A group, National First Ladies Advocacy, has canvassed for recognition of activities of wives of chief executives at the state and at the national level as part of efforts aimed at strengthening democracy in Nigeria.

The group said since the commencement of activities of the First Lady and governors’ wives in the country some years back, Nigeria has been witnessing tremendous improvement in women participation in politics across boards, owing to the inspirations drawn from their conduct and programme-oriented participation in politics.

The group said, if recognised, the women could use their offices to address security challenges in the country, most especially in the North which, it noted was currently battling with severe cases of breakdown of law and order.

The advocacy group, in a statement made available to Gamji, opined that many of the governors’ wives across the states had initiated different empowerment programmes for women youths, part of which it said had assisted in mopping up unemployment in the states.

The statement, signed by the Director of Publicity, Mr Dolapo Adetunji, stressed that Nigeria should appreciate the initiatives by wives of Mr President and state governors in instituting scholarships for several Nigerian students and empowerment programmes, while using their offices to mitigate the security challenges in their respective states.

The group insisted that the First Lady and the governors’ wives have the potentials to complement efforts by the government at the federal and state levels in combating the menace of terrorism, using the grace of motherhood to tame the wildness of youths mostly prone to terrorist acts and other forms of brigandage.

“Women in power and position of authorities can confidently use their natural talents to tone down the growing influence of terrorism in Nigeria and the North in particular since those involve in the dastardly acts have mothers who they can listen to.

“From time immemorial, in Nigeria and across the world, women had played unforgettable roles in liberating the country from difficult times, bearing in mind the exploits of Queen Amina of Zaria, Mrs Margeret Ekpo, Efunsetan Aniwura, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti and lately the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan”, it said..

The group, however, said the recognition of activities of the First Lady and wives of the state governors could be established more by enacting legislation to establish their offices and roles they have been playing in the Nigerian society.

The group alluded to the theory espoused by an American professor, Roberts Watson, who said that woman had played great roles in the history of American politics, having excelled as strong campaigners, social advocates, presidential spokespersons, political party boosters, diplomats, as well as presidential partners.