Zamfara: First Lady attends 5th annual retreat of NGSF in Cross River

From John Bassey, Gusau

The First Lady of Zamfara State, Her Excellency Hajiya Huriyya Dauda Lawal, recently joined her counterparts, the wives of governors across Nigeria at the 5th Annual Retreat of the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum (NGSF) held in Calabar, Cross River State.

This is contained in a statement by Comrade Rabi’tu Yusuf, Chief Press Secretary, Office of the First Lady Zamfara State, to journalists in Gusau.

The statement confirmed that the three-day retreat brought together 22 First Ladies to deliberate and strategise on advancing key national development initiatives that promote women’s rights, child protection and improved healthcare outcomes across the country. The Forum reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the fight against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and intensifying advocacy for the protection and empowerment of women and girls.

The Chairperson and Wife of the Kwara State Governor, Ambassador Olufolake Abdulrazaq, announced the members’ collective support for the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, emphasising the importance of increased female representation in governance for achieving equality and strengthening democracy. The Forum also renewed its call for six months of paid maternity leave in all states to enhance maternal health, child survival and household productivity.

Other resolutions reached include strengthening advocacy against maternal mortality, supporting routine immunisation campaigns and collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Labour to eliminate child labour in Nigeria. The Forum adopted the 2026 RenewHER Roadmap Strategy, aimed at improving health outcomes for women and girls nationwide.

During her visit, the First Lady, Hajiya Huriyya Dauda Lawal, paid courtesy visits to His Excellency, Governor Bassey Otu, and the Obong of Calabar, His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, the Grand Patriarch of the Efik Kingdom.

The retreat also coincided with the wedding ceremony of the son of the Cross River State Governor, which was attended by the First Ladies as a show of solidarity and friendship.

The event concluded with members reaffirming their shared vision of unity, compassion and collective leadership in promoting national development and improving the lives of women and children across Nigeria.