By DARCEL CHOY Thursday, August 2 2012

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SIDE BY SIDE: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Nigeria's President Dr Goodluck Jonathon, stand side by side during the Kambule parade in Port...

NIGERIAN President Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathon yesterday said he awaits the day when a woman would be elected president of his country. Giving his first public speech yesterday during the Emancipation Day Kambule street procession in Port-of-Spain, since his arrival on Monday for a three-day State visit, he thanked citizens of Trinidad and Tobago for electing a woman as its Prime Minister.

“In Nigeria we are also struggling to make sure we give opportunities to women because if you look at our population ratio, it’s almost one to one and in that case for our nation to move forward we must encourage our women,” President Jonathan said.

He added that his Government has given a lot of responsibilities to women. Jonathon, wearing his signature black suit and black wide brimmed hat said the people of Nigeria are aware of TT’s history.

“We have a responsibility to never forget the lessons of our past. There is an imperative need to strive to strengthen our nations in all spheres of life,” he said. He noted one of the cardinal aspects of Nigeria’s foreign policy has always been to ensure the well-being of Africans and protecting their interests in the diaspora.

He then assured that he will continue to strive assiduously towards upholding the mutually beneficial spirits of corporation and solidarity that happily exist between the people of African continents and those in the Caribbean community and the Commonwealth

“We must work tirelessly together with unity to create a new world that we all can be proud of,” he said. After, Jonathon joined Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, House Speaker Wade Mark and other ministers in the procession along Independence Square.

They waved to those observing the activities and chipped along with the music. A few minutes after, heavy showers came down and Jonathon was rushed into a waiting vehicle which drove in front of the procession.

However, Persad-Bissessar wearing a red African dress chose to remain in the rain with her ministers. She was surrounded by umbrellas but did not seem fazed by the heavy rains as she continued in the procession. Upon reaching Piccadilly Street, the PM together with her ministers left the procession and departed for lunch and bilateral meetings with Jonathon at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s.