News
Presidency, NLC, Senate, others celebrate women
By Gboyega Alaka, Bolaji Ogundele, Frank Ikpefan, Gbenga Omokhunu, Damian Duruiheoma, Moses Emorinken and Sanni Onogu
The Presidency yesterday led dignitaries and organisations to celebrate women on the occasion of this year’s International Women’s Day.
President Muhammadu Buhari, in a statement, said this year’s edition of the International Women’s has provided it the opportunity to honour the Nigerian woman.
The International Women’s Day, which is celebrated on March 8 of every year, is a globally observed to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women.
This year’s edition has been themed “Choose to Challenge”.
In the statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, the Presidency reeled out a list of some of the women who have been working with President Buhari in his administration, tagged ‘the Buhari Women’.
The statement published the names and positions of 32 such appointees, which, it said, are just a few of them.
According to the statement, the ‘Buhari Women’ projects to the world how the President had been honouring the womenfolk.
The statement reads: “Here is a checklist of ‘The Buhari Women,’ just few of them: Zainab Ahmed, Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning; Sadiya Umar Farouq, Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development; Pauline Tallen, Honourable Minister of Women Affairs; Mariam Yalwaji Katagum, Honourable Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, and Sharon Ikeazor, Honourable Minister of State for Environment.
“On the list too are Gbemisola Saraki, Honourable Minister of State for Transportation; Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, Honourable Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT); Folashade Yemi-Esan, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; Mariam Uwais, Special Adviser to the President; Jumoke Oduwole, Special Adviser to the President on Industry, Trade and Investment, and Secretary of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) and Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
“Others are Hadiza Bala-Usman, Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson and CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission; Chioma Ejikeme, Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD); Patience Oniha, Director-General, Debt Management Office (DMO); Aisha Dahir-Umar, Director-General, National Pension Commission; Jummai A.M. Audi, Chairperson, Nigerian Law Reform Commission (NLRC); Yewande Sadiku, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC); Gloria Akobundu, National Coordinator/Chief Executive of New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), Nigeria; Nnenna Akajemeli, National Coordinator/CEO, SERVICOM and Folashade Joseph, Managing Director, Nigeria Agriculture Insurance Corporation (NAIC).
“Also on the lists are Cecilia Gaya, Director-General, Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Ronke Sokefun, Chairperson, Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC); Aishah Ahmad, Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); and Stella Ojekwe-Onyejeli, Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
“The rest are Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Oge Modie, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Strategic Communications; Toyin Adeniji, Executive Director, Micro Enterprises, Bank of Industry (Oversees the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, GEEP); Stella Okotete, Executive Director, Business Development, NEXIM Bank; Omolola Abiola-Edewor, Executive Director, Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC); Imaan Sulaiman–Ibrahim, Director-General, National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and Lauretta Onochie, Personal Assistant to the President on Social Media, and INEC Federal Commissioner-nominee.”
Lawan: women deserve support, respect from society
Senate President Ahmad Lawan has said women deserve full support and respect in view of their indispensable roles.
Lawan, in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), Ola Awoniyi, in Abuja, described the theme of this year’s celebration, “Choose to Challenge”, as apt in reminding society of the pivotal roles women play in the family and nation-building and the need to pay attention to the challenges confronting them.
“Women play indispensable roles in private and public lives and deserve full support and respect of society for those roles.
“Our women also deserve support and encouragement to participate without discrimination or inhibitions in governance and public affairs in general.
“Our public policies should therefore deliberately seek to get the best from them for the peace and progress of our country,” Lawan said.
Obaseki ‘committed to more women in govt’
Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has committed to accommodating more women in his government by ensuring that they are given equal opportunity to contribute to the state’s development.
The governor, who said this in commemoration of the International Women’s Day marked every March 8, noted that he would continue to advance policies and programmes to promote gender mainstreaming.
According to him, “As a government, we are committed to providing opportunities for women to contribute to the state’s development. We already have ample examples of how women have transformed different sectors of the state’s economy. We are proud of the achievement of these women and will be engaging them more as we work to make Edo great again.”
I support another woman, says Senator Tinubu
Senator Oluremi Tinubu has expressed support for women’s development.
The senator, in a statement to commemorate the International Women’s Day, called for support for women.
Senator Tinubu’s statement reads: “I am delighted to celebrate with Nigerian women and our counterparts all over the world on the commemoration of International Women’s Day, 2021.
“The global UN theme for this year’s celebration, “Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world” reflects the novelty of the times we are in, and is a pointer to the need continue to further the cause of women in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic and our new normal. The pandemic has brought to the fore, the urgent need for more women in leadership and management; and the importance of socio-economic empowerment of women across board.
“Unfortunately for us in Nigeria, in addition to the effects of COVID-19, we have other issues including but not limited to insurgency and banditry to contend with. The effect on our younger generations, particularly the girls, some of whom are still being held by their abductors is unimaginable. If we let this scourge continue to ravage our Nation, who would be left for us to bequeath anything at all?
“There is work to do towards ensuring that we have a viable Nation where young girls and women can wake up, secure, happy and proud to be Nigerian.
“As a Nigerian woman, what are you doing in your business to support and empower women? What role are you playing to challenge gender biases and discrimination in your Community? Are you still conforming to gender stereotypes? What are you doing to ensure that girls and women around you have a voice and can use it effectively?
“Beyond the rhetoric, I challenge men and women alike to support women and their causes, condemn in absolute terms all forms of gender based violence and crimes against women, and create around you, an environment that ensures that women can flourish and thrive.
“As women, we must also continue to show strength and courage, challenging assumptions and raising the bar in our homes, businesses, our chosen careers, management and public office.
“I look forward to a world that is safe for our daughters, sisters and mothers; and assure you of my continued commitment to the advancement of rights and causes of womenfolk.
“Once again, I congratulate you all and wish you Happy International Women’s Day.”
Women workers are being harassed in work places, says NLC
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said a large percentage of women in both formal and informal sectors are “going through hell” because they are being harassed.
The women, the NLC noted, find it difficult to express themselves while suffering in silence.
The Congress premised its assertions on findings it carried out at various work places.
The NLC noted that the failure of the Federal Government to ratify and domesticate the convention 190 which discourages Gender Based Violence and Harassment (GBVH) in the world of work as adopted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) two years ago was aiding the trend.
Addressing reporters at a virtual workshop in collaboration with Solidarity Centre AFL-CIO during the weekend, in commemoration of International Women’s Day, the Head, Women and Youth department of NLC, Rita Goyit, wondered why FG was still delaying ratification of convention 190.
She said despite making commitment to ratify the convention, the Federal Government was yet to keep its promise, saying the delay had drawn Nigeria back in some pertinent areas.
Goyit said: “In 2019, when the ILO Convention 190 was adopted in Geneva, the Nigerian government made a commitment that it will be among the first countries to ratify and also domesticate the Convention, but that is yet to be done.”
Goyit, who explained that Nigeria stands to gain a lot by ratifying the convention 190, stressed that it would make work places free from violence and harassment and will also boost productivity, adding that it would also put Nigeria on the list of countries that promote human rights.
The Deputy Chairperson, National Women Commission of NLC, told reporters how the Congress has been leading various campaigns to encourage women to speak up against GBVH and break the culture of silence society condones around GBVH.
She insisted that they would not back down on their campaigns against GBVH until government and employers do the needful to protect women in Nigeria.
Senior Programme Officer, Solidarity Center AFL-CIO, Nkechi Odinukwe, revealed how gender-based violence and harassment was affected and worsened by cultural, economic, ideological, political, social, environmental and health factors.
She listed displacement, armed conflict, terrorism, migration and increased globalization of economic activities and COVID-19 pandemic as factors that have compounded woes of women across 36 states of the federation.
She said: “Within this COVID-19 pandemic period, gender-based violence especially rape and domestic violence against women workers have risen to exponential levels as women who could get away from abusive partners before the pandemic now find they have to forcefully stay in same spaces with their abuser due to social distancing restrictions.
“We have seen a lot of women workers abused at home this period than ever before. These women workers come to work dealing with a lot of issues linked to abuse they face at home.”
Activists seek practical approach to end poverty among women
A group of activists, under the auspices of Helpline Foundation for the Needy in collaboration with Make a Difference for The Needy Foundation and the Association of Wives of Traditional Rulers in FCT, said it is time to move beyond the yearly talk shows, to empowerment of rural women especially, at a time when countries are battling to recover from the economic difficulties occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking at the end of a skill acquisition training organised for rural women, the founder of Helpline Foundation for the Needy, Dr. Jumai
Ahmadu, said the foundation chose to empower women with skills, in line with this year’s theme which is choose to challenge.
In her words: “We just want to bring them together, to give them some skills, so that they can challenge themselves, and by the time we meet next time, we will be able to identify the specific things they have done as a result of us bringing them here.”
Feminists worried over increasing violence against women
The Nigerian Feminists Forum (NFF) has raised the alarm that violence against women and girls have reached unprecedented proportions across the country.
NFF is a biennial public policy forum that brings together self-identifying women, who through feminists’ principles challenge the system of power, promoting the learning and teaching of feminists principles and universality of women’s rights.
In a statement by the group’s spokesperson, Angela Nkwo, NFF said: “The violations against women and girls have reached unprecedented proportions, and a lack of data collection means there is no accurate record for the exact numbers of women and girls kidnapped and abused daily; with no conscious government effort to address these injustices or provide redress for the victims or address the break down in insecurity.”
Women are partners in progress for a better society, says Uzodimma
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has said that the society will be incomplete if women are not fully incorporated as partners in progress.
The governor said women have demonstrated capacity in all spheres of human endeavour, including where men could not, hence their diverse abilities should complement that of the menfolk in making the society a better place for all to live.
Uzodimma, whose government has more than 35 female appointees in his administration as either Commissioners, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, Directors General, among others, believes that getting the womenfolk to occupy responsible political and other offices will go a long way in helping to mould our children into becoming responsible members of the society.
He preached zero tolerance for gender-based violence because it has a way of limiting the potentials of women and urged mothers and the girl child to see themselves as the mirror through which a better society could be gleaned.
Firm targets Africa’s first women-only Assembly plant
Stallion-Bajaj Alliance (Nigeria) has announced its plan to establish Africa’s first women-only assembly plant in Nigeria.
To this end, it has trained and integrated 40 women into VON Assembly Plant in Lagos Nigeria and aim to significantly grow its female representation to 35% by the end of 2022.
These are some of the company’s glide tidings to Nigerian women, as it commemorates this year’s International Women’s Day.
Speaking during a press tour of the VON Assembly Plant, the MD, Stallion-Bajaj Auto Keke LTD, Mr Manish Rohtagi, said “To celebrate IWD this year, we will be welcoming a new set of female mechanics to the training programme. This is in line with our goal to train and absorb 500 female technicians by 2022. To achieve this, we will be holding several more training sessions for female riders, female assemblers and female mechanics before the year runs out.”
According to Rohtagi, women make up over half of the world’s population and are integral to the growth of the world economy and the Stallion-Bajaj Alliance has put gender equality at the forefront of its SDGs. “For Stallion-Bajaj, International Women’s Day is a reminder that there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure more spaces are created for women to thrive. It is a reminder for us to examine our processes and structures, to ensure wage gaps are closed, equal- opportunities are offered to women at all levels.”
Mothers critical to war against use of narcotics, says NAFDAC
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), yesterday stressed that Nigerian mothers play a pivotal role in nation-building, especially in the war against the use of narcotics and other dangerous drugs amongst the youths.
It urged mothers to be vigilant, and pay more attention to the wellbeing of their children, by closely monitoring the kind of friends their children keep.
The Director-General of the NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made these known in her message to Nigerian mothers to commemorate the International Women Day 2021, in Abuja.
Prof Adeyeye, in a statement by NAFDAC Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, noted that the role of mothers in the home cannot be over-emphasized. She said the Nigerian mother has always been closest to the children since the father is more often than not out there working tirelessly to provide for the needs of the family.
She, however, urged the mothers to always pay more attention to their children and be more concerned about the kind of friends they keep away from home, adding that many of the Nigerian youths from good homes become addicted to narcotics and other dangerous drugs due to the care-free attitude of their parents, particularly, the mothers.
AFRIMA celebrates
In solidarity with the United Nations International Women’s Day 2021 (IWD 2021) themed as “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 World” and the offshoot #ChooseToChallenge campaign, the All African Music Awards (AFRIMA) has joined the rest of the world to honour the strength of women, celebrate their diverse social, economic, cultural and political achievements and call for accelerated gender parity in general and better remuneration for women in the culture industry in Africa.
Music Executive and Member of the International Jury of AFRIMA for the Diaspora in North Africa, Ms. Hadja Kobele Keita, gave credit to women entrepreneurs shattering the glass ceiling in the music industry.
“At the very inception of the African music industry culture, women had always been at the forefront. However, we are grossly underpaid and underrepresented. In order to break barriers, women are creating their own path in the industry by starting their own companies and taking on more executive roles. It’s delicate but, for us to be heard in an industry overpowered by traditional norms, it is a significant step forward. What gives me hope for the future of women, particularly in the African music industry, is the fact that we have organizations like AFRIMA that are committed to pushing the agenda of empowering women in a society that tries to suppress our creativity”, Ms. Keita stated.
