The Nation Newspaper

Category: Online Special

  • Breaking barriers

    Breaking barriers

    Nigeria today, joins the world to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. A day proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1981, to ensure delivering a complete understanding of the full equality and participation of persons with disabilities in society. It is a day set aside to encourage support for their dignity, rights and well-being.

    Out of 1 billion people living with disabilities in the world, 19 million are of the Nigerian descent.  Persons with disabilities in this part of the world are faced with physical, social, economic and attitudinal barriers that exclude them from participating fully and effectively as equal members of the society.

    Any condition which renders a human being incapable of reaching his potentials for the purposes of participating in the development process of the society could be described as a disability.

    This year’s theme is: Break Barriers, Open Doors: for an inclusive society and development for all.

    The theme sheds light on the physical, social, economic and attitudinal barriers that face persons with disabilities and lead them to be excluded from participating fully and effectively as equal members of the society.

    How are the disabled treated in our society of today? Are they given the needed attention and support?   Speaking in September, the President of the Association for Comprehensive Empowerment of Nigerians with Disability, Mr. Cosmos Okoli, decried the neglect of disabled persons by Nigeria despite efforts to make their impact felt in the society.

    “Persons with disability in Nigeria have been crying against marginalisation in the scheme of things. We have carried out peaceful demonstrations, picketed banks, got senators to experience disability by convincing them to live a day on wheelchairs, while some were blindfolded for a day,” Okoli said.

    Cases such as the highlighted above form the major fulcrum of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. With this day, it is believed cases of discrimination and unfair treatment against disabled persons are eliminated.

    The world in unison calls for all imaginary and visible barriers placed against disabled persons.

    In his message, for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, urged countries worldwide to break all barriers associated with the disabled persons.

    He advised all nations to create doors of opportunities capable of promoting growth and development of all the disabled without segregation.

    He calls for an inclusive society for all.

    “More than 1 billion of us live with disabilities.  We must remove all barriers that affect the inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in society, including through changing attitudes that fuel stigma and institutionalize discrimination.

    “In September, during the High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on Disability and Development, United Nations Member States discussed the many ways that exclusion not only impacts the lives of persons with disabilities, but affects the development of communities and society as a whole.  They re-committed to taking national and international action to support disability-inclusive development.  The UN system will continue to support those efforts.  We need to work harder to ensure that infrastructure and services support inclusive, equitable and sustainable development for all.

    “This includes guaranteeing meaningful participation in processes that affect the rights and interests of persons with disabilities by providing an enabling environment.  To that end, we are inaugurating a UN Accessibility Centre at the UN Headquarters.  I call on the rest of the UN system and our partners to follow this lead.

    “On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, I call on Governments, members of the UN system, businesses and civil society to break barriers and open doors of opportunity for all persons with disability.  Together, let us build an inclusive society for all,” Ki-moon said in his address.

  • Tips on shopping

    Tips on shopping

    As the Christmas celebration fast approaches, a regular shopper, Mrs. Aderemi Olushola highlights some useful tips on shopping-

    • Set  a budget

    In order not to be a pauper by January, spare some time to set a budget. This becomes a guiding principle for shopping in the market. Your budget should take into consideration your buying power, needs and wants.

    • Make a list

    Create a list of items to be purchased. Be it Christmas trees, artificial lights, flowers, clothing or gift items. All these items must fall within your budget.

    • Spend within your means

    Even after a well thought out budget, shopping arenas possess intoxicating powers which can move you to overspend. It could lead to borrowing in order to buy. But this season can be different if you decide to spend within your means.

    • Shop online

    Experts on shopping matters will advise you shop online. Nowadays, online transactions are the most popular. In order to avoid spending above your means, it is advisable to shop online.

    • Best time to shop is now!

    Why leave shopping till two days to Christmas? Why not now? This is an open secret. Save yourself the hassles, bustling and hustling of last minute shopping. Shop now!!!

     

  • World AIDS Day: End to an epidemic

    World AIDS Day: End to an epidemic

    World AIDS Day was first conceived in August 1987 by James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter, two public information officers for the Global Programme on AIDS at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.

    Bunn and Netter took their idea to Dr. Jonathan Mann, Director of the Global Programme on AIDS (now known as UNAIDS). Dr. Mann liked the concept, approved it, and agreed with the recommendation that the first observance of World AIDS Day should be 1 December 1988

    This year, WHO focuses its campaign on improving access to prevention, treatment and care services for adolescents (10-19 years), a group regarded as ‘vulnerable’.

    “More than 2 million adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19 years are living with HIV, and many do not receive the care and support that they need to stay in good health and prevent transmission. In addition, millions more adolescents are at risk of infection.

    ‘The failure to support effective and acceptable HIV services for adolescents has resulted in a 50% increase in reported AIDS-related deaths in this group compared with the 30% decline seen in the general population from 2005 to 2012,’ WHO stated in a report.

    Regarding the adolescents as the neglected group, Dr Gottfried Hirnschall, Director of WHO HIV/AIDS Department said:  “Adolescents need health services and support, tailored to their needs. They are less likely than adults to be tested for HIV and often need more support than adults to help them maintain care and to stick to treatment.”

    In a statement signed by Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS states that  the HIV stigma and complacency by people has limited the eradication of the virus. He therefore urges all to join their voices to end AIDS.

    The statement in full:

    “On this World AIDS Day—as we gather to remember friends and family lost to AIDS—we can also rejoice in incredible hope for the future.

    “For the first time we can see an end to an epidemic that has wrought such staggering devastation around the world. For the first time we can say that we are beginning to control the epidemic and not that the epidemic is controlling us.

    “Few thought that we could achieve the progress which we are seeing today. Progress is clear in the scientific breakthroughs, visionary leadership and precision programming. The combination of these powerful factors means that people living with HIV can live long and healthy lives, can now protect their partners from becoming infected with the virus, and can keep their children free from HIV. Determining what the end of AIDS could look like is complex. To help answer these questions UNAIDS, together with The Lancet have set up a Commission to find answers to what ending AIDS will look like.

    “It is certain that ending the AIDS epidemic will mean so much to many. It will mean zero new HIV infections, zero people dying of AIDS—and all people living with dignity and without fear of discrimination. Ending AIDS will mean celebrating birthdays instead of attending funerals.

    “But make no mistake, stigma, denial and complacency are still among us, putting us in danger of failing the next generation. We must join our hearts and our voices––together we are stronger.

    “The world is poised to end AIDS and if we stay true to our vision we will remember this as the day that a lifelong of dreams began to transform into reality.”

    There are 3.4 million people are currently living with the Human Immune Virus (HIV) in Nigeria, thus placing it in the position of the second worst affected country in the world according to National Action Committee on Aids (NACA). This figure adds up to 35.3 million people who are currently living with HIV in the world.

    The continent of Africa is the most affected region having sixty nine per cent of the 36 million of people living with HIV. This results to nearly 1 in every 20 adults living with HIV.

    This HIV population, in order to reduce it arises a day set aside to create the awareness. World AIDS Day is observed on December 1 every year. It is a day ‘dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection.’

    The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) targets the immune system and weakens people’s surveillance and defense systems against infections and some types of cancer. As the virus destroys and impairs the function of immune cells, infected individuals gradually become immunodeficient. The most advanced stage of HIV infection is Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

    This virus can be transferred through the exchange of a variety of body fluids from infected individuals, such as blood, breast milk, semen and vaginal secretions.

    However, it cannot become infected through ordinary day-to-day contact such as kissing, hugging, shaking hands, or sharing personal objects, food or water.

     

  • How to end human violence

    How to end human violence

    The pre-eminent problem confronting humankind is human violence. It is our own violence, in its various guises, including the ongoing possibility of nuclear war and the ongoing devastation of the natural environment, that threaten to consign us to the fossil record within decades, if not sooner.
    And yet we devote virtually no effort to trying to understand human violence and to developing strategies to end it. Why? The short and highly unpalatable answer is this: because most of us want to use violence when it suits us and to ‘get away with it’ when we do.

    This is why most of us find ways to inflict our violence in socially legitimized ways or we do it in relative secrecy. Apart from inflicting violence on our own children and the natural environment, society has created whole sectors of activity in which ‘legitimized violence’ can be
    inflicted.

    The most obvious example of socially endorsed violence is that allowed during military service but another sector that absorbs many perpetrators of violence is the police, legal and prison system. Many police, judges, magistrates, prosecutors and prison officers use their socially
    legitimized role to inflict their violence (whether directly in the form of assaults or institutional in the form of imprisonment and capital punishment) on those individuals snared in the legal system. There is no evidence that violence (even when labeled ‘punishment’) and the fear that
    it causes can restore functionality.

    However, modern societies have devoted vast quantities of resources to the military, police, legal and prison systems rather than financing research efforts to understand why human beings are violent and then developing comprehensive strategies to eliminate this violence based on an understanding of its cause.

    This failure to understand violence means that a vast and ever-increasing quantity of resources must be devoted to maintaining both military forces that are sent to kill all over the world and an endlessly expanding system of highly dysfunctional ‘law enforcement’ in which individuals are no longer considered important once they are defined as ‘criminal’.

    Why do governments devote resources to the military, police, legal and prison systems? In brief, this occurs because members of governments want to perpetuate violence in the delusional belief that it gives them ‘control’ and one socially endorsed way of participating in this violence
    is to perpetuate an institutional framework that defines ‘enemies’ and ‘criminals’ as legitimized victims. This happens because people who feel powerless to control what is important (particularly the violence they suffered at the hands of their own parents) seek control of other people and things (including trivia) to avoid the feeling of powerlessness.

    The social investment in violence at all levels is staggering: if it was not, as noted above, there would be substantial research funds devoted to understanding the origins of violence so that it could be reduced and eventually eliminated.

    But there is no budget allocation anywhere to fund research to understand this most pervasive and phenomenally destructive problem, although humans spend approximately $2billion each day on military violence and a staggering, but unknown to me, amount on the world’s police, legal and prison systems. Who benefits? It includes individuals working in government and the military forces, those corporations that make the weapons and build the military and prison infrastructure, and those individuals (including police, lawyers and judges) who gain employment within legal institutions.

    However, the victims of military violence, ‘criminals’ and particularly ‘the public’ (that is, the vast majority of the world’s population) do not benefit because violence is perpetuated rather than progressively cut back.

    How do governments, legal institutions, corporations and the individuals who work within them actually benefit? At the superficial level it is about things like status and money: taxes, profits, income from jobs. But the deeper, psychological reason is that it helps these individuals to suppress awareness of the terror, self-hatred and powerlessness that has destroyed their Self-hood and that drives their use of violence in the delusional belief that they will regain ‘control’.

    So what can we do? Despite the lack of social effort to understand human violence, there is a comprehensive explanation available. According to this research, all violence is an outcome of the visible, ‘invisible’ and ‘utterly invisible’ violence inflicted by adults on children.

    Once the child has been damaged, it will inflict violence on itself, the people around it, as well as
    non-human species and the natural environment; it will also play a part in
    maintaining structures of violence and exploitation, such as the education
    and legal systems.

    If you wish to join the worldwide movement to end all violence, you can sign online ‘The People’s Charter to Create a Nonviolent World’ http://thepeoplesnonviolencecharter.wordpress.com

    Human beings will end violence or Violence will end human beings

    Burrowes, a nonviolent activist, has a lifetime commitment to understanding and ending human violence. He has done extensive research since 1966 in an effort to understand why human beings are violent. He is the author of ‘Why Violence?’
    He can be reached via:  flametree@riseup.net
    and his website:  http://robertjburrowes.wordpress.com

  • 5 lessons on leadership

    5 lessons on leadership

    In the book Leadership: Understanding theory, style and practice, Dr, John Alizor outlines invaluable leadership lessons that individuals and organizations can learn.

    1.      Leadership is not innate but acquired:

     

     Through his book, he makes it clear that not everyone is born with leadership skills, but leadership skills can be taught and acquired.

    He does this by examining leadership styles and stories about Rozila and Alex, Digir and Larebil, Jimwise and Suzspeed and George Bezmann in order to demonstrate common challenges that one may face during organizational leadership. He also links these theories to practice and highlights how these leadership theories can be translated in our day to day lives

    2.      Leadership is not Management:

     In his book, Dr John Alizor explained the difference between leadership and Management. These two concepts though similar are not the same even though both occasionally face similar challenges.

    “Leadership is not management. Leadership is a term that describes how one individual influences another individual or group of individuals to achieve a goal.”

    “Management is an organizational unit engaged in administration and supervision of people and a company’s activities with an emphasis on structure, control, and task completion.”

    3.      Leaders win followers by caring:

     

    He noted that leaders get more productivity from their followers if leaders can show that they care. He said that people respond more to those who listen to their needs and interests than a leader whose sole interest is strictly centered on employees’ productivity and the performance of their duties.

    “Executives’ behavior that demonstrates a caring attitude toward employees and their families is essential to leadership, because ‘sensitivity to people’s needs and interests is another key ingredient in building trust”

    4.      Leaders must learn to Trust:

     

    Dr Alizor believes that constantly reminding employees about the organisation’s goals speak loud and clear to employees that you do not trust them. A quote in his book aptly explains his perspective on trust “You can’t have success without trust. The word trust embodies almost everything you can strive for that will help you succeed. You tell me any human relationship that works without trust, whether it is a marriage or a friendship, or a social interaction; in the long run, the same thing is true about business.”

     5.      Leaders must communicate:

    Leaders must establish a channel of communication that he/she establishes.

    Dr Alizor believes that ‘clarity of communication is most often achieved where there is a mutual respect and trust because the leadership has created an environment that allows employees to freely ask clarifying questions’

     

  • ‘Why we prefer studying in UK’

    ‘Why we prefer studying in UK’

    “The best thing about studying in the UK is that you get to meet so many different people,” Olufunmilayo, Odeyemi, 19, currently a student in the UK said excitedly.

    Olufunmilayo, is among several other Nigerians who rush to the UK to get a degree.  A recent statistics revealed that the number of Nigerians studying in the UK has trebled in just eight years.

    For Olufunmilayo, the experience so far is worth the while, “It’s a real experience and I have learned much more than I ever imagined. Not only that, but I love football and have been to watch my favourite team, Manchester United, play in the Premier League,” she said.

    It is the same story for her sister Fehintola, 21, “The lifestyle is very different in the UK compared to Nigeria. What you say, how you dress and the way you interact with people is very different from home. It has been a real experience.

    “I plan to do a masters degree in architecture which will lead to me being qualified with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Once I have this, I would like to come home to Nigeria and move to Lagos to work in an architectural firm,” she said.

    Data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency in the UK (HESA) shows that 17,640 Nigerians enrolled to study at UK universities during 2011/12 compared to 5,385 for 2003/04.

    Nottingham Trent University, based in Nottingham in the East Midlands in England, now has nearly double the number of Nigerian students compared to two years ago. For the academic year 2013/14, 64 Nigerians enrolled at the university, compared to 38 in 2011/12.

    Among those to enrol were siblings Olufunmilayo, Fehintola and Olurotimi Odeyemi who were all born and raised in Kaduna.

    Olufunmilayo is currently studying for a degree in product design, while Fehintola and Olurotimi have both graduated with degrees in architecture.

    They all undertook a foundation course at Nottingham Trent International College, which is based at the university’s campus in Nottingham city centre, to give them a good ground for their degrees.

    Selma Toohey, international recruitment officer for Sub-Saharan Africa at Nottingham Trent University, said: “We’re seeing increases in the number of students from Nigeria coming here to study, which is really encouraging. In the past we have had many students applying from Lagos, but now we’re seeing more come to us from other parts of Nigeria, such as cities and towns in the north like Kaduna.

    “More people are realising that studying in the UK is a realistic option and many find it to be a real benefit to experience living in another culture while studying for their degrees.”

  • Christmas Frenzy

    Christmas Frenzy

    Barely three weeks to Christmas preparations for the season has begun. It is that time of the year when houses, streets, roads, offices wear new look.

    Hampers, artificial trees, lights, cards, flowers are some of the numerous items that adorns various houses, shops and offices. Green, Red and White turns out to be the official colours of the season.

    Institutions outdo each other to maintain a positive outlook. These institutions engage in painting and decorating of their corporate offices. Various houses also in the spirit of Christmas engage in decorating of their houses.

    This is the season of the year where market prizes sky rocket, transport fares heightens. All these are synonymous with the yuletide period.

    For Cynthia Dike, this is the period of the year she loves the most. “I love Christmas season because that is the time I felt relaxed.

    “I can walk round some part of the city to watch fireworks and have a view of different decorations being put up which add colour and glamour to the season,” Dike stated.

    “Christmas is the best thing that ever happens to me because it is the time I feel relieved from the year’s stress,” Aremu Oluwafunmilola said.

    “Most importantly, anytime I’m down, the Christmas decorations in my house and around the ones I can see around the state, lights up my spirit and they make me feel worthy and grateful to be alive,”  Mrs. Aderemi Olushola said.

    Apart from the good intellectual designs portrayed in different houses, business companies, gas stations, e.t.c, the Lagos State Government has also imbibed the culture of decorating its planted trees and gardens to match the season.

    Regular Christmas decorations by the Lagos State Government have gradually become a spot to look out for.

    The yearly Christmas decoration by the State Government tells the story of the birth of Christ with many pictorial representations of major biblical events which are being designed with a colourful lighting installation.

    These fabulous decorations can be seen in major spots like the Old Toll gate along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Lekki-Falomo Road, Maryland Roundabout, Palmgrove, Alausa, etc. A simple glance of Marina at night will never stop you from falling in love with Lagos City.

    Some corporate organizations, eateries and commercial banks have also emulated the good example of the government by designing their buildings with exquisite Christmas lighting.

    During this season, some of these organizations embark on beautification of some roundabout and motor parks in different part of the city.

    Moreover, some religious organization have made Christmas decoration a must-do as they also decorate the premises of their churches with adorable beautifications which makes the environment friendlier.

    Many residents are seriously shopping for Christmas decoration as all malls and decorations stores are lately displaying different fabulous interior and exterior Christmas designs ranging from different prices, shapes, colours and various art work.

     

     

  • Why pregnant women should avoid smoking

    Why pregnant women should avoid smoking

    If your health isn’t enough to encourage you quit smoking, then the health of your baby should be. Smoking while pregnant increases the possibility of stillbirth, miscarriage and low birth weight – especially in teens and young adults.

    Teens and young women have the highest reported smoking prevalence, and it’s only getting worse. The problem is kids experiment with tobacco and it often turns into a lifelong habit. Nearly 90 per cent of adults say they started smoking by the age of 18.

    This is a reflection of aggressive tobacco industry marketing to girls. Tobacco companies advertise in magazines, market their brands through direct mail and adverts, promote their products in convenience stores and coerce youth through Internet websites and social media sites.

    They fail to mention that tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals and at least 60 cancer-causing compounds. Two compounds are especially hazardous to a mother and child: highly addictive nicotine and carbon monoxide.

    Pregnant women often have intensified desires for cigarettes due to increases in their metabolism. The addictive effect is very strong and often proves extra difficult to cut cravings.

    However, according to a new study, a brisk walk has been shown to temporarily reduce the effects of nicotine. Exercise was known to interrupt nicotine cravings for men and women, but it was still unclear for expecting young mothers.

    “This was the first time we have been able to replicate the findings with pregnant smokers,” said Harry Prapavessis, director of the Exercise and Health Psychology Laboratory at Western University in Ontario, who led the research.

     

    As little as 15 to 20 minutes of walking at a mild to moderate pace was found to ward off cravings. Additional benefits included less irritability, restlessness, tension and other withdrawal symptoms.

    There’s no safe amount of smoking for pregnant women of any age, the more you smoke, the worse the outcomes for your baby. This is not true for exercise; it’s good for you and your baby.

    Exercise can prevent excess weight gain during pregnancy, prevent gestational diabetes and lower the risk of birth complications. Being more fit can also help with pregnancy-related aches and pains, which makes labour and recovery a bit easier.

    Even if you don’t quit, regular exercise is still beneficial to you and your child. When you exercise, your lungs and blood vessels expand which increases circulation of oxygenated blood throughout you and your baby’s body.

    Regular exercise during pregnancy has been proven to reduce stress, improve sleep and prevent depression as well. Just don’t exercise too close to bedtime, or you may be too energized to fall asleep and experience insomnia.

    Barring certain pregnancy related risk factors, pregnant women can continue to exercise throughout their pregnancy, right up until delivery. Isometric, or contract and relax exercises are recommended for expecting moms to improve core strength and support pelvic ligament laxity, particularly during late pregnancy.

    Remember to check with your doctor before starting a new exercise programme, especially if you have any health concerns.

     

    Couillard is an international health columnist that works in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s goals of disease prevention and control. Views do not necessarily reflect endorsement.

    Email: drcorycouillard@gmail.com

    Facebook: Dr Cory Couillard

    Twitter: DrCoryCouillard

     

  • FG/ASUU Faceoff: Students react

    FG/ASUU Faceoff: Students react

    These are not the best times for most students of government-owned universities in the country. They have been reacting to the latest happenings. While some support the directive of the federal government, others are against such directive.

    “Giving ASUU an ultimatum might just serve to heighten the scepticism of ASUU towards FG’s promises,” Although I am vexed the students are not considered. Mary Scott, 400level student, University of Lagos said.

    “Are we back to the military era? Where threat and command language are used?” Maurice David asks on a social media platform.

    He said: “I pity this govt that lack sane people in position as ministers. How can government move ten steps backward only at the point of signing agreement? Just at the point the agreement is to be signed government begins to issue fiat and threats to scatter the table. This is shame!”

    For Joel Otuyelu, a student of UNILAG “This is a serious sensational movie. I can’t wait for the next episode. How Jona wan turn democracy to autocracy?”

    “An agreement is supposed to be honoured if the federal government cannot sign and seal an agreement it reached with ASUU on November 4 2013, then the future of Private universities is bright in this country, ”Akinpelu Tolulope, UNILAG student said.

    Tolulope further stated “The goal for ending the strike should not be to save parents anxiety or to take pity on students or to save lecturers’ job or to graduate students: it is to save the university system so that it becomes what it is supposed to be.

    “In this, ASUU should not fear an empty threat by the federal government but rather see itself as a vanguard-probably the only active one-dedicated to making the government begin to tread the path of responsible good governance in the administration of tertiary education in Nigeria .”

    For Hassan Aliu, an undergraduate, “What we have in this administration are not leaders but bunch of criminals who think we are in the military era. Who think their threat will put fear in ASUU to call of the strike. This shows the insincerity of this government. The question here is that is Jonathan worth to be trusted and called a leader.”

    However, Ugwu Henry is of the opinion that ASUU has bitten more than they can chew.

    “ASUU has provoked the Federal Government. It is a pity that after so much capitulation by the FG, ASUU is playing with the future of Nigerian students. ASUU has failed to be considerate. Why should one demand for salary when one has failed to work? I honestly hope the FG comes down hard on ASUU and resists any pressure to pay wages not earned.”

    In the same vein, Justin Ebaretonbofa has this to say: “Federal govt should do whatever they want. Nigerians are fed up with ASUU. When you ask federal government for anything you don’t expect them to give u 100 per cent of your needs.

    “It has never happen that way and it won’t happen now. ASUU is playing politics with the future of students. The lecturers who refuse to resume should be sack and new ones employ. After all there are millions of more qualified PhD holders looking for lecturing job. Haba !”

    According to Peremobowei Amakama, “I appreciate the FG directive to ASUU. ASUU has over-stressed the patience of FG and also mortgaging the future of Nigerian youths for their selfish reasons. Let the ones that believe we must move forward resume to class and account for their patriotism to Nigeria.”

  • Eliminating violence against women

    Eliminating violence against women

    It could be physical, sexual, economic or even psychological. These are the forms of violence against women. Women and girls inclusive have regularly been victims of molestation, physical beatings and maltreatments which results in broken hearts, broken homes and hatred for people.

    These forms of violence are interrelated and affect women from birth to old age. Some types of violence, such as trafficking, cross national boundaries.

    In unison, the world is rising to eliminate violence against women. For this reason, every November 25 is set aside to reinvigorate the campaign against violence.

    According to United Nations, “Violence against women is a human rights violation. Violence against women is a consequence of discrimination against women, in law and also in practice, and of persisting inequalities between men and women.

    Violence against women, the UN believes impacts on, and impedes, progress in many areas, including poverty eradication, combating HIV/AIDS, and peace and security.

    An analysis by WHO with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Medical Research Council, based on existing data from over 80 countries, found that globally 35 per cent of women have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence.

    This analysis states that most of this violence is intimate partner violence. Worldwide, almost one third (30 per cent) of all women who have been in a relationship have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by their intimate partner, in some regions this is much higher.

    A Gender report in 2012 says that “Up to one third of Nigerian women report that they have been subjected to some form of violence. One in five has experienced physical violence.”

    According to the report, “Violence against women is unacceptable, archaic, barbaric and unconstitional in Nigeria. Such violence meted against women includes: trafficking, circumcision, sexual harassment, physical beating et al. Nigerians in unison need not stay aloof even as the world unite to eradicate this abnormal situation.”

    Speaking on the title “Uniting to end violence against Women and Girls” at an event held at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, earlier this year, the first lady of Lagos State, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, noted that there are institutional problems limiting the efficacy of the campaign against women abuse. One of such problems is ‘inefficiency of law enforcement agencies and difficulties with the judicial system.’

    “Considering the increase in reported cases of violence and abuse against women, there is urgent need for reform of our laws. There are of course institutional problems, such as the inefficiency of law enforcement agencies and the difficulties with the judicial system and access to it.

    “We need to adequately train and equip law enforcement agents to be able to enforce the law that convicted persons do not escape the full wrath of the law in order to serve as a deterrent to would-be offenders,” Mrs. Fahola said earlier this year.

    Collaborating her claims, a don at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr. Abigail Ndisika-Ogwezzy notes that the laws of the land need to be enhanced to provide the enabling platform for women suffering to speak.

    She further calls on human rights group to create awareness amongst women to forestall violence. This she says will eliminate the naivety of women suffering from maltreatment in the society.

    “Most times these women don’t even know they are maltreated. Therefore human rights groups need to create the awareness,” she says.

    Proffering a solution to this hydra-headed problem, the don proposes a ‘multi-sectoral approach’ – Individual and societal approach.  She says this approach involves sensitising the victims, men, opinion leaders, societal norms, religious leaders and law enforcement.

    “The men need to be educated to see his wife as his better half. By knowing this, beating his wife results in beating himself and as such need not to be so.”

    “Whenever the rights of a woman are violated, the first person she runs to is the opinion leader, her pastor or Imam. These people need to be trained on how to handle such cases in order not to result in an escalation,” she says.

    The gender equality and women empowerment activist attributes the low reports to authorities by violated women to the following: no response plan, fear of the unknown, societal norms and poverty. “All these problems peculiar to Nigeria hampers the elimination of violence against women. There is a need to ensure a well structured approach to tackle this violence.

    “The Millennium Development Goal (MDG) number three supports gender equality and women empowerment and as such women must be empowered in order not to be at the mercy of the society.”

    In his address marking the day, Secretary-General United Nations Ban Ki Moon, called for all people to recommit to preventing and halting all forms of violence against women and girls.

    His address in full:

    “Violence against women and girls directly affects individuals while harming our common humanity. In response to this global challenge, I launched my UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign in 2008. Since then, partners around the world have joined our drive to protect the human rights of women and girls to live free from violence.

    “I welcome the chorus of voices calling for an end to the violence that affects an estimated one in three women in her lifetime. I applaud leaders who are helping to enact and enforce laws and change mindsets. And I pay tribute to all those heroes around the world who help victims to heal and to become agents of change.

    “Last month, on United Nations Day, I had the privilege of meeting again with one such hero: Dr. Denis Mukwege, the founder of the Panzi hospital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where women go after experiencing terrible atrocities. Dr. Mukwege has said, “Many times we are reduced to tears. Everything is so damaged. But we get to work. We operate. We fix what we can, and that is a lot.” He is inspired by the courage of the women he treats, including the many who go on to help others.

    “Although Dr. Mukwege is dealing with violence against women in the context of armed conflict, his spirit to confront and fix this problem should apply to all of our efforts to help women facing violence in homes, schools and other civilian settings throughout the world, in every country, every society.

    “Traditionally, this Day marks the start of 16 days of activism. From November 25th until December 10th – Human Rights Day – we make a special effort to organize and combat violence against women, an egregious human rights violation. This year, we are raising awareness by wearing the colour orange to symbolize our commitment to this cause.

    “One way to make a difference is to support the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women, which helps respond to human rights violations and needs from physical safety to economic security. While the demand for its grants has more than doubled in recent years, the amount it has been able to distribute has diminished by 60 per cent. I appeal to all partners to help meet this vast unmet demand for resources to further advance efforts to prevent and end violence against women and girls.

    “This International Day to End Violence against Women is an opportunity for all people to recommit to preventing and halting all forms of violence against women and girls.”