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STEPHANIE LINUS’ FOUNDATION CARRIES OUT 35 REPAIRS OF VVF PATIENTS IN KEBBI STATE

The Extended Hands Foundation, a non-governmental organization with sponsorship from NNPC/SNEPCo has completed the successful repair of 35 Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) patients in Kebbi State. The pool effort took place at the Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Development VVF Center in Gesse, Birin-Kebbi and received the co-operation of the Kebbi State Government.

Led by the founder Stephanie Linus, the Extended Hands Foundation team was received by the Governor of the state Dr Abubakar Bagudu and the First Lady Dr Zainab Bagudu. They both paid visits to the women at the VVF Center, showing their support for the cause.

All the repairs have been completed successfully and the women are recovering well.

Stephanie Linus, who spent some time with the women at the VVF Center during the course of the exercise, expressed her appreciation to the sponsors of the pool effort – NNPC/SNEPCo for investing in this cause. She also added that this was the second time the foundation was carrying out such an exercise in Kebbi state.

The team of medical staff was led by Dr Sa’ad Idris, a seasoned VVF Surgeon and former Commissioner for Health in Zamfara State with over 20 years experience in the field. He was assisted by Dr Abubakar Bawa, and other doctors and nurses at the VVF Center.

Against the backdrop of her Child Bride and Fistula advocacy movie, DRY, Stephanie Linus has been taking the message of restoration and hope to real women suffering from VVF. This pool effort goes a long way to show that DRY is more than just a movie, but a tool for touching the lives of women actually living with this condition.

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FIRST CHILD ADVOCACY CENTRE IN NIGERIA LAUNCHED.

The Cece Yara foundation, Nigeria’s flagship advocacy organization in line with its aim and vision to effectively tackle the menace of child sexual abuse is set to open the doors of its ultra-modern relief and support centre in Lagos.

In recent times research has shown that the incidence of child sexual abuse in Nigeria is growing exponentially, statistics precisely state that one in four girls and one in ten boys experienced sexual violence before 18. As a response to these alarming figures, the establishment of the Cece Yara foundation has been a major breakthrough in the fight against child exploitation and sexual abuse. The Cece Yara foundation believes that childhood should be a phase of purity and complete innocence, a period when the character of an individual is formed. The phrase ‘Cece Yara’ means ‘Save the child’ in Hausa language.

The founder, Mrs. Bola Tinubu a lawyer and a staunch advocate for children believes that the future of every child, regardless of gender, race or social background, should be preserved. She is undauntedly ready to take on the fight against sexual abuse amongst children thus her drive and motivation for establishing and running the NGO.

The Cece Yara Child Advocacy Centre provides a warm, safe and friendly shelter where survivors will be comfortable enough to rise above whatever experience they have been through. Having taken into cognizance the major problems which could arise from child sexual abuse, the centre is equipped with state of the art facilities tailored to assist the psychological and physical healing process of the survivor with a fully operational 24 hour hotline ready to cater to those in distress.

The foundation strives to put in place programs and campaigns aimed at preventing child sexual abuse, raising awareness on the issue and also giving the children a voice and a support system. The activities and successes of this organization are laudable and truly encouraging. One of the foundation’s recent accomplishments was getting justice for a 6 year old girl who was sexually violated by an adult male. The accused was detained and charged to court in October 2016. On the 16th of February 2017, the Cece Yara foundation claimed justice for the victim and the accused was sentenced to seven years imprisonment without the option of fine.

The Cece Yara foundation played a pivotal role in bringing the sex offender to book while providing legal support and psychological healing to the ‘survivor’ and her parents, through its Victim Advocacy Program. The victory serves as a deterrent to perpetuators of child sexual abuse in the country and a source of succour to survivors and their families

The centre will be opened officially to the public on the 19th of March 2017.

 

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“WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH THAT DOOR OF SUCCESS, DON’T SHUT IT BEHIND YOU” – TOKE MAKINWA WRITES

Media Personality & Author of the bestseller of “On Becoming“, Toke Makinwa took to her Twitter page this morning to share words of advice to employers who make people work for them for free with the promise of “exposure”. She shared her experience of being made to work for free which made her question her own skill.

Toke asserted that if one has experienced the good fortune of making it through the door, you should make a conscious effort to help that person who is still struggling to make it through.

Read her tweets below:

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QUEEN’S COLLEGE HEALTH CRISIS: FG DIRECTS JSS 3 & SSS 3 STUDENTS TO RESUME CLASSES

The management of Queen’s College, Lagos over the weekend sent a text message directing parents and guardians to return their wards to school on Sunday, March 19 2017.

This directive was met with resistance from members of the public and Unity Schools Old Student Association (USOSA).

Two students died last month over what the Lagos state government called bacterial infection spread through contaminated water.

Over a dozen others were hospitalised and reports say more than 1,200 students were sick.

The Chairman of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), Dr. John Ofobike had over the weekend, said that there was no going back on resumption.

He described the government’s position as “giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it,” The Nation reported.

According to Channels TV, Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu in a new directive this week, said that online students preparing for unified examination (JSS 3 and SSS 3) are to resume, adding that other students are to remain at home indefinitely.

Ofobike also confirmed the development.

The students are to resume from 7:30AM – 2:30PM between Monday and Friday.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, one SSS 3 student said: “The school has asked us to come because of our exam that is about to start. I have treated myself but I still have to tread with caution. Truthfully, I cannot eat or drink anything in the school.”

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CHECK OUT ZAINAB BALOGUN’S HILARIOUS VIEW ON PUBLIC MARRIAGE PROPOSAL

Media personality, Zainab Balogun, who has obviously had it up to her neck with public marriage proposal which is really trending now, took to her twitter page to share her views on it. Check out her tweets below:

”I don’t understand the excitement and desire for public proposals. The hype and inconvenience for others is overwhelming for me personally.

I remember sitting through a public proposal at the cinema with @LAkintobi. My face the whole time…

We sat waiting 4 the movie to start only for pics of Tolu (bride 2 be) & her bobo flying across the screen. They had video cameras & lights

We sat right behind the babe so I was all up in their proposal video looking miffed. I just wanted 2 watch my movie.I didn’t pay for extra

Then their proposal finished and the movie started. Poor girl could no longer admire her ring. She had to keep quiet for 2hrs.

I’m just saying don’t interrupt my movie, my food or shopping when you’re proposing to your babe. We’re happy for you o. We just want peace

Let’s talk about the friends who scream and ring your ears during proposals. Can’t you people just pretend to be cool and calm?

In the midst of the madness you forget who the person being proposed to is with all her screaming mates. “I Kant beelive it. Am dead”

You’re dead because Bose is engaged? Then come the aunties. “Kunle ti gage Bose” They’ve what?

Public wedding and proposal is not by force. The further away it is and low-key, the better.

My wedding invitation list is very small. My mothers list is another thing. I personally know like 30 people.

If I don’t know your full government name and DOB, I’m sorry, you can’t come to my wedding.

If I can’t call you at 2am to cry and ask for help, I’m sorry, you can’t come to my wedding.

When I say “my wedding” I mean the white because you know the trad is property of my parents

Just because you invited me 2 your wedding doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll come to mine.I don’t like pressure.I still like you so we’re cool

These are my preferences o. I just don’t want anyone to be shocked when the time comes.”

 

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“MY HUSBAND TELLS ME TO KNEEL DOWN AND STRETCH MY HANDS BEFORE CANING ME” – DIVORCE SEEKER TELLS COURT

A 39-year-old petty trader, Yemisi, on Friday pleaded with an Agege Customary Court in Lagos to end her 20-year-old loveless marriage to free herself from the pangs of daily corporal punishment meted out to her by her husband.

“My husband constantly beats me and whenever he wants to do so, he tells me to kneel down and stretch my hands like a pupil before caning me. He often threatened to kill me,” she told the court.

Testifying before Phillips Williams, the court’s President, she said there was no love lost between them again.

Yemisi described her husband of 20 years as an irresponsible man, who has refused to take proper care of her and their children.

She said she had been solely responsible for the feeding and upkeep of their children since her husband lost his job.

“I made effort to secure a loan for my husband from a cooperative bank to start a small business with a promise by him to pay back in installments.

But after a few months, he refused to pay and attempt to get him to refund the money was unsuccessful.

My husband started threatening to kill me and dispose of my corpse without anybody knowing.

I am fed up with the marriage; there is no love between us again. I can no longer bear the pains and humiliations,” she said.

She, therefore, urged the court to dissolve the marriage and to compel the respondent to be responsible for the welfare and education of the children.

The respondent, Wasiu, 49, however, denied the allegations and pleaded with the court not to dissolve the marriage.

According to him, his wife started misbehaving and became promiscuous the moment he lost his job.

Wasiu, who claimed to have caught her in the act of adultery, said:

My wife later told me that she was fed up with the union and she moved out of the house with the children sometime in 2015.

However, after much pleading, she returned home later in 2016 only to start engaging in adultery; I have caught her on several occasions.

My wife stopped cooking for me since July 2016 and finally moved out of the house.

The respondent said he made efforts and begged his wife to return, especially for the sake of their children, but she remained adamant.

The president of the court invited the estranged couple to his chambers for a possible resolution of the crisis.

He adjourned the case to April 11 for further hearing.

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“I WANT TO MARRY AN HARDWORKING MAN” – WAJE

In a recent interview with   PUNCH’s Saturday Beats,  Nigerian songstress Waje  said that she has not ruled out love and re-marrying from her life.

She also disclosed the qualities she looks for in her ideal man.

According to her, the most important thing she wants in a man apart from him being taller than her, is one who is God-fearing.

She said:

I have not ruled out the concept of love and re-marrying from my life, I can never do that. I look for certain criteria in a man and the first is that he has to be God-fearing. I don’t need a passive God-fearing man; he has to really invest in his faith.

The only way I can love someone completely and unconditionally is if I experience a bigger kind of love and that is God’s love. I also like a man who is not afraid to be expressive and who is not afraid to support someone who is hard working and in the public domain. He should not put restrictions on me and must know that this is my job and would allow me shine.

Also I would want a hardworking person. He does not have to have about $10m in his bank account but when you see someone who is hard working, it means that no matter how many times we fall, we would rise again. He has to be easy on the eyes as well. I don’t care much about his height but he should be a bit tall because I am a tall person.

Read full interview in Punch

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NIGERIAN BORN AYOBAMI ADEBAYO HAS BEEN SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2017 BAILEYS WOMEN’S PRIZE

A Nigerian writer, Ayobami Adebayo has been listed as one of the 16 finalists of the 2017 Baileys Women’s Prize for fiction writers.

The Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of United Kingdom’s most prestigious literary prizes, annually awarded to a female author of any nationality for the best original full-length novel written in English, and published in the United Kingdom.

This year, out of 189 submissions, 16 books were longlisted with Ayòbámi Adebayo as one of the three debut writers in the list.

Adébáyò is also the only West African nominated, for her book, ‘Stay With Me,’ which is a devastating story of love and motherhood in Nigeria.

Delighted at the news, Ayobami tweeted,

“I’m so STUNNED and HONOURED to be in such wonderful company! I snoozed the alarm for about two hours this morning and woke up to the news. I might snooze the alarm FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.”

The Baileys prize has been won in the past by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in 2007.

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UN ANNOUNCES NEW APPROACH TO TACKLE SEXUAL ABUSE

UN Secretary-General António Guterres says the UN will not be associated with the vile and vicious crimes of rape, sexual violence, exploitation and abuse in any way.

Guterres stated this in the Secretary-General’s report, ‘Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse: A new approach’, outlined a victim-centred strategy that is rooted in transparency, accountability and ensuring justice.

The Secretary-General’s report particularly focused on preventing and responding to such abuses committed by those serving under the UN flag, like the peacekeeping personnel.
“Such acts of cruelty should never take place. Certainly no person serving with the United Nations in any capacity should be associated with such vile and vicious crimes.
“Let us declare in one voice: We will not tolerate anyone committing or condoning sexual exploitation and abuse. We will not let anyone cover up these crimes with the UN flag,” he said.

Guterres said that promoting gender equality throughout the UN system, including its missions and peacekeeping forces, would help advance parity and at the same time decrease incidents of abuse.

“Let us do so in the name of all who look to the UN for life-saving protection and support – and on behalf of the tens of thousands of UN personnel around the world who deliver that assistance with courage and commitment to the highest ideals,” he stressed.

He noted that exploitation is also deeply rooted in gender inequality and discrimination.

The report focused is based on four tracks, including the rights and dignity of victims;and ending impunity for those guilty of crimes and abuses.

Others are drawing on the wisdom and guidance of all those who have been affected, civil society, local communities and others to strengthen and improve UN’s efforts; and to raise awareness and share best practices to end the vicious scourge.

The report also emphasised the need to engage with UN member states and called for a high-level meeting on sexual exploitation and abuses in 2017 on the margins of the general debate of the 72nd session of the General Assembly.

The report further noted that the UN chief would seek member states’ support to establish a system-wide consolidated confidential repository of case information to be placed under the supervision of the Special Coordinator on Improving UN Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.

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