The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Woman

  • Mass Comm. gets woman president

    The National Association of Mass Communication Students (NAMACOS), Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) chapter, has elected Omodunni Alero as the first woman president of the department. She is in 400-Level Public Relations and Advertising.

    During the election, Omodunni polled 47 votes to defeat her two male opponents, James Olupona and Sunday Owoeye, who got 32 and 14 votes respectively. The election was held at the Mass Communication Relaxation Centre.

    Announcing the results of the election, the chairman of the electoral commission, Oluwadare Salami, stated it was only the presidential seat that was contested for, adding that other positions were filled unopposed.

    Other officers elected are Ebenezer Ogundahunsi, General Secretary, Damilola Ogbeye, Welfare Director, Joseph Obi, Director of Sports, Damilola Olisa, Public Relations Officer (PRO), Julius Omokhunu, Financial Secretary, Segun Adegboyega, Treasurer and Julie Arobieke, Social Director. Poll was also held for Students’ Union Government seat and it was won by John Ehimero.

    Although, low turnout marred the exercise but students said it was transparent and credible. However, 100-Level and Direct Entry students were not allowed to participate because they had no means of identification as members.

    The outgoing president, Adeniyi Adekolurejo, advised the incoming executive members to work as a team for the progress of the association. Omodunni promised to work for the development of the association.

     

  • Obama names first woman head of US Secret Service

    Obama names first woman head of US Secret Service

    US President Barack Obama has picked the first woman director of the Secret Service.

    Julia Pierson, formerly Secret Service chief of staff, will succeed Mark Sullivan, who announced last month that he would retire.

    The agency was caught up in a prostitution scandal last year during a presidential visit to Colombia.

    The Secret Service investigates financial crimes and protects the president and his family.

    “Over her 30 years of experience with the Secret Service, Julia has consistently exemplified the spirit and dedication the men and women of the service demonstrate every day,” Mr Obama said in a statement.

    “Julia has had an exemplary career and I know these experiences will guide her as she takes on this new challenge to lead the impressive men and women of this important agency.”

    Ms Pierson, originally from Florida, joined the Secret Service’s Miami Field Office in 1983.

    From 1988, she spent four years with the Presidential Protective Division. Ms Pierson’s appointment does not require confirmation by Congress.

  • Woman baths daughter, 12, with acid in Akwa Ibom

    A 12-year-old girl, Miss Mercy Asuquo Frank, has appealed to the Akwa Ibom State Government and Nigerians to come to her aid following an acid attack on her body by her mother.

    The distraught Mercy was sighted yesterday at the Children Ward of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) during a visit by The Nation to the premises, sitting alone begging passersby for money to eat.

    The 12 year-old primary pupil of Atabong Primary School in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, told The Nation that she was accused of being a witch by one pastor, a situation that made her mother to bath her with acid solution.

    After the acid attack which affected her breasts, mouth and other parts of her body, the little Mercy said her mother dumped her on the road side in Oron and took to her heels.

    “ I am the second child to my parents in the family of four children. My mother poured acid solution on my body. That is why my mouth and my body are like this.

    “One of our neighbours told my mother that I am a witch, but I told her that I am not a witch. She took me to Apostolic Church in Atabong, Oron and the Pastor told her that I am a witch.

    “The Pastor prayed and told my mother that I am a witch then we went back home after the prayer.

    “Later at midnight, my mother took me to a deep forest and poured acid solution on me and carried me and dropped me by the roadside and left that midnight.”

    According to Mercy, the security agents brought her to the hospital after seeing her in pain crying by the roadside.

    Efforts to get her mother’s reaction to the allegation did not yield any result.

     

  • Things a woman should know before getting married

    Things a woman should know before getting married

    IT is every woman’s dream to be whisked away on a white horse by a prince charming from a foreign land.

    However, soon after the dotted lines are signed and the wedding gown sits on a hanger, they tend to realise that marriage is far from the bed of roses they thought it would be. For many, it is a ride to hell.

    In spite of the seemingly insurmountable difficulties associated with getting married, there are a few wisdom nuggets every spinster should have at the back of her mind before saying ‘I do’. They will help moderate your expectations and give a guide on how to wriggle out of sticky situations.

    1. Get Financially stable

    Far too many women are stuck in bad marriages simply because they do not have a valid way to support themselves or their children should they leave.

    Get an education or trade and pursue a career that interests and challenges you. Know how to handle your finances, earn money on your own terms and only accumulate as little debt as you can realistically handle. Don’t expect parents or partners to bail you out of financial trouble. Learn to be your own financial hero.

    If your partner falls ill, your husband loses his job or something bad happens, you need to be able to financially stand on your own two feet.

    2. Become a good cook

    That cliché which goes ‘the road to a man’s heart is through his stomach’ is absolutely true.

    Mrs. Agnes Sumonu, a wife and pharmacist, explains: “I have been married for 16 years and there is no day I have not entered the kitchen to prepare my husband’s meals. It is not like I enjoy it but it is how I show him I care about him and every time he comes home, you can see the joy on his face when I serve him his food. In my house, there is no quarrel a hot plate of pounded yam and egusi can not settle.”

    If you are not such a great cook, you can learn by going to a cookery school or getting a trusted friend to teach you.

    3. Know when to stop fighting

    The gospel truth is that you cannot win every battle, even when you are right and he’s wrong. Sometimes, he might just want to be stubborn or maybe he had a rough day at work and he wants to use that opportunity to transfer aggression or prove ‘he is a man. Let it go!

    Sharing a personal experience, Mary Ekpo who has been married for seven months says, “I learned my lesson the hard way. My husband knows I do not like it when he throws his clothes on the floor and I would start complaining each time he did it.

    “After a while, this little issue began blowing up into major fights and he stopped listening to me completely. Until one day, I prayed about it and decided I was going to stop complaining. Once he came home and dropped his clothes, I would calmly pick it and give him a hug. That solved it. After about a week, he began arranging the room and did his own laundry.”

    Just like Mary, sometimes the solution to some of the challenges we experience are in simply staying calm and letting go.

    4. Have a responsible mentor

    No man is an island and everyone needs sound advice once in a while. That is where a mentor comes in. She does not have to be your pastor or boss at work. She could just be a woman who is older and more experienced than you and has an evidently great marriage.

    Your mentor is someone who you can count on not to lead you astray. But always remember to think through whatever advice you are given; if it does not match the teachings in the Bible or Koran, run for you life.

    Finally read books. They will expand your mind and give a fresh perspective on every issue.

  • First woman emeritus professor

    First woman emeritus professor

    Mrs Yetunde Mercy Olumide added colour to the special convocation of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) held at the main auditorium last Friday during which she was conferred with the title of Emeritus Professor.

    The 69-year old retired professor of medicine, danced gracefully after she was dressed with a custom-made ceremonial gown by the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Rahamon Bello and the Registrar, Mr Olurotimi Shodimu.

    She is the first woman academic to be so honoured in the 50-year history of the institution. Her dancing spurred many in the audience to sing out the song, Iya ni wura iye bi ye, that was being played by the Nigeria Police Band as she was decorated.

    Education Minister, Prof Ruqayyat Ahmed Rufa’i presented her with a plaque and a hug, while the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Governing Council, Deacon Gamaliel Onosode, dressed her with the chain of honour.

    In her citation, it was noted that Prof Olumide has over 70 scientific publications to her credit. As Dean at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, she is credited with securing private sector funds to equip the 12 departments of the college. She also secured scholarships for indigent children of non-academic staff.

    Speaking on her achievements, Prof Olumide told The Nation her secret was her relationship with God and hard work.

    “He has crowned all my efforts with his approval. He gives people the talent and you must recognise that, and you must use what he has given to you to succeed in life,” she said.

    Prof Olumide, whose textbooks are used in the training of health personnel in Nigeria, was honoured alongside five others whose achievements are no less intimidating. They are: Prof Alfred Susu, Prof P.O. Adeniyi, Prof Lekan Oyebande, Prof Vincent Olunloyo, and Prof Isaac Adalemo.

     

  • Woman ‘kills man over N100’

    a 25-year-old woman, Antonia Afolabi, was yesterday arraigned before a Yaba Magistrate’s Court for allegedly killing a 20-year-old man over N100.

    Prosecuting Inspector Godwin Anyanwu told Magistrate M. A. Ladipo that the offence was committed on January 14, about 8pm inside Boundary Market, Ajegunle.

    He said the defendant, who trades in second-hand clothes, conspired with another person now at large, to kill Emeka Ibekwe.

    “The deceased bought two T-shirts from the defendant and when one of the shirts did not size him, he returned it. Instead of refunding his money, the defendant asked him to go and come back for another T-shirt but this did not go down well with the deceased. Disagreeing with the defendant’s offer, the deceased decided to take a short instead but Mrs. Afolabi insisted that the deceased must give her N100 to take the short,” said Anyanwu.

    “The duo started arguing over the N100 and a struggle ensued. The defendant at this point, called her relations who were in the market and they gathered to beat up the deceased. One of her relations, at large picked a plank and hit the deceased on his head, leading to his death,” Anyanwu added.

    The prosecutor said the offence contravened Sections 231 and 221 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011.

    Magistrate Ladipo ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison, adding that the case file should be duplicated to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice. She adjourned the matter till March 6.

  • Woman, 40, arrested with 757.5kg of Indian hemp in Kano

    Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kano yesterday arrested a woman, Hajiya Fatima Jimoh, 40, with 75 bags of dry leaves, suspected to be cannabis sativa (Indian hemp).

    The State Commander of the agency, Alhaji Garba Ahmadu, said the exhibits, weighing about 757.5 kilogrammes, were found at two warehouses belonging to the suspect at different locations in the city.

    The NDLEA chief explained that Hajiya Fatima was apprehended at her home in Dandishe, Dala Local Government, with her husband, Folorunso.

    The man reportedly denied knowledge of his wife’s involvement in the illegal business.

    He said: “I do not know she is involved in this kind of business. I am not aware of her involvement in drug trafficking. I just came back from a journey before I was arrested by NDLEA officials.”

    Fatima confessed to dealing in cannabis sativa for a long time and corroborated her husband’s claims.

    She said: “Honestly, my husband is not aware of this business. He is not into it with me. I do not bring it to the house and he has not in any way been involved in it.”

    Ahmadu warned drug peddlers, traffickers and users to leave Kano.

    He said: “We got about 74 bags of cannabis sativa in one of her warehouses used for wholesale; one more bag was found in the second warehouse, apparently used for retail.”

  • Woman nominee for Appeal Court dropped

    Woman nominee for Appeal Court dropped

    •New judges sworn in

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, yesterday did not swear in Justice Ifeoma Jombo-Ofo listed for elevation to the Court of Appeal.

    She was among the 12 justices approved by President Goodluck Jonathan for elevation.

    Although no official reason was given for the action, The Nation gathered that she was not sworn-in due to a petition against her nomination.

    A source said Justice Jombo-Ofo was opposed because she is not from Abia State which she claims to represent on the bench.

    According to a statement from the Supreme Court, Justice Jombo-Ofo, who was called to bar in 1979, was appointed a High Court judge on November 4, 1998.

    Those sworn in yesterday are: Justice Ibrahim S. Bdliya, who was called to bar in 1976 and appointed a High Court Judge on 20th August, 1987; Justice Abiriya James Shehu, called to bar in 1979 and subsequently appointed a High Court Judge on 17th September, 1993 and Obietonbara O. Daniel-Kalio who was called to Bar and became a High Court Judge in 1981 and October 30, 1995 respectively.

    Others are Justices Onyekachi Otisi, called to Bar in 1980 and sworn in as a High Court Judge in November, 1998; Stephen Jonah Adah, called to Bar in 1982 and appointed a High Court Judge on 12th November, 1998; Tinuade Akomolaje-Wilson who was sworn in on May 3, 1999 having being called to Bar in 1975; and Fatima O. Akinbami who was called to Bar in 1977 and sworn in as High Court Judge on May 12, 1999.

    The rest are Justices Habeeb Adewale Abiru who was called to Bar in 1985 and appointed to the High Court in May 2001; Peter Olabisi Ige, sworn in as High Court Judge on 27th June, 2001 following his call to Bar in 1985; Tijani Abubakar, called to bar in 1985 and sworn in as a High Court Judge in 2004; and Emmanuel Agim who was sworn in as a High Court Judge in 2008.

    The CJN advised the appointees to adhere to the ethics of the profession and to discharge their duties without fear or favour.

     

  • Woman, 41, docked for alleged N21m theft

    A 41-year-old woman has been arrested and charged before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing N21.1 million belonging to one Abiodun Shode.

    The suspect, Mrs Yemisi Ifezue, was arraigned by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) on three counts of conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence and stealing.

    Prosecuting Superintendent of Police (SP) Frank Emerho told the court that the suspect and others at large sometime in November 2009, obtained N21.1 million from the complainant under the pretence of supplying him 10 trucks of petroleum product from African Petroleum (AP).

    Emerho said although the total amount involved was N40 million, the suspect later returned N20 million to Shode but failed to pay the balance.

    He said the offence, which was committed at Ilesanmi Idowu Street, was contrary to and punishable under Sections 409, 312(1)(2)(3), and 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011.

    However, Mrs Ifezue, who told the court that she was a business woman, said the case was a business transaction that got soiled.

    She alleged that she was duped and that was why she could not deliver the consignment as agreed.

    The suspect, who admitted that she has paid part of the money, told the court she has not been able to complete the payment following her mother’s ill health.

    She opted for an out-of-court settlement, noting that she was willing to pay the complainant his balance.

    Presiding Magistrate F. O. Davies-Abegunde granted the suspect bail in N3 million with two sureties each in like sum.

    She said the sureties must be responsible citizens of Nigeria and resident in Lagos with evidence of regular tax payment,

    Mrs Davies-Abegunde adjourned the matter to November 13.

     

  • Suspected ritualists kill woman in Cross River

    A Primary Health Care Coordinator in Bekwarra Local Government Area of Cross River State, Mrs. Helen Ilonge (51), has been murdered by suspected ritualists.

    The victim, who lost her husband 12 years ago, has five children.

    It was learnt that a commercial motorcyclist, simply identified as Ifeanyi, a.k.a. Koboko, was given N10,000 by ritualists to provide them with a woman.

    Sources said the late Mrs. Ilonge, who was returning from a church programme in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, to Ukpe, a village on the Ogoja–Ikom highway, boarded Ifeanyi’s motorcycle and was taken to the ritualists.

    A neighbour said: “She deceased phoned her daughter, Victoria Agah, at about 9pm that she was at Okpogrinya Junction and was taking a motorcyle to Igoli.

    “After that call, the phone was unavailable until a couple of days later, when the kidnappers phoned demanding N50,000 ransom, which they said should be sent through MTN and Glo recharge cards.

    “The caller, who said they were at Ishi Eke near Abakaliki, claimed that he needed money to run away from his master, who he said was a ritualist. He said once he gets the cards, he would release Mrs. Ilonge.

    “Her daughter could not raise the money for the recharge cards and she went to the Bekwara Council Headquarters, where the Head of Aadministration, Mr. Bisong Bogbo, and the Council Chairman, Mr. Linus Edeh, provided the money and sent the cards to the kidnappers online.

    “After receiving the cards, the kidnappers stopped calling. Ifeanyi was located by the police through a tracking device on the phone. He was arrested in Abuochiche, where he was selling the recharge cards.

    “Ifeanyi led the police to the mastermind of the kidnap and he too was arrested. They confessed that as at the time Ifeanyi demanded the recharge cards, the woman had been butchered and her remains buried in a swamp.

    “They said the woman was wasted because the oracle they took her head and private parts to rejected them and they were thrown away.”

    Commissioner of Police Osita Ezechukwu said: “We have made several arrests and those found guilty would be prosecuted.

    “Those involved in her abduction have been picked up and detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). Investigation is methodical and we have to use scientific equipment and other means to establish the truth. We will soon conclude our investigations and arraign the suspects.”