“All I am, I owe to my mother” - George Washington
In the presence of H.E. State Minister for Women's Affairs Jean Oghassabian, the Office of Public Affairs and Events (PA&E) at NDU, celebrated Mother’s Day for the ninth consecutive year with all the mothers at NDU in an event titled “closest to my heart” on March 23, 2017, in Issam Fares Hall, main campus.
Dr. Nada Saber, Director, PA&E at NDU, referred in her introductory note to the continuous support that the institution bestows upon mothers particularly because it carries the name of the Blessed Virgin Mother.
Mr. Suheil Matar, Vice President for Public Affairs and Communications welcomed his Excellency and highlighted the importance of a Mother’s role in one’s life, be it at home, at work or in society at large.
Minister Oghasabian stated that “he does not believe in the distribution of tasks between men and women since men are as equally responsible as women in the household while women, with all their potential, capacities and skills, should be encouraged to take leading positions and roles in society and across industries.
Oghasabian ended his speech by introducing a new initiative aimed at training women in rural areas about their rights at home and in society.
Part of the event program included presenting the following leading ladies, Ms. Gloria Abi Zeid, General Director of Cooperatives at the Ministry of Agriculture, Ms. Lena Dargham, Director General of the Institution for Standards, and Ms. Nicole Bardawil, member of the NDU Alumni Association with a small gift and flowers in appreciation for all their contributions.
The peak of the event was when elementary students from College Notre Dame de Louaize joined hands to perform touching and heartwarming songs for the occasion.