By Umar Yusuf
Nigerian First Lady Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan has challenged Nigerians to believe in the immense capacity  and capability of the women folk in nation building in order to bring about the much needed positive change the country is yearning for.

Dame Patience Jonathan made the call in Yola Wednesday at the official flag off of the state chapter of her Pet Project; Women For change Initiative (W4CI).

She said the initiative was created to bring about a change in the lives of women adding that the activities of the scheme range from giving women soft loans for small scale businesses support for those seeking political offices, and generally changing the lives of women for the better.

The First Lady regretted that poor representation has always being the bane of the Nigerian woman, adding that women do not deserve to be relegated to the background as second class citizens.

“We have only about 8 per cent representation at the federal, state, and local government levels. How can we contribute in policy making with this poor percentage? We need better representation so that they can hear our voice as we contribute our quota,” She stated.

She however appealed to the state executives and the legislature to consider women in political appointments as well as pass the 35 per cent affirmative bill.

“Women should be given a level playing ground so that they can come out and participate in the affairs of the nation, thereby contributing their own quota to nation building”.