Irise begins Ending Abortion Stigma through Listening, calls for women body autonomy

Marginalization and exploitation of women have become an age-long phenomenon and have continued unabated, but the most disheartening is the obvious denial of women’s right to their body autonomy and right to abortion. This was the fulcrum of the workshop organized by Irise, an Initiative to resist institutional slavery and exploitation in conjunction with 1Billion Rising. The event took place at Favoured Plaza, Agor-Palace-way, Lagos.  SUCCESS DAMIAN reports.

The project which was supported in whole or in part by the International Network for the Reduction of Abortion Discrimination and Stigma was attended by women from all walks of life.
 
One theme resonated stridently at the workshop and it was the fact that Women have right to their body autonomy in as much as they are the people that bear the brunt in the case of unexpected pregnancies. 

In addition was right to abortion. They argued that they were not promoting abortion but women should be allowed when a pregnancy possesses a danger to the woman. Aside that, they also argued that apart from such extreme cases government should also consider other social and personal issues best known to the woman to carry out abortion if she so desires. In as much as the women do not advocate wholesale abortion they stressed the need to save women from unsafe abortion due to stigma.

Part of the mandates of the workshop was to find out those institutions inhibiting women from having autonomy of their bodies as well as finding solutions to them, and topping discussions were religion, culture, community, non-existence of accessible and affordable health care facilities, as well as absence of well trained medical personnel and security challenges.

The workshop in the end proffered solutions to the numerous challenges discussed; among which were legislative enactments to address constraints hindering women who have reasons to do abortion, ensuring good health and reproductive health facilities that are not just accessible but must also be affordable; adequate manpower competent enough to handle abortion related cases; addressing security and judicial challenges, reorienting communities and religious organizations to become involved in openly addressing issues of abortion on a more dispassionate manner so that even their members would not die avoidable dates resulting from unsafe abortions.

According to Omodele Ibitoye, Founder Irise and Convener said “Inhibitions make people carry out abortion secretly and that can lead to all that we feared, all the myths people talk about abortion as a result of people doing abortion secretly in unsafe environment, by unskilled practitioners.”

She said individuals, laws, religions pose challenges especially in Nigeria and Africa that are very religious and traditional. “There are lots of cultural and religious myths surrounding abortion, they make people feel that abortion is unsafe. That is another reason unsafe abortion is on the increase and people are losing their lives.”

Speaking as a professional counselor on importance of listening to women with abortion stories Ibitoye said “I am not trained to advise, I am trained to help people to discharge on oppression and on hurts. Everybody was born intelligent, people are intelligent enough to figure out solutions to whatever issues they go through, but because the society has told us we are not intelligent enough, that is why we run around seeking advice.

“What I do as a counselor is to train the trainer, if a woman walks up to me and said, I have abortion problems my job is to listen to her with rapt attention, believing her story, because it is her story, I have no right to discriminate or condemn her, everybody wants to be listened to, if all can take time to listen to each other I think the world would be a beautiful place,” Ibitoye stressed.

She disclosed that no two stories are the same, “No two stories are the same, no matter how similar they are. I advise when someone comes to you with abortion story, unsafe abortion story or a botched abortion story; helping them discharging on the hurt and helping them take charge of their lives, they will re-emerge and regain their intelligence and figure out solutions to whatever they are going through. Helping them heal is more important.”

On the permission for abortion by law in Nigeria she said “I want to correct the impression that abortion is not legal in Nigeria, it is legal but it has legal restrictions, and these restrictions are not fair to women and girls, for example in the northern part of Nigeria, where there is insurgency and women are being raped, where a child of eleven years is raped, and you know children’s body are not developed enough to carry a full time pregnancy. Because abortion has restrictions, these little children were meant to carry the pregnancy, and a lot of them lost their lives because of these legal restrictions.

“My advice to government is to make laws that will make women have access to good contraceptive information, good health care services, abortion care services, I think that will help reduce the incidence of unsafe abortion and mortality in Nigeria.

Ibitoyo also spoke on role of Irise in empowering women “What is important to us is to help individuals grow, empower women and men with the skills to help the society, an empowered people build strong society. Every year we empower people, teaching people counseling skills, men and women with a view to go into the society, communities and help others heal from whatever thing they are going through. 

“From internalized abortion stigma, and help them understand that abortion is not illegal, little drops of water can make a mighty ocean, so when we educate 20, 30 women, equip them with right tools to go into the society, we empower and train the trainer who can go to the communities and train others.

She said that a lot of women live in fear, “women should be empowered, it takes a lot of efforts to bring out Nigerian women, a lot of them are afraid, they would say their husbands might not like it, a lot of women are still living in fear, because of what religion tells us”

She decried the role of some medical professionals on issue of abortion “We went for advocacy and we talked to a lot of doctors and these doctors because of religious beliefs threw away medical ethics and began to preach to us that abortion is a sin, so when a woman wants access to safe medical care and abortion, she goes through a doctor and a doctor said according to my religion or my culture what you are trying to do is a sin, you have killed that woman, the next thing for her to do is to commit suicide. So religious myth and cultural myth should be done away with and women should be given body autonomy.

Success John, a researcher on Institutional Slavery and also Facilitator at the workshop delivered a paper on Telling Your Story; while Mary Jane another facilitator had a paper on Ending Stigmatization.

Juliet Ifunanya, a participant said of her experience “I am excited to be part of this workshop today. It is a big privilege because most women outside still live in the dark and they don’t have this kind of experience, we came out and pour our mind on something.

“I say kudos to the organizers and the women behind this innovation, they deserve some accolade. It is meant to make women know their right, not in a negative way but positively. Even if you cannot give advice, the listening aspect is there, when somebody listens to you, you pour out the pains inside you. As I am going out, I am also going to bring that positive attitude to my friends, my peers, whomever I need to listen to and with the watchword here: be my sister’s keeper, that is what I learnt today.”

Nurudeen states need for Secondary School in Ifelodun, appeals to Lagos Govt, SUBEB

Success Damian:

Vice Chairman and Supervisory Councilor for Education, Ifelodun Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Hon. Koleosho Olatunbosun Nurudeen has appealed to the Lagos State Government and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to give approval for the establishment of a public Secondary School in the council.

Nurudeen made the appeal while speaking to Journalists at a Sallah party in Ojo Area of the council which he organized to thank Almighty Allah and also appreciate his teeming supporters, friends and well-wishers on Tuesday.

He said the request has become necessary considering the distance which the students from the council go through in order to attend schools in the Local Government Area.

“I plead with the state Government and likewise SUBEB to give approval for the conversion of one of the schools in Ifelodun to Public Secondary School in order to cut the danger and risk of children from the LCDA crossing roads, highways to schools within the local government,” he said.

He said the council was looking at Ajegunle Primary School at Itire and that at the Badagry Expressway, “We have done the needful, even in our recently concluded executive meeting we decided on how we can convert one of them into a secondary school, because we don’t have public secondary school within Ifelodun local council. 

“The only one we have is Gaskia but  the people that benefited from it are Badia, Ijora, so the chairman has been working tirelessly in making sure that one of these buildings is being converted to secondary school to reduce the kilometers our children cover going to school.”

Cowbellpedia Mathematic TV Quiz Show commences airing, August 10

Success Damian:

Airing of season 5 of the Cowbellpedia Secondary School Mathematics Television Quiz Show has commenced.

The airing of the brain talent show began on Saturday, 10^th August, 2019.

According a press release the TV Quiz Show which is in its 21^st edition, is sponsored by Cowbell, the flagship brand of Promasidor Nigeria Limited.

The show will be serialised into 13 episodes and aired on some television stations across the country.

The stations include: Africa Magic Family; AIT Network, STV, Jos; CRB Calabar; TVC Lagos; NTA Ibadan and ABS, Awka

In all, 108 students (54 each for junior and senior categories) will contest at this Stage of the competition, who will go through preliminary and semi-final phases with the best six in each category emerging to compete for the ultimate prize at the finals.

Devcoms calls for state of emergency on education to save Nigeria’s future

Success Damian:

To address the present turmoil and gap in educational development among Nigerian youths the Nigerian government as well as parents and guardians, should take education as a paramount goal and a basic necessity of life.

In a press release on Friday, Akin Jimoh, the Program Director at Development Communications Network stated that “the statistics of out of school children is alarming, and a state of emergency should be declared on the country’s education sector. 

“Educating children contributes to the economy, increase health gains, as people are more knowledgeable, and also help create world leaders. Not declaring a state of emergency on education is quietly stealing the potential of every Nigerian and the impact is not immediately visible till it’s too late, he said.”

Quoting UNICEF, he said Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world (10.5 million) with sixty per cent (60%) in Northern Nigeria.  Also, about 60% of out-of-school children are girls. Majority of the girls enroll in school but many of those who do enroll drop out early. Some of the factors that increases drop out statistics in Nigeria includes; low perceptions of the value of education for girls, early marriages and low socio-economic status.

Gender inequality continue to be a leading cause of education deprivation in the country. Adolescent girls and children are the most vulnerable groups who sometimes are denied of right to education due to early marriages, unplanned pregnancies and as such they drop out of school or not attend any. If youths are better informed and educated about their sexual rights, they will concentrate better in school to gain knowledge and have a better life.

Education for young people encompasses learning about physical development, including sexual and reproductive knowledge, gender identity and social issues. It sits within the broader area of relationship education and includes violence prevention education. All young people need access to information and opportunities to be able to understand issues related to relationships, gender, sexual identities, sexual orientation, sexual behavior, sexual and reproductive health, and societal messages. Sexuality education is therefore paramount for every child and young people.

Together let’s transform the education of our Youth in Nigeria and give them the best inheritance, that can be given to every child. 

As the country joins the world to celebrate this year’s International Youth Day on August 12, 2019, themed “Transforming Education” it is pertinent to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” as enshrined in Goal 4 of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Education is the best gift to bequeath to a child as it gives people the tools to help provide for themselves in the future.  It has positive impact on key development parameters such that the rate of poverty, early girl child pregnancies and other social vices will be reduced among a large number of Nigerian youths. Specifically Nigeria need to take action now to prepare the youth population to take over leadership roles as evidenced in most progressive countries today. The involvement and education of young people in all facet of life should be taken with all seriousness.

Evidences abound that educating girls is a major strategy to reducing poverty in Nigeria.  Therefore government needs to ensure it breaks every barrier in other to make education and sexuality education a reality for every child especially girls. It needs to intensify efforts in monitoring outcomes, investing in teachers, making education either affordable or free and update education sector plan.

Why I'm organising youth security summit -Pastor James

Pastor Bassey James is a man of many parts. He is the General Overseer of Royal House of Grace, a renowned criminologist and the President of Southern Youths development Forum. In this no-barred-hold interview with SUCCESS DAMIAN, he X-rays Nigeria’s current security challenges, ahead of the proposed national Youth’s security Summit by the Southern Youths Development Forum. Excerpts

How do you react to a situation where some influential traditional leaders, who believe that the security situation in Nigeria has gone out of hand,  are sensitizing the subjects and ethnic communities to rise up in defense of the own land?

No the security situation of this country has not gone out of hand. I don’t want us to play into the hands of the enemies of Nigeria. People are still moving here and there; people are moving on air, travelling north south, east and west and air crafts have not been shot down. We should not exaggerate, we shout not put fire; we should not encourage the enemies of Nigeria to rejoice over Nigeria. Nigeria is a great country; a country that has over 200 million people is a treat to other countries because the size of Nigeria, the wealth that is in this country and the population that is in this country is a treat. So we should not allow those things to happen. I think that the traditional rulers and the political class should be very mindful of whatever statement they make in the interest of Nigeria.

You are a renowned criminologist. As security expert how would approach at solving the insecurity issue in our nation today?

The Southern Youths Development Forum, which I am the President, is organizing national youth security summit first to support the President in his fight against insecurity; and to give the youths of our great nation a sense of hope and to encourage them to do what is right.

There is need for our youths to believe in Nigeria; hence we also want to build a sense of direction for their future. The attention this time is to build collaboration among the southern youths, northern youths and also our elders; because I think that the issue insecurity, crime and criminality today are principally with the youths. Crime, Boko Haram and all kinds of criminality are not committed by the elders or senior citizens. They are committed by the young between the ages of 17 to 50. So I think that we should start talking to the youths. We need to build confidence in their lives and to create an environment for interaction. That's a major thing; and to look at how cement the relationship amongst the youth of our nation in totality, build a cohesion and to assure them that it can always get better.

At what time are you going to have the security conference?

 We want to start the various editions of the conference as soon as possible; may be between September and October. We will have, at least, one in all the geographical regions. We intend to start in the south western region, in Lagos; for the north, we are looking at Kaduna; in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; in the south south, we will have it in Uyo; and Enugu in the South East. We want to see how we can reach the people because violence will never pay and never do anybody any good. The most important thing is to see how we can talk to our youths and support the government to stop the criminality.

Do you have plans to involve other relevant private and public organs whose contributions can help to achieve your goals?

I think that government should key into the initiative. We will invite our leaders and also encourage them to be part of the youth’s security conference. There is need for Nigerian youths to be engaged. There is need for those in government and those out of government to sit down and talk. There is need for the captains of industry and business moguls to sit and talk; because the government alone cannot do it. The kidnapping, the insecurity, robbery has assumed a very dangerous dimension and it cuts across the states. It is not something we should state apportioning blames to the federal government or state governments. But there is need for us to contribute our own quota. I have contributed my own part. In my state, I donated security equipment worth millions of naira; and built a police station equipped with modern communication equipment.  There is need for every person to do something.

And the issue of community policing will be discussed. One of the recommendations that the Southern Youths Development Forum will put forward to the federal government is the issue of local governments creating police units. If, for instance, each local government in Nigeria haa 100-200 trained men/vigilante to secure the communities in their own local government areas, security issues will be contained. The police alone cannot solve this problem. The total number of the police is less than one million; we have also over stretched the army; we have over stretched the security agencies including the police. So there is need for the government to work with us and let everybody to contribute, bring in technologists, retired military people and let everybody contribute to the security development of Nigeria. One hundred to two hundred people across the local government areas as vigilante to guard protect the mother communities, the villages, the town unions and with the help of the Local government chairmen of the local governments and the traditional rulers Nigeria will have secure and peaceful society.

Part of the security problems in Nigeria is the infiltration and collaboration of locals by foreign terror organizations.  Will your summit also to address this aspect?

No that is outside the scope of our discussion at Youth’s summit. We are going to discuss the dangerous dimension that the youths are going by taking up arms against their brothers and sisters. We are going to discuss the issue of Nigeria, the North, South, East and West. We want to talk about how we can live together not as Igbos, Hausas, Yorubas, Efiks, Benins, Beroms, Kanuris or what have you; but as Nigerians. We will be talking on how the youths should not yield themselves to be used for crime and how they can stay away from politicians who want to use them for all manners of crime against society. 

That is why we say that we don’t need to over-stretch the Nigerian intelligence and security sector. That aspect will be handled by government security agencies like the Police, Army, Customs and Immigration. The regular Police Force is doing what is good, but like I said they are over-stretched. Infiltration of enemies into our country will be left for the military and other security agencies whose mandate is to secure the borders and territorial integrity of Nigeria. The Customs should pay greater attention to the influx of all manners of weapons. There is need for everybody to be involved. I think that the President is doing all of things in that regard. Precisely, what the conference will dwell on is how we can look at ourselves as Nigerians and not looking at ourselves from the point of regional or ethnic biases. For instance, even though I am from Akwa-Ibom, I am a Nigeria. 

Let us begin to build in out youths the spirit of nationalism. A man of 70, 80 years and above cannot go and carry arms. Again, the major problem we have in this country is politics; we are going to look at that. There is a lot of politics in this country even after political party has won the won elections. A Nigerian political leader begins to prepare to remain as a leader for 15 to 20 even those who have been governors want to still control their states. They begin to strategise on how to install governors in the states; they are not concerned about government business and what is going on. That is why our youths are on the rampage. Let us begin to see how we can build Nigeria, if you win election for four years concentrate on governance. And when you are out of government allow the governor to work. The idea of winner takes it all must stop. When you win election invite other capable hands outside your party to help develop our country. You don’t own the society, and you are not Lord over Nigeria that when you win election you shut the door against the youths. There is need for us to start talking about all of this.

What is your opinion about military people manning our high ways?

I also want to disagree with the idea of bring the Nigeria army to man highways. It is not a good idea. I beg to disagree with the Vice President. You cannot over-stretch the Nigerian military. Equip the Police and allow them to do what they are doing; they are trained. The federal government should engage more people to contribute to the security development and maybe look at increasing the number of policemen, military and other security agencies.

From where are you going to draw the resource persons so that we don’t just have mere talking heads and no effectiveness?

We are extending the invitations to the Presidency, the governors, serving ministers, past heads of state, past Presidents, former Ministers and the political class. We are bringing in the industrialist, the diplomatic missions, and traditional rulers. We need to start talking. It is good to critise government but what are you putting on the table. Instead of sitting down to criticize Buhari’s government let first sit down and bring our various contribution to the security and general development of our country.

Jumia Women support new mothers, patients to mark African Women’s Day

Success Damian:

To commemorate this year’s Pan-African Women’s Day and in line with the global theme which addresses maternal and neonatal mortality in Africa, the female staff of Jumia Nigeria have rallied support for new mothers and other patients.

The patients include those who could not meet the discharge requirement as a result of unpaid medical bills at the Ikorodu general hospital by helping them to offset their outstanding bills. 

As a result, the patients have now been discharged and equipped with financial support to cater for the new babies. The contributions were channelled through the ‘Visit A Hospital Today’ non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Lagos.

The African Women’s Day, created by the African Union is commemorated on July 31st of every year to advocate quality maternity services for disadvantaged women who continue to die needlessly in under-served communities and to curb poor quality of health services, poor accessibility and weak referral systems for African women.

Jumia’s public relations and communications manager, Mr Olukayode Kolawole who described the financial intervention on behalf of the new mothers as kind and thoughtful, said, “When I heard about the plight of these new mothers and other patients who couldn’t meet the hospital discharge requirement because of their outstanding medical bills, I sought for support from our female staff, especially those who are mothers to contribute towards raising the sum. This collective effort towards helping other women in need through their financial resources reached far beyond what we set out to raise. Now, these women have been discharged and the babies are receiving the needed motherly affection.”

Founder of Visit-A-Hospital NGO, Miss Aderonke Rene Ahmed said hundreds of new mothers and women are always stuck in most hospitals because of lack of funds to pay for their medical bills. “Every week, we’re always in different hospitals providing financial support for these patients. We thank the wonderful women at Jumia Nigeria for sponsoring this month’s hospital visit.” Until now, these new mothers had been stuck at the general hospital with their babies for a few weeks because they couldn’t pay their medical bills. 

“Jumia’s intervention provided succour for them in the nick of time,” she added

WAEC hosts Educators in Africa, brainstorms at AEAA

Success Damian:

Management of West African Examination Council (WAEC) is set to host the 37th annual conference of the Association for Educational Assessment in Africa (AEAA) from August 5 to 9, in Abuja.

The theme of the conference is Innovation in Educational Assessment".

Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, in Lagos,  Head of Nigeria National Office, WAEC, Olu Adenipekun, announced that the event is designed to gather educators in Africa to brainstorm and seek for innovations in the area of educational assessment and standards, as well as assessment of candidates.

He said the Minister of Education of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is expected to declare the conference open. 

According to him, "The 37th Annual Conference of the AEAA will kick-off on Monday, August 5, 2019, and the Minister of Education of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is expected to declare the Conference open while the Conference will close on Friday, August 9, 2019.

"There will be presentations of academic papers from Keynote Speakers; paper presentation in plenary sessions; four parallel sessions and breakout sessions."

Furthermore, Adenipekun explained that AEAA is a non- profit organisation with the aim of promoting cooperation amongst examining and assessment  bodies in Africa.

Speaking further he said the association is a continental body for assessors, examination bodies, institutes and Faculties of Education and universities are also represented in it.

"The Association for Educational Assessment in Africa (AEAA) is a non-profit making organisation established in 1982 to promote co-operation amongst examining and assessment bodies in Africa, encourage relevant examining and assessment activities among members, to share experience and knowledge on issues of evaluation and assessment; sponsor international participation in the field of educational testing and assessment within the individual members countries among other objectives.

"The Association was born out of what was then known as the sub-regional conference for Heads of Institutions responsible for educational assessment in Eastern and Southern Africa. Many other African Countries later joined the Association and in 1982 in Arusha, Tanzania, AEAA was born drawing its membership from across the continent of Africa. Its vision is the harmonization of educational assessments on the African continent. It is affiliated to the International Association for Educational Assessment (IAEA)," he said.

However, he noted that participants would want to see the things required to ensure that assessment and standards in education and other key areas are up-to-date, remain valid and ensure that its integrity was intact.

It will be recalled that at the 35th Annual Conference of AEAA in Kampala, Uganda in August, 2017 the rights to host the 37th edition of the conference was given to WAEC, Nigeria. Since then, preparations for the Conference have been in top gear as the Local Organising Committee for the conference, swung into action to ensure that the Conference delegates from Africa and beyond have an eventful period in Nigeria. 

Also a list of fascinating places for delegates to visit during the excursion and tours around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja and its environs have been drawn. The proposed tourist sites are Nike Art Gallery, Katampe Hill, the geographical centre of Nigeria, Ushafa Pottery, Lower Usman Dam, GuraraFalls and Zuma Rock.