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Tag: Lola Akande

  • Lagos empowers NGOs for optimal performance

    In its bid to provide an update on various programmes , laws, norms and regulations which are to guide and enhance their activities in the state, Lagos state government has organized an Interactive forum with registered Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the state.

    The programme which was held at Alusa, Ikeja, Lagos which was organized by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation had over 300 registered NGOs in attendance.

    Speaking on the theme: Lagos State Government; Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through viable partnership/collaboration with NGOs”, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Lola Akande said it point clearly to the strategic direction of the State government to touching the lives of Lagosians, especially women through interface with organization, such as NGOs.

    “This meeting will serve and catalyst to the complementary roles of the Ministry and relevant NGOs in fulfilling her collective dream of a society where women are socially and economically empowered and well positioned to take their rightful place in the scheme of things”, said Akande.

    According to Akande, the increasing trend of poverty in families and the society has become a major concern for well meaning individual in the country. “This has consequently created the need for concerted efforts among stakeholders through platforms as this in the spirit of sharing ideas and pulling resources together for the betterment of millions indigent women out there”, she said.

    Rather than waiting tirelessly for grants which is not forthcoming, one of the facilitators, and Executive Director, Creed Initiative, Mrs. Kehinde Omojola, enjoined participants to organize events, go into buying and selling so as to generate income to continually organize programmes thereby remaining relevant in the society. Her words “Look inward and think of how best you can source for funds” said Omojola.

  • Adebule : Lagos out to address problems facing widows

    The Lagos State Government on Friday said it was committed to implementing programmes to alleviate the deprivation, denial of rights, social and economic neglect experienced by vulnerable widows and their children in the state.

    The Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule said this at an Empowerment Seminar for Widows to mark International Widows’ Day, organised by the state ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation ( WAPA ), in Lagos.

    The News men reports that International Widows’ Day was declared by the United Nations in 2011 and is commemorated every June 23 in an effort to empower widows and help them regain their rights, which have long been ignored and violated.

    Adebule who was represented by Mrs Yetunde Odejayi, a Permanent Secretary, expressed concern over the plight of widows in the present times, saying they are less than dignifying and with dire economic implications.

    “Death, it is often said, is a reality but how humans contend with the fallouts of the unfortunate natural phenomenon is another thing entirely.

    “Bereavement is always a period of grief, sorrow, psychological trauma and sometimes despair. How relatives and the society in general react to it, especially in relation to widows and orphans, calls for concerns from all.

    “The Lagos state government is committed to continue to explore ways to minimise the hardships of widows and orphans in the state.

    “We will continue to protect you and put in place policies and programmes that will benefit you,” she said.

    Adebule urged Nigerians to do away with all cultural practices that were detrimental to the welfare of widows and orphans in the country.

    Read Also: 2019: Senator seeks Igbo support for Lagos APC

    She reminded the people that no one knew when he or she would die, hence the need to show sympathy and provide succour to vulnerable widows, instead of adding to their sorrows.

    Also, Mrs Adefunmilayo Tejuosho, Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on the Judiciary, Human Rights and Public Petitions, urged widows to utilise free legal services provided by the state government to protect their rights and get justice.

    “In Lagos state we have the office of the public defender, we also have the citizens mediation gate to help the less privileged such as widows and orphans in our society get speedy legal mediation,” she said.

    Tejuosho also called on husbands to write and update their Will periodically since no one knew when he would die.

    “The society should welcome and embrace widows, while the government should start educating men to write their wills for their families.

    “This is imperative to forestall avoidable hardships for the family left behind in the event of death,” she said.

    Dr Omolola Salako, a Consultant, Radiation Oncologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) educated widows on the need to embrace healthy lifestyle to prevent diseases such as cancers.

    In her remarks, Dr Lola Akande, Commissioner, WAPA, encouraged the widows to avail themselves of the various opportunities and empowerment programmes provided by the government.

    “There are 17 vocational training centers in the state, where you can learn how to start up small businesses such as poultry, fish farming, making of earrings and necklaces, baking, hairdressing and tailoring and many others.

    “The training is free of charge. Avail you the opportunities to be self-dependent and self-reliant,” Akande said.

  • Mercy Aigbe coughing blood one week after incident -Commissioner

    Mercy Aigbe coughing blood one week after incident -Commissioner

    With civil and criminal actions being instituted against Lanre Gentry, estranged husband of Nollywood actress, Mercy Aigbe, there are indications of a tough time ahead for the hotelier who, on Tuesday, was quizzed by the Lagos State department of Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT).

    Speaking to our Correspondent on the matter, visibly angry Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in Lagos State, Mrs. Lola Akande, said it was disheartening to see the state Aigbe was when she came to her office to report the case.

    “She was coughing blood from her nose and mouth and she had injury on her face which the doctor said she must have an operation. I was so angry that I need to see the face of the man that did this to her, and so we invited him and he came yesterday (Tuesday) to say his own side of the story to the official in charge of domestic violence. But any man that can beat a woman to a pulp like that to the extent that she is still coughing blood one week after the incident need to have his head examined,” said Akande.

    According to her, the Lagos State Government has secured a restraining order for Aigbe from any further abuse by her husband.

    She commended the courage of Aigbe for voicing out her ordeal, and urged other women going through similar situation not to keep quiet about their ordeal.

    “I must commend the courage of mercy, because what she did is what other women who are victims of domestic violence out there need to do, they don’t need to hide it except they want to die there.”

    Adding her voice to the matter, Coordinator of DSVRT, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, said the order henceforth prevents Mr. Gentry from getting close to his wife until further notice, assuring that the government would pursue the case to a logical conclusion.

    She disclosed that Gentry, who may be charged for domestic violence, is expected to appear in court in two weeks’ time to give reasons why the restraining order should not be made perpetual.

    Vivour-Adeniyi said the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode was committed to stemming the tide of domestic violence, regardless of who the victim or the offender is, saying that Aigbe is yet another victim whose case would be treated according to the law.

    “We are actually working on the case with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), we are handling both civil and criminal. The criminal aspect of the domestic violence has been reported to the DPO of Area F and we accompanied her to the station with a view to charging the criminal aspect to court. So that is being handled.

    “The civil aspect which is to ensure that she is protected, that is where the restraining order comes in, which is provided by the Prevention Against Domestic Violence Law 2007. So, we approached the family court and we got a restraining order on her behalf, restraining Mr. Gentry from I think one mile from her.”

  • Lagos to establish child care centres

    Lagos State government said on Tuesday it has concluded plans to establish children day care centres across the state.

    The move, the state government said, is forestall activities of child kidnappers who penetrate families disguising as caregivers,

    The state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Lola Akande,‎ disclosed this during a fact finding session with professional women associations in the state.

    The commissioner said the first set of child care centres will be established at Alausa Secretariat and Oba Akinjobi Way, Ikeja.

     

  • Lagos Assembly decries incident

    Lagos Assembly decries incident

    Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday at plenary slammed President Goodluck Jonathan for the deaths of 19 job seekers at the venues of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) recruitment last Saturday.

    The lawmakers, who were enraged by the death of the job seekers, urged the National Assembly to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the incident.

    The legislators also enjoined the National Assembly to take advantage of the ongoing constitution amendment to enshrine the principle of true federalism by devolving more powers to the states.

    Lagos Assembly admonished NIS to involve examination bodies, such as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in the conduct of future recruitment examinations.

    The matter was raised under matter of urgent public importance by the Deputy Leader, Lola Akande.

  • Lagos Assembly raises the alarm over FERMA taskforce

    Lagos Assembly raises the alarm over FERMA taskforce

    THE Lagos State House of Assembly has expressed concern over the presence and activities of some black uniformed individuals at the Lagos-Ibadan toll gate who identify themselves as Federal Task force under the Federal Road Management Agency (FERMA).

    The issue was raised at plenary under matter of urgent public importance by the Deputy Whip, Hon. Rotimi Abiru, who alleged that the operatives go to garages extorting money from motorists and also mounting roadblocks.

    Abiru said the intention of these men is suspicious more especially when both the Minister of Works and the Managing Director of FERMA have publicly disowned them.

    The lawmaker maintained that the activity of the group is a threat to law and order in the state as their activities pose a serious challenge to security.

    He therefore urged his colleagues to call on the state commissioner of Police to investigate the group.

    It would be recalled that the issue of this group and its training came up when the state Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, was invited to the House recently over security issues in the state.

    Although the Commissioner promised to investigate the matter and report back to the House, he has not done so until the latest development.

    In his contribution, the Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Lola Akande said the activities of the group must be checked quickly to avoid the emergence of another Boko Haram because according to her, the activities of the Islamist fundamentalist sect started in a similar fashion.