by FIDAFIDA Nigeria Inaugurates Epe Branch, Lagos State
Following the successful Inauguration of FIDA Nigeria Ikeja Branch Lagos State, as the 44th Branch of the Association, FIDA Nigeria resolute on further extending her reach to communities and people at the grassroots, inaugurated FIDA Nigeria Epe Branch Lagos State as her 45th Branch.
The inauguration took place at the KFA Event Center, Km 15, Lekki-Epe Express Way, Lekki, with the theme ”Economic and Intellectual Empowerment for the Women at the Grassroot”
The jurisdiction of the new Branch covers Eti-Osa, Ibeju-Lekki and Epe Local Government Areas of Lagos State, which all fall under the Epe Judicial Division of Lagos state.
The National Executive Committee of FIDA Nigeria was represented by the Country Vice President, Mrs. Amina Suzanah Agbaje and its National Secretary, Mrs. Eliana Martins. In attendance also was, the Chairperson, Board of Trustees (BOT) of FIDA Nigeria, Chief Mrs. Tessa Ikimi; Mrs. Biola Dosunmu; Olori Adetoun Balogun, the IyaOloja of Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Central Business District Ibeju-Lekki.
The inauguration was conducted by the Country Vice President FIDA Nigeria, while Her Honor Mrs. Funmi Dosunmu presided over the swearing-in of executive officers of the new Branch. The emergence of the 45th Branch of FIDA Nigeria is a clear testament to FIDA’s commitment to increasing its reach and presence towards effectively promoting, protecting and preserving the rights of women and children through the use of legal framework.
by FIDAFIDA Nigeria Inaugurates Ikeja Branch, Lagos State
FIDA Nigeria as part of its commitment towards effectively reaching the grassroots while scaling up on its core objective of protecting, promoting and preserving the rights of women and children, inaugurated her 44th Branch, FIDA (Nigeria) Ikeja Branch Lagos State on Wednesday, 14th of September 2022.
The Inauguration ceremony took place at the NBA Ikeja Branch Secretariat Hall, Old Secretariat building, Ikeja Lagos State.
The Theme of the inauguration was “Challenges faced by Women and Children in Nigeria: The Nigerian Experience!”
In attendance at the occasion were several distinguished personalities including the Country Vice President FIDA Nigeria, Amina Suzanah Agbaje; Chief Magistrate A.B Olagbegi Adelabu (Keynote speaker); Chairman Magistrate’s Association of Nigeria Lagos State Branch, Alex Muoka (Guest speaker); FIDA Nigeria National Secretary, Eliana Martins; amongst several other FIDA members and invited guests.
The inauguration was carried out by the Country Vice President FIDA Nigeria, after which the new Branch officials were sworn in. The inauguration was a huge success and underscores FIDA’s commitment to ensuring that the scope of provision of legal services (pro-bono) is broadened and extends far to the grassroots where it is mostly needed.
by FIDAFIDA, NBA Train Young Legal Practitioners On Ethics, Discipline In Kano
The Kano State branch of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), in collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has trained 100 young lawyers on professional ethics and discipline.
According to the FIDA state chairperson, Bilkisu Ibrahim Suleiman, the training, which was held at the NBA state secretariat, was aimed at developing the capacity of the young legal practitioners in areas they are having problems.
She said the upcoming lawyers would not only need to practice but to mingle and learn from experienced and senior members in the profession so they can improve in handling legal proceedings.
Speaking, Chief Magistrate Umma Sani Kurawa, who deliver a keynote presentation on filing processes for civil and criminal proceedings, advised FIDA to be revisiting cases at correctional facilities for review of convicted cases tried outside the jurisdiction.
“I was opportune to visit the prison when I was a Senior Magistrate and my jurisdiction was to impose a fine of N15,000. To my surprise, I met a woman who was convicted and a fine of N50,000 was imposed on her by a magistrate of grade II.
by FIDAFIDA Nigeria Commences the Implementation of A Women Inclusion in Peace Building Project in Plateau State
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria is set to commence the implementation of a project with specific focus on Promoting the Inclusion of Women in Peace Building & Conflict mitigation across vulnerable communities in Plateau State, Nigeria.
On this project, FIDA Nigeria partners with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Development (“DFATD”) CANADA to implement a Canadian-funded local initiative intervention.
The National Programme Manager, FIDA Nigeria, Mr Fikih Obaro, in a statement emphasized on the purpose of the project which is designed to build a cohort of Women in advancing Peacebuilding across two vulnerable communities namely Ta-Hoss community, in Riyom Local Government Area and Kwok community in Barkin Ladi LGA, Plateau State, North -Central Nigeria.
This intervention will be advanced through building skill sets of community-based women leaders, especially within a conflict context as they require a deeper understanding of the dynamics and nuances of such environment in addressing the prevailing gender issues affecting security operations and community dialogues.
This intervention affirms that women in conflict-ridden societies, possesses important strategic insights and competencies for addressing security challenges and underlying factors.
The specific objectives of the project are to:
• Establish the roles of women as peacebuilders and mediators in focal communities.
• Provide a platform for shared learning on participatory peace process by women amongst local communities
• Enhance a collaborative and coordinated approach between security agencies & focal communities in mitigating conflicts
Consequently, the project will take into context the local dynamics on gender roles while seeking to empower women through culturally reflective strategies to participate effectively in the protection of their communities through peace-building efforts.
Through mapping of community peace-building forums & networks, the intervention will deliberately seek local women’s participation in the intervention, to challenge and change existing narratives on the role of women in peace and security, that seek to dis-empower them
The project will be implemented over an eight-month period and will support existing peace-building architectures, and relevant state and non-state actors in the state will be enabled to respond on security threats /issues identified and escalated at the community level by women who will serve as community safety partners.
FIDA Nigeria was established in 1964 with its main objectives being to establish friendly international relations on the basis of equality and mutual respect for all peoples; to preserve the rights and welfare of women, children & persons with disabilities, realising that the happiness of the home and the strength of the society is dependent on their wellbeing and to proffer advice to Government in all cases of disregard relating to women and children.
Signed
Amina Suzanah Agbaje (Mrs)
Country Vice President/National President
FIDA Nigeria
by FIDAFIDA Nigeria Congratulates Hon. Justice Hafsat Abdulrahman, First Female Acting Chief Justice of Adamawa State
On the 5th of September 2022, Hon. Justice Hafsat Abdulrahman was sworn in as the first female Acting Chief Justice of Adamawa State, before His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.
FIDA Nigeria congratulates and felicitates with her Lordship, on this most noble and historic accomplishment as we look forward to seeing her showcase her sterling qualities for the greater benefit of the society.
We equally congratulate all women recently elevated to the Bench across the different states of Nigeria
FIDA celebrates women who provide meritorious service
by FIDAFirst Bank of Nigeria, Ikot Ekpene Branch Visits FIDA Uyo Shelter
On Saturday 27th August, 2022, First Bank Nigeria, Ikot Ekpene Branch as part of her Corporate Social Responsibility visited Ruby’s Place, a shelter managed by FIDA Nigeria, Uyo Branch.
Food Items and other household items were donated to the Shelter and on hand to receive the Bank and the items were the Immediate Past Chairperson of FIDA Nigeria, Uyo Branch, Emem Ette Esq., Dame Helen Egube,JP and Maria Otuko Esq.
FIDA Ikot Ekpene appreciated the team from First Bank for the kind gesture extended towards the shelter.
by FIDAFIDA Nigeria Side Event at The 62nd NBA Annual General Congress
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria on the 24th of August 2022, held her Side Event at the 62nd NBA Annual General Conference at NIIA, Victoria Island in Lagos State with the theme: Repressive Cultural and Religious Norms Against Women and Children: Bold Transitions from Rhetoric to Action
The Master of Ceremony was Oluwatomisin Adebukola, an award-winning broadcaster and journalist, a writer, and a gender and human rights advocate.
In attendance was the Special Guest of Honor, First Lady of Lagos State Her Excellency Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu ably represented by Mrs. Edith Ebute wife of the Hon Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget. And our Special Guest of Honor and Chairperson of the Session Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe Managing Director/CEO of Fidelity Bank.
Other Guests were the Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) Cecilia Bolaji Dada, Dr Babajide Martin, Director of Public Prosecution, Lagos State; Hon. Justice Jumoke Olusola Pedro, of the Lagos State Judiciary, FIDA Nigeria National Executive Committee Members, FIDA International Director, Ezinwa Okoroafor, Joy Ezeigbo, Fida International Regional Director (west & North Africa); Past FIDA International Officers; Past National Officers; Linda Bala, First Vice Elect of the NBA; FIDA Branch Executive members
Our Plenary Session was Moderated by Prof. Felicia Anyogu, the Chairperson of FIDA CLE Committee and a Professor of Law at the Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka Anambra State; Our erudite guest speakers who were most enlightening, frank, and very practical in their presentations were Chukwuemeka Eze, a Legal Practitioner and Public Affairs Analyst, Prof. Sylvia Chika Ifemeje, the Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice Anambra State, Frank Tietie, the Director Citizens Advocacy for Social Economic Rights (Caser)
FIDA Nigeria members turned out massively for the event and it was a great success
fidanigeria #nbaagc
by FIDAFIDA Nigeria Annual Dialogue & Peer Learning Forum for Community Gatekeepers
Since 2020 FIDA Nigeria with support from Ford Foundation has been implementing a project tagged “Work with Gate Keepers including Women Leaders, Youths, Religious Leaders and Traditional Rulers to Address Social Norms that negatively affect the status of women and entrench violence against women and girls” aimed at mitigating incidences of gender-based violence in six communities across the project focal states including Ekiti, Lagos and Plateau states by altering social norms, beliefs and traditional practices in the communities through community-led change.
As the project comes to an end, FIDA Nigeria as part of activities towards finalizing its closure on Thursday, 25th August 2022 held an “Annual Dialogue & Peer Learning Forum for Community Gatekeepers in addressing social norms that negatively affect the status of women and entrench violence against women”.
The purpose of this national dialogue was to upscale the previous dialogues organized at state level to a national level with the aim of providing a platform for learning, improved intervention approaches and collaboration amongst Gatekeepers in the project focal communities towards ending gender-based violence as well as boost self-assessment/stocktaking through peer reviews towards ensuring the sustainability of the intervention and to confer awards on selected community champions who have contributed in ending GBV in their communities.
As part of our sustainability plan for this intervention, communities have developed & created action plans to prevent prevalent harmful, religious & cultural practices experienced by women & girls in the communities they are domiciled. This was achieved through capacity-building activities on leadership and GBV issues, town hall meetings, sensitization & awareness campaigns in communities on the prevention of this menace and selection of community champions on SGBV among others.
The event ended on a high note with the acknowledgment of giant strides taken by the communities, the presentation of awards, group photographs and networking amongst stakeholders.
Fida Nigeria confirms the successful implication of this project in the achievement of project objectives and overwhelming satisfaction and happiness of target communities
by FIDA2-Day Staff Capacity-Building Training
On 18th August 2022, FIDA Nigeria with support from Action Aid as part of activities under the Women, Voices, and Leadership (WVL) Project commenced a 2-day staff capacity-building training.
The training objective aimed at institutional strengthening focused on the development and adoption of institutional policies, human rights approach, and other relevant and dynamic concepts/tools trending in gender-based violence programming.
In addition, staff of the organization also had a step down of the Action Aid Psychosocial Support Training as part of efforts aimed at improving GBV responses for survivors.
At the end of the training, staff were trained on the usage of the DASS Screening tool and soft copies of the screening tool deployed across all departments whilst hard copies will be resident in the Legal and Counselling Department of the Organization.
by FIDAFIDA Nigeria Bi-Annual Coordination Meeting
On the 16th of August 2022, Palladium in collaboration with FIDA Nigeria as one of its resource partners held its 2nd Bi-Annual Coordination meeting with some key stakeholders in the fight against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), Child Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM) in Nigeria as part of activities under the SCALE project.
The meeting was to track progress, experience sharing by some key stakeholders, and further advance collaboration between frontline practitioners, SCALE resource partners, and relevant government entities across the SGBV and CEFM sectors in Nigeria.
