
FIDA Nigeria Holds Workshop to Prevent Violence Against Women in Elections
Recognizing the paramount importance of eradicating political violence before, during and after elections given its advantages in the advancement of women’s political participation, FIDA Nigeria on the 6th and 7th of December 2022 held a two-day capacity-building workshop for some selected Law Enforcement Agencies, institutions, and oversight mechanisms in Kwara state.
The workshops key objective was to strengthen the capacities of the participants to effectively 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 participation at the polls.
The event couldn’t have been more apt even as the world continues to mark this years 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.

FIDA Ondo held her AGM and Leadership Training for Members
FIDA Ondo on the 6th of December, 2022, held her AGM and Leadership training for all members.
The Leadership training was registered for by 44 members of the branch and facilitated by Hon. Justices Alero Akeredolu and Adesola Ikpat of the Ondo State Judiciary and Catherine Ogunjebi, the Chairperson of the Branch.
After the training, members received Certificates of Participation.
Thereafter, the Annual General Meeting of the Branch was held wherein, the secretariat report and audited financial statement were presented.
Members discussed and took decisions on the workplan of the Branch for 2023.
The AGM was chaired by the Branch Chairperson and attended by 5 new members.

FIDA Lagos Flags off 16 Days of Activism 2022
FIDA Lagos ably led by its Chairperson, Mrs. Chinwe Efobi carried out a sensitization campaign as part of its activities in commemoration of the ’16 Days of Activism’ which was flagged off on 25th November 2022, under the theme: ‘UNITE!: Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls.
The venue was the Boundary Market, Ajeromi Ifelodun LGA, where members of the body sensitized the market women and men in pidgin English and local languages about women’s rights, as well as the dangers and illegality associated with child molestation, gender-based violence, rape, etc and all forms of gender disparity.
Members of FIDA Lagos drove home their message with placards displaying various inscriptions as follows:
FIDA SAYS NO TO DOMESTICCE
STOP ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN
STOP RAPE
STOP ABUSE
END ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN; etc at strategic locations on the road and in marketplaces.
The activity attracted the attention of passers-by, particularly women who could relate to the issues being discussed, and enthusiastically demonstrated their solidarity with FIDA’s campaign against the menace, as they clamoured for fliers to help sensitize others and help spread FIDA’s gospel.

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 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.

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.

FIDA Nigeria Capacity-Building Workshops on Monitoring, Evaluation, Documentation, and Learning Approaches on SGBV & CEFM
FIDA Nigeria with support from SCALE on the 19th of September 2022, held a 3-day capacity-building workshop on monitoring, evaluation, documentation, and learning approaches on SGBV & CEFM Prevention and Response in Nigeria for civil society organizations in Southern and Northern Nigeria. Thirty-six (36) beneficiaries drawn from civil society organizations (inclusive of SCALE advocacy clusters) attended the workshops.
The workshop was organized with the intention of developing monitoring and evaluation frameworks, enhancing advocacy and communication skills for improved learning for participating organizations across the project states.
It is expected that following the enhanced capacities from the workshops, civil society organizations would be better equipped to document their successes, track progress in their various interventions at the state and local level as well scale up their capacities towards improved adoption of monitoring and evaluation strategies for development interventions through an M&E strategic framework towards an improved documentation process amongst other things.

FIDA Holds DFATD Supported Project Inception Meeting
FIDA Nigeria, Plateau State Branch with the support of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, Canada (“DFATD'”), following the flag off of the project on Promoting the Inclusion of Women in Peace Building and Conflict Mitigation Across Communities in Plateau State held an inception meeting.
The meeting which was held on the 4th and 6th of September in Kwok Community, Barkin Ladi LGA and Ta-Hoss Community, Riyom LGA of the state availed stakeholders an opportunity to discuss the prevalence of conflict across the respective communities.
FIDA Nigeria was further able to obtain stakeholders commitment and buy-in on the objectives and goals of the project at the meeting