September 11, 2024

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Ogochukwu Eloike, flanked by Mr Goddie Ofose, Covener of The Industry Women Conference and Mrs Bunmi Oke, CEO/Lead Consultant, Ladybird Advertising at the award ceremony
Gender , Entertainment

Gender equality advocate, Eloike bags Change Maker award

By Joshua Olomu

Ogochukwu Eloike, a renowned Nigerian gender equality advocate, has clinched the highly coveted ‘Change Maker Gender Advocacy’ category of the prestigious Change Maker Awards.

Eloike was recognised alongside other eminent Nigerians from different background at the award ceremony organised by The Industry Women Conference in Lagos.

According to Mr Goddie Ofose, Covener of the conference, the award was to honour those who have contributed towards making positive changes in their various industries of practice.

He said Eloike was honoured for her passionate quest to entrench healthy systems that enable women to grow and thrive without the existential sexist impediments that relegate the efforts of women to the background.

“It is a well-deserved recognition that highlighted her unmatched commitment and efforts towards propagating gender parity in Nigeria and across the continent.“

In her acceptance remarks, Eloike who thanked the organisers of the Industry Awards expressed delight for the recognition.

“It is an honour and an applaudable feat to be recognised for your value addition to society.

“Over the years, I have worked with different stakeholders to provide facts and insights on the negative effects of silence culture amongst women and how this culture affects women, families, and society at large.

“It is also based on the cumulated insight that I wrote the powerful self-help book for women called Ichabod: Daughters Who Did Not Inherit Their Mothers’ Silence.

“The aim is to ensure that across all our touch-points, we are constantly interrogating the effects of silence culture on women and proffering viable solutions to it.

I honour Mr Goddie Ofose for providing a platform where women can be celebrated for the value they add to society,” she said.

Eloike, who was a keynote speaker at the event, delivered a speech on how women can effectively establish a work-life balance through precise decision-making and thinking.

She said it was imperative for women not to leave their lives’ outcome to chance or their expectations of meeting a man who can solve all their problems, as that was delusional and unhealthy.

Eloike is feminism, education reforms advocate and an astute communications strategist who constantly makes argument for women, noting that they are the core of every society and relationship as they bear the burden of sustenance.

Through her unique voice, she creates truth-based content for various platforms where she confronts various barriers to human mental and spiritual emancipation.

She is the author of the acclaimed book ‘Ichabod: Daughters Who Did Not Inherit Their Mothers’ Silence’.

Through the book, she staunchly advocated for an absolute right of choice and self-determination for women and girls without being subjected to societal validations and approval.

The book ‘Ichabod’, is considered one of the most powerful self-help books for women as it intrinsically interrogated the silence culture and its generational effects on women.

In 2023, she was listed among the top 50 Industry Women driving positive reforms and changes within their industry and also received the Gender Change Agent award by The Industry Media.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

Women from Central, Eastern and West Africa at consultation meeting in Abuja
Gender , General News

UN Women, EU partner to support feminist organisations in Africa

By Abiemwense Moru

European Union and UN Women on Thursday partnered to support feminist organisations to end violence against women and girls in Africa.

Ms Beatrice Eyong, the UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, made this known during a Regional Consultation with women’s rights organisations ahead of the annual UN 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence in Abuja.

She said the initiative focused on strengthening global and regional advocacy, coalition building and transformative feminist action to end violence against women.

According to her, the three-year initiative will contribute to leveraging regional movements and networks and create mass action and support.

Eyong said “it is a real implementation of the theme of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign — “UNITE, Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls.”

She explained that research had shown that the presence of a strong and autonomous feminist movement is critical to drive change in ending violence against women and girls in policy making and transforming social norms and power relations.

She said “we all need to work together as a region with solidarity and network, and multilateral actions.

“In the intergovernmental space, that means engaging with member states to urgently bring about legislative changes. It means funding long-term legal advocacy for these rights.

“And it means fully supporting women and girls’ networks and movements, including financially.

“At the local level, we must work to change the social norms that drive backlash against women’s rights. We are guided in all of these work by the Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 5.

“It is also critical to continue forging multilateral and intergenerational partnerships, supporting the participation of young people.”

Ms Beatrice Eyong
Ms Beatrice Eyong

Eyong further explained that UN Women saw the impact of these at the Generation Equality Forum, which launched an Action Coalition on ending violence against women.

She said “our task now is to ensure that commitments made toward a world free of Gender-Based Violence are accompanied by investments and actions.”

The Focal Person for Youth, Gender and Human Rights in the delegation of the EU to Nigeria, Mrs Esme Stuart, said investing in women organisations was necessary to end violence against women and girls.

She said that through the global Spotlight Initiative programme, the EU and UN had been working with civil society organisations across the continent and the partnership had shown that violence against women and girls was preventable.

“Evidence shows as well that women organisations are the most effective actors to ensure progress and sustainable change in women’s rights and gender equality.

“Women organisations play central roles in advancing the implementation of global normative frameworks, contribute to societal development while reaching the poorest and most vulnerable and marginalised women and girls.

“Strategic and joint actions are considered powerful mechanisms for transformative change.

“Supporting and investing in strong and autonomous feminist organisations and movements are, therefore, key strategies to achieving transformational change in policy at global, regional and national levels.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 45 participants from 12 countries of Central, Eastern and West Africa, comprising 37 rights organisations attended the regional consultation. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Foreign

UN Women calls for increased involvement in gender equality

 

By Busayo Onijala

 

The UN Women on Tuesday called for an increase in the private sector’s involvement in the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment in Nigeria.

 

The call was made in Lagos, on the sideline of a Private Sector CEOs Meeting with Mr Maxime Houinato, UN Women Regional Director for Central and West Africa, who is on an executive visit to Nigeria.

 

Houinato lauded the established collaboration between Nigeria’s private sector and the government which he said had so far yielded a 25 million U.S. dollar fund to fight gender-based violence.

 

This, he said was possible because they acknowledge that gender equality is key for the promotion of the economy.

 

According to him, both the private sector and government are aware of the crippling effects gender-based violence has on the Nigerian economy.

 

“We are wasting a tremendous amount of money to address this issue and if it is put off the table, the funds will be available for other developmental projects,” he said.

 

Houinato also hailed women in business for realising that for them to rise to the top of the difficult environment of business in Nigeria, they need to be professional and collaborative.

 

“The women have realised that they are going to access spaces when they are professional, strong in business, and side with governments to influence the economic policy of this country.

 

“To do that, the level of professionalism that they need to demonstrate is very high because the economy in Nigeria is a very competitive place, and they want to earn that place,” he said.

 

On his part, Mr Lansana Wonneh, UN Women Deputy Country Representative in Nigeria, said gender inequality is one of the biggest challenges to development in Nigeria.

 

Part of its symptoms, he said, include limited participation of women in governance and gender-based violence.

 

He said changing the dynamic should not be left to the government or civil society alone, adding that the private sector also has a significant role to play.

 

“If we all see it as a national cause, then it is important that the private sector also invests.

 

“If they invest, it has business benefits for them as well,” he said.

 

Wonneh added that a reduction in gender-based violence would lead to an  increase in productivity of half of the population, considering that about 50 per cent of Nigerians are women.

 

“Eliminating gender based violence will only allow Nigeria to realise the full investment potential and full productivity potential of women,” Wonneh said. (NAN)

Ms Detutu Ajibodu, Child rights advocate
General News

SGBV: Child rights advocate represents Nigeria in U.S., says global best practices crucial

By Adebola Adegoke

A Child Rights and Gender Equality Advocate, Ms Detutu Ajibodu, has underscored the need to integrate global best practices in combating sexual and gender-based violence to enhance local impact.

Ajibodu, who was selected to represent Nigeria at the International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) in the United States of America, said this in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday in Lagos.

The child rights advocate and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Cece Yara Foundation, a child-centred NGO, was selected by the U.S. Department of State to represent Nigeria at the programme.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the African countries that attended the event include Algeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Mauritania, Mozambique, Ghana, and South Africa.

IVLP stands as a pinnacle initiative by the U.S. Department of State facilitating profound cross-border exchanges among current and emerging leaders from diverse fields.

Ajibodu said that her aspirations after her return to Nigeria from the IVLP was to infuse the insights gained during the conference into the Cece Yara Foundation’s initiatives.

According to her, the infusion of international best practices and the local know-how would further enhance the impact made locally and create a safer environment for all vulnerable individuals.

She stated that her experience in the international space and interaction with representatives of other African countries at the event, showed that Nigeria has made significant strides in combating gender-based violence.

Ajibodu however noted that there was still room for improvement; hence, the need to fortify collaboration between governmental bodies, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and communities.

“Robust legislation, accessible support services, and comprehensive education are pivotal to expedite our response to these pressing issues,” she said.

Speaking further, the child rights expert said that the programme nurtured deep-rooted connections between international leaders and their American counterparts, enriching both parties with first-hand insights into each other’s areas of focus and expertise.

She noted that the IVLP 2023 cohort engaged wide spectrum of thematic discussions, aligning with participants’ professional passions, the foreign policy objectives of the United States, and the developmental focus of the participating countries.

Ajibodu said among the core discussions were strategies for countering gender-based violence – a subject matter that resonated deeply with Ajibodu and her role as the CEO of the Cece Yara Foundation.

NAN also reports that Ajibodu’s child rights and advocacy journey includes collaborative efforts with prominent organisations such as United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Deloitte, and a multitude of international bodies.

Her professional repertoire extends across a rich tapestry of endeavours, having consulted for the likes of Disability Rights Advocacy, the European Union, the United Nations, and the British Council. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Bayo Sekoni

Officers and staff of African Food Changemakers (AFC)
Agriculture , General News

NGO mulls support for women in Agriculture to promote gender equality

By Angela Atabo

A non-profit organisation, African Food Changemakers (AFC) has called for support for women in agriculture to close the gender gap and the barriers they face in agriculture.

Communications Officer, African Food Changemakers (AFC), Cassandra Taiwo, made the call in Abuja.

Taiwo said the call became imperative because women face significant gender-specific barriers in the sector.

These barriers, she said, are limited access to financing, information, training, and societal obstacles among others and they hinder productivity in the agrifood system, contributing to underperformance in developing countries.

She said closing the gender gap in agriculture would have far-reaching benefits in the sector.

Taiwo also said the organisation recognises the need to support women’s progress in the food ecosystem and raise awareness for their role as changemakers in the African agricultural sector.

She said to cushion the effects of the barriers on women, AFC in collaboration with Skoll Foundation inaugurated the African Women in Food Fellowship (LAWFF) in March 2023.

“LAWFF program has profoundly contributed to women by offering opportunities to bridge gender inequality in the industry.

“The LAWFF Program, aims to amplify, celebrate, champion, and advance the work of female food changemakers in Africa.

“It offers mentorship, training, peer-to-peer support, increased visibility through strategic media coverage, and connections to AFC partner networks for funding and scaling.

“Together, these remarkable women are paving the way for a sustainable and inclusive food system in Africa, where the image of success is synonymous with a flourishing female entrepreneurs rather than a hungry child. ”

According to Taiwo as these women emerge as leaders and advocates, their amplified voices will shape policies, influence narratives, and drive transformative change in the African agricultural sector.

“The African ecosystem is a complex system that involves social-political, cultural, and religious idiosyncrasies and for you to thrive as an enabler or a business, you need to understand these layers of complexity and the people,” she said.

Taiwo said the fellows went through a rigorous nomination, application, and selection process led by industry experts and leaders, including representatives from notable organisations.

She said these include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, Africa Region, IITA, AfDB, and the SDG2 Advocacy Hub among others.

She said that 27 exceptional fellows were chosen from over 640 nominations selected across five categories based on their fit with eligibility criteria, impact, and growth potential among others.

She said the fellows represented countries such as Benin, Cameroon, Côte D’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda.

Taiwo said they participate in weekly interactive training sessions throughout the program, adding that the LAWFF program would culminate at the 2023 Africa Food System Forum Summit in Tanzania. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Gender

U.S. to support Nigeria on gender equality, says official

U.S. to support Nigeria on gender equality, says official

 

By Olanrewaju Akojede

Joseph Kruzich, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Consulate General Lagos, has restated the commitment of the American Government toward initiatives that will drive gender equality in Nigeria.

Kruzich made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of the graduation ceremony of 50 beneficiaries of the ‘Break the Bias, She Can’ initiative on Tuesday in Lagos.

The event was organised by the Additional Plus Sports and Education Initiative (APSE) in partnership with Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC).

NAN reports that ‘Break the Bias, She Can’ is an initiative of the Management of APSE in partnerships with LSSC, to provide a one-tier sports and political empowerment programme to empower some outstanding girl children.

The graduation ceremony was held at the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, Lagos.

The programme was designed as education in sport and political education with major focus on taekwondo, table-tennis and sensitisation.

It also involved mentorship programme on political participation and how vote can count as a tool in combating the disturbing phenomenon.

At the graduation ceremony of the 50 beneficiaries, the U.S. envoy to Nigeria, Kruzich, noted that the drive to  gender equality was one of the American dreams.

“Gender equality is one of the core values of the Americans and I believe it is one of the core values of Nigerian government as well.

“As both country now have strong democracies, we are committed to working together with Nigeria to do more in the area of gender equality, economic development and good governance.

“We are not also forgetting the boys as well, because they are also important.

“We need both sides, but in traditional settings, we sometimes forget our women, their voices and needs are neglected.

“We want to focus on these, so that everyone in the society have a role to play in the rebirth of Nigeria,  in her development and Africa as well,” he said.

Kruzich also stated that the American government was excited to partner the ‘Break the Barrier’ Initiative, adding that it is the right change that Nigeria needed.

“The U.S. government is excited to be part of this programme, especially because of the ambition of the initiator of this programme, Dr Oluwaseun Nariwoh.

“This is a strong initiative that gives training in sports and educational development, which in turn gives confidence and political training.

“This programme would have afford the participants good outlook on their roles in the society and what they should do to make Nigerian society a better place.

““The initiative is great and the organisation is good, putting smiles on the faces of the children.

“It is now time for the children to show the world what stuff they are now made of, while we appreciate other organisations to come on board,” he said.

Mrs Adetoun Tade, the President of International Visitors Leadership Programme, (IVLP), U.S. Consulate, told NAN that the programme had been able to fulfill its mandate.

According to Tade, this has been shown by the successful completion of the one year intensive programme for the beneficiaries.

“This is a good way of giving back to the society which we are all proud of and we will always like to support.

“This is the way to go in raising the next generation of talents that will positively impact on our society and youths with responsible values.

“I am sure that this programme will be more encouraged to ensure its sustainability,” she said.

Also, Moses Kolawole, the Director of Sports, Lagos State Sports Commission, (LSSC), noted that the commission was proud to be part of the initiative.

“It is because the initiative is part of the core values being upheld by the state government.

“This is a programme that Lagos State is known for. We can’t have it better than this in raising responsible children to adulthood,” he said.

The initiator of APSE, Dr Oluwaseun Nariwoh, said that the programme was designed to identify some gaps in the development of athletes, which included combining sports with education.

““We need to prepare these young ones well ahead of the future challenges, and this is what we have been able to achieve.

“The young participants now know the values of education and not sports alone,” she said.

NAN reports that highlights of the graduation included the distribution of reading books such as  “21 girls who made the world a better place,” some exercise books, other writing materials and certificate of participation. (NAN)

 

Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa

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