Patience Jonathan Elected First Lady of Africa

:Nigeria was on Thursday in Abuja re-elected
unopposed as president of the Africa First
Ladies Peace Mission for another two years.
The four regional vice-presidents were also
elected. They are Cameroun, Libya, Sudan
and South Africa.
Nigeria’s first lady, Patience Jonathan, took
over the leadership of the mission from Turai
Yar’Adua following the death of her husband,
President Umar Yar’Adua, in 2010.
The Africa First Ladies Peace Summit, which
started on Tuesday, ended on Friday.
Among other things, the Mission is aimed at
Strengthening the roles of African first ladies in fostering peace on the continent.

INTERVIEW SESSION WITH THE 1st LADY
Mrs Patience Jonathan, says
that her renewed tenure as President of the
African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM)
will be devoted to strengthening peace
building efforts in Africa.
She gave the assurance on Friday, while
speaking to newsmen at the end of the 7th
Summit of AFLPM in Abuja, where she was
re-elected to hold the position for the next
two years.
Jonathan said that she was happy that all the
First Ladies were determined to promote
peace in Africa and ensure that the continent
got rid of its negative image of a theatre of
wars and conflicts.
“I believe that we should strongly pursue peace for Africa; I also believe that peace will come
to reign on our continent. Peace is our watchword because there can be no meaningful
development without peace.
“As the president of the Mission, I believe that charity begins at home and that we are all
brothers and sisters, whether we are from the north, south, east or west.
“It is time for Africa to become a progressive continent and not a crisis-ridden region; so, our
strategy will be advocacy and appeal to aggrieved parties to drop their weapons and pursue
peace because we all know that in conflicts, women are mostly affected.
“We all agreed at the plenary session that we would move from country to country in Africa
to ensure that in any place where a problem arises; dialogue should be seen as the only way
out.’’
Jonathan stressed that if Africa became free from conflicts, people would like to visit the
continent.
Hajiya Namadi Sambo, wife of the Nigeria’s vice-president and head of the country’s
delegation, congratulated Jonathan on her re-election.
“We are confident about her capabilities and we know that with Her Excellency at the helm
of affairs, peace in Africa would be on the front-burner till we are able to achieve it,’’ she
said.
Also speaking, Hajiya Zainab Maina, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development,
said that Jonathan’s re-election “is a victory for Nigeria and all African countries.
“It means that other African countries recognise and appreciate our leadership role. It is also
a victory for Nigerian and African women because it means someone is looking after our:::