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*Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (Nigeria) Just like the example of the education of the girl-child, a more effective and balanced female representation and participation in politics and government will have major impact on the country’s socio-economic future and overall national development, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN. Prof. Osinbajo stated this today as the Special Guest of Honour at the 2022 Women Directors’ Conference.   Speaking in a pre-recorded message on the theme of the Conference:   Facing Forward - The Evolving Nature of Boards in a Rapidly Changing World, the Vice President advocated for more female representation in leadership positions in government and across different sectors, “as an economic imperative and not a moral duty of men or mere concession by men.” Said he, “a country that keeps down half of its productive demography is bound to perform sub-optimally. But the issue is not just board representation, it is about representation in ...

A first cohort of 35 women entrepreneurs from nine African countries successfully completed the Ecobank , Ellevate Leadership Training Programme. T his is an innovative impact-driven programme, designed to equip women entrepreneurs with valuable leadership skills to be better empowered, and to equip them to empower their businesses and communities. The Ellevate Leadership Training Programme is designed by Ecobank’s Commercial Banking Business and delivered by the Ecobank Academy in partnership with the Global Business School Network , GBSN. Josephine Anan-Ankomah, Group Executive, Commercial Banking, said: “At Ecobank we are determined to grow and actualize the enormous potential of the female economy and help Africa’s female entrepreneurs succeed. Access to finance alone is not enough.   Accordingly, though Ecobank is a provider of sustainable financing, we continue to invest in making available an array of non-financial interventions to sustain and grow women-led businesse...

(Nigeria) The Senate, on Tuesday, passed a bill to reposition the National Human Rights Commission by establishing the National Human Rights Fund in Nigeria’s annual budget. The Fund when established, would be used particularly for interventions on sexual and gender-based violence and other unforeseen human rights violations in the country. The Bill tagged: “The National Human Rights Commission Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2021 (SB.587)”, was read for the first time on December 2, 2020. It seeks to repeal and enact the National Human Rights Commission Act 2010 (as amended). The passage of the bill was sequel to the consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters. Chairman of the Committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), said the bill seeks to “reposition and streamline the institutional framework of the Commission by strengthening its capacity to conduct investigations on human rights issues, as well as expand on t...

(Nigeria) Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, has joined Nigerian women to protest the rejection of bills meant to promote the interest of the female gender in the ongoing constitutional amendment by the National Assembly, urging the lawmakers to end the habit of taking the country back to the primitive days and revisit the rejected gender equity bills. The umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations in the country, in its reaction on the occasion of the 2022 International Women's Day (IWD), asked members of the Senate “to revisit the rejected pro-female gender bills to align the country with the theme of this year's IWD celebration, which is #BreakTheBias.” NCPP in a statement by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, maintained that “The lawmakers have always failed to flow with the mood of the nation and prevailing international standards at all times”, saying that “the rejection of the gender equity bills was not a surprise. “...

*Gloria Okolie By Okechukwu Nwanguma   (Nigeria) The Press Release issued today August 22,2021  by the Public Relations Department of the Nigeria Police Force entitled 'VIOLENT ATTACKS IN THE SOUTH-EAST: POLICE ARREST MILITANTS' SPY GIRL' came to RULAAC with utter shock and disbelief. It sounded like an afterthought and a desperate but feeble attempt at damage control. It has more potential of doing further damage to the already battered image of the Nigeria Police than the possibility of burnishing it. First, the young girl referred to in the Press Release as 'militants' spy girl' is the same 22- year-old Gloria Okolie whose case has been trending on social media for the past 2 days. She was reportedly arrested and kept in secret detention by the notorious Intelligence Response Team (IRT) Tiger Base, Owerri Imo State for the past 70 days and her parents did not know her whereabouts until one Izuchukwu Okeke  who was also held in custody by the IRT for abo...

(Nigeria) Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, on Monday, advanced his administration’s concerted efforts in developing the rural communities through the deployment of government services to create fair and equal opportunity for every willing citizen of the state to create wealth, enjoy democracy dividends and live a healthy life. Besides numerous infrastructural projects across the 17 local government areas of Enugu State, Governor Ugwuanyi’s administration has embarked on sports development at the grassroots to discover and nurture young talents for job creation, socialisation and unification, as well as economic emancipation. Consequently, the governor in keeping with this vision and the commitment to promote recreational and sporting activities, among other numerous development projects, inaugurated a standard-double Lawn Tennis Court, at Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area Stadium, Ogrute, Enugu Ezike.   Inaugurating the sports facility, Governor Ugwuanyi, represen...

*Senate President, Ahmad Lawan (Nigeria) President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has said that Nigeria cannot afford to neglect its women population if the country must record meaningful growth and development. According to him, the issue of gender diversity hasn’t been sufficiently addressed through policies of government and legislation to ensure equal opportunities for women. Lawan made this known on Thursday when a high level delegation of women comprising of members of the Technical Committee on Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill paid a visit to his office in Abuja. The delegation which was led by Senator Biodun Olujimi were at the National Assembly to seek the support of the upper chamber to re-introduce the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill for consideration and passage. Those on the delegation include: the Director-General of the National Centre for Women Development, Asabe Bashir, who represented the Minister for Women Affairs, Paulken Talen; Princess Joan Idonije; an...

Wife of the Governor of Delta State, Dame Edith Okowa (Nigeria) The wife of the Governor of Delta State, Dame Edith Okowa, has donated 100 mattresses to Agbor Custodial Centre as part of activities to ark her 60th birthday. The donation, which was made on Sunday, May 30, 2021 at the Agbor Custodial Centre, as a prelude to the birthday celebration of Dame Okowa Tuesday also witnessed the distribution of sundry consumables to the centre, and to inmates in other custodial centres in the state. The occasion, which saw Dame Okowa feasted with the inmate and cut her birthday cake, featured special song rendition by the female inmates of Agbor Custodial Centre. The Controller of Corrections in the state, Mr Ovie Esezobor, expressed gratitude to the wife of the governor for the gesture, describing it as kind, and wished her many fruitful years ahead in good health. Local government chairmen in areas where correctional facilities are located also presented relief items to the inmates on...

Wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs Monica Ugwuanyi, administering vaccine on child (Nigeria) The wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs Monica Ugwuanyi, has tasked mothers to always ensure they take proper record of their children’s #immunization, for effective administration of vaccines on them for healthy living. Mrs Ugwuanyi gave the advice during the flag off of the 2021 Maternal, New Born and Child Health Week, MNCHW and Modified Integrated Medical Outreach Programme, MIMOP, held on Monday, at Uwani Health Centre, Enugu South Local Government Area of the state. The Enugu First Lady noted that some mothers do forget the scheduled date for immunization of their children, stressing that proper record keeping is essential and a sure way to effectively immunize the kids. “One advice I want to give is this; let’s have a small bag where you keep your children’s cards. You will also put in the bag everything concerning the child that you need in the hospital so that even when you are not ...

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State (Nigeria) Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Tuesday,   said his administration would continue to give priority attention to programmes and projects that would empower the girl-child and women. Okowa stated this when he received the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Multi-sectoral Regional Officer, Mr Lamine Sow, and his delegation at Government House, Asaba. He remarked that the girl-child and women were relevant in every society and thanked UNESCO for considering Delta as one of the states to benefit from its women and girls’ development programmes. He said that the state government would ensure that the programme was successful in the state. According to the governor, “Third World countries are always confronted with the challenge of relegating women to the background and I am confident that the move by UNESCO will reverse the ugly trend.” He said that a lot of programmes have been initi...

Wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs Monica Ugwuanyi (Nigeria) The wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs Monica Ugwuanyi, on Sunday, participated in the state’s monthly prayer session at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, calling on women to pray fervently for God’s intervention in the #security and economic challenges confronting the nation. Mrs Ugwuanyi who stressed that prayer is key to stemming the tide of security challenges in the country, enjoined women to pray hard and watch over their homes, especially what their children do at all times. “We have to sit up. Women are for prayers, some of our husbands do not have time. Women are agents of peace,” she said. Reminding the women of their noble role in the family in particular and society in general, the Enugu Governor’s wife maintained that their contributions and dedication to God through prayers and promotion of good virtues will go a long way to bring permanent solutions to the nation’s challenges. Also speaking, the Permanent Sec...

Baba Ijesha (Nigeria) Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James, alias as Baba Ijesha, risks spending seven years in prison, as the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, has recommended his prosecution for defilement. Baba Ijesha, who was caught on camera folding a minor, according to   Directorate of Public Prosecutions issued legal advice on May 4, 2021, is to be charged with indecent treatment of a child, defilement of a child and sexual assault by penetration. The Lagos AG in a statement on Tuesday, said, “It will be recalled that the Nigeria Police Force arrested Mr.Olanrewaju James (also referred to as Baba Ijesha) on account of various sexual abuse allegations.   “On April 30, 2021, the Police forwarded the   case file of COP v Olanrewaju James to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, DPP, for legal advice. “After due consideration of the facts in the case file, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions issued legal advi...

(Nigeria) Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, has joined the rest of the world to mark World Malaria Day being observed on April 25 of every year, as it called for urgent need for the Federal Government to develop a strong political will towards eliminating malaria in the country. NAWAOJ in a statement on Sunday by its National President, Ladi Bala and National Secretary, Helen Udofa, said, “According to the 2019 World Malaria Report, Nigeria had the highest number of global malaria cases (25% of global malaria cases) in 2018 and accounted for the highest number of deaths (24% of global malaria deaths). “This alarming figure is unacceptable and stresses that with this year’s theme: "Zero Malaria, Draw the Line Against Malaria" is an indication that malaria is preventable, therefore every malaria death is unacceptable. “It notes that as a country that bears the brunt of malaria burden, Nigeria should therefore be leading the cause to stamp out malaria by 203...

Wife of the Enugu State Governor, Mrs Monica Ugwuanyi (Nigeria) The wife of the Enugu State Governor, Mrs Monica Ugwuanyi, on Wednesday, rounded off her state and zonal campaigns against gender-based violence, calling for an all-inclusive and sustained crusade to stem the tide of domestic violence, sexual abuse, female genital mutilation, public harassment, among other forms of violence against women in the society.   Mrs Ugwuanyi who also used the events to scale up awareness on yellow fever and the importance of the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination, described gender-based violence as barbaric and a violation of human rights.          Sensitizing women during the state flag off of the campaign against gender-based violence, held at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, as well as the campaign in Enugu North, Enugu West and Enugu East senatorial districts, Mrs. Ugwuanyi lamented that the violent behaviour has eaten deep into the fabric of the so...

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, being presented certificate by NACESS officials (Nigeria) National Council of Enugu State Students, NACESS, Worldwide, widows in the state under the aegis of Widows’ International Ministries and a Non-Profit Entrepreneurial Organisation, The Potter’s Wheel Foundation, on Tuesday, converged on the Government House, Enugu, on a solidarity visit to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. The widows, who came with their widow’s mite to celebrate with Governor Ugwuanyi on his 57th birthday, expressed deep appreciation to the governor for his benevolence and constant assistance to them each time they called on him. They therefore offered prayers to the governor for long life, God’s guidance and protection, reassuring him that “we are solidly behind your present and future endeavours, both in prayers and solidarity”. Commending Governo Ugwuanyi for his uncommon leadership qualities and the positive impact of his administration in every nook and cranny of Enugu Sta...

Nigeria Senate (Nigeria) The National Assembly has expressed its readiness to amend the Constitution to ensure gender parity and enact laws to improve the fortunes of women and girls in Nigeria. This was just as the Senate resolved to expunge provisions of the law as contained in the Police Act, Federal Character Law, Electoral Act, Labour Act, Political Parties Constitutions, which infringes on the rights of women in Nigeria. The decision was conveyed amidst resolutions reached on Wednesday during plenary when the Upper Chamber considered a motion on the 2021 International Women’s Day Celebration with the theme: “Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-l9 world #Choose To Challenge”. The motion was sponsored by Senator Betty Apiafi (PDP, Rivers West); and co-sponsored by Senators Aisha Dahiru Ahmed (Adamawa Central); Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central); Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti South); Akon Eyakenyi (Akwa Ibom South); Stella Oduah (Anambra North); Uche Lillian Ekwunife...

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN (Nigeria) Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, believes that “ensuring the education of women and empowering them is an existential issue for Nigeria and the rest of Africa”, otherwise holding women down means holding their societies down. Prof. Osinbajo stated this Monday in a keynote address at a webinar organized by Women In Africa, WIA, in collaboration with the MacArthur Foundation, to mark the 2021 International Women’s Day.                                     Anchoring his contributions on the theme of the 2021 celebrations “Choose to challenge”, the Vice President noted that “a child of a mother who can read is 50 percent more likely to live past the age of five. Each additional school year increases a woman earning by 20 percent, 2/3 less maternal deaths if mothers finis...

(Nigeria)Wfe of Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Monica Ugochi Ugwuanyi, has urged Nigerian women in authority to rise, champion and protect the rights and privileges of women in the country. Mrs. Ugwuanyi, who stated that “it is obvious that women rights need to be brought to par with that of men to ensure equality and justice”, stressed that it is only strong feminist movements that can create thriving democracy and a catalyst of positive change.  Speaking during an event to commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day in Enugu State, the governor’s wife disclosed that the occasion offered women the veritable platform to chart and plan for their future and “how to be relevant and achieve an equal future in this COVID-19 world”. Noting that women’s participation in politics has increased in recent years, Mrs. Ugwuanyi said that it is “yet not sufficient to fulfill the objectives we set for ourselves, not even the ambition of Beijing Declaration of 1995”. Highlighting th...

(Nigeria) Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Woman Leader, Hajiya Mariya Waziri, has said despite “Our socio-cultural and political differences, we must unite to challenge our non-inclusion in a space where we are known to offer the greatest contributions and sacrifices.” Waziri in a statement to mark the International Women’s Day, said on Monday, “As we celebrate this special call to action against gender bias and inequality globally, I urge us all to look inwards, knowing that our greatest challenge remain local and engraved in our immediate environs. “Nigerian women have retrogressed more than ever in the past five years, however,   our resilience has kept us pushing for a better Nigeria for all women. “Nonetheless, despite our socio-cultural and political differences, we must unite to challenge our non-inclusion in a space where we are known to offer the greatest contributions and sacrifices. Undoubtedly, gender bias and inequality continue to hinder our advancement ...

Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi  Gbajabiamila (right)  with the  Chairperson, Commonwealth Women Parliamentarian (Africa Region), Zainab Gimba  during the commemoration of the 2021 International Women's Day at the National Assembly on Monday. (Nigeria) The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has reiterated the determination of the 9th House to remove all obstacles militating against the development of women through relevant legislation. In addition to collaborating with all critical local and international stakeholders, Gbajabiamila said the ongoing constitutional amendment exercise would be explored to achieve the set goals which was a priority area on the Legislative Agenda of the 9th House. The Speaker, who disclosed this on Monday, while declaring open the commemoration of this year's International Women’s Day, organized by the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians at the National Assembly, expressed the deter...