The Punch has reported that, The wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha
Buhari, and Governors Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State; Abiola Ajimobi of
Oyo State; and Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, have called for the
strengthening of the family unit in order to achieve progress in
Nigeria.

The dignitaries, who were part of the
opening ceremony of the 16th National Women Conference, organised the
Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), said this on
Monday, adding that government at all levels must empower women, as they
were the bedrock of the society.

At the conference, with the theme,
‘Strong family, Strong Nation,’ Buhari, who was represented the wife
of the Imo State Governor, Nneoma Okorocha, said heads of government at
all levels must preserve qualities necessary to form a strong family
bond.

She said, “The importance of strong
family values must be emphasised. The absence of these values gives rise
to poverty and crime.”

In his goodwill message, Ambode said the
importance of the family unit to the overall development of the country
was not in doubt, adding that there was a need to build strong moral
values.

“With families of strong moral values, we can build a strong country. Nobody must be left behind,” the governor said.

Ajimobi said the family, as the building block of the country, must be given priority.

Aregbesola said if the family must be
strengthened, the women who are saddled with the responsibility of
building the home front must be celebrated.

The wife of the Governor of Lagos State,
Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, who is also the chairman of COWLSO, said most of
the social challenges confronting the nation had their foundations in
dysfunctional family units.