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UN Women, Stakeholders Strategize on Getting Special Seats Bill Passed to Increase Number of Women Holding Political Positions

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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

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Tuggar Congratulates Super Falcons on 10th WAFCON Win, Praises Their Resilience

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Tuggar Congratulates Super Falcons on 10th WAFCON Win, Praises Their Resilience

By: Michael Mike

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar has extended heartfelt congratulations to the Super Falcons following their historic 10th triumph at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

In a statement issued shortly after the team’s victory, Tuggar lauded the Falcons for their resilience, discipline, and unyielding spirit, describing them as “true ambassadors of Nigerian excellence on the global stage.”

The Minister said: “The Super Falcons have once again shown what it means to represent Nigeria with pride and purpose. Their determination, unity, and consistency reflect the values we hold dear as a nation.”

He further commended President Bola Tinubu for his steadfast support for sports development in Nigeria, as well as Mr. Shehu Dikko, and the leadership and management of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for their strategic guidance and commitment to excellence in women’s football.

“This victory is the result of purposeful leadership, sound management, and the unshakable spirit of Nigerian athletes. I congratulate President Tinubu, Mr. Shehu Dikko, and the entire NFF family for creating the enabling environment for this triumph,” he added.

Tuggar also noted that the team’s success not only brings immense pride to Nigeria but also serves as an inspiration to young girls across Africa, proving that excellence knows no gender.

He however reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s soft power through sports diplomacy and international representation.

“Their victory is not only a sporting achievement but a diplomatic symbol of Nigeria’s strength, unity, and global presence,” he stated.

Their hard-fought 3–2 victory over Morocco in the final further cements their status as Africa’s most decorated and successful women’s football team.

Tuggar Congratulates Super Falcons on 10th WAFCON Win, Praises Their Resilience

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Teenager butchered in suspected ritual killing in Ogun, one arrested

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Teenager butchered in suspected ritual killing in Ogun, one arrested

By: Zagazola Makama

A 16-year-old boy, Lawal Wahab, has been gruesomely murdered in Igbile area of Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State in what authorities suspect to be a ritual killing.

Zagazola learnt that the boy, who had been declared missing for several days, was confirmed dead after his decomposing body was discovered on July 23 along Old Express Road in Igbile.

His father, Lawal Olumide, of No. 28 Jagerin Street, Ijebu-Ode, said he received the tragic news after efforts to locate his son proved abortive. Wahab had reportedly been staying with his grandmother before he went missing.

Security operatives who visited the scene confirmed that the boy’s corpse was mutilated his head, both wrists, heart, and private parts were removed, in what is believed to be a ritual-related killing.

Following an intensive investigation, one suspect, Salawu Omikansola, aged 25, was arrested in connection with the murder. He was apprehended alongside a man identified as Serefusi Agemo and others whose identities are being withheld to aid the ongoing investigation.

Authorities disclosed that confessional statements were obtained from the suspects, with video evidence recorded. The case file and associated exhibits will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Abeokuta, for further investigation.

Efforts are ongoing to track and apprehend other accomplices in the heinous crime.

Teenager butchered in suspected ritual killing in Ogun, one arrested

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Education Undergoing Revival Under Renewed Hope Agenda — VP Shettima

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Education Undergoing Revival Under Renewed Hope Agenda — VP Shettima

** Receives University of Ibadan Sole Ambassador Plenipotentiary award

By: Our Reporter

Vice President Kashim Shettima has restated the Federal Government’s unwavering resolve to reposition Nigeria’s education sector.

Specifically, he affirmed that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will mobilise both public and private sector support to uplift institutions such as the University of Ibadan (UI), Nigeria’s premier university.

This is just as the Vice President has been bestowed with the highest alumni honour of the University of Ibadan, “UI at 75 Ambassador Plenipotentiary.” He obtained a master’s degree (MSc) in Agricultural Economics in 1991 at the University.

Speaking on Thursday during a courtesy visit by the management of the University of Ibadan, led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Vice President described the institution as the greatest citadel of learning in West Africa, recalling its illustrious past and continental impact.

“This is an honour that I cherish deeply. Ibadan is certainly the greatest citadel of learning in this country and in West Africa. When we were there, we had students from South Africa, Namibia, and even the Caribbean.

“There was a time when the King of Saudi Arabia was sick and he was recommended for treatment at the University College Hospital, Ibadan,” the Vice President said.

He pledged the government’s commitment to mobilising both private and public sector resources for educational transformation across the country.

“We are going to mobilise resources from both the private and public sectors to ensure that UI and other universities in the country succeed.”

VP Shettima also highlighted the President Tinubu administration’s education-focused policies, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), aimed at supporting indigent students.

“Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we are determined to rescue the educational sector. The Nigerian Education Loan Fund is the first of its kind, directly addressing the needs of underprivileged students,” he stated.

On the economy, the VP said that Nigeria had turned a corner, expressing confidence in the country’s economic trajectory.

“Our economy has turned the corner, we have crossed the Rubicon, and we are on the path to sustained economic growth. The tax revenue of the government has steadily increased. The President is an economic guru who understands the language of commerce and is completely at home in the economic ecosystem,” he said.

Earlier, Professor Adebowale explained that the award given to the Vice President as UI at 75 Ambassador Plenipotentiary is the first in the university’s history in recognition of his contributions to both the public and private sectors.

“You are a foremost alumnus of the University of Ibadan — the first and the best,” Professor Adebowale said.

He continued: “We honoured some of the alumni as UI at 75 Ambassadors, those who are friends of the university, and we made them Ambassadors Extraordinary. We thought that, for the position you have assumed and being an Alumnus of our university, we exceptionally put you in a class and decided to induct you as UI at 75 Ambassador Plenipotentiary. You will be the only person to be so awarded.

“We came here to honour one of our own; someone who has contributed in the banking sector, as Governor of Borno State, and now as Vice President of Nigeria.”

Other members of the delegation included the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Peter Olamakinde Olapegba; Registrar of the University, Mr. Ganiyu Oke Saliu; Director of Alumni Relations, Professor Olakunbi O. Olasope; Lecturer at the Department of Classics, Babatunde Blavo and Mr Oladayo Olajide of the Directorate of Public Communications at the university.

Education Undergoing Revival Under Renewed Hope Agenda — VP Shettima

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