Nation
Stakeholders Canvass Domestication Of Child Rights Act In Gombe
To better protect children and improve girl-child education, some stakeholders in Gombe State have appealed to the state government to expedite action towards the domestication of the Child Rights Act.
They made the call yesterday in Gombe during the inauguration of a scholarship scheme for 50 girls sponsored by the immediate past president of the Court of Appeal, retired Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa.
The scholarship scheme is under her foundation – ADDA Girl Education Foundation (AGEF).
Justice Hannatu Sankey, the Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Gombe Division, said in a society where girls, children and women were violated and subjected to abuse, post-traumatic distress disorder would affect their upbringing.
Sankey, the keynote speaker, who presented a paper on the topic: “The Need for a Girl-Child to be Educated to Reach Leadership Position,” said laws were needed to protect and enforce children’s right.
“If laws are put in place to protect children and enforce their rights, I believe that courts will proactively and stringently enforce these laws.
“This will also ensure that our children who are the future of this nation, are protected from predators as well as shielded from any failure on the part of parents, guardians, teachers and the system in general,” said Sankey.
She stated that since cases of rape, sexual assault and violence against the girl-child were widespread and on the increase, it had become imperative to have a law to address the menace.
Sankey said girls must be made to feel safe to attend schools in order to excel and impact positively in the developmental strides of the country.
“I call on states that make up the federation which are yet to domesticate the Child Rights Act passed since 2003 by the National Assembly, to do so without delay.
“In order to better protect the rights of the girl-child in the country the act should be domesticated,” Sankey noted.
Citing a recent publication on the non-domestication of the act in the state, she said since the bill had passed first and second reading, the states’ assemblies should expedite action in order to pass it.
While commending Bulkachuwa, Sankey said the event was a reminder of “our responsibility to give girls the importance and protection they deserved and work together for happier lives.”
Sankey, also the President of the National Association of Women Judges in Nigeria (NAWJN), said the scholarship would help address challenges faced by the girl-child seeking education.
On her part, Bulkachuwa said she added her voice to the call for the domestication of the act to better protect the girl-child and children generally in the state.
She said her gesture was aimed at giving back to the society by ensuring that girls from the state were educated to hold strategic leadership positions.
“Given the number of girls in this state, it becomes crucial to pay attention to the status of the girl-child.
“We believe in their potential and the power of education to unleash it. That’s why we are here today,” she stated.
The Tide source reports that 50 girls from Nafada Local Government Area of the state were empowered with school supplies, tuition fees, breakfast and monthly stipends.
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