Abuja — First Lady, Patience Jonathan has urged men to strongly support the Nigerian women who she charged to offer themselves for elective positions.

She spoke at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa yesterday when she unveiled the 50 Women @ 50 Logo to celebrate Nigerian women as part of the activities marking Nigeria's Golden Jubilee Anniversary.

The event was organised by the first lady's Women for Change Initiative, which seeks to promote the contributions of Nigerian women to national development.

"I urge women to offer themselves for elective positions and also appeal to our men folk to support the women. I also want to appeal to state governments to give legal backing to the National Gender Policy on Affirmative Action while I warmly commend states that have already passed it into law,"she stated.

Dame Jonathan stressed that the Women for Change Initiative encourages women to participate actively in politics and to aspire to elective and appointive offices, while the Initiative intends to establish a educational scholarship scheme for young eligible women.

The first lady recalled several Nigerian women, dead and living who contributed immensely to Nigeria's attainment of Independence 50 years ago and those in academia, politics, entertainment, sports etc, that have made the entire nation proud.