Both First Ladies had a cordial meeting at the office of the Wife of the President of Nigeria, Yesterday, May 3, 2016, in Abuja.

Cameroon’s First Lady, Mrs Chantal Biya and the Wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mrs Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, May 3, 2016, at the office of Mrs Buhari had a get-together which was termed “Family Reunion”. During the meeting that lasted over two hours, Mrs Buhari told her sister from Cameroon whom she was meeting for the first time that Mrs Chantal Biya’s fourth sojourn in Nigeria will be the best time she has ever spent in Nigeria.

As the women shared niceties, it was an opportunity for both First Ladies to talk about their common vision which is that of accelerating ongoing efforts to improve the living standards of their compatriots, end preventable maternal, newborn and adolescent deaths through advocacy and humanitarian actions.

The meeting which was meant to take place between Mrs Chantal Biya and Mrs Aisha Buhari turned out to be a family gathering between African sisters. Besides both First Ladies, there was the wife of the Vice President of Nigeria, wives of Nigeria State governors, former female deputy governors, former female ministers, party women leaders, female politician and business women.

These women came from across Nigeria not only to welcome their sister from Cameroon, Mrs Chantal Biya, but also to express their joy of having her amongst them while ensuring that she enjoys her stay in Abuja. The women told their sister from Cameroon to feel at home and discuss whatever she had in mind.

A visibly happy Chantal Biya told the women how happy she was to be treated to such an exceptional welcome. To Mrs Chantal Biya, it was some kind of a family encounter which she appreciated so much. “Thanks for the hospitality. I am very happy,” Mrs Biya told her Nigerian sisters.

Mrs Buhari, on her part, said although the Constitution does not have a specific role attached to a First Lady, as First Ladies, they have to established activities that will have an impact on the population. She noted that the humanitarian services they carry out as First Ladies are out to build a bridge between the government and the people in a bid to construct a stronger nation.

While mentioning the remarkable job Mrs Chantal Biya is doing in terms of humanitarian works in Cameroon and Africa, through her Foundation, the Circle of Friends of Cameroon (CERAC), African Synergy Against AIDs and Suffering, Mrs Buhari said through her Foundation called “Future Assured”, she too is determined to use her privileged position to become an advocacy champion for raising attention and resources necessary to make a difference to improve health outcomes for mothers and children.

The Wife of the President of Nigeria hoped that her meeting with Cameroon’s First Lady will create a platform through which they will build stronger humanitarian works for the benefit of their compatriots. As she thanked Mrs Biya for her visit, Mrs Buhari wished that they could start establishing common humanitarian goals. The meeting which ended with merrymaking was graced with an exchange of gifts between both First Ladies.