Politics
Edna Azura elected NCWS National President
Edna Azura has been inaugurated as the newly elected National President of the National Council of Women’s Societies, NCWS, marking a new era for the organization.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony, on Friday in Abuja, Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, urged the council to seize this opportunity to make a lasting impact.
“We must make it count. Together, we can achieve remarkable progress for women and for this nation,” she said, emphasizing the importance of empowering women to contribute more significantly to national development.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim highlighted the significant strides women have made across various sectors, stressing the need for greater involvement. “Women are leading in many sectors, if not all. There’s no reason why we cannot empower women to do more for this country,” she added.
The minister congratulated Azura on her election, describing it as a divine elevation. “Promotion comes from God, and it is only God who could have made this possible. We believe in you, Madam President, and are counting on you to lead with excellence,” she said.
She also pledged her support as a partner in progress, underscoring the need to improve access to markets, finance, and support systems for women. Additionally, she stressed the importance of family cohesion as a cornerstone of societal development. “Charity begins at home, and indeed, it does. We will develop a national strategy for family cohesion and advancement,” she noted.
The minister reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening child development and protection initiatives while ensuring care for vulnerable groups. “Our vulnerable populations will be well looked after and protected,” she affirmed, expressing her passion for the cause.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim presented cheques to National Officers and State President’s from the six geo-political zones to empower women entrepreneurs for growth and development.
she disbursed a total of N16.2 million to women nationwide, allocating N3.6 million to the North Central, N3.150 million to the Northeast, N3.1 million to the Northwest, N3.150 million to the Southeast, N2.7 million to the South South, and N2.250 million to the Southwest.
In her acceptance speech, the newly inaugurated National President of NCWS, Edna Azura said, “Our appreciation also goes to the Acting National President, Geraldine Ita Etuk. for her recognition of the importance of regional representation and her unwavering commitment to upholding uncommon loyalty, leadership and safeguarding principles of fairness and equity within the National Council of Women’s Societies (NCWS)
“To the Peaceful Women of Nigeria, I am both humbled and honored to be entrusted with the responsibility of completing the tenure of our late National President, Hajiya Lami Adamu Lau. Alongside my Executive Council, I pledge to work diligently and relentlessly to empower women to continue in our collective drive, foster unity and elevate the NCWS to even greater heights.
“Today, as we gather, there are no winners or vanquished among us. Let us unite as one, fostering cooperation and collaboration among all Nigerian women. It is imperative that we stand together, united in our shared pursuit of a brighter and more prosperous future for ourselves and our nation”
Azura, pledged to promote inclusive governance, addressing the needs of all Nigerian women, youth, and men.
She emphasized the importance of unity among women, stating that the NCWS has a strong network of local government presidents, national executives, and state-level representatives.
Also Speaking, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adamawa State, Honorable Nnedo Jofri Kofuto, speaking on the Inauguration of Edna Azura, said, “this is not just for Adamawa State. It’s not only for the Northeast as well.
“This is a win-win for Nigeria. As you all know what happened, it is because the former president was deceased, and they decided in the spirit of oneness, in the spirit of unity, in the spirit of a woman to a woman, they decided to take back the presidency to the Northeast, and that is how Adamawa State emerged.
“And I feel this is a win-win for the women, because that shows that the Nigerian women are united.
“That also shows that they have the spirit of sportsmanship, that we can come together as one for the benefit of Nigeria, for the benefit of the woman, for the benefit of that young girl that’s coming up.
“So I think it’s a very good thing the Nigerian Council for Women’s Societies could put their heads together. We didn’t hear them fighting each other for no reason, but instead, this is a very good way to say that, yes, women are ready to take the lead, and women are ready for Nigerians to know that the woman cannot be put back anymore,” She said.
The NCWS is a non-profit organization that aims to promote the interests of Nigerian women and girls.
With Azura at the helm, the organization is expected to take a more proactive role in addressing the challenges facing women in Nigeria.
Former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the 2023 general election, Adewole Adebayo said, God has told him that the party will produce the next president in 2027 general election.
Speaking over the weekend in Abeokua when he met the members and executive who were led by the State Chairman, Yinka Ola-Williams, said he could confirm that a President of SDP will mount Aso Rock villa in 2027.
“One thing that God is telling me is that there will be an SDP president in the villa in 2027.
“For the first time in a long time, we will have people who care for the people. Let’s remain focused. The problems of Nigeria are our problems, not individuals.
“We are not against Tinubu as a person but we are against hunger, inflation, poverty, insecurity, unemployment. That’s what we are against,” he said.
Buttressing Adebayo’s position on modalities of joining the party, the SDP Chairman in Ogun State, Mr. Yinka Ola-Williams, disowned 30,000 membership cards and registers allegedly being flaunted by one of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirants in the 2023 governorship election in the State.
Ola-Williams said the party’s door is widely opened to anybody who wants to join, but such a person or group, no matter how highly placed, must follow the procedure as laid down in the party’s constitution.
He emphatically stated that the party had nothing to do with the membership cards and registers claimed by the aspirant, who said he got them from the party’s National Secretariat.
“We want people to join us, and we want to work together to provide a better government than what we have now that will remove poverty, provide a better healthcare system for people, improve education and all.
“But not that they come to the party, hijack the party and take the structure away. That’s what we will not agree,” Ola-Williams said.
Barrister Adewole Adebayo, the 2023 Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 general election, apprehensive of massive defection to the party urged defectors to go through legitimate route and due process.
Speaking over the weekend in Abeokuta, Adebayo when he met with SDP members and executive members led by the State Chairman, Yinka Ola-Williams, said the party is open to defectors, but they must do so legitimately.
Flanked by the former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, the former presidential candidate allayed fears that defectors may hijack the party, stressing that the National Working Committee of SDP can only issue membership cards through the executive at the state levels.
He said, “People are counterfeiting naira, they are counterfeiting the dollar, they’re bringing counterfeit rice, and NAFDAC is chasing counterfeit drugs. Why are you surprised that there are counterfeit party cards? Especially if the party cards are carried by counterfeit politicians who have a history of doing counterfeiting in their former parties. So, we should forgive everybody, but this counterfeiting will not work in SDP.”
“We are not fighting anybody we are only saying ‘come to our house through the front door not through the ceiling or the window.’ That’s all. Everybody here joined the party legitimately, anybody coming will join legitimately”.
“We have spoken to the National Chairman and the NWC, he said there’s no counterfeiting of anything. Any card that’s not given through the state, LG and executives is not from the SDP. So, if they come, you will tell them to go away. Put your name in our register here and pay us here. We will get the card for you. That’s how it is”.
“They want to run faster than their legs. Secondly, you are hearing rumors that people are coming to our party, Awolowo is coming, Azikiwe is coming, Balewa, Ahmadu Bello is coming. Let’s see them. Nigerians know us and they know them.”
He ruled out any plan that SDP would merge or collaborate with the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC or any political party ahead of 2027 general election.
According to him, SDP is committed to the well-being and welfare of Nigerians, while he ruled out insinuations that the party is an appendage of APC.
“Maybe APC has appendicitis; they should go to the hospital to kill it. We are a strong party. We are older than any of the parties available. Our mission is clear: we are not in government with them.
“I led the party in the last election. I’m still standing here. I’m not a minister under Tinubu; all the state chairman and the national chairman are intact, including the national secretary. So, we are standing on our own.
“The reason people look down on us is because we don’t attack people, but we tackle issues because our party is a party of intellect. We are the only party that’s a little to the left. Having been a little to the left since we came in 1989, we remain so.
“The problems of Nigeria can only be found with solutions on the left, which is that chapter two of the Constitution, invest money in education, in housing, in healthcare, good infrastructure, let Nigerians live what chief Obafemi Awolowo called a life more abundant,” he said.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, over the passing of his mother, Hajiya Safarau Umar Baribari.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Dr. Ganduje described Hajiya Safarau’s death as a profound loss that has left a deep void in the hearts of her family, friends, and the people of Katsina State.
Extending his sympathies, the APC National Chairman condoled with Governor Radda, the bereaved family, and the entire people of Katsina State during this difficult time.
He acknowledged the remarkable contributions of the late Hajiya Safarau and prayed for Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant her eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus while strengthening the family to bear this irreplaceable loss.
Dr. Ganduje urged Governor Radda and others affected to find comfort in the cherished memories and enduring legacy of the deceased.
Reaffirming the APC’s support, the former Kano State governor assured the people of Katsina State of the party’s solidarity in their time of grief and prayed that Allah (SWT) grant the departed soul Al-Jannah Firdaus. Ameen.
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