Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr James Christoff (2nd left) and Mr Hamzat Lawal, the Chief Executive, Connected Development (CODE) (3rd Left) with others at an event to to mark the International Womens Day in Abuja on Wednesday

By Angela Atabo/ Bukola Adewumi
Canadian High Commission to Nigeria and Connected Development (CODE) have tasked the Federal Government on the need to enact policies that will protect women and girls.

They made the call at a news conference on Wednesday, in Abuja to mark the International Womens Day (IWD) and to share key findings on CODEs GMAA-K project.

The project Galvanizing Mass Action Against Gender-Based Violence in Kano State (GMAA-K) was implemented in Kano State address inequality among others.

Mr Hamzat Lawal, the Chief Executive, CODE. said the call to enact women friendly laws was imperative to address the ills against women in the society .

Lawal said Nigeria ranked 123rd out of 146 countries on the World Gender Gap Gender Equality Index of 2022.

He said that prior to the World Gender Gap ranking, Thomson Reuters Foundation conducted a survey in 2018, and Nigeria ranked 9th in the top 10 list of most dangerous countries for women.

He said that Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) was widespread in Nigeria, with 30 per cent of women aged 15 to 49 having reported experiences of sexual abuse.

He added that 43 per cent of girls were married off before age 18, and 17 per cent married off before they turned 15 and Kano State, in the Northwestern part of the country is a reflective of these peculiarities.

SGBV fueled by cultural and religious factors continues spreading and the state lacks enabling laws to address SGBV, or sanction offenders and ensure victims/survivors get the multidimensional support they require.

Today, we are celebrating International Womens Day and calling all stakeholders across Nigeria to embrace equality not by mere show of words but by actions such as enacting policies that will protect women and girls in society.

The action plan got inputs from various Kano state actors and non-state actors. As of Dec. 1, 2022, the State Assembly held a public hearing on the Child Protection Bill but the house failed to pass the bills as committed to all stakeholders.

It is disheartening to say that policies such as this that ought to protect women and children in society are given a back seat in our society, in Kano state.

Lawal said that commitments from government stakeholders had not been upheld, particularly on the creation of more Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC) in each Kano emirate council as Kano state only has one.

The reason CODE commissioned research is to highlight the impact of the project in the state, on lessons learnt, and recommendations for future direction of SGBV programming in Kano state.

Lawal said that to address SGBV in Kano, CODE through funding from the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria inaugurated the Galvanising Mass Action Against Gender-Based Violence in Kano State (GMAA-K)project.

He said the project aimed at galvanizing the public and empowering women to mount advocacies against SGBV and domestic abuse as well as engage the government for the enactment of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law.

He said CODE in January 2021, implemented the first phase of the GMAA-K in Kano, as the Canadian High Commission seeing the inroads being made with the project in Kano supported the second phase of the project in November 2021.

The Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr James Christoff, said this years IWD was a reminder that all women from all ages and walks of life have a place in every aspect of the society.

Today, we celebrate the achievements of all women and girls who are building a stronger and more inclusive future, but we cannot forget that there is more work to be done.

In Nigeria, this is particularly important as we know Nigeria is facing an SGBV crisis .

At homes, in schools, on the streets, at work, on the internet, between conflict zones and IDP camps; SGBV has become normalised and most often goes unpunished sometimes blaming survivors.

Certain groups such as women with disabilities are at greater risk to experience gender-based violence, the scale of this issue is tremendous.

Christoff said that gender equality and empowerment of women and girls were at the heart of the Canadas Feminist Foreign policies due to thebelief that gender equality was key to building a more peaceful, inclusive and prosperous world.

He said that the commission under its Canada Fund for Local Initiatives had been working with CODE over two years to galvanise action against gender based violence in Kano state.

He however, hoped that the report would chat the way forward to curb SGBV.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Modupe Adeloye/Grace Yussuf

Source: NAN News

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Auwal Gambo, and the Executive Vice Chairman, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Prof. Mohammad Haruna, during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Naval Headquarters in Abuja, on Wednesday (8/3/23).

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Navy and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop navys capacity in ship building and maritime technology.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Prof. Mohammad Haruna and the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Auwal Gambo, sealed the deal at Naval Headquarters Abuja, on Wednesday.

Gambo said the MoU was another milestone in the Nigerian Navys efforts at strengthening interagency collaboration for enhanced security within the nations maritime domain.

The CNS commended NASENI for changing the dynamics of engineering, and facilitating research and development initiatives across sectors in the country and beyond.

He said that as part of the collaboration, a NASENI team had visited the Naval Dockyard in Lagos to refine the Nigerian Navys local shipbuilding, construction and fabrications for the maritime industry.

According to him, the indigenous shipbuilding effort has enhanced the presence of the Nigerian navy at sea which led to significant reduction of piracy.

Gambo said that the efforts had culminated into the delisting of Nigeria from the international list of piracy-prone countries in the world.

This has ultimately reduced high insurance premium which is known as risk premium, usually factored into shipping costs due to prevalence of piracy incidents around any part of the world.

These high costs are passed on the consumers, you and I, which enables shipping companies recoup their losses, as it were.

Now the good news is that prior to delisting Nigeria from the International Maritime Bureau list of piracy prone countries in March last year, the insurance premium has been reduced from ,000 to .

I assure you that the Nigerian navy will sustain this feat by the grace of God, he said.

The Naval chief said the MoU would re-ignite partnership between both organisations in several ways, including research and development for enhanced security.

He added that it would also foster operations and administrative engagements to achieve sustainable blue economy for Nigeria.

Gambo said the sustained efforts and support from the federal government was instrumental to the successes recorded by the Nigerian navy and thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his unflinching support.

I wish to assure you that the Nigerian Navy is well positioned to meet the terms of this unprecedented memorandum of understanding and I look forward to a mutually beneficial partnership for the benefit of our great country.

I therefore, implore both parties, the Nigerian Navy and NASENI to be committed towards the attainment of the objectives of the memorandum of understanding for the good of Nigeria and benefit of Nigerians, he added.

The Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Prof. Mohammad Haruna, said the MoU would help to save foreign exchange and produce what was needed locally to enhance national security.

Haruna commended the Navy for its creativity and ingenuity in developing local capacity.

He said that the Navys stride at its Dockyard in Lagos would ease the collaboration in terms of research, fabrication of spare parts and ship building.

According to him, the MoU will provide tangible results for the benefits of our country,

The Chief of Policy and Plans (Navy), Rear Adm. Suleiman Garba, said the MoU was a milestone in the joint technology revolution in Nigeria.

Garba said that the navy needed fruitful partnership with technological agencies such as NASENI to aggregate their human and financial resources to be self reliant.

Also speaking, the Chief of Naval Engineering, Rear Adm. Suleiman EL-Ladan, said the MoU was designed to harmonise the capacity of the navy and NASENI to take ownership of engineering and technical development for Nigeria.

El-Ladan said the arrangement started in 2016, adding that the two parties would constitute a joint implementation committee to ensure proper execution of the MoU.

According to him, under the agreement, the Nigerian navy will provide research and development focus areas, capacity to start off, design and construction of fishing vessels as well as oil tankers.

He said the MoU had a five-year lifespan, after which it would be expanded. (NAN) ()

Edited by Benson Iziama/Maharazu Ahmed

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Source: NAN News

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa

Source: NAN News

Some women who participated at the IWD organised by the Nigerian Shippers Council

By Chiazo Ogbolu

The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Mr Emmanuel Jime, says the council has surpassed the 35 per cent affirmative action of the United Nations on gender equality.

Jime said this while celebrating the International Womens Day (IWD) with the Women in Logistics and Transport Nigeria (WILAT), in Lagos on Wednesday.

The event had the theme: Embrace Equity through Innovation and Technology.

Jime was represented by NSCs Deputy Director of Human Resources, Mrs Ada Okam.

He said that the council was gender-friendly as reflected in the number of women in its top management cadre.

Precisely, women constitute 45 per cent of the high-profile cadre as well as occupy other juicy positions.

In line with embracing equity, the council has already trained over 65 per cent of its female staff locally and abroad in different capacity building programmes to properly position them in the organisation.

Council will do more where our female members of staff demonstrate the requisite capacity. I commend our female staff for showing capacity by performing excellently in their designated offices, he said.

The Chairperson of WILAT, Mrs Khadijat Sheidu-Shabi, said that 15 years ago, the percentage of women in the maritime industry was about seven.

According to her, women currently occupy more administrative positions.

She said, however, that there were not enough women in the technical sector of the maritime industry.

She listed the areas still dominated by men to include engineering and seafaring.

Mrs Ufon Usoro, National President, Chartered Institute of logistics and Transport (CILT), urged women to create opportunities for themselves.

We should create opportunities and make the society to realise that we are hardworking, smart and ready to contribute, she said.

Usoro urged women to avoid giving excuses but put in their best in any given assignment.

You just need to rearrange yourself and do what the men do to get to the top, she said.

She expressed satisfaction at the theme of the 2023 IWD celebration.

I am very pleased about the theme of the IWD which is equity through technology. We need to create opportunities for ourselves, encourage our girls to be good in science and mathematics because that is where you start if you want to be good in using technology, she said.

The state Chairman of CILT, Alhaji Bashir Ambi, said that no society would be complete without women.

Ambi appealed to the Federal Government to encourage more education of women in technology especially in rural areas. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

Source: NAN News

Khuraira Musa, President, Arewa Development Support Initiative

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Arewa Development Support Initiative (ADSI), has urged the President-elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu to ensure youth and women empowerment, as well as girl-child education, especially in the northern part of the country.

In a congratulatory letter signed on Wednesday in Abuja, the President of the initiative, Khuraira Musa, aligned with the vision of the President-elect in the actualisation of economic empowerment, skills acquisition, capacity building and inclusiveness for nation-building.

According to her, ADSI desires to partner with the incoming administration in the actualisation of a grassroots campaign manifesto in these areas which are part of its activities over the years.

Musa said: We the board and members of Arewa Development Support Initiative (ADSI) extend warm congratulations to you as the President-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

You demonstrated resilience in running a hard-fought campaign by symbolising hope, unity, patriotism and economic success.

But importantly, ADSI is excited to read about your trademark of fast-track development, excellence and filling the best person for the job which hallmark is required to addressing the many challenges our country is facing.

She said the initiative was aware of how Tinubu impressed Lagosians with a clear vision and ability to get the job done against the most formidable opposition.

Musa added: As you get on with the business of government as President- elect, ADSI desires to be your worthy partner in the actualisation of some of your grassroots campaign manifesto to our northern brothers and sisters.

Which largely was on economic empowerment, skills acquisition, capacity building and inclusiveness for nation-building which are at the heart of ADSI objectives.

ADSI trusts that you will continue to work for improved youth programs, gender equality especially in the northern part of Nigeria as well as women, girl-child education and most importantly, having more women in your cabinet.

She said that the initiative was a developmental, capacity building and SDG advocacy organisation with an impressive presence in all 19 states of the North and FCT.

Musa said: Our large membership comprises personalities of all vocations from all walks of life mainly of northern extraction of all faiths.

We wish you much success in your demanding office, good fortunes and firm health, as well as to the entire members of your family. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

Bola Tinubu

By Deji Abdulwahab

The Amalgamated All Progressives Congress (AAPC) Support Groups has called on political parties to embrace the hands of fellowship and brotherhood extended to them by Sen. Bola Tinubu, the nations President-elect.

The Director-General of the group, Dr Kailani Muhammad, made the call on Tuesday at a meeting with the Leadership of APC Grassroots Independent Campaign Council in Abuja.

Muhammad urged them, as patriotic Nigerians, to join Tinubu in nation-building so as to move the country forward.

We are calling on the opposition parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party and their members to accept the hands of fellowship and brotherhood extended to them by our principal, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

We saw PDP leaders and their members yesterday parading themselves on the streets of Abuja, belittling themselves after they have gone to court to challenge the election of the president-elect.

They have already gone to court and it has given them a note that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should give them the result sheets, which INEC is ready to do.

We are happy domestically here in Nigeria that all and sundry supported the Feb. 25 presidential election where Tinubu and Shettima emerged as winners.

They should know that it is not selection, but an election and that is why international community has also confirmed that the election was free and fair, he said.

The director-general said that various groups on the platform had been deployed to 28 states to ensure victory during the March 11 Governorship and state House of Assembly elections.

We have also set up committees to go round 28 states as we did in the last Presidential and National Assembly elections.

We deployed them to man all the 146,000 polling units in Nigeria, he said.

In his remarks, Mr Silas Agara, the National Coordinator, APC Grassroots Independent Campaign Council, said that purpose of the meeting was to unite various APC support groups.

According to him, the meeting is to promote unity, cohesion, mutual understanding, among the APC Support Groups. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

Source: NAN News

Mrs Betta Edu, APC National Women Leader

By Christian Njoku

Mrs Betta Edu, the National Women Leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), has called for inclusion of more women in the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

Edu made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Calabar while commemorating the 2023 International Womens Day (IWD).

NAN reports that the Day is used to mark womens achievements, raise awareness about discriminatory attitudes against women as well as take action for addressing gender parity.

The theme of the Day is DigitAll: Innovation and technology for gender equality.

Edu, who is a former Commissioner for Health in Cross River, said issues of Nigerian women ought to be mainstreamed and be at the front burner of States and Federal Government.

She hopes that in 2023, more women would be empowered financially with the 35 per cent affirmative action mainstreamed and implemented across board.

In this new administration, we need more women in the Federal Executive Council and all the boards of parastatals need to be made up of 35 per cent women.

Also, we need interventions and programmes from the Federal Government; we need quotas that are specifically dedicated to the women.

Competence has to be the watchword, we need women with capacity, competence and can represent; we have a lot of them in the society, she said.

She said that the kidnapped Cross River Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr Gertrude Njar, would soon be free as efforts were bring made to rescue her safely.

Mrs Victoria Emmah, the Executive Director, Neighbourhood Care Well Foundation, said the IWD in the state remained a sad occasion because of the kidnap of Njar.

Emmah, whose organisation had been taking care of women and children for over 20 years, said that it has been five weeks since Njar was kidnapped.

Until Nigeria recognises that women are not only meant to be in the kitchen and the other room but in the boardrooms bringing meaningful strategies to address developmental issues, we will not grow like other nations.

Women should be allowed to take up positions like Prof. Dora Akunyili, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Oby Ezekwesili and many other women presently leading huge corporate institutions had proved that we can do it.(NAN) (wwwnannews.ng)

Edited by Auwalu Birnin Kudu/Ismail Abdulaziz

DD/Website

By Josephine Obute

Princess Ronke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi, global cultural ambassador and wife of the Ooni of Ife, has tasked women to get involved in all sectors of the economy towards boosting global productivity.

Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi, founder, Africa fashion week London and Nigeria, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the commemoration of the 2023 International Womens Day (IWD).

She said her message for women was to encourage their inclusion in all sectors as it would boost the image of the nation and the global environment.

She said that women should participate in public and private engagements towards contriuting their quota to the development of humanity and their chosen endeavours.

She congratulated women who have diversified in more demanding ventures due to the current economic hardships thereby assisting their husbands and children.

We should do away with the tokenism offered to women in the public and private work space as this will assist in gradually eradicating the self limiting beliefs society has placed on women.

Women are very intelligent and creative and need to be encouraged to perform better, they serve diligently in any office they hold because they are exceptionally intelligent, she said.

She appealed to investors to have greater interest in investing in businesses owned by women because they are more reliable in loan investment.

I feel more investment should go towards women owned businesses and access to borrowing for women should be made easier.

Banks, investors and business finance teams should have special programmes for women by sensitizing them on what they stand to gain if they cooperate among themselves.

We need to trickle down to the grassroots as women are known to be the best borrowers because they are always faithful in the culture of pay back, she told NAN.

She said that the Ooni of Ife has promoted and assisted several women through the annual Queen Moremi initiative, African Fashion Shows and lots more.

The efforts of the monarch encouraged me to write books for young ladies of today to know about great women of old and be inspired by their stories.

His encouragement also extended our cultural tourism beyond Nigeria into other countries such as London, Brazil, and beyond, she said.

NAN reports that the 2023 theme for the IWD celebration is DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.(NAN)

(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Auwalu Birnin Kudu/Ismail Abdulaziz

Source: NAN News

By Joy Odigie

The Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO), a Non-Governmental Organisation, has advocated for equitable distribution of resources to women in the society.

Dr Godwin Ehigiamusoe, Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, made the call at the 11th LAPO Outstanding Women Leadership Award (LOWLA) in Benin on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that LOWLA is an annual event organised by LAPO in commemoration of the International Womens Day held every March 8.

Ehigiamusoe said there still existed a world filled with innumerable hurdles and obstacles hindering gender equity.

He said: Gender -biased deprivations and male-dominated social structures remain strong in our society.

If we fail to challenge gender stereotypes, call out discriminations, draw attention to biases and seek out inclusion, we may not be able to achieve the desired progress including the SDGs.

He added that LOWLA was instituted in 2013 to recognise and honour women who are excelling in business, farming and professional careers with sustainable social impact.

The Guest Speaker, Prof. Adefunke Adekunle, Director of Gender Studies, University of Benin, said equity could be achieved by giving everyone a voice to speak as well as listened to.

She said that countries would become more prosperous if collective efforts were given to
women and women led businesses to function at their fullest potentials.

Also, the Chairperson, Prof. Stella Chiemeke, Vice Chancellor, University of Delta, Agbor, advocated for women liberation from poverty and debased lives.

The vice chancellor called for sound moral, education and entrepreneurial training for the girl child to reduce the numbers of women living debased lives in the society.

It is high time we looked inwards and try to ensure that we remove our girls living indecent lives from the streets for them to know that they can contribute positively to societal development, she said.

Chiemeke commended the co-founder of LAPO, Mrs Elizabeth Ehigiamusoe, for being a strong support to her husband and the family.

NAN reports that the highlight of the event was the presentation of LAPO Lifetime Achievement Award to Ehigiamusoe.

While the winners of LOWLA Business, Farming and Professional categories included Gladys Okoro, Mary Durodola and Helen Azuni. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Bassey/Vivian Ihechu

Source: NAN News

President Buhari

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has described the death of foremost politician and businessman, Alhaji Musa Musawa, a one-time Senator, as a great loss to Nigeria.

In a condolence message by his spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, on Wednesday in Abuja, Buhari said the nation mourns the loss of a political giant and a true Nigerian.

He described the deceased as a towering grassroots politician with a nuanced understanding of matters who had very few parallels as a campaigner in his heydays.

He noted that the deceased lived a worthy life, leaving us with innumerable happy memories of accomplishments as a politician, businessman and a community leader. We will miss him a lot.

May Allah repose his soul and grant fortitude to his family, the government and people of Katsina State to bear the loss. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Source: NAN News