News
Nigeria Targets 20% Women Participation In Peacekeeping
Nigeria hopes to increase the number of its women participating in United Nations peace keeping missions by 20 per cent in 2014, a top UN military officer, Lt.-Gen. Chikadibia Obiakor, has said.
Obiakor, a Nigerian, and the UN Military Adviser on Peacekeeping Operations, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in New York that Nigeria would also encourage other countries to meet a UN resolution to increase the number of women in peacekeeping.
Resolution 1325, passed in 2000 on “Women, Peace and Security”, recognises that since women bear the brunt of armed conflicts, they should have a commensurate role in their prevention and resolution.
Obiakor said: “what Nigeria has done generally is to bring to the fore, the importance of having more women in its peacekeeping contingents.”
“Not that the 20 per cent has been attained, but we have left where we are.
`There are cultural issues in that there are some countries which are finding it difficult to include women, but we are encouraging such countries to include women in their peacekeeping operations.
“So, we are on the rise and working towards reaching the mark by 2014,” he said.
According to reports, out of the 124,000 peacekeepers from 115 countries currently serving in 15 missions around the world, women make up only eight per cent of the UN police and two per cent of its military personnel.
Nigeria has more than 5,500 peacekeepers in the field.
The UN military adviser said women peacekeepers were the perfect example of “one-to-one communication” needed to encourage those who are affected and traumatised in a conflict situation.
“Women in conflict areas inspire a lot of confidence in the female folks and children (those who bear the brunt in the conflict areas).
“If you have women, the chances are that you get to know more about the conflict and what they think about the solution and what their needs are,” Obiakor, a former Force Commander of the UN Mission in Liberia, said.
The military adviser, who acknowledged that women peacekeeping has its own side of challenges, said “some of the challenges are mitigated because the women are trained.’’
“The problem is in administration because most serving women are married; they have children and husbands and that in itself is a drag because it bothers sometimes on their morale.
“But most times, you find that women are more enthusiastic to discharge their duties and they are more emotionally attached to courtesy in post-conflict areas with regard to the population, which are mostly women and children,” he said.
News
PDP Opobo/Nkoro Hails Fubara On Peace, Projects
Stakeholders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Opobo/ Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State have commended the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for his disposition that has fostered peace in the State.
Rising from an expanded stakeholders meeting last Saturday in Opobo Town, the body in an eight-point communique signed by its Chairman, Hon. Benneth Daminabo, Chairman of Council, Rt. Hon. Enyiada Cookey-Gam and LG party Chairman, Warisenibo Godwin Pepple commended the governor for linking Opobo/Nkoro LGA to the national grid.
In addition, it lauded the effort of the governor in pursuing the 50.15 kilometre Dual Carriage Ring Road, Elelenwo internal road, Aleto-Ebubu-Eteo Road in Eleme and Andoni Road projects.
Despite the distractions, the stakeholders said they were impressed that the governor had equally done projects in health-the unveiling of Prof. Kelsey Harrison Hospital, Agric projects at Tai and Oyigbo and improving welfare of civil servants.
In their words, “members reaffirmed their unalloyed loyalty and implicit confidence in his administration.”
Condemning the unfriendly and discourteous utterances of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Tony Okocha in different fora in the State, the forum urged the duo to desist from such action in order not to heat up the polity.
The forum pledged to stand by the governor through, “thick and thin”, the stakeholders acknowledged the contributions of women, who through prayers for the government has impacted positively in the direction and posture of the governor.
Finally, the forum unanimously expressed gratitude to the Simplified Movement and other bodies that have thrown their weight behind the governor to ensure that the administration is stable and successful.
By: Kevin Nengia
News
‘Rivers People Are Now Breathing Fresh Air Under Fubara’
Aformer Caretaker Committee Chairman of Abua/Odual Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon Elamo Arogu, says under Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the people of the State are now breathing fresh air.
Hon Arogu said Governor Fubara has given Rivers people hope, considering the impactful and people-oriented projects being carried out by his administration.
The former CTC chairman made the assertion during the Simplified Movement’s thanksgiving service and rally held in honour of Rivers State chief executive last Friday in Abua .
Arogu said under Governor Fubara, the Abua/Odual people have the confidence that the dividends of democracy will definitely get to them.
He noted that the Governor has the strong will to change the narrative in Rivers State, being the reason he is receiving massive support across the State.
“The people of Abua/Odual are strongly behind him. Our doors ate open for everyone because there is government in place to attend to the needs of the people. I believe that he will develop Abua/Odual and other Rivers council areas, hence, the massive support. This government is business- oriented and we are ready to encourage him succeed and invest in our land. The issue of a bank; road networks and other necessities of life bordering on development as demanded by the people will be considered by Governor Fubara”, he said.
He called on the opposition to team up with Governor Fubara to build a stronger, united and viable Rivers State.
He maintained that ward nine under his leadership is Simplified.
News
Rivers State University Cooperative Society Elects New Leaders
The United Port Harcourt Peoples Cooperative Investment & Credit Society Limited, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, has elected new leaders to pilot the affairs of the cooperative for the next two years.
They are Pastor Dr. Barine Aeba (President); Dr. Gift N. Nkweke (Vice-President), Dr. Kenneth Chima Adiele (General Secretary), Victor G. Banigo (Assistant General Secretary),
Rose Yeyeda Nwosu (Treasurer), Adaku Nwogu (Financial Secretary) and Stella Ereba (Public Relations Officer).
Inaugurating the new Management Committee after a keenly contested election held recently at the University Amphitheatre, the Director of Cooperatives in Rivers State, Dr. Elizabeth Chidi-Wike, congratulated the seven-member Executive for emerging winners at the election, charging them to uphold the bye laws of the Cooperative Society and hold regular congress meetings.
Dr. Chidi-Wike used the forum to commend the outgone Management Committee for reviving the Cooperative and placing it on an enviable pedestrial.
In her remarks, the Acting Registrar of the University, Mrs. Ibimonia Sotonye Harry applauded Cooperative members for keeping faith with the Cooperative Society, stressing that the goal of the society in helping members save for retirement cannot be over emphasised.
In his valedictory speech, the outgone President, Dr. Mie-Idala Jones Amachree expressed gratitude to God for the successful completion of his four-year tenure, thanking his fellow Management Committee members who gave him the needed support that transformed the Cooperative Society.
In his acceptance address, the President, Pastor (Dr.) Barine Aeba thanked the university management for providing the enabling environment for the peaceful conduct of the election, pledging that he will fulfill all his campaign promises.
A total of 165 Cooperative members participated in the electoral exercise which was conducted by an Electoral Committee led by Engr. (Dr.) Joseph D. Enoch.
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