Former Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development Dame Pauline Tallen has urged the wives of military personnel and other security agencies to continue praying for their husbands, who strive to restore peace in Nigeria.

Ms Tallen made the call on Saturday in Abuja at an event organised by the Defence and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA) in commemoration of International Women’s Day (IWD) 2024.

The event’s theme is “Invest in Women: Accelerate the Diversity and Empowerment of Women.”

The former minister, who said only prayers could help curb the insecurity ravaging Nigerian communities, urged the service chiefs’ wives to pray for their husbands, President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Remi Tinubu.

“The security challenges facing Nigeria can only be solved through prayers, and I am happy to state clearly that the wife of the defence chief is a woman of prayers and a prayer warrior,” said Ms Tallen.

She added, “I call on her to engage the wives of other service chiefs in prayers for the president, the president’s wife, and especially security chiefs because they are the ones fighting insecurity across the country.”

Meanwhile, she called on society to support women’s empowerment so that they can protect the future of their children.

The former minister said the country needed more women at the helm of affairs, urging men to emulate Mr Tinubu, who encouraged his wife to be a senator for three terms.

“We also need to encourage men to support their wives’ participation in decision-making so that laws protecting women’s rights will be made to protect the family.

“This is because the women always think of the family, and the family includes our children, both boys and girls.

“Equality must start at home. As parents, we must teach our children to respect one another and fear God so that we can have a better country,” she said.

The president of DEPOWA, Oghogho Musa, said that when women are empowered, they can impact their communities, environment, and society.

(NAN)