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Tag: Kogi Women

  • Int’l Women Day: Bello Promises More Involvement Of Women In Governance

    Int’l Women Day: Bello Promises More Involvement Of Women In Governance

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Kogi state Governor, Yahaya Bello on Monday in Lokoja promised to sustain the spirit of more participation of women in his administration.

    The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Edward Onoja at the celebration of International Women Day in the state on Mondaysaid that gender equity will continue to receive topmost priority of his administration in the years ahead.

    Bello recalled that “His administration facilitated the election of 21 Chairpersons and 21 Counselors into the grassroot local council administration in the state
    and has also appointed female as Secretary to Government of Kogi state, Head of Service, Special Advisers and Commissioner for Women Affairs ”

    In her introductory speech, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Fatima Buba disclosed that the International Women Day Celebration which started in 1911 is targeted at showcasing the economic, social and cultural achievements of the womenfolk world over.

    According to the commissioner “the Women Day is also aimed at reflecting on the progress made in past years as well as looking back to the past struggles for women’s rights and protection”

    She described Governor Bello as the most Gender Sensitive Leader considering his enormous empowerment of the womenfolk since assumption of office.

    She appealed to the Governor to give more opportunities for women in the area of effective participation in politics, appointment into key positions and sharing of state resources.

    The commissioner who commended governor Yahaya Bello on the security of lives and property in the state, therefore, declared total support of Kogi Women for Governor Bello’s presidential ambition come 2021.

  • Kogi Women Kicks Against Amnesty For Rape Offenders

    Kogi Women Kicks Against Amnesty For Rape Offenders

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Executive Director, Challenge Parenthood Initiative, CPI, Eunice Abimbola Agbogun on Tuesday appealed to Kogi State Government to stop giving amnesty to rape offenders, rather suggested death or life imprisonment for those found guilty in the state.

    Agbogun made the appeal while addressing Women from Kogi Central senatorial district of the state on Tuesday in Okene at a sensitization workshop organized by the Challenged Parenthood Initiative, CPI, in collaboration with Actionaid Nigeria.

    The appeal which came at the heels of the proposed bill on Violence Against Persons Prohibition, (VAPP), that has passed through second reading in the Kogi State House of Assembly was aimed at curbing incessant rape cases in the society.

    The Executive Director noted that the bill is currently awaiting public hearing in the hallow chamber stressing that if passed, it will help address most of the societal and domestic violence in Kogi State.

    Agbogun who admonished participants to take the sensitization down to the grassroots in a bid to allow quick passage of the bill said the campaign on violence against women is a collective responsibility.

    “We have read of some horrific accounts of this heinous crime through various media channels in recent times. A lot of times victims of such crime don’t even report the incident to the appropriate authorities.” She stressed.

    “Many victims of rape for fear of stigmatisation and being blamed for their ordeal bear the pain of the crime committed against them, thereby leaving their assailants roaming free to perpetrate more crimes. It is indeed quite unfortunate that victims are sometimes blamed for being raped.”

    Information obtained from the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) website According to her, indicates that there have been 65 rape convictions between 1973 and 2019 in Nigeria. This number, no doubt is insignificant considering the number of reported cases of rape in the country.

    “The women who were overwhelmed on the content of the bill and what it intends to achieve in their lives unanimously prayed against any person who intend to work or stand against the passage of the bill in the state.”

    Also speaking, the Executive Director Initiative for Grassroots Advancement, INGRA, Mr Hamza Aliyu highlighted other areas which the proposed bill seeks to address which includes, sexual harassment, rape, intimidation, molestation, physical or psychological threat, political violence, thuggery among others

    The bill according to Mr Aliyu also recommend severe punishment ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment for any offenders while any person who incite, aids or abet crime of the above will be convicted for the same offence.