News
Abbas Declares Violence Against Women, Girls, Unacceptable
Abbas Declares Violence Against Women, Girls, Unacceptable
By: Michael Mike
The Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas on Monday declared as unacceptable violence against women and girls in the country.
Abbas decried this year’s United Nations report that for every 10 minutes a woman is being killed across the world.
The Speaker who joined the United Nations organised walk against gender violence in the country, as part of the activities lined up for the 16 Days of Activism Campaign against Gender based Violence in Nigeria, called for actions to contain the ills against women.
The walk which was organised by the United Nations Women in collaboration with the House of Representatives as part of the 16 days of activisim, started at the National Assembly and terminated at the Police Headquarters in Abuja.
The Speaker assured the gathering that the House of Representatives will play an active role in the next national action plan against gender violence.
He said: “This year’s program came at a time when all over the world women are crying, women are in anger, women are in frustration. For this is the year the United Nations has issued a damn report that for every 10 minutes a woman is being killed across the world. This is an unacceptable trend.
“This is an unforgivable trend. We in the parliament must hope to unite more than ever before with relevant authorities, particularly the law enforcement in ensuring that we cut this dangerous trend to the barest minimum.
“I want to say it categorically clear here that the National Assembly will do everything humanly possible to ensure that all forms of violence against women and girls are drastically reduced if not completely eliminated in the very near future.
“I want to also announce that the National Assembly, particularly the House of Representatives, will play an active role in the next National Action Plan against women and violence that will be coming out very soon. We will send our representatives. We will also participate actively in ensuring that robust policies are enacted that will significantly reduce the incidence of violence of all kinds against women, against children, against girls.
“So it’s my pleasure, honourable colleagues, to declare these 16 days of activism to mark the elimination of women violence in Nigeria. We hope members of the press, our honorable colleagues and other partners will participate actively in the 16 days to show our own case, to make our own point that enough is enough. The time has come when violence of all kinds must stop.”
On his part, the Minister of Youth, Ayodele Olawande said the ministry will be establishing a help desk, specifically for the women, youth and girls whereby they can interact with the government.
He said that the current administration wants to ensure that the women and youth feel the government, adding that: “As a ministry, we have decided to also in coules of weeks time, we are going to have a young and secure which is women, youth and the Ministry of Youth will be coming up with help desk whereby all the youth in this country, most especially women and girls can communicate with us. We want to be with you. We want for the first time that the youth, women and girls feel the government.”
Speaking at the Police Headquarters, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs, urged the security outfit to join the fight against violence against women.
She said: “We are there to present a petition for immediate intervention, investigation and prosecution on gender based violence to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
“We are calling on you to combat gender based violence during the 16 days of activism and beyond. We want to bring to your attention, the harrowing plight of Nigerian women.
“As study indicate that one in every three women globally are victims of gender based violence in Nigeria. Report of National Demographics amd Health survey, reveals that 30% of women between 15 to 29 have experienced physical violence, with many suffering abuse in the hands of partners.”
She therefore urged the IG to put the police across the country on red alert to ensure justice for gender based violence, stressing that they want justice, adding that the leadership of House of Representatives are unanimous on the point that there is no excuse for gender based violence.
In his response, the IGP said the occassion is a reminder that eradicating gender based violence is a collective effort, adding, “It is not by law enforcement actions alone that we can eradicate gender violence. It is a collective obligation of every one of us.
Gender based violence is a grimreality that has continued to devastate lives across the globe.
“Across the continent of Africa, countless of women and children have continued to suffer all kinds of abuses including domestic violence, sexual assault. There are some areas where the traditions also abuses the right of women. We have cases of genital mutilation amongst others.
“It is a collective efforts that we must all fight. We must all come.together, put our actions together to eradicate this unacceptable reality in our communities.”
He further assured the women that since 2006, the Nigeria Police Force had developed a gender policy which it has integrated into its global framework of policing.”
Abbas Declares Violence Against Women, Girls, Unacceptable
VP Shettima’s Agricultural Assessment Visit To Ethiopia
By: Our Reporter
An agricultural economist by training whose love for agricultural transformation and development has never been hidden, as demonstrated recently when he visited the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan for an on-the-spot assessment of the Institute’s crops and resource potentials, Vice President Kashim Shettima today embarked on an assessment of the popular Adama Industrial Zone near Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.
Farms visited by the Vice President for the on-the-spot assessment included the Adama Dairy Farms, Luke Avocado Nursery site, Shera Dibandiba Mojo Family Integrated Farm, Biyyo Poultry Farm, and the Bishoftu Pea Farm.
While speaking on areas of agricultural collaboration between both countries, the Vice President ordered specialised coffee beans seeds for massive production in Nigeria while also directing the immediate training of selected Nigerian agricultural extension farmers on the production of specialized avocado seedlings for the Nigerian market.
VP Shettima also sought an exchange of mechanisation technologies between both countries, stressing that the potential of both Nigeria’s and Ethiopia’s agricultural sectors was capable of capturing world markets, especially when fully harnessed and exploited.
VP Shettima’s Agricultural Assessment Visit To Ethiopia
News
Leboku-in-Abuja 2025 Festival Celebrates New Year Festival to Bolster Nigeria’s Rich Cultural Heritage
Leboku-in-Abuja 2025 Festival Celebrates New Year Festival to Bolster Nigeria’s Rich Cultural Heritage
By: Michael Mike
One of the nation’s most celebrated events, the New Year Festival would berth in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as the Kedei Seh Umor-Otutu, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy stage the Lenoku-in-Abuja 2025.
It promises to bolster Nigeria’s cultural heritage and showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Yakurr people in Cross River, the South-South and South-East in the nation and the world at large.
Addressing a pre-festival press conference in Abuja, President of Kedei Seh Umor-Otutu, a community-based association, Queency Patrick said the forthcoming festival with the theme: “A celebration of heritage, unity and harvest,” is one of the kind.
She explained that Lenoku-in-Abuja 2025 is an internationally acclaimed New Yam festival that is celebrated on August 30 in Abuja, under auspices of Kedei Seh Umor-Otutu, an association of Ugep people living in the FCT.
Patrick said: “Leboku-in-Abuja-2025 aligns with national goals of cultural preservation, inter-ethnic harmony and in promoting Nigeria as a cultural destination.
“The Federal Capital Territory provides the ideal backdrop to unite heritage and modernity, welcoming all who believe in peace, identity and pride of origin.
“For us, it is not just a cultural event, it is a call to national unity, peace and cultural tourism development.
“It is also an opportunity for us to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Yakurr people in Cross River, the South-South and South-East in the nation and the world at large.”
She further explained that: “The event fosters appreciation of Nigeria’s diverse ethnic-root and culture. Leboku-in-Abuja is more than a festival, it is a stage for celebrating our cultural identity, building bridges through tradition and encouraging investment in the creative economy and tourism sector.”
According to her, Mr Obi Asika, DirectorGeneral/CEO of the National Council for Arts and Culture, had in a letter which formally endorsed the association’s collaboration with government described Leboku-in-Abuja, as annual New Yam Festival celebrated in Abuja by Yakurr people of Cross River.
Patrick further quoted him by saying the Leboku festival, deeply rooted in the traditions of the Yakurr people of Cross River, has long been a symbol of unity, celebration, and agricultural prosperity.
Asika, in the letter noted that: “Bringing this renowned festival to Abuja will provide a unique opportunity for cultural exchange, tourism development, and deeper appreciation of our diverse traditions.
“It aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and NCAC’s mandate to promote arts and culture, as essential drivers or Nigeria’s creative economy,” Asika added.
Patrick revealed the event would provide platform for public lecture, economic empowerment, traditional food festival, cultural and arts exhibition, sports, agriculture, trade and tourism development.
The event scheduled to hold at the Bolton White event centre, Wuse Zone 7, Abuja is centered on promoting unity and peace with the toga: “One Yam, One People.”
Leboku-in-Abuja 2025 Festival Celebrates New Year Festival to Bolster Nigeria’s Rich Cultural Heritage
Crisis brews in Gombe SDP as Yakubu emerges acting chairman
The Gombe State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has appointed a new chairman, Aaron Yakubu to serve in acting capacity following the suspension of its state chairman, Comrade Adamu Abubakar Modibbo, over allegations of mismanagement, lack of transparency, and misuse of party resources.
His suspension was announced at a news conference held in Gombe on Saturday by the party’s Welfare Secretary, Usman Yahaya, on behalf of concerned members of the state executive.
Reading the statement, Yahaya said there were countless complaints against the now suspended chairman, whom he said had side-lined party stakeholders and running the party like his personal property.
“Since Comrade Modibbo assumed office, the party has experienced no meaningful progress. Instead, the leadership claims he has used his position to witch-hunt loyal stakeholders and frustrated committed party members for his personal gain.”
He accused Modibbo of systematically “caging” the party’s executive members and aspirants, depriving over 90% of both returning and newly acting executive members of access to official SDP membership cards.
He further alleged that the selection of party candidates has been done without due process or consultation, with names being announced solely via national platforms involving prominent figures like Malam Nasir El-Rufai, thereby side-lining the state executive.
Yahaya also accused the suspended chairman of allegedly using his personal residence as the de facto party office.
This, the executives say, violates proper procedures and comes despite funds being made available to renovate the official state party office and rent offices across the local government areas.
“As it stands, the SDP in Gombe State does not have a functional or recognised operational office,”
In the light of the above weighty and numerous allegations against Modibbo, the Welfare Secretary said that the Gombe State chapter of the party has taken decisive action by suspending Comrade Adamu Abubakar Modibbo as chairman with immediate effect.
“In this regard, we hereby announce that the current State Secretary of the party, Mr. Aaron Yakubu, will now serve as the Acting State Chairman of the SDP in Gombe.
“Similarly, Ambassador Lukman Adamu Elkanem, previously serving as the Acting Assistant Public Relations Officer, has now been appointed as the Acting State Secretary of the party.”
Yahaya, on behalf of the state chapter of the SDP, appealed for intervention from the national body of the party to look into the allegations against the former chairman and to restore discipline, accountability, and credible leadership to the Gombe chapter of the party.
Speaking shortly in an interview, Yakubu said he would work to build inclusiveness in the party and ensure all party members were carried along in line with the constitution of the party.
He stated that out of the 13 working committee members of the party, nine were present and in support of the suspension of Modibbo.
Special feature: Chief Lanre Obadiah bows out of Government house Maiduguri
VP Shettima’s Agricultural Assessment Visit To Ethiopia
VP Shettima Mourns Late Alhaji Aminu Dantata, Says Nigeria Has Lost An Irreplaceable Institution
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News1 year agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions3 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
Opinions4 years ago
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News1 year agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Columns1 year agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
ACADEMICS1 year agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Opinions1 year agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
-
Politics3 weeks ago2027: Why Hon. Midala Balami Must Go, as Youths in Hawul and Asikira/Uba Federal Constituency Reject ₦500,000 as Sallah Gift
