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Lend Your Voice To Affirmative Action, Women Urge Tinubu

Published

1 year ago

October 4, 2024

Women, yesterday, urged President Bola Tinubu to lend his voice and political will to enforce the affirmative action by the 10th National Assembly for inclusion of women in sustainable development.
The women made the call during the 2024 Voice of Women (VOW) conference and award in Abuja.
The theme of the conference was “National Dialogue of Grassroots and Urban Women: Achieving Women’s inclusion for a Sustainable Nigeria”.
Toun Sonaiya, Convener VOW 2024 and Chief Executive Officer, Women Radio 91.7FM, highlighted the need for more women in positions of power, authority and leadership to ensure gender equality and increase women empowerment.
“I call on President Bola Tinubu to lend his voice and political will to getting the 74 extra seats bill passed by the 10th National Assembly.
“There is need to be deliberate and intentional, using your coice and political will to do more and enable Nigerian women’s inclusion to global standards,” she said.
Sonaiya appreciated the president for the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) loan.
She urged parents to encourage girls to take advantage of the initiative to enable them access financial support.
“Our journey as women towards an inclusive and sustainable Nigeria is far from over, but our focus on the bigger picture must remain unwavering for future generations of women,” she said.
Also, Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, harped on the need for deliberate safety net policies and programmes that would alleviate the challenges affecting women.
Akpoti-Uduaghan cited cultural norms, sexual harassment, violence and other divisive tendencies as challenges that have affected women.
On the part of women entrepreneurs especially those at the rural communities she stressed the need for specific programmes targeted at grassroots women for a sustainable Nigeria.
“We must intentionally build partnerships with grassroots. We need to harness the potentials of women in rural communities.
“We must dismantle systemic barriers limiting women in grassroots from attaining leadership,”she said.
Nkiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, stressed the need to increase women’s representation and connect with rural women, who play critical role nation building.
Onyenjeocha, said: “Our power as women lies in our collective ability to support each other.”
Ms Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, represented by Patience Ekeoba, National Programme Officer, UNWomen, advocated the need for programmes and initiatives to improve gender equality.
“We must acknowledge that women’s empowerment is not merely a matter of equality, but a foundation for sustainable development, inclusive governance and resilient society.
“Women at every level of society have the unique ability to shape lives, especially women at the grassroots.
“They are able to redefine norms. They are able to create systems of governance,” she said.
Highlights of the event included conferment of awards on notable Nigerians for their commitment towards women empowerment.
Other activities were panel discussion on “Garnering support for females in leadership and governance amongst grassroots women to achieve a sustainable and inclusive Nigeria”.

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198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

1 day ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.

Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.

He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper, 7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.

He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin. This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.

“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education. We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”

Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic, “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.

The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.

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Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

1 day ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.

This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies

The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.

He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.

Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.

“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.

“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.

On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.

Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.

He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.

Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo

Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.

He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.

He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.

According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.

Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.

She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa

News

RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

Published

1 day ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.