From Sola Ojo, Kaduna
FOLLOWING the release of 21 girls abducted by Boko Haram sect at Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State in April 2014, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Aisha Jummai Alhassan has hinged their release on the ongoing negation with the sect by the Federal government.
The Minister, Who sated this in Kaduna while fielding questions from newsmen at the grand finale of a week long 16th Regular National Council of Women Affairs and Social Development held at Hassan Katsina House, Kawo, Kaduna State, expressed optimism that the negotiation would further secure the release of the remaining girls from their abductors’ den.
She said, “I was so excited to hear that 21 of our girls have been freed and that was why I have to break the programme. We thank God for their release. I equally thank the Federal government for spoken and providing enabling environment for negotiation with Boko Haram to secure their release. We have started seeing the result of the negotiation coming and with God, we will see the remaining girls”.
On the women affairs programme, she said the National Center for Women Development(NCWD), has again outlined modules to train additional 10,000 female IDPs between now and December 2017.
She hope and expected that the states will give maximum support for the numerous programmes and projects being enumerated at the federal level, by replacing same in the states to ensure sustainability.
“President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to addressing the special needs of vulnerable groups in Nigeria, especially women, children, children, elderly persons living with disability and internally displaced persons”, added the minister.
The host, Kaduna State Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Rabi Abdulsalam said, the current administration of Governor Nasir El-Rufai places high priority in the welfare of children, women and youths respectively hence the greater involvement of women to drive such course as key stakeholders.