Photo: The Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs Miriam Palmero (right) during a courtesy visit to Dr Mary Alile, the National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (left), on Thursday in Abuja.
By Mark Longyen
The Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs Miriam Palmero, has called for the deepening of cooperation with Nigeria toward ensuring women’s empowerment and gender equality.
Amb. Palmero made the call when she paid a courtesy visit to Dr Mary Alile, the National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday in Abuja.
She explained that her visit was to “establish a robust diplomatic camaraderie and shared commitment to women’s socio-economic progress, ideas, and aspirations, which transcend international borders.”
Palmero, who recalled the heroic contributions of Cuban women during the tumultuous era of the late President Fidel Castro’s Cuban revolution, said: “Cuban women have played an instrumental role in shaping the nation’s destiny.
“There is need for the articulation of a compelling vision of inclusive governance and gender parity in Nigeria, modelled on Cuba’s leadership structure, where women occupy key positions of authority.”
The ambassador, an advocate of women’s rights in her country, noted that the legacy of women leadership in Cuba is a model worth replicating in Nigeria.
She expressed the hope that APC national women leader would join the party’s delegation during its forthcoming visit to Cuba, which she said would provide an opportunity to further concretise the bilateral cooperation and exchange between both countries, especially as it concerns women empowerment and gender equality.
In her response, Alile stressed the need for gender equality by empowering more Nigerian women.
She extolled the APC’s unwavering commitment to gender inclusivity and women representation as obtainable in Cuba.
The national women leader highlighted the impressive presence of women in APC’s membership base, which according to her, has illuminated their pivotal role in shaping the party’s vision.
“President Bola Tinubu’s laudable appointment of a record number of female ministers has heralded a new era of opportunities and empowerment for Nigerian women,” she said.
Alile promised to nurture a new generation of female leaders, equipped with knowledge, skills, and resilience to effect positive changes in their communities and beyond.
“I’ll leverage the alliance between Cuba and Nigeria to advance the cause of women’s rights and empowerment, and chart a path by which women would stand as architects of progress and champions of change,” she said.
Alile noted that the torch of women empowerment was in women’s hands and was already burning brighter more than ever before.
“This is aimed at illuminating a path towards a future where women’s voices would resound with clarity and conviction, transcending boundaries and transforming nations.
“Deeper diplomatic collaboration between Cuba and Nigeria would also serve as a beacon of hope for gender equality and inspire nations to unite in their efforts to uplift and empower women across the globe,” the APC women leader added. (NAN)
