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The First Lady of Akwa Ibom, Mrs Martha Emmanuel, has built and furnished 24 bungalow houses for widows and widowers in the state since 2015.

Mrs Emmanuel disclosed this during the maiden edition of Eket Women’s Day Celebration in Eket Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.

She said that the houses were built and furnished through the Family Empowerment and Youth Re-Orientation Initiative (FEYReP), her pet project.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mrs Emmanuel commissioned a fully furnished two-bedroom bungalow for a widow, Mrs Adiaha Udo, in Ede Obok in Eket during the occasion.

Mrs Udo was earlier living in a shack for over 10 years.

She said that FEYReP was providing shelter to the hopeless, succour to widows, restoring hopes and touching the lives of most vulnerable people across the three senatorial districts of the state.

The aim is to create a robust economic empowerment for families and re-orientate the youths to eschew all form of moral decadence,” she said.

Mrs Emmanuel advised Eket women to form cooperative groups so as to benefit from the State Government empowerment programme.

She also inaugurated a staff canteen, office block and 10 mini buses to convey staff to work.

According to her, the gesture is to complement the developmental strides of her husband.

She also donated N3 million to support the project for Eket women, saying that women are worth celebrating because they are pace setters.

The Chairman of Eket Local Government Council, Mr Frank Archibong, said that Eket women were celebrated because of the critical role they played in the development of the area.

He said the pet project of the governor’s wife was focused on providing economic alternatives to people and families who hitherto had been injured by poverty.

Through FEYReP, you have built and furnished 24 houses for widows and widowers in order to alleviate their poverty and suffering,” he said.

While thanking Mrs Emmanuel for extending the building of houses to Eket , Archibong described Mrs Emmanuel as a “life changer”.

“We, as Eket people, are very happy for the house you have built and furnished, through FEYReP, for one of our widows, popularly known as `Adiaha Ntiin’.

He said that Emmanuel’s commitment to the economic empowerment of Eket people had continued to manifest in the various life-touching policies and programmes of his administration.

Mrs Bright Archibong, the wife of the council chairman, said that Eket Women’s Day Celebration was important not only for Eket women but for all women who seek to establish the fact that women are pacesetters for sustainable progress.

She underscored the importance of women, saying that women are home makers and nation builders.

The celebration is significant because it affords Eket women the opportunity to reflect on their activities and the progresses they have made so far,” she said.

Rep. Ekpoatai Uwoidighe said that she has also attracted development projects worth over N400m to Eket.

Uwoidighe donated kitchen utensils to the widow and promised to give her N10,000 every month for her upkeep.

Responding, the beneficiary expressed appreciation to God for making the governor’s wife to remember her in time of need.

Mrs Udo thanked the wife of the governor for her kind gesture, saying that the Mrs Emmanuel had put roof on her head and smile on her face.

“I am also very grateful to Mr Archibong for facilitating the building through Her Excellency’s pet project FEYReP,” she said.

News Credit: Pulse News

Veteran actress, Joke Silva has revealed that the pressure on young actresses to offer sexual favors is very high.

She revealed this while being interviewed by newsmen on Tuesday, April 3rd at the launch of ‘Disowned’, a book by Nina Anyianuka about sexual abuse and harassment, at Terra Kulture in Lagos.

She said the pressure on young actresses to offer sexual favors is very high

On actresses being harrassed for sex.

“Unfortunately, the casting couch issue is alive in Nollywood,”

“Sometimes there is this hunger to get the work. Maybe you’ve gone to several auditions and you haven’t gotten the work, then somebody tells you that it is because you are not doing what you should do that is when you are not getting the work.

“What I say to them is don’t believe it. By the time the producer, director, production manager or whoever insists on sleeping with you, it is very likely you will end up not getting the work.

“Some of the sad stories we hear is that because some people are so desperate, they end up getting passed around.”

Her advice for entrepreneurs and upcoming actresses

“There is no need for that, to compromise one’s dignity,” she said.

“As an entrepreneur, you go round looking for money and you are probably going to get several noes before you get your eyes.

“It’s the same with an audition. You must keep your dignity. Find something else to keep body and soul together.

“That is why you hear that abroad people wait tables or work in restaurants because they need something to keep body and soul together until that break happens.

“You should be proud as long as you are earning honest money. If possible train yourself in audition skills.”

On more women in positions of power and authority in Nollywood being able to stem the tide.

“We need more women producers, more women scriptwriters, and more women stories so that we can then absorb a lot of women in the industry.”

In June 2015, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known in English as Doctors Without Borders, in partnership with the state Ministry of Health in Port Harcourt, launched a comprehensive programme dedicated to victims of sexual violence in the city.

(Photo: Daily Post)

The programme not only provides free and confidential medical and psychological care, it also organizes local activities aimed at raising awareness among Port Harcourt communities about sexual violence, its medical consequences, and the available services in MSF clinics.

Dr Chuku Adanda, the medical doctor in the MSF clinic of Orogbum area, in Port Harcourt, expands on the MSF’s mission and why it focuses on education:

“We encourage people to seek health care as early as possible after a rape or sexual assault, ideally within three days. However there is a lot of misconceptions and sometimes it can prevent a victim from accessing these much-needed services. 

In Port Harcourt as elsewhere in the world, there are many misconceptions about rape and sexual violence, their consequences and how someone can prevent them. Some people consider that rape affects children and teenagers only, whereas, in reality, it can happen to everybody.

It happens to men, to people who are in a relationship and to many other people. Whoever is forced into any kind of sexual activity is a victim of sexual violence and need medical attention as soon as possible.

Rape can happen to anyone, and it is never the victim’s fault!”.

The MSF team regularly visits universities, schools, health facilities, police stations, and local markets to encourage discussion and spread accurate information. They have been doing that through a series of online videos posted on social media, seeking to reinforce the dissemination to a larger audience.

MSF now currently operates in two clinics in Port Harcourt: Orogbum health centre and Eliozu health centre. Services are free of charge and confidential. The comprehensive healthcare package includes prophylaxis for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, vaccinations for tetanus and hepatitis B, medical first aid to treat injuries, emergency contraception, and psychological and social support.

In 2017, MSF team treated on average 75 new cases and provided 350 consultations every month. In 2018, the number of new cases treated every month increased to about 100, but many more remain ignored and do not get the urgent medical care and attention they require.

 

Source: konbini.com

Google has honoured Maya Angelou, late American writer, poet and civil rights activist with a beautiful doodle on her posthumous birthday at 90 on Wednesday.

Angelou, author of “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” touched the lives of millions around the globe through her teachings, her writings, her voice, and her actions.

Angelou once said: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

The American writer, poet and civil rights activist touched the lives of millions around the globe through her teachings, her writings, her voice, and her actions.

She was born Marguerite Annie Johnson on April 4, 1928, in Missouri and raised in rural Arkansas.

Her life was blighted by tragedy aged just seven when a sexual assault rendered her mute for five years.

During that dark time, books and poetry became her solace and constant companions, eventually helping her find her voice again.

Angelou provided eloquent commentary on race, gender and living life to its fullest in writing which brought her wide acclaim.

She wrote more than 30 books and was a Grammy winner for three spoken-word albums.

Her memoir, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” was published in 1969, and she went on to write a further six autobiographies as well as many books of poetry.

She worked on civil rights issues with leaders ranging from Martin Luther King, Jr. and John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama and even became the first African-American woman to write a produced screenplay, “Georgia, Georgia”, in 1972.

Angelou read the poem “On the Pulse of Morning” at the 1993 inauguration of President Bill Clinton, and was honored in 2011 by Barack Obama with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

She lived in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where she was a professor of American studies at Wake Forest University.

Angelou died at her home on May 28, 2014, aged 86.

Credit: Pulse News

Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is the latest cover star for the new issue of PORT Magazine and she is the first woman ever to appear on the cover of PORT, which was launched in 2011 as ‘the magazine for men’.

The cover story for the biannual style magazine was written by Catherine Lacey, and photos were taken by Mamadi Doumbouya.

The new issue, PORT’s 22nd, will be out on newsstands in mid-April.

Talking about putting a woman on the cover for the first time ever, Editor Dan Crowe says:

We launched as ‘the magazine for men’, and, while we’ve dropped that tagline (as it started to seem quite militant), we initially ran with accomplished men on the cover who we felt were under-considered by our youth-obsessed media. After we had established our brand and made this point, we chose to exercise more freedom.

We had wanted to feature the novelist Chimamanda Adichie for a while, but it took a long time to arrange. We’ll be featuring more woman and a younger guy (now that we’ve bucked the trend) from time to time in the future. But we will always have time for the iconic men associated with classic Port covers.

In the issue, Chimamanda talks about her extraordinary books, the complexity of recent gender movements and her next big project.

Speaking about choosing Chimamanda, the magazine wrote,

“The writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is one of the foremost intellectual voices in the United States today. The author of Half of a Yellow Sun, Purple Hibiscus and Americanah – as well as of one of the most viewed Ted talks in the organisation’s history, that was featured in a Beyoncé song – Adichie transcends the barriers between literature, art and music”

Top model, Naomi Campbell has been in Lagos over the past week for the ARISE Fashion Week. Prior to her visit, she posted on social media in anticipation of what she’s looking forward to doing in Nigeria, mentioning specifically how excited she was to meet the dance crew, Dream Catchers.

The dance crew have been gaining steady recognition from super stars such as Rihanna, Diddy, and Naomi Campbell as they all took to social media to appreciate these young children. The Dream Catchers are a group of young underprivileged kids, whose welfare — from education to shelter — is taken care of by the founder, Seyi Oluyole who uses dance to encourage them to stay in school.

Naomi Campbell had earlier announced on an Instagram live feed that she was only in Nigeria for Arise Fashion Week and to give back to society (specifically children).

Check out Naomi Campbell’s visit to the Dream Catchers right here:

On March 31st 2018, Nigerian singer Flavour organized a free concert in Enugu. However, many people that attended the concert claimed that many ladies were sexually assaulted and raped at Flavour’s concert.

The concert took place at Michael Okpara Square in Enugu and according to a Twitter user with the handle @Naturize9, women were assaulted, molested and raped during the show.

So, your favourite celebrity decided to give back to the community, made his concert free, but his fans (most) present at the Square, started to rape girls like it’s part of Flavour's concert in Enugu has been hit with sexual molestation and rape allegations

“They not only raped girls, but went in turns, protected the rapists from security agents and started to play with the victims’ undies! Please, someone tell me this is Sodom & Gomorrah” she wrote. You can read her full post below;

On Sunday, April 1, 2018, the Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu State Police Command, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, released a statement saying that police were investigating a case of alleged attempted rape during Flavour’s concert.

Amaraizu revealed that a suspect was in the custody of the police for attempting to rape a lady at Flavour’s concert.

The Enugu State Police Command, through its operatives at the Independence Layout Division, has commenced investigations into the alleged conduct of some people, ranging from attempt to gang rape a victim, as well as other offences, during a musical concert at the Michael Okpara Square.

One person, who is already helping operatives in their investigation, has been nabbed for his alleged role in the attempt to gang rape a victim at the Square yesterday during the musical concert of a popular Nigerian musician” read the statement.

The PRO also said that three people were arrested for allegedly stealing phones at the concert. “Those arrested will be made to face the music in line with various provisions and specifications of the law after investigations,” he said.

Flavour is yet to respond publicly to the allegations of rape at his concert.

M.A.C Cosmetics is keeping Aaliyah’s legacy alive with its latest makeup collection.

After teasing a potential collection inspired by the late R&B icon last year, the makeup brand announced that the line will be dropping later this year.

“Aaliyah super-fans everywhere – YOU made it happen! Inspired by your loyalty and love, the 90s-glam #AaliyahForMAC collection is coming soon! Aaliyah lives on in a makeup collection influenced by her groundbreaking work in music and film,” M.A.C wrote on its Instagram page.

In response to a fan’s tweet, M.A.C confirmed rumors that the collection will really drop online June 20th.

“Yes, the wait is almost over! #AaliyahforMAC arrives June 20 online and June 21 in stores,” the brand tweeted.

Not long after confirming its launch, M.A.C also gave the first sneak peek at a product in the line: a beautiful brown-nude ’90s-inspired lipstick.

“Guess which song inspired this colour!? Here’s a sneak peak at the M•A•C Aaliyah collection, coming soon! Aaliyah’s legacy continues to inspire fans – and now this 💄 shade!” M.A.C captioned its Instagram reveal.

Like all other limited edition M.A.C collections, the product comes in specially-designed packaging: a metallic dark burgundy with the singer’s signature across the top in silver lettering.

Three years ago, a fan created a petition on Change.org for M.A.C to honor Aaliyah with a makeup collection, and thanks to plenty of persistence, the line is actually coming to fruition.

“I remember signing the  petition years ago and NOW In 2018 is when she’s finally getting her own makeup like , Gets me teary eyed she so deserves this,” one fan tweeted.

Now fans of the R&B artist are already counting down the days until the highly-anticipated collection drops.

“So the #AaliyahForMAC collection is coming this summer. I don’t wear makeup but I plan on buying the collection simply because it’s Aaliyah,” one loyal fan said.

 

Culled from People.com

In November 2017,  Poets and  Writers announced that the 2018 Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Awards will be given to Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, as well as Steve Cannon, and Richard Russo.

The Writers for Writers Award was established by Poets & Writers in 1996 to recognize authors who have given generously to other writers or to the broader literary community.

According to Poets & Writers,

“The three writers we honor this year have not only expanded our horizons through their own writing, they are dedicated to supporting other writers and to bringing diverse voices into the literary conversation.”

The award was presented at Poets & Writers’ annual dinner, In Celebration of Writers, on Wednesday evening, March 28, in New York City.

For the event which held Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who has been championing a “Wear Nigerian” campaign, was gorgeous in a black and yellow outfit from Nigerian brand Muse Factory.

 

Media personality and ‎chieftain of All Progressive Congress  (APC) Chief Amb. Ginika Tor Williams is set to contest in the Federal House Of Representative ring of Awgu. Aniri, Oji River Federal Constituency, in the forthcoming 2019 election.

Chief Amb. Ginika Tor-Williams is a TV personality, a media entrepreneur, brand management expert, income strategist, with vast experience in strategy and planning. She is a graduate of law from the University of Jos .

She is also the event consultant and manager for the Enugu State Fiesta by Enugu state Government through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

 

Credit: fabwoman.ng