by adminFIDA Conducts Capacity Building Session for Community Paralegals in Ido/Osi Local Government, Ekiti
FIDA Nigeria, Ekiti State branch, trains community paralegals in Ido/Osi local government. The training was aimed at building the capacity of community paralegals and creating awareness of SGBV as it affects the community.
by adminFIDA Nigeria, Ekiti State Branch held a Ford Foundation Project Inception Meeting
On the 28th of October 2020, FIDA Nigeria, with support from Ford Foundation held a project inception meeting at Erinmope-Ekiti, the Programme Officer, Catherine Oduluyi, introduced the project, with the theme: “Work with Gatekeepers, Women Leaders, Religious Leaders and Traditional Rulers to Address Social Norms that Negatively Affect the Status of Women and Entrench Violence Against Women and Girls”, to the participants. She noted that, various beliefs which sterns from culture and religions are basically the roots of GBV and gender inequality, hence, there is a need for cultural and attitudinal change. She stressed further that Government has provided Laws but the laws seem not to deter people from perpetrating acts of GBV and practices enhancing inequality. Ford Foundation has provided another solution with a community-based approach, hence the need for the commitment different categories of community stakeholders. She gave an overview of the project plan and activities to be carried out in the project.
At the meeting, participants engaged in a collaborative session which helped to create a deeper understanding of the project. The stakeholders in turn shared their knowledge of the project and gave suggestions.
The major outcome of the meeting was the formation of a surveillance team to report incidents of GBV in the community to FIDA
by adminFIDA Ekiti Hosts a Stakeholders’ Meeting on the Administration of the Criminal Justice Law
On the 23rd September, 2020, FIDA Nigeria Ekiti State branch with support from MacArthur Foundation, organized a stakeholders training to establish a network of the Bar, Bench, Police force and Correctional Service in Ekiti state. The training is for the effective implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice law (ACJL) of Ekiti State 2014. The initial meeting was for the police force and the officers of the correctional service to discuss their responsibilities and challenges as provided under the law. a subsequent meeting will be held with the other stakeholders and finally a joint meeting bringing all the stakeholders together to strategies on ways to effectively work together towards achieving the effective implementation of the ACJL in Ekiti State.
by adminPartnerships and Collaborations
FIDA LAGOS since this lockdown, has been collaborating with the police, WAPA, especially the director in charge of domestic violence, Mrs. Olorufemi, Domestic & Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) and other NGOs like STAND TO END RAPE(STER) INITIATIVE etc. on GBV cases.
Ekiti branch is in collaboration with the Gender Desk Officer of the Nigerian Police Force Ekiti, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, the S.A. Gender to the Wife of the Governor and some other partners to deal with all cases of GBV during this pandemic.
FIDA OYO enjoys the partnership of the Child Protection Network(CPN), Oyo State GBVRT, NAWOJ, MWAN, JDPC and some other bodies.
FIDA AKWA-IBOM and TARABA are part of their State’s COVID-19 CSOs team to help in sensitizing the public and reporting challenges caused by the pandemic.
FIDA BAYELSA also enjoy good synergy with the Governor’s wife and the Police in curbing GBV cases.
FIDA CROSS RIVER in collaboration with other CSOs have held a virtual meeting proposing measures on how to assist the Ministry of Women Affairs to deal with GBV cases during this pandemic.
by adminSay NO to election violence
It is global knowledge that Ekiti State Gubernatorial Election is this week Saturday, precisely on the 14th of July.
Many institutions; corporate bodies , NGOs, political parties and governmental parasatals have invested and still investing so much time energy and invaluable resources into ensuring a free and fair as well as non violent governorship election in Ekiti State.
To start with Fida Ekiti commends the efforts of INEC in the state in educating sensitizing and training of different stakeholders in the election process. We pray all the efforts shall yield desired results in Jesus name. Amen
We commend the enormous efforts our various partners especially BIGIF, and it’s ED Tunmininu Tumininu Adedeji and NISD have put in and are still putting towards more women involvement in decision making process and peaceful election in Ekiti. We must appreciate the efforts of the the media; NUJ, NAWOJ. Women Wing of NLC Ekiti State and it’s Chair, Ofere Oluwatoyin Ofere Toyin, well done ma’am.
Fida Ekiti through its always ready members and supporters at various times and fora organized, partnered, participated and attended trainings to educate the public on their civic and electoral rights and vigorously campaigned and still campaigning for a peaceful election come Saturday. In furtherance of this, members of the Electoral Committee paid an unscheduled visit to the INEC office last week. Indeed Ekiti State INEC is working round the clock.
We say a big thank you to His Lordship, Bishop Ajakaye of Ekiti State who took precious minutes to listen to Fida Ekiti Chairperson has she explained that the message will be more effectively passed to the public if His Lordship will pose with the #Votenotfight …. Elections No Be War” placard.
Fida Ekiti says #politicsisnotdoordiegame. Play it peacefully.
by adminFIDA demands prosecution of Ekiti lawmakers over alleged assault of widow
The Ekiti State Chapter of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of a member of the House of Assembly, Mr. Dare Pelemo, for alleged sexual harassment and physical assault of a widow, Mrs. Mercy Ilesanmi.
Pelemo, who represents Ekiti East Constituency 2, allegedly fondled the breasts of the woman on September 6 at the Assembly complex. Mrs. Ilesanmi raised the alarm and condemned the alleged act but the lawmaker later allegedly mobilised thugs who beat up the woman.
Mrs. Ilesanmi said the brutality on her took place in the office of the Majority Leader, Mr. Tunji Akinyele, where she had gone to lodge a complaint on the alleged sexual harassment. She said the hoodlums gave her the beating of her life and tore her clothes.
Ekiti FIDA legal officer, Mrs. Kemi Atitebi, disclosed on Tuesday that the body received complaint of sexual harassment and assault of Mrs. Ilesanmi against Pelemo but the legislator shunned the invitation to come and defend himself against the allegation.
She said: “FIDA Ekiti received the complaint of sexual harassment and assault against Hon. Dare Pelemo and the complainant is Mrs. Mercy Ilesanmi that she was assaulted and stripped naked right the premises of the Assembly complex.
“FIDA wrote a letter to invite the respondent for us to hear his own side of the story and to mediate in the matter.
“The woman is a widow and mother of children and her dignity has been violated for the fact that she was stripped naked.FIDA strongly condemns any form of assault against women in the state.
Narrating her ordeal, the victim, Mrs. Ilesanmi said: “I came to visit the honourable member representing my constituency, Hon. Samuel Omotoso but I met his absence.
“On my way out, I met Hon. Dare Pelemo and we exchanged pleasantries.
Immediately, he fondled my breasts and I asked him what was the meaning of that, I am a married woman for that matter and I don’t like how he touched my breast.
“He now said that I am an enemy of government, that I do not suppose to come to the Assembly. I now asked him that, is that the reason why you are touching my breasts, a married woman for that matter? I challenged him that Pelemo, that one is too much for you.
“I went to report the matter to Hon. Akinyele and I met the Clerk in Hon. Akinyele’s office with two other visitors with him. He was on phone but I waited.
“Before I knew what was happening, Pelemo came in with some miscreants and they started beating me, destroying things in that office asking what am I doing in the House of Assembly complex that I am not supposed to be there, that I am an enemy of government.”
Mrs. Ilesanmi’s lawyer, Mr. Adeoye Aribasoye, said he has forwarded a petition on the assault and sexual harassment of his client to the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Chafe.
Aribasoye said: “We have written a petition on the brutality and sexual harassment to the state police command and it is already receiving the attention of the Commissioner of Police.
“Besides, FIDA in Ekiti is also investigating the case and I believe that very soon, an action will be taken on the matter.”
Efforts to get Pelemo’s reaction to the allegation proved abortive as he has not answered several phone calls o hi mobile line. He has also not responded to text messages sent to him
by adminFIDA Ekiti jailed 20 rapists
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ekiti State chapter has disclosed that no fewer than 20 rapists and child abusers as well as violators of the gender-related crimes have been jailed through its instrumentality in the last one year.
FIDA Chairperson in the state, Mrs Adefunke Anoma, said several other cases were also filed against perpetrators of evils against the womenfolk to serve as deterrent and to protect the rights of female gender in the state.
Speaking in Ado Ekiti Thursday during the commencement of the FIDA Ekiti 2017 Annual Law week with the theme: ‘The Role of Stakeholders in the 21st Century Childcare’, the FIDA boss lamented the increasing spate of gender-related crimes in Ekiti such as raping of not just girls and women but babies.
“There are gross exploitation of women and children with more internally displaced children everywhere you turn to, and scary social media crimes among our youths reflecting in more child offenders,†she stated.
Anoma said though the punishment for minor and adulterous rape is life imprisonment, she added that other crimes against women like domestic violence, defilement and child labour should be made to carry capital penalties.
by adminFida Ekiti Marks Children’s Day in General Hospital, Ikere-Ekiti
The executive and members of Fida, Ekiti State Branch gathered together on Tuesday 23rd of May 2017 to celebrate with children on admission at the Gen Hospital Ikere Ekiti and those that came for weekly children clinic.
In her remark to the staff of the hospital and parents the Chairperson, Mrs Adefunke Anoma saluted the efforts of mothers in the face of the current recessive climate, to ensure that their children get quality healthcare.
His Worship, Chief Magistrate Titi Olaolorun, speaking during the visit, explained that rights to quality child health care includes but not limited to pre and post natal care for mothers. She insisted that the chances of survival of a newborn baby is directly linked to the health of the mother.
Mrs Olaolorun concluded that Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of Children provides that children have a right to therapeutic, recreational play and educational items during a hospital stay.
Barr. Oluwayomi Ojo, the Chairman NBA Ikere Ekiti Branch gave kudos to the management of the hospital for ensuring that Ekiti children get the best health care services. He called on government to ensure free education for children as it is their right to be educated.
Fida Ekiti distributed foods, gift items and cash gifts to the children to assist in the payment of their medical bills.
by adminPress briefing on the inhuman treatment meted to one Mrs. Adeyeye and her two months old baby by some police officers in Ekiti State.
FIDA Ekiti in conjunction with the Human Rights Committee of the NBA Ado-Ekiti today 22nd March, 2017 held a press briefing on the inhuman treatment meted to one Mrs. Adeyeye and her two months old baby by some police officers in Ekiti State.
FIDA EKITI PRESS BRIEFING ON THE ASSAULT AND UNLAWFUL DETENTION OF MRS TOYIN ADEYEYE & HER BABY BY POLICE OFFICERS AT NEW IYIN RD POLICE STATION EKITI STATE
Good morning to all the honorable women of Ekiti State gathered here. All our fathers, husbands and brothers hereby present we specially welcome you and say a big thank you for finding time out of your busy schedules to listen to our heart aches this morning .
It has come to our official notice that one Mrs. Toyin Adeyeye was assaulted and detained along with her two months old baby by police officers believed to be attached to the New Iyin Road Police Station, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
We condemn this unfortunate incident in its totality and declare that No Ekiti woman deserves to be so shamefully maltreated and No innocent child should be so dangerously exposed.
This is coming from our background as one State in the whole of Nigeria that went all out recently precisely on the 8th of this month to publicly declare it’s support to promote and protect women’s rights.
We appreciate the prompt intervention of the Ekiti State Govt in particular HE, Gov Ayodele Fayose who has ordered for a thorough investigation. However,the Ekiti State Command has flagrantly disobeyed and disregarded this order.
We observe with disdain the efforts the police is making in covering up the lawlessness of its officers and the injustice to a law abiding Ekiti woman and her child.
Should we as women bodies and Human Rights advocates fold our hands and shut our mouths in the face of this civilized tyranny? Should we allow the intentional and calculated brutality of an innocent woman and her two months old baby? Should we carry on our lives and pretend she deserves what she got for refusing to senselessly share her hard earned money with security officials? Should we continue to look on as injustice is done to one of us?
Ekiti women are saying NO to all forms of violence on Women and Children. We here and now make the following demands;
1. We demand for an immediate independent thorough investigation into the matter as already requested by the HE, Gov Ayodele Fayose.
2. Upon the conclusion of this investigation that all persons found culpable to be immediately prosecuted and brought to justice.
3. Training and Re training of officers of Ekiti Police Command on the Ekiti State Gender Based Law 2011 and on the need to treat all citizens of Ekiti particularly Ekiti women with all the respect and dignity they deserve.
I am sure we all know that the whole world is watching Ekiti concerning this matter. We call on necessary authorities to ensure we do not miss this opportunity to speak up against official brutality and lawlessness in our society.
We appreciate each and every woman and man for sparing the time to come out to say NO to all forms of violence against women.
God bless Ekiti State and God bless Nigeria.
In attendance at the press briefing were representatives of women professional bodies, NGO’s and Human Rights Associations such as :
1. NAWOJ
2. NCWS
3. Women in Colleges of Education
4. Members of the Press
5. Iyalojas
6. NLC women wing among others
