Paving the healing road for child survivors of sexual abuse
By Adebola Adegoke, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Ms Eno (not real name) was devastated when she discovered that her 14-year-old niece, who was under her care was defiled and impregnated by her sister’s brother in-law.
“Before we could know, the pregnancy was already five months and even in the school, they didn’t notice because of the kind of body she has.
“I started questioning her, who is responsible? She said that it’s my sister’s husband’s brother. He had been coming to the house to defile her when I am not around,” she said.
Child sexual abuse is a grave public health crisis in Nigeria, robbing many children of their innocence and safety.
Reports show that 90 per cent of abusers are familiar to the victims, making it even more challenging for the affected children to seek help.
Also, for those children who have reported violence, fewer than five out of a 100 received any form of support, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Many survivors are unaware of how to report abuse or access support services.
However, a child-centred non-profit organisation, Cece Yara Child Advocacy Centre Foundation, is providing comprehensive care, protection, and legal assistance to child survivors of sexual abuse and those at risk.
Eno said she was introduced to Cece Yara Foundation through her friend, after all efforts to hold the perpetrator accountable proved abortive.
“The boy denied the first time but he later said he was responsible. I first got him arrested after he abandoned my niece and refused to take care of her. So his brother came to plead with me and he was bailed.
“After he was bailed, the boy, his brother and my sister started insulting me saying that with all my anger, there was nothing I could do.
“This got me angry and I started looking for ways to ensure he was charged and went to jail. I told people and one of my friends introduced me to Cece Yara Foundation.
“They took up the case free of charge and they have been providing legal services and managing the court case since then.
“When my niece was put to bed, the foundation also helped to take care of medical bills incurred during the process.”
Eno revealed that since the incident, she had also received a lot of backlash from her sister and her husband who were aware of the abuse but kept it hidden.
Experts and advocates say the stigma associated with abuse and the culture of silence by discourage survivors from speaking out and seeking help.
21 year-old Amina (not real name) did not hesitate to report her step father who had serially defiled his 11 years old biological daughter.
Amina narrated: “My half-sister came to me that her father, my step father, had molested and touched her inappropriately. I recorded it immediately she told me because he had tried to rape me in the past but he didn’t succeed.
“I reported to our Sunday school teacher in church who took us to Cece Yara at Gbagada. When we got to the place, my sister was questioned and they took up the case, provided medical and legal support. He was arrested and charged to court.”
This singular brave act that Amina showed had earned her a bad name in the family.
“I was thrown out of the family house for reporting the case. They said that I am the one that broke the family and took their son to jail.
“I have nowhere to go and I am currently staying in church while my half siblings are in a shelter provided by the Lagos State Government while the case is still on-going,” she said.
A Multidisciplinary Approach to Child Protection
According to Mrs Bisi Ajayi-Kayode, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cece Yara, the foundation employs a multidisciplinary team approach to comprehensively address the needs of children affected by sexual abuse.
This approach, she said, recognised that no single agency can provide all the necessary support, from case reporting to psychotherapy, legal information, access to justice, and family reunion.
“Our online reporting system and partnerships with schools, religious bodies, and government agencies ensure that children in need can access support at any time.
“The foundation offers a one-stop response that profiles the necessary interventions for each child, emphasising the importance of interagency collaboration,” she said.
According to her, the foundation is particularly attentive to the peculiarity of each case, understanding that children abused by family members may face additional challenges, such as not being believed or supported.
“We deploy a case management team approach. Upon receiving reports of child abuse through our 24-hour helpline (0800 800 8001), website, mail or social media pages, the foundation’s social workers conduct verification and risk assessments, often in collaboration with the police.
“They assess the child’s living conditions and identify risks for vulnerable groups, including children from broken homes, orphans, children with disabilities, trafficked children, and those from marginalised communities.
“After verification, the foundation reports the case to the police and the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, assisting in the arrest of perpetrators and the relocation of affected children.
“For individuals needing financial assistance to escape abusive situations, we liaise with relevant government authorities,” she said.
She said that the foundation collaborates with the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DVSA), Office of the Public Defender (OPD) and the Ministry of Education.
In cases involving schools, they partner with the Education Quality Assurance Unit of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education in Lagos State.
Ajayi-Kayode says the foundation operates a shelter that can give temporary accommodation to 85 children, offering a safe and regulated environment where survivors can heal and rebuild their lives.
She said that children in the shelter are typically referred by the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, especially cases where the perpetrator is a parent, and the non-offending parent either lacks the capacity to care for the child or is considered an accomplice.
She added that the foundation provides comprehensive psychosocial support, including counselling for the child, non-offending family members, and facilitating access to paediatric psychiatric care when needed.
Gbemisola Ogunrinde, Lead Psychotherapist at Cece Yara Child Advocacy Centre, emphasised the importance of psycho-education in empowering survivors with knowledge about personal safety, boundaries, and age-appropriate sex education and preventing reoccurrence of abuse.
Ogunrinde said that a key aspect of the intervention is moving at the survivor’s pace, especially when dealing with children who may be reluctant to speak.
She explained that this reluctance can stem from the trauma itself or feelings of guilt and discomfort.
“Art is another way they could express whatever hurt that they are experiencing as a result of the trauma providing an alternative outlet for those who may struggle with verbal expression.
“The initial counselling sessions focus on building rapport, with an emphasis on validation, affirmation, and encouragement. The process is gentle, and survivors are not forced to disclose their experiences until they are ready.”
Forensic Interviews
The National Children’s Advocacy Centre defines forensic interview as a single session, recorded interview designed to elicit a child’s unique information when there are concerns of possible abuse or when the child has witnessed violence against another person.
At Cece Yara Foundation, the forensic interview process is a critical component of their multidisciplinary approach to child protection.
Ajayi-Kayode explained that the child forensic interview is a structural process of eliciting information from a child about a crime or an event the child has refused to express in an age-appropriate and developmentally sensitive manner.
The foundation has trained judges, prosecutors, officials of the Lagos State ministry of justice, the police, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and other stakeholders on Child Forensic Interview, aimed at promoting justice and safeguarding the rights of vulnerable children.
“We are advocating for the adoption of a record-setter forensic interview and investigative protocol which will ensure that every survivor of child sexual abuse undergoes a forensic interview process that will facilitate effective investigation and prosecution of the case, thereby establishing a firm child-friendly justice system,” Ajayi-Kayode said.
Addressing Challenges and Advocating for Change
Securing justice and healing for survivors of sexual abuse still poses a great challenge for the foundation.
Ajayi Kayode said that a significant barrier to supporting children and accessing justice is the prevalence of negative socio-cultural complexities associated with case reporting, where some parents pressure their children to stay silent, fearing the consequences for the family, such as a parent or relative going to prison.
This was the case for Eno and Amina whose families had blacklisted them for reporting a family member and taking them to court.
She, however, said that the foundation was addressing this challenge through awareness and prevention campaigns against acts of child sexual abuse.
Ajayi-Kayode said that Cece Yara aims to shift societal attitudes and ensure children receive the support and justice they need.
“Also in the area of poverty, we see a lot of indigent clients that want to access our services and they are not able to do so.
“To support them, we provide logistics assistance, including transportation to the police station, medical unit, and our offices.
“We also address survivors’ fear of going to court, acting as a support system to help navigate the criminal justice system.
“We reassure survivors and their families that we will accompany them to court, as accessing justice is a crucial part of the healing process.
“To date, we have secured eight convictions in court, have filed about 78 cases, and have 57 on-going, ensuring that we keep the wheel of justice rolling.
“Our focus remains on maintaining high standards of support, and we seek additional funding to continue our work,” she said.(NAN)
***This story is with support from the Solutions Journalism Network and the Nigeria Health Watch.
Her daughter, Bilkisu, aged 19, is set to be wedded soon and the family is yet to provide the traditional household items popularly called Kayan Daki or Gara.
Mrs. Auwal and her husband had purchased a few items. She had also put aside some years ago by using her savings. But all these were not enough. She could not save anymore due to the harsh economic situation in the country.
Aisha Auwal, Parent
“When you get little money now, you spend it on food; prices of items have gone high and money is hard to come by,” she said.
What the culture demands
In some parts of Nigeria’s north, particularly in Kaduna State, brides’ parents are expected to furnish the bride and groom’s house and also provide kitchenware and other household items.
The groom, on the other hand, provides shelter and mandatory gifts to the bride that includes sets of boxes containing clothing, jewelry, shoes, bags and makeup items.
According to Statista, 70 per cent of women in Nigeria aged 15 to 49 were married in 2018, while 25 per cent never married.
However, in another research, most of the young population in Nigeria were not married in 2020.
Around 54 million people aged between 15 and 35 years composed part of the unmarried population while 39 million young Nigerians were married that year.
In Kaduna state, 49 per cent of its population were in monogamous marriages and 16.5 per cent in polygamous marriages while the remaining were people who never married, were divorced or widowed.
Hajiya Zulaihat Ibrahim, a 65-year-old woman, said Kayan Daki is deep-rooted in the Hausa culture because a bride is expected to go along with household items to her husband’s house.
Hajiya Zulaihat Ibrahim
“I was married off at the age of 16 and during that time my parents provided two beds and mattresses for me as Kayan Daki. Pots, plates and other household items were also provided. In those days there were no sofas.”
Even at that time, any bride who is taken to her husband’s house without those items would be the centre of gossip among female in-laws and neighbors, she added.
“So, that is why parents plan early, so that they can buy these items for their daughters,” she said.
At a loss as to how her family could meet this obligation, Mrs. Auwal confided in a friend who told her about a monthly contribution plan that helps mothers in her current predicament pick items worth the amount they put in.
She immediately joined the plan saving N3,000 monthly in order to purchase kitchen items for her daughter because she believed providing sufficient household items would raise the status of her daughter in her new home.
“This is a tradition we grew up to see; my parents also provided the same when I was getting married and I have to do it for my daughter too or else she will face harassment or be looked down upon by her in-laws or even the husband.
“To earn respect for your daughter, you have to get her these things so that the husband’s family will appreciate her and be happy; I’m happy that we were able to provide all the necessary things needed and the girl is happy too,” she said.
Abdullahi Sambo, a married man, said the practice of buying household items for a bride was an age-long practice in Hausa society, saying his wife also came along with furniture, kitchenware and even food items.
So, abolishing such a practice would be hard as new things are always discovered to complement and strengthen the tradition even with the economic situation of the country, he said.
“Any woman sent to her husband’s house without the items would face challenges from the husband and his relatives; they would keep reminding her that she didn’t bring anything along to the house,” he said.
“But if her parents provided sufficient household items, she would be respected by her husband and in-laws. Infact, the husband would overlook some of her shortcomings due to the furniture and food items she came with.”
Abdullahi Sambo , Married man
Sambo pointed out that the practice has no religious backing. In Islam, a man was supposed to provide all the necessary things his wife needs.
“If we can turn back to the religion and do things in accordance with the Islamic religious prescription, we won’t be having this problem where parents with daughters always panic whenever marriage talks come in,” he said.
Societal pressure
In spite of its long rooted history among Hausa communities in Nigeria, Kayan Daki has been a source of worry to parents whose daughters have reached marriage age.
Parents are put under pressure to ensure that they supply sufficient household items so that the new husband and his family will respect their daughters.
For those who are not economically buoyant, they become indebted for years trying to settle the bills they have incurred. Some run to extended family and friends seeking financial support so as to be able to buy home essentials for their daughters.
Such is the story of Hafsat Sani who was threatened by her new in-laws that the boxes the groom usually gives to the bride would not be given to her daughter as she had failed to provide Kayan Daki for her.
“I was expecting some money from my relatives so that I can buy some items for my daughter, but most of them couldn’t give me money saying the economy is hard. I have no other option than to send her to her husband’s house after the marriage with a mat and some kitchen utensils.
“It was hard for me to see my daughter sad because her father and I couldn’t provide a bed, chairs and some kitchen utensils for her due to poverty; I just hope her husband treats her well,” Mrs Sani said.
Saving for rainy days
This was what spurred Samira Usman, the owner of Meerah’s Kitchen Utensils & More, to introduce an easier way of acquiring household items through a plan that requires the contribution of a minimum of N3,000 monthly.
She created a WhatsApp group where women do so for 10 months, after which they could take what they need from her store.
Samira Usman, founder Meera’s Kitchen Utensils & more
“After four months of starting the business, some women complained of insufficient funds to purchase the items of their choice; so I decided to create a platform where they can save monthly and take the goods when their payments are completed.
“Right now there are over 200 women in my WhatsApp group whom I have helped to gather kitchen and household items for their daughters wedding; some daughters who are working also joined the contribution group.
“I showcase all available items in the group and you select what you want and the quantity; items like pots, plates and cutleries, deep freezers, cooking gas, washing machines among others are best selling,” Mrs Usman said.
However, those without smartphones are not left out. Mrs Usman makes provision for them and records their payments manually.
Unfortunately, some women delay payments or request to take their goods before the slated date, which poses a challenge, Mrs Usman explained.
Then there are also times when they seek to switch from an agreed item to another due to size or colour.
“Another challenge is some clients not redeeming their pledge after getting their goods.”
Mrs Auwal was able to marry off her daughter after saving for three years through Meerah’s Kitchen.
“It felt as if I was given the items for free because I went home with lots of items; I started contributing N3,000 at first to see the genuineness of the plan but I later raised to saving N9,000 monthly which gave me an advantage to get more goods.
Picture of some kitchen utensils
“Thank God, I was able to impress my daughter’s new family and we were not put to shame; I didn’t rely on family members and friends’ gifts to provide household items for my daughter,” she said.
But she wished that parents did not have to be burdened in such a manner after raising and educating their daughters.
“If I have the power to change things, I will change this tradition and make it compulsory for the man to provide all the house essentials.”
Another beneficiary of the plan, Rabiatu Yakubu, resident in Abuja, does not like going to the market.
The mother of three girls has been contributing for three years and collected her goods without any hitch. She makes a point of saving some of the items pending when a daughter is set to wed.
Safiya Abdullahi, another beneficiary, said: “The contribution is very helpful to women, especially low income earners like me. With no stress or pressure, I get to save N3,000 monthly and get my goods at the end of the day; as for me, I got my goods before the 10 months elapsed.”(NAN)
**The Solutions Journalism stories are with the support of Solutions Journalism Network and Nigeria Health Watch.
***If used, credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Once, Surulere-Alabi, a suburb in Ilorin West local government area boasted of, at least, 20 hours of uninterrupted electricity power supply per day. This is amidst the pervasive darkness in some parts of Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State.
When choosing a community to settle in, one of the amenities residents consider as a yardstick is constant electricity supply–it was like the holy grail for comfort and ease of doing business, and this was what attracted both residents and business people to Surulere-Alabi.
But the tide turned in 2022 when the 33KV step-down for power distribution that the Surulere-Alabi community enjoyed began to falter, leading to distress among stakeholders.
“Our once bubbling and growing community became a shadow of itself with businesses collapsing and some residents moving out due to the on and off of the transformer,’’ said Alhaji Busari Idris, the community chairman.
Power off
In March, 2022 the transformer that supplied power to the community was on the verge of collapse. Throughout the year, the community faced intermittent power shortage, experiencing a complete blackout for five months.
When all options to restore electric power were exhausted after several complaints at the electricity distribution company in the state, the community turned to self-help. Members agreed to crowdfund for a new transformer.
IBEDC Lead, Media Relations, Mrs Busolami Tunwase said there was no official communication from the community to the distribution company, but that the commission would reach out to them to reach an agreement.
She said they would contact the community to enter into an agreement as stipulated by the NERC to have a Memorandum of Understanding signed, which will include for its refund to be either in credit or unit.
“The procedure is for the community to apply officially and we will take it up from there, which was not done, but we won’t shy away from the fact that there is paucity of funds for us to provide all these things, and they have done it through self-help’’ she said.
Over time, Nigeria has struggled with poor power supply for decades, a challenge that is estimated to cost businesses about N44.33 trillion ($29 billion) yearly, according to the World Bank. The country has the lowest access to electricity globally, with about 92 million persons out of the country’s over 200 million population lacking access to power, says the Energy Progress 2022 released by Tracking SDG7.
Idris said the previous executive members bought a 500KVA/33KV transformer for N4,150,000, with each of the 536 households contributing N12,500. Unfortunately, the new transformer began malfunctioning after four months due to an inadequate uprisal cable, leading to frequent repairs. It was later revealed that the transformer was a refurbished one, rather than brand new.
This was how the Surulere community had to endure another blackout from June to Dec., 2023.
In a bid to find a lasting solution, with a new executive in place, by Dec. 20, 2023 the residents purchased a new 630 KVA/33KV transformer for N7.7 million, with contributions of N25,000 from each of the 476 households.
The new transformer purchased and in use by the community members
The new transformer was operational by Dec. 24, 2023 and has been reliable since.
“For the transformer we are using presently, industries and hotels paid N100,000, welders paid N30,000, households paid N25,000 and shops paid N5,000 each,’’ said the community leader.
Due to the high load, the chairman pointed out, the community decided to purchase another transformer on April 17, 2024, for N9.2 million to balance the load and allow for redistribution.
“For the second transformer, industries and hotels are to pay N70,000, welders to pay N30,000, households will pay N20,000 and shops will pay N3,000.
‘’We do not want a repeat of what happened with the spoilt transformer, that is why we want to reduce the workload on this by redistributing after its installation.
“We got it on credit for N9.2 million with a time frame to pay back, but the community members are not forthcoming with payment probably because they are already relieved with the one in use.
‘’But if we are not careful and act fast, we might go back to square one and we do not want that to happen.”
The second transformer gotten to relieve the load on the one in use
Idris expressed frustration that community members’ contributions were the only solution after failed attempts to get assistance from the Kwara State Government, Kwara House of Assembly, Kwara Ministry of Energy, Federal House of Representatives and Senate members representing the constituency.
He revealed that when contacted, the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) told the community members that there were no 33 KVA transformers on ground, except for 11KVA.
He noted that businesses collapsed, and some tenants left during the power outage, leaving only landlords to cope.
Alhaji Busari Idris, Chairman, Surulere-Alabi Community
Nevertheless, the community’s self help action however came before the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) warned citizens against self procurement of transformers and some other electrical components.
In furtherance of the acts of community members, the Mogaji (community head), Alhaji Jimoh Alao, praised the new executive members for finding a lasting solution and called on the government to provide basic amenities as demanded by the people.
The octogenarian said getting the transformer marked the end of nightmares for members of the community as theft and robbery cases increased during the period of darkness. He pointed out that this was the first time the community showed such strong organisation in contributions since his appointment in 1990.
Life without electricity
A welder in the community, Mr Sodiq Olanrewaju, said the period without electricity supply was terrible for his business as there was little work he could do using generators due to the high cost of fuel. Occasionally, he took his work to his colleague’s shop which was not always convenient.
Mr Sodiq Olanrewaju
“Apart from the inconvenience of moving materials from my workshop down to another place to couple them together, it reduces the profit I make on such work, because I will have to pay for using the workshop. So, all the jobs I got then were just to keep body and soul together, there was not enough profit on them” he said.
A typical example is a job worth N300,000 where Olanrewaju usually made a profit of almost N50,000. During the blackout, he hardly made a profit of up to N20,000.
”But now that the transformer has been fixed, all I work towards is to get called for a job and I am sure I will make good gains,’’ he said.
Corroborating his claim, Mrs Funmilayo Hussein, who sells soft drinks and provisions said she bought ice blocks to keep them cold for customers.
This cost her between N400 and N500, lasting for just a few hours. This meant little or no profit for her. Usually, she makes a profit of N800 on a pack of soft drinks if she doesn’t buy ice blocks, but this went as low as N300 or N400 during the blackout.
Mrs Funmilayo Hussein
Mrs. Hussein called on the government to help in fixing the community roads since the community members have taken care of electricity. She said most vendors have stopped coming to the area for supply due to the bad roads which makes them spend so much on transportation in order to get the goods.
Mr Sikiru Ajadi
A tenant, Mrs Barakat Bello, had a different experience because the blackout influenced her decision to set up a solar system in her home.
“It was a difficult decision for me then because I was not financially buoyant but I had the option of paying in instalments, which I did. That was what served me then, because if not, I might have moved out just like some other tenants did,” she explained.
‘’Now I have finished paying for it and a new transformer has been gotten, so it is a double win for me.”
During the blackout, she was unable to buy foodstuff in bulk and resorted to buying in small quantities. This made her spend more, she pointed out.
”But the shortage I had during that period was that I could no longer buy foodstuffs in bulk like I used to, so I resorted to buying in small quantities which made me spend more money than I used to,’’ she said.
Mr Wasiu Gbolagade, a landlord who owns a block of four flats, lost two tenants.
‘They lamented that they can’t cope without electricity as it was the major reason they rented an apartment in the area. One of them said he spent N40,000 on fuel alone in a month which he cannot continue because he works at home with light,” Mr Gbolagade said.
On his part, Mr Sikiru Ajadi who runs a football viewing centre said all he did then was to work at retaining his customers and not dwell on profit making. He bought N2500 worth of fuel to show a single football match at the risk of not making up to N2000.
”But now that we do not have a light problem again, even if I do not make more than N2000 per match and we show more than one match per day, I know that nothing is taking that from me other than to use it to cater for my wife and kids,” he said.(NAN)
**If used, credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
***The Story is with the support of the Solutions Journalism Network and the Nigeria Health Watch.
A Ray of Hope in Nigeria: Turning the Tide on Cervical Cancer
By Usman Aliyu
In Uyo, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, a personal tragedy sparked a life-saving movement. Itoro Usoro, a young Nigerian, lost his mother to cervical cancer, prompting him to lead the “Help The Women Campaign”, a crusade to raise awareness and facilitate screening for women.
Since its inception in 2021, the campaign initiative has reached an impressive 30,000 women, both online and offline, and screened 500 women, potentially saving countless lives.
The campaign’s impact extends beyond local boundaries as the initiative in its tireless efforts joined a successful advocacy that convinced the Federal Government to incorporate into the national immunisation programme the HPV vaccine, to build the immunity of women against the disease.
This milestone ensures that thousands of girls and women will be protected from the devastating effects of cervical cancer.
Beneficiaries’ accounts
Ndifreke Godwin, a 24-year-old Public Health student at the University of Calabar, was once in the dark about cervical cancer, but her encounter with the Help The Women Campaign changed everything.
Through the initiative, she discovered the deadly nature of the disease and received free screening and education on preventive measures.
“I became aware of the activities of Help The Women Campaign through its Facebook page. The founder usually shares videos, where he creates awareness about the cancer.
“In one of the videos, he talked about screening. I knew cervical cancer as a Public Health student, but didn’t not how deadly it could be.
“Itoro (Usoro) talked about the need for regular screenings and shared the location for the exercise. We were screened in 2022 free of charge and the result was okay.
“For those who had issues, they returned for further engagement. As for me, the result was okay,” said Ndifreke.
Ndifreke’s story is a testament to the power of awareness and early detection in the fight against cervical cancer.
According to medical experts, cervical cancer can be cured only if it is diagnosed at an early stage and treated promptly.
Corroborating the benefits of these anti-cervical cancer efforts, Mrs Glory Udoffia, 51, said she enjoyed, for free, a test that could have cost her N20,000 at a public hospital.
“It was the first time I would learn about cervical cancer. It did not stop at the awareness, I was also screened in Uyo alongside several others. I learnt about other preventive measures I can take against the disease.
“I learnt those who go to public hospitals for the screening, pay between N15,000 to N20,000,” said the middle-aged woman.
The two accounts were further buttressed by Esther Jumbo and Maria Fabian, who were also touched by the impact of the campaign.
Cervical cancer, Human Papillomavirus Infectious
By records, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally, with around 660,000 new cases and around 350,000 deaths in 2022.
The highest rates of cervical cancer incidence and mortality are in low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria.
Cervical cancer, according to studies, is caused by persistent infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV); and women living with HIV are 6 times more likely to develop cervical cancer compared to women without HIV.
In Nigeria, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer affecting women as well as the second most frequent cancer death among women between 15 and 44 years of age
In 2020, Nigeria recorded 12,000 new cases and 8,000 deaths from this cancer type.
Records also show that the HPV types 16, 18, 31, 35, 51, 52 are all high risk and are prevalent serotypes in Nigeria with serotypes 16 and 18 responsible for 66.9 per cent of Nigeria’s cervical cancer prevalence.
But by providing free screening and education, the campaign empowers women to take control of their health and fight against this preventable disease.
Beyond The Awareness Creation and Screening
Beyond the awareness creation and screening, the initiative has begun vaccination for girls, who are not sexually active from nine years to 26 year-old.
“We started (the campaign) in November 2021 and we have reached over 30,000 women online and offline. We’ve been able to screen 500 and the target is all women who are sexually active especially women between the age of 30 to 49 years. In this group, the incidence of cervical cancer is high in our nation.
“Moreso, we have vaccination for girls who are not sexually active and ideally nine to 14, but we still extend it up to 26 year-old,” says Usoro, the founder of the campaign initiative.
Though the intervention currently is in Akwa Ibom, he says there are outreaches in Cross River, Nasarawa states as well as the Federal Capital, Abuja.
“Our focus is majorly in low and middle income areas of the nation, where access to awareness and screening facilities are limited.
“This is a preventive measure against cervical cancer while we mostly refer women with positive cases, except for the ones that can be handled in our partner facilities,” he says.
The founder does not stop at that, the initiative according to him, actively involved in advocacies alongside other stakeholders, which resulted in the inclusion of the HPV vaccine in Nigeria’s National Immunisation Programme, rolled out in October, 2023.
Providing further insights, he says the initiative organises awareness campaigns using various channels such as community outreaches, campus tours, sharing of educational materials, including on the social media platforms and on conventional media.
This, he said, is being achieved through partnerships and collaborations with hospitals and relevant agencies among other stakeholders. According to him, the campaign is able to leverage resources and expand its reach as well as its effectiveness.
Funding & Constraints
According to Usoro, the initiative raises funds through personal contributions, support from individuals as well as funding from Nguvu collective, a group of over 250 women Change Leaders from South Asia, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.
The name “Nguvu” means “Power” in Swahili, and the organisation is inspired by the power of a collective of women Change Leaders to make a difference.
This organisation aims to support and empower women to become Change Leaders and create positive change in their communities with Help The Women Campaign as one of the partners to drive its aims.
Certainly, Help The Women Campaign has created a supportive community, where women can access vital information, resources, and care. Nevertheless, the initiative is constrained by lack of adequate funds to expand the efforts to other states in the country.
The founder also identifies lack of sufficient manpower, insufficient materials/equipment, security and other logistics as some of the challenges hampering the mission of the initiative.
All in all, the dedication of the founder has inspired others to join the fight against cervical cancer, fostering a ripple effect of hope and resilience.
Usoro’s story serves as a testament to the power of grassroots initiatives and the impact one person can have in driving meaningful change.
By confronting his grief and channeling it into action, he has improved the lives of countless women and paved the way for a healthier future.
**This story has been made possible through collaboration with the Nigeria Health Watch with support from the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit organization.
***If used, credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Upcycling waste spurs art, farming among Lagos students
By Adebola Adegoke
Nehemiah Jacob approaches waste-filled areas with a new perspective since he came in contact with the Foundation for a Better Environment (FABE). The final year student of Aguda Senior Grammar School, Surulere, Lagos says he now thinks “of ways to transform waste into wealth.”
But this was not always the case.
Nigeria produces the largest amount of solid waste in Africa and approximately 70 per cent of it are plastics. In general, it is estimated to be around 32 million tonnes annually with only about 20 to 30 per cent being collected and managed properly.
Lagos State alone generates about 14,000 tonnes of waste per day with about 20 per cent of it being plastics. Only about 70 per cent isbeing disposed of properly while the rest ends up in illegal dumpsites, streets, canals, drains and waterways, asreported by the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA). The repercussions include environmental pollution, degradation and other climate change issues.
This became a burden for Mrs Temitope Okunnu, an environmental sustainability advocate, who believes that behavioural, attitudinal and mind-set change is a crucial first step in building environmentally conscious citizens. Motivated by the desire to be a catalyst for change, she set out on a mission to nurture an eco-conscious generation across Africa. This led to the creation of Foundation for a Better Environment (FABE International) in 2016, which kicked off with a focus on schools.
“Our vision is very simple – to create an eco-conscious generation across Africa and we are focused on creating that attitudinal, behavioural and mind-set change,” she says.
Upcycling
At the heart of Okunnu’s Eco School Programme are the five Rs, which are: refusing, reducing, reusing or upcycling, rotting or compost and recycling.
“We use all the waste around the school and home to teach the teachers and students upcycling, recycling, composting and sustainability. And this is well embedded in the school curriculum,” she says.
“So we teach the students how to make art, such as frames, decorative materials, crafts such as ottoman seats, lamps, and upcycled eco-garden or zero-waste garden from waste.”
The upcycled garden is made from different kinds of waste which are converted to functional products of high environmental and economic value. From there, PET bottles and tyres are transformed into planters while bamboo and tyres are also used for fencing and barricades. Kitchen wastes or rot are used as organic fertilisers and manure in the garden.
Making art
When FABE introduced its programme in Jacob’s school, he eagerly became part of the recycling team with a focus at making ottomans.
They started by picking and gathering plastics and other recyclable materials with the aim of turning them into something valuable. “The waste we cannot recycle, we use them as manure for our garden,” he explains.
Recently, Jacob crafted ottomans from plastics and cake boards gathered from his mother’s catering supplies. Other waste products he uses are cartons, fabrics, and foam. So far he has sold five artworks.
“Sixteen inches ottoman is from seven-thousand to eight-thousand naira while fourteen inches is from five-thousand to six-thousand naira per piece,” he explains, adding that this has empowered him and lessened his parents’ financial burden.
Other students, like Gloria Ndum and Fareedat Yahaya, both in their third year at Victoria Island Junior Secondary School, planted their first batch of vegetables in April 2024.
They reflected on how the experience has broadened their understanding on how waste materials such as old tyres, plastics, and sacks could be repurposed to cultivate crops at home.
Education and advocacy
The foundation hopes to reach 1,000 schools by 2030.
“We have reached over 200 public and private schools in Lagos, Ogun, and Akwa Ibom states,” Okunnu says.
Mrs Temitope Okunnu, founder, FABE International, teaching students how to set up an eco-garden
In November 2023, during the unveiling of the October 2023 Cadre Harmonisé analysis on food insecurity, it was revealed that in 2024, Nigeria is expected to see about 26.5 million people grappling with high levels of food insecurity. Several factors have been identified as contributing to the problem. These include poverty, climate change, conflict, population growth, inadequate policy implementation, ineffective agricultural methods, post-harvest losses, and insufficient funding allocated to agriculture, among other issues.
Okunnu says with the zero-waste eco-garden, one does not need to have vast land to plant.
Upcycled eco-garden at Victoria Island Junior Secondary School
“With waste materials such as old tyres, sacks, plastics, paint buckets; you can grow your own food like yam, vegetables, root crops etcetera. So everyone should have this kind of skill.”
The eco-garden also brings about various learning outcomes for the students, she points out. Agriculture can be taught with practical examples in the garden. “Because we realised that most schools are just teaching agriculture in the classrooms, meanwhile it should be more of an outdoor process.
“So we see this as a learning laboratory and instructional material for agriculture, geography for science students to learn about nature, art, biodiversity and environment. With this, they are able to understand concepts in the classroom, carry over the knowledge to their homes and communities. That way, the knowledge is spreading, there’s behavioural change and sustainability.”
Some ottomans and art works crafted by Jacob at Aguda Senior Grammar School, Surulere
Gloria Ndum (Left) and Fareedat Yahaya (Right), JSS 3 students from Victoria Island Junior Secondary School holding their recently planted spring onions in plastic cup
The long journey home
Mrs Asanya Ekpenyong, a biology teacher at Aguda Senior Grammar School, Surulere had struggled to involve students in environmental conservation efforts before FABE’s intervention. Now an Eco-Coordinator of Eco Schools Project, she says the comprehensive education on recycling, composting, upcycling, gardening and organic farming has empowered students to become stewards of the environment.
Recycle bin made from used plastics at Aguda Senior Grammar School, Surulere, facilitated by FABE
The provision of recycle bins by FABE has facilitated proper waste disposal, significantly enhancing the cleanliness of the school environment. This, she explains, has encouraged them to sort their waste from source.
“The establishment of an eco-garden on our premises has contributed positively to our environment, providing a space for cultivating crops and vegetables,” Ekpenyong says.
“We are getting organic food from our farm with no artificial additives or preservatives. All the manure is from the waste we generate in the school. With the prices of food items in the market, we are able to use the little we grow on the farm for ourselves in our homes.
“Sometimes, we sell the farm produce, especially the vegetables, at a reduced price while other times, we share with the students and teachers for them to use at home.”
At home, Ekpenyong manages her own farm using the techniques she has learned. In addition to this, she makes ottoman seats with plastics for sale.
“Past and present students have embraced these practices beyond the school. So this initiative by FABE has been of great impact to our lives,” she adds.
Upcycled eco-garden at Aguda Senior Grammar School, Surulere
But one challenge she encounters is in maintaining the garden. Instances of vandalism and theft pose a threat to the eco-garden’s security. Then there is the waterlogged nature of the school compound and inadequate irrigation during vacations which present obstacles to crop cultivation.
Chidimma Nwobodo, a chemistry teacher who is also an Eco-Coordinator at Olomu Community Senior Secondary School, Ajah, shares the same enthusiasm as Ekpenyong. She recalled how they often waited anxiously for waste collection trucks, sometimes in vain for an entire term.
“With our new approach, where every item, from PET bottles to eggshells, sachet water nylons, and cartons holds value, waste accumulation has significantly reduced,” Nwobodo says. This does not only minimise waste but also reduces the school’s expenditure on waste disposal while simultaneously generating wealth for the institution.
“Recently we harvested our vegetables from our eco-garden and everyone in the school was excited to patronise us. We have a treasury where the money is kept and registered for accountability.
“Our recycling efforts are proving to be financially rewarding, as students channel their creativity into crafting various decorations using materials like plastics, cotton bud sticks, cartons, and bottle caps,” Nwobodo adds.
Some parents misunderstand the mission
The foundation sometimes must contend with government bureaucracy and students’ parents.
Okunnu points out that some think their children are being turned into scavengers. “Also some of the teachers are not able to understand how to relate what we’re teaching them to their [students] studies. We have been advocating for environmental education to be included in the curriculum in schools. In Lagos state, it has started and there are recycling clubs supported by the state government.
“Another challenge is bad soil for the garden. Loamy soil is good for planting and what we have mainly in Lagos is sandy and clay soil which is not good for planting, so sometimes we travel as far as Ijebu-Ode to buy soil.”
But this challenge came with a discovery.
When they realised that there was a lot of money expended in buying soil, the foundation found solutions to amend the soil. “So whatever bad soil we have, we can amend it and it will still produce the same results as a loamy soil,” she says.
“We also have government bureaucracy to deal with. Initially we were in private schools because we had a hard time getting into public schools. But it is a lot easier now and we’re into both public and private schools.
Ensuring Continuity
Designated teachers, called Eco Coordinators, and students, referred to as Eco Ambassadors, play pivotal roles in driving these environmental initiatives.
Annually, outstanding schools are recognised with the Eco School of the Year Award, honouring those who excel in all recycling, upcycling and gardening activities. Teachers and students who exhibit exceptional enthusiasm for the programme are also recognised.
Students from Victoria Island Junior Secondary School after their planting vegetables in their new eco-garden made from old tyres, plastics, sacks and compost
“Our Eco Ambassadors serve as mentors, imparting their knowledge to fellow students, thus nurturing future leaders in the environmental sustainability space,” Okunnu explains, adding that the project has helped to reduce the amount of pollution around schools.
Learning from them, carpenters around are incorporating PET bottles into their carpentry work.
Parents too have started growing their organic food with no chemicals added. “They now have healthy eating habits, there’s a lot of greenery and conservation,” she says.
Partnerships with organisations like the Aspire Coronation Trust Foundation, Coca-Cola Foundation, Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance and FundQuest continue to strengthen FABE’s efforts. Some of them render support in various activities run by the foundation. Others assist in terms of recycling or during the annual graduation and award ceremonies. “The Eco schools programme is gaining more recognition across schools in Lagos State. However, we don’t have enough finances to reach as many schools as we would want to, so we are open to more financial support and grants.” (NAN)
**This story is with the support and collaboration of the Solutions Journalism Network and the Nigerian Health Watch.
***If used, credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
A Network Of Traditional Leaders Is Helping Kaduna Communities Find Missing Children
Group picture of some traditional leaders at Rigasa ward,Igabi LGA, Kaduna State
By Aisha Gambo
Aisha Muhammed’s daughter was missing. Three-year-old Talatu (not real name) was nowhere to be found.
That cold realisation brought tears to Muhammed’s eyes. “At that time, I could not think straight, I was just crying and begging God to forgive me for my wrongs and bring back my only child,” she said.
Muhammed was expecting her daughter’s return on a Sunday morning. Talatu had slept over at her aunt’s house, a stone throw away from her own home in Rigasa area of Igabi Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna state. When she inquired on the phone about her child, she got the shocking news that Talatu went missing 12 hours ago.
Apparently, Talatu went outside to play with other children in the same compound but, unlike the others, did not return indoors after 6:00 pm. Five hours after a door-to-door search and she was still not found.
Muhammed remembered a report she had heard on radio about children stolen from their community and taken to another state or region for sale. This put her into more despair. “It was my mum that suggested we report the matter to the police station,” she narrated.
“So we all went to my aunt’s place and together we left for the police station where I reported the matter describing my child’s appearance and the time she was missing.”
A frightening trend
In recent times, there have been reports of missing children from the northern part of Nigeria on account of child trafficking. In some instances, they were located in southeastern Nigeria where they were renamed and sold.
For instance, in 2019, the Kano State Police Command arrested eight suspects involved in the kidnapping and trafficking of nine children. The victims, who were reunited with their relatives, aged between two and 10, were kidnapped from various locations within the state capital and trafficked in Anambra State.
What started as isolated cases of missing children in Kano State gradually grew to become a great source of concern as Kaduna State also recorded such cases with some suspected traffickers arrested.
In Sept. 2023, the police in Kaduna State had arrested four suspected child traffickers, Rahila Gajere, a retired social worker; Ngozi Peter, a nurse; Maryam Afaka; and Blessing Eze, in Zaria LGA.
During questioning at the police command, Afaka confessed to supplying Peter with stolen children and receiving payments ranging from N25,000 to N50,000 for each newborn from girls with unwanted pregnancies.
Some children are allegedly picked or lured by child traffickers who travel far to either sell or enslave them.
According to the latest figures shared by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 64,000 cases of disappeared persons have been reported across Africa. In Nigeria alone, over 25,000 have been reported missing. Almost 14,000, more than half of the missing, are children.
Collaborations
The traditional institution comprising of a district head (Hakimi), village heads ( mai unguwa), area chiefs (sarkin unguwa) and other community leaders in Rigasa ward of Igabi LGA took it upon themselves to accommodate missing children found in the community pending when their caregivers come for them.
One of these traditional leaders is Salisu Sani, popularly known as Baba Zango, who is the (sarkin samarin gunduman Rigasa) youth leader of Rigasa ward. He was assigned by the ward’s district head, Muhammad Idris, to oversee the case of missing children and adults in the community through collaboration with the police, the area chiefs and village heads.
Salisu Sani, the Sarkin Samarin Gunduman Rigasa
“Almost every day, when parents who are searching for their missing children search everywhere to no avail, the moment they come to us, I immediately place a call to all the various village chiefs and heads; and with the help of God, the missing children are found and reunited with their parents.
“We have a very good relationship with the police and other security operatives; that is why they refer people who report cases of missing children or persons to us at the district head’s office,” Zango said.
When Muhammed reported that her daughter was missing to the police, the officer taking the report told her to meet Baba Zango at the district head’s office in Rigasa, saying he had the contact of all the village heads in the ward. When they did, Zango placed a call to the village heads in proximity to where her daughter went missing. Unfortunately, most of them said they had no one with Talatu’s description.
After several more calls and a request for one of the heads to check their Whatsapp platform on Talatu’s issue, Baba Zango later called a village head from another chiefdom. It was reported that two girls of the same age as Talatu were found in the evening and had spent the night in that village head’s home.
“We immediately went to the traditional head’s house to check if Talatu was one of the found children,” Muhammed continued. Fear, however, made her lag behind. She could not bare hearing a negative outcome.
But then, there was Talatu playing with the other girl in her company, unconcerned and unaware of her predicament. When she saw her family, she ran and embraced them.
That was not the end of the matter. The process did not work that quickly without some checks.
Muhammed was not allowed to take her child home because of a policy in the palace which stated that she would have to come with the father of the child or any respected man known by the palace.
Muhammed’s husband was out of town and she had not informed him about the situation because she feared he would blame her for being careless. So she called Baba Zango who came and stood for her before the child was released.
The Whatsapp group
“In the past, when a missing child was found in our community, we searched house to house looking for the parents. Sometimes we use the town crier to announce that a child is missing or found.
“Nowadays things have changed with the help of technology. We place calls to our colleagues to enquire about a missing child,” Mai Unguwa Yusuf Abisai said.
Abisai, who is the village head of Kutungare, Mashi Gwari village in Rigasa explained that they now have a Whatsapp group where issues related to missing children are treated with their pictures and names posted on the platform for easy identification.
This WhatsApp group has all the village heads of a particular chiefdom in the ward, alongside members of the palace. Other important information related to these villages were also passed in the online platform.
Abisai added that the Whatsapp group was created six years ago with each chiefdom in Rigasa ward having their own unique group.
“From January to date, we have found over 20 missing children who have been reunited with their families. Some spend some hours with us while others spend days.
“Right now I have two children under my care which I posted on the group; it turns out that one of the children’s parents had visited a colleague of mine searching for the child and she was referred to my house.”
Who takes care of the children?
The Children are taken care of by the village heads’ wives. They stay with the children before their parents or relatives come for them.
“We provide their feeding and our wives bath and cloth them for the number of days they are with us,” Shittu Abubakar who is the village head of Lokoja road, said.
“We don’t charge any fee from their parents for taking care of the children. But some parents usually give our wives gifts or money when they come to pick their children.”
Abubakar, however, lamented that some parents do not appreciate their effort and claim their children were playing outdoors and not missing.
Due process before release
When parents or caregivers find their child in a village head’s custody, they are required to follow some procedures before the child is released.
Abubakar explained that a form has to be filled by parents who come to pick their children in which they are required to write their name, address, phone number and other important details.
Sample of a form parents fill before their children are released
He added that the father of the child has to be present or someone known in the community, before a child is released.
“We don’t just give out children to anyone like that because one may claim someone else’s child. That is why we document information regarding the child and the parent.
“We also advise parents to be more careful while taking care of their children by cautioning them about leaving a small child outside alone with the excuse of playing,” he said.
According to the village head, some parents refuse to fill the forms and sign. They ask “don’t you trust me?” But after an explanation is given to them on the importance of keeping records, they oblige.
Due to the high population of the Rigasa community, certain persons opt to keep a missing child in their homes rather than take them to their village head. This causes delays in child-parents re-union, Abubakar revealed. There is also the lack of financial support from the government or non-governmental organisations for proper upkeep of such children.
“We feed and take care of these children from our personal purse, accommodating them in our homes because children are for everyone,” Abubakar said.(NAN)
***This is supported by the Solution Journalism Africa Initiative (Phase II) with collaboration of the Nigeria Health Watch.
***If used, credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
The Millennium Natures Path International (Milnapath), an alternative medicine company says it is using herbal medicine to provide solutions to the problems of ill-health and poverty in Nigeria and beyond.
Dr Naomi Bassey, Milnapath’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), stated this during the company’s one-year anniversary and car awards in Abuja on Saturday.
The anniversary had the theme, “Celebrating One Year of Impact Beyond Borders.”
Bassey explained that Milnapath, an indigenous company, specialised in the production and marketing of highly organic and potent herbal products.
“We are poised to provide solutions to the twin problems of ill-health and poverty that have become the bane of socio-economic development in Nigeria and Africa.
“Climatic and environmental changes have given rise to strange ailments that science and technology are yet to provide solutions to. This is where alternative medicine comes in.
“The increasing rate of avoidable deaths in the society caused by poor medical facilities and treatment, as well as wrong diagnosis amongst other factors, got me thinking of ways of arresting the trend,” she said.
The CEO said that the search for solutions in alternative medicine took her to the College of Natural Medicine, Ibadan, for a Professional Doctorate degree in natural medicine.
She said that after her studies and extensive research in herbal medicine, Milnapath was born on April 29, 2023, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa.
Bassey said that the company was certified by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
“My drive is to see how we can use the natural things given to us by God – the grasses in the bushes, the roots, bark of trees and some spices to bless humanity and to treat protracted and degenerating ailments.
“God has blessed us with nature, and nature is 100 per cent able to reverse those protracted ailments.
“Milnapath has, therefore, come to help us know that it is possible to treat all stubborn ailments with the natural things in the bush,” she said.
Bassey added that Milnapath was producing a line of effective products for various challenging health conditions, using a direct selling approach.
She said that the products were 100 per cent plant-based with no chemicals and therefore, no negative side effects.
Different brands of vehicles given out as awards to the best performing distributors and partners of Millennium Natures Path International, during the company’s one year anniversary in Abuja.
On job creation and poverty reduction, Bassey said that the company currently had about 23,000 distributors and partners in Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic, Cameroon, U.S.A, UK and Canada.
She added that the partners earn a lot of money from marketing and distributing the products, “which is transforming their lives”.
According to her, through the products, the company is empowering global health and prosperity through direct sales, an innovative multi-level marketing approach.
The CEO noted that the direct selling marketing approach offered accessible products and fair partner rewards, through an exceptional compensation plan, thereby creating employment and addressing poverty.
Bassey said: “this is ensuring that the products are not just available at the doorsteps of our people, but also that our partners and distributors are adequately compensated for their contributions and efforts.
“It’s a referral business. You buy, we pay you. You bring people to buy, we pay you.
“Milnapath is committed to not only improving peoples’ wellbeing but also uplifting communities by tackling poverty.”
The Chairman of the occasion, Dr Bassey Ayambem, described the contribution of Milnapath to the field of medicine as phenomenal, by combining science with nature.
“Today, the company is promoting healthcare and financially empowering people with money in their pockets” Ayambem said.
During the event, 10 distributors and partners of the company were rewarded with cars for their contributions to the company’s growth.
One of the car awardees, Dr Patience Uche, a medical doctor at Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, said she had earned about N60 million from marketing Milnapath products in just a year.
Uche, who went home with three cars, added that she equally used the products to treat her patients. (NAN)
It was a hot Wednesday morning, July 21, 2001, an accident had just occurred in the upscale Mabushi District of Abuja.
Accidents occur everywhere in the world, but there is something unique about this one. It sent a top-ranking minister and his beloved bicycle crashing into a ditch.
“I thank God I’m alive,” Chief Ojo Maduekwe, then Minister of Transportation told reporters as he marveled at escaping without injuries after he was knocked down from his bicycle by a reckless bus driver.
“Accidents can happen anywhere, on land, sea and air,” Maduekwe said stressing that the problem was not riding his bicycle but too many cars and a lack of lane for bicycles.
“Ojo oni Keke” (Ojo the bicycle rider) as he was called in some quarters was cycling to the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at Aso Villa, Abuja as part of his campaign to promote bike riding in Nigeria.
The former minister, who also served as minister of Foreign Affairs died in June 29, 2016 but his bold but controversial initiative remains relevant.
Twenty one years after the famous accident, the biking culture still remains precarious in all major cities of Nigeria, and with the growing need to cut down on emissions, experts have advocated bicycles as alternative to the emission polluting vehicles.
The contrast is however the case in Copenhagen, Denmark where the city has earned the reputation as being ranked the most bicycle friendly city in the world.
Copenhagen boasts of more bicycles than residents, with over 672,000 bikes on its 384 kilometres of cycle lanes.
Cycling is regarded as healthier, more environmentally friendly, cheaper, and often quicker with well-marked out lanes for bicycles to get around the city.
Henrik Pedersen, a Danish Environmental expert told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Nigerians could embrace the bicycle culture as part of efforts to cut down emissions from automobiles.
He said the use of bicycles is a cheaper, faster and more eco-friendly way of commuting in African cities like Abuja, as long as the necessary infrastructures are put in place.
“If you move on a bicycle rather than a car you have no emissions, even if it is electric bicycle, the emission would be very low at least.
“Also producing bicycles does not take a lot of resources or emit a lot of CO2 (cabon dioxide) compared to cars.
“So this measure can go a long way in addressing some of the climate issues, apart from the fact that riding a bicycle keeps you healthy,” he said.
Lise Walbom, CEO, Food Nation, a leading food and agriculture company in Denmark told NAN that the bicycle culture in Denmark is encouraged right from a very young age.
“My husband and I pedaled behind our 11-year-old twins as they cycled to school and we go to work with our bicycles.
“It is easy and effective to use our bikes in our everyday life and good for my health!” she said.
Andreas Tomasson, a salesman in Copenhagen, said he had no reason to buy a car because he owns a bicycle and there is efficient transport system that includes intra and intercity train services.
In September, 2017, the then Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi after the National Council on Transportation (NCT) 15th meeting in Sokoto said the Council had approved a pilot `bicycle riding’ project, as a means of transportation in Abuja (FCT).
“The National Council on Transportation is a policy making body. We approved that we should do a pilot project on bicycle riding in FCT.
“This is because Abuja is the only city that has facility for bicycle riding.
“For other states who want to do it, we must provide facility before they can proceed with it; we want to separate them from the roads because some motorists are impatient,” Amaechi said.
Mr Bisi Kazeem, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Public Education Officer said infrastructure adjustments must be done to support bicycle transport culture in Abuja.
He said the national road safety regulations will also have to be amended to include provisions for the safety of cyclists.
“As a pilot scheme, if Abuja is taken, there is need for restructuring some intersections before we can start it successfully.
“FRSC studied all the road networks in Abuja, and we have identified the gaps and recommended measures to address them
“During the study, which we carried out with Federal Capital Territory Administration officials, we found out that all roads and streets have provisions for bicycle lanes in the design,
“But at the point of construction, the lanes were either ignored, merged with pedestrian walkways thereby making the walkways too wide. In some cases they were turned into green areas.
“I think it is only on Yakubu Gowon Way in Asokoro that the lane is being implemented. So, a key concern is the need for re-engineering of intersections and traffic lights to provide for cyclists,” he said.
Experts say that to maximize the health, safety and environmental advantages of cycling, relevant authorities should put in place the necessary infrastructure and take actions to promote cycling in the nation. (NANFeatures) (www.nannews.ng)
A panel of women leaders drawn from the media and various Civil Society Oganisations (CSO) has called for an end to unfair and stereotyped media reports on women, especially those in appointive positions.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the discussion panel was part of an event organised by the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria to mark the 2024 Women’s History Month in Abuja.
The event tagged “Media Representation of Women in Leadership Positions”, had in attendance women from different backgrounds, including the media, public service, as well as women’s rights advocacy groups.
According to the panelists, Nigerian media often have “ biased” portrayal of women, especially those in public appointive positions, as weak and incompetent.
They lamented that media reports on women were largely focused on probing their characters and personal lives instead of issue-based reports.
The panelists noted that the trend has always demoralised and discouraged women from actively participating or taking leadership responsibilities.
They called on the media in Nigeria to uphold the tenets of fairness, objectivity and balance in its reportage of issues affecting women.
Linda Akhigbe, Seniour Special Assistant on Strategic Communication to President Bola Tinubu, said : “ The media in Nigeria seems to trivialize efforts and achievements of women and focus on their personal lives.
“Women should work together more to have more voices; such collaborations will make them tell their stories objectively.
“Besides, women need to strive to be very good and consistent at what they do because you cannot be relegated when you are good at your work.”
Ladi Bala, former president of NAWOJ, said : “ The newsroom is a reflection of the bigger society, and even in news reportage, women are under reported.
“There is need for media re-orientation, gender policy in newsrooms and news should be framed in such a way that women are not stereotyped in reports.
“Women journalists need to be passionate and deliberate in reporting issues that affect women, and there is need for women in positions to be proactive in engaging the media.”
Also, Inimfon Etuk, Founder of She Forum Africa, said : “ Women need to be more deliberate and active in telling their own stories because they have to fight for themselves.”
Zainab Okino, Chairperson, Blueprint Editorial Board, said: “What is happening in the media space is a reinforcement of old cultural narratives that do not accord women a place society.
“The media is simply amplifying what society already set – stereotyping and reporting women vulnerability and everything society views them to be.
“I want our women to prepare themselves because they will always meet stormy waters on their ways.”
The stakeholders called for more women media entrepreneurs for them to have space to tell their stories loud and clear as possible.
Judith Walker, Executive Director, Development Research and Projects Centre(DRPC), made a presentation on “Gender Norms and Women Appointive Positions in Nigeria”.
She noted that there was a huge gap in how the Nigerian media describe and present the strengths, skills, and competence of women and men in appointive positions.
According to her, media reports on women are often sensationalised and tend to focus on their competence and qualifications, while stories about men are focused on facts.
“While women are much more likely to be described as ‘scandalous’, ‘incompetent’, and ‘corrupt’ in media coverage, softer terminology is more likely to be used in stories about men, such as ‘mismanaged’, ‘misappropriated’ or ‘investigated’.”
“Women also face character attacks ranging from their leadership style to moral integrity and men are also less likely to be described as incompetent,” she said.
Earlier in his remarks, Mr Art Brown, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy, said U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria has a long-standing commitment to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment.
“We recognise that the media plays a vital role in shaping public perceptions and influencing societal norms that is why this discussion today is so important.
“When the media perpetuates stereotypes and undermines women’s leadership abilities, it creates additional barriers for women seeking to enter and excel in the political sphere.
“We support initiatives that promote gender-sensitive reporting, challenge biases, and amplify the voices and achievements of women leaders,” he said. (NAN) (nannews.ng)
Over the years, Nigeria had practiced poor waste management which posed a threat to the environment and public health of the nation.
According to the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy, Nigeria falls among the 30 countries with the worst waste managementloop. practice out of 180 countries in the world.
Nigeria generates 32 million metric tonnes of waste annually among which 2.5 million tonnes is plastic waste. With an annual growth rate of 2.4 per cent, waste generation in Nigeria will increase in subsequent years.
Interventions for waste management
In 2022, the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Embassy of Japan in Nigeria, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), signed a US$2.8million agreement to support government efforts to develop sustainable plastic waste management.
In spite of government and other development partners intervention, many household in Nigeria do not have access to formal waste management system which means they mostly use informal channels.
These informal channels consist of collecting waste and dumping them in rivers or burning them which causes water pollution, climate change and disease outbreak.
To address poor waste management in Nigerian households, Ecobarter, a social enterprise begun collecting waste from households in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states, transforming those waste into new valuable resources.
Founded by Rita Idehai in 2018, the organisation’s vision and mission is to bring sustainability to all people and planet and transform how households consume and manage waste from now till 2020 respectively.
Idehai said that waste such as plastic bottles, cartons, aluminium cans, electronics, metals, nylon bags, pure water sachets, old books and newspapers were collected, sorted and sold to companies that use such waste as raw materials.
Rita Idehai, Ecobarter founder
“We are taking waste away from the environment, we are keeping the environment clean, that means we are improving public health and we are creating jobs.
“We are also making sure the environment is clean while improving the beauty and the value of properties. So that’s another economic advantage for proper waste management,” she said.
From trash to cash
Apart from keeping the environment clean, improving public health and creating jobs, Ecobarter also create wealth for individuals by giving back points and money in exchange for waste.
“We have integrated platforms, the digital side and the offline side where people request for pickup of their waste at their convenience.
“We collect this waste and in return for giving us their waste we give them points which they get to redeem as cash into their bank accounts.
“They can use it to shop with different partners and services on our market place or even donate to different charity organizations that we work with”, Ecobarter founder said.
Ecobarter staff, picking up waste from household
She explained that points were awarded base on the weight of waste retrieved, adding that 30 plastic bottles weighs 1kg which is equivalent to one ecobarter point.
She added that one ecobarter point was worth N20 while people with 50 ecobarter points would earn N1,000.
Ecobarter Beneficiaries
Rebecca Bulus is a full time cleaner who learned about waste collection when she realised the extent to which the littered waste in her community was making.
She said she started picking up bottles and other recyclable in her neighborhood, adding that she had collected 200kg of waste and has earned more than N10,000 from ecobarter.
“I mostly use the money I get to buy food ingredients to cook for my children.
“But there was a time when my child was ill and we had to buy some drugs at the pharmacy. I didn’t have much on me because I have not received my salary yet.
“I only had the money i saved from collecting the bottles and that was what I used to pay for the drugs ” she said.
Similarly, Mrs Lucy, a pharmacist said she usually plant flowers in used plastic bottles but the bottles piled up overtime occupying space in her home.
She added that the situation changed when he learned about Ecobarter as they came to pick up her waste in exchange for points which metamorphosed to cash.
“I checked my app and I had like 500 recycling points, I was like wow that’s a lot.
“I decided to try to exchange it with cash just to see if I would get the money; so I filled in my request on the app and forget about it.
“It was on the next day that I got the credit alert, and I was like, where is this coming from? then I saw that it was from ecobarter,” she said.
Challenges
“Low level of awareness on how poor waste management practices impact not just the environment but even public health is a major challenge ” Idehai said.
She stated that the organisation spent alot in terms of energy, time and money to educate people on proper waste management and it’s importance.
Ecobarter team sensitizing market woman on proper waste management
She added that another challenge was the lack of existing infrastructure where people would take waste to or get efficient waste collectors that would come their doorstep to pick up waste.
“So we are having to also invest a lot in building collection Centers installing hubs and creating collection route and all of that, and for all of this we would be needing way more funds.
“And you know because we are in Africa, we are female led there’s also disadvantage to investment,” she said
Sustaining the project
“The wastes are raw materials that we sell at a profit to manufacturers. This sales is our primary source of revenue,” she said.
She added that the organisation also get grant funding from different development agencies such as the US Mission Nigeria, the Roddenberry Foundation, Coca cola Foundation among others.
Idehai explained that the Ecobarter constantly run sensitization programmes, create and boost contents on social media to reach more people.
“In 2023, we did the Go Green with Ecobarter and Cleanup with Ecobarter challenge which reached about 25,000 unique people,” she said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
**If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
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