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Gender-based Violence: Edo First Lady Talks Tough, Warns Perpetrators

Published

2 years ago

June 15, 2022

The wife of Edo State governor, Mrs. Besty Obaseki, has warned those involved in gender-based violence to desist from such act, threatening that anyone caught perpetrating such act would be punished in line with the law, no matter how highly placed such individual may be.

The Edo First Lady gave the warning in Benin on Tuesday at an event held to mark the end of a project for Nigerian Academy of Science-Gender Based Project with the theme: ‘Strengthening the Evidence and Response Pathway for Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Key States in Nigeria.’

The programme was supported by West Africa office of Ford Foundation and Coordinated by Nigerian Academy of Science.

Mrs. Obaseki who said no perpetrator of gender-based violence would go without facing the full weight of the law, urged those suffering from such act to speak out, adding that though some who suffer such act have been keeping mute due to fear of the unknown, activities of the GBV committee have really helped many to come to speak up.

“Some of the victims are afraid to come out and speak up because some of the perpetrators of this crime are persons in high places, so they do not know what will happen to them if they speak up.
But with our works, people are coming out to speak up, we now have many cases being reported

“We’ve increased prosecution and conviction of perpetrators of GBV; we now have sexual assaultry centre of which is here in Benin City.

“Let me say this, no matter who you are, if you are found attempting to cover up such crime case, you and the perpetrator will be prosecuted. Nobody is above the law, “ she declared.

Going down memory lane on how the GBV committee was set up in the state, the Edo First Lady said the death of a lady named Vera Uwaila Omozuwa prompted her to engage in an extensive campaign, which according to her, got attention of other First Ladies who also follow suit.

While lamenting that years after the University of Benin student (Omozuwa) was murdered, the killers have not been brought to book, Mrs. Obaseki said, though painful, Omozuwa’s death has brought about many positive changes as regards gender-based violence.

“I very sadly recall how this journey started. This whole work( GBV) started here in Edo State with the death of our beloved daughter, the young Vera Uwaila Omozuwa.

“Her death, by God’s intervention has brought the prevention of many deaths that would have happened daily if the fight against GBV did not come to life. She’s like a seed that died, buried and sprout again to bring about life. Uwaila’s death has brought about life to many young boys and girls; many women and men.

” It was upon her death, I carried a national campaign which got the attention of many other first ladies and attention of other people in government, and it gave birth to what we now call Nigerian governor’s wife against gender based violence.”

Related Topics:Edo first lady Mrs. Obaseki

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Why Yahaya Bello Was Absent In Court — Lawyer

Published

4 hours ago

April 23, 2024

Editor

Act through the National Assembly. He added that section 12 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, required the various Houses of Assembly to ratify the act before it could become operative.

Counsel to the EFCC, Kemi Phinheiro, however, urged the court to dismiss the application, insisting that the warrant of arrest should not be set aside until the defendant makes himself available for trial.

He argued that Bello did not have the legal ground to file numerous applications while in hiding.

The senior lawyer added that the applications he was filing, were tactics intended to delay his arraignment, as the main issue was to determine his whereabouts.

He adds that if Bello wanted the order of his arrest to be discharged, he should come before the court and make the application.

Justice Nwite then ordered that the charge sheet of the N84bn fraud allegation against Bello be served on his lawyer.

The EFCC added that it would not execute the arrest warrant until the counsel to Bello undertakes to ensure his presence at the next adjourned date.

Justice Nwite had last week issued a bench warrant against Bello following an application to that effect by EFCC.

The EFCC subsequently declared the former governor wanted for his persistent absence in court, and for evading the criminal charges against him.

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Nollywood Actress, Kate Henshaw Calls For Establishment Of More PHCs In Bauchi

Published

4 hours ago

April 23, 2024

Editor

Nigerian Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw has called for the establishment of more Primary Healthcare Centres in Bauchi state to enhance immunization exercise in the state.

The UNICEF ambassador made the call in Bauchi on Wednesday while briefing newsmen on her field trip with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Bauchi Field Office to observe immunization exercises in Bauchi state.

Kate Henshaw, who was very impressed with the turnout of women for the vaccine in the state, commended UNICEF and the Bauchi state government for their commitment to fight malnutrition and improve the health status of mothers and children in the state.

The 2008 Africa Movie Academy Award winner said “there is the need for the establishment of more Primary Healthcare Centres because I could guess that maybe the distance that the women have to travel in order to get care or to take their children could be a barrier.

“Also, I observed that the mode of transportation is motorcycles and I wouldn’t feel too comfortable carrying my baby on a bike going all the way.

“So, there has to be a better incentive which is bringing the care to them closer. Even if you will have to bring skilled workers to them at home but also make sure that they come to the hospital to deliver

“Bring it closer to them so that they don’t have an excuse not to bring their child either for nutritional stuff or immunization.

“More of the community health centres and primary healthcare centres closer to the people is important”.

Also, Dr Rane Tushar, UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Bauchi commended the medical practitioners in the state for amplifying its intervention and sought for more collaboration.

He urged them to keep sensitizing mothers through their reportage, the importance of immunization both the routine and the periodical on their children.

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World Earth Day: Environmentalist Advocates End to Plastic Wastes to Save Mother Earth

Published

5 hours ago

April 23, 2024

Editor

In commemoration of the 2024 World Earth Day, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) – Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), has called for a drastic reduction in the use of plastics to save planet Earth from suffocation.

World Earth Day is an annual event celebrated April 22, and it is designed to shed light on serious environmental problems faced from the climate crisis to air pollution and deforestation. This year’s World Earth Day was themed: ‘Planet Vs Plastic.’

In commemoration of the Day, Dr Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director, HOMEF, in a statement made available to INFO DAILY by Kome Odhomor, Media/Communication Lead, HOMEF, advocated for urgent action to ban the production and
usage of single-use plastics.

Bassey, while calling on everyone to be involved in efforts to kick out plastics, urged humans to build a liveable future for humans, other beings, and natural systems.

He said: “World Earth Day reminds us as humans that the Earth is ours to protect and preserve but over time humans have abandoned their roles in protecting the planet because of selfishness and drive for profit.

“We stand united in our fight against non-biodegradable waste pollution. Our addiction to single-use plastics suffocates the planet.

“Plastics can take hundreds of years to decompose, clog our water bodies, and cause harmful impacts as a result of their chemical composition. Sadly, the
world is literally a plastic civilisation due to a vested interest in hydrocarbons and ease of application.”

He continued: “Now is a critical time to choose between planet and plastic. Good sense tells us to choose the planet, our Mother Earth that sustains all lives. A poor sense driven by profit urges humans to choose plastics because of the ease they bring, despite the harmful impacts on our health, climate, and overall health of the planet.

“As we mark World Earth Day 2024, the alarm must be sounded that it is time to uproot plastics from their fossil base or be ready to be turned
into plastic humans living plastic lives and heading to an infernal
plastic future. At HOMEF, we are all for the planet, people, and all
life forms,” Bassey said.

The Executive Director noted that research has shown that 380 million tonnes of plastic are now produced every year, while only nine percent of plastic ever produced has been recycled.

He added: “Campaigns around the world calling for a 60 percent reduction in plastic by 2040 are commendable and worthy of support.

“At Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), we believe in the intrinsic Rights of Mother Earth and the rights of humans and other
beings to be respected and to live in dignity.

“It is time to build up courage and to preserve and protect our health,
and our livelihoods by embracing alternatives that are sustainable,
healthy, and safe for the planet. We must stop all forms of destructive
extractive activities in Nigeria, Africa, and the World.

“The Planet vs Plastics campaign is a call to arms, a demand that we act now to end the scourge of plastics and safeguard the health of every living being on our planet.

“We are submerged in a sea of plastic wastes, from our creeks to the ocean. It’s time we did better!”