Connect with us

National News

Nigerians asked to support Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill

Published

on

Nigerians asked to support Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill

Nigerians asked to support Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill

Nigerians have been asked to give full support to the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill presently before the National Assembly.

Making the call are the former deputy governor of Ekiti State, Senator Biodun Olujimi, who is presently the senator and the initiator of the Bill, UN-Women and other development partners.

The bill, if passed into law, will provide women and girls legal claims to demand freedom from violence, discrimination or abuse on the basis of gender, as at present the full enjoyment of their human rights remains elusive as they continue to face extensive discrimination that violate the principle of equality of rights.

Statistics shows that Nigeria globally sits within the 0.1 – 4.9 % range for women’s representation in government and it is at the bottom of the whole African continent in terms of representation of women into elective offices.

Also girls account for 60% of Nigeria’s more than 10 million out-of-school children, facing barriers such as child marriage, poverty, and discriminatory social norms.

Also Read: Geidam By-election: Yobe SIEC fix poll for October

It is also believed that women, who are about 50% of Nigeria’s population, account for more than 70% of those in extreme poverty.

At a stakeholders meeting on the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill (GEOB), which is championed by Senator Biodun Olujimi, she said that the purpose for the meeting was to discuss the “Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill (GEOB), the proposed legislation which we have been working on, for several years to bridge the gender inequality in Nigeria.”

“The Bill has passed through several reviews and with the technical assistance of our partners, UNWomen and our Civil Society, we have arrived at our present stage,” the Senator said.

She reiterated that the Bill is development-oriented and includes provisions which will promote equal access for women and men for instance across all sectors.

She explained that the Bill also has key provisions such as the adoption of temporary special measures to eliminate discrimination of women and widen the space for women to occupy leadership positions in politics and public office. It also seeks to address several forms of discrimination against women such as land ownership, inheritance, education, employment, and sexual and gender-based violence.

According to her: “The Bill has had a very long journey, and during this period, it has faced much resistance and criticism along the way. This may be put down to the lack of awareness and misunderstanding/ misinterpretation about its aims and goals amongst other reasons.”

On her part, the UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Comfort Lamptey, said the passage of the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill provides an invaluable window of opportunity to implement legal frameworks to address gender inequalities and prevent, protect, and redress gender-based violence.

She said: “Over the past 18 months or so, we have witnessed how COVID has exposed pre existing gender inequalities in countries across the world. Here in Nigeria for example, the cases of gender-based violence skyrocketed during the lockdown period. Data from March to April indicate a five-fold increase in cases across 23 States – causing the President to declare a State of Emergency on GBV.

“In the political realm, we all recall the high aspirations of women who vied for political office in the 2019 general elections. The highest ever number of women seeking political office. Yet, the result of the elections saw a regression in the number of women elected to political office. In fact, women’s representation in Nigeria has been on a steady decline since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.”

Speaking also, the Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, John Donnelly said “Gender equality and women’s empowerment is not just the right thing to do, it is the smart thing to do and ask Nigerians to support it.” He explained that the economic and development benefits are clear as protecting women and girls, investing in their rights, and providing opportunities for them to prosper benefits not only their communities, but the whole country.

“We at the Australian High Commission have recognised this, with targeted funding in Nigeria through our Direct Aid Program. Separate from our support for UN Women’s work on the GEOB, we have also funded through the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism the production of a handbook for journalists on reporting on gender-based violence.”

Nigerians asked to support Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

National News

VP Shettima Mourns Late Alhaji Aminu Dantata, Says Nigeria Has Lost An Irreplaceable Institution

Published

on

VP Shettima Mourns Late Alhaji Aminu Dantata, Says Nigeria Has Lost An Irreplaceable Institution

By: Michael Mike

Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed deep grief over the passing of prominent Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, saying the nation has lost an irreplaceable institution.

The late Dantata, an uncle of Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, passed away at the age of 94 in Abu Dhabi in the early hours of Saturday in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to Mustapha Abdullahi Junaid, his Personal Private Secretary (PPS), who confirmed the death.

In a condolence message, Vice President Shettima praised the late businessman for his lifetime of service, describing him as “a living bridge that connected us to our past.

“We have not just lost a leader; we have lost an irreplaceable institution,” Senator Shettima said, describing Dantata as “one of the greatest titans in Nigeria’s philosophical history” whose departure marks the end of a vital chapter in the country’s economic and democratic evolution.

“In African tradition, when such an elderly person transitions, a vital chapter of our history departs with them. He was indeed among the great titans, a living bridge that connected us to our past,” VP Shettima added.

The Vice President extended heartfelt condolences to the Dantata family, expressing hopes that they would “find the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” even as he prayed that Almighty Allah would grant the deceased Jannatul Firdaus.

Born into the legendary Dantata family of Kano, Alhaji Aminu built on his father’s commercial legacy to become one of Nigeria’s most influential business figures. His empire spans construction, manufacturing, banking, agriculture, and the oil and gas sectors.

Beyond business, Dantata was renowned for his extensive philanthropic work, funding schools, mosques, health centres, and supporting widows and the underprivileged across Nigeria.

VP Shettima Mourns Late Alhaji Aminu Dantata, Says Nigeria Has Lost An Irreplaceable Institution

Continue Reading

National News

Nigeria-EU Senior Officials Meet in Abuja to Prepare for Upcoming Nigeria – EU Ministerial Meeting

Published

on

Nigeria-EU Senior Officials Meet in Abuja to Prepare for Upcoming Nigeria – EU Ministerial Meeting

By: Michael Mike

The Senior Officials Meeting between Nigeria and the European Union (EU) will be held on Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd July 2025 in Abuja to prepare for the upcoming Nigeria – EU Ministerial Meeting and to explore areas of cooperation.

A statement on Saturday by the Press Officer, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Modestus Chukwulaka, read: “The Delegation of European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS wishes to inform that the Senior Officials Meeting between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the European Union (EU) will be held on Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd July 2025 in Abuja.

“The agenda of the very important meeting is to prepare for the upcoming Nigeria – EU Ministerial Meeting and to explore areas of cooperation.”

According to the statement, the Senior Officials Meeting will be co-chaired by the Regions, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria, Ambassador Janet Olisa, Director, and the Deputy Managing Director for Africa Department, European External Action Service, European Union, Mr Mathieu Briens.

The statement revealed that the agenda of the meeting is expected to entail wide-ranging discussions that would focus on various aspects of the Nigeria – EU partnership, such as: Cooperation on multilateral and regional issues; Peace, Security and Governance; Humanitarian situation; Trade and Investment; Human Development: Health, Education, Social Protection; Science, technology, innovation and digital transition; Migration; Energy, climate change and green economy transition among others.

Nigeria and the European Union share a deep, long-standing partnership inspired by mutual values and interests as well as support for multilateralism and rule-based international order, the statement said.

Nigeria-EU Senior Officials Meet in Abuja to Prepare for Upcoming Nigeria – EU Ministerial Meeting

Continue Reading

National News

Farida Waziri Tasks Benue Leaders to Unite, Act and Save Their People

Published

on

Farida Waziri Tasks Benue Leaders to Unite, Act and Save Their People


…. Donates relief materials to displaced persons in Yelwata, IDP camp

By: Michael Mike

Former Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri has charged former governors, legislators, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in Benue state to set aside rivalry, unite and act with urgency to save their people from incessant attacks and killings.

Waziri, a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police and Principal Partner, Brookfield Chambers Abuja stated this on Saturday 28th June 2025 while donating relief materials to victims of the recent gunmen attacks in Yelwata community and displaced persons at the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Makurdi, the Benue state capital.

Some of the items donated under the banner of Women, Youth, Children and Crime Organisation (WYCCO), a non-governmental organization founded by her, include: bags of rice, sugar, tubers of yam and other household items.

She said: “This is no time for division. It is no time for political squabbling or ego-driven manoeuvring. Among us are men and women who have led this state — former governors, legislators, traditional rulers — individuals with influence and authority. The time has come to set aside our differences and stand united, for the sake of the ordinary Benue man, woman, and child.

“That is why I stand here today to make this urgent and heartfelt appeal to our leaders: cast aside rivalry, unite, and act. Act with urgency. Act with purpose. Because what we face now increasingly resembles a deliberate, coordinated effort to erase our people and our heritage.

“We must take heed of the words of Sir Winston Churchill, who once said:
‘Our difficulties and dangers will not be removed by closing our eyes to them.’
Another of Churchill’s warnings is just as relevant to our present predicament:
‘If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without bloodshed… you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival.”

Waziri, while stating that her call was a build up to the earlier proposal by President Bola Tinubu during his recent visit Beforehand Benue, noted that meetings alone would not solve the problem, urging that: “But let us be sincere: peace will not come from meetings alone. To end the cycle of violence, we must confront its roots. Before the Yelwata massacre, communities in Gwer West, Apa, and Guma had already endured weeks of killings, kidnappings, and raids. These horrors did not emerge in a vacuum; they are symptoms of deeper issues.

“We must therefore confront the real causes — ethnic and religious tensions, unchecked banditry, and the rise of cultism as well as the abuse of illicit drugs. These forces must be tackled, along with the herder-farmer conflict, with honesty and courage. We cannot afford to keep going in circles. And there is no room for blame games. Our leaders — and indeed, all of us — must be pragmatic. So today, let us commit, as one people, to healing our wounds, reclaiming our land, and ensuring that never again will a child in Benue grow up in a camp instead of a home”

She said the development in Benue must be of “concern to all sons and daughters of Benue regardless of whether we live within its borders or far away in the diaspora to find out the root cause of these attacks with a view to proferring solutions that will bring an end to these barbaric acts”

Farida Waziri Tasks Benue Leaders to Unite, Act and Save Their People

Continue Reading

Trending

Verified by MonsterInsights