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Stanley Nwanosike

Nestlé Nigeria Plc, on Monday, donated nutritious food and beverages worth N32 million to support individuals and families most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in Enugu State.

The items donated included: cartoons of Milo, Golden morn, Maggi, and Nestlé Purelife bottled water among others.

Presenting the items in Enugu, Managing Director/CEO of the company, Mauricio Alarcon, said that as the fight against the spread of COVID-19 continues to intensify, all hands must be on deck, to defeat this common enemy.

“As a company that cares, we are doing all we can to support the individuals and families at a time like this when our communities need us the most.

“We hope that these foods and beverages would help provide the necessary nutrients to those who need them most in these times,’’ he said.

Alarcon was represented by Mr Afolabi Adeleye, Nestlé Branch Manager, South-East (Enugu).

Receiving the donation, Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo, thanked Nestlé Nigeria for the generous donation and for thinking about the people of Enugu State in these challenging times.

Ezeilo said, “I want to appreciate Nestlé Nigeria Plc for including Enugu State among the states to benefit from its relief efforts.

“The lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 has negatively impacted on businesses in the state as in other states and your donation today shows you are feeling the heartbeat of our people.

“On behalf of the governor and the good people of Enugu State, I promise that the items will get to the vulnerable, sick, orphans and the indigenes and residents of the state, who really need these food and beverage products’’.

News Agency  of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that as the fall out of the COVID-19 crisis including loss of livelihood escalates across the country, many families are facing increasing challenges with getting the right nourishment.

Nestlé is determined to help cushion the effects on the most vulnerable by donating food and beverages worth over N450 million and a cash donation of N250 million towards the procurement of medical equipment and supplies through the Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) to support the government’s efforts.

Nestlé Nigeria also recently donated 13,000 of N95 face masks to the Lagos State Ministry of Health to help ensure the safety of frontline medical professionals and volunteers in the fight against COVID-19.

Ariwodola Idowu
The Ekiti Commissioner for health, Dr Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, has warned  that the state government will deploy stricter measures to enforce compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures.

Yaya-Kolade, also a member of the Ekiti State Task Force on COVID-19, gave warning while briefing newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Monday.

According to her, the government is ready to ensure that Ekiti people comply with rules established to avert the transmission of the disease.

She announced that the state had recorded four new cases of novel coronavirus, but said that  the  cases were not as a result of community spread.

The commissioner said that the new infections brought the state’s burden  to 29 cases, with 18 treated and discharged, nine active and two deaths.

“The new cases are two health workers, an elderly citizen with no travel  history and a young man who sneaked into the state from Lagos.

“As a government, we are doing everything possible to prevent community spread of the virus; residents are urged to adhere strictly to precautionary measures,” she said.

Yaya-Kolade said that although some of the patients had underlying health issues, they had been put under strict observations.

Prof. Bolaji Aluko, Coordinator, Ekiti Taskforce on COVID 19, called  for compliance with all established preventive measures against the pandemic.

He urged Ekiti people to wear face masks while in public  and ensure good sanitary habits to avoid infection.

Aluko warned that the task force would take stringent steps against anyone found in public places without face masks.

Emmanuel Afonne

Offot Usung Ifiayong community  in Uyo Local Government Area (LGA) of Akwa Ibom  has  petitioned the National Universities Commission (NUC) alleging unprovoked attacks on their community by management of University of Uyo.

The community under the aegis of Offot Usung Ifiayong Unity Assembly,  made the call on Monday in a communiqué of their meeting in Uyo, addressed to the General Secretary of NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed.

The communiqué signed by Obong Tony Asikpo, a former Speaker, Uyo Legislative Assembly and 18 others,  appealed to NUC to call the management of UNIUYO to order over alleged  harassments of its people pending court’s decision over disputed land.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the community hosts the university permanent site located along Nwaniba, Uruan LGA, Akwa Ibom.

“The latest in the series of alleged attacks and illegal destruction of property occurred in the night of Sunday May 24, 2020.

“Our people were woken up at 2 a.m. by sound of intense gunshots that continued for over an hour.  The people were frightened and remained indoors fearing there was an armed robbery attack in the area.

“They were however shocked to discover in the morning that not less than 10 houses in the community had been demolished.

“This is one in several unprovoked attacks by the university, ignoring many peace moves initiated by the State Government to find  lasting solution to the protracted land dispute between the community (ten Offot Ukwa villages),” the communiqué read.

The community further alleged that the university authorities eventually withdrew from harassing members of the community when the matter was taken to court in suit no. HU/337/2015, while the police promised to hold dialogue with parties on the matter.

The people of the community, therefore, urged NUC to prevail on the university authority to desist from harassing the people and wait for the pronouncement of the court.

They further asked the commission to prevail on the vice chancellor of University of Uyo, Prof. Enefiok Essien to return to the negotiating table already established through the Secretary to State Government (SSG) Mr Emmanuel Ekuwem for the purpose of peace.

He said the purpose of negotiation was for purpose of delineation of the boundaries between the community and the university so as to put an end to every form of hostility and installing lasting peace for needed development.

“We also demand that the management of the university of Uyo be prevailed upon to pay adequate compensations to all the victims whose property at various stages of completion were destroyed in the Feb. 15, 2015 and May 24, 2020 illegal demolition,” the communiqué added.

Olawale Jokotoye

Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun on Monday said  that his administration would stop at nothing to punish  cases of sexual violence and allied offences.

Abiodun said  this when he received  in his office an anti- sexual and gender-based rally led by his wife, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun.

The governor  assured the team  that all cases that affect the safety of women would not just be expeditiously tried, but culprits would be dealt with.

He added that the state government had charged its public prosecution team to ensure that all cases relating to violence against women were fast-tracked and offenders brought to book.

Abiodun said that the state government had also directed its Violence against Persons Prohibition Committee to ensure sensitisation and education  of the public on issues surrounding the illegal acts.

He also said that the state executive council including the state  Attorney-General had met to consider all issues pertaining  to the girl child, women deprivation and all other forms of abuses against women.

“On May 13, we set up a committee: the Violence against Persons Prohibition Committee.

“There is a law that was passed in 2017, but nothing happened.

“What we did was to sit down with our Attorney-General and the rest of our team and this committee was charged to look into all the issues that have to do with the girl child and all forms of  abuses against women.

“This, we did, even before the incident of the girl in Edo,” he said.

Abiodun described the walk staged by the high-profile women in the state as “profound and a move in the right direction”.

He assured them that violence against women in any form, either domestic violence or rape, would not be condoned in the state.

“It is very profound that this walk has further demonstrated our intolerance for violence against women in any form, and please note that we have already taken up the case of a lady who was recently raped in the state.

“The lady in question has suffered spinal cord injuries as a result of multiple rape incidences.

“The case of the  girl in Edo state is just one case of rape too many because we have a similar case in Ogun,” he said.

Earlier in her remarks, the First Lady, Mrs Bamidele  Abiodun, who  convened  the rally, called for collective condemnation against cases of violence against women.

“There is an urgent need to speak up against such heinous crime in the society,” she added.

She added that her office was working with the Violence against Persons Prohibition Committee to ensure an effective, comprehensive and coordinated response to cases of sexual and gender based violence in the state.

Mrs Abiodun also called for more involvement of men in national conversation on violence against women.

A notable Nollywood actress, Iyabo Ojo, who was part of the rally commended Mrs Abiodun for the initiative against rape and violence against women.

Martha Agas

Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau has congratulated the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Jos, Rev Dr Matthew Audu, on his 61st birthday.

In a congratulatory message issued on Monday in Jos by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Makut Macham, the governor described the archbishop as an epitome of humility, selflessness and godliness.

“His Grace is a man that is well-loved for many reasons. He stands for truth and justice and always speaks for the poor while reaching out to them at every available opportunity.

“He continues to inspire us all with the word of God and also living an exemplary life,” he said.

He wished the archbishop God’s protection and good health, saying Plateau people, particularly Catholics, were happy to have him in the state as the Archbishop that succeeded Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama earlier in the year.

In a similar development, Lalong also congratulated Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, acting President, Court of Appeal, over her nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Senate for confirmation as substantive President, Court of Appeal.

Lalong had, on Sunday, during the thanksgiving service to mark the 2020 Democracy Day and his 5th year in office, asked Plateau people to pray for her confirmation.

He appreciated the President for the gesture and expressed optimism that with her pedigree, she was going to make the nation, Plateau state, her family and the judiciary proud.

The governor said that she would do so by upholding the tenets of justice, truth and integrity.

Raji Rasak

Parents have been advised to educate their children on all they need to know about sex education.

Mrs Oluwayemisi Ogunyemi, an  Assistant Director in the Lagos State Ministry of Education, gave the advice in Badagry on Monday during a virtual discussion organised by the Badagry Development Women Forum (BDWF).

Ogunyemi advised parents to always define every part of their  children’s body, particularly,  their private parts to  them so that children could  understand their importance.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the virtual topic is: “Impact of Mothers on Sexual Assault and Consent in Recent Times”.

Ogunyemi said more emphasis should be laid  on consent when educating the children on sex education at a young age.

“Let the children know that it is  ‘my body, my rules’.

“No one should have dominance over me or my body because of the cloths I wear, or the way I look or because I was born differently,” she said.

She advised that parents should learn how to communicate properly and be protective of their children.

Ogunyemi said that  mothers alone should not be left alone to care for their children   at home.

According to her, parenting is a collective responsibility, and I think that  the onus should not be on just the mothers.

“Both parents should as much as possible ensure they make themselves available to their children , not just physically, but also emotionally.

“But in a situation whereby the children are not particularly close to their fathers, I will encourage mothers to fill that vacuum and ensure that they educate their children properly.

“Make them know that no matter what happens, they can always have at least one person to confide in.

“I am fully aware that the society has put the bigger burden of raising the child on the mother,” she said.

She said that over the years, a greater per cent of African mothers were complacent about how they raised their male children, and that tradition was carried down from generation to generation.

“Some mothers never really hold their male children with the same level of accountability as their female children.

“Some do it unintentionally because that’s what they’re were taught to accept as the normal way of life.

“The typical African home focuses more on raising the girl-child in a certain manner such as teaching  er how to cook , how to dress decently and how to behave in order to score a good man and marry into a good home,” she said.

On the incessant cases of rape in the country, Ogunyemi said creating an atmosphere for victims to open up could be helpful.

“Until we begin to create a safe space for the victims to speak up, until we begin to advocate for capital punishment for rapists and their apologists, we might not see the end of this war.

“The poor lady that was raped and murdered in a church in Edo , a place that should be safe for all, what can we say she did wrong? What excuses can be given?

“This further buttresses my point that regardless of how decent or indecently dressed a lady is, she can still be raped.

“I believe that the earlier we begin to blame the rapists for the act, instead of blaming the victims; the earlier we teach our male children that you have no authority over anyone’s body, because you’re stronger or because you were born a male child, the better for the society,” she said.

Also,  David Chidozie, the Chief Executive Officer of Chidozie Global Network, said that the same energy channelled at training the girl-child should be channelled towards training the boy-child.

According to him, rape should not only be viewed as a female thing, saying that while she is the victim, the male is the culprit.

” The menfolk will be in a better position to fight rape, because they are in the centre of it; the men are the promoters of rape and should be called out to lead the advocacy,” he said.