The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • IDPs pray for benefactors

    IDPs pray for benefactors

    To demonstrate their gratitude to those who have been taking care of them since they were displaced from their ancestral homes by the insurgents in the Northeast, the Internally Displaced Persond (IDPs) in Adamawa State prayed for their benefactors. TONY AKOWE reports

    For the internally-displaced persons (IDPs) in Adamawa State, penulti-mate week presented a moment for celebration and prayers. Despite the unpleasant situation in which they found themselves as a result of the bestial activities of insurgents in the Northeast, they had cause to thank God; at least, they are alive.

    Having lost almost everything and despite residing in a camp outside their ancestral homes, they lived on charity. Individuals, groups, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and governments have shown them love and care. To these benefactors, they remained grateful.

    So, to express their gratitude, they decided to give back to those who have been taking care of them. Since they do not have material things to offer, they went on their knees to pray for God’s blessings on and protection for their benefactors.

    Having so decided the IDPs put aside their religious and sectarian differences to offer thanks and praises to God; supplicating for His protection on those who freely took care of them, especially during the Yuletide.

    From the seven local government areas of Adamawa State, one of the states worse hit by activities of the insurgents, men, women and children headed for the churches and mosques to offer prayers for the donors as well as for members of Adamawa Peace Initiative (API) for providing their daily needs. Recall that government at all levels and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have shown commitment to the sustenance of humanitarian works in the Northeast.

    The IDPs had received medical supplies, blankets, vegetable oil, spaghetti, seasonings, salt, sugar and rice as donations from three prominent philanthropists namely Alhaji Mohammed Indimi, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar.

    Atiku, who is the founder of Abti-America University of Nigeria is said to have been in the vanguard in providing financial support for the IDPs since the varsity became involved in their feeding more than a year ago.

    At St. Theresa Catholic Cathedral Church, Jimeta where 15,500 families were served in three batches, a Muslim woman, Amina Mamman, joined the Bishop of Yola Catholic Diocese, Dr. Stephen Dami Mamza, in praying for peace in Nigeria and in expressing appreciation to those who made the donations to support IDPs in the state.

    Six hundred families received food and relief items at the Adamawa State headquarters of Jamatu Nasril Islam (JNI) in Jimeta, where JNI officials Gambo Jika and Fadimatu Ahmad Marafa led the IDPs in prayers.

    This was replicated at the New Life Gospel Centre, Demsawo, Deeper Life Camp, and other centres where volunteers from the American University of Nigeria and Adamawa Peace Initiative distributed food and relief items donated by Dangote Foundation.

    The IDPs and officials of API took turns to thank the donors, the API, Governor Mohammed Jibrilla of Adamawa State and the volunteers who had worked untiringly to alleviate the suffering of the IDPs during the year. About 163,500 households benefited from the food, medicine and other relief materials supplied and distributed by religious and community-based organisations in December.

    Humanitarian aid was also sent to IDPs who had relocated to their homes through local contacts networking with AUN-API. According to the Coordinator of Relief for AUN-API, Bello Abdullahi, supplies were sent to IDPs in Maiha, Mubi North and South, Hong, Gombi, Michika and Madagali local government areas through trusted members of API working in those areas. They ensured effective distribution of the relief materials.

    Coordinator of the Madagali distribution and President of Kinjir Foundation, Hon. Saleh Kinjir, confirmed that over 552,000 households had received supplies from the API through local partners of AUN-API since the crisis peaked in 2014. These partners include Kinjir Foundation, JIBWIS, Upper Room Cathedral and the Adamawa Muslim Council.

    Food items and medicines sent to IDPs in the seven most affected local government areas cost N100 million. These were made available by Mohammed Indimi and were passed on to API by Governor Jibrilla, as well as funds given by Atiku.

    President of AUN, Dr. Margee Ensign, who heads the Adamawa Peace Initiative, said the organisation had initiated numerous programmes in the community for the benefit of both indigenes and the IDPs.

    “We have the all-year-long ‘Peace Through Sports’ programme, two major income-generating projects for community women and a literacy programme christened ‘Technology Enhanced Learning for All’.

    “Under the literacy programme funded by the United States Government, 20, 000 vulnerable youths, including out-of-school children, displaced children and those disadvantaged in schools who are now learning how to read, will benefit.

    “It has not been an easy year, or an easy Christmas, in this part of Nigeria. But there has always been hope, there has always been remarkable generosity and there has always been goodwill,” she said.

  • Governor’s wife, others discuss violence against the girl-child

    Governor’s wife, others discuss violence against the girl-child

    Girls from 52 secondary schools in Kwars State converged on Ilorin, the state capital penultimate Wednesday to commemorate the 2015 International Day of the Girl-child” and inauguration of LEAH Cancer School Club.

    The event, organised by the Office of Wife of Kwara State Governor, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed, was attended by Nollywood actress, Bimbo Oshin, Deputy National President, National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Bliqees Oladimeji and Mr. Abiola Adimula, among others.

    During the event, Mrs. Ahmed encouraged girls who might be victims of sexual molestation to expose the perpetrators of the heinous act.

    She also urged the girls not to allow their social and cultural backgrounds or circumstances of life prevent them from attaining their goals.

    She said: “The fact that you have been sexually molested does not mean that is the end of your life. There are people who have gone through worst things but they are standing. Every one of us you see on the high table has a story to tell. We were not all born with silver spoons. I was raised by a mother in a divorced home.

    “The circumstances of your birth should not make you to resign to fate. I didn’t have it all rosy. I started fellowship when I was in form two because my aunt was yearning for something; that I needed to get close to the Lord. But before I was fortunate to  get close to the Lord, a lot had happened. Yet, I am standing.

    “Why am I standing? I am standing because I believed in myself. If somebody had told me even 10 years down the line that the man I am married to is going to rule a state, I will tell the person to forget it. It is not about my husband, but about who I am.

    “So, don’t be carried away by the challenges you are going through. I want to say to you children that the devil in both Christianity and Islam is the same concept. He constantly makes us pity ourselves when something has gone wrong. The Holy Book permits us to pick up our pieces, learn from our mistakes and make sure they don’t happen again. There are some mistakes we make in life and they live with us for the rest of our lives.

    “If you don’t condemn yourself, nobody has the right to condemn you. If somebody has raped you, talk about it. I tell you, people will laugh but it is only for a moment. And the stigmatisation you are trying to avoid by not speaking out, gives you more trauma by keeping quiet.

    “It is a new day for you in Kwara State. The Ministry of Women Affairs is saddled with the responsibility of making sure our children are up to the task. We are going to maximise this opportunity. I want to tell you girls that there is somebody to talk to and we are working on it. The law will protect you. Kwara State is going to domesticate violence against persons very soon.

    “When you talk about violence against girls, you are not only helping to free yourselves, you are helping other girls from becoming victims of men’s brutality.

    “To my girls, I want to say to you to believe in yourselves. This is a great opportunity you have. I don’t want your coming to be in vain.”

    While inaugurating the Cancer School Club, Mrs. Ahmed, who is the founder of LEAH Foundation, said early detection of cancer, can help to cure the disease before it becomes deadly.

    She added that apart from the 25 cancer centres in the state, the foundation is proposing a clinic for the treatment of cancer patients.

    Mrs. Adimula, who is a Lecturer in Law at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) reeled off some of the children’s rights. They include right to life, right to identity, right to freedom of association, right to freedom of expression, right to privacy, right to leisure and recreation, right to education and right to health and health services.

    Others are right to protection against inhuman treatment and exploitation and right to be free from every form of discrimination.

    She disclosed that “under the Child Rights Act, 2003 and Child Rights Law of Kwara State 2006, there is provision for the establishment of family court where all matters that arise from Child Rights Act/Law are to be heard and determined in the ‘best interest’ of the child.

    “To ensure that family court was put in place in the state, two members of National Children’s Parliament representing the state advocated for the establishment of family court in June, 2009. In July, 2009, the family court was established by the state judiciary with magistrates and area court judges sworn in to determine cases in the court.

    “In January, 2013, the family court was reconstituted to be manned by two Magistrates trained on Child Justice Administration by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, United Kingdom.

    “The family court deals with issues of child rights and adoption of children and juvenile cases,”  She said.

  • IDPs acquire skills

    IDPs acquire skills

    The Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast has resulted in the death of thousands of people and displaced millions of them who became internally-displaced persons (IDPs) in their father land. They have been squatting in different parts of the country which they consider safe.

    They depend on favours from people in order to survive. Government at all levels, groups and well-meaning individuals have given them some support, mostly in form of relief materials. Some of them have also been trained in some skills in order to be self-sufficient.

    Recently, the TY Danjuma Foundation and All Children Charity International Foundation (ACCIF) Integrated Skills Acquisition for IDPs trained about 50 IDPs from Chibok who are at the Kpegi Village Camp Kuje Abuja for three months. They were trained in fishery, poultry farming, shoe making, bead and bag making and tailoring.

    The Executive Director of the TY Danjuma Foundation, Dr. Sunday Udoh explained that “the TY Danjuma Foundation is committed to changing the lives of the less-privileged people in the society. They include people who were displaced from their ancestral homes because of the violence in the Northeast.

    “The foundation is working hard to give back hope to the IDPs. The programme aimed to show them love, teach them skills and empower them; and after the process of learning, they are equipped with all the needed tools to continue with what they have been taught.

    “The foundation is ready to reach out to other places; we have the mandate to reach out to as many people as possible. We realised that simply brining foodstuffs to these people is not sustainable. It just amounts to taking care of their welfare and you are only giving them fish which they simply eat and are done with. Teaching them how to fish would mean empowering them for life so that they can teach others.”

    Twenty-Five-year-old mother of three, Monica David who learnt tailoring and bead making was proud to display her handiwork, saying that she was going to help her people with the new skills that she had learnt.

    She said: “I am really grateful to the foundation for teaching us these skills. To be honest, when peace returns to Chibok, I will like to return and establish myself. With this, I will be able to feed and pay my children’s school fees and generally take care of my family.”

    Another beneficiary, 29-year-old Andrew Bulus explained that he travelled to several places with his wife and four children before finally settling down at Kpegi village. Andrew said learning a skill now means that he will not have to beg to take care of his family in future but will be able to take care of them.

    He added: “I learnt a lot of things which included shoe making. I made the shoe that I’m wearing and because of this new skill, I am confident that wherever I go to, I will be able to take care of my family with what I learnt. The skill has given me the confidence and will to live again. Now, I do not mind where I find myself, because I am confident that I can use this to take care of my family anywhere.”

    The Coordinator ACCIF, Mrs. Ranti Daudu advised the beneficiaries to use the opportunity they have given to take care of themselves and be self-sufficient.

    She said: “Most people do not know it but these people are so hard-working and determined to learn. About five of them were delivered of their babies during the training but they were not deterred because the next day, they were behind their machines sewing.”

    Mrs Daudu called on the government and individuals to continue to support the IDPs and to patronise those that have learnt some form of trade to enable them to take care of themselves.

  • NGO gives sanitary materials to patients

    NGO gives sanitary materials to patients

    Concerned about the plight of patients in the General Hospital, Kontagora, the Sani Bello Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has distributed sanitary materials, toiletries and fruits to over 100 patients.

    The distribution was part of the foundation’s contributions to commemorate the 48th birthday of the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello.

    Materials distributed included detergents, soaps, disinfectants, tissue papers and fruits such as orange, bananas and pineapples, among others.

    The materials were received by the management of the hospital that commended the gesture of the NGO. It urged other organisations to emulate the gesture in order to touch the lives of the needy.

    Speaking after the exercise, the Director-General Sani Bello Foundation, Mr. Zakari Ikani said the distribution was part of the organisation social services to the community.

    “This is the character of the Sani Bello Foundation. This year, we decided to celebrate the 48th birthday of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello with the patients in Kontagora General Hospital. We want to touch the lives of the patients on this special day. I believe we have succeeded in doing so. We intend to do more for the less-privileged persons in the state,” Ikani said.

    The Sani Bello Foundation, which was founded by Colonel Sani Bello (rtd) in 2012, has been in the vanguard of youth and women empowerment in Niger State.

  • Bello urges good management of development aid

    Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has called on other state governments to track the flow of aid by various development partners.

    According to him, there is need for new strategies for fund utilisation and management. He also stressed the need to efficiently manage funds given to the states.

    Speaking at the 4th annual meeting of Secretaries of Aid Coordination in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) states in Minna, Governor Bello said the state government has kick-started the coordination of all the development partners through its quarterly meetings and tracking of their activities in line with the state’s vision and mission.

    The Governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Niger State Planning Commission, Alhaji Mohammed Mustapha revealed the plan of the state government to institutionalise the conduct of bi-annual development partners’ forum as part of the way forward.

    “It is worthwhile to say that we have articulated our development agenda into development blueprint and mainstreamed all interventions into medium-term sector strategies (MTSS). This has covered some sectors so that we can be systematically guided in all steps we take in the interest of our people,” he said.

    In his address, the Focal Person of UNDP in Niger State, Malam Babawachiko Yahaya called for the strengthening of network for Aid coordination through sharing of operational experiences and best practices.

    He lamented the haphazard approach by states to various development partners’ Aids and assistance which, he said, has not addressed the desired goals.

    He said Niger State has laid a foundation for effective coordination between the departments responsible for planning and budget to curb instances of duplication.

  • NEMA assists Taraba flood victims

    NEMA assists Taraba flood victims

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has assisted the Taraba State Government with relief materials to alleviate the sufferings of residents who were affected by flood.

    The relief items consisted of food stuffs, cloths and building materials. They are to be distributed in the six affected local government areas namely Karim-Lamido, Lau, Gassol, Wukari, Ibi and Ardo-Kola.

    The North Report gathered that the agency had earlier visited the affected areas for an on-the-spot assessment of the level of damage in order to determine the level of Federal Government’s assistance to be rendered.

    The Director-General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani Sidi said the materials should be distributed directly to the affected persons by the Operations Office in collaboration with the officials from the Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

    Sidi was represented by the Head of Operations in Gombe, Saidu Ahmed Minin.

    The relief materials included 1,800 bags of 25kg rice, 1,500 bags of 25kg maize, 300 bundles of roofing sheets, 1,000 pieces of ceiling board, 100 packets of zinc nails, 1,300 bags of cements, 2,120 bags of 25kg guinea corn and 1,800 bags of 25kg beans.

    Other items were 150 mattresses, 150 blankets, 150 mosquito nets, 100 plastic buckets, 50 cartons of Omo detergent; 50 cartons of bathing soap, 200 pieces of wax prints and 200 pieces of guinea brocade. The materials were stored at the agency’s warehouse along Jalingo-Yola Road.

    The River Benue that cut across six of the 16 local government areas is one tremendous gift of nature, which most times are a source of tears for the people.

    The people use the fertile plains of the Benue for all-seasons cultivation, as water from the river serves the people in terms of irrigation and other domestic purposes. However, when the rainy season peaks, the river banks overflows, wreaking havoc. In 2012 and last year, scores of people were killed by flood while domestic animals and birds, farmlands and many homes were destroyed.

    Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Anthony Jellason received the materials on behalf of Governor Darius Ishaku.

    He appreciated NEMA and the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for the assistance.

    He revealed that the government had spent N50 million to procure, stockpile and distribute relief materials to those affected by the flood.

    The decision, he said, was informed by the seasonal rainfall prediction by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency and alert from the Cameroonian authorities on the release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam.

    He stated that the magnitude of the incident was overwhelming for the state to bear alone, owing to financial challenges currently confronting it.

    “The D-G of NEMA was approached and a letter was written to the President on the plight of the victims and they responded promptly,” he said.

    He assured that the materials will be judiciously distributed. He reminded the Federal Government to categorise Taraba in the map of flood vulnerable states in Zone 1(A) because of the long stretch and disastrous effect of River Benue on the state.

    The governor solicited the support of all stakeholders in disaster management, urging them to devise measures of preventing or ameliorating negative impacts of flood disaster in the country.

    “This can be achieved by heeding to early warning signs,” he said.

  • Buhari and Christmas homage

    Prior to Christmas Day, it was as if the Muslim and Christian homage to the Presidency have gone with the last administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

    During the last era, Jonathan, like former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and the late Umaru Yar’Adua, normally received Muslim and Christian delegations from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) who paid him homage at the seat of power as the President of Nigeria.

    Under the military regimes, prior to the year 1999, every member of the delegation on such homage always go home with one type of gift or the other from the President.

    Most often, the leaders always leave the same day for their hometowns to celebrate the festivals of their faith as soon as they were done with the homage.

    If it was a Muslim festival, the delegation from the FCT, which represents all Muslims in Nigeria, always have some Christian clergymen from the city as part of the delegation, which demonstrates the unity and love between the two religions.

    The same practice goes for a Christian homage to the Presidency during festivals such as Easter and Christmas celebrations.

    Such homage always offer the visitors opportunity not only to dine and wine with the number one citizen of the country, but they also have a rare and cherished physical contact with the President and the Vice-President.

    During such homage, residents in the city and some staff of the State House always look forward to the opportunity of posing for pictures in handshakes with the leaders.

    Some of the visitors do not fail to take full opportunity of the homage by bringing their children to participate in the homage, especially posing for pictures with the leaders.

    But some FCT residents felt that the change mantra of the present administration has swept away the Christian and Muslim homage.

    Their fear then was anchored on inability of the Eid-el-Kabir Muslim homage to hold on September 24, last year; being the first festival after the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in May.

    The President then had to spend his Eid-el-Kabir Festival in his Daura hometown of Katsina State.

    As last year’s Christmas was approaching, some FCT residents, in their further calculation, completely ruled out the possibility of the Christmas homage holding.

    Their thinking was that it will be impossible for the President, who is a Muslim, to hold the Christmas homage for the Christians when the Muslim festival homage was not held in September.

    But President Buhari penultimate Friday proved that he was a detribalised Nigerian and a father of all Nigerians irrespective of their religion.

    Buhari, clad in white Babanriga and white cap to match, was not only on ground to receive the representatives of the Christian community on Christmas homage, he ate snacks and took soft drinks with the visitors.

    He also shook hands with each of them as they posed for photographs. The President was assisted by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, as the Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo was absent.

    Speaking during the homage, an elated Buhari said: “I am very pleased that the political leadership and religious leadership are well represented here.

    “I am pleased that all the communities are well represented. I don’t know what kind of host I am as I don’t have to move around freely.”

    The President also received three giant cards from the Minister of the FCT, Muhammadu Bello the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) FCT chapter, Rev. Israel Akanji and the Chaplain of the State House.

    The Christmas homage has, no doubt, proved to the residents that the FCT has not seen the last of the Muslim and Christian festivals’ homage.

     

    Timeline versus deadline

     

    Majority of Nigerians definitely want total peace and security in the country and as such do not want any element of insurgency and criminal acts perpetuated anywhere around the country.

    To them, the bloodshed and killings, especially in the Northeast by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram in the last five years should be brought to an end.

    It was in line with their thinking and love for peace and development of the country that President Muhammadu Buhari gave a three-month deadline for the defeat of Boko Haram.

    That deadline expired on December 31, last year.

    Although former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a retired General in the Nigerian Army, few weeks back had declared that not all Boko Haram members need to be killed for Nigeria to win the war.

    So, it was not surprising penultimate week for the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed to declare that the war against Boko Haram has been largely won by the Federal Government.

    He said: “Today, I can report that the war against Boko Haram is largely won. I can confidently say this because just recently, I led a group of 33 journalists from both the local and international media to the hotbed of the insurgency, that is, Maiduguri, Kondugua, Kaoure and Bama.

    “Today, I can report to you that the more than the 70-kilometer stretch from Maiduguri to Bama and all the way to Banki, which leads to Cameroon and the Central African Republic (CAR), are in the hands of our gallant troops.

    “They have so degraded the capacity of Boko Haram that the terrorists can no longer hold on to any territory just as they can no longer carry out any spectacular attack.”

    Noting that the insurgents are now engaging more in attacking soft targets, he said: “Unlike a war between two armies, an insurgency never ends with arms victory. Even in countries such as Colombia, where insurgency was supposed to have ended decades ago, attacks such as this still happen.”

    In the same manner, the Minister of Defence, Monsur Dan-Ali told State House correspondents that military operations are in timelines and not deadlines.

    Whatever the case may be, Nigerians are anxiously waiting for total peace and security to return to every part of the country.

    They are looking forward to when the millions of internally-displaced persons (IDPs) will be returned to their various villages with their infrastructure rebuilt in a secured environment.

    As in the past, everything should be done for their security to be guaranteed in those villages. They should be able to live their normal lives without fear, let alone bloodshed.

     

  • Senator empowers 370 widows

    THE Senator representing Niger South Senatorial District (zone A) in the National Assembly; Senator Mustapha Sani Mohammed has disbursed some cash to over 370 widows as part of his empowerment programmes.

    Disbursing the cash to the widows at Wadata Palace in Bida, the Senator said empowering widows was part of his campaign promises and part of his contributions to improve the economic development in the zone.

    “Women empowerment, especially widows, is a major area of interest to me in our Senatorial District. Economic development hinged on industrialisation, employment, infrastructural provision and youth development constitute my priority,” he said.

    The beneficiaries were drawn from across the 88 wards in the district; three persons from each ward.

    The Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers and Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar who praised the Senator’s initiative described it as worthy. He urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the money for the benefit of their families.

     

  • A community’s health challenge

    A community’s health challenge

    In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), there are communities where untrained traditional birth attendants deliver women of their babies. TONY AKOWE reports that the situation results from lack of health care centres to take care of the people’s health needs

    Residents of Yimitu community in Kabusa Ward in the Abuja Municipal Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are still grappling with lack of health care centres where women could be delivered of their babies. As a result of this, their women are delivered of their babies at home by untrained birth attendants.

    The husbands of expectant mothers secure the services of these untrained traditional birth attendants as the last resort; because they lack health facilities. The requisite experience of these birth attendants are being grandmothers and, perhaps, having carried out the exercise for several years. A piece of cloth which they spread on the floor, a small stool which the elderly woman seats on while holding the woman in labour, hot water and a new razor blade serve as their “labour room” equipment.

    If an expectant mother dies in the process of being delivered of her baby, they believe it is an act of God.

    If the woman bleeds during or after delivery, they give her local concoctions which they believe will stop the bleeding. They boast of recording huge successes in carrying out this exercise.

    It was also discovered that many women in the community which is located close to the city centre still give birth at home with the aid of elderly women who serve as traditional birth attendants.

    However, some of them attributed the situation to lack of health care facility in the community and the long distance to the closest health care centre.

    One of the traditional birth attendants, Laraba Danjuma, told North Report that she has been assisting women to deliver their babies for several years.

    She said: “When a woman is in labour, I sit on a small stool behind her. I always have hot water standby and when the baby comes out, I will tie the placenta before cutting it. We give the woman the hot water to drink, press her stomach with it and apply it to the navel of the baby.”

    She said she delivers at least two women of their babies in a month. While admitting that many of the women in the community currently go to the hospital to give birth to their babies, she revealed that “when a woman gives birth and begins to bleed, we have one native drug which the woman will be given and once she drinks it, the bleeding will stop. No woman or child has died during delivery in my care”.

    Residents of the community are angry with successive administrations in the FCT. It is not only lack of health care facilities that residents have to contend with. Their roads are impassable. They said they had made several efforts to make successive area councils and the FCT Administration to consider their plight and help them. To access health care, especially for expectant mothers, residents of the community travel to the nearest health care centre located at Waru.

    The Village Head of Yimitu, Dauda Hassan, told North Report that they had made several appeals to the FCT Administration and authorities of the Abuja Municipal Area Council to come to their aid by establishing a clinic for them.

    He regretted that expectant mothers in the area have to make the long trip on the bumpy road to either Waru which is the closest health care centre to them and about 30 minutes drive on a motorbike or they go to Kabusa Health Centre which is about one hour drive. Some have to go to the health centre at Garki for their medical needs.

    He said: “From here, we take them to Kabusa, Waru or Garki. From here to Kabusa is about 30 minutes ride on motorbike, 15 minutes to Waru and almost one hour to Garki. We have the old women who usually assist expectant mothers to deliver them of their babies. No woman has died as a result of pregnancy in the village.

    “We appeal to the government to establish a primary health care centre for us, repair our road and build a primary school. We will be happy if the government can do these for us and make us feel that we are part of those they govern.”

    Narrating the ordeal women in the community has to pass through, Rahila Danjuma, a mother of six who had to deliver most of her children outside the community said it was unfortunate that successive administrations in the FCT left them to their fate.

    She said: “I delivered three of my children at Area 3 Hospital and in 2007; I delivered one at Kabusa General Hospital. I delivered my last baby at home at in Figbasama alone.

    “Our problems here are lack of a clinic, good road, water and school. Four of my children of school age are not going to school.”

    Happiness Sabastine is not happy that she has to pay so much to access medical services. She wished the government will come to their aid.

    She said: “I want the government to come to our aid by building a health care centre in our community. Our road is also not good. But we want the government to also help us repair the road. We will not be suffering so much if we have a clinic here.”

  • The poor get helping hand in Gombe

    The poor get helping hand in Gombe

    Concerned about the alarming number of widows and orphans as well as other less-privileged people in the society, the Women Fellowship International of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) launched an endowment fund to empower the less-privileged persons, especially widows and orphans. Vincent Ohonbamu reports

    The number of widows keeps increasing. Orphans and other less-privileged people in the society are not faring better either. This situation is enough to make some well-meaning Nigerians lose sleep.

    In this regard, the Women Fellowship International of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) has launched an endowment fund to empower the less-privileged persons, especially widows and orphans.

    President of the Women Fellowship of ECWA, Mrs. Florence Dada said during the launch at ECWA Theological Seminary School, Kufai in Billiri Local Government Area of Gombe State that the initiative was borne out of their concern for widows and other women who are less-privileged within the Women Fellowship and the desire to contribute towards improving their well-being.

    She expressed optimism that the fund would go a long way in impacting positively on the lives of the women and other beneficiaries.

    She said some of the beneficiaries would be taught some skills after which they would be established with the basic items or tools of the skill they learnt to enhance their trade while those who need capital outlay to start or improve their businesses would be given some cash as part of the efforts to ensure that beneficiaries’ lives were improved upon.

    “The need for empowerment and skills development of members of the fellowship cannot be over-emphasised. This is needed now more than ever before due to the alarming number of widows with corresponding number of orphans and the less-privileged in our churches and society nowadays.

    “This is in tune with the saying that ‘better teach a person how to fish rather than give him fish always. It is in this regard that a committee went out to mobilise and garner support from public-spirited individuals to help in raising funds for this objective and to have adequate money to assist the needy ones,” she said.

    Continuing, the leader said: “This year’s International Women Conference which brought together over 10,000 women from within and outside Nigeria was equally designed to equip women with lessons from the Bible on how to take up and live up their responsibilities of moulding the society, starting from their various homes.

    “We have a responsibility to God because as leaders, we are supposed to lead our women in the way of the Lord.

    “We are supposed to teach them the right way because many of them are like trusts; they have been given to us as trust by God.

    “And whatever the type of life they live, we have a role to play in order to ensure that they live Godly lives, have Godly homes and bring up their children in the fear of the Lord Almighty.”

    Mrs Dada said the theme of the convention which was “For I am Persuaded…” was extracted from Romans 8:38 was aptly chosen because persuasion is what every woman needs to pull through difficult times–economic hardship, poverty, insecurity and all forms of difficulty.

    She said the choice of the Northeast as the venue of the event was to enable those of them from other parts of the world experience the atmosphere and then pray harder for the restoration of peace and an end to the security challenges bedevilling the sub-region and the country.

    Contributing, the ECWA President, Reverend Jeremiah Gado said: “Coming to the Northeast is to glorify God for His guidance and protection and also to honour the women who defy the menace of insurgency to honour activities outside their domain.

    “I urge you to continue caring for the widows and orphans in your midst. Strive to be role models to your children and wards whom God has graciously put under your care.

    “Be patient with your husbands and with one another. Be encouragers of your pastors and other ministers. Intensify your prayers for us all and the country as well.”

    In his contribution, the Director, ECWA Christian Education Department, Reverend Jen Tivkaa Moses said the meeting was designed, among others things, “to sharpen women for effective ministry and higher productivity in their roles as wives, mothers and role models in the society.”

    He, therefore, urged women not to allow themselves to be distracted in any form due to lack of adequate planning but focus on the purpose for which the programme was organised.

    Gombe State Governor, Hassan Dankwambo, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Charles Iliya described the conference as historic, saying the most important role to be played by women is prayers for peace, unity and development of the country.

    He said his administration was conscious of its task of protecting lives and property of which the woman is part of and that it would continue to do its best to ensure that people enjoy their stay in Gombe.   There were goodwill messages from wives of Deputy Governors of Gombe and Kaduna states and prominent traditional rulers in Northern Nigeria, including the Emirs of Kano and Bauchi which were delivered by the traditional ruler of Billiri, the Mai Tangle, Mr. Abdu Buba Maisheru, Chairman of Christian Traditional rulers in Northern Nigeria.