President Muhammadu Buhari said Thursday in Abuja that putting women in the strategic positions of his government, like the financial sector, is intended to ensure effective management of the limited resources available and to promote a stronger sense of inclusiveness.
President Buhari said that he preferred women to supervise the country’s economic and financial hub, the Ministry of Finance, as they could easily deploy their experience in aligning resources with the country’s needs, explaining that the nation also had many women technocrats with local and international economic and finance experiences.
The president gave insight into his preferred choice for finance ministers while receiving at the State House a delegation of All Progressive Congress (APC) National, Zonal, State and FCT women leaders led by the party’s female leader, Salamatu Baiwa.
“I am happy that I can defend myself very effectively on this issue. The APC party leader is my witness. Since the coming into power of this administration, I have handed over the treasury to women.
“Even at household level, you hand over the money to women to manage. It can be taken to the level of managing the country’s treasury as well. I have consistently given it to women. It is strategic.
“I am conscious of the leadership roles of women in the society and by my action, I have justified my belief,’’ President Buhari said.
The president reiterated that his administration will ensure inclusiveness for women and youth, especially in the second term, by providing more access to facilities that will enable small and medium-sized enterprises to spread and foster greater interest in agriculture.
President Buhari said that traditional farming and subsistence style should be replaced by commercialized and business-oriented techniques.
“We have to move away from the traditional ways of farming that were practised in the pre-colonial and colonial era,’’ he added.
The president said he instructed ministers to work with traditional institutions to foster interest in farming, with Nigeria’s central bank making loans readily available at low interest rates and longer repayment periods.
“On unemployment, I know there is no able-bodied person that went back to the farm in the last three years that regretted the action,’’ he added.
In her remarks, the leader of the APC woman congratulated the president on his victory at the polls and the court, commending the administration for its efforts in managing the country’s affairs, which gave impetus to the vigorous campaigns.
Ms Baiwa said women were particularly pleased and willing to vote for the president because the government deliberately formulated policies to support and empower women, such as Trader Moni’s social intervention.
She said the APC had many resourceful and loyal women who would contribute to the administration’s success, while commending the president for providing women with strategic government positions.
“Our prayer is that God will give you the tenacity to overcome all obstacles,’’ the Woman Leader said.