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 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.
by FIDAFIDA Oyo Advocacy visit to Jesus Kids Home for the disabled
FIDA Oyo Branch, ably led by the Chairperson ( Mrs. Olusola Sulayman) paid an Advocacy visit to Jesus Kids Home for the disabled (A registered Non-Governmental Organization) which was established to help children who have been abandoned on account of physical challenges, as well as some who have been subjected to rape and abuse.
The visit was in line with FIDA Nigeria’s mandate/strategic plan which is to engender the improved participation of women, youth, and persons living with disabilities in all spheres of human endeavor.
FIDA Oyo was able to create an awareness in the minds of the people at the home, using the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law of Oyo State, as a point of reference.
The Chairperson appreciated the management of Jesus Kids Home, Pastor Mrs. Ololade Adamolekun for the warm reception accorded FIDA Oyo State. The visit was rounded off with dancing and prayers with and for those domiciled in Jesus Kids Home
by FIDACoordination Meeting For Community Paralegals and Service Providers
FIDA Nigeria as part of activities under the Action Aid WVL Project (Year 4) held a coordination meeting for community paralegals and service providers on 10th August 2022.
The meeting was aimed at establishing an efficient and effective referral pathway structure for responding to GBV in selected communities across three Area councils of the FCT.
At the end of the meeting, community paralegals and service providers had a clearer understanding of their roles, the available referral mechanisms as well as the various service providers cataloged under the referral pathway system for improved and effective responses to GBV cases.
by FIDACourtesy Visit To The Attorney General And Commissioner For Justice, Oyo State, Ibadan.
FIDA Oyo State Branch, ably led by her Chairperson, Mrs. Olusola Sulayman paid a courtesy/familiarization visit to the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oyo State, Ibadan on 6th August 2022.
The visit also aimed to strengthen the synergy in the fight against the high incidence of female genital mutilation in Oyo State which according to National data ranks fifth. Oyo State can improve through collaboration in advocacy and sensitization of Women and Youth.
The team was well received by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Oyo State Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo SAN. He promised to partner with FIDA Oyo in helping to fight against norms that affect the right of women and children.
by FIDAVisit to Female Custodial Facility Kirikiri Prison In Lagos
FIDA Nigeria, Lagos Branch Prison Watch Committee ably led by the Head of the Committee, Mrs. Uzoamaka Nwodili on Wednesday the 10th of August 2022, visited the Female Custodial Facility Kirikiri, Lagos (Prisons) and offered legal services to the inmates, especially the indigent ones.
The total number of inmates in the facility was 240, the number of those awaiting trial was184, number of convicts was 51, number of inmates on death row was 5.
FIDA Lagos attended to a great number of the inmates that required legal assistance and will follow up their cases in court.
by FIDAFIDA Nigeria Trains Twenty Paralegals In Ekiti State
FIDA Ekiti with support from Ford Foundation trains twenty paralegals from two Communities in Ekiti State namely: Ilawe-Ekiti and Erinmope-Ekiti on 3rd of August, 2022
The participants are stakeholders who served as gender-based violence surveillance teams in the communities.
The training is to equip them with necessary knowledge to handle uncomplicated issues in their Communities and refer crimes and complicated issues to the Law Enforcement Agencies and FIDA.
This will ensure the sustainability of the Ford Foundation funded project in the Communities and also strengthen the referral pathway in reporting matters regarding women and girls in the Communities.
by FIDAFIDA Plateau State Held Community Action Plan Progress Review Meeting
FIDA Nigeria, Plateau state branch with support from Ford Foundation carried out Action Plan Implementation Oversight visits to focal communities in Plateau State on Thursday the 28th day of July, 2022 and Friday the 29th day of July, 2022.
The activity aimed at accessing the progress of Community Action Plans implementation.
The activity focused on celebrating implemented milestones and proffering growth paths for stakeholders.
In Gyel community, the Traditional Ruling Council presented to FIDA a draft copy of the Community Bye Law developed to address cultural norms that affect the rights of women and girls within the Gyel District.
While in Mungun community, the District Head, HRH Da Job Ali, highlighted key provisions of the proposed Community Bye Law which is currently undergoing a wider consultation by the Community’s stakeholders.
Representatives across each stakeholder groups were able to share progress and challenges experienced on preventive and responsive activities undertaken to address emerging incidents of GBV within the communities.
by FIDAFIDA Uyo Commemorates World Day Against Trafficking in Persons
On Saturday 30th July 2022, FIDA Uyo Branch joined the world to commemorate the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
The theme of this year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, “The Use and Abuse of Technology” highlights that the misuse of technology has significantly increased the illict business of trafficking.
FIDA Uyo commends the efforts of NAPTIP and other organizations in combating the crime of human trafficking, particularly, the recently launched National Action Plan against Human Trafficking.
We strongly believe that the implementation of the Action Plan will significantly curb the menace of human trafficking.
by FIDAFIDA launches campaign against gender-based violence in Plateau
It was a moment for sober reflection for some elderly women who had been victims of gender-based violence, when the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Nigeria, Plateau State chapter, staged a campaign against sexual and gender-based violence in Gyel community of Jos South Local Government Area of the state.
The campaign began with the presentation of an action plan against gender-based violence to the Dagwom Rwey of Jos South, Da Ngah Dangyang, with a strong call to key into the fight against cultural norms that were injurious to women.
A 73-year-old woman, Esther Williams, who was a victim, said she was denied access to education because of her male siblings. She said she was made to work in the farm and do other menial jobs to sponsor the education of her brothers.
Esther said her father did not give her anything as inheritance but willed all his property to her brothers.
She said: “This reminded me of what happened when we were children. There was sentiment against the girl-child, whereby the boy-child would be sent to school and always protected. We are happy that such cultural norms are being addressed for a healthy society.
“For some of us, we were denied education only for our male siblings to go to school, while we don’t share in the inheritance of our parents. This practice set back the African society, which affected us greatly.”
The state chairperson of FIDA, Mrs. Obioma Achilefu, who led hundreds of women to Gyel community market and COCIN secondary schools to sensitize women and girls on their rights in the society, such as right to education like the boy-child, said gender violence should be avoided for the development of society.
Achilefu told the traditional ruler to use his office and ensure that women in the community got their share of the inheritance of their parents, which is currently being left as birthrights for the menfolk.
She noted that most women were dying in silence in their homes due to the previlence of gender-based violence that inflicts pains and agony on them.
According to her, the project, which was sponsored by Ford Foundation and implemented by FIDA, was aimed at sensitizing women and girls on their rights and to kick against all forms of gender-based violence.
She said: “We are happy that the key players have agreed on an action plan to ensure that all the socio-cultural activities that affect women negatively are nipped in the bud.
“We are here to disseminate the action plan and to create awareness for those whom these norms have not helped. We talking about norms such as women not having right of inheritance, culture of genital mutilation, rape and all forms of gender-based violence.
“We have come to tell the community that everybody should rise up, everybody should speak out, people should not keep quiet when there is gender-based violence, children should be exposed to education to have them understand the right that the laws of the land has given them.”
Former commissioner of justice, Plateau State, Olivia Dazyam, appreciated the Ford Foundation for sponsoring the programme and Gyel community for embracing the programme to correct most societal ills.
“We have challenges of sexual and gender-based violence in the community and female disinheritance, widowhood and dangerous practices such as rape and domestic violence, among others.
“For two years now, we have been interacting and empowering the community to arise and speak out against the dangerous practices. We are happy that, at the end, the community came out with an action plan that they will pursue to ensure the practice of sexual and gender-based violence are eliminated in the community,” she said.
The programme officer, FIDA, Plateau State, Rita A. Lasoju, and former chairperson of FIDA, Plateau State, Mary Izam, said the programme was to create awareness on gender rights among women and girls.
Lasoju noted that there has been prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence, female disinheritance, economic violence, and rape, among others. So, the community came together and developed an action plan to tackle the menace in the area.
The secretary of Dagwom Rwey of Jos South, Jonathan Dangyang, said the traditional institution has accepted the project and would do everything within the ambit of the law to minimize and eliminate gender-based violence in the community and ensure equal rights between the boy-child and the girl-child.
The sensitization walk enlightened people against the danger of sexual violence such as rape, sexual harassment, sexual abuse, child sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, and harmful traditional practices, among others.
by Gyang Bere
