The First Lady， Dame Patience Jonathan， arrived in Seoul ahead of an event where she would be honored for her contributions toward advancing the cause of women in Nigeria. In Seoul she called for a collective effort to eradicate poverty and disease across the globe. According to her， women， who are mostly plagued by the twin evil of poverty and disease， have crucial roles to play in contributing to the developmental progress of Africa in particular and the world in general.
　　She said： "I must stress that the fight against poverty and disease anywhere in the world is not an individual battle. It is a fight that calls for collective action and responsibility by all stakeholders.
　　"I therefore want to use this opportunity to call on well-meaning individuals， governments， international humanitarian organizations and civil society organizations to contribute effectively and join in the fight against disease and poverty across the globe."