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Women Affairs Minister Lauds NDA For Gender Inclusivity
The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Kennedy, has lauded the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) for its gender inclusivity.
Kennedy gave the commendation on Wednesday during an official visit to the NDA headquarters, Afaka-Kaduna.
She explained that her visit to the NDA was aimed at motivating and inspiring female cadets, as well as encouraging them to break glass ceilings and push beyond societal boundaries.
She emphasised the importance of gender equality and women’s empowerment, urging the cadets to embrace their unique strengths and abilities.
She commended the cadets for their bravery and resilience, reminding them that they were pioneers in a male-dominated field.
“they are here as mothers and feature mothers of the armed forces actively participating in the defence territorial integrity of Nigeria,” the minister said..
Kennedy pledged her support and commitment to ensuring that women’s voices were heard and valued in the military and beyond, inspiring the cadets to become future leaders and change-makers.
She added that the visit to the NDA was not the beginning of their partnership with the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
This, Kennedy said, was because she had visited places like Adamawa, Jos, Kano, Jigawa, Anambra, and other states and planted 500 hectares of rice farms in partnership with the Nigerian armed forces to support women in farming.
The minister lamented that in this ever-evolving world, women were losing their self-confidence due to gender-based violence, and many other maltreatments.
She, therefore, called on women to be strong, stand firm and fear nobody while respecting people so as to protect their children and future.
Kennedy also urged women to be productive in the society and ensure being part of the inclusivity through acquiring education for a better future.
Similarly, the Commandant of the NDA, Maj.-Gen. John Ochai, thanked the minister for the visit.
Ochai said that the minister’s visit was remarkable, because it coincided with the day of her one year in office.
He explained that her visit, which was to motivate the female cadets, would be a morale booster for them to continue striving for success in their sojourn in the military.
He also stated that the NDA, in line with the minister’s philosophy, pursues issues of equality , inclusiveness and diversity.
“Of the five areas of discrimination in the United Nations, gender is number one, and at the NDA, we adhere to the standards of equality among different groups.
“Whether gender, ethnic or religious, it doesn’t matter to us,” Ochai said.
The commandant further said that with the minister’s motivation to the female cadets, there was no doubt that they would work hard and aspire to be the best and fulfill their God-given potential.
“In our lifetime, we will love to see women commanding air force bases, becoming Brigade Commanders and even General Officers Commanding.
“In not too distant future, we want to see a female as a service chief,”he added.
Speaking further, Ochai said the ministry has many areas in the NDA suitable for advancing their partnership through many associations that have to do with women.
He listed some of the associations to include: NDA Officers Wives Association, Soldiers Wives Association, the female soldiers and officers, and female civilian staff who are either lecturers or non academic staff.
Ochai assured that the NDA would ensure partnership with the ministry by driving its policies through support for women to attain the level to which they have the capacity to reach.
The Tide source reports that the minister, who later toured the academy, also donated toiletries and sanitary pads to the female cadets
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.
