Group urges new DG NCWD to focus on rural women

Group urges new DG NCWD to focus on rural women

The Co-conveners of the African Women Conference has called on Dr Asabe Bashir, the new Director-General of the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD) to focus on the challenges facing rural and vulnerable women.

This is contained in a statement issued by Dr Jumai Ahmadu, co-convener of the conference on Friday in Abuja.

Ahmadu commended President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing Bashir, as the director-general of the NCWD.

The group urged the director-general to use her present position to focus more on bottom top approach on the development of women, stressing that rural women are more vulnerable.

“Going by her pedigree as a lawmaker and astute politician, she is a woman who has contributed immensely to nation building especially on issues that affect women and children.

” Also, at the regional and continental levels, she has been a voice to the voiceless. We therefore call on her to use her present position to focus more on the development of rural women who are more vulnerable in the present economic realities.

” We are ready to support her in the implementation of programmes and policies gear towards the development of women and children in the country.

”It should be all hands deck to ensure that women are equipped with all relevant information to adapt to the post COVID-19 reality that has led to new normal,” she said.

Bashir, was elected Member, Borno House of Assembly in 1997 and 2003.

Later, she became a member of the Borno Executive Council from 2005 to 2014 as Commissioner of Ministries of Health; Agriculture and Natural Resources; Housing and Rural Electrification; Poverty Alleviation and Youth Empowerment, Women Affairs and Youth Development.

She was also elected to the House of Representatives where she represented Gwoza, Damboa and Chibok Federal Constituency between 2015 to 2019. (NAN)