By Sumaila Ogbaje

A women advocacy group, Aspire Women Forum, has urged young women to shun drug addiction and be prepared to take up the challenge of political participation.

The group made the call at a symposium it organised to commemorate the International Women’s Day (IWD) 2021 with the theme “Choose to Challenge” on Sunday in Abuja.

The National Coordinator, Aspire Young Women Forum, Gift Johnbull, said that nation building was a collective effort and young people are actually key ingredients.

Johnbull raised the concern that the young population had been plagued by a very strong vices called drug abuse, saying that about 15 million young persons including women were currently plagued with drug abuse in the country.

According to her, people actually indulge in drug abuse thinking it that is an escape from reality but then it lead the victim in a very terrible mess.

“I stand with Gen. Buba Marwa to say no to drug abuse by the youth.

“Face reality and deal with it and say no again to drug abuse.

“My advice for women is to believe in themselves and know that they can actually be important ingredients in nation building and get involved in politics because as they can build the home front, they can also build the nation,” she said.

Founder/President, Aspire Women Forum, Mrs Zainab Marwa-Abubakar, said the event was to celebrate and commemorate the IWD-2021 and also encourage women that they could aspire to do better in the society.

Marwa-Abubakar urged women to ensure that they get involved in politics at the local level, adding that all politics were local by getting registered with a political party.

She expressed the belief that women would play their part and dare to challenge the status quo in 2023 general elections in line with the theme of IWD-2021.

She said the programme would focus on politics, leadership and power with the theme, ‘Be the Change, Dare to Challenge’ which is in line with theme of IWD2021 which is “Choose to Challenge”.

According to her, for so long, women have been barred from political participation by invisible but very strong dark ceiling.

“We were told that women in politics were wrong to dare but today, I say to you that that ceiling has been chartered because we dare to win, learn, grow and challenge.

“We have to be the change, we have to dare the challenge and chose to challenge.

“As 2023 draws near, I believe that women are going to take their rightful place as leaders, policy makers and decision makers in this power play,” she said.

Marwa-Abubakar expressed concern that the recent spate of kidnapping of school children especially girls would have negative impact on girl child education and number of out-of-school children in the country.

She, however, expressed confidence that the recent change in security architecture and appointment of new service chiefs by President Muhammadu Buhari, would lead to abating the security challenges.

According to her, the abductions that are happening in the North right now will definitely affect education of the girl child.

In her goodwill message, Adaora Onyechere, Head of Women and Gender Affair, African Union ECOSOC Committee, challenges the women to seek to challenge the status quo by getting involved in politics.

Onyechere said that politics was not just about running an election or joining a political party but being who you are in where you are and making your life count.

She said that women should not wait until when they join a political party but begin to make impact from where they are make their voice heard.

The Coordinator, ECOWAS Female Parliamentarian Association, Blessing Atiri, also advised the women to be bold and take up the challenge, adding that timid women never made impact.

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has described Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo as “a reliable and dedicated deputy, who is not only admirably competent, but also exudes confidence and passion in the performance of his job.”

Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s spokesman, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, quoted Buhari as saying this in a message to celebrate the Vice President on his 64th birthday on March 8, 2021.

President Buhari said: “I’m proud to have selected Osinbajo as my running mate and he has given a good account of himself since our journey began in 2015.”

According to the President, the vice-president is a cool-headed gentleman, who puts the interest of Nigeria above other narrow considerations.

“Vice President Osinbajo is an incredibly patient politician, who demonstrates remarkable intellectual and mental energy in the discharge of his duties,” he further noted.

The president wished Osinbajo many more prosperous years and almighty God’s continued guidance.(NAN)

By Angela Atabo

Christian Aid Nigeria, a Non-Govermental Organisation (NGO), has called on Nigerians to stop discriminatory acts against women in the country.

The Country Director, Christian Aid Nigeria, Charles Usie, made the call at a news conference organised by the NGO as part of activities to mark the 2021 International Women’s Day on Sunday in Abuja.

According to Usie, the organisation leverage and partner at the global level to correct the ills against women in Nigeria .

This ,he said was because Christian Aid’s essential purpose was to expose the scandal of poverty and to change the systems and structure that perpetuated poverty and injustice over the weak and marginalised by the strong and powerful.

He said that what this meant was that Christian Aid work to identify systems and structures that supported and created poverty.

According to him, the organisation is also working to identify systems that supports injustice and work in ways to dismantle these structures and to expose them and reduce the burden upon people.

He said that this had become imperative because  in sub-Saharan Africa, the face of poverty was the face of a woman, adding that if a household was poor, the burden would be seen on the woman and children.

“One out of five women will tell you they have experienced some form of violence, unlike men, in spite that their representation in elected office is  abysmally low.

“ There are cultures and norms in Nigeria that discriminate against women, for instance women are not allowed to own properties and lands  or even do some things simply because of their gender.

“In other climes, if there is any form of separation in marriage, the man leaves the house, it does not matter if it is his house. In Nigeria, you cannot even imagine it.

“That is the biggest threat many women face in their marriages, when a man says I will throw you out of the house this is the reality in Nigeria.

“Like in Abuja, if you are a single lady you cannot rent a house, they will tell you to bring a man as your shorty, there are some hotels and places that discriminate against women too, we challenge such systems and call on all landlords to desist from such acts.’’

Usie said that the organisation’s message was to challenge any structure or system that would not give women equal chances to thrive in Nigeria.

He said that Nigeria belonged to everyone and it was up to all genders to develop it, adding that it was not one group of people who would take Nigeria to the Promised Land.

He said that although Nigeria had laws like the Violence Against Persons (VAP) law and the Child Rights Act that could address issues of discrimination and hamper women’s progress in Nigeria.

Usie, however, said that domestication and enforcement remained a major challenge hampering its essence due to ignorance ,lack of domestication and implementation of the laws, so it would be difficult to get justice for women .

“Legislation is there, like everything in Nigeria, policy is not usually the problem it is the implementation and the enforcement that is the problem .

“So as far as we know, in celebrating International Women’s Day, if Nigeria or the state commit to just implementing the VAP law  and the Child Rights Act, I can tell you that we will make significant progress.’’

Usie said that sometimes the perpetuators of violence and discriminatory acts against women and girls were among them and some were even religious and traditional leaders , legislators or security men .

He said that talking about the issues women faced would bring it to the consciousness of policy makers and Nigerians to take action and curb it, adding that all hands must be on deck to protect women.

According to him,  the theme of cthis year’s celebration: Choosing to Challenge the Injustice, the NGO is joining  activists around the world to challenge the systems and the structures that still keep women and children poor and impoverished.

Usie said that Christian Aid chose three areas of focus: Democracy and Good governance, Health and Human Development, Humanitarian and Sustainable Livelihoods  for human justice.

He said that women bore the difficulty when it came to accessing health care in Nigeria as they  suffer the most when it comes to managing  their  own health care in Nigeria and childbirth .

“Today, Christian Aid Nigeria, we have chosen to take sides, we are not neutral in this fight, we have taken sides with women and girls and on that basis we challenge our systems and structures that perpetuate poverty, injustice and marginalisation of women and children in Nigeria.’’

The Programme Officer, Gender and Social Inclusion, Christian Aid, Mercy Okeke said that the NGO was committed to gender justice in all areas and to show this commitment it deliberately target women empowerment.

Okeke said this was being done through education and other advocacy programmes to get everybody talking about gender equality and to have a movement for change around gender justice.

This ,she said was because  the NGO wanted women to be participants and decision makers on issues that affected them and not to be bench warmers.

By Deji Abdulwahab

Ms Zainab Mohammed, Adviser to Sen. Rochas Okorocha on Public Affairs, has called on the agents of Imo Government to stop the planned demolition of properties belonging to the family of Okorocha.

Mohammed made the call on Sunday while speaking with journalists in Abuja.

She said that the call followed the court order stopping the agent of the state government from further trespass on the said properties.

“Justice T. N Nzeukwu of High Court of Imo State had, in a ruling delivered on Sept. 7, 2020, granted prayers of the Applicants.

“He declared that the forced entry of the agents of the state governor into the House of FREEDA was illegal and a violation of their fundamental rights.

“The suit marked HOW/947/2019 was  brought pursuant to the enforcement of fundamental human right of House of FREEDA Limited, Mrs Uloma Rochas Nwosu.

“And two others where the plaintiffs challenged the forced entry and seizure of property belonging to the family.

“The properties are at Issue House of FREEDA situated at KM1 Port Harcourt Road, beside Greatwood Hotel, East High College, East High Academy, West Brook Hotel Ltd., El FREEDA Foundation, all located in various parts of Owerri, Imo Capital,” Mohammed said.

She said it was unfortunate if the state governor was aware of the impunity by agents of the state government.

“There is a subsisting court order barring the government from entering these properties.

“This will amount to a government encouraging lawlessness and resort to self-help, which are features of a lawless society, if they authorised these trespassers,” Mohammed said. (NAN)

By Ismaila Chafe

The Presidency has described as fake news the reported fire incident in Aso Rock Villa, the seat of the Nigerian government.

Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, dismissed the report, saying there was no fire breakout inside the Presidential Villa.

He, however, stated that on March 6, a fire broke out burning shrubs between the outer wire fence and walls surrounding the Villa, ”precisely in the area between the Villa and the Barracks, towards Asokoro.”

The presidential aide revealed that the incident recorded no casualties in terms of human life or property.

According to him, the cause of the incident is being investigated by the Federal Fire Service.

The statement read in part: ”People in the country and even abroad have been expressing concerns over reports of a fire incident in Aso Rock Villa, the seat of the Nigerian government.

”I would like to clarify that there was no fire inside the Presidential Villa.

”In the evening of Saturday, March 6, a fire broke out burning shrubs between the outer wire fence and walls surrounding the Villa, precisely in the area between the Villa and the Barracks, towards Asokoro.

”The fire, as being speculated, might have started from a passerby dropping a burning cigarette.

”The Federal Fire Service will ascertain the reason for it when they complete their investigation.

”It suffices to say that this bush fire, which started and ended outside the perimeter walls of the Villa, was seamlessly contained by fire stations of the State House and the one nearby from the Federal Fire Service.

”No loss of life, no loss whatsoever to building and property was recorded.

”We thank well-meaning Nigerians for expressed concerns.” (NAN)

By Emmanuel Mogbede

The Racheal Udenna Foundation, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) says  showing love to the less privileged is critical to addressing crime and social vices in the country.

Mrs Racheal Udenna, founder of the group  said this when she shared food items to some less privileged persons at a Fulani settlement in Karu, in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Sunday.

She said the gesture was to appreciate the less privileged, show love and encourage those in need.

“When such persons are shown love by the society, it will be difficult for them to be engaged in social vices or be lured into taking up arms,” she said.

She therefore, charged those in authority as well as public spirited individuals to work towards impacting on the lives of the  less privileged persons in the society by showing them love.

“There is need for us to show love and kindness to the less privileged among us by sharing whatever we have with them, we must not wait until we have so much to do so.

“Even the scripture has mandated us to be our brothers’ keepers.

“Giving to the less privileged should be a life style, especially in the COVID-19 period,” she said.

She said that most of those living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps after been displaced by insurgents, were living in deplorable conditions that needed help.

Udenna said this should not be left in the hands of government alone, adding that even the public had role to play to alleviate their suffering in every small way possible.

The foundation also visited the Palace of Sarkin Hausawa of Mararaba in Nasarawa where it distributed some food items.

Malam Nasiru Usman, Secretary of the palace who received members of the foundation, thanked them for the gesture which he said should be emulated by public spirited individuals.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Racheal Udenna Foundation main focus was on public health outreach, women empowerment, education, skills acquisition and philanthropic outreach targeted at the poor and the vulnerable.

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, has emphasised the need for  inclusion of critical stakeholders in the composition of the management of FCT Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS).

The Public Relations Officer of FHIS, Mr David Barau, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

He quoted the minister as giving the directive when the management of the scheme led by its Director, Dr Ahmed Danfulani presented working documents to him in his office.

Bello, who said it was good to have many medical doctors in the scheme, however, noted that the scheme was not meant for doctors alone but also for other critical stakeholders that would complement the efforts of the organisation.

He urged  the Human Resource Department of the scheme to ensure equitable distribution of professionals in the scheme.

“The scheme is not a typical hospital, I noticed the first three leadership are medical doctors, yes it’s health related, but really it is a huge  enterprise and it’s going be a huge financial enterprise.

“It will be dealing with people, dealing with huge amount of money, so it is more than just a medical profession.

“It is important to have an organisation that is full of sound financial management, sound ICT base because you are going to deal with a lot of information and data.

“So, it is beyond just medical, it is a huge enterprise that is to be run based on strict financial regulation and best business practices, so you as the head, this is something you have to think very carefully,” Bello said.

The minister also directed the leadership of the scheme to ensure that  residents of the FCT were adequately enlightened about the services of the scheme.

He said that awareness  could be achieved through media and publicity drive.

Bello advised the leadership of the scheme to spend a lot time, energy and resources on publicity, noting that publicity  was absolutely essential.

He also urged the management of the scheme to use the facilities of the FCT Call Centre and directed his special assistant on media to sit down with the management and work up the strategy.

Earlier, Director of the scheme, Dr Ahmed Danfulani, had presented six working documents which according to him, had been developed by the best brains in the system with the help of many development partners including the USAID Integrated Health Programme (IHP).

“The documents which are Standard Treatment Guidelines, Annual Operational Plans 2021, Strategic Plan 2020-2024, Benefit Package, Operational Guidelines and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with hospitals expected to lead the direction to which the scheme is following.

“If you want to set up a state insurance scheme, it is mandatory and compulsory that you have these documents, because these are the documents that are going to guide your activities, your daily activities your actions, your decisions on every aspect of health insurance.

“This documents are supported by HP Plus, USAID and many development partners, we were in Keffi, Nasarawa State for a week to brainstorm and develop this work plans,” he said. (NAN)

By Rotimi Ijikanmi

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has assured that the decoders for the Digital Switch Over (DSO) Free Tv, otherwise known as Set Top Boxes (STB) will be affordable.

The Director-General of the Commission,  Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, gave the assurance during an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja on Sunday.

Idachaba allayed the fear expressed in certain quarters that with the removal of subsidy on the boxes and the decision by the Federal Government to hands off DSO sponsorship, the decoders would be out of reach of the common man.

“At the moment, there is PayTv in Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) in Nigeria, like DSTv, Gotv and Startimes.

“What the government intends to do is to get this same digital content quality available to ordinary Nigerians in FreeTv, hence the transition from analogue to DTT proposition that we are pushing.

“Accessibility to this by those in the low social equilibrium is very vital because government has the obligation to get information available to all segment of the citizenry whether high or low.

“For the ordinary man to be able to afford STB which is the major device to access digital television, the Government has deliberately set up two middleware companies.

“The boxes are driven by the software that is imbedded in it and we hope that by competition, the charges for the price of the boxes will get low,’’ he said

Idachaba said there was a deliberate clause in the DSO White Paper that empowers the Digiteam with the supervision of the NBC to regulate the pricing of the boxes.

“We are giving this box manufacturing business to entrepreneurs who might want to maximise profit, but government has to consciously watch how they fix those prices in order to remain affordable,’’ he said.

Idachaba said government all over the world, must find a way to support the indigents and people in the low income rung of the society.

He recalled that at the pilot stage of the DSO roll out, the government incentivise the boxes by making it very low and affordable.

According to him, because the subsidy is not sustainable, they have devised other ways to make the purchase of the decoders easy.

“The box manufacturers said they can engage the people directly, the state government,  the civil service structure to arrange a financing plan where people just take the boxes and pay over time till they defray the cost.

“Another way is to encourage the local government, NGOs, social responsibility organisations and other groups to purchase the boxes and distribute free of charge to lower rung of the society,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that following the successful inauguration of the DSO in April 2016 in Jos, the Federal Government announced the reduction of price of STB to N1,500 to get it across to all Nigerians.

Similarly, the Plateau Government had announced subsidy plans for its citizens and promised to distribute 300,000 boxes to them. (NAN)

By Fortune Abang

No Hunger Food Bank (NHFB)  a Non Governmental Organisation  (NGO), has empowered Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the New Kuchigoro camp with farm implements to ensure food security in the community.

Mrs Kumdet Longdi, Coordinator of NHFB Abuja branch while addressing the IDPs on Sunday at the camp, said it was not enough to provide food items but to empower them through farming.

According to her, the aim is to connect IDPs with nutritious food and to tackle drivers of hunger, such as poverty, lack of good education, joblessness, lack of access to healthcare and homelessness.

“We are here to empower women through backyard farming, which some of them have started already.

“We want to support government to eradicate hunger; there should be no food wastage and that is why we chose this community, because they are in dire need of support.

“We deemed it necessary to empower the women to enable them and their children afford three meals, at least in a day.

“The choice of farming is to also enable the women become self-reliant rather than always depend on donations; they can derive food from cultivating what they need at backyard farms.

“Some of them were farmers before now, but because of displacement, therefore the empowerment is to enable them relive their farming occupation,” she said.

Also speaking, Mr Philemon Emmanuel, Chairman of the IDP camp, expressed appreciation to NHFB for the initiative.

“We need space to farm, if NHFB or the Federal Government can provide more farms for us, we will be happy, it is what most of us were doing for a living in our villages.

“Most of us did not even go to school, because we solely depended on farming, we need organisations to provide place for us, since this place is not our village.

“There is no land to farm; although there is a small parcel of land near the river behind our batchers, if we can get help we want to farm, to afford at least what to eat,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Ladi Paul, said that they had been living in the camp since 2014.

“We have challenges in the camp, no primary healthcare and school for our children; thank God for the support.

“Many of us came from villages without clothes; we had just wrappers that we ran with, some organisations brought things for us, and provided potable water and school for our children.

“Where we have challenge now is lack of primary healthcare, also we do not have adequate food and school in the camp,” Paul said.

The New Kuchigoro IDP camp has1,573 displaced persons comprising 690 children, 323 women and 560 men.