The Federal Government and Spanish organisation, Women for Africa Foundation (FMxA), have partnered to promote education, leadership training and empowerment for women in the country.
Director General, FMxA, Dr. Teresa Langley, said the collaboration would promote leadership skills, break stereotype against women in Africa and improve access to research and documentation. She stated this at a meeting with the Director General, Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (MBNCWD), in Abuja.
“This is our first time of working on the ground in Nigeria. We have a pilot project in University of Lagos with women professors on leadership training. We want the leadership skills to expand to the students and beyond the younger generations,”
she said.
First Secretary, Spanish Embassy, Patricia Gomez, said: “It is an honour for Spain to find Women for Africa Foundation that is really thinking ahead thinking of all the talent that exists in the continent.”
“So it is a pleasure for the embassy to be accompanying them today to this visit.”
Responding, Dr Vilita-Bashir, said the partnership would empower women and improve their participation in leadership positions.
She assured the partners that the centre’s mandate revolves around research and documentation, training and women empowerment, which was inline with the foundation’s core values.
“This is a hub of the Nigerian women and I want to appeal to you that whatever programs you want to set up in Nigeria, you should consider this centre as your starting point.
“Because this is the most conducive institution that can partner with your foundation effectively, as Nigeria is going through challenges, and the women are not finding it easy and we believe that your coming will bring some succor to our women, especially in the area of empowerment.
“Women are at the forefront of economic activities, if given the opportunity to boost their businesses, or to empower them, they will generate income.
“Our core mandate is research and we have alot ongoing, which if we collaborate with you it will help Nigeria, especially in areas on violence against women, leadership positions, education, capacity building.
“So if given the opportunity, we want to collaborate with you so that we can have robust training for our women, “she said.
