Dr. Zaynab Alkali has called for the revival of Africa's rich cultural values and heritage, which is significant in the effort at rediscovering the family, and strengthening of our cultural base.

She made this call in a paper titled "Rediscovering The Family and our Cultural Heritage: The role of women and Youth" In her words "women are natural custodians of our cultures. They are cultural bearers and preservers who propagate culture very diligently, even when it comes to harmful traditional practices."

She stressed that women play a strategic and significant role as child bearers and rearers who mould the men that eventually become the leaders of the nation.

She added that pre-colonial Nigeria witnessed more women, rather than men, at the forefront of the nation's socio-political life, than in contemporary times. She drew attention to.

"Nana Asma'u Dan Fodio, a teacher-poet who influenced government through her intellectual and literary skills. She taught women and children, and ran her home and office, without generating marital or family conflicts."

Developing this idea, she mentioned Iyalode Efunsetan who established a large commercial empire, and influenced politics in her community, Queen Amina of Zazzau, who excelled in the battle -field, and in the arts of governments. Moremi of Ile-Ife, Inikpi of Igala, the Dauramas of Daura, and the Gumsus of Borno.

She went into history and recalled the fact that the Aba market women played a role in dismantling colonial rule, while also affirming that "the long-term effect of colonial interference in Africa has put women in an unfavourable position." She added "Thus in the days of colonial rule, women's fortunes changed. They lost their meaningful roles in the handling of power and administrations.

She stressed that the cultural effect of western civilisation was the fact that the women now lost their meaningful roles as the affairs of their societies, and their economic power, thus the woman's struggle assumed a different dimension.

In her concluding remarks she added that in order to create a sound society, certain aspects of traditional culture need to be re-examined and reassessed. She pointed out that powerful and harmful traditional practices, which are detrimental to family and national progress need to be weeded at. She re-emphasised that foreign cultures should not be rejected at right, because there are parts of these which are very useful in advancing our national development. In her words "The Family should be at the centre of such a challenge, women, the prime cultural bearers should take up the challenge and start laying, at the hearth, the foundation for a new nation."