Wives of Nigerian governors have expressed their commitment and determination to intensify advocacy and awareness efforts regarding the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines in order to address the resistance being encountered at the grassroots level.

To this end, they committed to collaborating closely with primary health workers and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to ensure comprehensive awareness campaign towards scaling up the vaccination across the country.

This was part of the resolutions reached in a communiqué issued at the end of their quarterly meeting and third annual retreat under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Wives Forum held in Bauchi State capital on Tuesday.

The communiqué was read by the Chairperson of the Forum and First Lady of Kwara State, Ambassador Olufolake Abdulrazaq and flanked by Dr. Aisha Bala Mohammed, First Lady of Bauchi State.

According to her, the annual retreat provides a platform for members to deliberate on the Forum work-plan for the incoming year 2024, adding that the retreat also serves as an avenue for members to fraternize and gain a deeper understanding of the diverse states within the nation.

She pointed out the successful and wide mobilization and engagement of the First Ladies in the World Breastfeeding Week sensitization, hand washing awareness, Human Papillomavirus Vaccine sensitization, drug eradication campaigns sustained advocacy on sexual and gender-based violence, improved nutrition, women and girl child education, skills acquisition and empowerment of women and youths among other engagements in their various states.

The wives of the governors resolved that Nigeria Governors Wives’ Forum” (NGWF) should transit to the “Nigeria Governors Spouses’ Forum”, pointing out that the change underscores the active role the First Ladies play in advocating for increased women’s representation in leadership positions.

According to her, the First Ladies collectively endorsed the Women Digital Up-skilling program in partnership with the Lagos Business School and Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), adding that the initiative is designed to have the First ladies sponsor girls and women from their respective states for digital training, with the goal of reducing the gender gap in the digital industry and ensuring that women can benefit from the significant sector.

Ambassador Olufolake Abdulrazaq further said: “Demonstrating their ongoing commitment to capacity development, the First Ladies will actively participate in a workshop on Sexual and Gender-based violence organized by the Nigeria Governors Wives Forum (NGWF) in partnership with UN Women on the 9 and 10th of November 2023.

“Additionally, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA, the Forum will facilitate a capacity-building program focused on drug abuse prevention and mitigation”

“These initiatives are designed to equip the First Ladies with the essential knowledge and skills needed to effectively engage and advocate for these critical social issues within their respective states to drive change. The First Ladies endorsed the joint compact on ending Gender- Based Violence and Harmful Practices. This is a joint collaboration of the NIGWF and UNICEF.”

The meeting was attended by 17 First Ladies and closed at 2pm.