By Justina Auta & Angela Atabo

A filmmaker, Mr Stephen Obodomechine, has advised Nigerians to use their phones to record any incidences of Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) as evidence to aid prosecution of such cases.

Obodomechine, CEO, GOT Fortress Ltd gave the advise on the sideline of a three-day training for media and other stakeholders organised by Palladium’s Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) project, sponsored by USAID in Abuja.

According to him, the media, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Business Members Organisations (BMOs) were critical stakeholders in ending SGBV and Child early and Forced Marriage (CEFM) in Nigeria.

He said the use of phones and other ICT devices were tools that will help in reporting, recording and developing content that sensitises public on SGBV and could also be used to gather evidences for prosecution.

“The fact that almost everybody has a phone today simply makes it almost impossible for SGBV cases to be denied because you can’t argue with what has been recorded.

“Perhaps we need to ensure that the law recognises the fact that such evidence is admissible and once that is done the minute you are caught

“If you see your neighbor beating up his wife or vice versa, do something, the least you can do is to speak for those who cannot speak, lend a voice to the voiceless.

“In that moment when the person may not be able to speak, but your evidence may help the case in court and may prevent somebody else when he goes out,” he said.

The filmmaker, also appealed to the government and stakeholders to provide a platform, where such recorded evidences can be submitted and used confidentially, without revealing the identity of the person that sent it.

He said: “ I think citizens should be free and encouraged to pull out their phones the very minute they see such an occurrence going on.

“And once that is taken as evidence, a place should be available where they can send it to because they may not have the wherewithal, mentally, academically to pursue the case but there are people well positioned, who can take it up from there.”

Obodomechine, also explained that one can use the various media platforms through phones to create content that people can subscribe to, follow and begin to mentor others.

“So the plethora of opportunities for having a video cannot be over stated. Apart from those who needs to listen, you can create content for those who you want to listen to you, you can get to those who ordinarily will not let you get into their office.

“These are the powers you already have as an individual working with video.

“Your phone today is your window to the world, and just like the skit makers who have turned around their fortunes, sent across their message using just their phones, you can do likewise without barrier.

“When using videos through your phones, it saves you the previous barriers of finance and acceptability, now you can pass your own message to your own audience.

“And that is where the power of the phone or social media comes in.

“If images speak a thousand words, motion pictures speaks so much more.’’ he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

By Dorcas Jonah

The National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), has called on Muslims to sustain the teachings of the holy month of Ramadan in their daily dealings.

The National President of NCWS, Hajiya Lami Lau, made the call in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, to felicitate Muslims across the country.

Lau advised Muslims to reflect on the lessons of Ramadan through prayers for the peace and progress of the nation.

”The holy month of Ramadan teaches kindness, forgiveness, and sacrifice. We must uphold these teachings and imbibe them as we live together in peace and harmony.

”We must continue to seek God’s face more than ever. At this crucial time in our country, we should join voices and seek God’s intervention on issues currently challenging our existence as a nation.

“We should also use the opportunity to pray for the president-elect and the new administration to lead the country in the right direction,” she said.

According to her, we learnt so much during the Ramadan. The period is indeed a spiritual aspect of our life, which comes only once in a year.

“Every true Muslim must have benefitted from this spiritual obligation, which we embarked on for 29 or 30 days abstaining from eating, drinking and fleshly desires.

“All this is to impact the spiritual aspect of our life and if truly observed, every Muslim must have achieved many things from it.

“What this means is that, as Muslims, our faith and fear of God have increased and we must do all possible to sustain it,” she said.

Lau called on the incoming government to promote understanding and peaceful coexistence among the people irrespective of their political affiliations.

”As a council, we are calling on the new government to appoint more women into decision making positions since a lot of women were disenfranchised at either the party level or at the polls.

”This is necessary because the number of women in political positions have continued to drop and there is need to improve women participation so that the interest of women can be protected in governance,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Joseph Edeh

By Nefishetu Yakubu

Seplat Petroleum Development Company, a Nigerian independent oil and gas company, says it has graduated additional 271 teachers in Science Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics from its Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP) in Edo and Delta.

It said further that a graduation and award ceremony was organised by Seplat in Benin on Wednesday for the beneficiaries of the 2022/2023 session of the STEP initiative.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that about 634 teachers and Chief Inspectors of Education (CIEs) had benefited from STEP empowerment since inception of the programme in 2020.

The Director, External Affairs and Sustainability, Seplat Energy, Dr Chioma Nwachuku, said that the 271 beneficiaries comprised 260 teachers and 11 CIEs.

Nwachuku said that teachers in public and private secondary schools in the host states were opened to benefiting from the programme.

She noted that STEP had impacted on more than 25,000 students within the third year of the programme.

“Over the years, Seplat Energy invested significantly in other educational Corporate Social Responsibility such as the PEARLS quiz competition to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals 4, which promotes education for all,” she said.

The Managing Director, NNPC E&P Ltd., Mr Ali Zarah, said that teachers were critical stakeholders in the educational system and that education was the bedrock of every society.

Zarah, represented by Chinedu Emelife, a senior officer in the company said; “we at NNPCE&P and Seplat have chosen to appreciate the work and contributions of teachers in shaping the future of our nation by training them to teach students’’.

Also, in her Keynote address, the Edo Commissioner for Education, Dr Joan Oviawe, said that technology was critical to transforming the education workforce.

Oviawe pointed out that the 21st century interaction between teachers and students could be improved, leveraging the right technologies and methods.

However, Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, commended Seplat for the initiative, adding that teachers and students needed to be equipped with relevant skills to become global champions.

Okowa was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Delta Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Augustine Oghoro.

Meanwhile, Seplat hosted a roundtable with the theme: “The role of technology in transforming the education workforce”.

The panelists at the session that included professionals, educational and technological experts discussed the role of technology in transforming education workforce.

The panelists agreed that leveraging technology to drive the educational workforce will impact positively on the nation’s economy.

The highpoint of the event was the presentation of certificates and awards to 10 outstanding teachers. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Bassey/Kayode Olaitan

By Justina Auta and Angela Atabo

Palladium Nigeria, an NGO, has tasked the media and critical stakeholders on the need to eliminate Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), and Child Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM) in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the stakeholders were trained in Abuja on Wednesday under Palladium’s Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) project, sponsored by USAID.

Other stakeholders trained were Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Business Member Organisations (BMOs) on reporting Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), and Child Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM).

Mr Eric Umoru, the Social Protection Adviser, Palladium’s SCALE project, said the exercise aimed at encouraging more reportage, sensitisation and advocacies on policy reforms and implementation that would eliminate SGBV and CEFM cases.

Umoru said the exercise was necessitated due to the increasing cases of SGBV, child early and forced marriage, trafficking in persons and so many other forms of violence in the society.

“These cases are increasing because of the spate of insecurity and poverty, which has increased the rate of abuse.

“So we decided to organise this training for these critical stakeholders so that they are better aware of some of the dynamics of abuse and some of the antics that exploiters use in carrying out their
cases.

“Following this improved learning, we expect participants to develop reports, media contents from a trauma informed perspective on the extent of damage, that SGBV causes on victims,” he said.

Stressing the need for collaboration between key stakeholders, Umoru urged them to amplify their voices on improving policy implementation towards ending violence and harmful practices in Nigeria.

“There are a lot of policies around SGBV and CFM that have not been implemented adequately.

“So they need to, as active stakeholders in response, call out stakeholders to push for reforms and implementation as the case may be,” he said.

Umoru also encouraged media organisations to highlight the drivers, indicators, effects and the long term effects of violence in their work.

“They should be able to amplify the voices of survivors, where they are not able to speak, they’re able to call out irresponsive government attitudes and behaviour that is facilitating that.

“We are localising the responses by working with local organisations, media practitioners and grassroots base structures that can help to amplify it.

“So we continue to engage government for accountability and increased great response,” he said.

Dr Maji Peterx, the Country Director, Equal Access International, described SGBV and CEFM as an endemic, hence the need to sensitise the public on its negative impacts in the psyche and societal structure.

Peterx, also a facilitator, said the workshop would raise consciousness around negativities in the society and create a system that was more appealing to younger people.

“This is to raise awareness, reconscientise people to increase knowledge about the ills of SGBV,” he said.

Ms Ene Oshaba, a gender advocate, said the training had further enlightened her on new ways of reporting SGBV, especially the need to understand issues and why people behave the way they do.

“One need to be very conscious of the fact that our society is context based and that shapes our attitudes and behaviour.

“As a journalist, I have a huge responsibility in changing the narratives with very impactful and issue based reporting on women and girls.

“Amplifying the voices of women and girls is a key step to finding lasting solutions to their societal challenges,” she said.

Mrs Maureen Okpe, a gender reporter, said: “We discussed about conflict, which we always tie to negative outcome, but the training made me understand things differently as conflict in itself is neutral.

”But the outcome which is determined by our response is what makes the difference.

“During conflict our response is influenced by so many things by our experience, educational qualification, exposure and environment; these determines how we react to things,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Nigerian Breweries Plc has expressed commitment to import substitution by investing in local sourcing of raw materials to support the growth and development of Nigeria’s agriculture sector.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Hans Essaadi, gave the assurance on Wednesday in Lagos at the company’s 2023 pre-Annual General Meeting media parley.

Essaadi said that the company would continue to invest in the development, improvement and commercialisation of its agricultural raw materials.

He said that the company’s collaboration with relevent local and international research institutes had been expanded to further assess and improve the performance and adaptability of selected registered local sorghum varieties.

According to him, the collaboration will help in the development of new sorghum varieties with improved quality for the industry and increased yield for farmers.

“To increase the positive impact of local sourcing of its agricultural raw materials, Nigerian Breweries has also continuously expanded its sorghum sourcing areas to new communities,” he said.

Essaadi disclosed that the company had been working with some institutes on trials for sorghum with higher yield varieties in northern Nigeria.

He said that the outcome of the trials was beneficial to farmers, adding that it would be made known soon.

Essaadi also said that the company was working with its packaging partners to ensure local sourcing of raw materials.

On outlook for 2023, he said that the first quarter of 2023 was difficult due to foreign exchange scarcity, cash scarcity, high inflation rate and insecurity, among other challenges.

“We are not the only business that experienced the difficulties.

“We moved from forex scarcity to money scarcity. This is a fragmented market, and what that means is that there are thousands of small outlets that operate with just cash, and it is a known fact Nigeria is an informal economy.

“This has been very tough for us. The good thing is that we are coming out of it but I am very cautious.

“Cash is slowly coming back in the economy and we are seeing our numbers improving.

“We had to take a loan consideration which will go through the process of approval including financing cost, our business is under pressure for profitability,” he said.

He said that in spite of the challenges, the fundamentals of the beer market were positive with a good enabling environment.

Essaadi said that the company would remain committed to long-term value creation for shareholders and all its stakeholders.

The Corporate Affairs Director of Nigerian Breweries, Mrs Sade Morgan, said that the company had invested much in renewal energy across its breweries to reduce carbon emissions.

“We kicked off this investment in 2019 and it is a significant investment on renewal energy sources to be able to power our breweries with solar power, hydro power in key investments.

“In addition, we are replacing our machinery and lines with equipment that can run on less energy.

“They are much more efficient and recapturing energy as well throughout the production process.

“When heat is giving up from various machines, we use it to also power other machines,” she said.

Morgan said that Nigerian Breweries and Crossboundary signed a $10 million renewable energy contract (solar and battery storage hybrid) for its Ibadan and Ama breweries in Oyo and Enugu states, respectively.

She said that 14,600 tonnes of carbon emissions would be saved annually from Kakuri, Kudenda, Ibadan and Ama breweries.

She added that the company and Konexa signed a power purchase agreement to provide 100 per cent renewable electricity to two breweries through hydro power. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ijeoma Popoola