REMARKS

BY HER EXCELLENCY THE STATE PRESIDENT OF MALAWI DR JOYCE BANDA DURING THE PRESENTATION OF THE BOOK, GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN: CHAMPION FOR WOMEN ON 26TH JUNE 2013, ABUJA, NIGERIA

 Your Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Your Excellency, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia Your Excellency Chief Justice Richard Banda SC (Rtd) Your Excellency, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan All distinguished guests Honourable Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, Project Coordinator and Editor in Chief of the book Ladies and Gentlemen

Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen , let me start by stating the usual; I have most spent of my life in the womens movement. And I remember that in the build up for the 1995 Beijing Womens Conference, we, women, came up with all sorts of slogans in our quest to be heard! One slogan that has come to mind today; is the one we chanted MEN OF QUALITY ARE NOT AFRAID OF WOMEN SEEKING

EQUALITY .

So that was 1995, and I have no idea where my brother President Goodluck Jonathan was, and whether he heard our chants or not. But regardless of where he was, tonight, we have very clear testimony that President Goodluck Jonathan is a MAN of QUALITY, and is COMMITTED to the EQUALITY of WOMEN and MEN. So on my own behalf, and on behalf of Women of Malawi, I want to applaud you for your untiring efforts

on championing the cause of women. Tonight is a worthy celebration of your leadership in this regard.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I have had the pleasure of having a preview of the book earlier today. And I must say that while I knew about President Jonathans commitment to uplifting the lives of women in his country, I had no imagination at the giant steps that the President has taken across sectors in making sure that lives of women in Nigeria are transformed in all aspects. The book illuminates words, action and values of an African Man, an African Leader who deeply respects women, honestly safe guards their interests and commits himself to the struggle for the removal of oppression and subordination of women in his land.

Your Excellency, Mr President, I have seen that you have boldly put measures that address the practical and strategic needs of women. On addressing the practical needs of women,
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one powerful measure you have instituted is the pilot program where five of your ministries have signed an MOU with your Ministry of Women Affairs to ensure delivery of gender specific services. Through this pilot, you have demonstrated that you will not allow your government machinery pay lip service to gender mainstreaming but to ensure that appropriate instruments are in place for ensuring accountability to the cause for gender equality. I applaud Your Excellency for the leadership.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, President Goodluck Jonathan has also demonstrated that his is ready to break down the barriers that bar women from the public sphere. I have noted with admiration, the appointments President Jonathan has made of women into his cabinet, in the judiciary, in the military and diplomatic services to mention but a few. I am proud to say Mr President, you have walked the talk, and yours is a living legacy women in Nigeria are able to reach their full potential in all aspects of development. Mr President, on many
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occasions I have interacted with your lady ministers and other senior women government officials, and I want you to know that they appreciate your gesture in appointing them to these powerful positions. Women across the continent appreciate your gesture too.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I can not talk about President Jonathans support for women without being

personal. So allow me to finish on a personal note. As some of you may be aware, I took over the office of President of Malawi in April last year under very difficult and unsual circumstances. And I am humbled to say that President Jonathan was among the first African Leaders that gave me inspiration and courage on the task that lay ahead of me, especially in recovering Malawis economy.

To affirm his support, President Jonathan also made a historical state visit to Malawi in September last year, and
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pledged his Governments technical support to my Presidential Initiative on Poverty and Hunger Eradication which aims at taking rural women and their households out of their despair.

This is clear testimony that President Jonathan is committed to the support of women not only in Nigeria but across all Africa.

Finally, I wish to applaud Your Excellencys vision, and I am sure that you have set the pace for many leaders, and made a bold statement that for Africa to prosper, we have to place women at the centre of the continents development. We look forward to having many of such visionary leaders that positively shape the future of this dear continent of ours. I am personally delighted that this documentation project was initiated, its god to show case positive things coming out of Africa.

Mr President, Congratulations, and please receive this token of appreciation for your good work from the women of Malawi.
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(H.E Banda presents gift to President Jonathan)