By Cross Udo, Abuja
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has pledged to continue pursuing programs and initiatives that promote the health and education of girls and women.
Oluremi Tinubu also stated that enhancing the education of girls in healthcare courses will ultimately improve the health and well-being of Nigerians.
Tinubu stated this at the 13th anniversary and 7th MERCK Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit in Dubai.
Speaking alongside the First Ladies of 13 other nations, Senator Oluremi Tinubu said that empowering girls through education plays a crucial role in building stronger and healthier nations.
Nigeria’s First Lady, in a statement by her media aide, Busola Kukoyi, was quoted as saying: “I agree that this is a highly beneficial program for our country, and I am committed to expanding it further through my Office and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
“By doing so, we will be able to empower more Nigerian doctors, ultimately enhancing public healthcare and improving the well-being of our people.
“As a lifelong teacher, I believe in empowering girls through education, as it plays a crucial role in building stronger and healthier nations.
“Through the Renewed Hope Initiative, which I chair, we have continually made interventions in education and youth empowerment, prioritising girl child education”.
She stated that the efforts of the MERCK Foundation, which has been supporting healthcare through the provision of scholarships to medical doctors and medical professionals from Africa and Asia over the last 13 years, are not only commendable but also worthy of emulation.
She further added, “Kelej has explained to me that upon completing these courses, the doctors will have the capability to establish clinics within their respective health centres or hospitals.
“They will be able to provide essential care, helping to prevent and manage these conditions within their communities”.
Other first ladies present, including Ghana, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Kenya, Angola, Liberia, Maldives, CAR, Cape Verde, the Gambia, Gabon, Angola and Sao Tome & Principe, all emphasised the role of African Women in domestic and public spheres, despite all the challenges they face culturally and financially.
They commended the MERCK Foundation for all it has done in the area of educating Africans on Health and ensuring the education of the girl child.
While welcoming the First Ladies and others at the event, the Chairman of the Foundation, Prof. Dr Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, restated his belief that everyone should be able to live a healthy life and that the young girl, given a chance, should be able to fulfil her dreams.
“Girls education is not a luxury. We should see to the end of girls always being discriminated against. We are building a critical arm of the MERCK Program to support the girls in education.”
For the CEO of the Foundation, Senator Dr Rasha Kelej, the MERCK Foundation will continue to prioritise girls’ education and a strong medical workforce for the continent.
The event was to re-emphasise MERCK Foundations programs and seek areas of further collaboration with various African Countries through their First Ladies.
Already, the Foundation has provided scholarships for 2,270 Medical practitioners from 52 countries in 44 critical areas of healthcare, educating the girl child through the Educating Linda Program. In this comprehensive scholarship program, 956 girls have so far benefited in Africa, and the Community Awareness Program includes breaking the infertility stigma, ending Gender-Based Violence, and reducing the prevalence of diabetes and hypertension, among other initiatives.
