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Abuse: NGO Urges Children To Speak Out Without Fear

Published

3 years ago

May 28, 2021

By Our Correspondent, Bauchi

A Non-Governmental Organisation, under the aegis of High-Level Women Advocates (HiLWA), has called on all female children in Nigeria to report any abuse against them without fear or intimidation.

HiLWA is an NGO that works with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Nigeria to assist the girl-child to possess relevant education qualifications in the country.

Representing the NGO, Mrs Hauwa Jubril, spoke to newsmen in Bauchi on the sidelines of a discussion programme organised to mark this year’s Children’s Day.

The theme of the programme was, ‘Unite to Reverse the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on children.’

She said any girl-child who had been abused should not be shy to report it to enable justice to be served.

She observed that keeping such abuse a secret only made it more pervasive in society.

“We have been telling the girl-child that if they are abused, they should not be shy, they should come out boldly to tell us.

“Let them speak out, it is their right. By hiding it or covering themselves in the room, it is not going to solve the problem, it is only going to end up killing the child.

“If they tell us, we will now be able to fight for their rights, but you cannot be there covering yourself in a room and expect somebody to solve your problem.

“If they come out to say it, we will fight to the last even if it is going to be our last drop of blood, we are going to fight for them,” she said.

A cross section of children during the discussion programme.

Jubbril also expressed the NGO’s resolve to call on all the mothers in the country to stop concealing any form of abuse, especially rape, adding that some parents believed a rape victim may not get a suitor in the future.

Mr Raphael Aiyedipe, Education Specialist, UNICEF, Bauchi Field Office, said the programme would allow adolescents to identify how COVID-19 had affected their participation in quality learning in the rural and urban areas.

He said it would also bring to the forefront of discourse, learning challenges during COVID-19 pandemic, especially how it affected adolescent girls specifically.

Aiyedipe further said the programme would allow documentation and presentation of demands from the children.

“It will also seek government’s support in reversing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their education,” he said.

The programme was organised by the Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in collaboration with UNICEF, Bauchi Field Office and HiLWA.

Related Topics:#SUBEB #UNICEF Bauchi Children Day HiLWA

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Man, 38 Escapes Assassination Attempt In Benin

Published

9 months ago

July 22, 2023

Editor

Innocent Omoruyi

By Omokha Andrew

A 38-year-old activist, Innocent Omoruyi, narrowly escaped assassination in the early hours of Wednesday, July 19, 2023 as his residence at Obe Community,Sapele Road in Benin city was attacked by yet to be identified gun men.

The attack which eye witnesses say was viciously executed on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 bore the markings of a dreaded cult group terrorizing Benin City, the state capital.

The Obe, Sapale Road incident, it was learnt, happened soon after Omoruyi left the house to attend to matters of interest some few metres away from his home.

The assailants were said to have shot sporadically in their frustration as residents scampered for safety.

However, Omoruyi escaped unharmed.

One of the eye witnesses who craved anonymity said: “The felons apparently went for the kill, weilding guns and other dangerous weapons. “We are shocked that they didn’t see Innocent Omoruyi who was just some few metres away from home when they arrived”.

“How that happened, only God knows and it was obvious that it wasn’t his time to die yet and just before that not long ago his business place on Lagos Street, Benin City was burnt down in the middle of the night by unknown arsonists.

“This sequence of events is not ordinary. We know it’s politically motivated due to the role he played in the last general elections. He has been advised to go into hiding at the moment for his personal safety”, he concluded.

When contacted, the police Public Relations Officer Chidi Nwabuzor said he was yet to get any information as regards the latest incident. He promised to feed our correspondent with relevant details as soon as they become handy.

Our information source however revealed that the matter has already been incidented at the Love World Police station on Sapele Road, Benin city.

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Nigeria To Earn Over $4bn Revenue As FEC Okays Concession Of Abuja, Kano Airports

Published

11 months ago

May 18, 2023

Editor

Nigeria will earn over $4 billion in nominal revenue as the Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday okayed the concession of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, to the Corporacion American Airport Consortium, a Luxembourg-based company.

James Odaudu, the Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the Minister of Aviation, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

According to him, the Council also approved that the Federal Ministry of Aviation would be renamed the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace.

The statement noted that the company would make combined upfront payments of $8.5 million for the concession of NAIA and MAKIA.

He added that the development would spur evidential growth within the Nigerian aviation industry.

“In alignment with the Aviation Roadmap, approved by Mr President on 18th October 2016, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace is delighted to inform all stakeholders, both local and international, and the media, that the concession of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano has been approved by the Federal Executive Council,” the statement said.

In December 2022 and January 2023, Corporacion American Airport Consortium was announced as the preferred bidder for the airport’s concession after scaling through a series of evaluations of technical and financial bids.

Nominal revenues mean income not adjusted for inflation and decreasing purchasing power.

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Russia Expelled From Council Of Europe Amid War With Ukraine

Published

2 years ago

March 16, 2022

Editor

The Council of Europe says it has expelled Russia with immediate effect after 26 years of membership because of the Ukraine war.

The Committee of Ministers took the decision in a special session, the rights body announced in the French city of Strasbourg on Wednesday.

Earlier, Russia had already declared its withdrawal from the Council of Europe after it had taken steps to exclude it.

On Tuesday evening, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe voted unanimously in favour of Russia’s exclusion.

Russia joined the Council of Europe on Feb. 28, 1996.

Together with the formal notification of the withdrawal, the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe also received information from the Russian Federation on Tuesday about its intention to denounce the European Convention on Human Rights.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, the leaders of the Council of Europe once again condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

They expressed their solidarity with the Russian people, who continue to belong to the European family and share its values.

The body said it would continue to stand by Ukraine in the fight against the aggressor.

The Council of Europe monitors the observance of human rights in its 46 member states and is not part of the European Union.

The body reacted to the Russian invasion of Ukraine two weeks ago by suspending Russia’s membership, this decision was considered historic.