NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
Gender

FG to shift 1m households from firewood to cleaner energy

167 total views today

By Justina Auta

The Federal Government on Friday says it is working toward transiting one million households from firewood-based cooking to clean and sustainable energy solutions.

The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, made this known during a citizen’s engagement news conference in commemoration of her 100 days in office in Abuja.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim said that this was part of efforts to promote gender-responsive climate action.

She said that Nigeria’s participation at COP29 in Azerbaijan provided a platform to engage with international community on gender-responsive climate action.

According to her, women are at the frontline of climate change impacts, and are ensuring that their voices, solutions, and leadership are integrated into climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.

“In this regard, we are working to transition one million households from firewood-based cooking to clean and sustainable energy solutions,” she said.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim said that the initiative was part of strategies to drive impactful reforms that would empower, protect and uplift the lives of women, girls and vulnerable populations.

She said that the ministry would empower 10 million women economically by 2027, ensuring that they played vital roles in Nigeria’s economic transformation.

“This aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of a $1 trillion economy, where women are key contributors to national productivity,” the minister said.

She said that steps had been taken to achieve it by the commencement of the implementation of the World Bank supported ‘Nigeria for Women Scale-Up Project’, targeting 4.5 million women across the 36 states and the FCT.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim said that through financial literacy, business development, and cooperative structures, women would be equipped with tools to build sustainable enterprises and contribute meaningfully to economic growth.

She said that through the MOWA-SARA Accelerated Skills Acquisition Programme in collaboration with WEMA Bank, 500,000 women would be trained in vocational skills, business entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, among others.

“The first phase of the programme is currently underway in Kano State with 2,500 women being trained at the Ministry of Women Affairs Centre in Dederi and the Kano Hospitality & Tourism Institute in Gyadi-Gyadi.

“Also, to further strengthen access to finance, the ministry is working on setting up a National Microfinance Framework for Women Entrepreneurs.

“This initiative aims to bridge the financing gap for women, ensuring they have affordable credit, investment opportunities, and gender-responsive financial services.

“This will help them to grow their businesses and contribute more effectively to national development,” the minister said.

She said that food intervention programme for women and vulnerable groups had been unveiled for financial empowerment amidst economic hardships facing many families.

“By providing direct food assistance and supporting women-led agricultural initiatives, we are ensuring that no woman or child is left behind in our collective journey toward prosperity,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim said.

She said that the ministry also unveiled a nationwide campaign to provide menstrual hygiene kits to 10,000 young girls, thereby ensuring that they stay in school and maintain their dignity to end period poverty.

“My first 100 days in office have been marked by bold decisions, strategic partnerships and measurable impact.

“However, the work ahead is even greater and our commitment to transforming the lives of women and children remains resolute,” the minister said.

On her part, the Minister of State for Education, Dr Suwaiba Sa’id-Ahmad, said that there was the need for women to seize the opportunities available to empower themselves and contribute to national development.

Said-Ahmad said that the Minister of Women Affairs had attained a great milage in meeting the aspirations of Nigerian women in just 100 days of her being in office.

“We have a lot of our girls that have not been opportuned to attend school for one reason or another, so we want to increase access to education by going to those communities that don’t have access.

“Early marriages, teenage pregnancy and emotional intelligence are some challenges facing the girl-child.

“We see the kind of passion the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs carries in her activities, so we know she is capable to tackle these challenges,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Florence Onuegbu/Christiana Fadare

Gender

PWDs:NGO seeks inclusion in National Digital Literacy Framework drafting, implementation

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By Angela Atabo

A Non-Governmental Organisation, Inclusion Friends Association (IFA), on Wednesday called for the inclusion of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in drafting and implementation of the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF).

The Executive Director of IFA, Grace Jerry, made the call at a Media Roundtable on Digital Literacy for Women and Girls with Disabilities, organised by IFA with support from Rise Up and the Public Health Institute in Abuja.

According to Jerry, IFA is an organisation that promotes the rights of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), using data to address the inclusion and participation challenges of over 30 million PWDs in Nigeria through advocacy, training, and research.

She said the call to include PWDs in NDLF was imperative to ensure that the specific needs of the disability community were captured among other marginalised groups to promote inclusivity.

She said the media roundtable was aimed at addressing the pressing issue of the urgent need to include women and girls with disabilities in the NDLF 2023 framework.

“As we navigate an increasingly digital world, ensuring equitable access to digital tools and opportunities for all, it is no longer optional, it is essential.

“This media roundtable is a key step in our advocacy efforts to ensure that women and girls with disabilities are not left behind in Nigeria’s digital transformation.

“Our ultimate aim is to secure the adoption of an addendum to the NDLF 2023, which explicitly incorporates digital literacy for women and girls with disabilities, by the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) by Aug. 2025.”

Jerry said to achieve this, IFA was working to build a coalition of stakeholders, including policymakers, civil society, organisations, and the media, to drive awareness and advocacy.

She added that her organisation would use evidence-based insights, stories, and media coverage to emphasise the importance of inclusion.

She also said that with the support of the media, the conversation would reach decision-makers and influences the necessary policy updates.

According to her, this is because the media plays a role in shaping public discourse, driving awareness, and influencing policy change through their platforms, stories, and insights and amplify the voices of marginalised groups.

Also speaking, Mr Festus Okpeh, Lead Researcher of IFA, said while analysing the stakeholders’ involvement in the drafting and implementation of the NDLF, said out of the 113 members, there was nobody representing the disability community.

According to Okpeh, 22 members were drafted from government organisations, 15 from development partners and technology companies, two from technical working group and 74 from implementing partners.

He said there was need to include the disabilities community like the National Commission for Persons With Disabities and other PWDs organisations for the purposes of inclusion.

A facilitator, Safiya Bichi, while speaking on the topic “Media Role in Advocacy for Digital Inclusion” referred to digital inclusion as equitable access to digital technologies and the internet, ensuring that all individuals participate in the digital world.

Bichi called on the media to play the vital role to advocate for digital inclusion by raising awareness, educating the public and influencing policy, thus the need for the media roundtable.

The Programme Officer, IFA, Tracy Onabis, said the NDLF is a veritable tool to drive digital skill up scaling in Nigeria, so it was necessary to promote the inclusion of the disability community because their exclusion was raising concern.

Onabis said one of the gaps in the NDLF framework was the fact that there was no specific mention of PWDs in the framework.

She said the framework generalised the terms vulnerable, marginalised and underserved.

“It will be a blatant disregard of the disability community if the framework is implemented without the consultation and input of persons with disability,”she said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

 

Edited by Deji Abdulwahab

Gender

FIDA pledges quick justice for GBV victims

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By Justina Auta

The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has expressed its commitment to removing barriers that hinder swift access to prosecution and justice for survivors and victims of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

Chioma Onyenucheya-Uko, Chairperson of FIDA’s Abuja branch, made this commitment in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of a media parley in Abuja.

Onyenucheya-Uko expressed concern over the rising cases of GBV in the country, emphasising the need for urgent action to address the issue.

She explained that the association provides free legal services to survivors and victims of GBV, ensuring they have access to justice, legal advice, and counselling.

She encouraged women experiencing abuse to speak out and utilise the various legal provisions in place to protect them.

“There are ample laws to protect women. It is important that they speak up and stay true to their cases.

“While justice may not always be swift, it is essential to trust the process rather than settling with abusers who may become repeat offenders,” she said.

She said that the enactment of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act in 2015, was a significant step towards addressing GBV.

“However, its full implementation is necessary to ensure that survivors get access to justice.

“FIDA Nigeria played a critical role in the movement for the passage of the VAPP Act.

“Through this law and the practice direction issued by the Chief Judge of the FCT, delays in adjudicating SGBV cases have been drastically reduced.

“Dedicated courts now expedite such cases to ensure that justice is served,” she said.

She that FIDA Abuja remained at the forefront of implementing the VAPP Act and advocating for the rights of survivors of gender-based violence.

She, therefore, encouraged the society to support victims to speak out to reduce  prevalence of violence and other harmful practices against women and children.

“It is unfair to judge or doubt victims. When we support and believe them, we create an environment that discourages abuse and provides justice for survivors,” she said.

She urged the media to partner with FIDA and other stakeholders to amplify issues affecting women and children on their platforms.

According to her, speedy prosecution process will ensure justice for survivors and serve as deterrent to others.

“My expectation from this meeting is that it will birth partnerships and collaborations that will help FIDA Abuja branch enjoy the support of media practitioners.

“This will focus attention on issues affecting women and children, while combating discriminatory and abusive practices,” she said.

The chairperson also called on the general public to empathise with survivors and refrain from “victim-blaming”. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman

Gender

NCWS elects new President, unveils empowerment Initiative

213 total views today

By Justina Auta

Mrs Edna Azura has emerged as the new National President of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Azura will complete the late Hajiya Lami Adamu-Lau’s two-year tenure, following her passing on June 5, 2024.

During the inauguration, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, urged Azura to lead with fairness and dedication for the benefit of women across the country.

“Together, we can achieve so much. Women are already leading in many sectors, and there is no reason we cannot do even more for this nation.

“We will contribute to the progress and development of Nigeria by providing access to markets and finance, protecting our women and children, and giving them the support they need.

“We will also strengthen our response to child development and protection, ensuring that the vulnerable are well looked after,” she said.

On the new women empowerment initiative, Sulaiman-Ibrahim announced that it would provide financial support to women in the six geo-political zones.

This, she said will help them achieve economic independence amidst the current economic challenges.

According to her, N3.6m will be given to the North Central states; N3.1m to the Northeast; N3.1 Northwest states; N2.250m to Southeast.

”The South South will get N3.150m

while N2.7m will go to the South West states as part of the women empowerment initiative, ”she said.

Dr Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, Mandate Secretary of the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, called the late Adamu-Lau an icon with a legacy of excellence.

While presenting a memorial magazine in honour of the late president, Benjamins-Laniyi urged women to emulate Adamu-Lau’s legacy and contribute to national development.

“In our transition, may we create legacies that are not just printed in magazines but etched as indelible footprints,” she said.

Mrs Geraldine Ita-Etuk, NCWS First Vice President and Acting President, thanked First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, NCWS Grand Patron, for her steadfast support for women.

Ita-Etuk highlighted the council’s efforts, saying: “We are giving three women per state N150,000 each to support and grow their businesses.

“We also want to see more women in politics and positions of authority”.

In her acceptance speech, Azura, the 16th NCWS President, pledged to uphold her predecessor’s legacy and champion women’s empowerment.

“I commit to working diligently to empower women, foster unity, and elevate NCWS to greater heights.

“Let us unite as one, fostering cooperation and collaboration among Nigerian women for a brighter and more prosperous future for ourselves and the nation,” she said.

Azura urged women to prioritise dignity, welfare, and empowerment while increasing their participation in governance.

She emphasised the importance of creating a legacy of strength and unity for future generations. (NAN)

www.nannews.ng

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Kadiri Abdulrahman

Gender

HIV: UN, ASWHAN unveil women empowerment project

242 total views today
By Justina Auta
 UNWomen and the Association of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (ASHWAN) have unveiled an empowerment initiative for women living with HIV.
The organisations extended the gesture to other vulnerable groups, empowering them with life skills and start-up packs to enhance their economic independence.
Mrs Helen Akpan, Assistant National Secretary, ASWHAN, said this during a two-day training on Friday in Abuja.
She said the exercise would alleviate the current hardship faced by members and provide them with source of livelihood.
“We are training women living with HIV and other vulnerable women with skills acquisition for sustainability and to alleviate poverty.
“This will help in sustaining household livelihood for these women and their children, especially amidst the dwindling economy, which has overwhelmed a lot of people’s financial capacity.
“There is a need for them to have skills and economic empowerment, which will take care of their nutrition, drugs and other hospital services required,” she said.
She said that 50 women in the FCT would be exposed to poultry farming, ice block business and other skills, adding that start-up packs and equipments would be given to them to facilitate the training they acquired.
According to her, the women will be grouped into clusters to form a cooperative, to enable them to access loans and other services to more financially independent.
 “This is going to be extended to other states because we want to change the narratives for our members regarding depending on others. It is one of the causes of Gender Based Violence (GBV),” she said.
Mr Martin-Mary Falana, a Consultant, said the participants would also be empowered on identifying profitable business opportunities, innovative ideas for marketing and selling
He said they would  be trained on how to form and manage a Village Savings and Loan (VSLA).
Falana said the women would be able to lay their hands on things that can improve their livelihood, especially as they will be given startup equipment to fend for themselves.
“It will also improve their socio economic development and ensure that they earn what they can use to fend for themselves and their younger ones, children and wards.
“They will also be grouped to form committee that will assist them with the VSLA, where they can make contributions and then gather it to help one another.
“This will go a long way to alleviate poverty, generate income and make them self reliant,” he said.
He encouraged other stakeholders to support vulnerable groups, while urging the participants to remain strong.
 ”Living with HIV is not the end of life. HIV does not have anything to do with their brain. They can still use their hand to do a lot of businesses.
“They need help from other financial institutions to bring down the cost of  interest in accessing loan so that they can do something with their lives,” he said.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Stella Ebeh-Obianuju stressed the need to empower women living with HIV, to make them less vulnerable and victims of GBV.
Ebeh-Obianuju, who is also the Coordinator, Hope Initiative (Mother’s to mother Support group), said that, “if we are empowered, we will be able to stand on our own, train our children, live a healthy and productive life.
“I believe that after this empowerment training, and with support, we will be able to stand on our own and be financial dependent, not relying on anyone,” she  said.
Amina Mohammed, another beneficiary, said the initiative would make her independent, and provide for her family, especially amidst the current economy challenges. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman
Gender , General News

NGO empowers community members to tackle child abuse in Lagos

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By Oluwatope Lawanson

Devatop Centre for Africa Development, a Non- Governmental Organisation (NGO), says it has empowered 131 community members, to protect the rights and well-being of vulnerable children in Lagos State.

Speaking at a conference on Thursday in Lagos, Mr Joseph Osuigwe, the Executive Director, Devatop Centre for Africa Development, said that the empowered community members included child domestic workers and their guardians.

Osuigwe said that the conference was organised to discuss key milestones and an assessment of the impact report of their pilot project meant to protect Child Domestic Workers (CDWs) from maltreatment.

He said that the pilot project was embarked upon with the support of the Freedom Fund and the U.S. Department of State.

“During the project, Devatop Centre trained 45 community champions to sensitise over 350 individuals on child rights and protection.

“The project distributed 3,000 awareness materials and broadcast four multilingual audio-visuals, reaching over 50,000 people.

“Furthermore, 68 CDWs and 63 guardians were trained on child rights, safeguarding, and protection.

“Seven CDWs were enrolled in school, while five began vocational training,” he said .

He said that the initiative, which ran from October 2023 to December 2024, made a transformative impact in addressing the exploitation and abuse of CDWs in Ijegun-Egba and Iyana-Sashi communities in Lagos State.

“With the completion of this pilot project, Devatop Centre is now poised to scale up its efforts to protect child domestic workers across Lagos State,” Osuigwe said.

He explained that the project was designed to address the root causes of child domestic violence, including cultural norms, economic hardship, and religious beliefs.

“Through the establishment of two CDWs’ Rights Forums, Devatop Centre provided a platform for community members to come together and discuss issues affecting child domestic workers.

“The forums empowered participants with knowledge and skills to identify and report cases of abuse, and to provide support to vulnerable children.

“We are proud to have empowered community members to take action in protecting the rights of child domestic workers.

“By working together, we can create a safer and more supportive environment for all children,” Osuigwe said.

The executive director said some of the project’s achievements also included policy advocacy, community empowerment, awareness campaigns, and support for CDWs.

Osuigwe disclosed that the community-led approach had helped to raise awareness and promote behavioural change, ultimately reducing the risk of exploitation and abuse.

He noted that the project also reviewed 30 legal frameworks and identified seven critical gaps.

According to him, two policy dialogues with 30 stakeholders resulted in 24 actionable plans, five of which have been implemented to address policy gaps.

Osuigwe said Devatop Centre’s innovative TALKAM Human Rights App had also played a critical role in supporting their efforts.

“The app, which was recently recognised by the United Nations Alliance of Civilization (UNAOC), provides a secure and confidential platform for individuals to report cases of abuse and exploitation.

Osuigwe commended the stakeholders, including the Lagos State Government, for their support and partnership in the project.

He urged stakeholders for continuous support, adding that it was a collective responsibility to protect the rights of vulnerable children.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highpoints of the conference was the launch of a child rights game app, to tackle Child Domestic Worker’s violence. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

 

Edited by Christiana Fadare

Gender

Coalition advocates education, economic opportunities for girls

317 total views today

By Olasunkanmi Onifade

The National Coalition of Civil Society to End Child Marriage has urged stakeholders to ensure girls have access to education, economic opportunities, and autonomy.

Mr Olorunfemi Olusegun, Co-chair of the FCT Coalition, made this call during a courtesy visit to the Community Leader of Gwarinpa in Abuja on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the visit was part of the FCT chapter’s activities marking the “16 Days of Activism” campaign against sexual and gender-based violence.

The “16 Days of Activism” is an annual campaign held from November 25 to December 10 to raise awareness and mobilise action to end violence against women and girls.

Olusegun noted that violence against women occurs across all countries and cultures, affecting millions of women and girls.

He described child marriage as a complex issue requiring a comprehensive approach to prevention and response.

“Young girls need access to quality education and empowerment opportunities to support their families and reduce the likelihood of child marriage.

“Girls without education are more likely to be married off at a young age. Engaging with communities and changing social norms can help prevent child marriage,” he said.

Mrs Chinyere Eyoh, Co-chair of the coalition, stated that the organisation is working across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones on various thematic areas to accelerate efforts to end child marriage.

Eyoh explained that their advocacy and interventions span local, state, and national levels.

She emphasised the importance of collaborating with community leaders including traditional, religious, and peer group leaders to address child marriage and violence against women and girls.

Mrs Patience Aliede, Safeguarding Officer for Girl Child Freedom at the Grassroots, noted that tackling gender-based violence requires a multi-faceted approach.

“This includes not only legal and institutional reforms but also cultural and societal changes to address underlying norms”.

The District Head of Gwarinpa, Malam Umar Bayero, commended the coalition’s efforts and called for more collaboration to empower women and girls.

He noted that there were no recorded cases of child marriage in the community.

Mrs Oluchi Uzodimma, Secretary to the Coalition, assured that women and girls would be supported in pursuing positive opportunities. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

Gender

Minister urges action to protect rights, dignity of women, girls

302 total views today

By Justina Auta

The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has stressed the need for deliberate action to protect the rights, safety and dignity of women and girls across the country.

She made the call at the launch of the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Abuja on Monday with the theme ‘Unite Campaign: Towards Beijing to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls’.

The minister, who described GBV as a societal issue and an impediment to development, expressed concern over the statistics in the country.

She said the statistics show women and girls at great risk, stressing that “the growing trend represents gross violation of human rights and undermines the very fabric of the society, thereby preventing women and girls from achieving their full potential.

“Gender-based violence is not just a women’s issue; it is a societal issue, a human rights issue, and an impediment to our nation’s development.

“The statistics before us on  GBV in Nigeria remains deeply troubling. Even as we embark on this campaign today, a little child has just violated, a woman has just been abused, a young girl’s life is at risk somewhere in a community, all for no just cause.

“Current reports indicate that 30 per cent of Nigerian women and girls aged between 15 and 49 years have experienced physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives.

“This violence occurs not only in homes, but extends to schools, workplaces and communities. Violence does not know any tribe nor creed, it cuts across social and economic boundaries. It affects both young and old”.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim, therefore, urged the media to amplify the voices of survivors, highlight success stories and hold perpetrators accountable, as well as educate the public against such act.

She said the campaign would focus on community mobilisation and education to challenge harmful cultural norms, stereotypes and practices that perpetuate violence.

“We will continuously engage traditional and religious leaders as community gate keepers,” she added.

Ms Beatrice Eyong, the Country Representative of UN Women to Nigeria and ECOWAS, also stressed the need for renewed efforts toward addressing gender inequality and violence against women and girls.

Eyong said 42 per cent of women were financially excluded, with women holding less than five per cent of elective positions.

According to her, this imposes significant economic loss, estimated at 1.5 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP annually, hindering development and progress.

She added that “GBV is everywhere, it is not good for neither the men nor the women. It has the capacity to reduce economic growth if this is not reduced, we will never come out of poverty. It is not just a human rights issue, it is an economic issue.

“The funding for gender equality and women empowerment has reduced, and as experts, we have to think of innovative ways to mobilise funds to fight the menace”.

Gautier Mignot, European Union Ambassador, said “we cannot help but commend the critical reforms that have been initiated by state government and civil society organisations, of which, we have started seeing progress”.

Represented by Toyosi Giwa, Technical Lead, Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption ( ROLaC), Mignot pledged sustained advocacy “until perpetrators are held accountable and punished and every survivor gain access to assistance that they need to recover and heal”,

Mr Gabriel Aduda, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, said that in commemorating the 2024 activities, commitments would be re-enforced, while collaborations and empowerment of survivors strengthened.

Aduda added that “GBV remains a pervasive issue in our societies, transcending borders, cultures and socioeconomic status. It continues to rob individuals of their dignity, undermine families and hinder national development.

“In Nigeria, statistics paint a sobering picture, with a significant percentage of women and girls experiencing violence in their lifetimes. This is unacceptable, and we must act with urgency,” he said.

Aduda, therefore, stressed the need to move beyond rhetoric by amplifying voices, strengthening actions and deepen resolve to address the root causes of GBV.

“Every law we enact, every programme we implement, and every survivor we empower brings us closer to a Nigeria where women and girls can live free from fear and violence,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Gender , General News , Health

Centre wants public civic places in Ikorodu accessible to PWDs

306 total views today

 

By Lilian U. Okoro

The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has canvassed for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) to be given their fundamental civil rights to access public civic spaces within the Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State.

The Programme Assistant of CCD, Tosin Aniramu, made the call at an advocacy programme titled: “One-Day Grassroot Awareness On Free Civic Space For PWDs In Ikorodu”, in Lagos.

Aniramu said the advocacy was as a result of denial of PWDs access to public civic spaces including banks, hospitals, schools, religious centres etc within Ikorodu area of Lagos.

According to her, the programme is in line with CCD’s statutory responsibility and commitment to advocate and promote the lots of PWDs in Nigeria.

Delivering a presentation entitled: “Introduction To Disability And Disability Rights”, Aniramu sensitised participants on the Concept of Disability Clusters, Models of Disability and Disabilities Rights.

She emphasised that PWDs had the fundamental rights to access civic spaces not only at Ikorodu, but also in other parts of the country.

Quoting statistics, Aniramu said  that about 16 per cent of the world’s population (1.3 billion persons) lived with one form of disability or the other, and about 29 million Nigerians had one disability or the other as at 2018.

According to her, the World Bank disability growth rate in Nigeria is increasing, owing to consistent conflict, violence, accidents and poor healthcare system.

She, however, said that the best model of disability was the ‘Human Right Model’ which emphasises the dignity of persons with disabilities and their human, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

She said, “The ‘Religious Model’ regards disability as a punishment from God due to sins of the individual or the family.

 

“The ‘Medical Model’ regards disability as curable and avoidable, while the ‘Charity Model’ describes PWDs as victims of circumstance who are suffering tragic situations and as such should be pitted as they need special services and institutions.

“Unfortunately, on a daily basis, the rights of PWDs are infringed upon by many factors, including ‘Attitudinal Barriers’ stemming from discrimination and stigmatisation, lack of social acceptance, poor parental and guardian attitude.

“Perceptions and beliefs about PWDs; ‘institutional barrier, as lack of implementation and enforcement of legal frameworks, bureaucracy and corruption, low budget allocation for social welfare and low level of awareness on disability inclusion”.

Aniramu said for successful inclusivity of PWDs, the CSOs and media should lobby for inclusive budgeting as well as track budget utilisation and mainstream disability activities, saying  that processes and operations should be disability-inclusive.

She also called for more advocacy to influence social change as well as strict enforcement of relevant legal framework and creating more awareness and report violation of PWDs rights.

Aniramu, therefore, recommended using the UN Approved Disability-Inclusive Terminologies when referring or addressing the PWDs. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

 

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

 

Gender , General News

FG, Brazilian coy sign MoU to boost agribusiness

308 total views today

By Salif Atojoko


The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV) of Brazil have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost fertiliser production, hybrid seed technology and agricultural finance.

The MoU was signed on behalf of the Federal Government by Mr Temitope Fashedemi, Permanent Secretary at the ministry, and Prof. Carlos Leal, the President of FGV, on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Brazil.

Fashedemi explained that with the MOU, private-sector projects on fertiliser production, hybrid seed technology and agricultural financing were projected to attract 4.3 billion dollars in private-sector investment. 

According to him, the project will identify and support one agribusiness in Nigeria’s 774 local government areas with technical and financial resources, driving sustainable development and economic growth over the next five years.

“This partnership paves the way for Brazil to engage with Nigeria’s dynamic and rapidly growing agricultural sector.

“Together with FGV, we are poised to unlock the potential of private sector investment in key areas critical to our food security,” said Fashedemi. 

He said the agreement marked a new phase of strategic collaboration between Nigeria and FGV, the Green Imperative Project (GIP) lead implementer, one of the largest international agricultural technology transfer initiatives. 

“Conceived in 2018, GIP is a 1.2 billion dollar cooperative effort between Brazil and Nigeria, designed to modernise Nigeria’s agricultural sector through Brazilian expertise in tropical agriculture. 

“Since the MoU was conceived in 2018, both parties have engaged in many meaningful discussions to advance its design and implementation.

“The project, supported by Deutsche Bank, aims to deliver transformative agricultural technologies and knowledge transfer over its 10-year duration,” Fashedemi stated. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

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