Bayelsans witnessed the arrival of the First Lady of South Africa,Mrs. Nompumelelo Zuma, and has challenged African women to unite and confront the negative socio-economic vices working against their political interests in the continent.
Infact, the first lady Mrs. Zuma, who spoke at the Bayelsa women retreat organized by wife of Bayelsa State governor, Dr. Mrs. Racheal Dickson in Yenagoa, over the weekend, said such unity among African women will enable them focus on the education of the girl-child. She added that it would also help women to defeat gender- based oppressive policies in the continent which is becoming an issue that need to be resolved.
According to her: ‘’the issues of lack of education, poor standard ofeconomy, poor health facilities and other failures of the society, it is the women that suffer most. We must start to unite to tackle some of these problems and reclaim our leading role in Africa.
‘’We encountered the problem together and we must tackle it together. When we look around Africa, we see women face gender- based oppressions. ‘’When we look around, we see women being faced with decaying standard of living. We must move. We must wake up as it is our task to teach women.
‘’We must unite to dismantle the decaying values and teach them about education and skill. We must let them know that solid education and skills empower women to become confident and become a human being,” she stated.
Mrs Nompumelelo Zuma, arrived Yenagoa for a two-day working visit, it was gathered that Mrs. Zuma arrived the Bayelsa Government House at about 6 p.m. on a helicopter marked 5N-VIP. She was received by the Executive Governor of the state, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson accompanied by his wife Rachael, the state deputy governor, retired Rear Admiral John Jonah, top government officials and some women’s groups.
Zuma, who was treated to a brief ceremony at the helipad, later drove in a motorcade with the governor’s entourage to the Gloryland Castle of the Government House for a private audience. The South African First Lady also launched the Friday Konyefa foundation for the girl-child’’, the pet project of Mrs. Rachael Dickson.
