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Tag: women

  • Women Award calls for entries

    TREK African Women Awards (TAWA) is inviting nominations for women achievers in diverse fields in the 2015 edition.

    TAWA, which is in its 2nd edition, seeks to recognise achievements of women in the continent in the fields of media, entertainment, fashion, politics, brands, business, management and charities. It is billed for Friday 18th September, 2015 at MUSON Centre, Lagos.

    According to the organisers, individuals, corporate organisations and personalities can nominate themselves, adding that the public can also vote for as many persons or corporate brands as possible provided they have solid information(s) to back up their choice.

    “TAWA is a continental showpiece to acknowledge and celebrates various African women, First Ladies, women corporate brands, personalities and the media who have surpassed several levels of excellence and set an example of being a role models and exemplary personalities.

    TAWA’s criteria, the organisers say, are focused on the personality, creative ability, successes and how her work impacts the society.

    “She has been able to influence people to achieve set goals; due to her past achievement and influence she has earned; she has helped the less privileges, community, associates, colleague, to grow and achieved goals; he or she has set a pace of being seen and called a role model for others to learn from; must have shown a level of determination to her set goals and ability to achieve them; driven by values, beliefs and principles that shape the future for the better; and she has used her visibility and position to influence policy that advance and promote advocacy on issues affecting the wellbeing of women, children/youth and the community,” TAWA organiser say.

    Submissions, comprising updated profile, achievements and individual or corporate social responsibility(s) in the society, should be forwarded online to the TAWA website: http://www.trekng.com, or email to Trekmagzine@gmail.com, according to TAWA team. They added each completed entry form must be accompanied by all relevant supporting materials, stating that the deadline for submissions is July 30, and only achievements or CSR carried out between May 1, 2014 and May 30, 2015 are eligible for consideration.  

  • Women to Oyo govt: do more on family planning

    Women to Oyo govt: do more on family planning

    Women in Oyo State have urged government to strengthen its support towards family planning.

    The women urged the Oyo State government to partner theNigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI).

    They appealed to government to provide technical assistance for primary health care centres in the state to run its family planning initiative.

    The women and the Chief Nursing Officer of the Bode, Ibadan Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC),  Mrs Wumi Baruwa, spoke at a family planning outreach organised by NURHI. Women were given the opportunity to ask questions on the health initiative.

    Mrs Baruwa urged the state government to also key into the methods being used by the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) to achieve its objective.

    She lauded the activities of NURHI in sensitising women at the grassroots on the importance of family planning,noting that the efforts of the NGO had helped to create more awareness among rural women.

    “The awareness created by the NURHI has now allowed health workers to counsel women on family planning easily. Unlike before it was not easy to convince and counsel them easily.

    “We used to have more women participating now everyday in one family planning technique or the other; atleast 20 weekly, while we have between 35 to 40 new clients every month for family planning. During NURHI outreach like this we used to have like 50 new clients coming for family planning,” she said

    Mrs Baruwa dispelled the rumour that there is a side effect associated with family planning, stressing that most women that have issues with it do not go to professional health officers for family planning.

    Also, some women who came for the NURHI outreach at Apata Primary Health Centre told Southwest Report that that the intervention of NURHI had led to increase in the number of women seeking such services in their communities.

    Mrs Bola Babatope said they were given orientation and counselling on family planning methods and other health issues.

    “I want to commend NURHI for renovating the family planning unit and for the training of workers.

    “If we can get NGOs like this that will assist, the health sector will improve greatly,” Babatope said

    She advised women to plan their families for sustainable healthy living.

    Mrs Afusat Jinadu said she preferred the implant family planning method, stressing that NURHI had changed her perception of family planning.

    She urged government to assist NURHI in order to create more awareness among women about the essence of family planning.

  • First Lady promises better deal for women

    Wife of the Governor of Abia State, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu, has urged the state’s Ministry of Women Affairs, to collaborate with

    her office to give fillip to the welfare of women and abused persons in the state. Speaking in Umuahia when officials of the ministry paid her a

    courtesy visit, Mrs. Ikpeazu charged them to be dedicated in the discharge of their duties.

    The Governor’s wife emphasized on the need for her office and the ministry to work together to ensure that women and children in the state take delivery of the numerous dividend of democracy meant for them under the new administration of her husband, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. “We owe the women and the children this. We must work together to give them a better deal,” she stressed.

    According to her, Governor Ikpeazu is gender friendly and has many programmes planned to take care of Abia women and children, adding that she will soon make public her pet project. In an earlier address, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Nnenna Chikezie, promised to work with the First Lady as a team to achieve common goal.

    She highlighted that the ministry is saddled with the responsibility of taking care of people with disability, the elderly, women and children and prayed that God will help the governor to give Abia state good leadership. Responding, Mrs. Ikpeazu said that her husband need prayers and support while urging the people of the state to always acknowledge God at all times.

  • Akwa Ibom governor’s wife advises women

    The National Council of Women’s Societies (NCWS) Akwa Ibom chapter has been challenged to engage in economic activities that will help re-orientate, rehabilitate and empower women.

    Akwa Ibom First Lady Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel gave the charge when she received a delegation of the executive of the association led by its president, Mrs. Mmeyene Nkwo at the Government House, Uyo.

    Mrs. Emmanuel said the group being an umbrella women organisation with over 140 affiliated groups needed to do more to create programmes that will change the status of women.

    She said the task of developing and empowering women remains the collective responsibility of all, calling on the group to be more active in the discharge of their duties and also work towards inculcating good moral values on teenage girls and women.

    On issues bothering the organisation, the First Lady assured that government was committed to meeting the yearnings of women in the state. She also promised to look into the group’s various demands.

    Mrs. Nkwo thanked the governor’s wife for granting the group audience. She also congratulated Mrs. Emmanuel on her assumption of duties as the First Lady of the state, saying that with her, the women were secured. She highlighted the aims of the organisation to include promoting the economic, social wellbeing and progress of women, youths and the physically challenged, with emphasis on education, training and empowerment adding that within her stay in office, she has been able to conduct 24 local chapters elections, visit orphanages in the three senatorial districts of the state and as well organise seminars/ workshops for women.

    Mrs. Nkwo solicited for government’s assistance to enable the group function effectively and also pledge their unflinching support and unalloyed loyalty to the administration of Mr. Udom Emmanuel.

    The highpoint of the visit was the conferment of the organisation’s Patron award on the governor’s wife .

    In a related development, the wife of governor also received the Cornelia Connelly College Old Girls Association at the Government House. Its National President, Mrs. Hannah Essien, said they were at the Government House to intimate the first lady, who is also an old girl of the school, on events mapped out to celebrate the re-union party for the old girls. She said the school having been a citadel of academic excellence over the years has produced worthy ambassadors in different endeavours.

    She said the group has achieved some results in the furnishing of the Home Economics department and the expansion of the school refectory while soliciting assistance for the construction of a two story building to serve as dormitory for the school girls.

    Mrs. Emmanuel thanked the group for the visit, saying that she was delighted to see some old faces she has not seen for a while. She thanked the group for their unflinching support during and after the elections promising that she would not let them down. She harped on the need to ensure that the school was restored to its glorious days, calling on the principal of the school to scale up disciplinary measures.

  • Free medical programme for women

    On its bid to provide better health care for the people, a social club has offered free medical programme for market women in Bodija Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    The club, Zontal Club International provided free diabetes health check to checkmate the prevalence of the disease among them.

    Addressing the women, the President of the Club, Prof. Olufunke Egunjobi said diabetes is a silent killer which is yet to have a cure, stating that informed the reason the club partnered with Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN) to reduce the deadly disease through early detection and treatment.

    According to her, the club was giving full backing to the DAN to educate market women about the disease and to screen them free.

    She said Zontal Club of Ibadan is one of the more than 1,200 clubs in 67 countries of the world that is made up of professionals and executive women to empower their fellow women who are less-privileged.

    Prof. Egunjobi noted that market women who are described by the Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka as the queens of the road, are ever so busy to feed the nation at the expense of their health, stressing that it was the reason for Zontal Club to deem it fit to provide the medical service to them.

    Corroborating her assertion, the chairman of DAN, Chief Emmanuel Adeyinka said many people are not aware of their health status, resulting in many people dropping dead without any cause.

     

  • Council official empowers women

    They thronged to the venue wearing glowing faces. Women in Oshodi/Isolo were splendidly dressed as they marched to the secretariat of Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area to receive empowerment items from the Head, Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Oshodi/Isolo Transition Committee, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas. It was an empowerment programme which many described as manifestation of love for humanity.

    Some of the materials donated to the women were gas cylinders, deep freezers electricity generating sets, gas cookers; microwaves and standing fans, among others.

    Alhaji Adedayo, who is also the Coordinator of the Lagos Vanguard for Buhari (LVD) said the project, was one of his personal efforts to empower women in the local government, even as he said he believes in rendering service to humanity.

    “My stewardship is a personal project despite being a member of the transition committee. The project aimed at empowering our women. I am doing it for my love for the society.

    “Since January, I’ve been saving my salary to determine what should be done to the society, and with support from my family and friends, I was able to gather together these materials.” he said.

    He added that empowering women is key to national development, urging wealthy individuals in the country to be committed to the service of the people.

    “If we could do this, we will do more when we are in better positions. I am determined to serve you all and I promise not to let you down. This is so because in 2008, I built a clinic outside my local government and handed it over to residents of the local government. I believe you will get more as you all support the APC.” Contributing, the chairman of the APC in Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area, Alhaji Olamide Kasali said: “Whatever he is providing you today is on behalf of the APC, and we pray that God continues to strengthen him to do more for you.”

    Another APC leader, Fidelis Osho also urged members of the party to be patient with the current administration and also appreciate Alhaji Adedayo for the empowerment.

    In a chat with Southwest Report, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Kate Akambe who received a gas cooker said: “To God be the glory for this project and I pray the change we are talking about will continue to be real. I am grateful to the organiser.”

    Another beneficiary, Mrs. Bose Ayantunde who got a gas cylinder said: “I am so happy because this is my first time and it really impresses me. For Alhaji Adedayo doing this, we believe he will do more for us.”

  • Wanted: More women in politics

    Wanted: More women in politics

    The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, Lagos State Branch last week held its 2015 Law Week with stakeholders using the forum to advocate the participation of more women in governance, reports ADEBISI ONANUGA

    Women lawyers, their male counterparts, activists and other stakeholders in the justice sector gathered in Lagos last week to review the positions of women in decision-making positions and suggest ways on how they can realise their potentials in contributing to national development.

    The occasion was at the 2015 Law Week lecture of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, Lagos  State Branch held at the Louis Mbanefo Rotunda Hall of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Kofo Abayomi, Victora Island. The main lecture of the Law Week with the theme:  “Women in Power and Decision Making”, was held under the chairmanship of the former National Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dele Adesina.

    Former Chairman, NBA Ikeja Branch, Monday Onyekachi Ubani, who delivered the lead paper, extolled prominent women leaders such as Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, Magaret Ekpo and Hajia Gambo Sawaba in Nigeria of recent past. He also noted that women of the modern Nigeria who found themselves in position of power and decision making, particularly in their professional callings,  have always proved their capabilities and performed exceedingly well.

    Ubani listed some of those in that category to include Prof. Grace Alele Williams, Prof. Adenike Grange, late Prof. Dora Akunyili, Dr. Ndi Okereke Onyiuke, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwezili, Folorunsho Alakija, Hajia Bola Shagaya among others. He remarked that their steady advancement in contributing to the socio-economic development of the country has impacted tremendously on the national polity. He said successive governments  responded positively to their achievements in many ways particularly through establishment of Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and its parastatal, National Council of Women’s Society (NCWS).

    “The role of these women have no doubt lifted the pedigree and profile of Nigerian women as hard working, disciplined, thorough, creative, enterprising and productive. Their enormous contribution to national development is gradually engineering re-evaluation of the role and capabilities of women in public capacities in positive light”, he noted.

    He  lamented however that despite the tremendous achievements of women, there still exist disparities between men and women in terms of access to socio-economic opportunities including participation in politics, noting that this makes it extremely difficult  for them to fully realise their  potentials. He regretted  that despite that women constitute the greater number of registered voters in any election ever held in Nigeria, they are yet to experience full representative positions. He emphasised that the role women play during the electioneering campaign and voting processes demands that they take pre-eminent positions in governance, considering their contributions and sacrifices to the success of various political parties in every election.

    Ubani emphasised the need to reserve certain quotas for women in appointment into political and decision making positions, including political parties, which he noted is fast gaining recognition and acceptance around the world. He said  that much advancement has been made in this respect in Europe  and Western countries and in African countries like South Africa, Rwanda, Liberia.

    He remarked that with the  crisis of leadership that have bedeviled  Nigerian society since independence and against the backdrop of the outstanding performance   of women in public capacities, there seem to be a growing consensus that women could fill leadership gap in providing the much desired  good governance in Nigeria.

    “To consolidate on the current gains, women leadership organisations, government and relevant stakeholders should continue to advocate for the revision of legislations to favour  the protection of women from abuse, empower them economically and politically especially through the strengthening of  affirmative action  and allocation of quotas for women in politics and decision making positions”, he advised.

    Adesina,  who chaired the lecture also lamented the relegation of women to the back door when it comes to political power and position of authority. Whereas, women, according to him, have shown that they can make a difference in the society and take the front seat in positions of authority and decision making processes, Adesina argued that women are entitled to power and authority as much as men noting “quite often, decisions made by women enjoy better painstakingness and greater maturity. Women in position of power and authority can be more calculating, systematic and strategic” stressing that it would be wrong to measure the potentials of women simply by their sex.

    To support his views, Adesina listed women who have occupied positions of authority in the legal profession to include former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloma Mariam Muktar, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, Justice Atinuke Ige, Chief Folake Solanke (SAN), Chief Priscilla Kuye (SAN), Chief Hairat Balogun among others. He described them as “ living legends of the legal profession, of high integrity. Enviable nobility and mentors to both men and women”. He urged women to rise up and assert their position in all areas of endeavour and that the talk about women liberation must be matched with works of liberation stressing “ the law has recognised the equality of all persons. Any culture or tradition that is contrary to the stipulation of the law is illegal, null and void”.

    Activist and President of Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin remarked that women have always been marginalised by men in the control of public life, noting that one role out of  50  roles given to women to play is seen as a priviledge, Okei-Odumakin also lamented that even when women gained opportunities to contest elections, they are repressed through votes by men.  She pointed out that over time, women had demonstrated greater capacity for delievery than men in positions of authority and decision making. She, however, identified factors militating against women in occupying position of power to include financial power, the need to conquer fear, lack of support from fellow women among others.

    “Women must support their fellow women to achieve because if we don’t believe in ourselves, men can never believe in us”, she  advised, urging them to use their numerical strength to vote out men so that they can put themselves in positions of authority and decision making.

    In a goodwill message to the association,  Partner, Jackson, Etti and Edu Law Firm, Uwa Ohiku  also identified some internal barriers militating against women and preventing them from making achievements. Ohiku noted that body language of women most time tend to present them as weak and timid persons and not articulate and vocal on issues.  She urged women to shed the toga of timidity and speak out on issues where and when necessary instead of leaving it all to the men.

    Earlier in her welcome address, the chairperson of FIDA in the state, Eliana Martins had explained that the theme was chosen to explore the obstacles  and opportunities for women participation in all spheres of public and private life; address the challenges of legal reforms in eliminating all kinds of discrimination against women and project programmes that would encourage women’s access to decision making and participation in leadership among others.

    Noting that the occasion coincided with the Day of the African Child, Martins  said FIDA joined the celebration of the day with the rest of the world, adding that the association was mindful of the several challenges affecting the total well-being and development of the child. She explained that this was why FIDA planned a schools outreach as part of the activities of the Law Week to engage several children and young adults on the theme, “Emerging Issues on the Protection, Respect, Promotion and Realisation of Children’s Rights”.

  • Zenith Bank Women Basketball League: Benue Princess pip AHIP, Rocks to Final Eight

    Zenith Bank Women Basketball League: Benue Princess pip AHIP, Rocks to Final Eight

    • First Bank, Dolphins remain unbeaten

    The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) yesterday confirmed that Benue Princess have qualified for the Zenith Bank Women Basketball League Final Eight expected to hold in Lagos, at a yet-to-be announced date.

    Reports in the media over the weekend stated that AHIP got the ticket, but the NBBF quickly debunked the claim and released the official standing after two phases of the league in Abuja and Ilorin.

    SportingLife gathered that the battle for qualification in Group A went down to goal difference after three teams were tied on 24 points from eight wins and eight losses.

    Benue Princess narrowly piped AHIP Queens of Kano and Plateau Rocks with a +11 points aggregate differential advantage over Plateau Peaks who had +8, and AHIP Queens with -19 to join Sunshine Angels of Akure, former four-time champions, First Deepwater, and seven-time and defending champions, First Bank Basketball Club as the top four in the group to seal qualification for the play-offs in Lagos.

    Group B was more straightforward with back-to-back league runners up Dolphins clearly leading the pack with a maximum 32 points from 16 games, going unbeaten including a record 127-33 drubbing of league debutant Zamfara Babes.

    Joining Dolphins in the play-offs from Group B is Nigeria Customs who lost only to Dolphins in both legs in Abuja and Ilorin, finishing with 30 points from 14 wins and two losses, while IGP Queens and Delta Force complete the top 4 in the group with 28 points and 26 points respectively.

    Meanwhile, some of the players that will vie for honours in the Zenith Bank Basketball League were in action at the FIBA Zone three 3×3 tour that ended in Lagos yesterday.

    They said that apart from battling for the $10, 000 cash prize, it will also keep them in shape for the Final Eight.

  • The sporting life of women

    The sporting life of women

    How do female students see sports? Some of them have excelled in sports; many others do not participate in games at all. These students claim that there is lack of facilities to support women interested in sports. UCHECHUKWU AMANZE and CHISOMEBI OBI-EKWE (100-Level Medicine and Surgery, Abia State University) write.

    Higher institutions are said to be breeding grounds for national sportsmen and women. But, government and sports administrators seem not to be looking in that direction. Some female students displayed exceptional talents at the Nigeria Universities Games (NUGA), Nigeria Polytechnics Games (NIPOGA) and All Africa Universities Games.

    •Some female atheletes
    •Some female atheletes

    There are women in higher institutions, who have excelled in football, tennis, volleyball and racing. Over the years, tertiary institutions have produced talented female athletes, who could be compared with the likes of Chioma Ajunwa and Blessing Okagbare. But, their talents hardly go beyond the campus because they are not opportune to take their skills to the world stage.

    Many argue that these women were sidelined from major sport competitions and died with their skills. In some schools, there is low women participation in sports; female students who are willing to participate in sports do not have access to facilities and kits.

    To the Director of Health of the Abia State University (ABSU) in Uturu, Franklyn Osuchukwu, the cost of installing the facilities is a challenge.

    He said: “It is not that female students are deliberately sidelined from participating in sports, but the cost of installing and maintaining some of facilities that will make sports attractive to them is the reason why many schools do not encourage female participation in sports.”

    Osachukwu went on: “It is also noteworthy that many female undergraduates do not generally like football the way they like gymnastics, swimming and racing. To provide a swimming pool and racing track cost more than providing facilities for soccer, which do not need extraordinary budget. Boys can convert a fallow land to soccer ground, but this is not the case with gymnastics or swimming.”

    But, schools which should lead the way for improving the participation of female students in sports, are doing nothing to make sports attractive to them. With no facilities and orientation, women participation may continue to be low. The fate of the few, who participate, may hang in the balance because of lack of encouragement.

    But, why do some female students shy away from sports? Ngozi Okwu, a student of ABSU, said women do not participate in sports because they have been marginalised. She said: “It is unfortunate that the marginalisation of women in sports is a phenomenon that is not peculiar to one school alone. It is a general trend that is making sports unattractive to women. This is my third year on the campus and it is sad to note that my department has never held a sport event for female students. This situation should be looked into.”

    Cynthia Mbonu, a student of ABSU and basketball player, argued that dearth of facilities cannot be the reason for loss of interest in sports by female students. According to her, women do not have chances to participate in tournaments, such as the Vice Chancellor’s Cup. This, she said, makes many of them to stay away from sports.

    Tochi Azubuike, a student of ABSU and an athlete, blamed the Students’ Union Government (SUG) for the problem. “How many students’ unions have had women as Director of Sports?” he asked.

    Female students, he said, must be supported to be elected as Director of Sports to maximise the potential of their colleagues in sports.

    For Ogechi Nwankwo, a student of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture in Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State, management should not be blamed for the non-participation of female students in sports. Rather, he said women keep out of sports.

    Her words: “It is not always the fault of the management that female students do not participate in sports. Granted that most universities do not have adequate facilities for sports, but female students deliberately keep themselves off sports even when there are adequate facilities.

    “For instance, in my school, we have different facilities for both male and female to do sports, but women would still not participate. This is because most women believe sports is for the male alone, which is not true.”

    On the way forward, Ogechi said all that is needed is re-orientate the female students onto the benefits of participation in sports.

    Maryann Okonkwo, a student of Redeemer’s University, said women must participate in sports to stay healthy. She said:“It is sad most female students believe that sports are the exclusive preserve of the other gender and those who wish to be professional sportsmen. This notion is wrong, because we all need body exercise to stay fit and healthy, even if we may not want to pursue a career in sports. Regular involvement in sports would reduce diseases, such as obesity and hypertension, which are prevalent in the country.”

    Another student of Imo State University (IMSU), Amarachi Okoro, said the academic workload is also a factor preventing women from participating in sports. She said: “Most women find it hard to combine academics and sports. Lectures stop at 5pm when everyone would be tired to even cook. Should we go out to participate in sports? If the school calendars can be adjusted to accommodate sports, no female student would not be willing to participate in sports.”

  • Buhari’s wife hosts APC women in Aso Rock

    Buhari’s wife hosts APC women in Aso Rock

    The wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Buhari on Saturday hosted Nigerian women and youths of the All Progressives Party (APC) at the State House Conference Centre in the Presidential Villa, Abuja

    The dinner is believed to be in appreciation of her husband, Muhammadu Buhari’s victory at the March 29 Presidential Election.

    The dinner was held few hours after President Buhari left Nigeria to South Africa for the 25th African Union Summit in Johannesburg.

    The venue was filled to capacity as women across the country including wives of state governors under the platform of the APC graced the occasion.

    The women in their hundreds were conveyed to the state house in large capacity buses owned by the Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company (AUMTCO) an agency under the Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA.

    Most of the guests who attended the event were had special invitations and appeared in their best attires.

    Some of guests could not get seats because of the high turn out at the occasion.

    Among those who attended the dinner are the APC women leader Hajia Ramatu Tijani, former governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Ameachi.

    Others include wife of the Imo State governor, Mrs. Nkechi Okorocha, Wife of the APC national chairman, Victoria John Oyegun, wife of Speaker of the House of Representatives Gimbia Dogara, wife of the Senate President, Toyin Saraki.