The Nation Newspaper

Tag: women

  • Buhari urges women to go for elective offices

    President Muhammadu Buhari has urged women to go for elective offices so as to help make the needed change in the country.

    He spoke during the women political aspirants’ summit organised by National Council of Women Societies, (NCWS) and Women in Politics Forum.

    He also expressed optimism that Nigerian women would vote massively for him next year as they did in 2015.

    He said women constitute more than 50 per cent of voters, and are by experience more dedicated and principled than their male counterpart.

    He said “Politicians rely on women voters because their word is usually their bond.  Women stand by candidates they believe in all the way, so politicians do a lot to gain their confidence.

    “Let me thank Nigerian women who put their confidence in me and voted for me in 2015. It is my hope that the confidence is still there; seeing this gathering. I am confident that it will remain.

    “Nigeria is a country of opportunities and possibilities. It is blessed with productive and skilled manpower, coupled with resources still being harnessed. With the right leadership at all levels, appropriate mindset and strong institutions, we can attain great heights.” he said

    The challenges his administration had witnessed since 2015, he said, have given way to dividends, which can only increase considerably and translate to better infrastructure, more jobs and more food on the tables of Nigerians.

    “A few months ago, I met with female parliamentarians and they raised issues concerning the passage of Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill now before the National Assembly and the implementation of 35 per cent affirmative action, among others.

    “I am fully in support of both positions because these measures will improve the representation of women in our politics. Let me add my voice to the call on women to contest for political offices and effect the changes they want to see. I am confident that women can make great leaders and move the nation forward,” he said.

    The Director-General of Women Development Centre Mary Ekpere Eta said: “Over the last two decades, the rate of women’s representation in national parliaments globally has incrementally increased from 11.8 percent in 1998 to 17.8 per cent in 2008 to 23.5 per cent in 2018.

    “However total global representation is still well below the 30 percent benchmark often identified as the necessary level of representation to make an impact on laws and policy.

    “Here in Nigeria,women’s participation in politics has sadly remained poor and  as suggested by data, the participation of women in the affairs of political parties has not transformed to real opportunities as to allow them participate effectively in governance.

    “What are the solutions? How can we change politics from being  a male-oriented, male-dominated enterprise in Nigeria?

    “Elections in Nigeria have often been characterized by one form of violence or the other.”

  • Women, children to get lowest basic health, nutrition services

    The Federal Government is committed to ensuring that women, children and adolescents access basic health and nutrition services at lowest cost, Health Minister Prof. Isaac Adewole has said.

    The minister, in a statement by Mrs. Boade Akinola, director, Media and Publicity, made the commitment at a forum by the  Nigerian government, the Global Financing Facility (GFF) and partners, to co- finance efforts towards improving the health and nutrition of the poorest women, children and adolescent.

    “The GFF has created a new sense of awareness that we must put our money on the table for these essential investments in our people and use them in even smarter ways and that is something that has not been done before,” he said.

    The minister said Nigeria, being the most populous country in Africa, was facing challenges.

    He said the country was the single largest contributor to the global infant and child mortality rates annually, something he noted was unacceptable.

    Adewole said it was regrettable that those challenges had outpaced the government spending on health and nutrition, coupled with its spending in recent years being unable to reach those who needed them most and doing little to reduce high and impoverishing out -of-pocket spending on health by poor Nigerians.

    He said the grant from the GFF would co-finance early implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), with funds mobilised from the government and other contributors, starting in three states: Abia, Niger and Osun.

    Following the start-up phase, the minister revealed that the government would provide most of the financing for the scale-up to the remaining 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

    The Director of the GFF, Mariam Claeson, said Nigeria’s commitment to sustainably financing health and nutrition was a beacon for other countries as they worked with the GFF to make sure the investment they made lasted for years.

    “The government will make an enormous difference in the lives of millions of Nigerians by making a lasting investment in the health and nutrition of women, children and adolescents, the foundation of the society and the economy.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Policy makers seek social inclusion, improved welfare for women, others

    Nigerian women have made case for better social inclusion, funding and social welfare services for women, children, vulnerable and individuals with disabilities ahead of next year’s general elections.

    This was the thrust of the 18th Regular National Council meeting on Women Affairs and Social Development, hosted by the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

    The theme of the meeting was: Peace Security and Social Inclusion: Key Building Blocks for Achieving Economic Growth and sustainable Development in Nigeria.

    The four-day event held at the Academy Inn and Multi-Purpose Limited in Ikeja, the Lagos State capital.

    The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ifeoma Anagbogu, noted that the parley set out to address the formulation of policies, initiate projects and programmes and ensure their implementation to enhance the livelihood of the target groups.

    The groups captured under the initiative include women, children, the aged, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable members of the society.

    Mrs. Anagbogu said issue about gender parity, better social services and funding were highlighted.

    According to her, the Federal Government has done a lot to support and empower the targeted individuals, especially with the social investment programmes, the JEEP, NAWEF, Conditional Cash Transfer, different rebates and the support women have received through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other financial institutions to enable them build their businesses.

    She said: “Even at the sub-national level, most states give special concessions to persons with disabilities in employment, support, education and more to encourage them to be self-reliant.

    “This is the technical session of the meeting. We have 152 memoranda we are going to review and the adopted ones will be presented at the session coming up on Thursday by the policy section of the council to churn out policies promoting women welfare and others in society.

    “I urge Nigerian women to believe and love one another as well as do all they can to empower themselves as much as they can, to be self-reliant and maintain their status in their various domains.

    “Investing in a woman translates to investing in the entire nation. We would like to have women supported and empowered owing to the role they play in the society.”

  • NGO partners monarchs on medication for children, women

    A non-profit organisation (NGO), Empower 54, dedicated to humanitarian services and eradication of malnutrition in Africa, has partnered traditional rulers and local government chairmen in Edo State to distribute medication that will improve children and pregnant women’s health.

    The medications to be distributed are Albendazol, which is used  for treating and preventing various parasitic worm infections for children between six months and five years; and prenatal vitamins for pregnant women for 271, 000 beneficiaries.

    According to Empower 54 President/Executive Director, Princess Modupe Ozolua, the medical outreach programmes would run from August to September in Owan West, Owan East, Etsako and Akoko-Edo Local Government Area.

    She said the organisation was embarking on the initiative because of its passion for the health of children and also in line with the objective of the Federal Government healthcare project focused on the poor, especially women and children under five years.

     

  • Ikpeazu’s wife bankrolls small businesses for Abia women

    The wife of Abia State governor, Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu has given out cash in millions of naira, as well as gift items, including clothing and equipment, to indigent women in the state to help them start small businesses of their own.

    The items were given away at an empowerment event for women in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.

    Mrs. Ikpeazu also inaugurated a newly constructed local market built through her NGO, Vicar Hope Foundation.

    Speaking at the event, Mrs. Ikpeazu said that the programmes carried out by her NGO benefit all classes of people and that the organisation does not discriminate who benefits so long as benefits are captured during their enumeration.

    Mrs Ikpeazu revealed that the newly inaugurated market brings to 10 the number of markets so far built all over the stately her foundation and promised to build more for those communities that require local markets.

    She explained that the local markets being built by her foundation were all designed to provide a commercial hub for rural farmers and traders to do business in conducive and rewarding environments.

    The governor’s wife maintained that building of local markets has enhanced economic activities within the communities where these markets are sited and urged them to ensure that the markets are well maintained for their own benefit.

    She recalled that only a few days back the NGO had inaugurated and equipped 50 trainees who had graduated from its Springboard Skill Acquisition programme being run in collaboration with the NDE, bringing the total of persons so far trained to 400 people in rural communities in the state.

    Mrs. Ikpeazu said that the entire project is aimed at enhancing the income of rural families and the economy of the state, and used the forum to thank stakeholders for being part of the success story.

    In their separate comments, chairman of the occasion and Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Obinna Oriaku and chairman of Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area Ifeanyi Isikaku, both eulogised wife of the Governor Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu and her Vicar Hope Foundation for building the market and empowering hundreds of women.

    They assured her of the support of the people of the area towards her programmes and that they will help in ensuring that the markets are well maintained so that both indigenes and visitors alike will make good use of the markets.

    In her speech, a representative of the women, Mrs. Gold Agu thanked the wife of the Governor for her magnanimity towards women folk, which has gone a long way in ensuring that rural women work hard and that they are not forgotten by government of the day.

  • What women need to be sexy – Ronke Tiamiyu

    Former Miss Charismatic in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) 2013, Aderonke Tiamiyu has reacted to why women in entertainment are perceived as promiscuous, while the society has refused to see men in the same light.

    “There are two things that come into play here, hypocrisy and sexism,” she said.

    “Most men in entertainment are thought to be promiscuous; the only difference is that it’s acceptable for men to be this way. It’s hypocritical. Furthermore, entertainers, men and women, don’t live in this closed off world that operates differently from the rest of society. Nigeria is a promiscuous place, but again, it’s acceptable, sometimes even expected, for men to be promiscuous and cheat. I believe women hold themselves up to higher standards overall than men, but when an individual does fall below them, it’s this terrible thing and when a man does it, it’s just a man being a man. The second part is the sexism. Somehow it’s perceived that a woman can’t be beautiful and sexy and also be smart and a hard worker, whereas a man can be. If a woman embraces her femininity and her sexiness, she must be sleeping her way to the top. If a woman succeeds, it must because she slept her way there. Whereas a man can be sexy and risqué and if he succeeds, it’s because he worked very hard and is very smart. Because of this, it’s even harder for women to succeed because they have to work hard but also fight against these preconceived notions,” she opined.

    According to the actress cum blogger, “I am a creative person naturally and entertainment is the venue that I express myself, whether it’s through my beauty pageant, my clothing line, my blog, or even my personal modeling. I’m drawn to so many different parts of the industry that each expresses a different side of me. For example, those who know me as a beauty queen might be surprised by the writing I do on my blog, discussing news of Nigeria and the world.”

    On whether she considers herself as beautiful or sexy, the ex-beauty queen who has launched a beauty pageant of her own ‘Miss Charismatic Nigeria pageant, having been inspired by clinching the Miss Charismatic crown in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2013, said both ascription works for her.

    “I believe sexiness comes from inside a woman. It’s not just beautiful pictures. To be sexy, a woman must be bold, she must embrace her femininity, and she must have confidence and a true belief in herself and who she is and not live her life based on the judgments of others. Sexy is an attitude and that’s what separates it from simple beauty. When it comes to me, I believe that I have a combination of both. As I said, sexiness to me is an attitude. I live my life and I am true to myself and I don’t care what people think, only those closest to me truly know me,” she explained.

  • Foundation to raise funds for women

    The Purple Girl Foundation has said it will raise funds to empower and address rising out-of-school girls in the country.

    The foundation was specifically launched in commemoration of Mary Akpobome’s 50th anniversary, which is expected to raise the funds from her friends, the board of trustees, highly placed citizens, and well-meaning Nigerians to reduce considerably the over 5.5 million Nigerian girls currently out of school.

    Akpobome, wife of ace  commedian, Ali Baba, said the foundation was created  to provide opportunities for enhancing education for the girl-child especially those from the low income family, violence-prone locations, disabilities, or residing in underserved areas.

    “The need for an intervention such as this is coming at a critical time in the nation’s history where deliberate steps need to be taken to readjust a socio-cultural, political and economic system that seems to be teetering towards imminent colossal ruin,” she said, noting that the proverbial multiplicative power of a woman is bound to augur well for the society.

    The foundation would focus on female children from indigent families in three pilot states in the country from September 2018. The selection criteria for the beneficiaries would be based on intelligence, obvious disadvantage, physical disability and them being drop outs due to financial hardship.

    Speaking during the programme, Lagos State Deputy Governor, Idiat Adebule, represented by   the Permanent Secretary, Yetunde Odejaye, said she is proud to identify with the objectives of the Purple Girl Foundation, which is to promote and enhance the education of the girl child in Lagos state and in Nigeria, thereby complementing government efforts.

  • Women urged to support new APC leadership

    Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Idiat Adebule has appealed to all women in the state to give their support to the new party excos, both at state and national levels, that recently took over the running of the affairs of the party. She spoke at the inaugural meeting and thanksgiving service tagged, APC Women: A new dawn” organised by the Lagos Women Leader of All Progressives Congress, (APC) Mrs Jumoke Okoya-Thomas at the Secretariate of the APC in Ikeja on Thursday.

    Adebule thanked the women for their continuous support for the government saying “without your support we can not do anything and we can’t achieve as much as we have achieved, your support has been tremendous”. Charging them to pledge their support for APC and the entire leadership, the deputy governor reminded them that elections have come and that work has started but that while doing party work they should as well take care of their homes and children as well.

    Adebule also commended the APC National Leader, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his great efforts to sustain the party. In her welcome address earlier the organiser of the event, Lagos APC Women Leader, Okoya-Thomas said the inaugural meeting and thanksgiving service was  for the successes of APC congresses and the last convention of the party where officers to run the affairs of the party were elected.

    Okoya-Thomas called on all APC women in the state to join in the sensitization and enlightenment of over  two million women in Lagos ahead of the 2019 general elections. She particularly implored them to embark on house to house campaign and encourage women to register and collect their Permanent Voters Card, PVC before the August 17 expiration date. She urged them all to work together to ensure peace and progress for APC in the forthcoming general elections.

    While assuring the women of continuous victory for the  party, Lagos State chairman of APC, Alhaji Tunde Balogun told the women that they have a lot to do, “go to all the market places and local governments one by one and urge your fellow women to register and also collect their PVCs because without it they can not vote. He charged APC women to persuade more women to join the party and register for the 2019 elections before the exercise would end on 17th August.

  • Women mark Widows’ Day in Enugu

    In their determination to give back to the society, members of the God’s Battle Axe Women Fellowship International (GBAWFI) in Enugu have feted more than 60 widows drawn from the five Southeast states of the country.

    The occasion which took place at the Living Praise Worship Centre For All Nations, Ugwuaji Road, Independence Layout, Enugu, was part of activities marking the 2018 World Widows’ Day whose theme was “The Spirit-Filled Woman”.ý

    In her address, the leader of the group, Dr. Linda Oge Okoye said the association founded in 1995, holds the event annually with a view to giving succour to the widows who are in deep financial hardship.

    She stated that having been blessed with some level of resources and good health, there was no better way to appreciate God than to touch the lives of the needy.

    The GBAWFI boss said, “It will be interesting for some of us who can afford to eat daily, to also think of our next door neighbour who is in pains, we should see ourselves as God’s servants”

    Okoye, a former dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, told the widows not to lose hope, but to see their present condition as temporary.

    Citing Luke chapter 2, verse 25 in the Holy Bible, Dr. Okoye, recalled the story of Anna who lost her husband after seven years but God came to her rescue after praying and fasting for over 60 years, saying “any time you cry, God will hear you”.

    The group’s leader further explained that the association’s mission statement was built on raising and grooming women to greatness, as instruments of change in our society, adding that “every woman is a sharpened instrument in God’s hands”.

    She called on the wealthy and corporate bodies in the country to always remember the needy in their budget.

    Mrs. Gloria Aniakor, who spoke on behalf of the widows thanked Dr. Oge Okoye and all members of the Battle Axe Women Fellowship for remembering them in their time of difficulty and prayed God to continue to bless them with resources and good health.

    The widows who were entertained lavishly later went home with a bag of rice each.

    The spiritual director of the Living Praise Worship Centre, Enugu, Pastor Emeka Okoye, and top government officials from Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi states were among dignitaries who graced the occasion.

  • US holds drone tech workshop for women, pupils

    The United States Consulate- General, Lagos, held a two-day drone technology workshop for students and women STEM leaders in collaboration with Baltimore-based Global Air Media.

    The training, which held at the Cedar STEM & Entrepreneurship Hub, and American Corner at Co-Creation Hub (CCHUB), both in Yaba, Lagos, saw a team of three drone experts led by Global Air Media co-founder Eno Umoh facilitating the series of workshops.

    Thirty elementary and high school pupils were coached on the basics of building a drone from the scratch, as well as the requisite skills for piloting and landing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

    In addition to the seminar which the pupils participated in, 13 women STEM leaders were mentored on the evolving technology needs of the 21st century, particularly in the fields of real estate and construction, cinematography, as well as humanitarian and emergency response.

    Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Consulate Lagos, Ms. Darcy Zotter, explained that the hands-on workshop was designed to stimulate the interest of the participating students in math and science, as well as careers in the STEM fields.

    “STEM enables us to find solutions to some of the most pressing issues of today such as alternative energy or even food security. Creating inventions to solve global challenges can be a catalyst for a country’s economic development,” Zotter said.

    According to her, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria has funded a number of projects to increase STEM education in different parts of the country.  Whether at home or abroad, she added, promoting STEM education is a top priority of the U.S. government.

    “Last March, we hosted a 16-member delegation of senior women technology executives and professionals from Silicon Valley, California. The visiting delegation held a mentoring program for over 70 Nigerian female STEM leaders.

    “In December 2017, we funded the establishment of a technology hub in Lagos designed to host training and mentoring sessions for persons living with disabilities in various technology-based skills. We also hosted RoboRAVE, a robotics education program in Lagos and Abeokuta in October 2017,” she explained.