Accra, June 28, GNA- Mr. Boniface Abubakar Saddique, Minister of Works, Housing Water and resources on Saturday said the role women played in the society could not be underestimated hence the need to support them.

"Education, socialization and care are some very important roles women play in the society and hence cannot be take too lightly", he said at a day's seminar on women's role in the society.

The seminar, organised by the Muslim Female Graduates Association (MUFGA) in collaboration with Final Point, Iman Foundation and Islamic Young Initiative, sought to appreciate the role of mothers in the Muslim community.

Mr. Saddique added that women needed to be appreciated in all facets of life, calling on MUFGA to also play the same role as mothers since they were agents of change in the society. He challenged MUFGA to use their status to help raise the image of Muslim women in the society since they were role models, and advised them to led exemplary lives for others to appreciate the need to educate the girl-child.

He urged the Association to remain united at all times and asked them to, not only depend on government jobs but also venture into private businesses.

Ms. Jamila Muhammed, President, MUFGA said negative factors such as economic position of parents, culture and culture, militated against the optimum growth of the female child in the educational ladder. "It is against this background that the Association was formed with the mandate of spearheading the sensitization of Muslim females to seek knowledge and formal education at all levels of human endeavour", she added.

She stated that, MUFGA served as a role model to Muslim females in the community, championED the course of disadvantaged females, organised educational forums and exhibited social responsibilities in terms of moral, financial and spiritual support towards members and the community.

Ms. Muhammed noted that the seminar was organised to provide a platform for them to dialogue with mothers in the society and share ideas on best parenting practices and the promotion of girl-child education.

She called all stakeholders in education, government, corporate bodies NGO's and civil society organizations to play a role in removing all the barriers that affected the girl-child education.

Speaking on the topic; "Appreciating Motherhood in the Muslim Community", Hajia Fati Sulemana said Muslim mothers played a very crucial role in the life of every child hence their importance in the family.

She said, even though society mandated that fathers were the head of the family, it was the women who did everything in the home, including taking care of the father. She added that there was the need to appreciate mothers in the society and children only had to do that by respecting them. Miss Zainab Musah, who discussed the rights and responsibilities of parents and children advised both parties to do what was expected of them in order to live in harmony. 28 June 08