June 12, 2004 – (This Day) The National Women Committee of ruling Peoles Democratic Party (PDP), has given awards of encouragement to President Olusegun Obasanjo, Vice President Atiku Abubakar and governors of five states for empowering women in their area of influence.

The Governors include that of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi, Imo, Achike Udenwa, and Edo, Lucky Igbinedion. The Deputy governors of Osun state, Olusola Obada and that of Ogun state, Badru were similarly honoured.

National Women Leader of the party, Mrs. Josephine Anenih, who is chairman of the committee said the awards were part of the effort to encourage the empowerment of women in Nigeria.

The awards were given out at a ceremony at the Shehu Musa Yar'adua centre in Abuja. It was attended by a crowd of party faithfuls from across the country and the deputy senate President of Namibia, Mrs. Mensah Williams.

President Obasanjo was represented by Professor Jerry Gana, his political adviser while Vice president Atiku Abubakar was at the occasion to receive his own awards.

Mrs Anenih in her speech listed the conditions necessary for the empowerment of the womenfolk including direct pursuit of political power through standing for elections for positions of influence.

According to her, both gender should be freed from the stereotyped social attitude that consign the womenfolk to the second fiddle, saying that experience shows that women have better capacity for managing crisis.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200406140489.html