The Nation Newspaper

Tag: women

  • Sterling Bank tackles low-esteem among women

    Sterling Bank tackles low-esteem among women

    In support of Sterling Bank’s exciting One Woman value proposition, a select number of  women were taught to take action, make positive choices about their lives and do positive things for others at the Sheraton Hotel in Lagos.

    These and many more positive outcomes were the bank’s expectations from the programme entitled: “Sexually Confident Woman”. The theme of the one-day programme organised by Tope Mark-Odigie, was “Self-Love”.

    A-list speakers and panelists at the programme include CEO, Design Options, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ighodalo;  General Manager, Corporate Banking, Sterling Bank, Mrs. Mojisola Bakare; Nollywood Actor Ms. Kate Henshaw,  and a prominent  life coach, IzefuaEhi-Williams. Others were a clinical psychologist, Dr. Maymunah Kadiri, a sexologist OrbbyAgwuncha,  and a gospel hip hop artiste BeeceeUgboh.

    Speaking during the programme, Mrs. Ighodalo commended Sterling Bank, saying the bank was living up to its promise of supporting and empowering women.

    “Sterling Bank is a very strong supporter of women and when the bank launched the ‘One Woman’ product recently, the goal was to empower women and support them. By putting the word out there about self-love, Sterling Bank is hoping to encourage women and hopefully help them to love themselves,” Mrs. Ighodalo said.

    Also speaking, General Manager, Corporate Banking, Sterling Bank Mrs. Mojisola Bakare, said: “We have always been talking about breaking the glass ceiling. This unacknowledged barrier to a woman’s career advancement cannot be cleared except women are aware and self-conscious of themselves and know how to position themselves. It is only when a confident woman brings herself out that is when she can be identified for positions and for greatness.”

    Mrs. Bakare added:“One Woman by Sterling Bank is about making women realise their potential to make positive changes and be successful in life. Changing how women see themselves is a process and some need professional help. This explains our support for the self-love programme, which brings professionals and women together to kick-start this process.”

    On her part, the convener of the Sexually Confident Woman programme, Mrs. Tope Mark-Odigie,  said: “The objective of self-love is to motivate and encourage women to love and accept themselves. It is about changing the thinking that they must fit a stereotype to be beautiful and also to help them understand that self-confidence will improve their lives and business.

  • Make up for lost grounds, women charged

    Christian women have been tasked to make up for lost times of ignorance as well as rectify past failures and complacency by being active in the service of God.

    Pastor- in- Charge of Lagos Province 15 Redeemed Christian Church of God(RCCG), Pastor (Mrs.) Deola Mensah, stated this at the Province 59 Sisters’ Conference with the theme “redeeming the time.”

    Mensah noted there were still rooms for women to do God’s works in all forms.

    While charging them to emulate the likes of Mary Slessor, she said women remained important in the schemes of God’s works.

    To redeem time as Christians, she said they must disciple others, teach and imbibe the principles of eternal life as well as allow themselves to be taught by more enlightened Christians.

    The convener, Pastor (Mrs.) Funke AyinOluwa, pointed out time was short, stating that women cannot afford to toy with it.

    According to her: “The good news is you can still right your wrong and make the best use of your time.

    “There is nothing that you cannot change about your life if you focus on your future.”

    AyinOluwa therefore explained that the only way to redeem the time as women is for them to be hard working.

  • Women acquire skills in Ondo community

    Over 150 vulnerable and unemployed young women in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State benefited from the benevolence of the wife of the Ondo State Governor, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu when she visited the area.

    The women, who hitherto had no means of sustenance or certification that could attract gainful employment, were empowered to become self-reliant, as part of activities marking the 100 days in office of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

    Mrs Anyanwu- Akeredolu, who presented certificates to the women after the few days training further, urged them to deploy the knowledge they acquired during the training to ventures that will make them useful to themselves and the society, noting that the goal of the empowerment exercise was to ensure that more women are empowered.

    While acknowledging that more women are unemployed because of marginalisation; she further stressed that when a woman is empowered and has a reliable source of income, her family’s source of income becomes stable.

    Participants at the programme, which was organised by the Office of the Wife of the Governor in conjunction with Make Mee Elegant, benefited from numerous training exercises which included bag making, shoe making, hairdressing and wig making.

    Speaking on the impact of the exercise, the Chairman of Okitipupa Local Government Area, Mrs. Morenike Alaka affirmed that the support given to the women through the training exercise was unprecedented as it would go a long way in equipping them towards contributing to their family’s development.

    “Some of the women that are being trained were impregnated and abandoned; some are school dropouts who have no form of certificate to acquire jobs that would sustain them.

  • 150 women benefit from governor’s wife’s programme

    Wife of Ondo State governor, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has trained 150 women in various skills in Okitipupa Local Government Area.

    The gesture, it was learnt, was among activities marking the first 100 days in office of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

    Mrs. Akeredolu, who presented certificates to the beneficiaries after the training, urged them to use well the skills they acquired.

    She said the goal of the training was to ensure that more women were empowered.

    Chairperson of Okitipupa Local Government Area, Mrs. Morenike Alaka, described the support to women through the training as unprecedented.

    She said: “Some of the women who are being trained today were impregnated and abandoned; some are school dropouts who have no certificates to acquire jobs that would sustain them. But with this kind of training, they are now empowered to become self-reliant. Henceforth, these women are going to be financially independent.”

  • Sokoto donates N20m items to indigent women, children

    The Sokoto State Government has donated N20 million worth of food items and clothing materials to indigent women and children in the state.

    Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Hajiya Kulu Sifawa, said the items included 200 bags each of rice, sugar and millet, as well as 2,000 women wrappers.

    She added that additional N1 million was also disbursed to women receiving treatment at various hospitals across Sokoto metropolis and its environs.

    According to her: “The target groups included mainly vulnerable women and children focused groups, widows, orphans, women patients, women living with HIV/AIDS, diabetic women and other physically-challenged women, among others.

    “The gesture was aimed at alleviating the suffering of the beneficiaries during the ongoing Ramadan fast.

  • Women, students get free cancer screening, eyeglasses

    A women’s services foundation, International Inner Wheel (IWC), yesterday sponsored free cervical cancer screening for 100 women and donated free eyeglasses to 100 students in Lagos.

    The event held at the Mushin Primary Health Care Centre.

    IWC President Yemisi Alatise said cervical cancer though deadly can be prevented if detected early.

    She said the beneficiaries of the screening were women who could not afford it and that the IWC would pay for the treatment of those in whom the cancer is detected.

    Alatise, however, enjoined the women to practice safer sex and avoid smoking.

    National Representative/President, National Governing Body of IWC in Nigeria, Lady Uche Agbim, said the project had been successfully executed in all the states in the federation and “Lagos State being the last to take place.”

    The free eyeglasses programme, according to Agbim, is important because early eye tests help in preventing blindness.

    She said: “Eye test play a huge part in making sure your eyes stay healthy, apart from revealing whether you need to start wearing glasses or need to change your prescription, it also helps to detect some common medical conditions”.

    In her address, the District Chairman, Inner Wheel District 911, Wemimo Olasanya said over 1000 women had benefitted from the project.

    According to the organisers, IWC, which was founded 93 years ago in Manchester by Mrs. Oliver Golding, is the largest women’s service oriented organisation in the world.

  • Northern women urged to join military

    Former Comptroller, Passport Office of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Hajia Fatima Ahmed Godowoli, has called on northern women to join the military, arguing that service to Nigeria, through the military or para-military, is not for men alone.

    She made the call during her pulling-out ceremony.

    Godowoli said she was able to weather the storms during her 35-year service through perseverance, dedication and passion for the job.

    Her words: “Being the first female Passport officer was really a great challenge for me, but I weathered the storm and here am I today retiring, but not tired. I will like to borrow a leaf from our former Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, to say I am stepping aside. Some of my colleagues are not here to witness their retirement and at 55, I thank God for serving this nation for 35 years.

    “Moreso, this job is a distinguishing one. You meet a lot of people with differences, coupled with series of challenges within the security setup, and if you are not up and doing, or fail to challenge yourself to be academically and physically bold as a woman, you won’t perform.

    “I will like to see more women in uniform, coming up as highly educated and learned persons, most especially in the north. This world is not for men alone, they should give us chance as women too.”

  • Firm distributes free gas cylinders to Catholic women

    More than 20 low-income members of the Catholic Women Association of Divine Mercy Catholic Church Lekki Lagos have received free gas cylinders.

    They also learnt safety procedures for gas usage towards cleaner environment.

    The initiative is a joint of the Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and Gas Terminalling & Distribution Limited.

    The company’s Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) Manager, Michael Olajide, emphasised the benefits of using clean fuels like LPG for cooking.

    He also demonstrated how to safely use LPG cylinders in a better way to prevent any undue accident.

    Beneficiaries went home with filled cylinders alongside accessories like the mesh, regulator and the cooker ring.

    Managing Director of Gas Terminalling & Distribution, Felix Ekundayo, said the gesture to the association is a way of encouraging low-income earners to switch to using cleaner and cost effective fuels like LPG.

     

  • Nigerian women hold prayer session for President Buhari

    Nigerian women hold prayer session for President Buhari

    Women from all works of life on Wednesday converged in Abuja for a one-day prayer and fasting session for the speedy recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari.
    The women, led by President of the National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), Mrs Gloria Shoda said the prayers had become necessary to ensure the good health of the president.
    “We have been praying as individuals in our closet but this time, we have decided to hold this open prayer for our president.
    “We want him to recover quickly and return to work. The council has decided to make this prayer a monthly routine to ensure that things work well in this country also.
    “Nigeria belongs to all of us and it is our responsibility to always pray for our leaders, most especially our president, irrespective of our political affiliations,’’ she said
    Shoda said that the prayer session was also held to ask God to restore the glory of Nigeria and move the country forward.
    Also speaking, Anna Nosike, the founder Gender Support for Women Emancipation and Empowerment Development told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the prayer session was to bring down the Hand of God upon Nigeria.(NAN)

  • Recognition for Ekiti women monarchs

    Recognition for Ekiti women monarchs

    After several years of advocacy, enlightenment and sensitisation to the need for the government to recognise the critical role of women traditional rulers, the monarchs have got a voice in Ekiti State when Governor Ayodele Fayose inaugurated the Council of Female Traditional Rulers, Ekiti State chapter. The recognition became the reason for the monarchs to celebrate in Ibadan. OSEHEYE OKWUOFU reports.

    ‘A spectacular development has emerged from Ekiti State where “Prof.” Ayodele Fayose, as his people fondly call him, inaugurated National Council of Female Traditional Rulers in Nigeria–Ekiti State branch. For the first time ever, the bold and courageous Ekiti State Governor summoned male rulers and their female counterparts for a meeting at the Governor’s office’

    In the yesteryear, it was a taboo for a community to be ruled by a woman in some parts of the country. It was part of the subjugation which the women folk experience across the country.

    However, in the Western part of the country, historical evidence indicate that some communities or towns had, in the past, been ruled by women. Besides, some of them had contributed immensely to the safety and survival of their communities during periods of external invasion.

    While some historians have argued that the history of the Yoruba would be incomplete without recourse to the role of women traditional rulers, others vehemently deny the existence of such monarchs across the region. But statues and monuments built in honour of such heroines abound in major cities of Yoruba land, thereby making it difficult to wish away the debate. The statue of the revered Moremi at Ile-Ife is a great example of the countless roles women had played in saving their communities.

    Of late, female traditional rulers received support when Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State gave them recognition after several years of advocacy, enlightenment and sensitisation to the need for government to recognise the critical role of female traditional rulers in Nigeria.

    In the circumstances, the female monarchs held a press conference to celebrate the great achievement, and most importantly, to remind other state governors where the tradition exists, of the urgent need to emulate the Ekiti State governor by  establishing the Council of Female Traditional Rulers in their respective states.

    Led by a researcher and the National Coordinator of Female Traditional Rulers, Prof. Fatai Olasupo of the Department of Local Government Studies, Faculty of Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, the female monarchs were full of praises for Governor Fayose for breaking the jinx.

    Prof. Olasupo, leading other researchers, unearthed the existence of female traditional rulers and has since remained the voice of the voiceless and suppressed female rulers in the country.

    The female traditional rulers said for many years, their male counterparts have suppressed them; a situation that makes them appear non-existent.

    They commended Governor Fayose for his courage.

    The spokesperson for the female traditional rulers, Prof. Olasupo who has been researching on the  traditional roles of female traditional rulers in Nigeria for the past 10 years, described the Ekiti State inauguration of Council of Female Traditional Rulers as a spectacular development.

    While calling on governors of other Southwest states to emulate Ekiti State governor, he said Governor Fayose  took bold step by convening a meeting of both the  Obas and their female counterparts to accord the female traditional rulers due recognition.

    He said: “A spectacular development has emerged from Ekiti State where “Prof.” Ayodele Fayose, as his people fondly call him, inaugurated National Council of Female Traditional Rulers in Nigeria–Ekiti State branch.

    “For the first time, Governor Fayose summoned male rulers and their female counterparts for a meeting at the Governor’s office. At the meeting, he assured the male and female monarchs of financial and administrative supports in their respective communities; thereby becoming the first level of government and governor to recognise the existence of female traditional rulers in Nigeria.”

    Prof. Olasupo urged other governors to start the process of establishing state Council of Female Traditional Rulers, most especially in the Southwest and other parts of the country.

    According to him, in his over 10 years of research into the existence and role of female traditional rulers in Nigeria, there is hardly any part of Nigeria where there are no female traditional rulers.

    “We have them all over the country as old as the culture and tradition of our people. The female traditional rulers have their separate kingdoms, cabinet and chiefs just as the Obas. So, there should be no disparity. No one should suppress the other. What is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander,” he said.

    Those in attendance at the meeting included Oba Rufus Adejugbe, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti/Obabinrin (female king), Sonaike Abike the Eyegba of Ado-Ekiti ,  Oba Oluadeyemi, the Alara of Aramoko/Obabinrin (female king) Olaitan Dada, the Eyelebudu of Aramoko,  Oba Adetayo Adewole; the Ajero of Ijero/Obabinrin Eunice Bolatito Omidiji, the Eyegun of Ijero Kingdom, Oba Adeyeye Oladimeji (JP), the Onimesi of Imesi-Ekiti/Obabinrin (female king) Dahunsi Juliana; the Eyelobinrin of Imesi, Oba Adewumi Ajibade Fasiku, the Elekole of Ikole/ Obabinrin (female kings) Ogunmoroti; the Eyerojo Isaba Ikole,  Oba Sylvester Adebanji Ajibade Alabi, the Alawe of Ilawe /Obabinrin (female king) Elizabeth Odeyemi, the Eyelofi of Ilawe, Oba Samuel Oladapo Oyetade, the Ologotun of Ogotun/Obabinrin (female king) Esther Ajayi/the Eyeji of Ogotun, Oba (Dr.) Adesanya Emmanuel,  the Alaye of Obalufon/Obabinrin (female king), and  the Eyelobinrin of Efon-Alaaye, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju Adugbile.

    Also in attendance were the Oloye of Oye/Oguntoye Beatrice, the Eye of Oye, Oba Adejimi Adu, the Ogoga of Ikere/Obabinrin Eyesemoe of Ikere-Ekiti,  Oba Jacob Boluwade Adebiyi, the Alare of Are-Ekiti/Obaobinrin (female king) Ogundele Felecia, the Eyejumu of Are-Ekiti, Oba David Makanjuola, the Ajaja of Owatapa /Obabinrin (female  king) Onipede Felicia, the Eyelera of Itapa,  Oba Osalusi Oluwasola Joshua, the Olorun of Orun-Ekiti/ Ogunyemi B.I, the Eyelua of Orun-Ekiti, Oba Jacob Boluwade Adebiyi ,  the Alare of Are-Ekiti/ Obabinrin (female king) Ogundele Felicia , the Eyejumu of Are-Ekiti,  Oba Adediran Abigunade, the Olosi of Osi-Ekiti /Obabinrin (female kings) Akinbode Oyepeju,  the Eyesemoe of Osi-Ekiti,  Oba Edward Jayeola, the Arajaka of Igbara Odo/ Obabinrin (female king) Ajewole Bolanle, the Eyele of Igbara-Odo, Oba Omonigbehin Adejuwon Noah, the Olomuo of Omuo/ Obabinrin Bodunde Margret, the Yeye Abejoye of Omuo, Oba Adeleke Victor Bobade,  the Onire of Ire-Ekiti/Obabinrim (female king)  Bamigboye F.M., the Eyelaye of Ire-Ekiti,  Oba Isaac Adetoyinbo Ajayi,  the Elejelu of Ijelu-Ekiti/Obabinrin (female king) Fasuhanmi Toyin, the Eyelobinrin of Ijelu-Ekiti,  Oba Joseph Kayode Akinola, the Owa of Iludun-Ekiti/Obabinrin Kolawole, the Eyelode of Iludun-Ekiti,  Oba Jonathan Agboola Adeleye,  the Oniyo of Iyo-Ekiti/Obabinrin (female King) Fasuyi Aina,  Eyeleso of Iyo-Ekiti,  Oba Afolabi Felix Adeniyi, the Oniro of Iro-Ekiti/Obabinrin Ajulo Christiana,  the Eyelobinrin of Iro-Ekiti,  Oba Emmanuel Olukayode Ojo Fagbemi, the Elekota of Ikota-Ekiti/Akomolafe Kemi,  the Eyelowu of Ikota,  Oba Dare Ita Okunbobade III, the Owa Oroo of Agbado/ Obabinrin (female king) Ajayi Bolaji, the Eyelori of Agbado-Ekiti, Oba Adebisi Adelafe Ogunjobi, the Olorin of Orin-Odo-Ekiti/Obabinrin (female king). Adeyanju F.F.,  the Eyelara of Orin-Odo-Ekiti,  Oba Samuel Adetayo Fatoba,  the Alara of Ara-Ekiti/Obabinrin (female King) Rawaju  Felicia, the Eyelobinrin of Ara-Ekiti,  Oba Olaleye Oniyelu J.P. , the Apeju of Ilupeju-Ekiti/Obabinrin (female king) Fasanmi Florence, the Eyelobinrin of Ilupeju,  Oba Ogunleye Ebenezer Olubunmi, and the Onijaro of Ijaro/Obabinrin (female king) Owonfari B. Eyedofin of Ijaro-Ekiti ,  Oba James Olufemi,  the Onipere of Ipere-Ekiti/Obabinrin (female king) Ogunleye Grace,

    Others were the Eyedofin of Ipere-Ekiti, Oba Israel Adebayo, the Obalogun of Ilogun-Ekiti/Obabinrin (female king) Osunlusi Janet,  the Eyegun of Ilogun,  Oba Ajayi Oluwasesan Omolagba,  the Alasa of Ilasa/Obabinrin (female king) Ojerinde J. O.,  the Yeye Aro of Ilasa-Elite,   Oba Olowookeere Ojo, the Owa Olobo of Obo-Ekiti/Obabinrin (female king) Alabi Aina, the YeyeJero of Obo-Ekiti,  Oba Kupoluyi Ayodele Ayodeji, the Amuro of Temidire/Obabinrin (female king) Ajayi Florence,  the Eyegun of Temidire,  Oba Michael Olufemi Aladejana,  the Alaworoko of Iworoko/Obaobinrin (female king) Adeleye Rachael, the Eyesemore of Iworoko, Oba Bamidele Olatunji Adetutu,  the Elewu of Ewu-Ekiti/Obabinrin (female king) Olaoye Oyewumi, the Eyedole of Ewu-Ekiti,  Oba Samuel Agboola Osatuyi J.P., the Onijesha of Ijesamodu/Obabinrin (female king) Ogunde Alice, the Eyebaisa of Ijesamodu, Oba Aladegbemi Gabriel, the Olufaki of Ifaki-Ekiti/Obabinrin (female king) Owolabi Bolanle, the Eyemuju of Ifaki- Ekiti , Oba Olonibua Joel, the Oniropora of Iropora-Ekiti/Obabirin (female king) Fatomiluyi Bose, the Eyesomore of Iropora-Ekiti,  Oba Adeyemi Joakeem Afolabi, the Onijurin of Ijurin/Obabirin (female king) Adeyinka Adeosun, the Eyegun of Ijurin, and   Oba Afolabi Idowu Babade, the Onijaro of Oke Oro/Obabinrin (female king) Fadare A.M., the Eyemotu of Oke Oro.

    Prof. Olasupo, who also clamoured for a legislation to recognise female monarchs recalled the statement by the Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola at the first annual conference of Nigerian Political Science Association, Southwest zone, challenging the intellectuals to come up with enough findings to promote cultural synergy between the town and gown; saying that the intellectuals have, in reality, done more than enough but the governments never appreciated their research findings over the years.

    He said: “How many of research findings have government at all levels accepted and implemented.

    For example, among many others, was 10-year-old research into the existence of female traditional rulership in Nigeria.

    “It is exactly a decade this year that the existence of female traditional rulers in Nigeria was unearthed.”

    The don, therefore, urged other governors to begin the process of inaugurating a Council of Female Traditional Rulers as impetus to female rulers.

    His words: “I expect the people’s governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to also summon a meeting of royal fathers and mothers not only in Ijesha land but wherever else in Osun State.”