Public Hearing by the House of Rep. Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development
FIDA Nigeria on 2nd November, 2022 attended the Public Hearing conducted by the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development on;
1) A BILL FOR AN ACT TO AMEND THE VIOLENCE AGAINST PERSONS (PROHIBITION) ACT, 2015 TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WIDOWS AND ALL FORMS OF REPRESSIVE AND DEGRADING WIDOWHOOD PRACTICES AND FOR RELATED MATTERS.
2) A BILL FOR AN ACT TO MAKE PROVISION FOR THE DEFINITION OF THE OFFENCE OF IMAGE BASED SEXUAL ABUSE UNDER THE ACT AND MAKE PROVISION FOR PENALTY FOR OFFENCE OF IMAGE BASED SEXUAL ABUSE: AND FOR RELATED MATTERS (HBs.1711 AND HB.1804).
FIDA Nigeria was ably represented by her National Legal Officers Mariam Omeiza Esq, Rahila Dauda Esq, and Jamila Babuba a staunch member of the FIDA Nigeria’s Parliamentary Committee.
At the event, Ms. Omeiza made the presentation on behalf of FIDA Nigeria and elaborated our observations and submissions. She further appreciated the House Committee on its efforts to bring the VAPP Act 2015 up to date with the current realities such as image-based abuse and the persistent harmful practices against widows; she assured them of FIDA Nigeria’s continual support.
The members of the Committee Chaired by Hon. (Otunba) Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga appreciated FIDA Nigeria’s contributions and promised to look into the submissions made.
FIDA Nigeria Methodology Workshop on the Review of a Draft Tool Aimed at Increasing Women’s Political Participation
FIDA Nigeria recognizing the disproportionate impact of election-related violence on women and girls before during and after elections thus negatively influencing their participation in electioneering processes, as part of efforts towards addressing this malaise on the 31st of October 2022, held a methodology workshop.
The workshop was aimed at improving the participation of women in the general elections by strengthening the capacity of selected networks, institutions, electoral bodies, and oversight mechanisms to better prevent and respond to violence against women in elections, Sexual & Gender-Based Violence, and other forms of Violence against women ” that may deter female electorates through the development and analytical review of the draft tool.
Also, at the workshop was the presentation & review of the 2022 Osun Governorship Elections report developed by FIDA Nigeria. Discussions were held on the content of the report pertaining participation of women & persons with disabilities which will serve as a catalyst towards providing enabling strategies for women’s participation in the 2023 General Elections.
Public Hearing on A BILL FOR AN ACT TO AMEND THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR WOMEN DEVELOPMENT ACT, CAP.N15
FIDA Nigeria on the 20th of October 2022 was at the Public Hearing on A BILL FOR AN ACT TO AMEND THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR WOMEN DEVELOPMENT ACT, CAP.N15 conducted by the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development.
FIDA Nigeria presented her memo commending the committee for this laudable move in renaming the National Centre for Women Development to “Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development”. As a former First Lady of the Nation, Maryam Babangida was indeed a trailblazer in the Women’s rights movement and emancipation, and as such had carved a niche for herself in that regard.
She spearheaded the establishment of the Centre for Women Development and it will not be out of place to have same-named after her person in appreciation of her numerous contributions towards national development and gender parity. The members of the committee on Women Affairs and Social Development led by Hon. (Otunba) Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga appreciated FIDA Nigeria’s contributions and promised to look into it as the bill progresses.
FIDA Nigeria was ably represented by her Legal officers Mariam Omeiza Esq and Rahila Dauda Esq.
Strengthening Women’s Voices, Institutions, Rights and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls
In the implementation of the “Strengthening Women’s Voices, Institutions, Women’s Rights and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls In Nigeria Project”, FIDA Nigeria, Rivers State branch in partnership with Nigerian Women Trust Fund and under the sponsorship of Ford Foundation successfully translated the Rivers State Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law (VAPP LAW) into pidgin English which was utilized in the paralegal training of fifty local community leaders from Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The Paralegal Training which was held on the 20th day of October 2022, in Okrika, had in attendance local community leaders from the traditional council, religious groups, youth groups, vigilante groups, women groups, and representatives of the Nigerian Police force
The Participants of the training were intensively trained in four engaging sessions on categories of gender-based violence, strategies for ending gender-based violence/ increased participation of women in Leadership positions, and how to effectively serve as paralegals for effective implementation of the VAPP Law.
At the end of the intensive sessions, participants resolved to use the law as an instrument to curtail gender-based violence and to achieve a significant increase in the participation of women in leadership positions.
FIDA Nigeria Stakeholders Forum On The Status of the Gender Responsive Bills
FIDA Nigeria on the 13th of October 2022, held a one One-Day Stakeholders forum on the status of the gender-responsive bills before the National Assembly & the Electoral Act 2022 with regards to Women & Persons with Disabilities’ Participation in the 2023 general elections, under the WE-YOU Project with the support of Action Aid Nigeria.
Participants at the event include donor partners, members of the national assembly, civil society organizations working on women, youth, disability inclusion and technology and the media.
FIDA Warri Partners With MWAN on a One-Day Sensitization Program on Breast Cancer Awareness
FIDA Warri Branch joined the Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) Warri Zone in a one Day Sensitization Program on Breast Cancer Awareness with the theme ” Go Pink Day – Save a Breast, Save a Life”
The event took off at exactly 8:30am on the 13th of October 2022, at The General Hospital Warri Premise. The Zonal Coordinator of the Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) Warri Zone Dr. Helen Agbadagri spoke to the women on Self Check, Early Detection, and How to take care of their breasts.
Dr. Mrs. Akpofure advised the women on how to monitor themselves and go to see a doctor early enough. The ladies were taught how to check their breasts and advised to do so once a month. Dr. Yinka Ebikagboro educated the women on the need to always do a routine check and the essence of seeing a doctor early before it’s late.
PROMOTING DEMOCRACY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE THROUGH THE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN AND WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS
This project which is a sub-grant award is expected to run from June 2022 through October 2022. FIDA Nigeria as part of activities aimed at promoting women, youth and PWD inclusion in key democratic and governance processes observed the participation of women, women with disabilities and other vulnerable groups at the Osun Governorship Elections using technological solutions provided through the development and scripting of monitoring tools and election day incident forms.
FIDA is also embarking on media campaigns sensitizing women and vulnerable groups on the need for exercising their civic duties and franchise using various online media platforms amongst other activities. Project Outcomes Improved participation of women & women with disabilities in the electoral process through mass sensitization Perpetrators of electoral violence are identified, arrested, and prosecuted in line with FIDA strategic engagements with INEC & the Nigeria Police Improved monitoring of the elections by trained observers.
Project supported by Goree Institute and European Union
FIDA Warri Marks International Day of The Girl Child 2022
In commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child 2022, FIDA Warri branch led by her Chairperson Ogechi Jessica Megbele in partnership with Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) Warri Zone, Family Centered Initiative For Challenged Persons (FACICP) and Eddybekk Initiative For Children and Women Development (EBICWD) had a media Sensitization at MEGA FM 89.1 Warri and a School Sensitization/ Sanitary Pad Sharing at Yonwuren Secondary School Uguwangwe.
Jereoma Sam Oligida on behalf of FIDA Warri Branch welcomed the students, and speakers of the event which includes the President-Elect MWAN Delta State Dr. Ogelle who educated the students on the importance of having high self-esteem. Dr. Helen MWAN Zonal Coordinator educated the students on oral hygiene. Olubukola Omagbemi Peters representing FIDA Warri branch educated the students on their rights, Gloria representing FACICP Disability Plus spoke on showing love to physically challenged persons while Endurance Nwachukwu of EBIWCD discussed the topic “Who is a Girl Child”.
The students were also educated on menstrual hygiene and the event ended with the sharing of sanitary pads to the students. The Principal of Yonwuren Secondary School, Hon Esther Abrakata appreciated FIDA, MWAN, FACICP and EBICWD for coming to sensitize the students.
FIDA Lagos Marks International Day of The Girl Child 2022.
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, Lagos Branch joined the rest of the world to amplify the awareness of the rights of the girl child.
The 11th day of October every year is set aside to commemorate the anniversary of the International Day of the Girl Child. This year marks the tenth anniversary with the theme Our time is now—our rights, our future.
FIDA Lagos notes that this is the beginning of yet another era and now is the time to work harder and smarter by engaging the right stakeholders and policymakers to not only accept but to also encourage these rights to be implemented, to work in line with appropriate governmental and non-governmental agencies in the enforceability of the rights of the girl child.
The future we all want is now, we want to see a society where a child especially the girl child can thrive and blossom to achieve her talents and potentials without any form of social, religious, cultural subjugation, also where opportunities are the same and equal to all and all basic human rights are upheld.
FIDA Lagos calls on all stakeholders to rise up and champion this course to the actualization that every Nigerian girl child is free from deep-rooted gender-based issues which have been in existence for decades such as gender-based discrimination and oppression, harmful cultural practices, poor or no education, sexual abuses and exploitation, child marriages, poor learning opportunities, etc.
In line with the celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child today, FIDA Lagos team led by the Chairperson, Mrs. Chinwe Efobi visited two schools namely, Marywood Girls College Ebute-Metta West Lagos and Methodist Girls High School, Murtala Mohammed Way, Yaba Lagos to speak to the girls on how to safeguard themselves from all forms of abuses and how to pursue their rights as girls and report cases of abuses to the appropriate authorities.
The speakers were very eloquent and the team from NAPTIP also spoke to the students on trafficking and the dangers associated with it and how to safeguard themselves from being trafficked and the need to report any suspected incident of trafficking to the appropriate quarters. The sessions were very interactive. Snacks and drinks were distributed to the students and plaques were given to the Speakers at the end of the ceremonies in the two different locations.
Also in attendance were a great number of Fidans and the guest speakers were Dr Stella Nduka, Rita Amuchienwa, Mrs Amaka Ndulue and Mr Frederick Okoh Uche from (NAPTIP) who represented the NAPTIP Lagos Commander and Dr Rosemary Danesi, Titilola Akinlawon (SAN)
It was a huge success.
FIDA Ogun Marks Day of the Girl Child 2022
FIDA Ogun State Branch celebrated the International Day of the Girl Child on the 11th of October,2022 at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School Ijebu Ode with students from different schools.
The Theme of the event was OUR TIME IS NOW: OUR RIGHTS, OUR FUTURE! The keynote speaker was Honourable Justice E.O.Osinuga, FIDA Ogun Branch pioneer Chairperson. The main Lecture was delivered by Dr. (Mrs.) Adeejat Kubra Kolawole a lecturer at the Olabisi Onabanjo University also a member of the Association.
There were other speakers at the event. The girls participated actively in all the sessions including the question and answer session which afforded them the opportunity to air their views. The girls got FIDA-branded goodie bags containing useful items.