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Sustainable Development Cannot Be Achieved Where Gender Bias Thrive – Don

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A university don, Professor Ifufro Osamwonyi, yesterday, said the seventeen action points of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cannot be achieved in Nigeria without reducing gender inequality.

Prof. Osamwonyi of the Department of Banking and Finance, University of Benin, disclosed this in a keynote address on the occasion of this year’s International Women Day celebration organized by Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Business Women Group, Edo State chapter.

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A cross section of NACCIMA Business Women Group, Benin Branch

Speaking on the theme : ‘Each for Equal’, Osamwonyi noted that gender bias has been seriously militating against the development of the country.

READ ALSO: 10 Sustaina Injuries As Fracas Mars PDP Ward Congress In Delta Community

While noting that Nigerian politics is one of the areas in great need of gender-focused inclusion, the university don revealed that Nigeria has one of the lowest rates of female representation in parliament across Africa.

He said, “Nigeria is ranked 181st out of 193 countries.”

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Osamwonyi, however, eulogised Nigerian women for their hardwork and entrepreneurship, stressing that they have contributed significantly to national advancement and are doing well in formal business with technological advancement and innovation.

READ ALSO: Just In: Bank Building Collapses, Kills Labourer

On her part, Co-ordinator of NACCIMA Business Women Group, Edo State chapter, Pharmacist (Mrs) Aina Omo-Ojeonu, disclosed that the group was set up to facilitate women’s participation in commerce and governance as well as facilitate access to loans and business information for women.

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We are encouraging women especially from the grassroots to be up and doing. And that is why I mentioned better life for rural women because we intend to take our access to loan to the grassroots. We want to take it to our women farmers in the grassroots, to the MSME because we believe that it is women that mostly do all these things.

“When you look at the subsistence farmers, they are majorly women. If you look at the people selling pepper in the market, they are women.In commerce, women are doing well. In agric, women are there.”

READ ALSO: Just In: Bank Building Collapses, Kills Labourer

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She added that plans are on to facilitate trade amongst women in the chamber and within the ECOWAS region and the world at large.

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How Pastor Raped Teenager While Playing Sermon

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A teenager has narrated how she was allegedly raped and deflowered by one Pope Paul, a youth pastor in the Deeper Life Bible Church in Lagos state.

The 19-year-old survivor appeared before the sexual offences and domestic violence court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday.

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The survivor said the abuse started when she was 15 years old and living with the cleric.

Narrating her experience, the survivor told the court that she knew the cleric when she started residing with his wife identified as Sister Lydia.

According to her, she had visited the pastor’s wife during a holiday in 2016 and after she got back home to Ibadan, Sister Lydia invited her to start living with her after taking permission from her mother.

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READ ALSO: Father Rapes 18-year-old Daughter In Shop

I was enrolled in a private school as I resumed in SS1. I only go back to my parents during the holiday.”

The survivor said the cleric started the alleged sexual abuse by touching her breasts when nobody was around.

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“On February 17, 2018, I noticed this lustful look on Pope Paul and he came to me; he started with a rough play and then bumped on me,” she said.

“He started touching me because there was nobody around.

“He moved on to touch my breasts and used his hand to cover my mouth while he inserted his fingers into my private part. As he fingered my private part, blood was flowing out.”

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READ ALSO: 60-year-old Man Allegedly Rapes Daughter’s Friend In Ondo

The survivor told the court that the cleric played a “Christian message” and increased the volume so that no one could hear her voice during the alleged rape incident.

She said the cleric warned her that she would die if she told anyone.

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The survivor also narrated how the cleric came to her room one night, dragged her to the kitchen and had sexual intercourse with her.

She told the court that her mother observed her when she got home and subjected her to pregnancy test, which turned out positive.

“My mum called pastor and he said that he was sorry and had asked God for forgiveness and knew that God had forgiven him,” she said.

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READ ALSO: Two More Ladies Accuse Lagos Bishop Of Rape, Narrate Ordeal

“My mum told him to inform his wife about the pregnancy but he refused and later denied that he impregnated me which prompted my mother to report the case to the police and he was arrested.”

Ramon Oshodi, the trial judge, adjourned the case to May 23 for continuation of trial.

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Abia Vigilante Kills Man Over Alleged Missing Company’s Phone

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A yet-to-be-identified official of the Abia State vigilante group has shot and killed one Izuchukwu Mbakwe, a 27-year-old staff of De Choice Eatery in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

It was gathered that the deceased was shot at a very close range on his lap on Sunday leading to his death.

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Mbakwe, a native of Umuosu Okaiuga Nkwoegwu in Umuahia North Local Government was said to have arrived for his normal duties when the Internal Auditor invited a Vigilante Security Guards and demanded his arrest over a missing “Nokia Torch” belonging to the company.

READ ALSO: Abia Governor-elect Alex Otti Sends Message To PDP’s Okey Ahiwe, Others

The overzealous guards were said to have stripped Izuchukwu and beat him to a stupor, and shot him at his lap at close range with a Pump Action Riffle, which affected his Femoral Artery.

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It was learnt that it took an uproar from customers for the victim to be brought to FMC Umuahia for treatment.

He, however, lost his life at the point when he was about to refer to a specialist hospital. He has been since deposited at the morgue.

A colleague of the deceased alleged that they are being owed up to 5 Months’ salary arrears.

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READ ALSO: Alex Otti’s Long walk To Abia Govt House

Mrs Adaora Chukwuemeka the elder sister of the deceased confirmed that her brother has not been paid for five months, wondering why the employer has not communicated with the family.

she said the late Mbakwe was left under the rain to bleed to death, calling for justice for the brother.

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The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, has confirmed the incident.

He faulted the action of the vigilante operatives, wondering why the accused was not handed over to the police for investigation.

He said the suspect has been apprehended and his firearm recovered.

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JUST IN: Gunmen Kill Three NSCDC Personnel In Imo

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Yet-to-be identified gunmen have allegedly killed three personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Imo State.

The incident which happened at EkeIsu market in Obiangwu Community in the Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of the state has thrown the community into panic.

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A community source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that the slain corps were attacked in the early hours of Monday.

He said that the NSCDC personnel were riding in a vehicle when they were ambushed and killed by their attackers, while noting that security operatives had taken over the community.

It was gathered that the lifeless bodies of the victims were still at the scene as of the time of filing this report.

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The source said, “Three operatives of the NSCDC were killed last night at EkeIsu market in Obiangwu Community in the Ngor Okpala LGA of Imo State. They were ambushed while in their vehicle. Their bodies have not been evacuated as we speak. Soldiers have taken over the community.”

But when contacted, the spokesperson for the police in the state, Henry Okoye, who confirmed the killing of the three NSCDC personnel, said security operatives had moved into the community and restored normalcy.

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He promised to issue a statement on the incident later.

 

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