NationalUpdate Woman
When stakeholders gather in Abuja for Hybrid coalition against GBVH
The world is facing diverse challenges today, with each of these challenges impacting on the society in unique, different ways. However, in the midst of this global uncertainties, issues bordering on political, economic and security matters tend to hug news headlines the most, leaving other germane issues like Gender-Based Violence and Harassment, GBVH out of the front burner.
This sad reality has, understandably left various stakeholders exasperated and calling for greater action, in order to address various societal issues that have hitherto been relegated to the background.
It must be pointed out that GBVH occurs every day, but according to Unicef, “It is the most pervasive, yet least visible human rights violation in the world”. Therefore, against the backdrop of high prevalence of cases of GBVH in Nigeria, especially during and post Covid-19 periods, voices demanding increased action have become amplified. Recently, the Solidarity Center, in collaboration with the Trade Union Congress Women Commission (TUCWC), and various other Civil Society Organizations and government agencies including NAPTIP, the DSS, as well as Media and Youth organizations; converged on Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, for the inaugural Hybrid National Coalition Against GBVH.
The meeting was to discuss strategies aimed at advocating for the prevention of Gender Based Violence and Harassment (GBVH) in Workplaces, and to push for the speedy implementation of the ILO C190. The purpose of the meeting was to enable key actors develop an advocacy campaign plan targeting employers, governments and parliamentarians; as well as to foster new relationships. It is also aimed at expanding the existing coalition, and to develop stronger networks and partnerships among other critical issues. The meeting attracted a total of 30 participants, among whom were 23 women and 7 men, including a delegation from Sierra Leone and Togo.
In his welcome address, Eric Edi of the Solidarity Centre said the Solidarity Center remains the largest U.S based Worker Rights Organisation. He highlighted the efforts of the Solidarity Center in supporting workers to attain decent work experience, while commending the National Coalition on its effort in ending GBVH in the world of work, and the efforts that have led to the ratification of the ILO C190. Eric Edi called on Trade Unions to undertake more collaborative meetings/engagement, identify areas for further research, in order to get a better understanding of GBVH for total eradication in the world of work.
During the session, Comrade Roselyn Uba-Anarah, President of NUPSTRAW congratulated the stakeholders on the ratification of the C190, while saluting the courage of Nigeria as the first country to ratify C190 in West Africa. Comrade Roselyn hared the findings from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC’s) research, which was conducted in 2019 showing the prevalence of GBVH in the Nigerian World of Work, especially in the informal sector. While discussing the C190 provisions, she emphasized that GBVH is still very prevalent in workplaces in Nigeria and reiterated the need for workers to unite to end GBVH.
A member of the Coalition, Comrade Abiodun Ozurumba, stated that the Coalition has had several meetings virtually, with great knowledge drawn from them. She commended the Solidarity Center and the Trade Union Congress Women Commission for a wonderful initiative, one that brings together stakeholders, to engage and brainstorm ideas as a way of ending GBVH in the world of work. Speaking further, Comrade Abiodun Ozurumba expressed her delight for being in physical attendance at the Hybrid Meeting, to put faces to voices she has listened to, yet unable to see physically.
Janet Anaele, Program Officer – Solidarity Centre congratulated Nigeria on the ratification of the convention. She further stated that the convention makes it clear that everyone has a right to a world of work, free from violence and harassment. She encouraged other West African countries to continue to lobby the various governments towards ratification of C190, noting that Violence and harassment disproportionately affect women and that the C190 takes a gender-responsive approach to tackling the underlying inequalities largely responsible for GBVH. Harping on the C190, she stressed that the international convention provides the opportunity to address the different arrays of violence and harassment in the world of work. While presenting the research report on GBVH, she noted that GBVH is prevalent in the county’s world of work and no sector is free from what she termed a pandemic. Citing that “56 percent women workers during the interview reported to have experienced GBVH in the world of work, 53 percent reported being threatened at work, or on their way to and from work”. Highlighting the key findings on the forms of GBVH experienced by women workers in all sectors and age group includes physical violence, sexual violence—rape, sexual harassment, verbal abuse, bullying, stalking, threats of violence. Anaele also stressed that the people need to break the silence and remove the stigma around GBVH in the world of work. She exhorted everyone on the use of media language in reporting GBVH issues”. She urged Trade Unions to continue to increase awareness of GBVH, develop policies to prevent and address GBVH, and integrate C190 into their collective bargaining agreements (CBA). Janet Anaele also called on the government to adopt legislation that promotes all workers.
A representative of JONAPWD shared her perspective, saying that workers with disabilities are highly vulnerable to GBVH. Drawing from the findings of the JONAPWD-led research conducted with organizations of persons with disabilities and organizations for persons with disabilities, she called on trade unions to engage in more advocacy for workers with disabilities.
Responding to the JONAPWD representative, Janet Anaele described the current effort of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria and the Solidarity Center AL-CIO in building relationships between unions and organizations advocating for persons with disabilities. She also spoke on the commitment to create awareness among union leaders about key GBVH issues that are unique to people with disabilities, and how unions can best utilize ILO Convention 190 to assist this category of highly vulnerable workers. She provided information on the planned research on “Access to Decent Work for Persons with Disabilities” being led by Trade Union Congress with support from the Solidarity Center in the six geopolitical zones.
Comrade Ayoade….the National President of NUPTAW spoke about transport workers’ experiences of GBVH in the course of their work. He further expressed concern about GBVH against Sex workers, remarking that the initiative should also protect this category of persons.
The multi-stakeholder engagement was a huge success.
NationalUpdate Woman
World Menstrual Day: Kogi First Lady leads advocacy

Promotion of menstrual hygiene among women and girls in Kogi state is a priority, Kogi State First Lady, Hajia Sefinat Usman Ododo has restated
In her message to commemorate this year’s World Menstrual Hygiene Day, Mrs Ododo reiterated the importance of creating awareness among women and girls to promote menstrual hygiene and dignity.
The Kogi State First Lady decried the poor menstrual health and hygiene challenge affecting millions of women and girls on account of exclusion stigmatization, and inferiority complex because of their periods.
She promised to ensure provision of access to quality menstrual products, period education and period-friendly toilets.
Hajia Ododo promised to join other stakeholders around the world to raise awareness and promote good menstrual health and hygiene beyond the commemoration of the World Menstrual Hygiene Day.
The First Lady also promised access to affordable menstrual products, elimination of period stigma and shame, basic menstruation information for all, and improve access to period-friendly facilities in public spaces.
The First Lady noted that while awareness has grown in the past 10 years, a lot more needs to be done in this regard.
“Today, more and more of us are working towards a #PeriodFriendlyWorld beyond 28 May.
Menstrual Hygiene Day is a global problem affecting over 500 million women and girls worldwide. Despite progress, many still face challenges in managing their periods safely and with dignity.
The day’s theme, “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld,” emphasizes the importance of collaboration and inclusivity. We invite everyone to participate in events, share their stories, and advocate for menstrual health and hygiene,” she stated.
Hajiya Sefinat Ododo called on well meaning individuals, organizations, and government at all levels to join forces in creating a world where no one is held back because of lack of access to menstrual health and hygiene.
NationalUpdate Woman
Communique of one-day summit for female Cameroonian refugees in Nigeria

COMMUNIQUE OF WOMEN AND GIRL’S WHO ARE CAMEROONIAN REFUGEES IN NIGERIA SETTLED IN UTANGA OF OBANLIKU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ADAGOM 1, ADAGOM 2 AND UKENDE IN OGOJA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF CROSS RIVER STATE AND IKYOGEN IN KWANDE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE; BEING AN OUTCOME OF A ONE-DAY SUMMIT ORGANIZED BY CENTRE FOR WOMEN STUDIES AND INTERVENTION (CWSI) SUPPORTED BY AFRICAN WOMEN DEVELOPMENT FUND (AWDF), HELD ON 23RD, 24th, 25th 26th FEBRUARY RESPECTFULLY.
PREAMBLE: We, the Women and Girls who are Cameroonian refugees residing in Obanliku Local Government, and in Adagom 1, Adagom 3 and Ukende in Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State and in Ikyogen of Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State and which participated in the above captioned summit hereby jointly express our collective standpoint on the current state of sojourning in Nigeria as follows;
APPRECIATION:
We wish to collectively thank the Nigerian Government for being their African brothers’ and sisters’ keepers by providing a safe haven for the thousands of Cameroonians refugees who sought refuge in Nigeria as a result of the civil conflict in southern Cameroon. The Nigerian Federal Government and the State Governments of Cross River and Benue have in the spirit of Pan-Africa demonstrated exemplary care of Africa motherhood through the National Commission for Migrants Refugees and Internally displaced Persons (NCFMRI) and the State’s Emergency Management Agency (SEMA)which has very well ensured our protection and peaceful habitation in the various communities we are residing. Secondly, we wish to profoundly express our very deeply heart felt gratitude to the United Nations which through its partnership with the Government of Nigeria and the services of its agency, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) have provided us with necessaries; accommodation, water, health care services and basic education funding for our children. We also wish to immensely thank the Host Communities where we are settled for peaceful co-existence, brotherly and sisterly love and various forms of assistances they have rendered Cameroonian sojourners.
On specific and well deserving recognition; we are grateful to African Women Development Fund(AWDF) for their sterling contribution to our lives through the Inform Parents and Children Together on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (INPACT ON-SGBV) Project which they funded Centre for women Studies and Intervention(CWSI) to implement and which is currently on-going. The project which has women and girls as beneficiaries is positively imparting and impacting the lives of refugees particularly through the formation of a Girl Child Movement (GCM) which is followed up by 6 months mentoring course for the empowerment of young women and girls who are vulnerable to SGBV. The project since inception has used its unique strategies to educate and conscientized women, girl, boys and men to adopt an improved behavioral practice which not only respects the dignity of persons but enhance human development and freedom from violence.
Furthermore, their welfare packs, psycho-social counselling and medical bill assistance for refugees suffering ill health has been tremendously helpful and beneficial.
We also wish to recognize the enormous contribution of other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) whose humanitarian services and development work has brought relief to our travails. They have been a great source of inspiration, fortitude, resilience and hope away from home. The organizations which we hereby respectfully and gratefully acknowledged are as follows; Caritas Nigeria, Save The Children, Rema Care, Cuso International and Red Cross.
STATE OF AFFAIRS AND PRESENT CONCERN:
Even though we appreciate all the support given to refugees in Nigeria, particularly women and girls we still wish to solicit for more support to sustain the good works of these organizations and to reach outto many women and girls who are still in need of assistance. Our dire needs and present concern is as follows:
HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT; we wish to request for more humanitarian support as aid for refugees has dwindled in current times. Many women and girls live in austere lack and want of basic necessaries, especially, toiletries, mosquito nets, menstrual kits, mattresses, mats and blankets. We appeal to individuals, philanthropists and organizations whether local, multinational and telecommunication companies to give their support to this need.
HUNGER; this is the biggest problem we are contending with. To have a sustainable solution, apart from food donations, we appeal to humanitarian organizations and companies willing to execute corporate social responsibility to assist us with life Skill capacity building programmes that can be utilized for entrepreneurship and self-reliance as a dependable pathway to overcoming hunger. We hereby appeal to the members of the host communities to extend the privileges of allocating portions of farmland to refugees in need of land for agriculture.
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT; Our collective gratitude goes to the UNCHR and Save the Children for the free-education opportunity created for our children to go school. However, there are basic educational needs which many of our children lack. These are, school uniforms, text books, school bags and school shoes and dearth of Teachers etc. Furthermore, there is need for increased attention to be given to pupils who have graduated from primary school to access secondary school education. We shall be grateful to see that these needs are provided through any NGO or humanitarian agency.
PROVISION OF WATER AND RENOVATION OF TOILETS AND BATHROOMS; There is a general deterioration of toilet and water facility in the refugee settlements and host communities. This situation has made life uncomfortable for refugees and the host communities. The make-shift toilets provided in the settlement are now dilapidated. Also, the bore holes have become inadequate to serve the population in the settlements. Access to water is still a problem for some refugees. We hereby appeal to generous funding agencies/organization to kindly respond to and improve the water shortage situation in the settlements as well as renovation of toilets and bathrooms.
EMPLOYMENT OF MID-WIFE’ IN HEALTH-CARE CENTERS; The absence of mid-wife’ in the health care centers provided for refugees is a huge challenge for pregnant mothers. This has contributed to infant and maternal mortality of refugees. We shall be very grateful to see improvement in the health care service delivery to the refugees and we appeal to the appropriate authorities to come to our aid.
CONCLUSION; We once again thank CWSI, other national/International organizations, the state and the Nigerian government as a whole for adding value to our lives. We appeal to the government of Nigeria to continue the good works of protecting refugees by improving security in the refugee settlements.
As women, many of us have lost our husbands, children, parents and relatives in the Cameroon conflict. Though we are displaced and experiencing various challenges at the moment our indomitable spirit of the African women is not subdued. We are determined and focused as women and girls’ group to live above our challenges and create a new world of freedom for the girl child. We have a living hope of perseverance and optimism that the long dark night will be over and the dawn of a new era will emerge. The day is coming when we and our children will return back to live in a new Cameroon where every citizen will live in human dignity, justice and peace.
Signed by: Representatives of concerned female Cameroonian refugees
NYENTY OBI STEPHANIE, VICTORINE NDIFON ATOP, ANYOR PEACE ODEY MARCELINE
NationalUpdate Woman
Clark tells Tinubu to set up special Military Task Force to rescue Chibok Girls, others

***Blames him for failure to rescue tgen after 10years
Elderstatesman and Leader of the Ijaw Nation, Chief Edwin Clark, has urged President Bola Tinubu to set up a special military task force to rescur the remaining Chibok School Girls and others still in the captivity of the Boko Haram insurgents.
The Ijaw national leader gave the indication at a news conference in Abuja to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Chibok Girls abduction by the dreaded Islamic sect.
He said the special military task force should be coordinated by a courageous military
While expressing displeasure over the failure of past administrations to rescue the girls, Clark urged President Bola Tinubu to leave no stone unturned to secure the release of the girls.
“About 90 of them are still missing after 10 years. This should be a source of worry and concern to any government of a nation.
“Tinubu should appoint a special taskforce with brave soldiers, competent, transparent and not nepotic.
According to the elderstatesman “It appears to some of us that the President Tinubu’s Government is not serious in the effort to rescue the remaining Chibok girls.
“About ninety (90) of them are still missing after ten (10) years. This should be a source of worry and concern to any government of a serious nation.
“I recall that in October, 2020, when a United States of America (USA) citizen, Mr. Philip Walton was held hostage between Niger Republic and Nigeria, the government of the United States deployed one of its machineries, the Naval Special Warfare group, popularly known as SEAL Team Six, who rescued Mr. Walton in Nigeria.
” The then President of the US, Mr. Donald Trump, followed the matter to up to conclusion. When the Mr. Philip was rescued,
“President Trump was so excited that a citizen of his country held hostage had been rescued and described the action as “big win for our very elite U. S. Special Forces.” Also, speaking on the incident, the then US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, said “The United States is committed to the safe return of all U. S. citizens taken captive.
“We delivered on that commitment late last night in Nigeria, where some of our bravest and most skilled warriors rescued a U. S. citizen after a group of armed men took him hostage across the border in Niger”.
Clark wandered why the case of Nigeria is different.
According to him,In the case of the U. S., it was just one person, yet the government of the country went all out to ensure his rescue.
“In Nigeria, we are still talking about 90 girls still missing, ten years after.
Explaining further he said the Nigerian government bungled fresh negotiation to free Chibok girls
He said he led a high-level negotiations between the Nigerian government team and Boko Haram insurgents, to secure the release of 220 Chibok girls saying that it crumbled
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