By Justina Auta
The newly appointed Director-General of the National Centre for Women Development, NCWD, Dr Asabe Vilita-Bashir has pledged to take steps towards promoting women participation in politics.
Vilita-Bashir made the pledge at the official handover ceremony at the NCWD headquarters on Monday in Abuja.
She said that it had become expedient for women to play more critical roles in national politics, leadership and development.
The director general said that issues of gender equality and promotion of women rights would be pursued with vigour.
“Under my watch, the NCWD will do things differently; we are entering a new dawn where women will be more visible in politics and leadership.
“Women should be positioned to play their roles in the development of our country, they need access to leadership positions to play this role,” she said.
She further expressed her resolve to give the centre a facelift in infrastructure, human resources and policy initiatives.
“The centre will be rebranded and repositioned for optimal service delivery, it is our baby, we are here to nurture it for efficiency.
Vilita-Bashir commended the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government’s initiatives on women development.
“I also thank the president for considering me worthy of being appointed into this office; I assure Nigerian women that I shall discharge my duty effectively.
“I urge members of staff to be committed to our goal, we need to work collectively to achieve set objectives,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of NCWD staff, Hajiya Maimuna Yangora, Director, Training Department, expressed their readiness to cooperate with the new DG to achieve set goals.
The ceremony was attended by different women groups, politicians and civil society organisations.
NAN
