Cherie Blair calls for investing in women education

Cherie Blair, wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, called for investing in women education as she launched a fellowship programme at the Asian University for Women (AUW) in the port city yesterday.
The Cherie Blair Fellowship has been introduced to support women education and help women work side by side with men.
"Build yourselves overcoming all the difficulties to develop potential and take the challenges of 21st century, " Cherie called upon the students at the fellowship launching ceremony held at the AUW Access Academy on MM Ali Road.
She said investing in women education produces educated women, who can present the society with educated children of sound health and mind.
In the UK universities, girls and boys are equal in number and girls are doing better in many cases, said Cherie who is also a leading international lawyer and human rights advocate.
While sharing her own experience, Cherie said where she is now is just because of her family support that helped her to go to the university.
The gender gap has been narrowed in the UK and the US while in Asia and Africa women are still treated as minorities, she added.
Earlier on the day, the students greeted Cherie with a cultural function. They performed with the sprit of sharing cultural essence and commitment for building up a better world standing against violence and discrimination against women.
Later, Cherie conferred Cherie Blair Fellowship to 10 students of superior academic ability and outstanding leadership skills.
Rokeya Afzal Rahman, chairman of AUW Support Foundation Bangladesh Board of Directors and former adviser to a caretaker government, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, former commerce minister, Kamal Hossain, chief executive officer of AUW Bangladesh, among others, were present on the occasion.