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Tag: women

  • Why women should pay attention to health, by experts

    Why women should pay attention to health, by experts

    • NGO organises medical outreach in Lagos

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Health Tips by Sunset Affairs, has organised its maiden medical outreach for business/market women in Lagos.

    The programme, with the theme: ‘Prevalent Health Issues Among Market Women: Possible Solutions and Health Management; Connections of Menopause State of Women’s Health Issues,’ was meant to ensure that every woman knows her health status and gets early treatment, should any need arise.

    The medical screening, which included checks for high blood pressure, sugar level, and cholesterol, will also be held at Kairo Market in Araromi, Oshodi.

    A pharmacist and consultant, Mrs. Adenike Adeyanju, said health education and screening for market/business women, who are mostly busy, is important to stay healthy for their families.

    She said: “I have been a pharmacist for over 30 years. I left Nigeria for the United States (U.S.A) when I was 14. Now that I’m back, I want to give back to society. The area I want to concentrate on is the market/business women.

    “As a businesswoman myself, when I leave the house in the morning, I don’t return till late at night. I will start cooking and take care of the house. I have no time for myself.

    “Women take care of everybody but neglect themselves. That is why I chose this community of women to teach them how to pay attention to their bodies and take care of them.”

    To help the women, Adeyanju said health screenings would be held quarterly for them.

    The health expert said when health issues are being addressed, “we will follow them up and make sure that they get help, and that’s the goal.”

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    While shedding more light on the prevailing health issues among market women, Adeyanju said: “From our research, we found out that most market women don’t see a doctor because they feel that nothing is wrong with them. Some say that they don’t have the time to see a doctor because they will miss work. Therefore, they don’t go to examine their bodies, and they keep going until the body drops.”

    Founder of Menopause Support Nigeria, Mrs. Mosunmola Dosunmu, also a pharmacist, spoke on the topic: Know Your Body Pre- and Post-Menopausal Stages, noted that by the Year 2030, one out of every six women would be menopausal.

    “Every woman should prepare for ageing by acquiring knowledge. By the Year 2030, if the knowledge level on menopause doesn’t improve, we are going to have a pandemic of sick old people, and that will affect the nation as well,” she said.

    Addressing the diabetes epidemic on the topic: Diabetes, Causes, Treatment and Preventative, the Director of Ibukun Olu Maternity Clinic, Dr. Dapo Ogunsola, described diabetes as a silent killer that could be managed through lifestyle changes, nutritional habits and medication, if detected early.

  • ‘Women entrepreneurs need to work twice as hard’

    ‘Women entrepreneurs need to work twice as hard’

    Elizabeth Idigbe is the Executive Secretary of PUNUKA Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation focused on children with developmental needs. She is also the Managing Partner of PUNUKA Attorneys & Solicitors. The Law graduate of the University of Benin has leveraged her 36 years of work experience covering both corporate and private practice to bring immense value to the needy in society and to law and jurisprudence. She shares her story with Deputy News Editor JOSEPH JIBUEZE and Assistant Editor CHIKODI OKEREOCHA.

    The avalanche of legacy projects commissioned under her watch bears eloquent testimony to the unrelenting pursuit of her passion for helping the needy in the society through PUNUKA Foundation, which Elizabeth Idigbe co-founded with her husband, Dr Anthony Idigbe (SAN).

    they also speak to her resolve to bring immense value to law and jurisprudence both locally and internationally, through the law firm of PUNUKA Attorneys & Solicitors, where she is also Managing Partner.

    First, PUNUKA Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation, which has never hidden its special focus on children with developmental needs such as autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, Attention Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and related conditions, commissioned its purpose-built Childcare Centre located at the Sangotedo area of Lagos.

    That was on July 30, 2023, with the Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, His Grace, Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, and Her Excellency, Princess Adejoke Adefulire, on hand to bless and commission the Centre.

    An obviously elated and fulfilled Elizabeth told The Nation that the Centre was built to cater for children with developmental needs. She said it will provide boarding support (Monday to Friday) with therapists (behavioural, speech and occupational), in-house nurses and Dominican Rev. Fr. of course for spiritual support.

    “We are currently registering and going through the onboarding process for interested families and hope to commence operation of the Centre on or before the end of November 2023,” Elizabeth, who is a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) and also the Executive Secretary of the Foundation, said.

    The Foundation also commissioned two projects in Asaba, Delta State, on August 12, 2023. The first was a Museum built in honour of the legal icon, the late Justice Chukwunweike Idigbe, who was the founder of the law firm, PUNUKA Attorneys & Solicitors.

    The second project was a Youth Centre and Library to provide the much-needed space and resources for research and knowledge sharing for people resident in Asaba and its environs. The Foundation also sponsored an e-library at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) office in Asaba.

    According to Elizabeth, this year marked the 100th posthumous birthday anniversary of Justice Chukwunweike Idigbe. She said the Foundation leveraged this landmark celebration to execute a number of programmes geared towards improving the well-being and potential of people with developmental needs.

    “We organised charity visits to homes in Lagos, Abuja and Asaba on the 14th and 15th of February 2023. It was a huge success and we are glad we were able to put smiles on the faces of those amazing children,” she told The Nation.

    She said since its inception, the Foundation has been involved in various activities that aligned with its vision, including sponsorship of awareness/sensitisation programmes for parents with special needs children and caregivers, and sponsorship of intervention programmes such as behavioural, occupational and speech therapies.

    Others are yearly subvention to some of the homes, provision of needed facilities, food items, learning aids, reconstruction of classrooms, construction of toilets and ramps to make these accessible to challenged persons, amongst so many other activities.

    But how does the Foundation choose its target beneficiaries? Elizabeth said: “We run an all-inclusive programme and interested parents are welcome to apply and go through the due diligence/onboarding process. For the Childcare Centre, we are starting with the age range of a minimum of five years and a maximum of 17 years.”

    As Elizabeth emphasized: “It is always an amazing discovery to know that these children are indeed gifted with amazing talents which are revealed through the right interventions.

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    “The Childcare Centre is a platform to achieve this impact, but aside from the Childcare Centre, we will continue to provide training for parents, teachers and caregivers.”

    Interestingly, Elizabeth drew her motivation to offer succour to the needy in society particularly special needs children from her own personal experience.

    Her story: “I have a son with special needs and I went through a lot of challenges trying to obtain needed support for him. It was a transforming experience for me and my husband.

    “That whole experience birthed the passion to pursue a course that will ensure parents with special needs children get the needed support and awareness and also provide the needed intervention to our amazing children to help them through life and maximize their potential. That was what led to the establishment of the PUNUKA Foundation.”

    The mission of the PUNUKA Foundation and Child Care Center is to provide comprehensive and compassionate care for children with disabilities. With the goal of empowering these children to reach their fullest potential, and promoting their overall development, well-being, and inclusion in society, the Foundation has continued to charge on.

    Elizabeth underscored the Foundation’s commitment, saying that in the coming months and years, “We will continue to positively impact more and more children and cause families that were previously emotionally drained and sometimes helpless to find hope, knowing that their children will fulfil their destinies and maximise their potentials in life.”

    A commitment so profound, Elizabeth has also brought same to bear on the legal profession, her first ‘love,’ where, for instance, she oversaw the commissioning of the Justice Idigbe Law Faculty Building at the Veritas University, Abuja. The faculty, which was built with the support of the Idigbe family, was inaugurated on July 3.

    The project was inaugurated by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola. “We also had the PUNUKA Annual Lecture in Abuja, chaired by Chief Awomolo, SAN, with special guest speakers that included His Excellency Babatunde Fashola, Professor Epiphany Azinge, SAN, Professor Abiola Sanni (SAN) and Professor Obiora Okafor.”

    A 1986 Law graduate of the University of Benin, Elizabeth was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987. She also obtained a Masters in Law (LLM) from the University of Lagos, in 1989. She is also a full member of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON); a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb 2017-2019), UK and an executive member of the Institute’s Nigeria Branch.

    Beautiful, hardworking and focused, Elizabeth boasts 36 years of work experience covering corporate and private practice. She started off in the banking industry and rose to the position of Company Secretary of a major deposit bank.

    She, however, proceeded to the oil & gas sector where she also left a remarkable footprint working as the General Manager in charge of Human Resources, Corporate Services and Company Secretarial of a major oil marketing company in Nigeria before returning to the Firm.

    Sharing her perspective on how today’s legal practice compares to her early days in terms of standards, including areas she would like to see improved upon, the legal practitioner said: “The world itself has evolved, not just the legal profession. In our time, a lot of things were manually done and you have to be physically embedded to get things done.

    “Now, it is not the same, technology is the driver and with the advent of artificial intelligence, you can only imagine what the future will look like. Of course, this can be abused and that is where the issue of standards and discipline comes in.

    “I encourage even the older generation to be technologically aware as that is one critical way to speak the language of the younger generation and be able to engender commitment and discipline.”

    Does Elizabeth sometimes feel intimidated by her male counterparts in the legal profession? “No. Not at all,” she said, attributing her capacity to combine managing a big law firm with overseeing the Foundation’s work to focus and planning.

    “I believe it is about staying focused, planning and having the right support. Of course, not forgetting the God factor. God has always been faithful,” she told The Nation.

    However, her remarkable success in the fields of law and philanthropy is not without challenges, especially for women entrepreneurs, who, according to her, “need to work sometimes twice as hard as their male entrepreneurs.”

    She said, for instance, that the challenges can be grouped into two – external and internal.

    The external challenges, she pointed out, are from the environment including but not limited to economic uncertainties, galloping inflation and high cost of goods and services, transportation, fuelling and difficulty assessing funds, which is a major problem in Nigeria; competition, FX issues amongst other related challenges.

    Elizabeth further said the internal challenges are the ones that are internal to an entrepreneur and a female, including but not limited to whether the entrepreneur has a passion for the business, knowledge/experience in what he or she does, his or her drive which is similar to passion but different.

    “The entrepreneur’s vision/mission/values and how he or she applies these to the business, his or her knowledge of how to run a business including knowing that the business revenue is different from the personal income, and so many other factors also matter,” she added.

    The entrepreneur, legal practitioner cum child rights advocate pointed out that a lot of businesses fail where the aforementioned factors are not properly applied. “My advice is that female entrepreneurs should stay strong and focused. They should have a vision and run with it with vigour and dexterity,” she said.

    Elizabeth noted that although gender biases have reduced, there are still some climes that see women as only good enough for making babies and taking care of the home.

    “A woman entrepreneur in such space must work even harder at staying focused,  she should arrange herself to be productive, not using children as excuses. A work-life integration is very important,” she counselled.

  • A cry for women emancipation, empowerment

    A cry for women emancipation, empowerment

    An end must come to the many ills the woman suffers for her ‘womanity’, and it will be followed by freedom and empowerment, as espoused by Ololade Ajayi in her collection of poetry, ‘THE RHEAVOLUTION’.

     The book reflects on the many ills women suffer in the society, which didn’t start today. Our ancestors laid the foundation and erected the cornerstones. We inherited same and continue to perpetuate them, even with our education and exposure. Ajayi, however, is confident the woman will do all it takes to be free, choose herself first and above all, while the world adjusts to the new normal.

    Ajayi’s poems are a lament, saying that for the female, happiness is not a given, it has to be grabbed, and grabbed it must, the world will adjust.’ But first, there must be self-awareness, the consciousness to stand against all that hold her down. Rebellion, perhaps, will do justice. But, whatever, the woman must be free, and by all means possible.

    Section one of the book – ‘Rheavolution of the Body: The Feminist’s Manifesto’, reminds women of the importance of proudly accepting themselves and taking charge of their bodies. It reinforces the feminist manifesto of ‘our body belongs to us, and we will give it the desired attention and pleasure’.

    In ‘Alone’, the poet laments that the woman is alone in her fight to become someone, but she will fight notwithstanding. She also says though the 16 days of activism against sexual and domestic abuse is not enough to prosecute the fight, women will use is judiciously.  

    ‘The Rheawakening’ tells of the coming of age, the realisation of womanhood and the pleasure it can get. Ajayi laments that patriarchy tried to cut it short, but insists that women will go ahead and fulfil the desires which their bodies want because it is the age of rheawakening.

    Ajayi dedicates ‘Dear Nameless Girl in my Dreams’ to the kidnapped girls who have been sold into sexual slavery and thus becoming a statistics. She speaks of efforts to rescue the girl, but there were forces too powerful she couldn’t overcome.

    In ‘Womanity’, the poet speaks of liberating women from every shackle that hold them down. She speaks of womanity by walking together, schooling together, surviving together, and others. Through this united womanity in purpose, the female gender will get the desired liberation because there is strength in unity.

    ‘Girl’ is the long-awaited memo to the girl-child. Ajayi encourages the girl-child to do her no matter the situation and circumstances, the world will adjust. The girl-child must grab the world by its balls because only then can she be free and happy.

    This poem perhaps sums the theme in ‘The Rheavolution’ – the many prejudices against the woman, the many barriers the society places before her, not minding that she is already bogged down by peculiar challenges such as menstruation, hormonal imbalance, and others. But here is Ajayi telling the girl-child, ‘the world is yours to take, grab it and see it adjust to your taste and bidding’.

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    After this memo begins the journey to self-discovery and satisfaction. In ‘When you see me’, where Ajayi tells the world –when you see me, don’t put me in a box because you don’t know what I have been through. Years of pain and hurt hidden in my heart, yet I want to come out with pride and stride with pride.

     The coming of age is made more beautiful with ‘A New Rheagime’, where women live up to their womanhood, no more body shaming, no more putting down. The woman must live her life as she deems fit. No to the dictates of men, the world will definitely adjust. It also comes with the ‘Rheassurance’ that the woman will survive despite the odds. She will not be held down no matter the hurt of the past, she must fulfil her dreams. Yes, the woman will fulfil her dreams no matter the resistance or barrier.

    And in ‘Break the Bias’, the world is admonished to support the woman. She is capable of deciding what she wants out of life; all she needs is support, and not condemnation, doubt or rebuke. The woman must have a say. Her voice must be heard so break the bias.

    In section two of the collection, the poet reminiscences on the memory of loved ones, especially those who died in the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic. The poems in this section remind us to daily live life at its best, and love to the fullest. Life is but a passing phase, and it’s soon gone in a twinkling. Life is vanity. Despite the sprawling mansions we build and fanciful attires we wear, nothing lasts forever.

    ‘Nothing’ explains this more succinctly, when it says ‘Life is a rip off once again,

    Nothing is the answer to everything’.

     The third section – Rheavolution of the Mind: We the People’ is both a lament about the current state of Nigeria and the expression of a new hope. The poet says in ‘Birthright’ that the right to rule Nigeria is reserved for every Nigerian, while in ‘Barter by Ransom’, she berates the government and leaders for failing to perform the roles for which they were elected. She especially honours Leah Sharibu who remains in Boko Haram captivity till date. When will these things end?

    She ends her ‘Rheavolution’ collections with ‘Nigerhean’, to show her desires for a Nigeria that everyone will be proud of. It tells of her hopes that Nigeria will one day get it right.

    Ajayi has asked many questions, raised the dust, and sang a lament for the society which continues to trample upon its most valuable asset – the woman, when it should give her the full rights and privileges deserving of a ‘Peace Bearer’ and the carrier of good news, both for the present and the future. Why should a society be violent towards its bringer of peace, the same vessel through which it can be transformed? It’s been said that a woman represents a nation, if trained and empowered to the fullest, then a nation has been rescued from doom. In it all, Ajayi is still hopeful that with the right decisions taken at the right time, the gloom will fade soon enough, and give way to the brightest of lights.

    Book review

    Title: The Rheavolution

    Author: Ololade Ajayi

    Reviewer: Oyebola Owolabi

    Pages: 51

  • Women make case for awareness on nutrition transition

    Women make case for awareness on nutrition transition

    The National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), has called on the Federal Government to give priority to creating awareness on nutrition transition.

    This, the organisation said would help curb the plethora of health and wellbeing challenges that continue to plague Nigeria.

    NCWS also called on the Minister of Agriculture, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, to engage women-led civil society groups in the design, planning, and implementation of his agricultural blueprint to ensure inclusivity, transparency to prioritize climate adaptation and nutrition as bases for food security in Nigeria.

    The Organization at a press conference in Abuja said there is a clear nexus between food security and gender inclusivity.

    National President NCWS, Hajiya Lami Lau, commended the Minister for his vision in improving food security through innovative interventions and improved funding.

    She said the significance of gender mainstreaming in the implementation of agricultural policies, especially targeting food security cannot be overemphasised.

    Lau said “There is a relationship between climate change, nutrition and women’s economic empowerment. Similarly, food insecurity has a direct relationship to nutritive access. We therefore call on you to support women operating in the agricultural ecosystem to improve resilience to the negative impacts of climate change on agricultural productivity in Nigeria.

    “In this regard, the coalition believes introducing some civil society/private sector best practices in program management may improve their administrative quality, thereby effectively reaching desired outcomes. ‘’

    The group described the Minister’s decision to pay attention to climate change adaptation and nutrition as a possible game changer that could lead the nation to increased food security, economic development, and poverty reduction.

    NCWS in partnership with the Partnership for Advancing Women in Economic Development, a coalition of over 100 women collectives in Nigeria and other women’s civil society organizations working in gender in agriculture and nutrition, called on the Minister to engage women-led civil society groups in the design, planning, and implementation of his agricultural blueprint to ensure inclusivity and transparency and prioritize climate adaptation and nutrition as bases for food security in Nigeria.


    While also appealing to the Honorable Minister to give priority to awareness creation on nutrition transition, which it said can curb the plethora of health and wellbeing challenges that continue to plague Nigeria, the group added that inclusivity will strengthen transparency and accountability in the management of public programs designed to ameliorate the challenges of food security as well as enhance the overall growth of the agricultural sector.

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     The group, therefore, called for the use of smart technology to assist in managing the numerous negative impacts of climate change on agricultural output, stressing the need to improve the dissemination of nutrition education, particularly in rural areas.

    ‘’ We want to add that women’s networks will prove invaluable partners in this educational process because mothers are at the forefront of nutritional management in many Nigerian households, as children suffer the most from malnutrition and undernutrition. ‘’ It said

    The group then expressed confidence that the Honorable Minister’s vision for improved food security in Nigeria will bring a renewed and reinvigorated focus on providing sustainable solutions to challenges of food security concerning the impacts of climate change and impacts on nutrition in Nigeria.

  • Military adopts gender policy to protect women, children during conflicts

    Military adopts gender policy to protect women, children during conflicts

    The Defence Headquarters says the asymmetric nature of current security challenges in the country has made the military and other security agencies adopt a more realistic gender mainstreaming strategy to defend and protect women and children during conflicts.

    It also said that the Armed Forces of Nigeria has attained 27.9 per cent female participation in peace support operations as against the 17 per cent benchmark recommended by the United Nations (UN).

    The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, said this at a one-day Gender Mainstreaming Conference organized by the Defence Headquarters Abuja on Thursday, November 9.

    He said the Nigerian military had received encomium from the UN and the Africa Union (AU) for adopting commendable gender mainstreaming policies in all its military operations within and outside Nigeria.

    The CDS said: “The available record reveals that the Armed Forces of Nigeria have been able to attain 27.9 per cent female participation in peacekeeping operations.

    “These deliberate efforts by the military are in line with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, mandating countries to develop their own action plans to identify, evaluate and control efforts to achieve the objectives of Women, Peace and Security.

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    “The UN Security Council Resolution 1325 was mooted to ensure women and societal security needs are safeguarded through increased emphasis on prevention, protection and participation of women in military operations.”

    Gen. Musa said the conference, themed as “Building Capacity Through Gender Mainstreaming to meet Security Challenges” was tailored at fashioning out the right ambience for the Nigerian military in designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating operational and administrative doctrines that would promote and enhance their capacity to combat the myriads of security challenges.

    He urged all participants and stakeholders to be open minded to engage in constructive discussions that would further improve the existing gender policies and gender mainstreaming in the military.
    Musa reiterated that the armed forces under his command would remain focused in championing gender based doctrinal policies both in its operations and other engagements.

    The UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, commended the Federal Government’s efforts in promoting gender mainstreaming in the nation’s armed forces.

    Mohammed said the conference was apt in building on the Gender Policies for the Armed Forces of Nigeria that was launched in 2021, adding that Nigeria, like many other nations, faces many security challenges, both the national and regional levels.

    The UN scribe said the UN would continue to support the federal government in its efforts to deepen gender inclusiveness and bridge the gender gaps in the armed forces.

    She said that the challenges had far reaching consequences, particularly for the most vulnerable members of society, such as women and children.
    According to her, the Nigerian armed forces had continued to play pivotal roles in both preventing and responding to those security challenges while upholding human rights and safeguarding the nation’s security.

    Mohammed said: “Gender mainstreaming is crucial to the peace process during and after conflict because it sits at the heart of our Sustainable Development Goals.

    “Study after study has demonstrated that when we strengthen women’s resilience and leadership, everyone benefits, including men and boys.

    “Women are more likely to foster inclusive modes of governance and coexistence, more likely to build peace and silence against, and more likely to invest in sustainable development and a cornerstone of peaceful, prosperous communities and societies.

    “Women’s active participation and leadership at all levels is essential to building an inclusive, responsive, and accountable armed forces that reflects the diversity of the community service and better response to their needs.”

    The British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Atkinson, said the role of women in policy making in the defence, insecurity and operational frontline had grown and become steadily more important.

    Atkinson said the UK and Nigeria had adopted and domesticated UNSCR 1325, which had made the role of women in peace and security fundamental to the future of the nations’ defence and security.

    She said that Nigeria had shown its commitment to the resolution in many ways such as in the protection of survivors of sexual violence, supporting the call to action to ensure the rights and well-being of children born of sexual violence in conflict.

    According to her, inclusive military and security organizations are the key to helping them meet the standards set out in these agreements.

    “But I think it’s important too that we understand and pay tribute to the women at the grassroots who are working with their communities and upwards through the system to bring peace and security, reconciliation and support both the women and the men in their communities.

    “We must make sure that gender considerations are fully integrated into policy, practices and operational environment and the armed forces can lead the way,” she said.

  • Police reform to focus on women in policing, says Ribadu 

    Police reform to focus on women in policing, says Ribadu 

    The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu has said that the police reform will also focus on the role of women in policing the country.

    Ribadu said the robust reform within the police is certain.

    He spoke at the 2023 Women Peace Forum convened by the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), with the theme: strengthening women’s strategy engagement in climate – focused peacemaking in Nigeria, in Abuja.

    Ribadu, who was represented by Zakari Mijinyawa, Chief Communication Officer, Office of the NSA, said security and peace in the country is inevitable, adding that women should be part of the development.

    He said: “There is going to be a robust reform within the police. It is the belief of the NSA that this reform of the Nigerian police will look at the role of women and gender issues as far as policing is concerned.

    “The center has been critical over the years in supporting a lot of programmes in the national security sector. And as a country Nigeria has ensured that gender mainstreaming is a critical aspect of our policy processes in the challenges that we have faced over the years.

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    “For example in 2015, for the first time, gender security was included in the national security strategy.

    This is a major statement for the country and its aliens with a lot of processes globally. Now, why this is critical is that for the first time this national security strategy in 2015 says that Nigeria is moving to a human security focus.

    “We all know the element of human security, the lack of which affects our women globally. So, it is at the heart of policy strategy.

    “When we were building the national counter terrorism strategy, we ensured that gender was mainstream. Also, I remember that upon developing the policy framework and national action plan for preventing a country via extremism, the place of women, youths, girls, their care and participation is key. So, in this implementation, a lot of programming has gone on especially in terms of community policing.

    “Within this new administration, if you look at the renewed hope agenda, this is a critical component in both security, economy, and social focus. And from the appointments and the participation of women so far from the campaign to governance you can see that there is a key determination to involve women and to ensure that this involvement contributes significantly to bringing solution”.

  • Lagos Women’s Run organisers jack up prize money

    Lagos Women’s Run organisers jack up prize money

    Organizers are set to host the eight edition of Lagos Women Run, while also initiating innovative ways to make it more glamorous than previous years.

    The event which would kick-off on the 7th  of November, at Teslim Balogun Stadium, would start with a woman empowerment programme, ‘EXPO’ to identify talents, network among women and bring women together.

    The Coordinator of the race, Tayo Popoola, noted that there would be significant increase of the prize to be won by the winner.

    She also, noted that Lagos Women Run would also be empowering individuals at the event through its carefully outlined programmes targeted at empowering women in the state.

    Her words: “I want to thank the Lagos State government for increasing the prize money by 50%.

     “This is the eight edition, and unlike the N1 million prize money for last year’s edition, we are paying the winner of the Open Race N1.5 million, while the prize money for the veteran race is now N500,000, as against the N300,000 in the past.

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     “Also, the prize moneys are  always for the top 10 in the two categories, but now we are paying the top 20, and we already have over 8,000 runners already registered, with more than 300 professional runners.”

    Veteran actress, Bukky Ogunnote, said her Organization, Nigeria Women Development Initiatives, decided to inform women within their organisation about the advantages of becoming part of the Lagos Women Run, and they decided to key into it. “We are in partnership with the organisers, and many women are coming from us from different parts of Lagos State.”

    Over 2000 women would be part of the race. We have seen the Women’s Run as an opportunity for women to ease tension, relax their minds, and meet with people.

     “There are a lot of advantages in it, and it is not just for running sake alone. When you engage in physical exercise, it always helps you mentally, physically, emotionally, and in all wise, and we told our women the advantages, and they keyed into it,” she noted

  • The country the women deserve

    The country the women deserve

    • By Kene Obiezu

    Sir: According to the 2023 Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Index report, Nigeria ranks as the 16th most unsafe country for women in the world. If this is not a scandal, then pray what is?

    The odds stacked against women in Nigeria are well documented. In a country that is the perfect microcosm of a patriarchal world, women play second fiddle to men in almost every sphere of life.

    In politics especially, while women form the bulk of the Nigerian electorate and grassroots supporters, they embarrassingly play catch-up when the pies are go be shared.

    According to the report, Nigeria ranks 16th worst country out of 177 nations in terms of the status of women. The ranking was compiled along indicators linked to education, jobs, laws, and organized violence, divided into three categories: inclusion, justice, and security. According to the report, all the bottom 20 countries, including Nigeria, experienced violent conflicts between 2021 and 2022. Furthermore, 2022 has been identified as the most fatal year for conflict-related deaths since the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

    According to the rankings, the top five countries for women to live in are Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland.

    The greatest indicator of the unmitigated marginalisation of women in Nigeria is in politics. The National Gender Policy prescribes that 35 per cent of all political appointments be reserved for women.

    If the NGP has been given a particularly short shrift by successive Nigerian administrations because it is a mere policy, there was a ground breaking judgment of the Federal High Court in 2022. The court ruled that 35 per cent of all political appointments should be reserved for women.

    The current administration which took off on May 29 has not abided the judgment of the court even if it initially promised to do so.

     A raft of early appointments initially promised to meet the 35% requirement for women until follow-up appointments put paid to those hopes. There is no doubt that the trend has to be reversed soonest if Nigeria is to drop out of the list of the worst countries for women completely.

    Women are nation builders, peacemakers and crucial components in the wheel of any nation that aspires to development.

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    The benefits of creating an inclusive society for women are well documented. It includes significant gains for children and the economy.

    It also includes great strides in all the indices that decorate a prosperous society.

    What Nigeria must do is clear- build a society that prominently features women in every sphere.

    In politics, education, the economy and just everywhere, women should be granted the visibility they need to contribute what they have in abundance. It is Nigeria that will be better for it.

    It has to begin from allowing women to participate in the highest levels of government.

    When women are allowed to play their part in taking the decisions which affect them, they are able to better shape policies that would benefit them and their children the most.

    There is a lot more that women can contribute than they are doing at the moment. Allowing them to contribute only makes sense.

    Promoting and enforcing legislation that promotes the rights of women is vital as is bringing to account all those who make the country unsafe for women.

    To do otherwise is to ignore a crucial part of it, much to its own peril.

    For as long as women remain where they are in the country, Nigeria can expect to continue its painful slug to national development.

    •Kene Obiezu,

    keneobiezu@gmail.com

  • Most women trivialise the power they have

    Most women trivialise the power they have

    She is tough. She has got gusts but Nkechi Ali-Balogun is also a lover. This top-notch public relations (PR) expert and chief executive officer of NECCI Consulting has an uncommon passion for people, family, God and Nigeria. And what has love got to do with it? Ask Mrs. Ali-Balogun, a pastor and wife of Nigeria’s acclaimed filmmaker Mahmood Ali-Balogun. And she will tell you love is what has driven her commitment to humanity on all fronts, especially in the last 23 years. For three decades, she didn’t only build a flourishing career in PR, but founded the yearly NECCI PR roundtable which gathers thought-leaders in diverse sectors to brainstorm on the development of Nigeria.In this chat with EVELYN OSAGIE, she shares her passion, journeys and more.

    Being a woman

    Women are not to be pitied; they are strong enough to perform every role. The patriarchal system that we have and the misogynistic attitude make the woman feel as if she is helpless and useless but they forget that God created the woman specially. I am talking about inclusivity and affirmative action at all levels. Give us that 30 per cent. We’ve never had it and we’ve never even had a female vice president. God created the woman as a helper and gave her the womb. She is the womb that brings life, ideas and creativity. Most women don’t even know anything about the power they have and they trivialise it. It is only the woman that multitasks in a way that no man can.

    My thought on beauty

    Beauty is a gift from God and if you have it you should nurture it in a way that it blesses everyone. Besides, I value more the beauty that radiates from the inside.

    My beauty regimen

    I believe every woman should look good within what you can afford, but I don’t lose sleep over it. Control your weight, dress decently. I eat well and do a lot of exercise.

    My fashion sense

    My fashion sense is more of conservative than otherwise. I believe that one should be modest and decent even when you have to be trendy. You may laugh at me but I also think that styles should be age appropriate. You cannot go with every vogue.

    Fashion item I cannot do without

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    There is no fashion item I cannot do without because I define my own fashion to align with my pocket and my values

     My background

    I started life as a teacher in Lagos, not just because I wanted to teach but because I couldn’t gain admission into the university to do what I wanted to do. I was offered admission to study Law outside Lagos but for some very personal reasons I couldn’t go outside Lagos then. So, rather than staying at home doing nothing, I went for National Certificate in Education (NCE) and came out as a teacher and I love teaching, again dealing with people. I did my NYSC in 1980 with the likes of Onyeka Onwenu and Shola Omole. I love the fact that I could take a young child and empower the child. From very early in life I have always been a people-driven person. I like finding out how I can bring out the best in somebody. I continued with teaching until free education started in Lagos. I later got admission into the University of Lagos to study Law and came back and started working at NTA where I worked behind the scene as a producer until I went into the banking sector where I started off with the public relations department.

     My voyage into the world of PR

    It has been a really exciting one. Being a woman, particularly one who is into public relations, is indeed something to be proud of. I think need to know and appreciate their femininity. We are successful, not because we are women but because we are competent and have what it takes to do the job.

    I did not know about public relations till I was employed as a public relations person in Nexim Bank. I started the public relations department there from nothing and that is how I started my career in public relations officially.

    It has been 23 years now since I started the PR outfit and I’ve never regretted it. It was not easy at all. But God has been faithful – see how far, I’ve come. What I did was that I discovered that there was a training gap in public relations and I knew I was good in that area by virtue of my background; that was what I focused on. Also, beyond the start off capital are your passion and your drive. I started my business from my house, way back then and I did not take any loan and I’m happy I took that decision.

     My journey at NECCI PR roundtable

    Right from the outset, 23 years ago, the aim of PR roundtable is to bring to the fore topical issues through effective communication to come to the limelight. Most times, why people act ignorantly is because they don’t have information. Information is knowledge, and it’s power. So, being a public relations professional, over time, I have realised the usefulness of communication and how it impacts our businesses and lifestyles. Every year, we look for those topical issues that are impacting on the nation and bring it to the fore – using strategic communication. 

    I remember focusing the roundtable of a particular year on the Blue Economy: we brought to fore how a nation can benefit from the Blue Economy and how it can actually generate revenue and more jobs. And today, you hear everybody talking about Blue economy. In a nutshell, what we do at NECCI PR roundtable is like blowing the alarm and saying, “Look, these are areas/issues that need attention in our nation”. Through communication, we are able to bring it to the limelight. This year, our focus was the role of communication in the fight against trade in the pharma industry. It had as Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Moji Adeyeye, and chaired by Senator Daisy Danjuma.

     My passion towards the fight against illicit trade

    A friend I know died from a surgery due to the anaesthetics he was given which was not the right one. How long can the village woman continue to buy Panadol, not knowing whether it’s original or not? I remember way back, people will ask before buying a drug, if it has NAFDAC number. That is communication. Are we still doing it? Is the man and woman on the street or the rural person aware of the things to look out for to recognise that a particular medicine is safe. Does the illiterate or the market woman out there know how to identify safe drugs? Does she even know the implication of taking that cheap medicine? This is the reason we brought this to the fore at this year’s roundtable because our human capital is the most important capital we have. Without the human capital, the economy and all other things we’re talking about will not be useful.

    Weathering the storm for 23 years

    This is not a money-making thing. This is about passion and patriotism – they have been the driving force behind the PR roundtable. Irrespective of what’s happening in Nigeria today, I love Nigeria. We’ve had a lot of challenges, especially when it comes to funding. For instance, in those days, we used to give everybody three course meals. We don’t anymore: we don’t have sponsors. My husband has been very supportive. Sometimes, we even have to take money out of our own pockets. And that is why today, we are recognising some organisations that have been there for us. Every year, they make sure, no matter how small, they facilitate us and we’re able to start. Really, we could do with support not just from corporate organisation but also government. Even if it’s government intervention: we don’t mind partnering with them. It’s an opportunity for them to come and talk about some of those things they need the public to know.

    Combining career, motherhood and marriage

    Balancing one’s career and family life, it’s all about prioritising. My primary assignment is my family. My career would not run away and it is not a do-or-die affair. You just have to learn to balance it.

    My escape place

    I enjoy a lot of social work and evangelism when I can. I do a lot of talk shows on my YouTube channel and I love reading. My leisure moments vary, from getaway weekends or relaxing on my bed a whole day and being waited on with some choice food. I also watch a lot of movies and listen to ministrations. 

  • Initiative pledges commitment to fight menstrual poverty among deaf girls, women

    Initiative pledges commitment to fight menstrual poverty among deaf girls, women

    The Deaf Women Aloud Initiative (DWAI) has expressed its commitment to fight menstrual poverty among deaf women and girls in the country.

    The Executive Director of the organisation, Mrs Hellen Beyioku-Alase made the pledge at a magazine launch to mark the 5th anniversary celebrations of the initiative in Abuja.

    She said over the last five years, the organisation has been helping deaf women and girls to reach their full potential and to create a better future for them and the community.

    According to her, we have focused on inclusive sexual and reproductive health right, Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Nigeria and also ensuring that their dreams comes to pass.

    She said that they also advocated for policies and practices that promote the rights of deaf women and girls.

    “Menstrual poverty is a major challenge for Deaf women and girls in Nigeria and it can lead to absenteeism for school, stigma, and other negative consequences.

    “Also, we want to ensure that we expand the scope of our work to see that we can impact more lives and create more impact in the future.

    “We will present a documentary on the experience of deaf girls who are passing through menstrual poverty and to see how such issues affect them.

    “One of the areas we would like to focus in the coming years will be on efforts to end menstrual poverty among deaf girls, in schools and in the society,” she said.

    In his remarks, the Director of Socials in the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) Mr Lawrence Idemodia commended the initiative for advocating for deaf women and girls.

    He said that the commission is proud of the work being done as it was bringing issues concerning deaf women to the grunt burner.

    Idemodia said that the works, being part of the mandate of the commission, no stone will be left unturned to support the initiative in fight against mensural poverty in deaf girls and women.

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    Also, the Deputy High Commissioner of Australia in Nigeria, Amb. Matthew Mechan said that the commission was pleased to be a supporter of the initiative for the past 10 years.

    He said that it is important for abled bodied people with voice to give voices to give the deaf a voice.

    “I am an advocate for inclusivity for women and girls but it is even more difficult for women and girls that are deaf.

    “People living with disabilities must be treated equally like any other person because we are all the same,” he said.

    Also, Mrs Sarah Salawu, a Senior Social Welfare Officer in the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs said that the activities of DWAI are in line with the vision and mission of the ministry.

    She pledged the support of the ministry for the organisation saying that the ministry is open to welcoming collaboration from DWAI for greater partnership.

    In his remark, Mr Abdulmalik Ibrahim, Head of Reforms Unit in the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) congratulated DWAI for the successes over the years.

    He assured that the doors of the agency is always open to DWAI for any form is support or partnership.

    In his remarks, the Chairman, Abuja Association of the Deaf, Mr Ayode Beyioku-Alase felicitated DWAI on the auspicious occasion of its 5th anniversary.
    He expressed admiration and appreciation for the incredible work that DWAI has been doing over the past five years in empowering and advocating for deaf women and girl child.

    “Your commitment to creating a platform where deaf women can find their voice, express their talents, and address the unique challenges they face is truly commendable.

    “DWAI’s steadfast dedication to promoting equal opportunities, fostering inclusivity, enhancing overall well-being of deaf women has not gone unnoticed.

    “Your initiatives, programmes and activities have had a profound impact on the lives of countless deaf women, empowering them to reach their full potential and become confident, independent individuals.

    “In celebrating DWAI’s 5th anniversary, we recognise the achievements you have made and the milestones you have surpassed. Your unwavering commitment to creating a supportive environment for deaf women to thrive and succeed is an inspiration to us all,” he said.

    Beyioku-Alase extend the appreciation of the association to the founders, members, volunteers, and supporters of DWAI.

    He said that the collective efforts have brought about positive change, not only within the deaf community but also within society at large.