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HEIR Women Hub engages 40 FCT young women on leadership,  civic knowledge enhancement 

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HEIR Women Hub engages 40 FCT young women on leadership,  civic knowledge enhancement 

By: Omirin Joshua

HEIR Women Hub hosted a Peer to peer virtual session on Leadership and Civic Knowledge Enhancement for Young Women in the FCT.

The project began in January with a training conference and a public sensitization of young women in the FCT in collaboration with the  Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF) and was implemented by LEAP Africa with support from Ford Foundation and MacArthur Foundation with the theme: “Advancing Leadership Capacity of Young Women: A cross-generational strategy to tackling Gender Gaps in Governance“. 

The Executive Director (ED) of HEIR Women Hub, Añuli Aniebo Ola-Olaniyi in an opening remark  stressed the need for young women to do more and thrive amidst societal norms, while expressing hope for positive impact on the project and expectations afterward. 

She disclosed that Facts about young women’s participation in leadership shows that global percentage of  women’s participation in leadership is at 22.5% and that of the African region around 23.4%, addi8ng that the national average of women’s participation in governance in Nigeria is set at 6.7% despite women accounting for 49.4%of the total population  with the mean age of women involved in political processes set at 55years. 

“Is there a place for young women” she queried?

According to her, of the 4,259 contestants for the presidential and the national assembly seat in the 2023 elections, only 381 are women constituting 8.9%| with 5 5 states of the 36 states having female candidates contesting for a seat at the National Assembly.

She however blamed the wide gender gap in female participation in leadership on 
Lack of support based on cultural expectations of young women ,

sexual harassment, gender discrimination, lack of support for female leader, traditional perceived gender roles among others and the lack of economic resources 

“The report from the world gender gap report 2022 places Nigeria at 123rd with a score of 0.639 out of a total of 146 countries with a gender gap of 63.9%.

“Statistics from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) report revealed that only 30% of companies in Nigeria have attained gender balance in the workforce and women account for 33% of the workforce . Nigeria has less than 65% wealth equality , ranked 50t in economic participation and opportunity, 134th in educational attainment, 97th in health and survival, and 141st in political empowerment 

Sharing her past and present political journeys at the meeting , Barrister  Juliet Isi Ikhayere, a Principal Partner at MAKHOMS-J Attorneys noted the numerous  challenges  faced by young women in politics, and how she is still thriving,”she explained.

According to the ED, the involvement of women in nation-building is an inalienable right, as well as an inescapable reality for holistic and comprehensive political, economic, and social advancement.

“When young women are included in leadership across different levels , this will promote productivity and progress for both the women and the country.

“There will be a decline in the case of gender-based violence confronting young women as more responsive policies will be promoted and this will encourage the growth of GDP of the country,”she added.  

” It didn’t end with training young women to take on more leadership positions in society. HEIR Women Hub went a step further to take this to the street. We engaged young women and the general public first on their civic rights and also on the benefit of having young women in leadership.

“About 50% of the young ladies who were at the leadership training came out for this purpose and it was an experience indeed. A lot of feedback has been drawn from this engagement and we believe that henceforth, it will go beyond taking as we shall begin to see results.

“It is a cheering thing to see young women from different climes unite for a common goal. The future is indeed female,”she assured 

Sharing her past and present political journeys Barrister Juliet Isi Ikhayere, a Principal Partner at MAKHOMS-J Attorneys expressed the challenges she faced, and how she is still thriving.

Similarly, Sylvia Sarki, the National Youth Coordinator, National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) noted that contesting for the position of the President for the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). One can say her experience is a combination of sour and sweet. She urged young women who were in attendance to not give up on their ambition irrespective of the challenges they face.

HEIR Women Hub engages 40 FCT young women on leadership,  civic knowledge enhancement 

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Nine injured in farmers–herders clash in Nasarawa

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Nine injured in farmers–herders clash in Nasarawa

By: Zagazola Makama

No fewer than nine persons were injured on Monday following a clash between farmers and herders in Loko community, Nasarawa State.

Zagazola report that the incident occurred at about noon on Dec. 15 in Bakono village, Loko area, after a dispute over alleged damage to farmland.

The source said the farmland involved belonged to one Bako Usman.

According to the source, the clash resulted in injuries to five farmers and four herders.

Security forces stormed the scene to restore order, while the injured persons were rushed to the General Hospital, Loko, where they were admitted and are responding to treatment.

Sources said that a stakeholders’ meeting had been convened in the community to prevent further escalation of the crisis.

According to the sources, confidence-building patrols are ongoing, the situation is being closely monitored and the area remains relatively calm.

Nine injured in farmers–herders clash in Nasarawa

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Soldier killed as troops clash with suspected militia in Taraba

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Soldier killed as troops clash with suspected militia in Taraba

By: Zagazola Makama

A soldier has been killed, while two others are missing following an attack on troops escorting farmers in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State.

Zagazola gathered that the incident occurred on Monday during a security operation in a bush area of Takum, which has been prone to clashes involving militia elements.

The source said soldiers from a special forces unit along with police, NSCDC were deployed to provide security for Tiv farmers harvesting their farm produce when they were attacked by hoodlums suspected to be local militia in Taraba state.

According to the source, one soldiers was killed during the attack.

The source further disclosed that following the incident, soldiers cordoned off the venue of the Miyetti Allah executives’ election at the FGR Samsokwa Hall, in Takum, and arrested male executives of the association present at the venue. Though it was yet to establish if they were involved in the attack.

Another sources pointed accusing finger at the Taraba state special adviser on security allegedly to be behind the Militia. Though, Zagazola cannot independently verify the claim.

Meanwhile, security forces have arrested a group of suspected armed bandits in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. The suspects were caught with AK-47 rifles during an operation carried out on Friday.

After their arrest, the suspects were taken into custody. In a video that later surfaced online, the men were seen lying face down with their hands tied while security operatives questioned them about where they got the weapons.

One of the suspects alleged that some officials of the Kwara State government gave them both the vehicle and the rifles. He claimed they had been operating in the area under the cover of patrol duties.

According to him, the weapons did not belong to them personally. He said their leader collected the rifles and that they often went on patrol together with some individuals he mentioned by name. He insisted that the guns belonged to those officials.

Soldier killed as troops clash with suspected militia in Taraba

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Gunmen abduct five workers at construction site in Kwara

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Gunmen abduct five workers at construction site in Kwara

By: Zagazola Makama

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted five workers at a construction site along the Sabaja/Owa-Onire Road in Kwara State.

Zagazola report that the incident was reported at about 4:30 p.m. on Monday by Alhaji Suleiman Abdullah Olanrewaju, manager of Fix Contracting Engineering Company.

The source said Olanrewaju reported that the abduction occurred earlier in the day at about 11:40 a.m. while the workers were on site when the gunmen attacked and whisked them away.

Those abducted were identified as Engr. Ademola Afolabi, Engr. Umar Lade, Fatai and Akin, both labourers, as well as a driver identified as Yusuf.

According to the source, the complainant said he had earlier reported the incident to the military before notifying the police.

Upon receipt of the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Oreke mobilised a team of police operatives who linked up with the military and local vigilantes to comb the surrounding bushes in a bid to rescue the victims and arrest the perpetrators.

Investigation into the incident is ongoing, while security agencies said further developments would be communicated.
End

Gunmen abduct five workers at construction site in Kwara

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