Rivers
Stakeholders Brainstorm On Economic Challenges
Founder, President of Africa Community Strategy And Empowerment Foundation (ACOEF), Lolo Hailsham, has stated that male folks are endangered species in the economic downturns affecting the country.
Speaking at a programme organised by Partners for Peace in Niger Delta (PIND) in the State, in collaboration with the National Association of Women Journalists (NÀWOJ), Rivers State Chapter and other partners, Wednesday, Hailsham explained that men could not stand the embarrassment and shame of unemployment and the attendant socio-economic challenges for a year.
He called on the public to be on the watch out for men that will be pushed out to commit suicide because of frustration, occasioned by loss of job.
“Watch out for male folks having lost jobs because their integrity is at stake due to their loss of job, the mental state of the men are no longer in order and if care is not taken, this can lead them to commit suicide.”
Also, Chairman, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Rivers State Chapter, Susan Serekara-Nwikhana has attributed increase in Gender-Based Violence to high cost of living in Nigeria.
Another speaker, a member of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Barr Yvonne Aimiegheme noted that a man used axe in cutting a chain he used to lock up his 12-years-old son.
According to her, when FIDA got the news and swung into action, the man attributed it to “frustration.”
PIND representative, Dr David Udofia charged all on Structure Home Adjustment Programme (SHAP), in order to survive in the harsh economic down turns ravaging almost every home in the society.
On her part, Hailsham warned women to avoid waste by buying what is of importance, adding that families must learn to eat in one plate as this practice in the past promotes more love and family bonding.
She added that lots of values that existed in the past had been lost, stressing that there was need to return to the basics in order to re-enact the love, mutual understanding, cooperation that existed in the past and end Gender-Based Violence at the home fronts.
In his reactions, the PIND representative, Dr Udofia stated that for one to survive, he or she must avoid unnecessary spending and competitions.
By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
Rivers
Rivers CJ To Sanction Lawyers Who Refuse To Comply With ADR Compliance
The Rivers state Chief Judge, Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI has given an indication to sanction any lawyer who fail to comply with directive of a judge in the state to transferred a case to Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse for Alternatives Dispute Resolution.
Justice AMADI stated this during a brief ceremony held at the chief judge auditorium in port Harcourt Friday held to hand over certificates of operation to two private ADR chambers on Precarious Dispute Resolution Services and Harmony Arbitration and mediation center .
He urged the two private ADR centres to be diligent in the discharge of their duties and warned against compromising the standard of Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR but should observed the regulations set out in collaboration regulation by the state Multi Door Court House.
Earlier in a address, the Director of the State Multi Door Courthouse, VICTOR NWEKE esq, highlighted some of the achievements of the Multi Door Courthouse especially in decongestion of court rooms.
NWEKE while disclosing how the department certified the two private ADR centres called for serious punitive measures be taken against any lawyer who fail to comply with a case referred to Multi Door Court House by a judge or magistrates in the state.
In her acceptance speech on behalf of the two certified private ADR centres, ALICE NIMI commended the State Judiciary and Multi Door Courthouse for the approval and assured that all the rules and regulations spelt out will be followed.
In a related development; the Rivers State Judiciary has assured its readiness to collaborate with Nigerian Securityding Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC in using Alternative Dispute Resolution to resolve some of the issues in their office.
The state Chief Judge , Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI made the promise when he received in audience the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE OLOWO and his team who paid him a courtesy visit in his office , Friday where issuees ADR utilization took centre stage.
He used the opportunity to brief his visitors on the hurdles judges faces daily in the court room and the need for the decongestion of the court room , stressing that one judge handle more than three hundred cases but that if lawyers and litigants adopt ADR practice court rooms can be releive of the daily congestions.
The state Chief Judge however urged NSCDC to ensure a wider sensitization of the members of the public on the practice of ADR for a better awareness and knowledge.
Earlier in his speech, the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE-OLOWO said the visit was to seek collaboration on the use of ADR in resolving some issues which he insisted would help decongest the courtrooms.
Our correspondent reports officials of the Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse led by the Director, VICTOR NWEKE led the team of NSCDC on a technical session where information on how to the fully in cooperated into the Multi Door Courthouse and operation of ADR will be emphasized.
Akujobi Amadi