The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Woman

  • UNIBEN gets first woman SUG president

    UNIBEN gets first woman SUG president

    There was excitement at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) when Lauretta Obakpolor was elected the first woman president of the Students’ Union Government (SUG). EZEKIEL EFEOBHOKHAN (500-Level Pharmacy) reports.

    A woman has been elected Students’ Union Government (SUG) president for the first time in the history of the University of Benin (UNIBEN).

    She is Lauretta Obakpolor, a 400-Level Pharmacy student. She beat five other candidates with 2,283 votes to win the coveted position.

    Immediately the electoral committee declared her winner, shouts of her name rent the air. Her supporters moved round the campus singing victory songs.

    Before the election, many students did not give her a chance.  But, Lauretta played her joker on the Manifesto Day when she unveiled her programmes. Unlike other candidates, her presentation was greeted with applause.

    Emeka Onyeji, a final year student of Economics and Statistics, said: “When I heard Lauretta speak for the first time at the manifesto, I knew there was more to the aspiration of this lady than just being a candidate. Immediately she mounted the podium, every word from her wowed the audience. We believed she has good plans for the union. This is why we all voted for her.”

    Other candidates were Victor Arigbe of the Faculty of Education; Nelson Ehrauyi (Faculty of Engineering), Efosa Iyekekpolor (Faculty of Education), Godstime Oghogho (College of Medicine) and Leslie Oghama (Faculty of Social Sciences).

    A student from the Faculty of Education, who declined to give his name, said the two candidates from his faculty did not deserve to win the election. According to him, Efosa and Victor were over-ambitious, which was why they could not step down for each other.

    He said: “We met each of them personally to step down, so that the faculty can produce a single candidate to win the election. They both declined and went ahead to canvass for votes. They divided the votes that could have gone for a single candidate. They did not deserve to win.

    “A leader should know when to let down his ego for the common good. If the faculty had voted for a single candidate, that candidate would definitely be the winner of this election. But the faculty was divided so were the votes.”

    The union leaders have been sworn in.

    Other members of the executive included Sonia Obasuyi, Vice President; Jatto Ovie, General Secretary; John Aigbogun, Attorney General; Elliot Airhuoyuwa, Assistant General Secretary; Glory Odu, Director of Finance and Kelechi Ikotu, Director of Publicity.

    Others are Eugene Chukwu, Director of Welfare, Michael Iroegbu, Director of Sports and Precious Enokeran, Director of Socials.

    Addressing the union leaders during the inauguration, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Faraday Orumwense, advised them to maintain peace on the campus, saying the development of the school should be the union’s objective.

    The VC said: “I congratulate you on your election, but you must know leadership comes with responsibility. In the period of grievances, I will advise you to seek all known channels of dialogue and peaceful resolution. In every decision you take, endeavour to carry your colleagues along.”

    In her acceptance speech, Lauretta thanked students for supporting her, despite the campaign against her gender. She promised not to let the students down, vowing to use her mandate for the good of all.

    She said: “To all those who are sceptical about a female being a president, I say we have crossed the Rubicon. Those people need to read the Bible and learn about the story of Deborah. This is another Deborah standing in front of you today. I bear the plight of a woman and understand the pains of a man. Leadership is not about gender. I seek the support of all as we take the union to another level.”

    The outgone president, Raymond Omorogbe, congratulated his successor, urging the union to sustain peace on the campus.

     

     

     

  • Woman accused of changing to cat escapes mob attack

    Woman accused of changing to cat escapes mob attack

    There was pandemonium in Ifako Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos State on Wednesday when a mysterious cat was said to have turned into an old woman.

    The incident occurred at No 9, Kogberegbe Street in the Elliot area of Iju Ishaga.

    Residents pushed and shoved themselves to catch a glimpse of the woman.

    Our correspondent who was at the scene reported that the woman would have been lynched but for the timely arrival of men of Red House Police Division, Iju Ishaga, who rescued her from the mob.

    Policemen, however, had a hectic time containing the angry mob who insisted on beating the woman to death on allegation of witchcraft.

    It was learnt that a mysterious cat had been sneaking into a passage in the building at night lately.

    The cry of the mysterious cat, it was learnt, has created fear as the occupants made fruitless search for its whereabouts in the building.

    Our correspondent gathered from some of the occupants of the building that the cat allegedly turned into a woman at about 2 am when one of the tenants noticed its strange movement behind his windows.

    One of the occupants, who asked not to be named, said: “A mysterious cat has been disturbing our peace in this building for some weeks now. It would sneak into the building in the night and shatter our peaceful rest until the wee hours of today when God finally exposed it.

    “I was inside my apartment at about 2 am when I noticed the movement of the cat behind my window. “I summoned courage to flash a torch at it and it suddenly turned into an old woman. She confronted me and asked me to leave her alone in my own interest. “She said she was returning from a trip to London and had come for a naming ceremony in a nearby church. I raised the alarm that attracted neighbours.”

    Another resident, who identified herself simply as Olajumoke, described the woman’s presence in the building as suspicious.

    She said: ”The woman’s presence in the building leaves room for suspicion because she ought not have been able to find her way into the particular place she was found inside the because it was locked.”

    The suspect was said to have been transferred to the Area G Command, Ogba, Ikeja.

  • Celebrating amazing woman @ 50

    Her willpower and focus to bring out the best in any context she finds herself has tenaciously distinguished her from the rest. She pays attention to details with a primal vision of setting new standards and raising the bar in her humanitarian quests to uplift the mankind.

    She devotes a considerable part of her time, energy and resources on regular basis to advance the cause of the less privileged and champion initiatives that support the needy in our society. Her dream is aimed at empowering and uplifting the disadvantaged people regardless of their age, education status, religious and political affiliations.

    Welcome to the world of Olufunso Amosun, the wife of the Governor of Ogun State.

    Born some 50 years ago on May 2, Mrs. Amosun has joined the elegant circle of Golden Jubilee club. No doubt, 50 is a milestone and clocking the golden age calls for a celebration of some sort.

    Working with Mrs. Amosun since January 2012 as one of her close aides has given me the vista of opportunities to know her better and appreciate her genuine passion to assist, support and empower the less privileged and the needy in our society.

    Beyond her care for the good people of Ogun State, Mrs. Amosun has become a mother figure to many in the government circle in the state, touching their lives with so much compassion outside their official duties.

    Personally, I was somehow agitated and disturbed over a domestic matter and I couldn’t sleep sometime in February 2013. In my state of restlessness, I picked up my Blackberry phone around 2am and began to fiddle with it: played music, changed my BB Display Picture amongst others. Suddenly Mrs. Amosun sent a message to my phone, asking me why I am not sleeping at this time of the day. I was shocked to my bone marrow. I responded by saying I was trying to get some things sorted out. Dissatisfied, she probed further: are you sure? And I said yes. I didn’t really want to bother her about my personal challenge.

    Another touchy encounter I had with Mrs. Amosun was on May 30, 2013. I got a call from Lagos that my wife was in labour and had just been rushed to the hospital. I asked the caller about the condition of my wife but he was not audible enough. I called my wife severally, no response. I called my mother-in-law, no answer. I became worried. I glued to my phone moving from one section to another to check who else I could call. I stumbled on the number of our family doctor; called him but he didn’t pick too. My worries increased. So I resigned to fate, hoping for the best.

    I went to my Blackberry Display Picture (DP) and I wrote: “It’s Well – I Believe, It Will End in Praise.” Immediately, the governor’s wife asked me: “What’s the problem?” Of course, I had no option than to open up that my wife was in labour. She offered some prayers and encouraged me to be calm. About one hour after, I received a call that my wife had just delivered a bouncing baby girl and that my wife and the baby were in good condition. With so much elation, I sent message to the governor’s wife that my family had just been blessed with a baby girl. She congratulated me and sent message to my wife.

    My takeaway: as a caring mother, Mrs. Amosun often feels strongly concerned about the welfare of people around her and she has successfully extended the same kind gesture to the good people of Ogun State.

    Her dexterity and compassion to help others is second to none. I was at lost momentarily the very first day she said she would be climbing the Mountain Kilimanjaro in Tanzania for the sole aim of raising funds for the victims of the insurgency in the North-east who are scattered across various Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camps in Nigeria. While I was still struggling to come to terms over her decision, it dawned on me that indeed Mrs. Amosun has a strong-willed empathy spirit to always support the less privileged.

    No wonder she has been using every single opportunity to call on the individuals, the corporate bodies and any other interested parties to join her in lending a helping hand to the less privileged. This, she often expresses with a Yoruba song: Eni k’eni ti iwo ba ni ipa, l’ati se iranlowo fun ooo, Oun na l’eni keji re, Toju re. This can be literarily translated thus: Endeavour to help the needy you can afford to assist, for such person is your brother or your sister.

    Her ‘communal spirit’ of lending a helping hand to the less privileged made Mrs. Amosun to initiate different programmes to massively complement the efforts of her husband, Senator Ibikunle Amosun in the governor’s overall Mission to Rebuild Ogun State.

    Through her foundation, UPLIFT Development Foundation, the governor’s wife has been focusing on poverty alleviation, using UPLIFT as an acronym for ‘Understanding People’s Limiting and Inhibiting Factors Today.’ The foundation provides intervention programmes to empower the vulnerable and the needy, with basic facilities to achieve the ultimate goal of making them self-sufficient.

    The UPLIFT vision centres on poverty alleviation through the provision of economic empowerment, skill acquisition programmes and access marketable items and loans. Her target groups include the physically challenged, those living with HIV/AIDS, vulnerable aged, unemployed graduates, vulnerable orphans and disadvantaged women and children in general.

    Some of her programmes include: UPLIFTing the Aged; Free Eye Camp; UPLIFTing Women; UPLIFTing Widows; UPLIFTing Unemployed Graduates; Uplift Cancer Awareness Campaign; UPLIFTing the Physically Challenged; UPLIFTing SS3 Students; UPLIFTing Youths through Beatification; UPLIFTing Traders; UPLIFTing the Environment International Conference and Workshop; UPLIFT Aged Welfare Card; UPLIFT Food Outreach; Launch of Green Education for the Youths, Waste to Wealth Initiative; UPLIFT Under-15 Grassroot Football Camp; MITROS Micro Credit Scheme; and De-worming Exercise for School Children.

    Others are: UPLIFTing Women Living with HIV/AIDS; UPLIFT Artificial Limb Camp; UPLIFT Safe Motherhood Initiative; UPLIFTing Rainstorm Victims; UPLIFTing Rural Dwellers; UPLIFTing Orphans and Vulnerable Children; Community Empowerment Programme; 1st National Green Essay Competition; 1st Ogun State National Women Conference in 2014; UPLIFTing Schools; Free Breast Lump Excision Surgery; Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for IDPs; amongst others.

    Mrs. Amosun has built a strong tie with the vulnerable citizens across the length and breadth of Ogun State through her various initiatives. She has undeniably touched many lives through her UPLIFT Development Foundation.

    The stark reality today is that Mrs. Amosun is 50 and to this I say, Congratulations and Happy Birthday. But the ladyish and glowing look of Mrs. Amosun can make someone to demand for a recount to actually determine if she is 50!

    Happy 50th birthday to a mother, a mentor and a confidant!

     

    • Sowunmi is a Media Aide to the Wife of the Governor of Ogun State.
  • Woman, 36, needs N1m for thigh surgery

    Woman, 36, needs N1m for thigh surgery

    A 36-year-old Lateefat Bashiru, woman, is battling a life threatening injury on her left thigh. She needs N1million for surgery.  She was involved in an accident on July 27, 2014 at Dopemu in Lagos. She fractured her left thigh in the accident. Since then, she has been in pains and cannot move around.

    Before the accident, Mrs Bashiru  was a food vendor at Kakawa on Lagos Island. She also operated a fashion designing outfit in Mushin.

    Reliving her experience to The Nation, Mrs Bashiru said she was returning from her shop when the accident occurred. “I can’t say how the accident happened, but I know I found myself at Aisha Hospital in Idi Araba, Lagos State. I was on the Hospital bed and a Doctor told me to call my parents. I was admitted  for about two weeks where I underwent treatments to help me straighten my leg and I was on crutches. I was discharged after two weeks, but was told that I needed to do surgery. I did not have money to do the it,” she said.

    She continued: “When I left the Hospital, I went to a native bone setter to fix my thigh and I was there for about three months, but I didn’t see any changes in all that they did for me. I had to leave because I had no money for further payments. I had sold all my machines among other things  and my husband also didn’t have money again, so I had to stop going for treatment.”

    She later went to National Othopaedic Hospital, Igbogbi, Lagos for treatment, where  she was told she would need to undergo surgery, which would cost her nothing less than a million Naira.

    “This cost scared me as I have no where to get such an amount from. I have since been moving round to get the money, but I have no help forthcoming. I also went to Army Hospital in Ikeja and was told that I need to undergo the corrective surgery,” said Mrs Bashiru.

    Mrs Bashiru is calling on all well meaning Nigerians to come to her aid and restore her hope to walk again and go back to her business life.

    To give any assistance, she has opened an account with GTB- Account number: 0178501795, and account name Lateefat Bashiru. She can be reached on mobile phone number 08025224425. She pleaded that those who want to help her may equally take her to the hospital, Igbogbi Hospital in Lagos, and make the payment into the Hospital’s account.

    She went on, “I feel the pain on my thigh everyday and it makes me feel uncomfortable.  For two years now, I have being unable to work, I have stopped selling food. I can’t sew cloths any more. I have being managing the little money that my husband gives me daily for sustenance. He is a bus driver and we have two children. I also go around begging for money or calling those I know to give me money.

    “It has not being easy at all for me over these two years. I am trusting God to send those that will bless me. I am tired of sitting down and doing nothing with my life. The situation of my thigh is rendering me useless,” she said.

  • Police arrest woman for neighbour’s death

    The police in Lagos have arrested a woman, Ndifreke Femi, 30, for allegedly stabbing her neighbour to death.

    Although the incident occurred at Block 109, Ikota Housing Estate in Ajah, the suspect is being held at the Homicide Unit of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) at Panti-Yaba.

    The Nation learnt that the police have launched a manhunt for the suspect’s husband who allegedly fled from home after the incident.

    It was gathered that the mother of two stabbed Ayomide Ayenuwa, 28, on the neck with a kitchen knife when he attempted to settle a rift between her and her husband.

    According to neighbours, the deceased had gone into the Femi’s home to pay his electricity bill but met the couple quarrelling over a missing N20,000. The woman claimed that her husband stole the cash.

    The late Ayenuwa said to have attempted to broker peace between them, but to no avail and as he was leaving their apartment, the woman rushed to her kitchen, picked a kitchen knife and allegedly stabbed him on the neck.

    It was learnt that other neighbours rushed him to Peninsula Hospital but he was referred to the Akodo General Hospital. He died on the way to the general hospital.

    A neighbour, James Peter, while narrating the incident said: “When he got to their room, he saw the husband and wife quarrelling. Ndifreke was accusing her husband of stealing the N20,000 she hid under their mattress. Her husband denied the allegation but she was ready for a fight.

    “It was at this point that Ayenuwa made efforts to settle the couple but they kept fighting. Ayenuwa appealed to Ndifreke to take the matter easy but she descended on him and started calling him names. She told him to mind his business.

    “That was how Ayenuwa left the couple to their trouble. As he was walking away, Ndifreke ran into the kitchen and brought out a kitchen knife which she used to stab Ayenuwa on his neck from behind. Neighbours made efforts to save Ayenuwa’s life while others held Ndifreke down and almost lynched her.

    “The neighbours with Ayenuwa’s family rushed him to the Peninsula Hospital at Ajah for treatment but he was referred to the Akodo General Hospital. Sadly, he died on his way to the hospital.”

    But in her statement to the police, the suspect claimed she acted in self defence.

    She alleged that the deceased attacked her first by punching her on the head.

  • Woman docked for biting off neighbour’s ear

    Woman docked for biting off neighbour’s ear

    A 35-year-old woman, Cynthia Unabor, was on Tuesday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, charged with biting off her neighbour’s ear.

    Unabor, a resident of No. 3, Asutan St., Obawole, Iju, Lagos, is being tried for breach of peace and assault.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Essien Ndarake, told the court that the accused committed the offences on April 11 at her residence.

    Ndarake said that the accused assaulted her neighbour, Mrs Bajomo Oladele, by beating her and biting off her ear.

    “The accused inflicted wound on her neighbour by biting off her right ear.’’

    Ndarake said that the accused and the complainant had been bearing grudges over an undisclosed matter, which had on two occasions, landed both in police station.

    “Both parties were not in good terms; their matter had been with the police twice.

    “On that fateful day, the accused claimed that her neighbour was abusing her in her language; so she descended on her, threw her on the ground and punched her all over her body.

    “She was not satisfied with the beating; she went further by biting off her ear, causing permanent disability on her ear.

    “The flesh of the ear was recovered at the scene of the crime,” he said.

    The offences, Ndarake said, contravened Sections 166 and 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    Section 171 provides that if convicted of the offence, the accused is liable to three years’ imprisonment.

    The accused pleaded not guilty of the offences and was granted bail in the sum of N50, 000 with one surety in like sum.

    The Magistrate, Mrs E. Kubeinje, adjourned the case to May 3 for mention.

  • Edo: Married woman found dead in hotel 

    Edo: Married woman found dead in hotel 

    A female gospel singer identified as Yvonne Omoarebokhae has been found dead in a hotel owned by a former lawmaker in the Edo State House of Assembly.

    She was said to have lodged into the hotel with a Lagos based Pastor whose name was given as Apostle Psalm Okpe of the Fresh Oil Ministry.

    Husband of the deceased, Odion, said his wife met Apostle Sam on Facebook and after several months of chatting, his late wife was invited last week Thursday by the Pastor to perform in Warri, Delta State.

    Odion said Apostle Sam claimed to have programme in Warri, Asaba and Benin City where his wife was to perform.

    He said his wife called him at about 10am last Friday that she would be home soon.

    The physically peeved husband said, “At about 9:30pm, the police used my wife phone to call and invited me to report at the Airport Road police station.”

    “I waited for more than two hours at the police station until the police asked me to go home but I insisted on knowing the whereabouts of my wife.”

    “The DPO later told me that my wife was picked at a hotel in the GRA and rushed to the Benin Central hospital where she was confirmed dead.”

    “I am yet to see the corpse of my wife to know want happen and who is responsible for her death. We have a three-year old baby at home.”

    It was however learnt that the pastor has been arrested and helping police with the investigation.

    State Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, confirmed the death of the woman and said the matter was under investigation.

    Ezike said a post mortem examination will confirm the cause of death.

    His words, “It is under investigation. The man is married and the woman is married. Not until a post mortem is conducted, we cannot conclude what happened. I have asked the matter to be transferred to the State CID.”

  • Woman of virtue

    Woman of virtue

    A Special Adviser to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Mrs Tinuola Shopeju, has clocked 55. She held a reception for her family members and friends at the Royal Master’s School, Ikeja, Lagos. NNEKA NWANERI reports.

    The glittered in her wine dress,  catching the attention of everyone in attendance. Her shoulder length hair swung from side to side as her smile, carriage and gait gave her out as the woman of the day.

    Mrs Tinuola Shopeju, who turned 55 a few days ago, waxed stronger in virtue, grace and confidence. She had every reason to dance that day as the band led everyone in a praise and worship session singing most of her favourite songs.

    Champagne was popped, glasses clicked and merriment took over with music from a group of people. It was at the Royal Master’s School, Alausa Lagos, where she was celebrated. To her, her new age was worth celebrating. Guests took time off their busy schedules to felicitate with her. Many of them were grateful to have met and known her.

    Mrs Shopeju worked as an officer at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in the United States.

    On her return to Nigeria, she joined the Ogun State Television (OGTV) as the News Editor.  She then moved to the defunct Gateway Bank, where she headed the Public Relations Department of the bank.

    She also, worked as the Southwest regional director of Intercontinental Bank. Mrs Shopeju was later appointed as Special Adviser to Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, on Agriculture, Commerce and Industry.

    She is also a Pastor at Jubilee Christian Church International, House of Glory, Lekki, Lagos.

    The Group Managing Director of United Capital, Mrs Oluwatoyin Sanni, said the birthday ‘girl’ has been her role model, who taught her how to carry herself as a lady. She described her as a woman of virtue.

    The celebrator’s son, Bode, was glad to have had a disciplinarian and intelligent woman as a mother. He said that was why he had to marry a girl who could relate intellectually with his mother.

    He thanked her for showing him love and teaching him the way of the Lord.

  • Early morning fuel buyers rescue woman in labour

    A woman in labour was on Tuesday morning delivered of her baby around Anthony bus stop by well spirited Nigerians queuing for fuel.
    The incident according to an eyewitness, Leo Spartani who shared it on Facebook occurred  before 7am at the VIO/LASTMA office at Anthony Bus stop.
    Spartani explained that after some women took delivery of the baby, fuel buyers contributed money so that mother and child could be taken to the nearest hospital.
    He wrote: “So as I was coming back to my house this early morning,
    I meet an old friend and after a brief chit chat he resumes dialing emergency health services: A lady is in labour at the busstop!
    “A serpentine queue for fuel, it is not yet 7am, and a woman is in the throes of childbirth in urban Lagos. At a busstop, on the floor, surrounded by women with little but their wrappers and the maternal instinct of support for one of their own…
    “These women are running up and down, and the young mother to be is shielded for decency sake away from Lagosian eyes.
    “Calls are being made, some Nigerians are praying whilst keeping an eye on their spaces on the queue, and thank goodness the Lagos madness of unruly bus drivers and the conductors hasn’t started.
    “The Baby is born… And emergency services take the location of the delivery, Anthony bus stop taxi Park by VIO/LASTMA office. They are still coming…
    “The special forces of veteran mothers on the scene assures bystanders that all is well and the baby is wrapped in a clean Ankara,  even as the Oga husband is on his way to the park. There is a conference on the nearest hospital that baby and mother can be taken to…
    “All is well, the mother is still dazed,  but the baby is alive, and Nigerians even in this hard times are already contributing money, unsolicited money to the miracle of a safe delivery at the most unlikely of  unsanitary places for the continuation  of life on our planet… We are that lovely a people…The day feels special already…”
    Spartani’s post which went viral, attracted commendation from readers, who all agreed that Nigerians have human feelings.

  • Woman seeks divorce over sex starvation

    Woman seeks divorce over sex starvation

    A Sales Manager, Mrs Okome Obasare, 41, on Wednesday pleaded with an Igando Customary Court in Lagos to terminate her marriage because her husband had denied her sex for three years.

    Okome, a mother of three, who accused her husband of infidelity, said that her husband had also barred her from entering his room.

    “My husband is dating our church woman leader and he always brings her home to pass the night.

    “When he chased me out of his house in 2013, that very day the woman packed in,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes the estranged woman as saying.

    “After evicting me from the house, he told my children that I was dead that they will never see me again,” she said.

    The petitioner said she had lost two pregnancies through constant beating by her husband.

    She told the court that her husband with whom she had three children in their 14-year-old marriage was a wife-beater.

    “My husband always beat me with wire and on two occasions, I bleed and lost my pregnancy and after that he gave me money for Dilation and Curettage.

    “He stops me from working and locks me inside the house and he will not allow me to go out, he beats me anytime he sees me outside or a visitor comes to visit me.”

    Obasare pleaded with court to end the marriage, saying she was no longer interested and that the court should order her husband to always grant her access to their children.

    But her husband, Ese, 59, a civil servant, denied all the allegations.

    He said that his wife did not lose any pregnancy.

    “My wife did not lose any pregnancy; she always gives birth to a baby anytime she is pregnant.”

    Ese said that his wife always flouted his orders and that he could not take that as head of the family.

    “My wife always disobeys my orders, she is disrespectful, she goes out at will and come back at will,” he said.

    The respondent said that he did not chase his wife out of his house but that she left on her own.

    He told court to grant his wife’s divorce wish, saying that he too was no longer interested in the union.
    The President of the court, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, after listening to the estranged couple, adjourned the case till May 24 for judgment.