NationalUpdate Woman
CSO Empowers over 500 women in Kogi, Tasks them on Peaceful Coexistence
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
As part of effort to improve the livelihoods of people at the grassroots, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Connected Development (CODE), Amb. Hamzat Lawal, has empowered over 500 women with N5,000 cash each to improve their livelihoods.
Lawal said the empowernment programme was part of the Post Election Sensitization Advocacy to the Grassroots on the need to sustain the existing peace in the state and to set agenda for the in-coming administration in Kogi State.
Speaking at the event in Okene, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of CODE said the programme had taken place in Adavi, Kogi-Koton Karfe, Okehi and Okene Local Government Areas of Kogi State.
Amb. Lawal said the empowernment was a token to appreciate women for coming out en-mass to cast their ballots peacefully during the November 11, 2023, off-cycle governorship election in Kogi State.
Lawal who is also an international election monitor noted that as a philanthropist, he had to complement the effort of the state government in eradicating poverty at the grassroots.
He urged other public-spirited individuals and corporate organizations to consolidate on government efforts to ameliorate the suffering of the less privileged in the state.
“Recently, Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello launched Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and started with palliative and empowernment programmes.
“And I think that as CSOs, individuals and private sector, we should consolidate on what government is doing to eradicate poverty especially at the grassroots.
“This cash empowernment which is N5,000 per recipient is targeted at 500 people in different wards across the state.
“We have reached out to 100 vulnerable people in Koton-Karfe at Ohimeyge-Igu’s palace, 200 people at Oboroke in Ihima, 100 beneficiaries at Abuga Ozuja ward in Okengwe and 100 people at Onyi-koko ward in Okene.
“This empowernment is mainly meant for women because they are peace builders and the fabric of the society.
“I am using this medium to appealed to women to prioritize the education of their children and wards. I am here today because of how much my mother has invested in me through education and I want every parents to do same”, he advised.
Ambassador Lawal also took the post election advocacy to Onoziomi central mosque in Adavi LGA where he charged Muslims faithful to remain peaceful even in the face of provocation, noting that Islam is a religion of peace.
One of the beneficiaries of the empowernment Mrs Hafsat Suleiman from Oboroke in Ihima community, described the gesture as a big relief to women at the grassroots.
She added, “this is the first time an individual will come to the ward for post election advocacy and also presenting cash to the people.
She thank Ambassador Hamzat Lawal for his kind gesture and urged other well meaning Nigerians to emulate him. (Ends)
The Jigawa state Civil Society Scaling-up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) has urged the state government to domesticate the federal law extending maternity leave from three to six months.
Chairman of the group Comrade Shuaibu Musa Kafingana made the appeal at a policy dialogue on paid maternity leave extension.
He cited the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) recommendations.
“Exclusive breastfeeding for six months is crucial for a child’s health,” Kafingana emphasized.
The extended leave according to him is aimed at Supporting work-life balance and job security for nursing mothers adsibg that it will allow mothers to practice exclusive breastfeeding for six months.
Explaining further he said it will provide adequate time for physical and emotional recovery after childbirth
The group’s advocacy is seeking to prioritize the health and well-being of nursing mothers and their children in Jigawa State.
By Friday Idachaba
VOWE Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to advancing the education and empowerment of women and girls in Nigeria has unveiled 20 winners of the 2nd edition of the Sophie Uzodimma Onovo Women Undergraduate Scholarship.
In a statement released on Monday in Abuja, the Foundation revealed that the 20 exceptional female final-year students who scaled the hurdle to clinch the award are to enjoy provision of full tuition and other educational expenses for their final year of study.
The statement said that the awardees were selected from educational tertiary institutions in Enugu and Imo states.
It said that the 2024 prestigious scholarship award marked a significant step in the Foundation’s resolve to foster educational opportunities and empower the next generation of women leaders.
The scholarship, which is being generously funded by the founder of VOWE Foundation, Mrs Sophie Uzodimma Onovo, is designed to support female students education in tertiary institutions.
The award is to alleviate financial barriers confronting the students and empower them to pursue their academic goals through provision of full tuition and other educational expenses for the final year of study.
Speaking on the importance of the scholarship, Mrs Sophie Uzodimma Onovo stated, “Education is the cornerstone of personal and societal growth” adding that it also enables the recipients to focus on their studies without financial worries.
“It marks a significant step in our commitment to fostering educational opportunities and empowering the next generation of women leaders.
“By investing in the education of these young women, we are not only helping them achieve their dreams but also contributing to the future of our communities”, she said.
Onovo who is also founder of the VOWE Foundation said the non-profit making body is committed to supporting women, “especially those in underserved communities, to reach their full
potential.”
She said that the selection process for this year’s scholarship was highly competitive, with numerous applications from talented and dedicated female students.
Mrs Onovo held that the 20 chosen beneficiaries demonstrated exceptional academic performance, leadership potentials, and a strong commitment to community service.
Among the 20 awardees, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) has 7; Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), 4; Imo State University (IMSU), 3 and Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), 2.
Others are Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu (IMT), 1; Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, 2 and Federal Polytechnic Owerri, 1. (Ends)
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