Social Commerce and Product Discovery Network

5 yrs

Obaseki Pledges Electricity Upgrade In Irrua Community

A member representing Bakassi local government area in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Ekpo Ekpo Bassey has lauded a socio-political group, Niger Delta Activist Forum (NDAF), for staging a 7-day peaceful protest at the collapsed Calabar-Itu road, saying doing so would draw the attention of the federal government to the sufferings commuters were passing through.

Recall that the group declared seven days of peaceful protest from August 21 to 28 at Odukpani junction along the bad Calabar-Itu Road. They blocked commercial, private vehicles and trucks from plying the road saying the protest was its own way of expressing displeasure on the state of the main road linking the two states.

Rt Hon Bassey, in a chat with our reporter at the weekend, said, “I sincerely commend the efforts of the Niger Delta Activist Forum for their activities aimed at prevailing on the federal government or its agencies to immediately fix or commence reconstruction work at Calabar-Itu highway. This action is truly in a positive direction and is a push for an action to be done. I believe that their efforts will not be in vain.

“Recently, all criminalities have been attributed to youths, from cultism, armed robbery, kidnappings, banditry, cannibalism, drug abuse, rape, serial killings, murders amongst others, but it gives me a little hope that still amongst the youths, we have those who believe in building and not destroying; I mean those who believe in developing and improving infrastructures to enhance economic growth and development.

“These classes of youths believe in peaceful coexistence to enhance investment and job creation. They are youths who can galvanize multi social groups to fight for positive change and not adopt violent measures or loot or vandalize government installations. I therefore urge other youth organizations to emulate the Niger Delta Activist Forum.”

In a statement, NDAF Director of Mobilization, Comrade Chris Edadi, called on Governor Ben Ayade to demand a repair of the road from the federal government, saying “If the Governor really loves Cross Riverians, now is the time to show it. Let him lend a voice to the struggle. We don’t want a super highway, just fix the Calabar-Odukpani-Itu Road. These roads must be fixed permanently, we don’t want palliative.”

He called on residents of the two states in particular and indeed all motorists to join in appealing to the federal government to have pity on the people by constructing the now collapsed Calabar-Itu road which was constructed in 1975.

“Please passionately join us by supporting this peaceful protest for the construction of Odukpani-Itu Road as we selflessly and collectively appeal to the federal government for quick intervention to alleviate the plights and suffering of our people,” Edadi said.

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5 yrs

Obaseki Pledges Electricity Upgrade In Irrua Community

Gov. Godwin Obaseki has pledged his administration’s plans to improve electricity supply in Irrua Community in Esan Central Local Government Area of the state.

Obaseki who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the state’s Sept. 19 governorship election, gave the pledge during a courtesy visit to the Ojirrua of Irrua and the Okaijesan of Esan land, HRH William Momodu II.

He said that electricity in the area would create jobs and ensure massive employment of youths in the area.

“Our goal is to energise Irrua. But we are already in talks with the Transmission Company to upgrade, so we can bring more electricity to Irrua.

“The implication is that we will be able to set up more industries and processing facilities.

“This will create jobs and ensure massive employment of youths from the area”.

He said his administration would continue to build infrastructure especially roads in the area.

“We are committed to bringing rapid development to Esan land”.

The governor commended the monarch’s efforts at providing agricultural projects in the locality, noting government’s willingness to expand on the agriculture concern.

He said, “I commend your efforts towards ensuring the setting up of Agricultural projects in the community.

“We want to expand and ensure we put more lands into consideration for agricultural purposes, and we are sure we will receive your blessings”.

Earlier Momodu II prayed for the governor’s success in the election and wished him well in his campaign tour.

He noted that governance and leadership was not an easy task and advised the governor to continue to do his best. (NAN)

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Obaseki pledges electricity upgrade in Irrua Community - Orient Daily News

orientdailynews.com

Obaseki pledges electricity upgrade in Irrua Community - Orient Daily News

Gov. Godwin Obaseki has pledged his administration’s plans to improve electricity supply in Irrua Community in Esan Central Local Government Area of the state. Obaseki who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the state’s Sept. 1

5 yrs

Imo Women Groups Laud UNICEF, NOA Over Fight Against Female Genital Multilation

Some women groups in Owerri West and Ehime Mbano Local Government areas of Imo State have lauded UNICEF and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) for their concerted efforts to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the state.

The women gave the commendation at a one-day “Training, Orientation and Mobilisation of ENDFGM Community Champions”, held at All Saints Anglican Church, Umuguma in Owerri West and Ehime Mbano Local Government áreas on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two local government areas are made up of 52 communities with Owerri West having 21 communities, while Ehime Mbano has 31 communities.

The women said it was necessary that old cultural and traditional practices with pains and disadvantages against women be dealt away within Imo communities.

According to them, many people have been misled, put in danger or made to die as a result of ignorance and petty belief about cultural practices such as FGM.

The women commended NOA and UNICEF for their training programmes that created awareness on the implications, laws and subsequent consequences of FGM and other harmful cultural practices on the girl-child and women.

Mrs Chinyere Ejiogu from Orogwe in Owerri West Local Government and Chair Lady of Umunganwoke Women Association, said that many people, especially women, had been misled due to ignorance.

She described the trainings as essential and eye openers and called on women in the communities to stop the cutting or multilation of female genitals at any point in life.

She commended UNICEF and NOA for the training programmes and promised to help to spread the message around in her community which comprised of six villages.

Mrs Chinyere Manu from Umalum-Nekede Owerri West and Secreatary General, Nekede Ancient Kingdom Women Association, expressed gratitude to UNICEF and NOA for creating awareness on FGM, saying that many women and families had suffered and were still suffering from effects of FGM.

She advised women to stop the practice of FGM, which she said, had many disadvantages and promised to help spread the message to help end FGM in her community.

Mrs Clara Nkwocha from Okolochi- Owerri West and the Acting President of Udodiri Women Group, expressed gratitude to the organisers, saying that the training had exposed the negative effects of FGM and how to championc the message to people in their communities.

She said FGM was fraught with embarrasing consequences to women and the girl-child and promised to pass the message of its abandonement through youths, women meetings and from house-to -house.

At Ehime Mbano LGA, Mrs Chinyere Ejigha from Umakagu Autonomous Community, said that people were ignorant of many things and except they were thought and informed would remain ignorant.

Ejigha, also Secretary of Umuakagu Women Group, which has six villages, expressed happinnes that the training programmes were brought to her commnunity to help save lives of girl children and women.

“The training programme is informative and educative. NOA and UNICEF is doing communities in Imo a good favour. They are putting a lot of efforts to ensure the end of FGM, and we are grateful for that.

“We were informed that FGM does not cause promiscuity in women, but improper training.

“Women should know the dangers of FGM to their girl children. The Programme has created a lot of awareness in my community. We now know better,” Ejigha said.

Mrs Maria Obioha from Umuezeala Ogwara Autonomous Community, Ehime Mbano, said she had been re-orientated on the issues of FGM and other harmful cultural practises that needed to be stopped in communities in the state.

According to her, women that had FGM performed on them experienced difficulties during child delivery unlike those who did not, while others encountered problems as a result of FGM which they carry through out life time while others die.

She pledged to carry the message to women in her community and thanked NOA and UNICEF for the message which had brought women out of darkness and discomfort into light and safety.

The state Director of NOA, Mr Vitus Ekeocha, explained the properties, dynamism, value, benefits and harmful effects of culture and tradition and factors were reinforcing the practices.

He identified other harmful cultural practises to include tribal marks, widow inheritance, early marriage/child bearing, preference for sons over daughters, forced marriage and FGM.

He described FGM as any partial or total removal of the external genital organ of a woman for non-medical reasons, adding that three million girls and women in Nigeria were at risk of FGM.

Ekeocha said that FGM had serious implications for sexual and reproductive health of girls and women and listed the immediate and short-term physical health complications of FGM to include intense pain, excessive bleeding and difficulties during intercourse and childbirth.

He said that the UNICEF and NOA had been engaged in many activities in Imo to end FGM.

Ekeocha said these activities included the UNFPA/UNICEF joint programme on elimination of FGM, supporting the state government to strengthen legal framework prohibiting FGM and UNICEF support interventions in seven LGA’s in Imo namely, Ngor-Okpala, Oguta, Ikeduru, Ihitte-Uboma, Ehime Mbano, Idiato North and Owerri West.

He charged the participants to collaborate with their religious leaders to protect girls and women in the 21 communities of Owerri West and in Ehime Mbano LGAs to abandon FGM completly and other harmful traditional practices.

Earlier, the UNICEF Programme Officer, Mr Chigozie Orjiaku, said the training was to review the beneficial and harmful effects of culture and tradition and the impact of FGM on the health and well being of the people of Owerri West and Ehime Mbano.

He said it was also to increase the participants’ capacity to educate community members about the dangers of FGM, motivate them to stop the practise and support women and girls subjected to FGM or risk of FGM to get help.

He said it would equally increase the participants’ ability to advocate for the public declaration of the abandonedment of FGM and establishment of a survellance system to track compliance to commitments made during the declaration.

Chigozie said the training programme would also increase participants’ knowledge of preventing and responding to Violence Against Children (VAC) and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and COVID-19.

Speaking on “Ending Violence Against Children (VAC) and Violence Against Women and Children (VAWG) and Reducing the Spread of COVID-19 and Child Protection”, Mrs Ifeoma Dike from the Ministry of Gender Affairs and Vulnerable Group, advised participants to acknowledge the prevalence of VAC/VAWG.

She urged women to identify the various forms of violence against children and women in the community, discuss and agree on preventive and responsive measures and strategies to put in place to address and end VAWG in their communities. (NAN)

https://orientdailynews.com/ci....tyscope/imo-women-gr