In Abuja... Former Vice-President of Spain heads round table discussion on women

Round Table on the Role of Women Towards the Transformation of Society.
From left to right: Mrs. Unoma Giese, Mrs. Halima Oyelade, Mrs. Alidou Hassana,
Mrs. Teresa Fernandez de la Vega, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, Mrs. Ngozi Akande,
Mrs. Patience Ekeba, Mrs. Ojobo Atuluku, and Mrs. Ezenwa
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Her Excellency Ma. Teresa Fernandez de la Vega, former Vice President of the Government of Spain and current President of a foundation called Women for Africa, was one of the guests speakers at a round table discussion on the topic The Role of Women Towards a Transformation of the Society on 11th March 2013 at the Institut Francaise du Nigeria. The round table was held in the framework of the celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day, jointly organised by the Embassy of Spain, Embassy of France, and the Female Artists Association of Nigeria.

Joining Mrs. Fernandez de la Vega at the round table were: Mrs. Ngozi Akande (President of Female Artists Association of Nigeria); Prof. Alidou Hassana (Officer in Charge, UNESCO); Mrs. Halima Oyelade (Director, Zuma Festival); Mrs. Patience Ekeoba (Women Rights Coordinator, ActionAid and Chair of the Development Partners Group on Gender in Nigeria); Mrs. Ojobo Atuluku (Director, Development in Practice); and Mrs. Ezenwa (MD/CEO Le Look Nigeria Ltd).

Mrs. Unoma Giese, left,
and Mrs. Halima Oyelade

The guests talked about their personal experiences while promoting women-related causes and projects that would contribute to the transformation not only of the lives of women – especially those who are helpless and uninformed – but also of the society where they live. Speaking through an interpreter, Mrs. De la Vega, the first woman to become Vice-President of her country, Spain, said “When you are given the power or the position to do something, then you have to use it, to exercise it,” adding that “women make progress through laws, policies, and money (public funding).” 

The round table was moderated by Mrs. Unoma Giese, a writer and photographer and member of the Female Artists Association of Nigeria. 

Also making an appearance at the event was H. E. Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, current Ambassador of Nigeria to Spain, as well as the Ambassadors of France, Spain, and Finland.

According to the Ambassador of Spain to Nigeria, H.E. Alvaro Castillo Aguilar, the purpose of the visit of Mrs. Fernandez de la Vega to Nigeria is “to sign a MoU with ECOWAS Commission, to establish a first contact with the Nigerian film industry and to have a real perception of women in Nigeria.”

These photos were taken at the event.

From left to right:
The Ambassador of France, Ambassador of Finland,
and Ambassador of Spain