The Nation Newspaper

Tag: group

  • Group canvasses equal economic opportunity for all

    Group canvasses equal economic opportunity for all

    V4C, a non governmental, nonprofit organisation has canvassed for equal economic opportunity across all gender, saying it is the only way to ensure a just society.

    The group spoke in Lagos, ahead of its conference tagged: “Men for 50/50.”

    Speaking at the interactive session, Mr. Dennis Onoise, Output Lead/Key Influencer for V4C, said men have vital role to play to address the problem of gender inequality. “The role of men in the area of gender inequality can never be overemphasised, although most NGO’s are headed by women. But working together in one accord to resolve issues that relates to gender issues is very critical because we live our lives by societal details and gender roles can change because they are not constant,” he said.

    He further said that the V4C conference is going to be a male-dominated with key industry players that will attend and also share their personal experience about gender-related issues, while also charging the media to help raise awareness about gender inequality.

    Onoise also hinted of plans to gather over 300 men for the forthcoming conference scheduled to hold by November 2nd and 3rd respectively, while also stating that the participants would attend the conference would include notable celebrities.

    “Given that society sees men as the breadwinner of the house and provide everything for the children, we have realised that this no longer work. It is becoming a lot more difficult, even women are not finding it easy. So if we agree that society has always said that the male responsibility is to be the breadwinner and suddenly we are seeing that it’s the same men now that allows women to go out and work, who is now saying they cannot contribute?” he queried.

  • $15m: Patience Jonathan’s group not registered, SERAP tells court

    $15m: Patience Jonathan’s group not registered, SERAP tells court

    A Rights group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has urged the Federal High Court to “dismiss” a suit by former first lady Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan’ with substantial cost.”

    Mrs. Jonathan and her group, Union of Niger Delta Youth Organisation for Equity, Justice and Good Governance, had accused SERAP in a suit dated October 6 of “using online, print and electronic media to publish to the public unfounded and malicious allegations that she stole $15 million (U.S.) and ought to be prosecuted.”

    But SERAP, in a preliminary objection dated October 27 and signed by its executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni, stated that “Patience Jonathan’s claims cannot be maintained because they are brought on her behalf by a group that is unknown to law.

    “Mrs. Jonathan’s group is not a registered organisation envisaged by law. This very point calls into question the legal capacity to file this suit against SERAP, and the jurisdiction of the court to entertain her suit.”

    When the case came up for hearing before Justice C.M.A Olatoregun on Friday, SERAP was represented by its lawyer Babatunde Ogala, former chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly’s Committee on Judiciary.

    SERAP’s preliminary objections read in part: “Since the process of court has not been used bona fide and properly, it is unnecessary to consider whether or not there is a genuine case on the merits. An abuse of court process is not the specie of sins called an irregularity. It is a much more fundamental vice which is deserving of the punishment of dismissal.”

  • Group empowers 200 Nigerians against recession

    The Gameplan Financial Empowerment Summit (FES) has empowered 200 Nigerians at Ogba, Lagos State.

    The summit, with the theme: How To Survive and Thrive in Times of Recession, was organised by Lifepage Group, a Lagos-based human capital and business Development Company.

    The company’s CEO Oladipupo Clement said: “Recession doesn’t just happen. There are causes. More often than not, the foolish things we did in yesterday’s good times created today’s bad times and the wise things we do in today’s bad times create tomorrow’s good times. Hence, recession is predictable; it occurs in cycle of seven to 10 years and for wealth redistribution. Recession presents unique opportunities that we will not find at other times. The best of us is unleashed in times of recession.”

    Besides the mental reformation of the event, Lifepage Group, which operates in the real estate development and investment sectors empowered several participants with cash and land rewards.

    The group also fulfilled its promise to give the first 100 participants who showed up at the event a bag of rice each.

    The convener said the gesture was the company’s way of giving back to the society.

    The Gameplan Project, the parent platform for the various summits Lifepage Group, was launched in July 2011 with the aim of raising 120,000 multimillionaires by 2021.

    The organisation said its business philosophy is to make people rich legitimately.

  • Group urges children on hand washing

    Group urges children on hand washing

    A Non-Government Organisation (NGO), Save the Children (SC), has advised  children to imbibe the habit of wasing their hands to reduce the transmission of infection and diseases.

    The organisation gave the charge at a one-day event to mark this year’s global hand-washing day at the CMS Primary School, Bariga, Lagos.

    Hand washing is part of the Stop Diarrhoea Initiative (SDI) of the NGO, through which it reaches out to about one million school children yearly in Nigeria.

    With the theme: Making hand washing a habit, about 600 children who participated were taught how to wash their hands and its importance.

    The Behaviour Change Communication Adviser, Nwamaka Efionu, said: “Washing hands with soap can help prevent a lot of communicable diseases.

    “We don’t need to wash our hands only when there is a fear of an illness, hand washing should be a habit which everyone must imbibe. Children are agents of change, once they learn like this through peer awareness programmes like this, they go out and teach their peers and that is how the habit is spread. We have about 20 schools, from Shomolu and Bariga who came to participate in the hand washing event.”

    Marketing Manager, West Africa Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC (RB), Bamigbaiye- Elatuyi Omotola, said: “RB is glad to partner with Save the Children on ‘Stop Diarrhoea initaiative’. We have been in the forefront of health and hygiene and are partnering with organisations to increase health hygiene habits, Diarrhoea is a killer of children under five and the habit of hand washing should be practised while they are young. Today’s event is an opportunity to bring to the public and school children the essence of developing the habit of hand washing. RB goes to schools every year and teaches one million school children between the ages of three and nine about hand washing. This is because diarrhoea is a killer of children under five and the habit of hand washing should be practised while they are young to forestall transmission to themselves orally or to others.”

    On the impact of hand washing on children, she said hand washing has reduced diarrhoea cases by one third.

    Omotola said: “We reach to 16 geo-political zones in Nigeria and reach out to every school in each zone. That way we are able to reach far and wide, on the average, we reach out to about 500 schools on the average both public and private.  We teach them hand washing, we give them soaps, health book and parents are involved; we give them leaflets to take home, this way the parent, child and school are already into the habit of hand washing.”

  • Group complains about state-induced terror

    Worried by the rising incidents of abuse of rights of Nigerians by the state, a pro-democracy coalition has advised the Presidency to stop instilling fear into Nigerians.

    The Co-Convener, the Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution (CDNDC), Mr Ariyo-Dare Atoye, said in a statement that the people would not be cowed by “some misguided actions” of the state to “silence critics, infringe on people’s fundamental human rights and undermine the right to fair hearing as well as free speech”.

    Atoye condemned the “provocative arrest and illegal detention of Ms. Precious Chikwendu, the wife of Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, former spokesman to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Ado-Ekiti.”

    He said: “We are not unaware that this contrived and vicious anti-corruption crusade will hit an appalling level where the state, in an unbridled thirst to show off powers and cover up its failings, will be harassing, intimidating and victimising ordinary citizens.

    “We are miffed at the lack of discretion of the state to come down so low to the level of detaining an innocent lady with a toddler under the guise of fighting corruption, when she has not flouted any law or resisted the invitation of the EFCC.

    “We saw all this coming after this regime invaded the temple of justice in an odious coup that was plotted to subvert the independence of the judiciary and pull down the last gate shielding the common man from abuses. We know that the plan of the Presidency is for everyone to live in the fear of the state and kowtow to every of its decisions, both favourable and unfavourable, without resistance or criticisms.

    “We wish to assure this regime that Nigerians will never bow to terror; the citizens would rather resist oppression and get more emboldened by its action to countermine their constitutionally-guaranteed rights.”

    The coalition, however, advised the government to devote much of its attention and powers toward getting Nigeria out of economic recession, adding that “Nigerians are no longer thrilled by its fundamentally flawed anti-graft war which lacks sincerity of purpose.”

    It added: “The empowerment of Nigerians and eradication of poverty is very strategic to a successful anti-corruption campaign. Aside strengthening the anti-graft institutions to be independent and to operate in accordance with the rule of law, it will take the collective will of the citizens to bring sanity to the nation and defeat corruption.”

  • Akoko group backs Agunloye

    Akoko group backs Agunloye

    A Socio-Cultural organization, the Akoko Consultative Forum (ACF), has pledged to support the flag bearer of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dr Olu Agunloye, during the November 26 governorship election in Ondo State.

    A statement by its Chairman, Chief Festus Obaude, Secretary, R.A. Ajayi, and Welfare/Education Committee Chairman, Christopher Olorunfemi, described Agunloye as an illustrious son of Akokoland, who has the capacity to uplift the area and the state in general.

    The group lamented that the people in the four local government areas in Akoko have been relegated to the background.

    The ACF noted that the present government since inception in February 2009 has not made its impact felt in Akokoland, especially in the area of roads, electricity and potable water supply.

    It expressed optimism that with Agunloye’s passion for Akokoland, the former chief executive of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) would bring development to the communities in Akokoland and Ondo State as a whole.

    The statement added: “We are determined individually to support Agunloye’s aspiration, although the ACF is apolitical, but our members are conversant with the situation in Akokoland and we believe that with our support and that of the people, the SDP candidate will emerge victorious in the coming election.

    “We believe it is the turn of Akoko to produce the next governor; we are not happy that our people could not speak with one voice. The only alternative now is Agunloye and we will support him.”

  • Ondo poll: Group warns judiciary against complicity 

    The Coalition for Stable Democracy (CSD), an alliance of pro-democracy groups, has urged the National Judicial Council( NJC) to ensure that the interest of justice is served in the struggle for the governorship slot in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The group said the judiciary should not allow itself to be used to subvert people’s will.

    CSD said the ruling delivered by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja was a miscarriage of justice.

    Justice Abang had last Friday ruled that the name of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, be substituted with that of Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim in a controversial ruling that has now been appealed.

    In a statement jointly signed by Victor Aderibigbe and Abdullahi Sanni, National Co-ordinator and Secretary respectively, the coalition said the event of 1983 political crisis in Ondo State would be a child’s play if the judiciary allowed itself to be used to truncate the people’s will.

    The group alleged that the ruling was part of plot to deprive Jegede’s candidacy to brighten the chance of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the election in Ondo State.

    CSD said: “Let it be made clear that Ondo State is a peaceful state, but we are hasty to warn that the people there should not be taken for granted. With the experience of the political crisis that engulfed  the state during the Ajasin/Omoboriowo saga, Ondo election should be treated with utmost caution.

    “We are therefore calling on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to pay serious attention to allegations of miscarriage of justice levelled against Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja, in which he ruled that Mr. Eyitayo Jegede’s name be substituted with that of Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim.

  • Group urges Ize-Iyamu to accept defeat

    A social-cultural and political monitoring group, the Edo Lens, has urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the September 28 election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, to accept the outcome of the poll.

    Its spokesman Elder Destiny Evbakoe told reporters at the weekend that the call became necessary because Edo Lens’ findings revealed that the party’s poor preparation before the election caused its defeat.

    Evbakoe said the findings also revealed that many supposed supporters of the PDP deceived the party’s leadership by voting for continuity, which led to the victory of Mr Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Evbakoi said those persuading Ize-Iyamu and the PDP leadership to challenge the poll at the Election Petitions Tribunal were only interested in what to gain.

    He said: “It was actually the period his arch enemies had been waiting to pay him back for his atrocities of the past, including being rude and disloyal to their mentor and godfather.

    “The ill-conceived and sponsored protest, which was organised by the PDP against the outcome of the most credible, transparent, free and fair election ever conducted in the history of Edo State, has further infuriate Edo residents.”

  • Group stresses values, culture at anniversary

    Group stresses values, culture at anniversary

    At a time when the economy is in recession, prompting looking inwards, a group, Adorable Social Club, has appropriately marked its fifth anniversary making a case for the Igbo culture, values and philanthropy.

    Members of the all-women group founded on the imperatives of celebrating the Igbo culture as well as helping the needy, turned out in commanding native wear, comprising double wrappers topped off with the colourful, multi-layered headgear called gele. There was also an elaborate session of kola nut breaking relished by members and invitees. The event took place Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos.

    In her opening speech, Princess Ada Okeke-Amam said the core objectives of the organisation in adding values to the society have been met, though she added that the journey has not been easy.

    “Adorable Social Club was established by me five years ago,” she said. “It was to help those in need and bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. What we started then to project the core indigenous values of Igbo race here in Lagos has grown to an international level. We have branches all over Nigeria and we are spreading to the West African coast. We even have a programme in Ghana soonest. We really thank God for his blessings.

    ”Team work was the reason for calling a few of my friends together then, and we thank God that what we started on a small note has become a gigantic project in the areas of creating positive and better values to the society.

    “In the Southeast, we are very well known; same anywhere we have our presence. We have wiped many tears, fed the poor and are still feeding them, given shelter to those in need and even secured legal services to those in core need of them, so that they don’t suffer for what they didn’t  do. Truly, there is need to thank God. But I must confess the journey has not all that been easy, but with sheer dedication and determination, and the glory of God Almighty in us, we have played laudable roles in the society. I want others out there to do likewise.”

    Guests hailed Okeke-Amam for her vision and enjoined her to keep the good work, especially in rendeing positive service to the masses. The members were also commended for sharing same vision with their leader.

    There were raffle draws in which winners were rewarded with mobile phones, DVDs and power banks, among other prizes.

    Established five years ago, Adorable Social Club has birthed Adorable Foundation International, an NGO dedicated to charity work in Nigeria and West Africa. They have also campaigned against drug abuse, created awareness on societal ills, and visited various orphanages.

    Some guests at the event included Chief G.U.Y Ikoku, a legal practitioner and a representative of Chief Mrs. Modupe Jemibewon of Jemibewon International Schools, among several others.

  • Group condemns attack on Niger Delta Affairs minister

    Group condemns attack on Niger Delta Affairs minister

    The Council of Cross River State Professionals has condemned the recent attack on Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Pastor  Usani Uguru Usani.

    During a news conference in Abuja, the group described as malicious a report that that the minister failed to execute some contracts already awarded by the ministry.

    According to the National Coordinator National Secretary of the group, Emeh Friday and Odeh Zeb, the appointment of the minister into the cabinet of President Mohammadu Buhari is a further testimony of his ability to deliver.

    “They have already failed! Their plot is dead on arrival – having been uncovered before they could achieve their nefarious ends and before any damage could be done. We are aware that these detractors are deploying their usual “pull him down syndrome” which is an ugly practice that has, unfortunately been turned to a political culture in the Cross River axis.

    “We advise these disgruntled elements, their agents, foot soldiers and political jobbers to find meaningful engagements which will profit their lives somewhere else instead of embarking on this un-wholesome witch hunt and destruction of other personalities. They should remember and realise the truism in the statement, ‘Those who must kill others in order to succeed must have death as sentinel to the doorstep of their success’.”