The City of Ankara will Tuesday confer on Rosmah Mansor, wife of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, Turkey's prestigious 'Award of Social Responsibility' for her social work.

NONE Ankara Mayor Melih Gokcheh said Rosmah's continuous and active participation in social activities was admired by the Greater Ankara Municipality.

"Her presence in extending a helping hand, as well as trying to put a smile on those encountering social, economic, environmental and health problems, was not only playing a great importance in establishing social balance but also producing social benefits," he said in a statement Saturday.

Gokchek said, "this has become the source of inspiration for our work" which, besides fulfilling its obligations on infrastructure and superstructure ministration, also rendered social services devotedly to every segment of society, especially women, children and juveniles, disabled and the elders.

He said the award, to be conferred in conjunction with International Women's  Day celebrations in Ankara from March 4 to 6, would be given to Rosmah earlier since she would be accompanying her husband on an official visit to Turkey from Monday.

Gokchek described the "precious efforts" of Rosmah -- who is president of the Welfare Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers - as touching the hearts of the needy-indigent people and greeted with admiration by the Greater Ankara Municipality."

He said the municipality too, had carried out various activities for its women and youth, whereby its Women Clubs programme set up in 15 of its districts had benefitted about 165,000, with a wide ranging of activities from sports to art.

The clubs were established to ensure women's psycho-social and economical self-sufficiency, as well as providing them to acquire personal skills to play an effective role in the development and improvement of society, he said.

The Ankara mayor also said the city had organised Vocational Training Courses for Housewives (Belmek) and Technical Vocational Courses (Beltek) to acquire a new profession.

Rosmah, who has been active in social activities, including the Permata Negara programme, was awarded the International Peace and Harmony Award by the United States Business Council for International Understanding, in recognition of her extensive charity work, and to celebrate Malaysia-US links.

- Bernama