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UN Women Empowers Over 200 Ebonyi Rural Women

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UN Women Empowers Over 200 Ebonyi Rural Women

By: Michael Mike

UN Women has empowered over 200 rural women farmers in Ebonyi State through the distribution of fertilizers, improved rice seedlings, and the launch of a Low-cost Biogas Production Project.

These initiatives support food security, boost productivity, and improve household incomes, aligning with Nigeria’s economic goals and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on food security (SDG 2), gender equality (SDG 5), and climate action (SDG 13).

UN Women’s Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, highlighted the importance of these initiatives during her address. “UN Women is excited to continue to support women in the rice value chain as part of a larger programme on Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA),” she said. “This programme directly supports Nigeria’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan and the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present government, aimed at restoring growth, investing in the nation’s people, and building a globally competitive economy through investments in the agricultural sector.”

Since many years ago, we have been farming from hand to mouth, but today our farming is in business”, one of the women farmers said. Another beneficiaryadded that “… this support will improve the lives of women and girls.”

In addition to supporting agricultural growth, UN Women is also launching a Low-cost Biogas Household Production Project in Ebonyi State. This innovative project aims to empower rural women by providing a sustainable and clean energy source, reducing reliance on fuelwood and its associated health risks.

The event held on Tuesday, November 5th, 2024, was also an opportunity to strengthen advocacy and awareness around the biogas technology. In August2024, 250 beneficiaries were already trained on its use and maintenance. Training for local artisans and agricultural extension workers will continue to ensure the sustainability of the project.

As part of its ongoing commitment to rural women’s empowerment, UN Women is calling for increased government partnership and funding to expand the biogas project’s reach. “We hope to collaborate with the government to ensure that more rural women benefit from this transformative technology,” said Ms. Eyong.
UN Women’s efforts reflect a commitment to rural development and women’s empowerment, addressing economic challenges and promoting sustainable practices that benefit both women and their communities.

UN Women Country Representative, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, the Ministries of Women Affairs and Social Development, Agriculture, Human Capital Development, and Environment, Traditional Rulers from Ebonyi state, and women rice farmers, beneficiaries from the fertilizer and rice seedling project.
 

UN Women is the UN entity for gender equality and women’s empowerment, dedicated to promoting women’s rights and economic participation across Nigeria and beyond.

UN Women Empowers Over 200 Ebonyi Rural Women

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ISI-UI HIJAB: ISI LOSES AGAIN AS COURT STRIKES OUT STAY OF EXECUTION APPLICATION

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ISI-UI HIJAB: ISI LOSES AGAIN AS COURT STRIKES OUT STAY OF EXECUTION APPLICATION

By: Michael Mike

For the second time within six months, the International School Ibadan (ISI), University of Ibadan lost its application of stay of execution for the usage of hijab by female Muslim students of the school.

This was sequel to striking out of the application for stay of execution of the previous judgement in May 22, 2024 granting the female Muslim students the right to wear their hijab on the school uniform by an Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan.

Justice Moshood Isola, who presided over the court on Tuesday gave the judgment following an appeal by the management of the school asking for stay of execution.

Delivering the ruling on the application, Justice Ishola who delivered the May 22 Judgment, ruled that it amounts to judicial impertinence for the court to entertain a pending application at the appeal court.

"This court lacks jurisdiction to entertain such an application; it can only rule on a matter if the application is in limbo without being given number at the appeal court", Ishola declared.

Earlier, the leading counsel to the applicants, Mr. Magnus Ejelonu argued that his application was premised on order 4, rule 10 of the Appeal Court stating that a case is admissible when records had been received and assigned file in the court registry.

In his submission, the leading counsel to the 11 female Muslim students of the UI-ISI, Mr. Hassan Fajimite expressed disappointment in the school management for making attempt to scuttle enforcement of fundamental human rights, following a well founded judgement of the High Court.

Speaking in the same vein, Mr Yusuf Anikulapo, Counsel to an incorporated trustee of the Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, corroborated Fajimite’s submission that a record of appeal has been transmitted by the applicant, adding that his case has been assigned Suit No: CA/IB/345/2024.

The Presiding Justice Ishola, therefore struck out the application for lack of merit and not in consistent with the laid down rules.

Reacting to the judgment, the Chairman, ISI Muslim Parents Forum, Abdur-Rahman Balogun described the judgement as a welcome development, as the school children have been living harmoniously, as evident in the 2024 Yearbook where all the students live peacefully irrespective of their tribe and faith.

Balogun added that the judgement also gave testament to the international status of the school which ought to allow for inclusivity of all irrespective of race, tribe and religion.

ISI-UI HIJAB: ISI LOSES AGAIN AS COURT STRIKES OUT STAY OF EXECUTION APPLICATION

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Human rights Commission calls for transparency within the 35 member Borno flood disaster relief committee

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Human rights Commission calls for transparency within the 35 member Borno flood disaster relief committee

By: Bodunrin Kayode

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on the “Borno State Flood Disaster Relief Disbursement Committee,” which is responsible for managing relief funds to streamline the process of compensation for residents so that each ward will know when they will be coming to their aid financially or materially.

The streamlining process being demanded will enable the 35 man committee to capture the entire residents affected and ensuring that justice is done to the myriads of people shouting to be included in the process which is looking almost like a selective jamboree weeks after it started.

The call was made by Hillary Ogbona senior Adviser (SA)to the executive secretary of the NHRC during a town hall meeting on the state of human rights during and after the maiduguri flood which took over the homes of over 200,000 residents within the state capital.

Hillary Ogbona stated recently that there was need for a timeline for the community to work with even as residents wait patiently for the Gujibawu led committee members to tend to their immediate needs.

Ogbona called on the numerous non governmental organizations (NGO’s) in the state to do more by engaging the committee to ensure all is well with the teeming residents waiting for their rightful compensations.

He regretted that it was sad that even the health sector and the information machinery in the state could not work together to fish out information from a common front instead of the piece meal approach employed in which residents were actually confused in certain instances of what to do to stay alive.

He regretted that many residents could not be reached in time for rescue because of the fact that they did not know who to call for help at such a desperately difficult period of their existence.

” I believe that the non governmental agencies would have done far better if they had engaged with the committee whose business it was to stabilize the people in the state capital.

” The values and approach to disaster management should be streamlined for effectiveness. This is because flood is not a respecter of people, creed, ranks or races. It is a leveler of all the people regardless of status.

“This is why is is important for the right thing to be done as at when due. People who earn daily wages are the most affected in such circumstances. Human rights inaction during flooding is key.”said Ogbona.

The SA stressed that there was need for the government to build a permanent and standardized camp for internally displaced people (IDP’s) with all the facilities so that all the principles of human rights based approach to disaster management will be employed without biases to anyone.

Ogbona emphasized that the usual discrimination based on status which is a common phenomenon in such circumstances in which some people are given compensation while others are not given was not permissible.

“It’s unfortunate that lots of discrimination was employed during the difficult period in which the flood was being managed but I feel this should not happen again because children should not be discriminated against at any time because major priority must be given to both women and children at such desperate circumstances.

“I had an experience in Germany which I wish to share with you people. While I was there, I observed that the selection of brains are placed above everyone during disasters, then the elderly and others may be considered later. This can equally be applied here whenever there is a similar disaster.” Said Ogbona.

Lessons from Community based human intervention in Borno were highlighted by barrister Okoro who insisted that leaders of religious groups have a very critical role to play in such trying times.

He posited that community and religious groups can be much more effective in handling such disasters if carried along when it occurred.

Okoro stressed that communication skills and the too much emphasis on the English language while encoding and decoding could also become a major challenge to the flood management approach.

Head of the Borno office Barrister Jumai Meshelia while welcoming stakeholders to the town hall meeting, called for the application of empathy while managing the people who have been traumatized by the flood.

She presented a summary on the state of human rights issues in Borno state from 2009 till date.

Stake holders present in the meeting highlighted the fact that some landlords have been coming to claim damages for the houses destroyed instead of first worrying about the fate of tenants who lost everything including lives to the flood.

One of them told stakeholders that his ten year old boy who was at home on that fateful night of Sept 10th lost his life in a fate of panic when on seeing the water pouring into the house, tried to get out but was swallowed by the raging flood from the dam.

On landlords who go to snap their homes while tenants are inside to claim damages and present same to the committees or coming to share humanitarian awards or compensations given to tenants, he called for a change of mindset by such shylock landlords.

Over 150 souls were reported as dead by the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

Zulum approves additional 4 weeks for disbursement Committee

Meanwhile, Governor Babagana Zulum has approved a four-week extension for the “Borno State Flood Disaster Relief Disbursement Committee,” which is responsible for managing relief funds for affected residents.

The Secretary to the State Government, (SSG) Mallam Bukar Tijani, conveyed the approval on recently in Maiduguri to stakeholders when it became obvious the duration given to the committee was inadequate.

The SSG noted that Governor Zulum has approved the extension of their work to allow for a thorough assessment of the victims to ensure all those affected were reached.

Alhaji Bukar Tijani added that the state government had received an interim report from the disbursement committee, which achieved a substantial part of their terms of reference.

Many wards are yet to be reached by the committee which has not been able to touch over 50 percent of the areas affected because there has not been any programmed time tables

Human rights Commission calls for transparency within the 35 member Borno flood disaster relief committee

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Gwoza: Zulum reinstate 23 suspended Health Workers

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Gwoza: Zulum reinstate 23 suspended Health Workers
….directs the deployment of 4 Doctors, 10 Nurses to General Hospital.

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved the reinstatement of 23 health workers previously suspended for absence from their duty posts at Gwoza General Hospital.

This decision was announced during the Governor’s inspection of the hospital’s newly renovated maternity and child center, as well as other ongoing projects.

The health workers had initially been suspended after Governor Zulum’s earlier visit, where he found them absent from their duties.

Addressing the staff, Governor Zulum emphasized the importance of dedication to work and assured them of improved working conditions and other incentives.

“Complaints were made about the 23 medical workers who were absent during my last visit,” he noted. “No one is perfect, so the government has pardoned them, although no arrears will be paid.”

In response to a staff shortage raised by the Principal Medical Officer of Gwoza General Hospital, Dr Nuhu Nasiru Wakawa, Governor Zulum directed the immediate deployment of four additional doctors and ten nurses to the facility.

He further announced that Gwoza General Hospital will be upgraded to support training for nursing students from the new school of nursing under construction.

“The Commissioner of Health, together with the Chief Medical Director of the Hospitals Management Board, will work on this deployment,” Zulum added. “We will also recruit community health workers from Gwoza to strengthen local healthcare services.”

In addition to his healthcare initiatives, Governor Zulum inspected the crusher plant base under construction in Pulka, which will produce up to 300 tonnes of stones per hour.

He said the completion of the crushing and asphalt plants is expected to facilitate new road networks across Borno State.

The Governor also visited other development sites, including the 500-unit mass housing project in Wala B, Gwoza Local Government Area, and a proposed site for a high Islamic school in Bama, underscoring his administration’s commitment to infrastructure and educational advancement.

Gwoza: Zulum reinstate 23 suspended Health Workers

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