The Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Ahmad Bamali said Nigeria needs leaders that will groom the young ones to be responsible future leaders of the country.
The emir made this known at a Women Conference organized by the Women Models and Mentors Foundation (WMM).
The conference is with theme: ”The Right to participate”.
”What we are lacking today is mentorship. You don’t have to be a professor to mentor people. We should try as much as possible to impact knowledge to those behind us, especially, those that require some tutelage and technical know how.
He stressed that entrepreneurship is the key and way forward to development, try and be employers of labour not seekers of white collar jobs.
He also encouraged people to go into farming as a sustainable means for families to cater for their needs.
In her welcome address Hajiya Bilkisu Ibrahim, President WMM, said women are faced with greater barriers than men in social, political and economic spheres of lives.
”This inequality has manifested into denial of opportunities in all facets of life.
”The importance of having women’s voices in socio-economic and political leadership positions cannot be overemphasized because they constitute most of the population.
”Women leaders have positively impacted on governance, economic success and encourage other women to become leaders,” she said.
Also, Prof. Hauwau Yusuf ,Director Centre for gender studies, Kaduna state university while presenting a paper, pathways to nurturing sustainable roles in good governance said women should be encouraged to form cooperative societies at various levels for adequate and sustainable empowerment
She said the establishment of cooperatives will help them pass the middlemen who exploit them in the distribution of their product.
”There is need to integrate gender equality in plans and budget,” she said.
Amb. Fati Ibrahim in her presentation, said there is need to come up with policies and legislations that are gender friendly
She said denying women there basic rights to good living will not yield positive results adding that major should be taken to improve the self esteem of women and youth
On her part Prof. Ladi Adamu, a lecture at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria sought roles for women in peace and security architecture of the nation.
