The Special Adviser to the President on Gender, Dr Asmau Abdulkadir has expressed worries about undue discrimination against women and girls in the country.

She said this at a Presidential Summit and Launching of the National Ethics Day, with the theme: “Consolidating the Foundations and Legacy for Eradicating Corruption in Nigeria’’.

The presidential aide stressed the imperative of according women and girls equal rights as men and boys in line with their inalienable rights bestowed them at birth.

“Women often work more than men, yet are paid less, women work and struggle more than men in the family, yet they are not being given respect.

“Gender discrimination affects girls and women throughout their lifetime, and women and girls are often the ones that suffer the most poverty.

According to her, the role of women and girls in running families, organisations and building the society cannot be over emphasised and that quality education enables them take their responsibilities more effectively and efficiently.

She noted that educating women and girls was like educating a whole nation.

The presidential aide averred that training women and girls in order to actualise their potential was a matter of right rather than privilege.

“It is unethical for a man not to take care of his wife or not to allow women to fight for their basic rights,” she maintained.

Abdulkadir argued that corruption, unemployment and poverty would reduce in the country as much as the youths would receive proper training in ethics and values.

She urged the womenfolk to unite and fight against the discrimination and violence against them, adding that women’s rights were fundamental human rights.

In her remarks, the Special Adviser to the President on Ethics and Values, Mrs Sarah Jibril, appealed to Nigerians to shun corrupt practices and support ongoing efforts at rebuilding the country.

Jibril noted with dismay that corruption had set back Nigeria’s development, saying that it required collective would to reject the social malaise.

“The Office the Special Adviser on Ethics and Values is ready to fight corruption and we appeal to leaders, parents and the youths to join hands with us to fight this scourge.

“This fight will change the image of the country; people should love Nigeria and do well to sweep away corruption.

“We don’t have any reason for not fighting corruption. That is the only way we can move forward and achieve our goals. So let’s work together and develop the country,” she said.

Jibril said that cooperative societies now abound in different states including FCT, adding that their aim was to transform Nigeria using ethics and values.

She said that doing the right thing would need the cooperation and collaboration of the private sector, non-governmental organisations and international development agencies in the country.

In his contribution, the National Chairman, Ethics and Values Cooperative Society, Chief Olu Aduloju, said that the objective of establishing the society was to add value to the economic growth of the country.