Economic Downturn: Aisha Buhari calls for women empowerment

The wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Buhari, has‎ called for the empowerment of women through various skill acquisition programmes to enable them support their families to cope with the current economic downturn.

The first lady made the call on Saturday in Abuja at the 7th Al-Habibiyyah Women forum.

Represented by Hajia Salma Makama, the Managing Director, Shelter Plus, Buhari specifically called for the empowerment of widows and those displaced as a result of insurgency in some parts of the country.

In his remark, the Chief Imam of Al-Habibiyyah Mosque, Imam Fuad Adeyemi,‎ encouraged women to be supportive of their family.

He said that the forum was designed to cater not only for the spiritual needs of the women, but other‎ aspects of their lives.

He stressed the need for women empowerment and the diversification of the economy in view of the declining price of crude oil in the international market.

“The theme for the forum this year, “The Muslim Woman and Entrepreneurship’’ is of such importance and significance.

“This could not have come at a better time than this when we are witnessing economic downturn associated with over dependence on the export of crude oil,’’ he said.

Adeyemi also called on Nigerians irrespective of religious belief to support the Buhari administration to positively change Nigeria.

“We sincerely commend the efforts of the Federal Government in repositioning Nigeria and enjoin all Nigerians irrespective of creed to support the government,’’ he said.

Earlier, Hajia Rekiya Momoh-Abaji, Chairperson, Al-habibiyya Women Forum, stressed the need to empower women for economic stability.

Momoh-Abaji stated that families nowadays need more than one source of income to survive.

“More than ever before the women of the world require more than one stream of income to support their families.

“Entrepreneurship is really the new direction of the world and we urgently require Muslim women to key into various forms of entrepreneurship to reduce the burden on men,’’ she said.

She said that Islam was not against women empowerment as exemplified by the Wife of Prophet Muhammad, Khadijat who was a great business woman and entrepreneur.

Momoh-Abaji said that the forum had organised vocational skills programme for women in soap making, bead making and catering services to empower them.

The event was attended by officials from the Ministry of Women Affairs, SMEDAN, Jaiz Bank, NGOs and Islamic organisations.