2^nd December, 2019 at the Kigali Convention Center.

President of OAFLAD and First Lady of the Republic of Congo H.E. Madam Antoinette Tchibota Sassou-Nguesso said the First Ladies have been fighting HIV for almost 20 years since OAFLAD was formed. The support and experience gained in this period has demonstrated “our willingness to achieve the objectives for which OAFLAD was formed.”

First Lady of Rwanda, Jeannette Kagame said in her welcome remarks that OAFLA was born, “out of our collective need, to amplify the voices of those living with, and affected by HIV and AIDS, especially the women and children, who are the most vulnerable. She invited First Ladies to reflect on their multifaceted roles in this journey to ensure that communities fully thrive and called on them to acknowledge what has worked and reveal what has not, to enable them to make more meaningful interventions.

She said initiatives such as the Free to Shine Campaign, being anchored by African First Ladies have made tremendous impact, “pushing us to strengthen our efforts and commitment to end Pediatric AIDS and keep mothers healthy.”

Comments by Donald Kaberuka of the Global Fund and Malick Fall of UNICEF all indicate that Africa has made tremendous progress economically and politically but they both agreed on the need to increase budget for public health and call on OAFLA to be part of this campaign.

Representative of Dr. Aisha Buhari and Special Assistant to the President on OAFLAD, Mohammed Albishir in a media interaction said, Mrs. Buhari has used her position as UNAIDS Ambassador on Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission (EMTCT) of HIV/AIDS to partner extensively in the reduction of the prevalence of HIV children and young people. Only last week, he said, she organized a symposium to mark the World AIDS Day, 2019 under the theme. “Communities make the difference, adolescent and young people matter.” She also had a successful Launch of the Free to Shine Campaign late last year.

Mr. Albishir said she had reiterated the importance of girl child education, poverty reduction, equality and fight against GBV as important factors that will reduce HIV among youths, especially girls, whose rate of infection has been proven to be on the rise.

The conference was attended by the First Ladies of Ghana, Niger, Chad, Rwanda, Botswana and Congo as well as international development organizations and donor agencies.

First Lady, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari has advocated for a renewed commitment to forge alliances that will help ongoing efforts to end HIV. She made the call at an event to mark the 2019 World AIDS Day at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja on Thursday 28^th November, 2019.

Mrs. Buhari noted that “it is time to factor all relevant communities including the HIV support groups and adolescent and youth communities into our strategies for preventing the spread of HIV.”

She noted the worrisome trend of a growing number of young persons with new infections, especially girls; with the costly implication of increased risk of having new babies born HIV positive. This trend, she noted, will lead to higher chances of spreading the disease and invariably more deaths.

“Our younger generation, therefore, need to be aware and equipped with skills to access HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care.”

Mrs. Buhari commended the essay competitions organized for adolescents, saying “this adds up to our collective efforts to leave no one behind as we work towards the Sustainable Development Goals.” She congratulated the winners and advised that the information they received from the event comes to their advantage.

Mrs. Buhari commended the Embassy of China for supporting the event, saying the commitment was a follow up on the promise by the First Lady of China to work with African countries to implement a three-year health promotion and HIV prevention advocacy programme for adolescents, starting in 2019.

Earlier in the programme, the Director-General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Gambo Aliyu said the 2019 event was focusing on the role of communities in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and the spotlight has fallen on Nigerian youths. He said young people will be young people and they will explore their sexuality. He however cautioned that they need to be aware of the implications and take proactive steps to protect themselves and their loved ones from this epidemic.

He said that the HIV response is running its last mile in controlling the HIV epidemic in Nigeria and cautioned that results must be visible.

The First Lady, Dr. Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari received in audience the President of the General Assembly of the United Nations, Prof. Tijjani Muhammad Bande at the Presidential Villa on Monday 25^th November, 2019.

Speaking during the visit, Mrs. Buhari congratulated Prof. Bande on the victory, which she said is a sign of the respect accorded Nigeria by the international community. She hailed his commitment towards improving the health and well-being of women, children and other vulnerable members of the society, saying this commitment will contribute in no small way to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in Nigeria.

She recalled the excitement with which Professor Bande’s appointment was received in Nigeria and expressed the hope that his tenure as President of the UN General Assembly will have greater impact on the empowerment and autonomy of women, their socio-political economy and health status.

She expressed optimism that Future Assured programme will partner with his office to ensure better health outcomes for women and children.

Earlier, Professor Tijjani Mohammed Bande expressed his gratitude to the First Lady for sending a delegation during his inauguration as President of the 74th UN General Assembly and commended the First Lady’s work on improving the well-being of Women and Children as it directly relate to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

He expressed the readiness of his office to partner with the First Lady in areas of poverty alleviation, girl child education, inclusion, Women & Children Empowerment, and Gender Equality among others.

The meeting was attended by wife of the Vice President, HE, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women Affairs & Administration, Dr. Hajo Sani, while the UN General Assembly President was accompanied by Ag. Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN, Ambassador Samson Itegboje and the UN Chef de’ Cabinet, Ms. Marie Skaare.