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Women with disabilities in Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja called for inclusiveness in government programmes and policies to reduce stigmatisation and ensure adequate protection of their interests.
The women made the call during a chat with newsmen organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Disability Matters.
The event, which has as its theme, ‘Be Bold for Change’, was organised to commemorate the 2017 International Women Day Celebration.
The women blamed the challenges facing women with disabilities in the country on government’s failure to include them in the planning of its programmes and policies.
Mrs Helen Baba, who has hearing disability, lamented the challenges faced by the deaf and dumb in accessing healthcare.
Kano
The Wife of Kano State Governor Hajiya Hafsat Abdullahi Ganduje, has called on parents to ensure proper upbringing of their children.
She made the call at the International Women’s Day Celebration held at the Coronation Hall, Government House in Kano on Wednesday.
She said the call was necessary to enable children become useful members of the society and contribute their quotas toward the development of the state and the country at large.
The event was organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to commemorate the day which was set aside by the United Nations.
According to her, the call was also necessary in view of the fact that parents played significant roles in shaping the future for their children.
Kogi
ActionAid Nigeria said plans are on-going to provide support for about 47,000 women and youths in Kogi as part of its Livelihood Support Project to reduce radicalisation and extreme violence among the youth.
Human Security in Conflict and Emergency Manager for ActionAid, Mr Gbenro Olajuyigbe, said this at a one-day stakeholders’ forum on the “System Strengthening Approach Against Radicalisation to Violent Extremism” in Lokoja.
The forum was organised by Kogi-based Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development (PIBCID) with support from ActionAid Nigeria.
Olajuyigbe said the 47,000 beneficiaries drawn from Adavi and Igalamela-Odolu local government areas of Kogi were women and youths. In another developemnt, the Director-General, Kogi Bureau of Public Private Partnership (BPPP), Mr Robert Achanya, said the Bureau will partner with Crest-Agro Products to clear 5,000 hectares of land for allocation to cassava farmers.
Achanya said this in an interview with newsmen in Lokoja on Wednesday.
He said that the collaboration was part of the state government’s plan to assist cassava out-growers in its efforts to promote agriculture as a business initiative.
Kaduna
Security has been beefed up on the Abuja-Kaduna highway following the temporary closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for the repair of its runway.
The Federal Government had announced the closure of the airport from March 8 for six weeks to allow for repairs of the runway. It would be reported that following the closure of the airport, security has been beefed up with increased number of security out-posts along the road.
A correspondent who traveled along the route on Wednesday reports that Police highway patrol vehicles were deployed at strategic points.
Kebbi
The Kebbi State Commissioner for Higher Education, Alhaji Abduallahi Maigari, said on Wednesday that science and technical colleges had been increased from five to 16, to strengthen science studies in tertiary institutions in the state.
Maigari disclosed this at a ministerial press briefing organised by the state NUJ in Birnin Kebbi.
He said four additional science colleges would be established soon.
“In spite of the economic situation and the paucity of funds, we have been able to increase the number of our technical colleges from five to 16.
Kwara
The wife of Kwara State Governor, Mrs Omolewa Ahmed, last Wednesday, commissioned the Life Empowers Hope (LEAH) children reception centre in Ilorin.
Ahmed also pledged to build a children’s reception village for the abused, disadvantaged and vulnerable children in the society.
She declared her passion for dedicating a part of her life to reaching out to the homeless children in the streets.
“I call on well-meaning people to reach-out to these little children. An extra penny can add value to the lives of these children,” she said.
Lagos
A renowned Nollywood Actress, Stephaine Linus-Okereke, was on Wednesday unveiled as the Regional Ambassador for Maternal Health in West and Central Africa Region by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole in Lagos. Adewole was represented by Mr Greg Izuwa, the Deputy Director, Family Health, Federal Ministry of Health at the unveiling ceremony organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Lagos.
According to him, she has been found worthy in character and in learning. We take that to what she is going to do as the ambassador.
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Niger
The National Union of Road Transport Workers ( NURTW) Suleija branch B, Niger, has appealed to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to reduce the price of the Speed Limiting Device to enable its members to install it on their vehicles. The Chairman of the union, Mr John Acha, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Suleja on Wednesday. Acha said if the price of the device was reduced the union would compel its members to install it on their vehicles.
“We are ready to purchase the device but due to the present economic recession, we are not financially sound to go for it.
Nasarawa
Members of staff of Olugbemi Unique School, Angwan Makama, Masaka, in Nasarawa State, last Wednesday, dragged their proprietor, Jimmy Lagundaye, to a Masaka Chief Magistrate’s Court over alleged non-payment of three months salaries.
The complainants – Eze Susan, Kemi Soje, Amina Obor, Ojo Jumoke, Abonyi Amalis, Patience Ogede, Abdurazak Isah, Uver Charles, Amos Ebhohen, James Tor, Noel Blessing and Pauline Opeh were all present in court.
They averred that they were on monthly salary at the school and they worked for three months, but the proprietor refused to pay them their salaries.
Ogun
A 51-year-old man, Taoreed Olayiwola, who allegedly defrauded one Aliu Olori of N140, 000, was on Wednesday arraigned at an Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court, Ogun.
Olayiwola, whose address was not given, is charged with fraud.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Famous Edigbue, told the court that the accused committed the offence in April, 2016, in Ita-Oshin area of Abeokuta.
Edigbue alleged that the accused falsely presented self as a car dealer and obtained N140, 000 from the complainant that he would sell a Nissan Sunny car to him but failed to do so.
Plateau
Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau has called on banks operating in the state to revert to the 4 p.m. closing time, instead of the 3 p.m. they adopted when the state was in crises.
Lalong made the call on Wednesday in Jos, when the President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Prof. Segun Ajibola, paid him a courtesy call.
“Peace has returned to Plateau; there is no need for banks to hold unto the 3 p.m. closing time.
“Please appeal to your members to start closing by 4, instead of 3, because closing by 3 gives an impression that we are still crises-ridden,” he said.
He appreciated the institute’s contribution to the Plateau economy, and promised to engage more chartered bankers as senior government officials and civil servants.
An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre is set to be established in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema /Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The initiative is being championed by the Omoku People’s Forum, a global association of Omoku elites, under the leadership of its President-General, Dr. George Ada Ubah.
As part of efforts to ensure the successful execution of the project, a prominent son of Omoku, Chief (Barr.) Dennis Masi, has been appointed by the Forum as the Chairman of the ICT Centre Project Committee, entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating and driving the initiative to fruition. Upon completion, the ICT Centre is expected to serve as a major hub for the training and empowerment of youths in digital and technological skills, equipping them to actively participate in the increasingly technology-driven global environment.
The project is also widely regarded as a significant step towards positioning Omoku as an emerging ICT hub within Rivers State, fostering innovation, digital literacy, and economic development in the region.
Concerned Rivers Chiefs For Peace And Development has said it formation was not politically motivated or has any links to political parties or candidates.
The group which said this at a media briefing at Abuloma in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area said it’s formation has nothing to do with politics.
According to the text for the briefing jointly signed by Chief Boma Kele Oyika it’s chairman and Chief Inemo T Ikama Deputy Secretary General said the organization is expected to focus on conflict Resolution, community engagement, collaboration with government and private sector actors
‘it mandate also includes promoting peace building initiative, supporting local economic empowerment programms and strengthening traditional institutions in our state and beyond as partners in governance ”
It said the body is led by a team of respected traditional leaders serving as trustees
“Their collective leadership reflects a blend of experience cultural authority and grassroots connection
“Key elements considered vital for addressing long standing,socio economic and security challenges in the region”
The release further says ” the formation of this organization comes at a time when communities in Rivers state continue to navigate between issues ranging from youth unemployment, environmental concerns and intermittent conflicts amongst the traditional rulers and beyond
“By bringing together influential traditional figures under a unified platform, the group aims at serving as stabilizing force while advocating for inclusive development policies ” it said
It also described its emergence as a new chapter in grass roots leadership and regional development
Earlier, chairman of the body, Chief Boma Kele Oyika said the organization will work with relevant authorities to promote peaceful coexistence in the state, reduce crime and promote economic development.
He said it is open to all Chiefs from the 23 local government areas.
The Chairman of The Nigeria Delta Chamber of Commerce, Trade, Mines and Agriculture NDCCTMA,Ambassador Idaere Gogo Ogan and the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC ) Dr Samuel Ogbuku have challenged Niger Delta entrepreneurs to close the gap in Gross Demostic Products (GDP) differences between the region and that of the South Western part of the country by coming home to invest.
The two leaders spoke at a business round table organized by NDDCTMA in Port Harcourt
Chairman of NDDCTMA Ambassador Idaere Gogo Ogan, said to close the gap between the south west region which he said has a GDP seize of about #59 trillion and that of the Niger Delta which is about #34 trillion was to massively invest in the region.
He said no other persons can do this except sons and daughters from the region.
“For me I believe in statistics,I believe in data and everyday I looked at the data concerning development in Nigeria and from the GDP point of view, the South West has #59 trillion, that is the seize of the south west region economy, the second region following them is the Niger Delta region with GDP seize of #34 trillion,so there is a yearning gap of #25 trillion that separates the south west and the Niger Delta region, that is why we are here”
Ogan said the region has the capacity to close the gap and even surpassed it but regretted that indigenes of the region have chosen to ignore it in terms of investment.
“We need to close that gap .If we close that gap and even surpassed it,all the negative problems of militancy and unemployment will automatically erase “he said
Ogan said the event was organized to remind the people that past efforts of militancy and agitations have not led the region to any where
“That is why we are gathered here in this room “he said.
Also speaking Managing Director/Chief Executive officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission( NDDC) Dr Samuel Ogbuku urged indigenes of the region not to use the problem of insecurity as an excuse to continue to deny the region of investment as every part of the country have in one time or the other experienced crisis.
Ogbuku said most indigenes have displayed high level of unpatriotism towards the region by taking investments that would have benefited the people to either Lagos or Abuja.
“With little threat we have left the city,we have gone to Lagos,we have moved our families to Abuja and Lagos
“If you go round GRA all the property, you will see,”to let to let”most of them are now empty “he said.
The NDDC MD said despite the fact that people from the region are doing well in the oil and gas, banking and other sectors, its impact are not being felt at home because they are stationed outside the region.
He said time has come for potential investors from the region to have a change of heart by coming home to invest.
John Bibor
