By Naomi Uzor
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has urged women now in power to use every opportunity and available authority to better the lives of Nigerians especially women and children who have remained the most vulnerable to the casualties that arise from the failure of government in providing facilities that could improve the social indicators in Nigeria.

President of the LCCI, Otunba Femi Deru who made this disclosure, at the cocktail reception in honour of newly appointed Women Ministers and a Commissioner for Woman Affairs in Ogun State by the Chairperson of the Committee of Women Leaders of the LCCI, recently, in Lagos, said this is crucial at a time when most of the social indicators like healthcare and access to water are still inadequate in Nigeria.

“Recently, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Hajiya Amina Az-Zubair confirmed that despite Nigeria’s huge human and material resources, the social indicators for Nigeria, particularly in areas such as the health of mothers and children, education (especially of the girl child) and access to safe water are not sufficient.

This is happening with less than five years to the 2015, target for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) worldwide” he stated

Unfortunately, he said, Nigerians and especially our women have had lots of health challenges which include high child mortality rate, women dying during pregnancy and childbirth, the prevalent poor healthcare delivery system especially in the rural areas and the rising number of killer-diseases like diabetes, tuberculosis, hypertension and even malaria.

Our health system is not yet as equipped as required and this should make any wise Nigerian seek ways to prevent these diseases instead of waiting to seek for treatment or cure.

“We are looking forward to women in position of authority in this present administration not only to fight for women population in Nigeria but also to ensure women play more prominent and positive roles to alleviate many sufferings of women and by extension Children and all citizen of Nigeria” he said.