News
African Women Move To End Harmful Practices
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Rivers State chapter has commended African women for coming together under the Big Sister Movement (BSM) to fight against female genital mutilation/circumcision (FGM/C) and early child marriage (ECM) in the continent.
FIDA Vice Chairperson, Barrister Uchenda Bibian Okogbule made the commendation in an exclusive interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt while reacting to the launch of the coalition as part of activities marking the International Women’s Day celebrations, yesterday.
Okogbule noted that already, FIDA had done so much to eliminate the incidence of female genital mutilation and early child marriage in some communities in Rivers State through concerted sensitisation campaigns and rallies.
“FIDA has zero tolerance for female genital mutilation/circumcision and early child marriage in the state. The launch of the Big Sister Movement as a coalition of African women against the menace is a welcome development that should be proactively driven to deliver tangible results at the continental level,” she said.
The Tide reports that African women had yesterday, taken the lead to end female genital mutilation (FGM/C) and early child marriage (ECM) in Africa through the strategic launch of the Big Sister Movement.
The Big Sister Movement (BSM) is the largest grassroots coalition of local NGOs led by women survivors of FGM/C’s from Nigeria, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Kenya and Somalia.
The coalition aims to sustain the innovative idea of giving back the testimonies and scope of actions to survivors, to enable them tell their own stories, advocate and find grassroots solutions to the issue of FGM/C in Africa by 2030.
Speaking at the launch, a founding coalition member and 2018 Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Jaha Dukureh, said “For too long, international organisations have been leading the campaign in Africa, implementing programmes together with local activists in our communities”.
According to her. “The time has come for Africans across the continent and the world to be at the forefront of the campaign to end female genital mutilation and early child marriage in Africa by 2030.”
A BSM coalition member, Augustine Abu, said “African women tend to be perceived as women who need to be saved. They are never considered as the actual saviours. This is what the Big Sister Movement is about. This is the reason for us choosing the International Women’s day to launch our movement, precisely to empower this vision”.
In Africa, 6,000 girls are mutilated everyday, 200 million women live with the effects of FGM/C, and 30 million girls are still at risk over the next decades.
The Big Sister Movement is connected by the common goal to ban FGM/C in Africa and to ensure that the ban is implemented across all AU member countries where the practice is still dominant through the strategic training and empowerment of grassroots leaders and campaigners. #BANFGM2030.
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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