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Empowering women in governance promotes economic prosperity – NAWOJ

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The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) says that empowering women by addressing barriers, particularly gender inequality in governance roles, will help foster economic growth.

Seasoned journalists and other speakers reiterated this at the NAWOJ SouthWest Zonal Summit 2024 held in Lagos on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event organised by NAWOJ SouthWest (B-Zone) had the theme, “Empowering Women: Driving Good Governance and Economic Growth.”

Mrs Adeola Ekine, Chairperson, NAWOJ, Lagos State, said the event aimed at motivating female journalists to create a future where they are not only empowered, but also celebrated.

Ekine said the event also aimed at a future where women leadership would be the driving force for good governance and economic prosperity.

On her part, Mrs Adeola Adekunle, National Vice President, NAWOJ South West (B Zone), said that when women had access to education, healthcare and economic opportunities, they not only improved their own lives, but also lift their families and communities.

“They become entrepreneurs, they become innovators, they become leaders, driving growth and stability,” Adekunle said.

She urged women to work together, so they could unlock their potentials.

A Traditional Ruler at Eti-Osa, Oba Saheed Elegushi, noted that women empowerment was an essential catalyst for ensuring good governance and robust economic progress.

Elegushi, who was represented by Alhaji Olanrewaju Bakare, said that when women are empowered, not only would half the population be uplifted, society would also be enriched and the economy strengthened.

“Empowerment is now more than just providing opportunities, it is about creating an environment where women can thrive, lead and contribute to their communities without fear or limitation,” he said.

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Mrs Victoria Ibanga, Publisher, Next Edition Online Newspaper, said when women are empowered in governance roles, they would promote social cohesion by addressing inequalities and ensuring that policies reflected citizens’ needs.

“Women in leadership positions tend to prioritise issues like education, health and social welfare, and are often less prone to corruption,” she said.

Ibanga, who was a former NAWOJ President, said that supporting women entrepreneurs led to improved productivity, social and human development, poverty reduction and global competitiveness.

“Empowered women are more likely to start businesses, innovate, contribute to economic dynamism and job creation.

“Greater female level participation can increase household incomes, reduce poverty and contribute to national growth,” she said.

Also, Mrs Ifeyinwa Omowole, another former NAWOJ President, said that imbibing the spirit of help, to lift and support one another, would ensure that female journalists excelled in the society.

Omowole, who is also the Head of Editorial Operations, NAN, Lagos, further urged women to work hard if they hoped for men to relinquish power to them, and to start building a future outside of journalism.

Mrs Aisha Cole, Assistant National Secretary, NAWOJ, said that in spite of the entrepreneurship skills women possessed, many were not likely to start up businesses because of the barriers they faced.

Cole urged women to look beyond the barriers and strive to bridge the gender gap by competing in the same space as men.

Also, Mrs Bola Okolie, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bonix Drinks, said that when women are empowered, they brought unique insights, fueled innovations and prioritised social issues.

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Okolie urged female journalists to live beyond the barriers of their careers, and to use their platforms to advocate for women, forge partnerships and share knowledge.

Speaking on empowerment, she said that journalists should strive to become entrepreneurs, adding that the experience and contacts gathered in the course of their careers was already a platform for success.

“Plan for your tomorrow, be an entrepreneur; there’s something you know how to do. Look for it and start now,” she said. (NAN

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IMF urges Nigeria to focus on most vulnerable while stabilising economy

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged the Nigerian government to accompany its economic stabilisation policies with targeted social welfare transfers to support the most vulnerable populations.

IMF Director of Communications, Julie Kozack, made this known during a routine press conference at the IMF headquarters in Washington, DC, on Thursday.

Kozack acknowledged the challenges many Nigerians faced and stressed the importance of prioritising support for vulnerable households.

“The authorities’ policies to stabilise the economy and promote growth are welcomed.

“However, they must be accompanied by targeted social transfers to support the most vulnerable populations. We recognise the extremely difficult situation that many Nigerians face,” she said.

She said that completing the rollout of cash transfers to vulnerable households and improving domestic revenue mobilisation should be key priorities for Nigeria.

Kozack also announced that IMF staff would visit Nigeria next week to prepare for the 2025 Article IV Consultation.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, the IMF conducts annual bilateral discussions with member countries.

As part of this process, a staff team visits the country, gathers economic and financial data, and engages with officials on economic policies and developments.(NAN)

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Tinubu Distorting Democracy, Weaponising Judiciary, Others – Prof Udenta

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The founding National Secretary of the Alliance for Democracy, Prof Udenta Udenta, on Thursday, accused the Bola Tinubu Presidency of dismantling democratic values and weaponing the judiciary, and the 1999 Constitution (as amended) against Nigerians.

Prof Udenta, a distinguished fellow of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, said the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State was a distortion of democratic institutions by the Tinubu government.

“The system that should protect democratic governance, you are weaponising them; the judiciary, the apparatus of the state, you are distorting, diluting and transmogrifying them in a way and manner that is shutting down democratic conversations.

“That is what you find as the legacy of the Bola Tinubu president and his political agents,” Prof Udenta said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme.

The scholar said dismantling democratic principles isn’t by shooting guns but by misusing democratic instruments like the constitution and the judiciary.

“When you abandon the foundational norms of democracy and then you begin to use instruments you acquired in power to dismantle the guardrails that govern the democratic system, then democracy dies.

“It is not by firing a shot that democracy dies or crumbles, it is leveraging the guardrails like the constitution, like what was done in Rivers State, to abort democratic rules,” he said.
The scholar also accused Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd) of dismantling the levers of democracy with his suspension of all political appointees in the oil-rich state.

“You find the sole administrator strutting around Port Harcourt, dismantling democratic infrastructure,” he said.

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Prof Udenta described what is practised in Rivers State as a “hybrid regime which is a part of competitive authoritarianism” being deployed to “manacle the spirit of a nation and abort democratic institutions at all levels” including labour unions, media houses, political parties, and civil societies.

Prof Udenta regretted that the quality of the lives of Nigerians in the last two years has so depreciated. He lamented that there is widespread hunger and poverty in the land with escalating food inflation usurping the income of average Nigerians.

“There is poverty in the land, there is hunger everywhere, inflation is soaring, criminality and terrorism and all manners of insecurity pervade the nation, and the government is bemused like this current one,” he said.

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Bill To Create Prime Minister Office Passes Second Reading At Reps

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A bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to provide for the office of the Prime Minister as head of government and the office of President as head of state and to provide for a framework for the mode of election to the said offices, has passed second reading in the House of Representatives.

It is among 32 Constitution amendment bills that scaled second reading in the House of Representatives on Thursday.

Also among the bills is a bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to provide for specific seats for women in the national assembly and state houses of assembly.

Another is a bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to reduce the lengthy period for determination of pre-election petition matters and provide for the establishment of pre-election tribunals for pre-election matters and regulate the process of suspending a member of the national assembly from legislative duties.

A bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to review the requirements that qualifies persons to be elected as president and vice-president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, governors and deputy governor, passed second reading as well.

A bill for an act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to review the status of the Federal Capital Territory as regards the election of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and bills for the creation of Wan State and Gobir State also passed second reading.

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This brings the total number of Constitution Amendment Bills passed so far through second reading to 113.

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