BY PETER DURU

MAKURDI-No fewer than 100 disabled women, weekend, benefitted from the free distribution of wheelchairs by wife of Benue State Governor,Mrs. Yemisi Suswam, to mark the fifth edition of Celebrate Benue Woman, in Makurdi.

Speaking at the symposium organised for women of the state to mark the festivities, Mrs. Suswam urged women to stand up to defend democracy by ensuring the sustenance of peace and harmony in their communities.

She said: “Democracy has come to stay in our country and Nigeria must move forward, despite the unfortunate actions of a few misguided persons.

”As women, we have key roles to play in nation- building by ensuring peace in our various communities and we cannot for any reason jettison that responsibility which we owe our country as a duty.”

The Benue State governor’s wife charged women to rise up to the challenge posed by the spate of political violence in the state by cautioning their children and ward against being used as weapons of violence in the hands self-seeking politicians.

Guest speaker at the forum and Technical Assistant to Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr. Monica Eimunjeze, noted the role women play to ensure peace and conflict resolution in societies.

Eimunjeze said: “Women are indispensable in our quest for sustainable development; this could be perceived from their roles as home managers where peace and development at the home front largely depends on them.”