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IPCR Calls on Nigerians to Inculcate Virtues of Tolerance
IPCR Calls on Nigerians to Inculcate Virtues of Tolerance
By: Michael Mike
The Director General of Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Dr. Joseph Ochogwu has called on Nigerians to inculcate the virtue of tolerance, stating that the major driver of racism, xenophobia, aggressive nationalism, anti-semitism, terrorism, ethno-religious violence, and youth restiveness is intolerance
Speaking at the Occasion of the 2024 International Day for Tolerance organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) at the UN House in Abuja on Tuesday, Ochogwu said the theme of this year’s International Day for Tolerance, which is “Cultivating a Culture of Tolerance for Peace Against All Forms of Discrimination Among Nigerian Youth”. is apt and timely, given the alarming rise in racism, xenophobia, aggressive nationalism, anti-semitism, terrorism, ethno-religious violence, and youth restiveness in nations across the world.
He noted that: “The major driving force behind these phenomona is intolerance – an act of resistance to respect, accept and appreciate the rich diversity of our world’s culture, our forms of expression and ways of being human.”
Ochogwu decried that Nigeria has not fully benefited from its rich diversity due to the inability of many of its citizens to embrace individuals’ cultures, religions, and socio-economic background, insisting that: “This situation has, over time, hampered the achievement of durable peace, security, stability and progress in our dear nation.
“Additionally, the nation has witnessed an unprecedented increase in social exclusion, inequality, marginalization, and discrimination particularly due to the unpatriotic activities of corrupt politicians. This development has fostered enmity, hatred, discord, disunity and violent confrontations in communities across board.”
He added that: “Indeed, this ugly trend remains a serious concern for future generation and this concern is further heightened by the voluntary and/or coercion of youth and minors into violent extremism, thereby systematically destroying the core values of today’s generation.
“Furthermore, our country’s young people have continued to face discrimination in terms of job opportunities, political exclusion, stigmatization on health grounds, ill-treatment of persons with disabilities and harmful traditional practices. For instance, a significant number of girls and young women have been forcefully married without their consent most especially in Northern Nigeria. The deeper implications of this act of prejudice and gender intolerance include depression, reproductive and mental health issues, poverty, disruption of education, high rates of divorce and drug abuse.
“Moreover, young people have played strategic roles in the spread of falsehood, hate speech and intolerance via social media platforms, exacerbating tensions, provoking political mistrust, fostering polarization among Nigerians, and undermining human respect, safety and dignity across our dear country, Nigeria. With this development, achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals would be a mirage.”
He noted that there is an urgent need to expedite action in combating this ugly trend and in particular to create awareness as well as engage in robust discussions towards liberating our nation – Nigeria and the World from intolerance and discrimination for global peace and prosperity.
He said: “Specifically, our goals in this year’s International Day for Tolerance Commemoration include: Improving youth understanding of how to safeguard and respect cultural diversity as an essential element in promoting a culture of tolerance for peace; Increasing Media and Information Literacy (MIL) among youths, and skills against online vices such as hate speech, cyberbullying, and the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation; Enhancing youth awareness and understanding of tolerance in line with the UNGA Resolution 51/95; and Promoting non-violence behavior and global citizenship among youth, as well as skills for intergroup dialogue and mutual respect, with a specific focus on gender-based violence and the rights of individuals with disabilities.”
On his part, the Head of Abuja Office and UNESCO Representative to Nigeria, Abdourahamane Diallo, said UNESCO was aware of the peculiar forms of discrimination that exist in Nigeria today.
He said: “Discriminations that are anchored on negative interpretations of our diversities, religion, race, ethnic and political affiliations. These negative tendencies are demonstrated through various means of our interpersonal, intercultural, interreligious and other social relationships, and recently more pronounced in our interactions on various online spaces.”
He noted that: “Whereas these challenges question the efforts in building tolerance within these past years, we are not deterred. It is rather for us, a call that we are required to improve our recipe, return to the kitchen and dish out new meals that can produce better results at tolerance. Because we are unwavering in our commitment to support member states to live together in a shared heritage as humanities.”
He said: “Inspired by this global model and aware of Nigeria’s unique realities—where ethnic, economic, political, religious, and ability disparities are sometimes manipulated to foster discrimination—we are replicating this initiative with support of our partners to equip young Nigerians with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate and foster tolerance in our diverse society, also, literacy skills to function as change agents against online vices like cyberbullying and proliferations of false and disinformation.”
IPCR Calls on Nigerians to Inculcate Virtues of Tolerance
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UN Women, Stakeholders Strategize on Getting Special Seats Bill Passed to Increase Number of Women Holding Political Positions
UN Women, Stakeholders Strategize on Getting Special Seats Bill Passed to Increase Number of Women Holding Political Positions
By: Michael Mike
Key stakeholders, including United Nations
(UN) Women and Women Political Participation Partners Working Group are fine-tunning plans and drumming support for the passage of Special Seats Bill currently before the National Assembly.
Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja at the Strategy Convening on Special Seats Bill – Opportunities and Challenges: Options for State and Grassroot Advocacy Positioning Citizens for Nation-Wide Conversation, Ms Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, explained that the Special Seats Bill, seeks to address the under-representation of women in leadership positions.
She explained that the Bill, when passed into law, would be a major boost in enhancing women’s voice and representation in the country’s leadership and in the legislative agenda.
The intention of the bill is to create special seats for women as a temporary but necessary corrective measure, and its
passage is expected not only to strengthen the presence of women in national and state legislatures but also set a precedent for inclusive governance that reflects the diversity of Nigeria’s population.
The bill has been designed to suit Nigeria’s political and electoral context providing for seat reservations (women-only seats) because only women compete for such reserved seats, and they do not displace male elites contrary to popular belief among the political elite.
The bill also seek to amend sections 48, 49 and 91 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to create 74 seats in the National Assembly and 108 seats in the States Houses of Assembly (altogether) bringing the total number of seats to 182 seats in the Legislative arm of government.
In the current National Assembly, Eyong decried that women only occupy 3% of the seats in the Senate and 3.9% of the seats in the House of Representatives.
She revealed that UN Women has built strategic partnerships to garner support for the Special Seats Bill across the country.
She said: “UN Women has built strategic partnerships that are already yielding important advocacy results in terms of support for the Special Seats Bill across the country.
“15 Radio Stations and two TV Stations are hosting weekly programmes on the Special Seats Bill.
“The campaign is also being catalysed through newspapers and different media platforms.
“Further, UN Women will support the convening of 120 townhalls across 24 states to give citizens the opportunity to interact with the Bill and prepare memoranda to be submitted to the National Assembly Joint Committee on Constitutional Reform during their state-level and zonal public hearings.
“This will be supported by over 500,000 physical endorsements of the Bill in the 24 states.
“This great campaign is made possible courtesy, the Governments of Canada and the United Kingdom. We salute these two governments in their resolute to walk this journey with the Nigerian women.”
In her welcome address, the Chair, Women Political Participation Partners Working Group, Barrister Ebere Ifendu, explained that the intent of the “bill is to provide for a temporary specific measure to fast-track women’s political participation in Nigeria, the seats will be tenured for a specific amount of years and may be reviewed by the National Assembly.”
She pointed out that the meeting was convened to assess the opportunities and challenges surrounding the bill, refine strategies for national and grassroots advocacy, and to coordinate efforts to ensure the bill gains the support it needs in both houses of the National Assembly and across at least 24 State Houses of Assembly.
She added that. “The next few months (from May to August 2025) will be decisive. They demand from us a united voice, strategic action, and fervent commitment.
“We must engage our representatives in the National Assembly, mobilise citizens, raise critical awareness, amplify grassroots support, coordinate efforts and ensure that women, including young women and women with disabilities, are not just participants, but leaders in shaping the future of our democracy.”
UN Women, Stakeholders Strategize on Getting Special Seats Bill Passed to Increase Number of Women Holding Political Positions
Benue ward head kidnapped by gunmen, search underway
By: Zagazola Makama
A 50-year-old ward head, Dickson Idu, has been abducted by unknown gunmen in Benue State.
Zagazola understand that the incident occurred around 7:30 PM on April 29, 2025, along a bush road between Egwanokwu and Aiegaji villages, located in the Ohimini Local Government Area.
Nigerian troops with the support of the Police and Benue Civil Protection Guards, were swiftly deployed to the scene.
Authorities have begun combing the surrounding bushes in an effort to rescue the victim unharmed and to engage the kidnappers.
Benue ward head kidnapped by gunmen, search underway
Student Commit Suicide at Nasarawa State University
By: Zagazola Makama
A 23-year-old student of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), identified as Jatau Shebah Rilokwah, was found dead in an apparent suicide in the university’s senior staff quarters.
Zagazola was informed the discovery was made on April 27, 2025, by Emmanuel Gyawo, a security officer at the university, who was directed by Professor Shedrack Jatau to check on his son. Upon arriving at the residence, Gyawo found Rilokwah hanging from the ceiling.
Professor Jatau, who was reportedly out of state at the time, was informed of the incident. A team of police detectives, led by the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) of Angwan Lambu, was dispatched to the scene.
The body showed no signs of violence, and no suicide note was found. Rilokwah was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Keffi, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor. His body has been deposited in the hospital morgue.
Police sources say investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Student Commit Suicide at Nasarawa State University
President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice Pays Courtesy Visit to the Chief Judge of Lagos State
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