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Women Demand 60% Position In N’Delta
Women opinion leaders in the Niger Delta have canvassed the reservation of 60 per cent of all decision making appointments and elective positions for women as a key strategy for righting the wrongs of the past years, which have unleashed underdevelopment, poverty, unemployment, violence, criminality and militancy on the region.
They insisted that as a matter of deliberate policy, governments at all levels should reserve 60 per cent of appointments into boards of agencies, parastatals, departments, commissions, ministries, as well as elective positions in the affected states and local governments in the region to women for the next six months and the ugly drift would be reversed for the betterment of the generality of all Nigerians.
The more than 50 women, who made their position known in a paper presented by Hon Bolere Ketebu-Nwokoafor, at a town hall session organized by Shell Petroleum Development Company for women opinion leaders in the Niger Delta in Port Harcourt last Thursday, said that almost 50 years after independence, and 52 years after the Willinks Commission Report, the region has remained impoverished because 90 per cent of all leadership and decision making positions have been held by men.
The women also challenged the Federal Government to give women the responsibility to manage 40 per cent of all decision making positions and processes at the national level, saying that if that is done, official corruption will be drastically reduced, good governance will be entrenched in the system, peace and stability will be restored, and sustainable economic development will be achieved within a decade.
In line with the United Nations Post Beijing ’95 Platform for Action, the women tasked governments and corporate organisations to mainstream women as co-partners, co-agents and co-beneficiaries in all aspects and at all levels in the development programmes of the Niger Delta, insisting that every development policy must have gender perspective at articulation and implementation stages to achieve set targets.
They regretted that the current post amnesty agenda that has been articulated, with implementation plans in progress without a gender perspective, when women were visible victims, was completely unacceptable, and said that if women were to play their God-given roles of defending, nurturing and building society with results, they must be factored in by governments, oil companies and their contractors as agents of development.
According to them, women must be recognized as key representatives and members of the benefiting communities, members of projects monitoring and evaluation teams, and as members of peace mediation and conflict resolution teams and committees, in the region.
The more than 50 women opinion leaders, drawn from Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Imo and Rivers states, charged the Federal Government and the multinational oil and gas companies to make and enforce legislation and policies to mainstream women and ensure equal access to resources, power and decision making at all levels, implement an Affirmative Action to rectify the present situation that is skewed against women, abrogate all gender discriminatory employment policies, promote capacity building for women and facilitate the girl child education.
The women said that since the Federal Government’s Seven-Point Agenda captures the development of the Niger Delta as a critical component, it was wrong for the governments and oil companies to alienate women who constitute major stakeholder block in development, adding that doing so amounts to precipitating failure of this generation to make a difference and perpetuate the underdevelopment of the region.
In his presentation, General Manager, Social Performance and Community Affairs, Shell, Mr. Tony Attah, listed a number of programmes which give women opportunity to contribute to the development of the communities, among which is the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) framework, and challenged women to work hard to be part of the GMoU governance structures at the community level in order to make their impact felt in the development of the region.
Attah also solicited the support and cooperation of the women in the effort to heal the wounds of the past, restore peace in the communities, ensure stability, and enhance sustainable economic development of the region, saying that as key factors in moulding the character of the youths, women must not fail to play a leading role in re-ordering not just the attitude and orientation of youths in the Niger Delta but also in promoting hard work and industry amongst the people for a prosperous society.
Susan Nwikhana
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Our Legacy’ll Leave Lasting Impression On Rivers People -Fubara
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.
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We’re Determined To Leave Legacy Of Quality Education -Fubara
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has promised to give the best attention to the education sector so that standard and quality learning will never be compromised in the State.
The governor emphasised that in achieving such legacy, schools in the State will be driven with a curriculum that will equip school-aged children to become competitive, innovative and self-reliant.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Governing Council of Rivers State University at Government House in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
He said: “There is a lot of noise everywhere: people asking what we are doing; that we are not focused, and that we don’t have direction.
”But I want to tell the world that we are focused and aware that we cannot grow if our energies are not channeled to education. Not just education, but purposeful education.
”Education that is creative. Education that gives you independence. We have left the era in the world when you speak too much grammar. We are in such times when it is what you can do with your hands.
”Our purpose for education is that we should bring back our academic programmes to where, at the end of your studies, you don’t need a job but you create jobs. When one creates a job, you automatically employ others. That is what I want this council to see as their task.”
Governor Fubara noted the non-existence of public secondary schools for the male child in the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt.
He said such negligence leaves children in that area who have completed primary education, and whose parents cannot afford sending them to far away secondary schools, to roam the streets, and therefore becoming willing tools for criminality.
Governor Fubara assured that such fundamental problem will be addressed by his administration as a measure to curb the negative impression associated with Diobu axis of Port Harcourt.
The governor said he trusts in the capacity of the members of the Governing Council of Rivers State University to bring about positive change in the institution while also contributing their quota to improving the general education standard in the State.
”I charge you, not just in terms of administering the affairs of the university, but let us add something different from the normal things that we already have to see new things.”
In her response, on behalf of the other members, the Pro-Chancellor of the Governing Council of Rivers State University, Justice Mary Odili (rtd), thanked the governor for finding them worthy to serve in such capacity.
Justice Odili assured they will work assiduously as a team to solve the problems that agitate the mind of the governor and ensure their contributions form part of the legacy that will be bequeathed by his administration.
The members included Justice Mary Odili (rtd) as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council with Barrister Mela Oforibika and Chukwuma Chinwo, Esq.
Others were Adata Bio-Briggs, Esq., Dr. Jonathan Nimi Hart, Ngo Martins-Yellowe, Dr. Nancy Nwankwo, Dr. Igoni William-Park, and Mr. Ogbugbu Barisua.
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Fubara, Others Eulogise Rivers First Lady’s Mother
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu, and key stakeholders of the State on Wednesday paid glowing tributes at the Service of Songs held in honour of late Mrs Adeline Jaja, mother of the wife of the Governor, Lady Valerie Fubara, at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Mile 1, Diobu, Port Harcourt.
Speaking at the event, Governor Fubara described his late mother-in-law as a great and visionary woman who lived on truth and conviction in what she believes.
“Mama was a great woman. She wasn’t a materialistic person. When she believes in you, she’ll be all out for you. She stood for me. I feel pained that, like my own mother, she left at this moment.
”Mama believed so much in God, and the wonders of God. I thank everyone, particularly the Church. On behalf of the bereaved family, we will support the Church to immortalise her name,” the Governor said.
In his homily, Vicar of the Church, Ven. A. A. Ijon-Ama, who spoke on the gains of death, said physical departure from earth was not an ultimate end but an opening for higher and permanent gain and perfection.
He pointed out that when a man has a good relationship with God, he stands to gain more in death.
Ven. Ijon-Ama described late Mrs. Adeline Jaja as a devout Christian, who exuded deep sense of hospitality, and endowed with accommodating spirit, noting that she will be greatly missed by all.
The Vicar, who prayed for the repose of the soul of Mrs Adeline Jaja, also solicited for Divine fortitude for the family to bear the great loss, and called for the immortalisation of the deceased to keep her good legacies alive.
Some family members, who spoke at the Service of Songs, extolled the virtues of the deceased, describing her as “a great community leader, counsellor, peace maker, and caring mother, who provided for the needy, and participated actively in Church activities.
Highlights of the event were special prayers for the bereaved family, conducted by the Anglican Bishop of Evo Diocese, Rt. Rev. Innocent Ordu; remarks by key family members, choir ministration, among others.
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