President Muhammadu Buhari has called on African leaders to support first ladies to advance peaceful co-existence.
The President said this on Monday while declaring open the 9th General Assembly of the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) convened by his wife, Aisha Buhari at the State House in Abuja.
The Nigerian leader expressed concern that peace has become an elusive subject that affects development in many regions of Africa.
”The activities of insurgents and bandits have led to more widespread displacement and poverty.
”It is not in doubt that women and children are the worst affected by the breakdown of peace. Therefore, as mothers, I believe, you are in a better position to drive the processes of peace and actions where necessary.
”Indeed, I’m happy to know that your forum has been working towards promoting peaceful coexistence within the continent in so many ways,” he said.
Mrs Aisha Buhari, at the event, was unanimously elected new president of the mission.
She was congratulated by President Buhari who also congratulated the first ladies for the acquisition of land for the developers of a secretariat for the mission in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
”It gladdens my heart to know that when completed the secretariat will serve several purposes including creating employment opportunities as well as generating income for sustainability,” President Buhari said.
First Ladies of Ghana, Burundi, Congo Brazzaville, Cote D’Ivoire, Congo, Liberia, Sao Tome and Principe, Mauritania, Sierra Leone among other diplomats and top government functionaries were at the event.
The African First Ladies Peace Mission established in 1997 as an umbrella body of wives of African Heads of State/Presidents and Government plays a supportive role to the African Union, regional organizations, and national governments in fostering peace and reducing conflicts and their effects on the African continent.
