by FIDAFIDA Nigeria NEC Cocktail Party
FIDA Nigeria NEC Meeting Delegates were warmly welcomed to Bauchi and hosted to a beautiful Cocktail by the host branch FIDA Bauchi. The NBA Bauchi Chairman Jibrin Sa’id Jibrin and members of the Executive were also on hand to support the occasion as they welcomed delegates from over twenty-eight states of Nigeria to Bauchi.
by FIDAFIDA Nigeria Outreach to Bauchi State Correctional Centre
FIDA Nigeria as part of her 2nd Quarter National Executive Council Meeting Activities was hosted by her Bauchi State Branch, ably led by the Chairperson Fatima Abubakar.
The line-up of activities commenced on Tuesday, the 21st of June 2022 with an outreach to the Bauchi State Correctional Centre where FIDA working in collaboration with her partners namely, Al-Muhibbah Foundation, Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Self-discovery Empowerment Foundation, Medical Women Association of Nigeria Bauchi and Attah Sisters Helping Hands Foundation visited the Bauchi Custodial Centre.
Legal Clinics were held where cases of inmates were taken, psychosocial support and medical aid was also given particularly for the female inmates.
The First Lady of Bauchi State (Dr) Aisha Bala Mohammed, Founder of Al-Muhibbah Foundation, who is most passionate about support to the less privileged in our society was present with a large entourage which included the Deputy Governor’s wife Hajiya Aishatu Alhaji Baba Tela and wife of the SSG Hajiya Habiba Ibrahim Kasim. Words of encouragement and prayers were offered while necessary items such as toiletries and other materials were donated.
Furthermore, we ensured the release of some inmates by the payment of fines, fulfilment of bail conditions and so forth
At the end of the outreach, inmates expressed immense gratitude for the interventions while airing out on some of the challenges they faced with the legal processes/ system, the available infrastructure and inadequate facilities of the prison service.
They however commended the personnel ably led by the Controller DCC Aminu Yusuf whom they said were doing a great job nevertheless.
The FIDA Nigeria CVP, Amina Agbaje sincerely appreciated all support and interventions
by FIDACapacity Building Workshop for Judges, Judicial and Legal Officers on Countering Trafficking-in-Persons, Bauchi State
FIDA Nigeria conducted a four-day capacity-building workshop in Bauchi, Bauchi State for judges, judicial and legal officers drawn from the judiciary, and the ministry of justice across Bauchi and Katsina States respectively in the Northern region. The workshop which held between 20th -23rd June 2022 at Chartwell Hotel & Suites Bauchi, Bauchi State was centered on Countering Trafficking-in-Person.
The workshop was organized with the intention of strengthening the capacities of judges, judicial and legal officers in the North to diligently prosecute and adjudicate in cases bordering on issues of trafficking-in-persons in their various capacities towards ensuring improved justice delivery in Nigeria. The workshop which spanned a 4-day period included different activities such as training sessions manned by facilitators, group presentations, focus group discussions, questions, feedback, networking, training pre and post-evaluation, and ice-breaker sessions. FIDA Nigeria employed a peer-learning and highly interactive approach to effectively actualize the objective of the workshop.
At the end of the workshop the capacity of the judges, judicial and legal officers to diligently prosecute, prevent & respond to cases of trafficking-in-persons in their various states was enhanced. Certificates of recognition was also issued to the participants at the end of the activities.
by FIDAFIDA Cross Rivers Held a 2-day Capacity Building Workshop on GRB
FIDA Cross River State on the 16th and 17th of June 2022, held her United Nations Spotlight Initiative Project Phase 2 Inception Meeting and a Capacity Building Workshop on Gender Responsive Budgeting for 33 women’s and girls’ rights advocates across the State
The outcomes of the Workshop were:
1. Introduction of the project to the selected women’s and girls’ rights advocates and CSOs.
2. An elicited commitment by these groups of individuals to support the Project.
3. Built and strengthened capacities of the selected advocates on gender-responsive budgeting as a tool for addressing VAWG/SGBV/HP.
4. Identification of cohort members in preparation for the Joint Advocacy Activity to be held subsequently on the project.
It was indeed a successful outing
by FIDAFIDA Warri Commemorates Day of the African Child 2022
In commemoration of the International Day of the African Child with the theme “Eliminating Harmful Practices affecting Children”, FIDA Warri branch paid an advocacy visit to Edulyn Secondary School Ekpan, today the 17th of June 2022.
The advocacy visit was to sensitize and teach the students about what these harmful practices are the effects of such harmful practices, and the ways these harmful can be eliminated to protect the rights of the African child.
The event kick-started with the introduction of what FIDA is all about by the Secretary, Yinka Charles- Lucky and the Chairperson Ogechi Jessica Megbele was the Speaker at the event, sensitizing the students on these harmful practices.
Gallant FIDANs were in attendance and did justice to the questions and answers session. The students, teachers, and the School Management were thrilled to have FIDA (Nig) Warri Branch visit their school
by FIDACondolence Visit to The Governor of Ondo State
On June 15th, 2022 FIDA Oyo State, graciously received by FIDA Ondo State, paid a condolence visit to the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, in the wake of the dastardly murder of worshippers at the Saint Francis Catholic Church, Owo Ondo State. FIDA is vehemently opposed to all manner of violence.
May the souls of the departed find rest.
by FIDAFIDA Lagos Marks 2022 Law Week with Talk Shops & Grand Dinner
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Lagos Branch 2022 Law week programme with the theme “Education as a Catalyst for Boosting the Self Image of the African Child” took place between 14th and 18th June 2022.
The opening ceremony was held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Kofo Abayomi , Victoria Island, Lagos under the distinguished Chairmanship of Tunde Busari, SAN. The Chairperson, Law Week Planning Committee, Abiola Laseinde, FCIS presented the welcome address while the FIDA Lagos Chairperson, Chinwe Efobi, FICMC made the opening remarks.
The keynote paper was presented by Professor Oluyemisi Bamgbose SAN. The very enlightening and impactful presentation touched on several areas of the importance of quality education and came to the conclusion that the need for all-round education can never be overemphasized.
In the words of Bamgbose, “Educating the African Child is the best investment for societal development, and a positive self-image and development cannot be attained without education. If Africa desired a better image and development like other countries, then investment in education cannot be compromised, given that a positive self-image of a child cannot be accomplished without good education” she concluded.
There was a panel session after the presentation of the keynote lecture. The speakers were Mr. Owolabi Mayowa, Managing Partner PISTIS Partners LLP; Chairman, Continuing Legal Education, NBA Lagos. Dr. Ifyeyinwa Awagu, Director, Institute of Humanities Pan Atlantic University. Dr. Foluke Dada, Legal Researcher, Associate Professor, Caleb University Magodo Lagos. The panel session also had Mrs. Joy C. Ezeigbo, the Regional Vice President FIDA Africa and former DCVP FIDA Nigeria.
From their submissions, it was agreed that both formal and informal sectors of education need serious attention and a creative measure of delivering the curriculum is immediately necessary. Finally, the need for parental responsibilities through intentional parenting should be the ultimate for every parent who desires a progressive and sane society for economic development.
The 15th June, 2022 was set aside to brainstorm on “Capacity building sessions for the female professionals”. The virtual session had in attendance erudite speakers from different professional bodies who indeed did justice to the subject matter. The speakers were; Toyin Sani, Group CEO, Emerging Africa Capital. Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, General Manager, Fixed Broadband MTN Nigeria. Yinka Ogunde, Principal Consultant EDUMARK. Mfon Usoro, Managing Partner, Paul Usoro & Co. The virtual event was graciously attended by the FIDA NIGERIA Country Vice President (CVP), Mrs. Amina Susanah Agbaje, who gave the opening remarks, FIDA Lagos Branch Exco and members, members from sister branches and the general public.
On the 16th day of June 2022, FIDA Lagos members and the Exco led by the Chairperson Mrs. Chinwe Efobi proceeded to the Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted Children, Surulere Lagos to celebrate the International Day of the African Child and to join them in commemoration of their 60th Anniversary. FIDA Lagos made a presentation of food items and toiletries to the pupils who in return entertained us with well-presented songs. The event was an interactive and successful session.
The grand finale of the Law Week was the Red Carpet Dinner with the theme “The Red Banquet” which was held at Colossus International Hotels, Ikeja under the distinguished Chairmanship of Mr. Y. C. Maikyau SAN.
The FIDA Lagos Law week 2022 was indeed a well packaged, well attended, very impactful, and highly successful event.
by FIDADay Against Child Labour: FIDA Ondo Alongside Other Stakeholders Advocate Strengthening Of Social Protection System For Children
By OLUFISOYE ADENITAN
As the world celebrates International day against child labour with the theme ‘Universal social protection to end child labour’, Stakeholders have called for concerted efforts to improve social protection system for children.
According to United Nations, over 160 million children are still being used for labour, some as young as 5yrs.
Some stakeholders who spoke with Positive FM in Akure Ondo state were of the view that the figure was still high and worrisome hence the need for government to strengthen the social protection system to fight poverty, vulnerability and prevent child labour.
One of the stakeholders, the chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Ondo State, Mrs Jumoke Ogunjebi opined that eradication of child labour required a systemic approach and effective policies to strengthen the education system and also guarantee a decent workplace for parents and caregivers to address the conditions that drive child labour.
Mrs Ogunjebi explained that laws had been put in place by the Ondo state government to protect children against being used for labour.
Similarly, Mrs Folasade Bamigboye of the Kids &Teens Resource Centre Akure emphasized that child protection against labour should be taken seriously by the government to reduce the increasing criminal activities some children were regularly exposed to even at a tender age.
Mrs Bamigboye submitted that the government needed to ensure the implementation of policies and programmes aimed at fighting child labour in the country.
by FIDAFIDA Edo Marks Her 2022 Law Week, pushes for an End to GBV
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Edo State Branch has kicked against gender-based violence (GBV), as statistics from the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) showed that of its 1,059 cases in court, 205 pertained to GBV cases with 4-10 of such cases originating from Police case files.
Declaring the FIDA week open with the theme, “Changing the Narrative of Gender-Based Violence: A Multidimensional Approach, “Chief Judge, Edo State, Hon. Justice Joe Acha represented by Justice Geraldine Ono Imadegbelo said violence against women, girls, and children should be treated under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law. He called on all facets of the justice system to look into and correct the rationale for giving life imprisonment to a single perpetrator of rape but handing over twenty-year imprisonment for those involved in gang rape which was a more grievous offense.
The DPP, Kingsley Odabi Esq while reeling out data at its resource stated that there was a geometric rise in the pattern of offense with cases of parents violating female children; adults and grandfathers violating children 3years old and less prevalent in society hence the recommendation to stop GBV through his call for a gender management system to be put in place; Liaising with the legislature to enact laws passed; empowerment of women in all the Ministries, Department, and Agencies (MDA’s); Getting Judges to buy into the FIDA campaigns and endorse such; Development on the education curriculum to focus on raised lapses to effect corrections.
Earlier in her welcome address to stakeholders, legal luminaries and representatives of organizations, CSO’s, NGO’s and the media at the FIDA occasion, Chairperson Edo FIDA, Mrs. Violet Oghogho Olumese stated that apart from counseling and rendering Pro bono services to indigents, FIDA was poised to change the narrative in incidents of GBV through reliance on the VAPP Law as domesticated in Edo State in 2021. She urged stakeholders to ventilate and come up with solutions that could help at curbing the Hydra-headed monster ravaging society,
In her keynote address,” Changing the narrative of gender-based violence, multimedia approach, ” former FIDA Chairperson and Permanent Secretary (PS) Ministry of Art and Culture, Iryn Omorogiuwa quoting world statistics on GBV stated that every minute one out of three women gets abused. She said this was accompanied by other forms of dehumanization and a lack of respect for the women folks, especially on issues relating to traditional practices and human trafficking in which women are the main culprits who violate the rights of other women.
Apart from cyber bullying which she frowned at for its ability to tilt victims over the edge leading to suicide, she also mentioned family laws governing inheritance which she observed sent wrong signals which engendered violence and harassment hence the call to participants to look beyond the justice sector by making personal efforts to change perception through restoring, reintegrating victims of GBV in society and creating a zero violence state.
She, therefore, called for the regulation and control of money in circulation, empowerment of youths, and prescription of maximum punishment for perpetrators of GBV, also, blowing the cover of perpetrators from the point of arrest to conviction to serve as a deterrent to others.
Professor Evelyn Uwa Edosomwan presented the paper, “Resolving the concept of feminism and gender equality in contemporary Nigeria while Professor Job Okhioma Odion presented the paper, ” An assessment of the legal framework for engendering women participation in politics in Nigeria which was closely followed by discussion segments and a robust question and answer session.
by FIDAFIDA Adamawa Capacity Building Workshop on Gender Responsive Budgeting
FIDA Nigeria conducted a two-day United Nations Spotlight Initiative (UNSI) Inception meeting and Training workshop on Gender Responsive Budgeting in Adamawa on the 31st of May and 1st of June 2022.
The objective of the workshop was to provide knowledge to target participants (Women and Girls Rights groups/Advocates, CSOs, etc) on the UNSI project, also to share knowledge on the concept of GRB, how the (participants) are involved, and their commitments towards achieving a state gender-responsive budget through advocacy.
