The Nation Newspaper

Tag: women

  • ‘Women are change agents’

    Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives aspirant Mrs Ayo Olugbenro has said women will gain their voice, if elected to represent her constituency.

    She said women and majority of the people have not been adequately represented in the Alimosho Federal Constituency, noting that women were more concerned about welfare than men.

    She explained that Senator Oluremi Tinubu was leading the way for other women to emulate, adding that no lawmaker can match what she is doing for her senatorial district.

    She said: “I discovered that those who have represented us at Alimosho have not done appreciable things at the grassroots. Though they represent us, they hardly come to meetings. There is no dividend of democracy the people can rightly claim. The need to have me in the House has gained currency because women have not represented the constituency all along.

    “I believe that if you really want to be a leader, you must be flexible, you must be credible and you must have the compassion of people in mind.

    “If you don’t have the people in mind, you will not care what happens to them. Taking a cue from my mentor Senator Oluremi Tinubu, she is a great inspirer given what she is doing. Each time she hold the town hall meeting many people are empowered.

    “Those who benefit cut across the youth, women and old people who have no means of subsistence. I said to myself if the senator could do all these, I will complement her effort by doing more to the people of my constituency.”

    Olugbenro said as the first female secretary to the Alimosho Council; her performance was unassailable, adding that she would not let the people down as their representative in Abuja.

    She added: “We have lots of youth who are not engaged, I strongly believe I should be able to use my position to carve out the opportunities for them to excel. Many people want to get education; they cannot achieve that because their parents are poor.

    “I have consulted my party leaders on the matter and unfolded my plans for the constituency. As I am speaking, I have met the 36 women leaders in the constituency. I have moved from ward to ward to have discussion with the youths.

    “Having done that, I am confident the people will give me the opportunity, right from the party primary to be its Alimosho Federal Constituency flag bearer. I am equally confident that our party the APC will conduct a transparent primary.

    “The position of our National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has set the tone. He told those seeking political offices to work hard and sell themselves to the electorate. That is why everybody must work hard, if he or she wants to get the party ticket for the coming election,” she said.

     

  • Johnson Foundation empowers youths, women in Osodi/Isolo

    A non-government organisation, the Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson Foundation, yesterday donated cash gifts and food items to indigent widows and youths in Osodi/Isolo Federal Constituency, Lagos State.

    The foundation, which is sponsored by the former Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ganiyu Johnson, also gave scholarship to indigent tertiary students in the area.

    Johnson, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), clarified that the activities of the foundation were not motivated by partisan politics, explaining that he was trying to plough back to a society that has assisted him to achieve his dream in life.

    Accompanied by his wife, Funke, Johnson, who also donated cash gifts and consumables to some orphanages, promised to sustain the empowerment programme.

    The event, which was held at Bouyard Event Centre, Isolo, and chaired by Chief Afolabi Salami, was witnessed by the Lagos APC outgoing chairman, Otunba Oladele Ajomale, the Osolo of Isolo, Oba Kabiru Agbabiaka Ilufemiloye, Commissioner for Home Affairs Dr. Abdulakeem Abdulateef, Chairman of Isolo Council Shamishideen Olaleye, Chief M.A. Taiwo, former member of House of Representatives Akinderu Fatai, Olamide Kasali, Wale Adelana, community and religious leaders, women and youth groups, and members of the Community Development Associations (CDAs).

    Beneficiaries of the empowerment programmes showered praises on Johnson, describing him as a compassionate leader, kind and loving neighbour.

    Johnson, an engineer, spoke on the gospel of philanthropy, saying that it is a patriotic assignment to extend a duty of care to the needy.

    He disclosed that the foundation has touched may lives through the programme, urging other well-meaning materials to take similar steps.

    Johnson said: “I was a beneficiary of the Federal Government scholarship. To gain admission into the university in the seventies was very difficult, if you were not from a rich family and you were not working. That’s what motivated me to give back to the society. The scholarship has placed me in the position where I can render assistance to the less-privileged.”

    Noting that widows and indigent students are going through hard times, the former commissioner urged public-spirited individuals to come to the aid of the poor.

    Ajomale applauded Johnson for the initiative, saying that the foundation has made progress.

    He said: “We are moving forward. Good things are coming and it is our turn. I was also a beneficiary of scholarships which made me to study in Russia. This is a good gesture.”

  • Women urged to participate in politics

    Ahead  of 2019 election, women have been  told to participate actively in politics in order  not to lose out completelty.

    Speaking at a Christian Women Gathering referred to as ‘Better Deal for Women and Tagged :Respect the Rights of Women/ Children to a Safe, Peaceful and Developed Nigeria’ which was held today at Rockview Hotel Festac, Lagos, the Convener, Global Alliance for Mothers of the Nation, Ambassador Priscilla Otuya, pointed out that as Christian women, they are not only saddled with the responsibility of giving ceaseless prayers and intercession for the peace of the nation, but to also contribute their quotas to the development of the country.

    The gathering according to Otuya, was to speak for the silent majority.

    While lamenting the harsh living conditions which women are subjected to on a daily basis by working hard to cater for their families, Otuya enjoined them not to give up because they have put their hands on the plough and hence should not look back.

    Otuya enjoined President Buhari  to ensure that the remaining kidnapped Dapchi girl, Leah is released and returned safely to her parents.

  • Man ‘defrauds’ two women of N800,000

    A 29-year-old man, Tosin Adepoju, was yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defrauding two women of N800,000

    Adepoju and others now at large were charged on a five-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and false pretence before Magistrate O Sule-Amuzat.

    Prosecuting Inspector Benson Emeurhi told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offence on March 28 in Ikeja.

    According to Emeurhi, the defendant was alleged to have obtained the sum of N300,000 from one Tolani Jones with a pretence to help her procure clothing materials.

    Emeurhi further informed the court that the defendant also fraudulently obtained N500, 000 from Oluwaseun Ariyo with a pretence to help her procure clothing materials.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Sule-Amzat granted him N50,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She ordered that the address of the sureties be verified and adjourned the case till June 7.

     

  • Women rise against Trump’s two-face policy

    When a woman has access to Family Planning methods, she can plan her life better and provide for her family. As the world observes this year’s Universal Health Coverage, with the theme: “everyone, everywhere”, OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA looks at women’s fear over the inavailability of family planning because of President Donald Trump’s re-imposition of the Mexico City Policy, also called the Global Gag Rule.

    Nigeria is a priority country for USAID family planning and the United States has invested in a number of integrated health programs—not only to improve women’s health, but also to support local stakeholders in advocating for increased family planning funding from the Nigerian government. These U.S.-supported health initiatives and their implementing partner organisations have been essential to improvements in health outcomes and efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s overall health system. However, these advances are at risk because of the magnitude of U.S. support and potential impacts of the expanded Global Gag Rule.

    Nigeria is the single largest recipient of U.S. international development aid and relies heavily on global health assistance to meet the needs of its large and growing population. The Trump-Pence administration policy, “Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance,” according to a non governmental organisation, Population Action International (PAI), risks overburdening the underfunded public health sector and undermining the reproductive and overall health goals in Nigeria. The policy—commonly referred to as the Global Gag Rule by opponents—effectively prohibits organisations from using their private, non-U.S. funds to provide comprehensive, safe abortion services; offer information or referrals for abortion; or to advocate for the legalisation or liberalisation of safe abortion services.

     

    Provider experience

    Underpinning this, an Health Assistant on family planning with 15 years experience, working in a public health facility who does not want her name in print, said the impact of the Mexico City Policy is not making her happy and efficient because it is counterproductive.

    Citing an instance, she said: “I have handled a woman right from my employment day which is now fifteen years. Now, due to menopausal reasons, she has opted out of the treatment which is quite understandable. Assuming there was no free access to the particular FP commodity of her choice, fifteen years ago the experience of fifteen years would have been affected.  She would have had unplanned for pregnancy, as some women do, and when we advise them to go to antenatal, for enrolment, that is the last time we would see them here. They end up getting rid of such elsewhere. That has fuelled an increase in abortions and maternal deaths because abortion is illegal in Nigeria.

    “With uninterrupted supply of commodities from the Federal government, uptake has been picking up, leading to reduction in maternal deaths. But, with the GGR, we are already experiencing shortages in commodities. As of today, in this facility there are no condoms. I am not happy with this development. This is because couples who settled for condoms along with other methods are being affected. And if they cannot get free ones here, and cannot also sustain purchase due to economical reasons, unplanned for pregnancies will come up, with a resort to termination, which our country is not in support of, that will fuel maternal deaths. Clients come here to access family planning services because it is basically free. If these are not readily available, homes will be broken.”

    As a Family Planning provider, she said Family planning commodities in Nigeria- either in a public or private sector- especially non governmental organisations (NGOs) are from foreign aids.

    As she explained: “This global gag rule forces health care providers to chose between U.S. family planning assistance and the ability to counsel and provide clients with an accurate and full range of safe and legal reproductive health options. The global gag rule seriously impedes countries’ efforts to improve women’s health, and undermines free participation. We all know as providers that the best method is the method chosen by an individual only after due consultation with a trained and certified family planning service provider. With non availability of commodities, more unplanned for pregnancies will occur with its attendant problems.”

     

    Users experience

    One of her clients, a 32-year-old trader, Mrs Kehinde Solomon said she decided to come for family planning so as to be ‘free’ with her husband, “with three children ages eight, four, and six-months, as a couple we decided to stop further children. We have settled for oral pills method. We cannot afford to buy it even if it is being sold. So, the News on possible non availability is really disturbing me.”

    Another of her client, a 39-year-old Mrs Sola Kudaisi who settled for the use of implant five years ago said  she made a choice for the implant method so as to space her children and equally have time to build her career, thereby, getting money, and supporting her husband to train the children.

    Mrs Kudaisi who married in 2002, with three kids- the first child is 16 years, second 12 years and third one six years, recalled that after the first child she settled for injection method, “and because my menses was affected I changed to the implant. This implant has never failed me. I and my husband came here, we are counseled and we both agreed on the implant. On the consequences of the expanded Mexico City Policy, Mrs Kudaisi said, “Poor family planning impacts all of us, putting our future at risk, and hurting our kids who deserve more from us parents.  Family Planning helps us as couple to have the number of children we desire, and train our children. But now, if the commodities are not available or they are interrupted, the home front will be affected. Family planning is a vital way to avoid unwanted pregnancies and to prevent exponential population growth.”

    A source,  a non governmental organisation, EngenderHealth affirmed that though the Global Gag Rule was meant to target abortion providers, it had terrible consequences for the health and lives of poor women and their families in ways that had nothing to do with abortion. “From 2001 to 2009, 20 developing countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East lost U.S.-donated contraceptives, and many organisations and clinics were forced to reduce services, lay off staff, or shut down entirely.”

    Nigeria maybe part of the emerging statistics as another NGO, Population Action International (PAI) has documented that Nigeria provides a clear example of how the interaction of U.S. policies and funding decisions can have outsized ramifications for sexual and reproductive health and rights in a country.

    It stated that the Global Gag Rule does not apply to multilaterals like the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). However, as foreign NGOs lose access to U.S. funding and U.S.-donated contraceptive supplies due to the policy, they have scaled back services, pushing more clients to public sector facilities and increasing demand for commodities procured by UNFPA.

    “Unfortunately, the agency is already experiencing a significant funding shortfall. U.S. government funding has historically supported UNFPA’s core and humanitarian work. The defunding of UNFPA places a strain on the agency and UNFPA Supplies, and has raised alarms among advocates and providers in Nigeria given the agency’s central role in contraceptive security. Any further reductions in UNFPA’s capacity will cascade down, hitting hardest the organisations working with the most vulnerable populations and severely disrupting health supplies. Additionally, despite the fact that the Global Gag Rule does not impact humanitarian funding, there are questions about how organisations who serve displaced populations will continue their work if they no longer receive U.S. funding,” PAI stated.

    Giving a broader view the vice-president of Marie Stopes International, Marjorie Newman-Williams said in a statement, “Evidence shows that by blocking funding to the world’s largest NGO providers of modern contraception, unintended pregnancies and abortions go up.  As a result, women and girls are less likely to complete their education, have a career, or pursue their dreams for the future.”

    According to the National Population Commission and ICF International’s Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (2013) family planning and counselling are accessed through private and public health facilities; however, commodities are mainly sourced from public government facilities, where they are free. The private sector is the main source for male condoms and pills, which are the most popular methods after injectable contraceptives. Subsidised condoms are the most popular public-sector method, implying that price may be a major factor impacting uptake, lending support to the fear of these women.

  • Ekiti 2018: Women vow to reject money for vote

    •’We will support female candidates’

    Women interest groups in Ekiti State have resolved to reject inducement from politicians to vote for parties and candidates during the July 14 governorship election.

    They promised to support female candidates in the poll and 2019 House of Assembly, National Assembly and Presidential elections.

    The women made the resolution at a one-day interactive seminar tagged: “Impact of Women in Politics”, organised by a non-government organisation, Mothers and Beyond International, in Ado-Ekiti.

    The groups included women caucuses of parties, market women, women political office holders and women professionals.

    Speakers at the forum included the presidential candidate of KOWA Party in the 2015 presidential election, Prof. Remi Sonaya; former Ekiti State

    Deputy Governor Prof. Modupe Adelabu; Iyaloja of Ado-Ekiti Mrs. Waye Oso and a civil society activist, Mrs. Bolaji Egbeyemi-Olagbaju.

    Adelabu warned women against pulling down female aspirants, saying they should support them to reduce the gender gap in governance.

    Oso urged women to vie for elective positions, saying they should stop collecting money, rice, chicken, soap and other items from politicians in exchange for votes.

    Sonaya, who shared her experience as a presidential aspirant, lamented underrepresentation of women in governance, saying they should be courageous to contest political offices and make impact.

    Egbeyemi-Olagbaju advised women not to sell their votes for cash.

    She enjoined women political office holders to perform well, to create opportunities for the womenfolk.

  • ‘Women should partake in 2019 poll’

    Women have been asked to participate in the 2019 general election.

    The Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development, National Association of Nigerian Market Men and Women and Inter-Party Advisory Council made the call at a workshop in Abuja, yesterday.

    The groups urged about 200 women from markets in the Federal Capital Territory to register with the Independent National Electoral Commission as voters.

    Chairman, PRIMORG, Agbonsuremi Okhiria, President-General, NANMMW, Felicia Sani, and Head of Department, Voter Education Publicity, FCT INEC, Ndidi Okafor, urged the women to ensure that they vote in 2019.

    He said: “This is the time for every Nigerian to get involved in the political and democratic processes. It is projected that over 70 per cent of eligible Nigerians are onlookers and they constitute those who are not registered to vote and those registered but stay away from the polling centres on voting day.”

  • ‘Women were kings in the past’

    pre-colonial African society believed in the complementarity of both genders  and their necessary contribution to public affairs. Today, many people justify women’s maltreatment by using culture or so-called traditional norms”, said Prof Sophie Oluwole, a Nigerian philosopher, at an event commemorating this year’s International Women’s Day.

    With the theme: Women on the move: gender expectations and unequal power relationships in the Nigerian society, the event, which was held by the French Consulate in partnership with the University of Lagos (UNILAG), focused on societal expectations from men and women.

    While questioning what the society believes are women’s responsibilities in Nigeria, answers were supplied  by a few in the audience who said that en were still expected to provide and cater for their families’ financial needs while women were expected to passively receive.

    However, it was generally agreed that men and women were prisoners of certain stereotypes which are a hindrance to healthy relationships. This is because financial power is mostly in the hands of men; therefore, women’s entry into business, politics or other industries is more difficult and they are limited to secondary roles.

    Challenging the societal expectation from women in the 21st century, Prof  Oluwole, the first panelist, said “African women, contrary to popular opinion, worked side by side with men in ancient times, serving as religious and community leaders.”

    Giving historical examples, she said: ‘There are instances in Yoruba land where the monarch was a woman addressed as a king and not a queen in a secondary role’

    Highlighting forms of oppression women suffer and raising confident women who will not be cowed into silence if abused, TitilolaVivour-Adeniyi, the Lagos state coordinator of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT)spoke  about the subtle ways in which a woman can spot a potential abuser ‘A man who tries to separate you from friends and family, a man who wants you to stay home but without making adequate preparations and others’

    Claudine Lepage, a French Senator who took the audience on a journey through the laws which her home country, helped secure equal rights for men and women and fight gender based poverty. ‘Boys and girls must have the same opportunities in society for it to be considered a real, functional, democracy,’ she said.

    The event also focused on the portrayal of women in the media through Rita Dominic’s contribution in which she admitted that Nollywood’s portrayal of women is both at times empowering and other times stereotypical as an audience member put it “showing women as witches or video vixens”.

    TabiaPrincewill, the moderator and organiser of the event as well as SA to the Lagos Secretary to the State Government asked relevant and insightful questions to ensure the audience got the best from the panel discussion. She also worked closely with the French consulate cultural attache to design a fitting experience and was pleased to “show the world that Africa is more than the stereotype of women waiting passively for things to happen. African women have been leaders in many fields, she said.

  • Senator Tinubu seeks better life for women

    Senator Oluremi Tinubu yesterday said government must review its policies to ensure more opportunities and choices of advancement for  Nigerian women.

    She spoke at the 25th town hall meeting of   the Lagos Central Senatorial District where the constituents endorsed her for another term.

    Tinubu  said the Nigerian women are being   marginalised.

    In her remarks entitled, “Gender Equity and the Right to Economic Freedom”, the senator said: “we must eliminate all gender discrimination clauses in existing legislations.”

    She explained that it was in view of the lopsided opportunities for women that  she sponsored a bill seeking improved opportunities for them.

    She urged women to speak up and dialogue.

    She said: “The inability of women to access loans and credit facilities is widespread. In spite of data showing women to be better managers and entrepreneurs, the deterrence on women seeking to own land and property is obvious in the constitution.

    “Women are prone to trafficking, sexual exploitation and gender based violence. There is the inaccessibility of education for women, owing to gender stereotype. And where they are educated, they don’t have equal opportunity due to discrimination.

    “This is why I am particularly saddened by the statement attributed to some of the girls who escaped the Boko Haram attack, who have given up on education and have stated that they will not be going back to school.

    “If we must canvass for accessibility and affordable education for the girl-child, we must ensure that these places of learning are safe and secured.

    “As your representative, I remain resolute and committed to the cause of women, gender equity and opportunity for our people in the district and Nigeria as a whole.”

    Tinubu is sponsoring  no fewer than 130 widows to undergo the Widows Economic Empowerment Scheme (WEES),with a view to enhancing their livelihood.

    Each of them will receive N50,000 to bolster her existing trade or start a petty trade. Besides, grinding machines will be made available to them .

    The  grinding machines are  funded by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goal, Hon. Adejoke Orelope- Adefulire.

    The leader of the APC Lagos Central Senatorial District Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi said Senator Tinubu had done well, adding that the people have passed a vote of confidence on her to seek re-election.

    He told Tinubu:“You have not disappointed us since you started representing us at the Senate. We are not surprised because of your pedigree. Therefore, you have to remain at the Senate to continue to fight for our rights and particularly the rights of women.”

    Chairman Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC), Otunba Henry Ajomale asked  women to unite to fight for their rights.

    He urged the women to emulate Senator Tinubu.

    “She is a consistent fighter for the rights of the under privileged. I am calling on the women to unite and support themselves for the contest for elective position,” he said.

    “Women cannot just sit down and expect that they can get to positions or power without coming out to fight for it.”

  • 65% of women unemployed, says ULC

    The United Labour Congress (ULC) has said the unemployment rate among women, which stands at 65 per cent, is unacceptable.

    Its President Comrade Joe Ajaero urged the Federal Government to ensure the rights of women and address hunger.

    Ajaero said: “Unemployment among women at around 65 per cent is unacceptable; sexual violence and abuse against the girl-child that suggest that 25 per cent of women experience this wickedness before the age of 18 is frightening.

    “Maternal mortality of about 145 deaths per day in Nigeria must be reduced. The killings in the northern part of Nigeria where majority of its victims are women and children should be addressed”.

    “We must take responsibility for the negative actions against our women. The continued silence in the face of this exclusion is conspiratorial and truly demonstrates our general attitude to critical issues that affect the development of Nigeria.”

    The labour leader said women could not continue to bear the brunt of the nation’s mismanagement, adding that if there was no thing the country could do, at least, it could take steps to protect women from the path of error, which men have chosen to tread.

    “How we treat our women tells the world who we are and how serious we hold the fabled quest for national development,” Ajaero noted.

    He said the participation of women in every facet of national life should not be treated trivially as was obtainable in the country; it should be pursued as a national priority.

    “If we understand that women make up a larger percentage of Nigeria’s population then, actions and behaviours or policies that subtly deny them unfettered participation in our national life are not only unpatriotic but must be held in contempt by all men of conscience,” he said.

    Ajaero urged women to seek the creation of platforms that would protect, project and serve as continuous advocacy instrument for pushing the frontiers of the struggle for women emancipation.