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Abass Assures on Removal of Systemic Barriers To Women’s Participation In Governance

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Abass Assures on Removal of Systemic Barriers To Women’s Participation In Governance

By:Michael Mike

The National Assembly will work at removing all systemic barriers to women’s participation in governance in the country, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abass, has assured.

Abass, gave this assurance in Abuja at the National Citizens’ Summit on Constitutional Reform and Campaign on Ending Violence against Women and Girls.

The Speaker, who was represented by Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, said the constitutional reform would be tailored towards empowering women, ensuring their safety, and promoting their full participation in governance.

He underscored the need for collaboration with women’s groups, faith leaders, and traditional institutions to amplify women’s voices and protect their rights.

Abass described the Summit as a significant milestone, as they launched campaigns to increase women’s participation in elective and appointive positions and end violence against women and girls.

He pointed out that the campaign aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5, which seeks to achieve gender equality.

He pledged that under his leadership, the House of Representatives would advance constitutional reforms that would address national needs and prioritise women and girls’ empowerment, safety and full participation.

The Speaker while highlighting the alarming statistics from the World Health Organization which states that one in three women globally has experienced violence, he described it as unacceptable.

He said: “We must break the cycle of history. This time, we are better prepared with renewed strategies, broader coalitions, and stronger public support to end violence against women and girls.”

He stressed the importance of constitutional reforms in advancing gender equality and addressing violence against women and girls.

Drawing from global examples, he cited the adaptability of constitutions, such as the 27 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, to address critical issues like civil rights and social reforms.

Abass also praised past constitutional amendments, including the 2018 “Not Too Young to Run” law, which expanded political opportunities and space for young Nigerians.

Meanwhile, ahead of the 2025 Appropriation Bill, the Speaker invited stakeholders to provide recommendations for addressing the needs of women and girls.

He emphasised that inclusivity and transparency would guide the House’s efforts to craft a budget that supports all Nigerians, reflecting their voices and aspirations.

“The 10th House of Representatives is resolute in its mission to adapt our constitution, uphold the rule of law, and protect the dignity and rights of every Nigerian, irrespective of gender,” he said.

In his remarks, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, said he was committed to championing gender inclusion and fight against gender based violence.

On his part, Ogundoyin, who is Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, revealed that women only hold 57 seats out of 991 seats across the 36 State Houses of Assembly in Nigeria.

He said: “This under-representation underscores the need for urgent action. The Conference of Speakers is ready to support temporary special measures, including gender quotas, to increase women’s participation in governance.

“We recognise that gender-based violence is a significant obstacle to women’s participation and empowerment.

“Let’s work together to address the systemic barriers that hinder women’s participation in politics and end gender based violence in Nigeria.”

In her remarks, UN Women Deputy Representative to Nigeria, Dr. Nesreen El Molla, said the UN Women was irrevocably committed to advancing women’s inclusion and addressing violence against women and girls in Nigeria.

El Molla commended the Speaker of the House of Representatives for providing leadership and enabling environment during the planning of the Summit.

While thanking the Canadian and United Kingdom governments for the funding support, she noted that violence against women and girls does not have a place in modern society.

She urged participants to come up with actionable proposal to improve women’s participation in governance in the country.

The highpoint of the Summit was the unveiling of a national campaign for women’s inclusion and representation in elective and appointive positions through constitutional and electoral reforms.

The Summit brought together the Speakers, Majority, and Minority Leaders of the State Houses of Assembly, religious leaders, traditional institutions, women’s groups, civil society organisations, the media, persons with disabilities, among others, to engage on constitutional reform and campaign to end violence against women and girls in Nigeria.

Abass Assures on Removal of Systemic Barriers To Women’s Participation In Governance

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RHI Presents Food Items to Vulnerable Groups in Yobe State

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RHI Presents Food Items to Vulnerable Groups in Yobe State


…Making it the 20th State to Benefit from the Support

By: Our Reporter

The Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Food Outreach Program, launched in Abuja in March 2024 to provide monthly support to vulnerable groups and persons with disabilities, has reached Yobe State—making it the 20th state to benefit from the initiative.
Since its inception, the program has covered Abia, Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Oyo, Plateau, and Sokoto States before arriving in Yobe.
With generous support from the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) and another industrialist who prefers to remain anonymous, assorted food items were delivered, bringing relief to many households, particularly those with disabilities.


The First Lady and Chairman of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, noted that donors provide two truckloads of food items to each beneficiary state for onward distribution. Represented by the Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, she highlighted Yobe as a major beneficiary of RHI programs and interventions.
These include:

  • The Tony Elumelu Foundation Women Economists Empowerment Program, which supported 500 women with ₦50,000 each.
  • The RHI Women Agricultural Support Scheme, where 20 women received ₦500,000 each.
  • A ₦68.9 million grant from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to the Young Farmers Club.
  • Annual financial support to senior citizens, with 100 beneficiaries receiving ₦100,000 each in 2023 and 250 beneficiaries receiving ₦200,000 each.
  • A ₦50 million financial grant to 1,000 petty traders.
  • The Women in ICT Program, aimed at empowering women in the digital economy.
    According to Senator Tinubu, these interventions are designed to complement the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
    Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni represented by his Deputy Governor, Alhaji Idi Barde Gubana reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the initiative, noting that the state has aligned with RHI through various empowerment programs for women, children, and vulnerable groups. These include the distribution of household items, skill acquisition schemes, and post-insurgency recovery programs that have economically empowered many women.

  • The State Coordinator of RHI and Wife of the Yobe State Governor, Hajiya Hafsat Kollere Buni, expressed gratitude to the First Lady for extending such impactful support to Yobe State. She also looked forward to stronger collaborations to further project the ideals of RHI and improve the lives of the people.
    Also present at the event was Dr. Ubong Udoh, Managing Director of the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative, one of the key donors to the program.
  • RHI Presents Food Items to Vulnerable Groups in Yobe State
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Monguno says lack of national cohesion fuels insurgency

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Monguno says lack of national cohesion fuels insurgency

By: Zagazola Makama

Former National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.), has warned that Nigeria’s fight against insurgency will remain elusive without national cohesion and a united front across society.

Monguno stated this in Abuja on Thursday at the launch of Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, a new book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd.).

He said Boko Haram and other violent groups had thrived by exploiting Nigeria’s divisions, stressing that disunity among citizens, political actors, and institutions weakened the country’s capacity to defeat terrorism.

“Without national cohesion, insurgency will not end. Terrorists feed on our fault lines – ethnic, religious, political – and they weaponise them against us. If we remain divided, no amount of military might will deliver lasting peace,” Monguno said.

He urged Nigerians to rise above parochial sentiments and embrace a spirit of patriotism, solidarity, and common purpose. According to him, the fight against insurgency must go beyond the battlefield to include reconciliation, justice, and inclusive governance.

The retired General emphasised that the scars left by Boko Haram were not just physical but also psychological and social, making unity a vital condition for national healing.

“The book reminds us that security is not just the work of soldiers. It is the responsibility of leaders, institutions, and citizens. Unless we build cohesion, insurgency will continue to mutate in different forms,” he added.

Monguno commended Gen. Irabor for documenting his experience, describing the work as a guide that combines history, strategy, and national lessons for the future.

The event was attended by former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister of Defence, service chiefs, traditional rulers, diplomats, and senior government officials.

Monguno says lack of national cohesion fuels insurgency

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Kukah says military operations alone cannot end insurgency, stresses soft power approach

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Kukah says military operations alone cannot end insurgency, stresses soft power approach

By: Zagazola Makama

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, has said Nigeria cannot defeat insurgency through military operations alone, stressing the need to embrace soft power and address root causes of insecurity.

Kukah made this known in Abuja on Thursday while reviewing Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, a new book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd.).

He said the country’s reliance on military doctrines and repeated counter-insurgency operations had failed to produce lasting peace because Boko Haram represented an ideology, not just an armed threat.

“For years, we have had Operation Lafiya Dole, Operation Restore Order, Operation Hadin Kai, Operation Safe Haven, and many others. Yet, when one operation fails, another is launched. These operations have not ended the insurgency because you cannot fight an idea with weapons alone,” Kukah said.

The cleric argued that describing the insurgency only in military terms forecloses other sources of information and non-kinetic solutions that are critical to peacebuilding.

According to him, Boko Haram’s struggle is framed as a jihad, and many of its fighters see death as martyrdom, making them indifferent to conventional deterrence.

“The challenge before us is not merely about defeating insurgents on the battlefield, but about understanding the soft issues of life and death. Guns cannot build peace; soft power must complement military power,” he said.

Kukah pointed to chapters 11, 12 and 13 of Irabor’s book, which emphasise reconciliation, good governance, justice, and national healing as critical conditions for security.

He praised the author’s reflections for going beyond military strategy, describing them as “the writings of a priest” that call for dialogue, reforms and moral renewal.

The bishop added that Nigeria must prioritise structural reforms, political inclusion, patriotism, and judicial integrity to tackle grievances that feed extremism.

“The urgency now is to invest in soft power – in human development, reconciliation, and building trust in institutions. Military operations can only create space; it is ideas and justice that will sustain peace,” Kukah said.

The event attracted former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, senior government officials, service chiefs, diplomats, and other dignitaries.
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