NEWS
Helpline Urges Women to Build Nigeria, States How to go about it
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, Helpline Foundation for the Needy Abuja congratulated all the women that have benefitted from her empowerment programs and tasked them to be proactive and to continue contributing to the development of the country.
DAILY ASSET gathered that Helpline has supported thousands of women in and around the nation’s Federal Capital Territory through skills acquisition and other empowerment programs in the last twenty years.
A commemoration message signed and issued to the media by the Foundation’s Assistant Communication Officer, Kadiri Cecilia, on behalf of its President, Dr.
Jumai Ahmadu, revealed that within the last year, the foundation empowered more than 700 women with various skills including snacks-making, bag-making, and soap-making, among others.It also disclosed that thousands of women and young girls have received training in digital skills, as well as artificial intelligence which has given them a comparative advantage and exposure to digital marketing
Calling on all the women who have benefited from its numerous self-sustaining training, and financial equipment assistance, Dr. Ahmadu stated that it was time they began to also empower other needy individuals and contribute their quota to building Nigeria.
The President, while charging the women to remain resolute and determined in their efforts to become better persons, said that the world and Nigeria needed them more than before, especially in the face of the prevailing global and national economic challenges.
She expressed optimism that this year’s International Women’s Day with the theme, “DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality,” would go a long way in exposing women to the market thereby further improving their skills technologically and availing them more opportunities.
“This year’s celebration is basically to celebrate our women who have benefited from our skill acquisition programs over the years. These programs have no doubt helped in ensuring poverty eradication, as well as financial sustainability and stability, especially among women.
“Responses through our evaluation so far have proven that our women are doing well and are financially stable and self-reliant compared to when they had not received assistance from us (Helpline),” she said.
Dr. Ahmadu added that “More than three hundred women have been empowered economically through the exhibition and sale of their handmade products.
“Moreso, over two hundred women benefited from our non-profit revolving loan scheme last year. All these are parts of efforts put in place to better the lives of women in our society”, she said.
8th of March is designated International Women’s Day by the United Nations and it is set aside for the celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It also serves as a call to action for accelerating women’s equality through digital innovation and technological equality.
The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, Thursday and Jan.1, 2025 as public holidays.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Ministry of Interior’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Magdalene Ajani, on Monday in Abuja.
According to Ajani, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said that the public holidays were to enable citizens to celebrate Christmas, Boxing Day and the New Year respectively.
“The Christmas season is a good moment for both spiritual reflection and national renewal.
“As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, let us demonstrate kindness and extend goodwill to one another, irrespective of our differences,” the Minister.
Tunji-Ojo emphasised the importance of the season as a time to foster harmony and to strengthen bonds across families and communities.
He assured citizens of the federal government’s continued commitment to ensuring peace, security, and prosperity across the nation.
He further expressed confidence in the renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu’s administration for a better and prosperous economy in 2025.
The Minister, on behalf of the federal government sent warm greetings to all Nigerians, urging them to use the festive period to reflect on the values of love, peace, and unity that the season signifies.(NAN)
Some suspected hoodlums on Saturday attacked the palace of Etsu Lokoja, Chief Emmanuel Dauda-Shelika, Nyamkpa IV, burning properties within the premises, including a vehicle.
The palace, located on plot 306, New Layout, Lokoja, was allegedly attacked by hoodlums at about 1:00 am on Saturday.
The Nupe Natives of Lokoja Development Union were planning to host the 2nd edition of the Nupe Natives end-of-the-year event, tagged “Lokoja ’24 Nupe Cultural Fiesta,” on Dec.
21, 2024, before the incident occurred.The event was, however, aborted due to the unfortunate attack.
Dauda-Shelika said this on Monday in Lokoja that he heard a big bang on my door at around 1 am.
“I woke up to check through the window, wondering what could have happened.
“Then, I suddenly saw wildfire coming out of my car that was set ablaze by attackers.
“I knew it was an attack on the palace, and therefore I could not come out because of fear of being attacked. So, I managed to come out through the back door and scaled the fence to escape for my life.
“Thereafter, I came out to the road and realised that all my neighbours in the community were on the ground trying hard to quench the fire, but unfortunately the car was burnt as well as other properties inside it.”
The traditional ruler appealed to the government and security agencies to investigate the cause of the attack and bring perpetrators and their sponsors to justice.
He admonished Nupe natives in Lokoja to avoid any reprisal attack but continue to remain peaceful and law abiding and allow the government and security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation of the attack.
“We are appealing to Gov. Ahmed Ododo and security agencies to please use their good offices to investigate this unfortunate incident and bring to justice whoever is concerned, whether directly or indirectly.
“We also want the government to kindly visit our issues by recognising and grading the stool of Etsu Lokoja, which had been in existence before colonisation,” he said.
He stated that the Lokoja Local Government Area chairman and his security team came for an on-the-spot assessment that Saturday morning, as well as the police and other security outfits.
The National President, Nupe Natives Union Lokoja, Alh. Abubakar Ndashite, said the event scheduled for Saturday was a celebration of Nupe cultural heritage and not any form of coronation as being insinuated from some quarters.
Ndashite, who doubles as the chairman of the planning committee, said the aborted event was to project the Nupe spirit and culture as well as the rich history of the diversely composed Lokoja community and the peaceful and harmonious coexistence among her.
He expressed his displeasure over the aborted cultural event, noting that the union had expended so much on it, and urged the government to bring perpetrators to book. (NAN)
The Abia Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of eight persons with two others injured in a road traffic crash that occurred along the Bende-Ohafia Road.
A statement by the Sector Commander, Mrs Ngozi Ezeoma, on Monday in Umuahia said that the crash occurred on Sunday along the Mmuri River axis of the road in Ohafia Local Government Area of the state.
She said the crash involved a Trailer carrying chippings which hit and fell on a Sharon Volkswagen vehicle with 10 persons on board.
“At the time of the crash eight persons had died including a woman standing by the roadside and three were injured.
“The injured victims were taken to the hospital while the dead ones were deposited at the morgue,” she said.
Ezeoma said that preliminary investigation revealed that the crash was caused by dangerous driving and excessive speeding. (NAN)
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