News

NAWOJ Seminar: Edo First Lady Wants Soft Loans For Women

Published

1 year ago

April 2, 2024

The First Lady of Edo State, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, has appealed to government at all levels to make available easy loans for women.

Mrs. Obaseki made the appeal during a one day seminar organised by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, to commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day.

This year’s event: Count Her In: Accelerating Gender Equality Through Economic Empowerment, was in collaboration with other professional women groups in the state and was at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy, JOOPSA.

The First Lady, represented by Mrs Efosa Uyigue, the Vice-chairman of Ovia North East Local Government Council, said the soft loans are to support women in their businesses and also encourage them to take up leadership positions.

She said: “It is a good initiative that this seminar is holding today we should continue to have events like this and we should continue to preach women’s inclusion. One of our song writers Osayomore Joseph said: give women a chance.”

Guest Speaker at the event, Mr. Efosa Eghobamien, emphasized the way of adjusting to a new life and the need not to wait to retire before engaging in other jobs or means of livelihood.

She said, “We must prepare for retirement and this is a reality check list, then you also need to know who your friends are. Just ensure you are constantly upgrading yourself”.

In her keynote address, Professor Evelyn Uwa Edosomwan of the Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, itemized various ways to empower women in the society which Countries are beginning to recognize.

“A sustainable economic growth does not take place without the involvement of the women in the nation hence we are putting greater emphasis on the inclusion of women in all areas of national development,” she said.

Earlier, Chairperson of Nigeria, NAWOJ, Edo State Comrade Adesuwa Ehimuan who also doubles as the convener of the Professional Woman Group, in her opening speech advised women to be adequately empowered and also endeavor to have a means of livelihood.

Ehimuan further said as a professional “it is ideal that you try and have streams of income because definitely no matter how active you are, it gets to a point that you have to take your bow out of service. So, after that time, what do you do. So, we are encouraging women to try as much as possible to have other means of livelihood and participate actively in politics.”

Goodwill messages were delivered by the Edo state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs, Monday Osaigbovo represented by Permanent Secretary; Dr. Uyigue; Commissioner for Social Development and Gender Issues, Mrs. Christabel Omoh-Ekwu was represented by permanent secretary Mrs Irenosen Ihensekhien amongst others.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to five illustrious sons and daughters of Edo by the coalition of Professional Women Group.

News

DSS Issues Warning, Arrests Man For Circulating Fake Recruitment Materials

Published

10 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

The Department of State Services (DSS) has disclosed the arrest of one Mr. Eze Ezenwa Benard, who was recently apprehended for circulating fake DSS recruitment past questions and answers on Facebook.

The agency, while warning the public in a statement on Saturday, said the suspect operated through a page known as “Jobs and Education”, where he advertised the fraudulent materials and charged unsuspecting members of the public one thousand naira (N1,000) for access.

“The public is hereby cautioned to disregard any materials, as the DSS does not sell or distribute recruitment questions, answers, or examination guides through private individuals or social media pages. Recruitment into the Service, when necessary, follows specialised procedure in accordance with extant laws and due process,” the statement reads.

News

‘Na Only People You Gave Work Love You,’ Singer Speed Darlington Tells Tinubu

Published

10 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Singer Speed Darlington has told President Bola Tinubu that public admiration cannot be bought, warning that only those who received appointments or jobs from the government truly support him.

In a video posted on Saturday, August 23, the singer said, “Everything isn’t about the economy! There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you.”

Darlington, an Igbo man, urged Tinubu to focus on police reform and respect for human rights. “The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate. Please, before you leave office, please speak to your Yoruba brother IGP man,” he added.

News

Before You Leave Office, Reform The Police — Speed Darlington Urges Tinubu

Published

10 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Popular controversial singer Speed Darlington has called on President Bola Tinubu to reform the Nigerian Police Force, urging the government to prioritise citizens’ rights alongside economic growth.

In a video posted on Saturday, the entertainer criticised what he described as the police’s systemic human rights violations and oppressive practices.

“Mr President, before you leave office, whether you secure a second term or not, try your best to improve Nigeria. Everything isn’t about the economy!

“There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you,” he said.

The singer, who identifies as Igbo, urged Tinubu to engage with the Inspector-General of Police and implement reforms.

“As an Igbo man, the advice I can give you so people will know your name and remember you for something good is to reform the police. Reform the police.

“The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate,” he added.

Darlington also recounted his personal ordeal with law enforcement, highlighting the system’s abuse of power.

“I was held for two months after the judge had ordered my release. FID held me for two months. According to my lawyer, the Nigerian law gives only 28 days for investigation.

“They held me for two months. What is the extra month for? Because they can. If you give them money, they oppress your enemy. I have experienced it,” he said.