Bauchi First Lady reaffirms commitment to women’s empowerment and Girl Child Development
By Amina Umar:
The Bauchi State First Lady, Dr. Aisha Bala Mohammed, has reaffirmed her commitment to the protection, empowerment and development of women and girls, calling for stronger collaboration among religious and community based organisations to tackle drug abuse, insecurity and other social challenges.
She made the call while receiving a delegation of the Girls’ Brigade Nigeria, Bauchi State Chapter, during a courtesy visit to her office, where the organisation honoured her with an award recognising her as the *“Mother of the Bauchi Girl Child.”*
Dr. Aisha Bala Mohammed, who is also the founder of the Almuhibba Foundation, said the objectives of the Girls’ Brigade aligned with her foundation’s commitment to supporting vulnerable people, promoting education and healthcare, empowering women and children, and fostering peaceful coexistence across religious divides.
She disclosed that, she had been associated with the Girls’ Brigade since her time as the wife of a minister in Abuja, emphasising that religion should serve as a unifying force rather than a source of division.
Dr. Aisha Bala noted that both Islam and Christianity promote peace, compassion and assistance to the less privileged, urging religious and community organisations to strengthen cooperation in addressing challenges affecting society.
The First Lady also called on women, girls and young people to actively participate in campaigns against drug abuse, warning that the menace poses a serious threat to social stability and contributes to criminal activities.
She stressed the need for sustained public enlightenment, collective responsibility and prayers to promote peace and security across the state.
Dr. Aisha Bala explained that the Almuhibba Foundation, initially established to rehabilitate and beautify cemeteries, had expanded its operations to include education, healthcare and empowerment programmes aimed at improving the welfare of vulnerable members of society.
She urged non-governmental organisations to operate responsibly within their available resources, uphold transparency and establish sustainable partnerships to maximise their impact.
Earlier, the Bauchi State Commissioner of the Girls’ Brigade, Dr. Lucy Yaldam Yalmis, said the delegation visited the First Lady to appreciate her support and formally recognise her contributions to the advancement of the girl child.
Dr. Lucy Yalmis commended Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed for creating an enabling environment for women and girls, particularly through initiatives in education, healthcare and peacebuilding.
She also acknowledged the governor’s support for the Girls’ Brigade, including assistance during its National Annual General Meeting hosted in Bauchi in August 2023 and continued annual support through the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
The commissioner described the Girls’ Brigade as an international, interdenominational, non-governmental organisation committed to discipline, character building, spiritual growth and the holistic development of girls through four core programmes: spiritual development, education, service and physical activities.
She highlighted the organisation’s interventions, which include assisting vulnerable people and the elderly, supporting patients in hospitals, and producing reusable sanitary pads to help girls remain in school during menstruation.
According to her, the organisation also equips members with vocational skills through training in the production of liquid soap, shampoo, hair cream, body lotion and other household and personal care products.
