POLITICS
Women are taking their Rightful Positions – Sanwo-Olu
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State says women around the world are now taking their rightful positions across all sectors.
Sanwo-Olu said this while delivering his keynote address at the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Year 2022 WAPA Connect Conference, with the theme: ”The Emerging Woman,” held at Victoria Island on Tuesday.
He said that women were no longer asking for permission, but harnessing their potential to reach their goals.
Sanwo-Olu said the characteristics and potential of women were fully demonstrated in the world of athletics by Tobi Amusan and Ese Brume.
He said the dual, who by sheer determination to achieve their goal against all odds conquered the world, by not only becoming world champions, but also breaking existing records to set new ones.
The governor said that their remarkable success has once again demonstrated that there was no limit to the height a woman could attain with commitment, determination and the will to succeed.
He said that the new Prime Ministers of Italy, UK, Finland and Turkey; and the European Union’s Ambassadors to Nigeria are all women.
”Last two weeks, we sworn in 11 Permanent Secretaries, there were more women, and so in Lagos State, we have about 65 per cent of Permanent Secretaries that are women, also the Judiciary of Lagos about 60 per cent of them are women.
”There is no gain saying that you all have achieved different levels of success against all odds in your various endeavours.
”However, the real issue that must be of serious concern to us is how do we support, inspire and encourage young emerging women to arrive at their destination against all odds.
”It is important that we accept this responsibility to guarantee a better future in a socio-economic ecosystem that is increasingly become more competitive,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He said that the conference was in pursuance of the government’s commitment to harness the potential of both the male and female genders, as the sure path to attaining the state’s full growth and development potentials.
Sanwo-Olu said that the theme of the year’s conference – ”The Emerging Woman” spoke to the changing dynamics driven by the new thinking of the 21st Century.
According to him, the emerging woman the world is craving is one that is self-aware and determined to overcome stereotypes and unleash her potentials to contribute her fair quota to moving the society and humanity forward.
He said that the government was committed to improving the welfare of women and raising their capacity to become self-sufficient and self-reliant.
”We have, in the past three and half years developed and implemented initiatives, policies and programmes that have directly benefitted women in the state,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, said that women played huge roles in the socio-economic development of society.
Sanwo-Olu said that there was a dire need to advance discussions on the emerging opportunities for women in a rapidly changing and dynamic world.
She said that such discussions would help to galvanise and prepare women to maximally benefit from such new opportunities.
Mrs Bolaji Dada, the Lagos State Commissioner of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), said that the WAPA Connect Conference was targeted at bringing together formidable women to form a synergy of economic sustainability, towards a better society.
Dada said that the programme engendered the opportunity of progressive entrepreneurship through empowerment initiatives for women, even as it translated to economic wealth for their various families and Lagos State.
”WAPA is saddled with the responsibility of women emancipation and development in Lagos State with keen and sustainable moves at curbing poverty to the barest minimum amongst its female residents
”We are interested in supporting numerous households through developmental strategies that are directed at financial independence and economic growth,”she said.
According to her, the ministry has impacted positively on the lives of young and indigent women through its various skills acquisition programmes of social, economic and agricultural development.
She commended Gov. Sanwo-Olu for his unflinching support in engaging and empowering women in the state through WAPA.
Dada said that the governor had fulfilled his promise at the inception of this administration to eradicate poverty among the citizenry, especially women, to achieve a healthy and economic viable state. (NAN)
POLITICS
I Didn’t Call for Ganduje’s Resignation – Alia
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue has denied calling for the resignation of Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman.
This was contained in a press statement issued on Wednesday in Makurdi by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Tersoo Kula.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CPS was reacting to some media reports that the governor has called for the resignation of the APC national chairman.
The Kula said the governor at no time called for the resignation of the APC national chairman.
He said the governor enjoyed a good relationship with the Ganduje-led leadership of APC.
“It is imperative to clarify that at no point did Governor Alia assembled, attended and sent a representative or participated in any meeting to discuss the removal or call for resignation of Alhaji. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
“The Benue State governor remains firm in his support and allegiance to the leadership of the National Working Committee of the APC, under the leadership of Alhaji Ganduje.
“Furthermore, at no point, whether publicly or privately, has the governor advocated or expressed any desire for the resignation of the National party chairman”, he said.
He said the governor was focused on positively changing the fortunes of the state.
“He is alive to his responsibilities as the leader of APC in Benue State and is doing everything legitimate to reposition the party for future victories.” Kula said.
Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in Benue State said it has withdrawn the only case filed by the embattled state chairman of the party, comrade Austin Agada that was pending before High Court 4 in Makurdi.
It said the said case has been consequently struck out by Justice T.A. Kume.
The state publicity secretary of the party, Daniel Ihomun, said this was done in compliance with the directive of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in its 146th meeting held on the 20th March, 2024, wherein resolutions targeting peace were made directing all pending cases filed by members of the party in Benue State against the party or concerning the party and its members be withdrawn within 7 days.
Mr. Ihomun in a statement, made available to newsmen in Makurdi, said the State Legal Adviser of the APC, Alyebo Mathew Esq, at the instance of the state chairman, filed a Notice of Withdrawal on the 25th March, 2024, in the only case filed by the chairman that was pending before High Court 4 in Makurdi.
The party urged all members affected by the directive to withdraw all matters in court to clear the way for proper reconciliation that will ultimately pave the way for peace in the party.
POLITICS
Mutfwang Meets PDP North Central Leadership Calls for Unity among Officials
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The Executive Governor of Plateau State, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang has called for unity a purpose among officials of the North Central geopolitical political zone towards the growth of the party in the region.
He noted that the region has consistently remained a stronghold for the PDP since its inception, attributing it to the party’s ideologies and its developmental impact on the citizens at any given opportunity.
Governor Mutfwang made the commendation during a meeting on Wednesday with PDP officials from the North Central, led by the zonal National Vice Chairman, Hon. Theophilus Dakas Shan, at Plateau House in Abuja the nation’s capital.
While applauding the dedication, patriotism, and steadfast support of the PDP officials in the region for their role in promoting unity and internal democracy in the party reiterated that such dedication will not be forgotten by the party.
Governor Mutfwang through his Director of Press and Public Affairs expressed his gratitude to the zonal officials for their commitment during the 2023 general elections, an effort he said aligned with the party’s principles.
He reiterated that the party’s mission is to govern not for personal gain but for the people’s liberation, voicing his expectation that the PDP will continue to be the people’s party, deserving of significant involvement in its administration.
As the opposition party, the Governor emphasized the need to strive for the governance Nigerians aspire to, stating, “We must offer constructive criticism to the government and ensure the Nigerian people are not shortchanged.”
The Governor announced plans to reform the party into a robust, dependable, and credible political platform that enables Nigerians to run for elections and fulfill the promise of democracy.
The National Vice Chairman of the PDP North Central Zone, Hon. Theophilus Dakas Shan, congratulated Governor Mutfwang on his election and Supreme Court victories.
He pledged full support to his administration, noting that the Governor’s unique position as the sole PDP-elected Governor from the zone will not be taken for granted.
He acknowledged the North Central’s role in electing the National Chairman of the PDP by consensus before the 2023 elections. However, recent political events in Benue State, has set aside the Chairman from office adding that the zone needs to address the matter as a family.
Hon. Shan said plans are underway to hold congresses of the Party and called for unity to ensure that the process is reliable, credible, and universally accepted, thereby minimizing potential litigation.
POLITICS
FG Seeks Swedish Govt Support on Technical Education
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Federal Government is seeking the support of the Swedish Government to help drive its ongoing efforts of integrating technology and skills into the education sector.The Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman who made the appeal while hosting the Ambassador of Sweden to Nigeria, Annika Hahn-Englung, on a working visit to the ministry on Tuesday in Abuja, said it was important to leverage Sweden’s technical expertise.
The Minister also said the Federal government is seeking the support of the Swedish government in the development of indigenous languages to aid sound educational development in Nigeria. He said: “The presence of (Swedish) tech companies in education and training is very important for us because one of the major things this ministry is focusing on now is to bring technology and skills into our education system right from the very early stage of education and we feel it is a very important mechanism tool for learning and teaching.”And so we will be looking at your experiences to see how we can grow from that because what we want is right from primary school we want our students to be exposed to technology and skills so that at that stage they can grow with it and nurture critical thinking capabilities.“Right now education is not all about just providing training for jobs and skills of today, but preparing them to think about the skills of tomorrow and the best way to do that is by nurturing critical thinking capability right at the early stage.“So we will be leveraging your expertise and experience in order for us to develop our plans and integrate skills and technology into the curriculum at all the levels of our education system in Nigeria.”Mamman who noted that some agreements had been signed between Nigeria and Sweden in the past, however, stressed the need for both countries to deepen bilateral relationships by committing to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in several areas of partnerships.The Swedish envoy had earlier named some Swedish firms in Nigeria engaged in educational and entrepreneurship programmes.Hahn – Englung who expressed Sweden’s readiness to deepen existing relationships, especially in the area of education, noted Sweden’s desire to have more students study in the country’s institutions of higher learning.“We have quite a number of companies especially when it comes to EdTech but then also, we have ideas to see what we can do more together.“We have many Nigerian students going to Sweden every year. They are very competitive students we have noticed but we will like to see that expand more.”