The National Council of Women’s Societies, NCWS, has committed to partner with the federal government on the newly-launched national re-orientation campaign “Change Begins With Me.”
National President of the group, Gloria Shoda, announced the decision in Abuja when she led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed.
She said, “We crave the indulgence of the Minister to direct the NOA (National Orientation Agency) at the federal and state levels to co-op members of the NCWS during the advocacy campaign, ‘Change Begins With Me’.”
“This is important to us because a lot of Nigerians tend to view the campaign as having a political undertone, whereas it is meant to provoke Nigerians to change from negative behaviours and embrace discipline and patriotism; it is meant to be a value added initiative for a better Nigeria.”
The NCWS president also appealed to the government to set up a special task force to curb the cases of rape and child molestation, which she said have become rampant in the country.
In his reply, the information minister pointed out that the “Change Begins With Me” Campaign was not meant to put a burden on Nigerians, rather it is a deliberate effort to change citizens’ attitude for the good of the country.
“We are particularly pleased that you have stretched your hand of fellowship to our new campaign ‘Change Begins With Me’,” Mohammed said.
“It’s laudable that you want to join us because from the way you spoke, you understand that this ‘Change Begins With Me’ Campaign is about national rebirth; it’s about going back to those values that made women to be able to bring up their children in a godly manner.”
The minister noted that the truth about the Campaign is that it started from the top to the bottom, contrary to criticisms from some quarters.
He said, “People have criticized the campaign; some have said the campaign ought to start from the top and we agreed simply because they have not even followed the campaign.
“The campaign actually started from the top because the best campaign is that campaign that you do what you are preaching,
”This government is leading by example, especially Mr. President, the Vice-President and Ministers.
“This is the least ostentatious cabinet you can ever have. We are all living and showing good examples. We obey traffic rules, queue up at airports and public places; we get to work early and close late,” he said.
Mohammed expressed optimism that despite the criticism, Nigerians will soon imbibe the tenets of the campaign and make it a huge success.
“This campaign is going to succeed. The campaign is not asking Nigerians to do anything extra; we are not putting any burden on any person. What is our campaign? We are saying Nigerians must first of all resolve that the change we are looking for is in each and every one of us; that all of us must change what we are doing from the negative to the positive,” he said.
The NCWS, an umbrella body of women’s societies in Nigeria, was formed in 1958 to promote gender-related issues.