President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government to set up crèches in the workspace to promote breastfeeding and boost efficiency of working mothers.

The President made the call while commissioning and renaming of the remodeled work place nursery, (creche), of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, yesterday in Abuja.

He said government “will continue to support you to replicate this in every state of the federation and in every workplace, not only those working within the formal sector because more women are working outside the formal sector.

“Working with you and all our partners that are here, we hope to replicate and ensure we have in workplaces crèches for mothers working in the informal sector as well including the market places,” he said.

Represented by his Special Assistant on Health, Dr. Salma Ana’s, the President said the renaming of the centre after Victoria Gowon, wife of the former Head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, speaks volumes as the facility would contribute to the achievements of his renewed hope agenda.

He commended the minister of Women Affairs, Barrister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, for her laudable achievements within 100 days since her assumption of duty, he said “The minister of women affairs has demonstrated that within the first 100 days, we can revamp this building to keep mothers close to their babies so that they can continue to work and babies are well nourished and can grow well in a safe and protected environment.

“For the mothers, it guarantees psychological balance because a mother without her baby by her side, especially within the 1000 days of life is a confused mother, she cannot focus on her work and enhance productivity of the nation.”

President Tinubu notes that the location of the crèche is strategic hence, “It is a great landmark that we are witnessing because this aligns with the renewed agenda of my vision for economic growth of Nigeria, for revamping Nigeria and putting it back on track.

“We cannot achieve renewed hope for Nigeria without focusing on the future of our nation and the future of our nation are our children, which starts right from birth, where we encourage breastfeeding for the growth of the brain,” he said.

Responding, Barrister Kennedy-Ohanenye said the creche will soon be upgraded to nursery and primary schools in the future.

“We are going to start up a school, not just baby sitting crèche but adding nursery one, two and three to groom the children before they start primary school and we are hoping to move on to starting a primary and secondary school.

“We are equally looking at having women and children hospital across the nation, atleast in the six geopolitical zones before we move to the states,” she added.

“I am making sure that the poor must breathe, whether anybody likes it or not. We are ready to fight and make sure they breathe.

“I will write to all the MDAs to provide creches in the workplace and I will give them a time frame,” she said.

Activities capping off the event include the presentation of ready to wear clothes made by the ministry’s clothing line for the first lady and special performance by students from schools within the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT).