Mrs Helen Mutfwang, the  wife of Plateau governor has called for an end to sexual violence in conflicts.

 Mutfwang said this during the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict in Jos on Thursday

According to her, the day should be seen as a solemn reminder of our shared duty to confront one of humanity’s gravest crime; a crime that shatters lives, stains our collective conscience, and demands urgent action.

The governor’s wife said that conflict -related sexual violence was not just rape but a weapon of war.

“It includes sexual slavery, forced pregnancies, trafficking, and other brutal acts inflicted on women, men, and children.

“These atrocities leave deep scars, not only on survivors but on entire communities, perpetuating cycles of pain and injustice,” she said.

She said the UN designated this day to amplify global awareness, to stand with survivors, and to ignite hope.

“It is a day to declare with one voice Enough! No more silence. No more impunity. We must end sexual violence in conflict, now and for future generations, “ she said.

She added that this year’s theme: ”Breaking the Cycle, Healing the Scars”, revealed a painful truth of the trauma of sexual violence across generations.

She said survivors endured not just physical wounds but psychological trauma, stigma,  poverty because families were torn apart and  communities left fractured.

 Mutfwang said the state had  taken steps to establish a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), a sanctuary where survivors would receive medical care, counseling, and legal aid to the victims.

“The center will be a lifeline to restore dignity and hope to the heart broken,” she said.

She said the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)  were at risk because they were forced from their homes to face heightened threats of abuse.

“We are working tirelessly to transform IDP camps into true safe havens, providing shelter, healthcare, education, and economic opportunities to rebuild lives with security and purpose,” she said.

She said that the state would stand by the victims and would ensure their voices were heard, their pain acknowledged, and justice served as perpetrators would face the full weight of the law.

She called on governments, civil society, and traditional leaders to act now to  dismantle the intergenerational chains of trauma,strengthen laws, fund survivor support programmes, and hold perpetrators accountable.

“Let us unite communities, faith groups, youths to break this cycle of violence.

“Let us replace silence with solidarity, shame with justice, and despair with healing and together , we can build a Plateau, where no one lives in fear of such brutality,” she added.

Speaking also during the event, the Plateau Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Caroline Dafur , said this was the first time the state was commemorating the International Day of Sexual Violence in Conflict  with the rest of the world.

Dafur thanked the state government for supporting women in the state. (NAN)

 President Bola Tinubu on Thursday inaugurated the Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development in Kaduna, marking a major step towards youths empowerment and workforce development in the state.

The initiative, strongly aligned with Gov. Uba Sani’s vision for economic inclusion and human capital growth, was aimed at equipping young Nigerians with practical skills for self-reliance and employment.

While at the Murtala Mohammed Square,  Tinubu also unveiled 100 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, part of the state government’s efforts to modernise public transportation and reduce dependency on fossil fuels.

The projects are part of the broader agenda of both the Federal and Kaduna State Governments, focusing on infrastructure development, healthcare delivery, youths empowerment, and economic growth.

In his remarks, former Vice-President, Namadi Sambo, expressed gratitude to God for the opportunity to witness the inauguration of various projects in Kaduna, particularly the 300-bed Specialist Hospital named after Tinubu.

Sambo described the hospital’s inauguration as the fulfilment of a vision that began in 2009 during his tenure as the Governor of the state.

“Today, we celebrate the realisation of a project that was conceived over 16 years ago. It is a dream come true for the people of Kaduna,” he said.

Sambo recalled that as Governor, he was confronted with a painful healthcare reality fewer than 3,000 hospital beds were available for a population exceeding six million.

Sambo added that the situation worsened when Kaduna metropolis lost its 800-bed hospital following the relocation of the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital to Shika, Zaria.

“Many families were forced to travel outside the state in search of specialist medical care. Our goal was to reverse health tourism and provide world-class medical services at home,” he said.

“The newly inaugurated 300-bed specialist hospital is expected to significantly boost healthcare delivery in the state and reduce the pressure on tertiary medical centres.”

Also speaking at the event, Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, commended Tinubu for what she described as a focused leadership that was “refocusing the country and renewing citizens’ hope in governance.”

She said that the president’s commitment to resilience and sustainable development had laid a solid foundation for national progress.

According to her, the vocational institute is a component of the Tinubu administration’s efforts to create jobs, drive economic development, and improve the quality of life for Nigerians.

She also praised Gov. Uba Sani for running an inclusive and people-centered administration.

In his remarks, Prof. Idris Bugaje, Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), described Kaduna as a growing hub for skills development in Nigeria.

He stated that while the state faced significant challenges related to youths unemployment and economic diversification, vocational training presented a viable solution.

“Vocational training and skills development are widely recognised as a pathway to empower individuals with practical knowledge, enhance self-reliance, and ensure gainful employment,” Bugaje said.

Speaking also ,the Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmad Nuhu-Bamali, commended Tinubu for his visit to Kaduna and his continued support in inaugurating the legacy projects across the state.

The emir, who spoke on behalf of the traditional rulers’ council, described the projects as impactful and unforgettable contributions to the state’s development.

He also appreciated the collaboration between Tinubu and Sani, particularly in the area of security management.

“We are witnessing the return of peace to various parts of the state, especially in Giwa and Igabi local government areas, as well as the southern zone of Kaduna,” he said.

The royal father reaffirmed the support of the traditional institution for the government’s efforts towards lasting peace and development.

Dignitaries present at the epochal visit included the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Barau Jibrin; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen; and the Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmad Nuhu-Bamalli, among others.

The project is part of a broader effort to improve health infrastructure and service delivery in the state. (NAN)

From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

Senior Pastor, Dunamis International Gospel Center (DIGC), worldwide, Dr Pastor Paul Enenche has said that one of the solutions to check the incessant killings and spate of insecurity in the country is to have leaders that would not wish to be perpetually in power and negotiate away the lives and welfare of its people.

He also stated that one of the solutions to the genocide that was experienced in Benue state and is being experienced in other parts of the country would be for the people to make a conscious decision to take their destinies in their hands by securing their communities and that they would not allow themselves to be wasted by armed herdsmen.

Enenche disclosed this in a chat with newsmen shortly after donating relief materials, including bags of rice, noodles and mattresses among other items, to victims of the Yelwata killings of Guma Local Government Area (LGA), of Benue State.

The Preacher stated that it was pertinent for Nigeria as a nation to ask forgiveness of God to cleanse and have mercy on Nigeria and give the nation a leadership that feels and have compassion for its people devoid of political sentiments.

According to Dr Pastor Enenche, “We are on a mission to Benue State in the wake of the very horrific, and almost like a genocidal pognant in the land that resulted in the death and burning of so many people alive. We see the climate of doom, the climate of death, the climate of darkness. The grief, the pain and the hurt in the land and particular in the nation.

“We came on a condolence visit to the land (Benue), we came on a solidarity visit; to stand with our people and to let them know that light will never bow for darkness and darkness will never triumph over light.”

Proffering solutions to the incidences of killing in Nigeria and Benue in particular, he said, “The solution to this type of issue is the will in the heart of the leadership of our nation, both at the federal and state levels, to have authorities and leadership that have the will to do the right thing; that have the heart for the people, to put anything political aside and look at realities and to say: this is the real situation on the ground.

“A leadership that value human lives, above every other consideration and do what is right, in the interest of the people, in the interest of their consciences and in the fact that one day everybody will stand before God to give account of their lives to God.

“We want to trust God, for national leadership that has a heart for people; national leadership that are not in position because they want position or because they want a name; national leadership that has compassion.

“So, we need to as a whole nation beg God that whatever we did that has made us to consistently have people that have no heart for the people; let God forgive us and have mercy on us and give us leadership that feels for people; leadership that will put political considerations aside; political permutations and negotiations and will not negotiate away the welfare of people; negotiate away the lives of people, only because of perpetuation.”

Going further on the kind of leadership that the people desire, Dr Enenche, said,

“The various legislatures, both the national and the state (lawmakers) must make laws that forbid this kind of devils from going to territories to kill people. What is the use of lawmakers sitting to administer over territories and nations that produce no results. 

“What is the use of sitting and making laws that are irrelevant or making no laws at all? Let nobody think that they will be where they are forever because a time will come that they will be out of office. So everybody in one position or the other will come down one day and will face this reality, if it is not tackled today. Therefore, it is better for the leadership at all levels to wake up now and do something about it.

“What kind of nation is this? Where there is almost zero heart for the feelings and aspirations of the people”, he lamented.

On the part of the people, he said, “It is time for the people to wake up, rise up and to say: enough is enough, we will take our destiny in our hands; wherever possible. I believe that those two things will work together to bring solution.

“What we also need is action on the part of the various territories of the land, where people will say: you know what? We cannot watch ourselves wasted like this, we cannot watch our communities wasted like this. Whatever we need to do, we will do it by ourselves, to ensure that we secure our territories.

“And the various communities, whatever can be done to ensure that you are not defenseless. It is highly encouraged and highly suggested and necessary at this stage. It is not a battle for comfort, but a battle for survival and people must do what it takes to ensure they survive.

“This man standing here had seven children; six of them were killed by these devils in one night. He is left with only one child now, we have others like that. This one (holding on one of the victims’ family members close to him) lost his wife and child in one night and he’s here today, because he traveled, if not he will probably not be here today.”

“And to the grieving families, he said,”It (the incident) is so heart breaking, only God knows your pains. Nobody can say: I understand, nobody understands, only God understands and the God who understands will comfort you, will console you, will give us solace and continue to give us answers to this situation”, he prayed.

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