Headline

Be Supportive, Sensitive To Gender Matters- NYSC Urges Nigerians

Published

4 years ago

October 13, 2021

Editor

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), on Wednesday, called on Nigerians to be more supportive and sensitive to gender matters in the country.

The Director-General of the NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, made the call in Alkaleri Local Government Area (LGA) of Bauchi State, during the flagging off of the maiden edition of the corps’ Grass Roots Gender Sensitisation and Advocacy Campaign in rural communities.

Ibrahim, who stated that the sensitisation programme is taking place simultaneously in all the Northern states of the federation, explained that the programme is a well thought-out initiative of the ‘Reforms Unit’ of the NYSC.

Represented by Mr Paul Amoba, Assistant Director, NYSC North-East Area Office, Bauchi, Ibrahim added that the programme was implemented on the platform of the corps’ Gender Vanguards with the aim of exposing the ills of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

He stated further that the NYSC is one of the organizations fighting against GBV and inequality through the activities of the Corps’ Gender Vanguards.

“Today, we are here to emphasize that no individual, man, woman, boy or girl should be denied the opportunity to realize their potential.

“Thus, we are appealing to the conscience of community members, religious institutions, Local Government Administrators, Principals/Head Teachers of schools, Guidance and Counselling Officers, Corps Employers and parents to be more supportive, protective and sensitive to gender matters.

“I am pleased to state for the record that the NYSC is one of the foremost organisations fighting against Gender Based Violence and inequality through the activities of the Corps’ Gender Vanguards.

“The Vanguards, who have been equipped with the necessary skills, carry out awareness campaigns and support activities in our rural communities.

“Amongst other strides, they help in the formation of Gender Clubs in schools as well as provide linkages to victims of gender abuse through the GBV toll free line, 08031230651, provided by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs,” he said.

The D-G assured that the NYSC would continue to work with relevant stakeholders toward the success of gender mainstreaming in the country.

He, however, appealed to the general public to support the NYSC Gender Vanguards through the provision of an enabling environment for greater impact.

In his address, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulkadir, the Village Head of Alkaleri community, appreciated the NYSC for selecting the community as one of the beneficiary communities of the campaign.

Abdulkadir, who was represented by Alhaji Bala Shehu, a traditional title holder, promised that the community would give its maximum cooperation and support towards the development of the programme.

Also speaking, Mrs Dalaki Cynthia, Gender Desk Officer, NYSC, Bauchi, said that the campaign was also meant to advocate for support from all stakeholders to support the Sensitisation programme, saying it was important for all stakeholders to be able to stop all forms of abuse against children.

Some activities that graced the occasion included drama to discourage Gender Based Violence, money marriage as well as the display of placards to condemn GBV by students.

Headline

12 Die, 30 Missing In Peru Landslide

Published

12 hours ago

December 1, 2025

Editor

At least 12 people, including three children, died in a landslide at a river port in central Peru on Monday, and 30 were reported missing, officials said.

The landslide submerged a boat with about 50 passengers on board, and another with none, as they were docked at the port of Iparia in the Amazon jungle region of Ucayali, according to a police report cited by the Andina news agency.

Six people were injured, it added, and a search and rescue operation was underway at the start of the Peruvian rainy season.

Without giving a toll, Peru’s COEN national emergency operations centre said on X that tragedy struck at dawn due to “erosion” of the bank of the Ucayali river.

It said the navy has been called in to help.

AFP

Headline

Nigeria Grants Asylum To Guinea-Bissau Opposition Candidate

Published

12 hours ago

December 1, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian embassy in Guinea-Bissau has granted asylum to Fernando Dias da Costa, the country’s opposition presidential candidate, following alleged threats to his life after last week’s military coup, The Cable Reports.

The coup was announced by military officers on Wednesday, just days after Guinea-Bissau’s presidential election in which both incumbent President Umaro Embaló and his main challenger, da Costa, claimed victory before official results were released.

Nigeria condemned the takeover and urged an immediate return to constitutional order.

In a letter to the President of the Economic Community of West African States Commission, Omar Touray, dated November 30, the Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, said President Bola Tinubu had approved asylum and protection for da Costa inside the Nigerian embassy in Bissau.

Tuggar wrote that the decision was made “in response to threats made against da Costa’s life.”

“In this regard, it would be appreciated if you would kindly mandate the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau to provide him protection and security while in the premises of the Nigerian embassy,” the letter stated.

The foreign affairs minister’s Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy, Alkasim Abdulkadir, confirmed the letter’s authenticity to The Cable on Monday.

He said, “The decision of the Federal Government of Nigeria to grant asylum and provide protection to Fernando Dia Da Costa falls squarely within Nigeria’s sovereign responsibility and longstanding commitment to regional peace, stability, and democratic governance.”

He added that Nigeria acted “in the broader interest of de-escalation,” saying the government had exercised its discretion “to prevent further deterioration of tensions and to promote social cohesion in Guinea-Bissau and the wider West African sub-region.”

According to Abdulkadir, the intervention aligns with ECOWAS principles and reflects Nigeria’s role as a stabilising force in West Africa.

Following the coup, ECOWAS held an emergency virtual summit of heads of state and subsequently suspended Guinea-Bissau from the regional bloc until constitutional order is restored.

Headline

Trump To Attend FIFA World Cup Finals Draw On Friday

Published

12 hours ago

December 1, 2025

Editor

The White House on Monday confirmed US President Donald Trump would attend the draw for the FIFA World Cup finals in Washington later this week.

The United States will co-host the 2026 tournament alongside Canada and Mexico.

“On Friday, President Trump will attend the FIFA World Cup final draw at the Kennedy Centre,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

Trump has made the World Cup a centrepiece event of both his second presidency and the 250th anniversary of US independence next year.

But the giant sporting extravaganza has not escaped the political turmoil caused by Trump’s hardline stance on a host of issues.

Trump, a Republican, has raised the possibility of moving games from some US host cities amid a crackdown on what he says is crime and illegal migration in some Democratic-run areas.

AFP