Nigerians have been urged to speak well of their country. Wife of the President and Founder, Future Assured Programme, Dr. Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari made the call during the 2018 Episcopal Harvest of the Anglican Communion at the Cathedral of Holy Trinity, Gwagwalada, Abuja, on Saturday, 20^thOctober, 2018.

Mrs. Buhari, who was honoured with Deborah Award, was represented by Mrs. Grace Chamah, wife of the former military Governor of Katsina and Kebbi states.

Mrs. Buhari observed that “there is power in the spoken word, the power of life and death, Nigerians should therefore make positive declarations about their country.” She enjoined them to pray for the nation’s leaders, to enable them make the right decisions for the betterment of our country. “As prayers heal the land, so do bad declarations bring hardship” she said, imploring Nigerians to embrace peace so that stability and prosperity will prevail.

She thanked the Diocese for recognizing her with the award saying as a mother of the nation, she has a duty to impart her humanity on those that are less fortunate with her humanitarian activities.

Speaking earlier, the Right Rev. Moses Bukpe Tabwaye, Bishop of the Gwagwalada Diocese and host of the event, said Mrs. Buhari has impacted in many areas that affect the less privileged, especially women and children and that her hands of mercy have reached all Nigerians, irrespective of faith or ethnicity. He urged her to continue the good work she is doing.

He commended Mrs. Buhari and hoped other well-meaning Nigerians will take a cue from her.

Deborah Award is named after the prophetess Deborah, who is noted for her courage, wisdom and leadership.

Wife the President, Dr. Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari departs Sunday to New York for the 73^rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly. She will be travelling alongside President Muhammadu Buhari.

While in New York, Mrs. Buhari will address the General Assembly’s High Level Meeting on Tuberculosis, where she will speak to issues of increased political commitment, funding and robust partnerships on the 26^thSeptember, 2018. The event will be preceded on the 25^th September by a Gala Dinner organized to celebrate Global TB Champions, Celebrities and TB Survivors, where Mrs. Buhari is billed to present inspiring remarks.

The 21^st Summit of Organization of African First Ladies against AIDS (OAFLA) General Assembly which could not hold at Mauretania earlier in the year will hold during UNGA. Mrs. Buhari will address the session which is also centered on Tuberculosis.

On the Sidelines of OAFLA, Mrs. Buhari will attend a number of high level events including a Stakeholders Meeting on Breast and Cervical Cancers in Africa and another on HIV as well as a strategic planning workshop for First Ladies and their Technical Advisers.

It would be recalled that Mrs. Buhari was appointed Global TB Champion by the Stop TB Partnership and Special Ambassador for the elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV by Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) in recognition of her work in health advocacy.

Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari has called on political leaders in Nigeria, especially those closer to the people, to do more in the lives of ordinary Nigerians whose requirements are basic amenities like potable water, healthcare and education. She said provision of these amenities will guarantee an easy reelection for any official.

She was speaking during a courtesy visit by officials of Project 4 + 4 Buhari/Osinbajo for 2019 on Thursday 13^th September, 2018.

Mrs. Buhari commended the Pro-Buhari group for its campaign for the reelection of President Buhari’s administration, calling on them to continue to propagate the manifesto of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which promises to improve the lives of Nigerians, as well as publicize what the party has achieved so far.

She expressed happiness that millions of Nigerians have directly benefitted from various components of the Social Investment Programme of government, citing Npower, TraderMoni and cash transfer as visible successes. She therefore called for more publicity on these positive and beneficial projects which are direct dividends of democracy.

“Our party has done creditably well despite numerous challenges” she said, stating that apart from starting fresh human and infrastructural developmental projects, our great party is also completing projects abandoned by former governments; such projects will not only secure more jobs for the people, they will also lead to more development.

She called on the group to continue sensitizing both leaders and followers on the advantages of voting APC.

Earlier, the National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Garba Bello, said President Buhari has promised four years of change, which he has accomplished with numerous landmark projects; and therefore requires the next four years to consolidate these achievements.

Comrade Bello said the group targets 35 – 40 million Nigerians for sensitization through various channels, saying that most Nigerians need to be reached with facts and figures on the change that has been achieved since 2015. He said they will employ digital media, town halls, publications and other direct methods to ensure that Nigerian electorate make the right choice in 2019.

Members of the group include Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Jr. Hajiya Binta Muazu, and Hon. Jubril Maigari.

Wife of the President, Dr. Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari has called for the scale up of adolescent health information, stating that it is necessary for successful AIDS control and prevention. She made the call at the China/Africa AIDS Prevention and Control Conference, which was organized by the First Lady of the Peoples’ Republic of China, Professor Peng Liyuan on the Sidelines of the Forum of China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, China on 4^thSeptember, 2018.

Mrs. Buhari gave the example of Nigeria, which has studied the adolescent and young people’s challenges and developed a National HIV strategy that targets this population with context specific interventions. She lamented the high number of HIV patients in Nigeria and other African countries.

In her remarks, First Lady of the People’s Republic of China, Professor Peng Liyuan, said the conference is another step forward in China – Africa relations, which creates historic opportunities for health cooperation, and called on African countries to work with China in the fight against AIDS, deepen cooperation and continue to contribute to the health and well-being of their peoples.

Professor Liyuan promised that starting from 2019, China will work with African countries and relevant international organizations on a 3 – year program for adolescent preventive and community health programs to raise awareness and help countries move towards the Sustainable Development Goal of ending HIV/AIDS by 2030.

She commended African countries for their massive and effective campaigns which have seen a rise in the number of patients receiving Anti-Retroviral treatment, lower death rates, and declining number of children with HIV/AIDS.

“Many of you made tremendous effort to make this happen. I have nothing but admiration and respect for all of you.” She said to the first ladies.

The event was attended by first Ladies from 36 countries and the Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, Michel Sidibe.

President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has called for a consideration and passage of Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill now before the National Assembly and implementation of 35% affirmative action by all political parties. He made the call during a Women Political Aspirants and Advocacy Summit organized by National Council for Women Societies, Women in Politics Forum and Office of Wife of the President. The event held at the National Center for Women Development on Thursday 30^thAugust, 2018.

“I am happy to say that I am in support of both issues because they will improve the representation of women in political office” said the President, calling on all political parties to create the needed enabling environment for women to have level playing field to contest elective positions.

The President stated that politicians rely on women because their word is usually their bond, “they stand by candidates they believe in, and therefore politicians do a lot to gain this confidence.” He used the opportunity to thank Nigerian women for having confidence in him and voting for him in 2015.

In her remarks, wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari charged women to aspire for political office, noting that with political office, they can effect the changes they want to see in society. She quoted access to clean drinking water, hygiene and sanitation, health care and effective educational systems as those things in the minds of every woman. She said election of women is achievable because women make up the larger body of voters and as such can determine the fate of any election.

She called on religious and political leaders to support and encourage women candidacy; she also called on women to support each other, especially when more than one are vying for the same position.

Mrs. Buhari charged political parties to implement the 35% affirmative action and provide an enabling environment for women aspirants to contest and win elections.

National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, said in his remarks that he identifies with the call for more women involvement in politics, noting that what women need is a level playing field. He promised to comply with the request of the wife of the President to provide the enabling environment for women aspirants to contest for positions under the APC.

Earlier, Barrister Mary Eta, Director General, National Center for Women Development said the Summit is aimed at bringing critical stakeholders in the political process together to rub minds and share strategies for a more transparent political process, especially for new aspirants. She stated that there is growing recognition of the need to take action towards significantly increasing women’s participation in politics, especially now that global thinking is on how to adequately harness the untapped capacity and talents of women and women’s leadership.

She called on women not to sell their votes, stating that vote buying and selling is a crime and it further keeps women out of positions of authority.

National President of NCWS, Mrs. Gloria Shoda in her remarks stated that until women participate fully and contribute their quotas in governance, there will, consistently, be a huge gap in governance. She stated some of the impediments against women as lack of funds, violence and outright discrimination at political party levels.

The event was attended by women political aspirants across party lines

Wife of the President, Dr. (Mrs.) Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, has commended women members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South East for doing a wonderful job mobilizing women. “It is a fact that women determine the outcome of elections; therefore it is important to mobilize more women to ensure that our great party is reelected to continue the good work that it is doing.” She said.

She was speaking during a courtesy visit by members of South East Women for Buhari, a political group, on Wednesday 29th August, 2019 at the State House, Abuja.

Mrs. Buhari also attested to the success of the mobilization drive which has resulted in a high number of women aspirants from the zone, expressing the hope that this mobilization will lead to a more peaceful elections that will produce more able and competent women to take over as many offices as possible, especially at the grassroots.

“Women need to be in political offices for them to make a difference in the lives of their families” she said, promising to support female aspirant across party lines.

Mrs. Buhari called on officials and members of the APC to ensure party supremacy, respect party constitution and shun divisive tendencies. She also called for more inclusion, especially of women.

Earlier, wife of Imo state Governor, Mrs. Nkechi Okorocha, who led the delegation said the women came to congratulate Mrs. Buhari on her recognition by two Korean universities, which includes a Doctorate, and to present South East Women for Buhari, a political group in support of the ideology of President Buhari with a determination to return him to office in 2019.

Coordinator of the group, Barrister Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu said the President has done well in all respects and deserves another term in office to continue the good work he is doing. That, she said, is why they have formed this vanguard to ensure that the South East stands behind Buhari in the next general elections.

The event was attended by women party leaders including National Woman Leader of the APC, Salamatu Baiwa, National President of National Council for Women Societies, Mrs. Gloria Shoda and Dame Pauline Tallen.

Pharmacists have been urged to play their part in controlling the spread of drug abuse in the country. The call was made by wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, while receiving members of Association of Lady Pharmacists (ALP) on Tuesday 15^th May, 2018 at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Mrs. Buhari deplored the frequent abuse of some prescription drugs especially by women and youths, which has led to the destruction of the lives of millions of victims and called on the members of this association to play their part in the ongoing effort to protect women and youths from drug abuse.

“Government has done well by banning importation of codeine for the preparation of cough syrups as well as retailing of codeine containing cough syrups without prescription. There is the need for pharmacists to comply with the enforcement directive. Lady Pharmacists as mothers, have a special role in protecting women and youths against drug abuse.” She said.

Mrs. Buhari extolled members of the pharmaceutical profession for their role in research, production and dispensing of medicines that cure diseases and save lives.

Earlier, National Chairman, Association of Lady Pharmacists, Pharmacist Zainab Ujudud Shariff commended the efforts of Mrs. Buhari through Future Assured, especially in the area of IDPs, women and youth empowerment. She stated the commitment of the ALP to similar ideals, promising to support Future Assured in any way possible.

Mrs. Shariff posited that drug abuse is indeed a huge challenge that requires input from all stakeholders, and as lady Pharmacists, they have a special reason to lead the war at homes, markets, schools and elsewhere.

“Presently, we carry our campaigns, advocacy and school debates on drug abuse; we have also championed calls for the establishment of rehabilitation centers across the country to cater for the victims of drug abuse.” She said.

The Association made donations of deworming and antimalarial drugs as well as folic acid for use by Future Assured in its medical outreaches.

The ALP was established in 1988 and has over 7000 members across the country.