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Women group launches 16 days of activism against gender-based violence with a call to unite, invest
The National Council for Women’s Societies Nigeria, NCWS, has inaugurated the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, echoing the global theme: “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls.”
The event, aimed at raising awareness and catalyzing action, brought together media, government officials, and advocates in a resounding call to end gender-based violence.
Addressing the press,President of NCWS, Hajiya Lami Adamu Lau, commended the Nigerian media for its ongoing commitment to advocating for women’s rights.
She emphasized the urgency of collective efforts and strategic investments to eradicate the pervasive issue of gender-based violence worldwide.
The theme “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls” serves as a rallying cry for governments, businesses, and communities to allocate resources and implement gender-friendly budgeting.
Lau stressed the critical role of investments in education, awareness campaigns, and community engagement to create environments fostering equality, respect, and safety.
Lau stated that Nigerian women are dedicating this 16 Days of Activism to advocating for concrete actions and investments.
Among their demands are the appointment of more women in leadership, the review and passage of gender bills, a supplementary budget for the implementation of crucial laws and policies, and increased protection for women and girls in educational institutions.
The National Council of Women’s Societies also highlighted the need for government intervention to alleviate the impact of current fiscal policies on Nigerian women, particularly those in rural communities facing extreme poverty.
As part of their commitment, the Council announced an awareness campaign and school debates on gender-based violence during the 16 Days of Activism.
Additionally, a one-day training session for national and state officers will focus on eradicating Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) through grassroots organization movement building.
She said, “Today marks the commencement of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a global campaign aimed at raising awareness and mobilizing action to end violence against women and girls
“As part of actions to demonstrate this commitment, Nigerian women, demand the following:
Appointment of more women in leadership and decision making spaces, to reduce the huge economic and power gaps.
“National Assembly should review and pass the 5 gender bills.Supplementary budget to accommodate the implementation of the VAPP law, the revised National gender policy and structured economic empowerment of women.
“Representation of Council in the committee identifying and mapping indigent households and beneficiaries of the social investment scheme/program.
“Protection of women and girls in institutions of learning against abduction, sexual exploitation and all forms of gender based violence
“Prompt dispensation of justice in the case against Prof Ndifon of University of Calabar, Law faculty and protection for survivors.
“Provision of sanitation infrastructure (toilets and free sanitary towels) in schools to reduce period poverty and avoidable girl-child drop out of school syndrome.”
“Review of media narratives and more balanced, unbiased, non judgemental reportage for women in leadership positions,”she said.
The National Council for Women’s Societies Nigeria remains resolute in its dedication to building a world where every person is treated with dignity and respect, free from the threat of gender-based violence.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has confirmed that the representatives of the petitioners seeking to recall the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District have now provided their contact details.
In a statement on Wednesday, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information & Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, said:
“The contact address of representatives of the petitioners, their telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses have now been provided in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Commission.”
He added that INEC has formally notified the senator about the recall petition.
“As provided in Clause 2(a) of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, a letter has been written to notify the senator sought to be recalled about the receipt of the petition and delivered to her official address,” Olumekun stated.
He further explained that the same letter had been copied to the presiding officer of the Senate and published on the Commission’s website.
Speaking on the next step, Olumekun said INEC would now verify the signatures to ensure that more than 50% of registered voters in Kogi Central signed the petition.
“This will be done in the coming days. The outcome, which will be made public, shall determine the next step to be taken by the Commission,” he said.
Olumekun reassured Nigerians that the recall process would be conducted in an open and transparent manner.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Senate Matters, Senator Basheer Lado, has commended his principal for assenting to South West and South – South Development Commissions Bills as well as the Nigeria Anti – Doping Bill 2025.
Senator Lado who made the commendation in a personally signed statement, described presidential assets to the bills as monumental milestone and testament to visionary leadership and national progress.
The statement reads: “I extend my warmest congratulations to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for yet another historic achievement his decisive and visionary assent to the South-West Development Commission Bill, the South-South Development Commission Bill, and the Nigeria Anti-Doping Bill, 2025.
“These landmark legislations are a clear reflection of President Tinubu’s relentless commitment to inclusive governance, equitable progress, and Nigeria’s emergence as a global powerhouse.
“His Excellency has once again demonstrated that leadership is not merely about policies—it is about impact, legacy, and a deep-rooted dedication to uplifting every citizen.
“By signing into law the establishment of the South-West and South-South Development Commissions, President Tinubu has reaffirmed his role as a transformational leader who prioritizes regional empowerment, economic expansion, and infrastructural excellence.
Building on the foundation of his earlier assent to the South-East and North -West Development Commissions, it is evident that President Tinubu is deliberate in bringing development across all regions.
“These commissions will serve as catalysts for industrial growth, job creation, and social advancement—ensuring that every corner of Nigeria benefits from his administration’s progressive vision. This is the mark of a true statesman—one who understands that a nation’s strength lies in its ability to uplift all regions without bias.
“In the same vein, the Nigeria Anti-Doping Bill, 2025 is yet another bold step that solidifies Nigeria’s commitment to fairness, excellence, and integrity in global sports.
“President Tinubu has once again positioned Nigeria as a nation of high ethical standards, ensuring that our athletes compete on the world stage with honor and credibility. By domesticating the UNESCO International Convention Against Doping in Sports, his administration has safeguarded the future of Nigerian sports, protecting our athletes from unfair practices while reinforcing our global reputation as a country that upholds integrity.
“This momentous occasion underscores President Tinubu’s unmatched leadership—one that is proactive, decisive, and deeply attuned to the needs and aspirations of the Nigerian people.
His ability to enact groundbreaking policies that foster unity, drive economic prosperity, and elevate our international standing speaks volumes of his unwavering dedication to national transformation”.
News
BREAKING: Key contact details missing in petition to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan – INEC
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has acknowledged receiving a petition for the recall of the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District but noted that key contact details of the petitioners were missing.
In a press release signed by Sam Olumekun, the National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, the commission stated that the petition was submitted with six bags of documents containing signatures from more than half of the 474,554 registered voters in the district.
However, the covering letter only provided a general location, “Okene, Kogi State,” without a specific address or multiple contact numbers as required by INEC’s regulations.
INEC emphasized that the recall process is guided by the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and its 2024 Regulations and Guidelines for Recall.
The commission assured that once the petition meets all requirements, it will proceed with verifying the signatures using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in an open process involving petitioners, observers, and the media.
INEC is currently making efforts to reach the petitioners through other means and urged the public to disregard speculation on social media regarding the recall process.
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