Environment
VP’s Wife Asks Women To Dress Decently
The wife of the Vice
President, Hajiya Amina Sambo, has called on women to imbibe the use of Hijab (head scarf) and dress decently to underscore their chastity.
Sambo made the call in Abuja recently, at the maiden “World Hijab Day’’ in Nigeria organised by the Coalition of Nigerian Muslim Women.
“The essence of hijab is to promote the dignity of women in modesty, which had been the norm in history, up until the later part of the past century.
“Modesty is a component in several world religions, particularly in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
“It may come as a surprise to many that it was not Islam that invented modesty or hijab; it existed in the laws of religions revealed before Islam’’, she said.
She added that it was very incumbent on Muslim women to use the hijab “because it’s a command from Allah.
“Muslim women are ordered by Allah to wear the hijab in order to cover the attractive dressing of the woman.
“This is for honour and to protect them rather than an act of oppression’’, she added.
She said the subject of Islamic dressing was very important for all Muslim women, especially the youths who were constantly faced with peer pressure and all sorts of indecency all in the name of fashion.
Sambo enjoined Muslim mothers to continue to teach and nurture their daughters and sisters on the proper mode of dressing that conforms with the dictates of Islam.
According to her, the hijab protects women from all forms of sexual harassment and abuse, especially in the kind of society we live in today.
She commended the organisers of the event and called for its replication in the 36 states of the federation.
Earlier, the wife of the FCT Minister, Hajia Aisha Mohammed, said that wearing hijab does not in any way stop one from being a professional.
Mohammed stressed the need for more enlightenment on the use of hijab, adding that the concept was mostly misunderstood by non-Muslims.
Khairat Gwadabe, as Mother of the day, said the use of hijab did not prevent her from being a politician and called on young women not to feel constrained with its use.
The event was attended by reverend sisters from the Catholic Women Centre who also pledged their support to the use of hijab and decent dressing by women.
Rev. Sister Agatha Chikelu said Catholics also use the hijab, although they call it “Habit.’’
Chikelu said decent dressing was the very key to the social re-engineering of Nigeria as a nation.
The Ministry of Environment on Thursday in Abuja, advanced its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process, validating a comprehensive plan aimed at tackling climate-related challenges in the country.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alhaji Mahmud Kambari, said this at the Stakeholders Consultative Workshop on the Development of the concept notes to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for NAP in Nigeria.
Kambari, who was represented by Mrs Victoria Pwol, the Deputy Director in the Department of Climate Change (DCC) in the ministry, said that the workshop is a collective resolve to confront the realities of climate change with purpose, strategy, and coordinated action.
“Over the past years, the Federal Government of Nigeria, with crucial support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), has made significant progress in advancing the NAP process.
“As a nation, we stand at a critical juncture where climate risks ranging from extreme weather events to environmental degradation continues to threaten our socio-economic stability, food systems, public health, infrastructure, and national development aspirations.
“Through extensive technical work, we have completed a Climate Risk Assessment across all geopolitical and agro-ecological zones, developed an Economic Appraisal, an Adaptation Finance Strategy, and a robust Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.”
Kambari said that these foundational elements now guide Nigeria to identify priority adaptation needs and investment opportunities.
“Let me mention that we are at the tail end of this NAP Formulation Process and looking forward to the implementation phase.
“This workshop therefore serves as a strategic purpose to harmonise perspectives across key MDAs; refine project ideas into strong, evidence-based concept notes.
“It will ensure that proposed interventions align with national priorities and the investment criteria of the GCF and position Nigeria to competitively access the resources required to strengthen resilience across vulnerable sectors,” he said.
Dr Iniobong Abiola-Awe, the Director DCC in the Ministry said that the engagement would enhance achievements by collaboratively developing bankable, climate-resilient concept notes that align with national priorities and meet the GCF’s investment requirements.
Abiola-Awe who was represented by Dr Jonah Barde in the Ministry said that the workshop represented an important step in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to strengthen climate resilience.
She added that the workshop would advance sustainable development, and mobilise the climate finance needed to safeguard Nigeria’s communities, ecosystems, and economy from the growing impacts of climate change.
Effective communication, transparency, and science-based risk assessments are the cornerstones of Nigeria’s approach to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
Mr Bello Bwari, the Director-General, National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), gave the assurance during a media interaction in Abuja on Friday.
“Where there is communication, you reduce conflict. Effective communication is key, effective engagement with stakeholders is paramount and key to making Nigeria better.
Bwari said anti GMO’s critics keep participants and practitioners on their toes.
“We value them and we expect that their criticisms, suggestions and recommendations will make our operations in the entire spectrum better.
“Where we are not doing so well, we will hear from them, where we can advance explanations, we will advance explanations. Where they are not doing well, we will tell them. We will not run away from doing that.
“But I want to assure you that we are bold enough to face anybody who is not fact-based,” he said.
He reassured that sometime before the end of the second quarter of 2026 there would be a retreat where all stakeholders would be invited.
“And also, the impact we are bringing is going to be measurable by the end of 2026. And going forward, what we do by the end of 2026 will form the basis of our five-year plan.
“There’s a five-year plan which will start at the end of 2026. So, I enjoin the media to please report what you know as a matter of fact, not as a matter of opinion.
“We all have different opinions, but some of our opinions are not facts. From the quality of what I see on papers, reportage, I think largely I’m impressed with what the press is doing in Nigeria so far,” he said.
Bwari stated that Nigerians deserved to understand what NBMA regulates, why they regulate it, and how decisions were made.
“Part of my focus going forward will be strengthening engagement with the media, researchers, policymakers, and the public because regulation works best when it is understood.
“We are not promoters of any technology, and we are not opponents of innovation. We are regulators.
“But at its core, biosafety is about prevention, caution, and preparedness. It is about ensuring that innovation does not outpace safety, and that national development never compromises public health or environmental integrity,” he said.
He promised to uphold the law without fear or favour, communicate more clearly with the public and ensure that every regulatory decision was transparent, evidence-based, and accountable
“NBMA is not an advocacy agency. Our duty is to assess risks, enforce safeguards, and ensure compliance with national and international biosafety standards.I also want to emphasise that public trust matters.
He further urged the media to help Nigerians understand biosafety and biosecurity in a better way.
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