By Isaac Aregbesola

Participants at the International Women Conference have urged the President-elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu, to promote more laws, policies and special budgets targeting women and institutions that advance the cause of women.

They made the call at the first International Women Conference, with the theme Equity versus Equality, Redefining Gender Roles, organised by Arise Monilisa Foundation (AMF) in Abuja on Monday.

The conference was convoked to celebrate women, especially those that excelled in the male dominated sector.

Zik Okafor, a former National President of Asscoaition of Film Producers, Nigeria, who was a key speaker at the conference, stressed the need for women to be given opportunity to have their voices in the society.

The Chief Executive Officer of Zulu Film noted with concern that women had not been allowed to occupy their rightful places in the political space in Nigeria.

He said that out of 192 countries Nigeria is number 184 in terms of women participation in politics, it is not a good story.

From 1999 till date, only 157 women have been elected into the National Assembly in Nigeria, 38 Senators and 119 members of House of Representatives, compare to 2,657 men elected, 616 Senators and 2041 House of Representatives members.

I think government needs incisive mind set, bold action and commitment, they need to promote more laws, policies, special budgets targeting women and institutions that advance the cause of women.

According to him, there should also be deliberate and conscious efforts from the government to seriously put an end to gender based violence, secure equal access to quality education, health, economic resources and importantly participation in politics.

I have no doubt that women are ultra-commitment agents of change and they hold a brand new hope for the world, he said.

Speaking in the same vein, Monalisa Chinda, the Founder of AMF, said women and youths should be given the chance and the leverage to participate in all sectors including politics.

They should be given that chance to play their role by the incoming government to contribute their own quotas to the development of the country.

I think it is time to give women space to be what they are meant to be, she said.

While noting with concern that women were not encouraged by their male counterparts to thrive politically, she called on men to support women to occupy rightful political seats in the country.

She also challenged the women to become mentors that change the narrative for female folks everywhere.

Women must start from henceforth to become the biggest supporters, fans, Trust-anchor, mentors and financiers of their fellow women, she said.

Also in her submission, Alex Okoroji, an actress and author, stressed the need to fill the existing gender gaps in our society.

The gender gaps should be filled to enhance development in the country and the best way to fill the gap is to bring up women to fill their rightful place in the society.

By bringing more women into discussion. By acknowledging women contribution to development in the society, I think there also need to be better presentations.

People need to be more aware of women achievement in the society, media can play a crucial role in bringing the women folk to the limelight, how women are represented in the society, she said.

According to her, there is the need to encourage more women in the areas of leadership, governance and politics.

I believe that there are not enough laws that support women ideas.

Because a lot of the laws were made by men and when you have more men as lawmakers than women, not enough women representative, how do we create laws that will be in favour of women?

So, we need to have more female lawmakers, and have them in politics and governance, then we can have our voices represented and raise issues that women care about, she said. (NAN)

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Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Source: NAN News

L-R: Dr Ajibola Abayomi, President of the Journalists International Forum For Migration (JIFORM), Gerald Wolf, Deputy Consul General, German Embassy, Lagos, and Mrs Yemisi Izuora, the Publisher of Oriental Nigeria News during a visit of the JIFORM to the embassy.

By Ibironke Ariyo
The Journalists International Forum For Migration (JIFORM) and the German Embassy in Nigeria will be partnering on a training programme for journalists on migration and economic issues.

Dr Ajibola Abayomi, JIFORM President, in a statement said that his team was received by Mr Gerald Wolf, the Deputy Consul General and Elle Ogunsanya, the programme Coordinator at the Lagos consulate of the embassy.

Abayomi said that the JIFORM delegation had requested for collaboration on the training of journalists on migration matters.

He urged the embassy to work with the JIFORM to further drive the campaign against irregular migration, human trafficking and other migration menaces.

According to him, while we agree that migration is not a crime, the message must be clear that it must not be abused by anyone due to inadequate information on the choice they make.

We are appalled by the cases of repatriation of thousands of migrants from Germany and other countries involving Nigerians.

We are convinced that we can do better with quality information for the purpose of enlightening the public and this can be achieved with capacity building for media practitioners to engage stakeholders on the way out.

Journalists also need to be exposed to better management of migrant information geared towards economic development for the good of all, he said.

Abayomi emphasised that JIFORM was open to collaboration with various institutions to ensure that migrant matters from the point of safe, regular and orderly migration become a win-win situation for all countries.

On this, we seek your support to continue to empower journalists in Nigeria as we look forward to having the second edition of the JIFORM intercontinental migration summit hosted in Germany later this year, he said.

Responding, Wolf said his office would welcome a proposal to actualise a workshop for journalists and take steps to ensure its success when approved.

Wolf also said that the German government had a series of opportunities for skilled and qualified migrants from Nigeria, especially in education and those who are qualified teachers.

The Deputy Consul wished the JIFORM well on its desire to stage a migration summit in Germany.

He said his office was looking forward to also liaising with other German organisations in Nigeria to be part of interaction with the media during the proposed training programme.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that JIFORM, founded in 2019 in Lagos, comprises over 300 journalists covering migration across the continents.

NAN reports that the body has facilitated a series of local and international capacity building and training programmes for journalists and other stakeholders over the years. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vincent Obi

Source: NAN News

Gov. Abiodun during his condolence visit to the family of late Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya

By Oladapo Udom

The Governor of Ogun State, Mr Dapo Abiodun, on Monday said that the state would take over the burial of Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya, to give him a befitting farewell.

Abiodun said this during his condolence visit to the family at the late Diyas residence at Adekunle Fajuyi St., GRA, Ikeja, Lagos State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lt.-Gen. Diya died on March 26 at the age of 79.

The governor said that Diya was a former governor of Ogun State in 1984 and was an illustrious son of the state, in whom they were specially very pleased.

His contribution to the state will be remembered for many years to come.

The least we can do to honour him and support the family is to take over and give him a befitting farewell and that is what we are going to do.

A committee will be set up that will comprise members of our cabinet and members of the family, to ensure that we give our departed son a befitting burial, he said.

Abiodun said that one of the lessons that could be learnt from the life and times of Diya was to absolutely put your trust and faith in God.

I learnt that when God is with you, and when your trust and faith is in God, man can sentence you but God will uphold you.

A sentence was pronounced on Diyas life but God upheld him and he lived for many more years after that sentence.

So, for me, that is one of the take aways that I will remember from the life and times of Lt.-Gen. Diya, who we are going to immensely miss, he said.

The governor said that Diya was a soldier, a lawyer and a gentleman, who rose to the peak of his career by becoming the Chief of Staff at the Supreme Headquarters.

He also became the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Div, he was the Commandant of the Nigerian War College, after which he became the defacto vice-president of Nigeria.

His philanthropic intelligence and community involvement is such that we can not write the history of Ogun State without remembering him particularly or where he comes from , which is Odogbolu LGA.

All of us in Ogun State will forever be grateful to the impactful life that he has lived, Abiodun said.

He offered his deep condolences to Diyas family on behalf of the entire people and government of Ogun State.

Our prayer to the almighty God is to forgive his sins and grant recourse of his soul.

We pray that the Almighty God will give his wife, Mrs Josephine Diya, the children and entire members of the family the heart to bear the loss, Abiodun said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Omowole

Source: NAN News

By Jacinta Nwachukwu

A member of Frederal House of Representative, Rep. Olubukola Oyewo has facilitated a capacity building workshop for mathematics teachers in his constituency to enhance the teaching and learning of mathematics.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview at the five days workshop in Abuja Oyewo, member representing Irepodun/Olorunda/Orolu/ Osogbo Federal Constituency, Osun said the training was borne out of his passion for mathematics.

I am facilitating the ongoing capacity building workshop for mathematics teachers in my constituency because of my passion for mathematics.

The abysmal performance of students in mathematics from my constituency also prompted this training programme, he said.

He, however, said that paucity of fund prevented many mathematics teachers from the constituency from participating, hence the few participants.

It is however unfortunate that paucity of fund is a limitation to the number of participants proposed to be trained.

He, therefore, said that the few participants would hopefully make up for the training by being trainners to other mathematics teachers in the constituency.

Dr Olatunji Jekayinfa, a Research Fellow, National Mathematical Centre (NMC) said the teachers were trained on the effective methods of teaching mathematics for quality learning among the students.

He said after the programme, the teachers would acquire effective methods of teaching mathematics and impact same on the students to enable them perform better in examinations.

One of the major mandates of National Mathematical Centre is to organise trainings that culminate in quality and effective teaching and learning of mathematics.

So what we are here for is to make sure that the teaching and learning of mathematics is simplified; thereby endearing the subject to the students.

Because there are many problems associated with mathematics ranging from students poor perception of the subject as hard and difficult to teachers adoption of poor teaching methodology.

He said that a training like this could not have come at a better time than this.

Jekayinfa, while commending Oyewo for the programme, urged other spirited Nigerians to contribute their quota towards retraining of teachers for efficiency and effectiveness in teaching and learning in schools.

Mr Jare Tiamiyu, a Mathematics Teacher at Al Bin Islamic College, Irepodun Local Government Area, Osun said with the training, he had learnt how to combine learning and play to keep the students attention.

There are some things both teachers and students consider as mystery; mathematics is believed to be hard because of all these mysteries.

This training we are having will really help us on how to combine learning and play, students will learn more when the teaching is more of fun, something that will keep their attention and boost their interest.

He said this new approach of teaching would go a long way in changing the poor perception about mathematics.

Mr Michael Leshi, another Mathematics Teacher at Divine Favour Model School, Olorunda Local Government Area, while appreciating the facilitator of the training said that quality training of this nature was not easy to come by.

Leshi noted that the Rep. member had been helpful in the areas of education and infrastructure development within the constituency.

Facilitating this capacity building workshop for mathematics teachers will go a long way in helping both the teachers and students towards effective performance, he added.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Grace Yussuf

Source: NAN News

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige handing over two documents - Convention 1975(143)

Wildlife conservation

By Christian Njoku

Nigeria and Cameroon are planning to establish a world heritage site for the protection of endangered species such as gorillas, chimpanzees, lions and elephants native to both countries.

Dr. Inaoyom Imong, Director, Cross River Landscape for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), disclosed this on Monday in Calabar, at a workshop on Watershed Protection for Safe Sustainable Water Supply.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) aims to educate Nigerians on the need to protect its wildlife.

According to Imong, rare species indigenous to both countries are very few in their numbers in the whole of Africa, hence the need to protect them through the establishment of the site.

He said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), would soon be signed by the Presidents of the countries, adding that the site would help both nations achieve joint conservation goals.

The World Heritage Site will strengthen trans-boundary efforts between Nigeria and Cameroon which will make conservation more effective and reduce cost.

When the MoU is signed by the two presidents very soon, it will bring about many more benefits, including joint patrols and regular trans-boundary workshops between Nigeria and Cameroon, he said.

Imong appealed for the strengthening and enforcement of laws against attacks on wildlife and incessant infiltration into protected forests.

He also called for support for prosecution of violators as well as creation of code of conduct for forest rangers.

He further said that WCS recently had a workshop for officials of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, (NESREA) and Nigeria Customs Service in Calabar in that regard.

The workshop became necessary to keep relevant agencies abreast with the international dimensions which wildlife trade has assumed, including methodologies to tackle them.

We are also providing livelihood support for local communities in the forest areas to stem widespread poverty, and also dissuade them from invading protected areas for food, he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Benson Ezugwu/Ejike Obeta

Source: NAN News

Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan

By Okon Okon

The Federal Government in collaboration with Bank of Agriculture on Monday in Abuja inaugurated Federal Public Service entrepreneurship programme (FPSEP) for serving and pre-retiring public officers.

The FPSEP is start-up programmetargeted at preparing prospective retirees that have three years prior to retirement for life after service by providing opportunity for them to acquire new skills.

The initiative will enable retired public servants to have new career choices after their retirement from active service.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan said FPSEP was developed out of the need to pay greater attention to the welfare of the public servants, who constituted the administrative machinery for implementing government policies and programmes.

Represent by Dr Ngozi Onwudiwe, the Permanent Secretary in her office, Yemi-Esan said some aspects of the programme would create window for those in service to earn supplementary income to improve their quality of life, enabling those retiring to cope with life after service.

In addition, the programme will contribute to the development of other sectors of the economy and by implication, increasing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.

The programme consists of two components namely: Agri-preneurship start-up scheme; and pre-retirement training and business start-up scheme.

On the other hand, the pre-retirement training and business start-up scheme is tailored towards preparing public servants for life post-service by providing opportunities for them to acquire new skills for new career choices, she said.

In her goodwill message, Dr Emem Omokaro, the Director-General, National Senior Citizen Centre (NSCC), expressed delight to be part of the programme which would be impactful to senior citizens after their retirement from the service.

Describing the participants at the programme as potential retirees, Omokaro said the centre had a lot of package for senior citizens after retirement hence such initiative should be applauded.

I wish to appreciate the HOCSF for this invitation not only to give a goodwill message but to identify and say a few things to the participants.

This is because the NSCC has the mandates to identify with challenges of older persons that are up to 60 years and above and to carter for their challenges.

In his contributions,Mr Alwan Hassan, the Managing Director, Bank of Agriculture, lauded the HOS for the initiative which would address the plights of retirees after their services to the nation.

Hassan assured the successful participants of the programme of the agencys loan to carry out their businesses without stress.

All you need to do is to get letter of recommendation from your place of work and bring to us to fill the form for the needed fund to start up you businesses. he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Cosmas Ayayi, a participant from office of HOCSF, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government and the HOS for the initiative, saying it would broaden their knowledge on the next step to take in life after retirement.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the FPSEP is the first batch of the programme which attracted 87 participants across three MDAs of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the office of the HOCSF. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Grace Yussuf

Source: NAN News

Old and new naira notes

By Ibukun Emiola

Banks across Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, opened their doors to customers to withdraw cash and transact other financial transactions in line with the directives of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that long queues were witnessed within the banking premises as customers besieged the financial institutions for transactions.

It was also observed that old notes were issued to customers, as new Naira notes was still being rationed to them.

NAN also reports that most banks operated between 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with customers taking turns accessing the banking hall to collect mostly old notes.

In several locations, long queues of customers trying to make withdrawals were recorded, with some of them expressing relief of getting their money after months of scarcity.

Bankers told NAN that the Naira supply situation was expected to gradually ease out within the week and beyond as the CBN had matched its word with action.

Some of the customers told NAN that with the withdrawal limits on both old and new Naira notes, they may be forced to face more hard times ahead.

Mr Olaniyi Olawuyi, expressed joy that banks operated during the weekend as he was able to withdraw cash, after long months.

I was at my bank for financial transactions, although, there were old notes that I withdrew from the Automated Teller Machines, (ATM) but the most joyful thing is that there was no queue at all, while the cash limit remains N10,000.

But in other places, long queues were visible as customers lined up in front of the banking hall and ATM, Olawuyi said.

Mrs Adurayemi Ojeyemi said there were queues where she had gone to withdraw, but expressed optimism that the hardship would reduce after sometimes.

I saw long queues in some other banks, but I thought things would be better than what they had been some months back.

I have been coping at this time by collecting cash from market sellers and so far that has been my way out of this present predicament, Ojeyemi said.

Mr Mayowa Olayinka said that long queues were experienced in the morning, but gradually eased out towards evening as fewer people were seen on queue at most ATM points.

Olayinka said that many people preferred to queue than pay a certain amount on every withdrawal for PoS agents.

Different banks have different withdrawal limits from N2,000 up to N20,000, but they are old notes. I still wonder why the new notes are scarce.

But it is a thing of joy that the CBN has decided to make more cash available for Nigerians, he said.

Ms Lizzy Adelaide decried situation that many banks stopped attending to customers before 4:00 pm, which was the closing hours set by the banks.

She, however, commended the innovations and ingenuity of some banks that have provided other means of attending to their customers complaints.

NAN reports that the CBN directives on weekend banking came a few weeks after the Supreme Court ruling on the case of the redesign of the notes.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Ismail Abdulaziz

Source: NAN News

By Ikenna Uwadileke

Dr Garba Abari, Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), has cautioned politicians against inciting comments capable of threatening the peace and unity of the country.

Abari spoke on Sunday in Abuja when he appeared on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Some politicians are fanning the embers of disunity through hate speech and derogative comments over the 2023 general elections.

This trend is dangerous and highly inimical to the peace and unity of the country.

The elections are over, but the language of politicians still remain toxic and intemperate. This is escalating the social tension.

It is providing room for those who do not believe in the unity of the country to go about pulling from centrifugal perspectives in order to pull down the roof, he said.

The NOA boss, however, commended those embracing constitutional means to seek redress instead of trying to push for social strife and violence.

Abari particularly urged politicians and their supporters to desist from using denigrating, offensive, hateful or inflammatory remarks.

The elections have come and gone, the elections have been lost and they have been won; there are those who are happy and there are those who are aggrieved.

Our country has provided constitutional processes to seek redress from such incidences; the laws of the land have given us opportunity to seek redress.

Politicians must realise that there is life after elections and I want the media, in its reportage, to be very sensitive to the sensibility of Nigerians, he said.

According to Abari, Nigeria must survive for anybody to actualise whatever political ambition he or she has.

He said, When we have no country, we will have no government, we will have no National Assembly members, we will have no President nor Vice President and no governor.

So, whatever it is that we are going to do, without prejudice to the right of everybody to feel the way he or she feels, please allow peace to reign.

It is a right to feel angry and also a right to feel happy but talk in such a way that the country remains peaceful, stable and secure, Abari said.

He further urged politicians not to create a situation that would lead to a breakdown of law and order through actions that are intemperate and wholesome.

We are better together; if Nigeria breaks, which country in Africa can take 200 million refugees from Nigeria?

God, in his infinite mercy, brought the Kanuri, Efik, Ijaw, Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba, Tiv, Nupe, Igala, Benin and all other tribes we have in Nigeria together.

We didnt bargain to be here, God put us here, so we must be conscious of this.

God has blessed Nigeria abundantly in terms of population, expansive land mass, resources, talents. So, we must be thankful to Him through actions that will bring out these bounties for the benefit of all.

The path to greatness depends on how much we are able to respect and tolerate one another and contribute our quota to national development.

It is easy to destroy but absolutely difficult to rebuild, Abari warned. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Justina Auta

Oxfam Nigeria and Women in Information Technology and Communication (ICT), have advocated for more women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)-related fields to advance gender equity.

They made the call during an event, tagged SHESHINES, to create more awareness on gender and creativity in Abuja.

The President, Women in ICT, Ms Kemisola Bolarinwa, stressed the need to encourage the society dismantle stereotypes and long-held beliefs on perceived appropriate careers meant for women and men.

According to her, women are often more productive in every areas, hence the need to increase their presence in technology, which will increase the turnout of inventions, innovative solutions and breakthrough in sciences.

Bolarinwa cited recent breakthrough in the early detection of cancer through the early cancer detection smart brassiere by her Women in ICT team as a perfect example of how creative women in the innovation space could be.

Right now, the invention of the smart bra detects cancer.

This cancer has been a disease that has been there for a very long time but even though we have a lot of men in the sciences, they couldnt think through to solve womens problem through technological invention.

These are part of reasons why we need more women in STEM space generally, she said.

She explained that the smartbra safely detects and monitors potential cancerous cells at an early form, which will reduce death rate by 80 per cent by 2030.

Prof. Olabisi Aina, Researcher and Lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, said the National Gender Policy aims to promote gender equality, women empowerment and human rights.

Aina, who led the 2006 Gender Policy for Nigeria, added that it would also provide platforms for more sectors of the economy such as the sciences, to key into the drive for gender mainstreaming.

The National Gender Policy is an umbrella policy to which we expect that every sector, whether it is labour, environment, health and others, to key into and look at gender issues in their sectors and then draw policy guidelines in order to mainstream gender into what they do.

Women are now competing with men in the workplace and do a variety of jobs from ICT to high profile corporate work.

But in all of this, the environment of work is said for a long time to be very masculinised because men are in majority.

Now that women are entering the labour sector, we recognise the need to make that workplace comfortable for men and women to work, she said.

Also, Ms Esohe Ahior, a legal Practitioner and Head of Department, Poise Graduate Finishing Academy, highlighted the need to upscale youth in technology and innovation to advance their livelihood and enable them contribute to the economy.

Ahior revealed that through the support of OXFAM, they worked with Project Alliance Project to train girls in sectors like graphic design, reproductive health, among others to improve more participation of women in STEM fields as part of the International Womens month.

According to her, over 190 marginalised girls who have been abused and who have become early mothers, and girls the economy has set aside as not being able to do things, have benefitted from the training.

This training will help upscale girls in the technological field. Because in my organisation, women are doing more things in tech than men. Women are the lead trainers in tech, graphic designers, photographers.

It is an eye opener and shows that women are just as hungry to be in tech space like the men, and some are even surpassing the men, she said.

She added that women in STEM field have shown the strength, commitment and tenacity to even supercede societal expectations and the men in technology innovation.

NAN reports that other highlights were poetry recitations, music performances and presentations by various outstanding women and female groups. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vincent Obi

Source: NAN News