NEWS
IDFP, UN Urge Faith, Traditional Leaders to Join Forces against GBV
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
A non-governmental organisation, International Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP) in collaboration with the UN WOMEN, on Wednesday enjoined faith and traditional leaders in Benue state to take active part in the fight against cases of Gender Based Violence, (GBV) in the state.
The Co-chair, Inter-Faith Dialogue Forum for Peace on Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria, Rev.
Abainitus Hamman Jr. made this call while welcoming stakeholders at a one-day Engagement Forum on Development and Validation of a Comprehensive Compendium for Faith Based Actors on Prevention of SGBV in Nigeria held in Makurdi, Benue State.The theme of the event was “Faith and Traditional Leaders for Ending GBV by Advancing Advocacy, Policy and Social Norms Change in Nigeria and West Africa LEAP Project.
” It’s a six months project to be implemented in Benue, Bauchi, Kaduna and Ekiti states.Hamman who explained that the gathering was to address one of the most pervasive and devastating issues facing the society noted that
“In our country, violence against women, girls, and other marginalized groups continues to be a severe violation of their dignity and basic rights.
He said from physical assault and domestic violence to sexual harassment and harmful traditional practices, the scourge of gender-based violence destroys lives, families, and communities.
He said as faith leaders, they are called upon not only to offer prayers but to take active and concrete steps to address the epidemic.
According to him, every major world religion, including Islam and Christianity, holds the sacred principle of protecting human dignity at its core and yet, despite these teachings, gender-based violence remains rampant in the society.
He said it was painful that religious communities are not always seen as champions of women’s rights and protection from violence insisting that the narrative must change.
“Faith communities have a profound influence on shaping societal norms, behaviors, and attitudes. We must leverage this influence to condemn gender-based violence unequivocally and promote the protection and empowerment of women and girls.
“Today, we call upon all religious leaders, Christian, Muslim, traditional, and others to join forces and take action, build a society where gender-based violence is not tolerated, where survivors are supported, and where prevention is at the heart of our community values.
“There is a need to condemn all forms of GBV, promote education and awareness in their communities about the harmful consequences of GBV and the importance of mutual respect between men and women”, he said.
The Co-chair further urged them to provide support for survivors in terms of giving them solace, safety, and support within their communities as well as offering shelter, counseling, and other practical assistance and work with governments and civil society to ensure that policies and laws protecting women and girls are implemented and upheld.
They must also encourage men’s involvement and also engage men and boys in discussions about gender equality and non-violence for true transformation.
Giving an overview of the project, the Co-Secretary IDFP and Co Project Director Imam Shefiu Majemu, quoted a UN WOMEN report stating that 43 percent cases of child early and forced marriage have been recorded while 23 million girls and women married as children.
He said the project seeks to develop effective mapping tools to source relevant data of GBV prevention Actors in West Africa for a better understanding of the ecosystem and to develop and publish a regional accountability framework for traditional and religious leaders on GBV and the promotion of SRHR.
The Co-Project Director said it is expected that at the end, there would evolve a Faith Based Prevention Actors using IDFP existing and new networks in the four states initialized while a comprehensive compendium of SGBV prevention actors would be developed, published, referenced and verified as a tool for intervention.
While taking participants through the Prevention of GBV and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), the resource person, Chief Justina Ngwogobia, called on families to instill good morals in their children especially the boy child.
She said while the world is focusing on the girl child in the discussion of GBV, they have abandoned the boy child. “Let us train the boy child to be a good member of the society and a good husband,” she said, insisting that involving the men and boy in GBV discussions and activities would go a long way to curtail cases of GBV.
The stakeholders drawn from the religious and traditional institutions appreciated IDFP and UN WOMEN for the program and pledged their commitment to activities that would end GBV in the state. They also promised to step down the activities and discussions to their followers.
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
A yet to be identified gunmen suspected to be armed terrorists have attacked two communities in Kogi state killing one resident and injuring two others.
The affected communities are Edede and Ojapata communities both in Oganenigu, Dekina local government of Kogi state.
The gunmen who stormed the communities at about 3:30pm on Tuesday shot dead one Nasiru Ulayi and also razed several residential houses in Ojapata and Edede, rendering many homeless and forcing them into displaced camps.
In a similar attack, gunmen ambushed two members of the local Vigilante in Onitcha-Igo in Ofu local government of the state.
The vigilante members who were on routine patrol unconsciously walked into the ambush and the gunmen opened fire on both of them.The vigilante members skillfully escaped the rain of bullets, but were fatally wounded during the attack.
DAILY ASSET learnt that the vigilante men were rushed to the Federal University Teaching Hospital (FUTH) Lokoja for urgent medical attention.
One of the victims is said to be currently undergoing surgery as the medical personnel battle to treat bone fracture.
Eye witness said there are growing activities of kidnappers in the affected communities. “The kidnappers in this local communities are brazen and determined to flourish in their trade not minding the presence of security”
However, the Kogi State Police Command is yet to confirm the incident as efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer Afusat Oyiza Saliu failed.
The Chadian armed forces on Tuesday said that 23 soldiers were killed and 26 hurt in an attack by Islamist militant group Boko Haram on a base on the shores of Lake Chad.
Army spokesman Issakha Acheikh Chanane said that the attack late on Monday on the island of Barka Tolorom in Lake Chad was repelled by Chadian forces and that “a significant number of militants were neutralized.
”Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno called the attack “cowardly” in a post on Facebook.
“In the face of barbarism, Chad stands firm, united, and unyielding,” the president said.
“Obscurantism will never prevail over the Republic. We will continue the fight with renewed determination until this threat is eradicated.”Boko Haram, which was founded in Nigeria in West Africa, has been carrying out repeated attacks in the neighbouring Central African countries of Chad and Cameroon for years.
The islands in Lake Chad in the common border area of the three countries are now the militia’s main retreat.
The worst attack in Chad occurred in March 2020 on the Bohoma peninsula, where around 100 soldiers were killed.
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
Dangote Cement Plc delivered a strong first-quarter performance in 2026, with cement and clinker exports from Nigeria rising by 71.6 per cent as the company expanded its footprint across Africa.
The cement giant disclosed in its unaudited Q1 2026 financial results that it completed 10 clinker shipments from Nigeria to neighbouring markets during the period, reinforcing its status as Africa’s leading cement exporter.
Group installed production capacity also climbed to 55 million tonnes per annum (MTA) across the continent, while total sales volumes grew by 13.8 per cent year-on-year.
This growth was driven by an 11.
5 per cent increase in Nigerian operations and a 19.5 per cent rise across pan-African markets.Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Arvind Pathak, described the performance as an exceptional start to the year.
According to him, revenue rose by 20.4 per cent year-on-year to ₦1.198rn, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 22.8 per cent to N567.1bn.
He said the company’s disciplined cost management and efficient operating model were instrumental in converting sales growth into stronger profitability.
Profit before tax for the quarter stood at N421.1bn, marking a 35 per cent increase from N311.9 billion recorded in Q1 2025. Earnings per share also rose significantly to N19.14 from N12.29.
Pathak highlighted the rapid expansion of the company’s export business, noting that growing clinker shipments from Nigeria further strengthened Dangote Cement’s strategic leadership in regional trade.
He also revealed progress on key expansion projects, including the newly commissioned 3MTA grinding plant in Côte d’Ivoire, alongside ongoing projects in Itori, Ethiopia, and other strategic African markets.
The company aims to increase total production capacity to 80MTA by 2030 as part of its long-term growth strategy.
Dangote Cement currently operates 35.25MT capacity in Nigeria, with major plants located in Obajana, Ibese, Gboko, and Okpella.
Through sustained investment in local manufacturing, the company has successfully transformed Nigeria from a cement-importing nation into a net exporter, supplying clinker and cement to countries across West and Central Africa.
With resilient demand across its markets and ongoing expansion initiatives, Dangote Cement says it remains optimistic about maintaining strong growth and delivering long-term shareholder value throughout 2026.
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