Following the release of kidnapped four journalists and their driver on Sunday, July 18, 2010, the Nigeria Journalists Wives Foundation (NJWF), has commended the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
NJWF noted that the Police contributed immensely in ensuring that the journalists were released, according to the Foundation's national coordinator, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke.
While reacting to the reunion of the kidnapped journalists with their families, Mrs. Nweke said that it is heartwarming and expressed gratitude to God Almighty for making their release a miracle one.
“This is because they were left unhurt, despite spending a week in the forest with their abductors,” she said.
She recalled that on Sunday, July 12, the media in the country were awash with the news that acting Secretary, Lagos council, Mr. Sylva Okereke and three other executive members of the union; namely, chairman, Lagos State council, Mr. Wahab Oba, Secretary of Zone G of the union, Mr. Adolphus Okonkwo, a Lagos-based journalist, Mr. Sola Oyeyipo and their driver, Mr. Azeez Yekini were abducted.
They were unconditionally released on Sunday, July 19, this year and they have since returned to the warm embrace of their families.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Journalists Wives to partner NAWOJ – Cordinator
The National cordinator of the Nigeria Journalists Wives Foundation (NJWF), Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke, has disclosed that her group is ready to partner with the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) among other like minds in pursuing their objectives.
She also said that the partnership is necessary in order to carry these women who practice journalism along.
This, she said, would avail NJWF the opportunity to discover more intimately the kind of risk their husband go through in ensuring there is bread on the table for the family and fashion ways of alleviate same, especially when it reaches the eventual ugly climax, which could lead to death and lose of properties.
“Nigeria Journalists Wives Foundation (NJWF) will strive at all times to be self-sustained,” she said, stressing that they would collaborate with the organisation and corporate entities as long as the affiliate would benefit NJWF members through ensuring economic empowerment.
Mrs. Nweke, who also is a trained journalist, said that the foundation would try to remain focused and avoid distraction usually associated with women organisations by engaging on constructive social revolution for Nigerian women for the end benefit of the entire family.
She also said that the partnership is necessary in order to carry these women who practice journalism along.
This, she said, would avail NJWF the opportunity to discover more intimately the kind of risk their husband go through in ensuring there is bread on the table for the family and fashion ways of alleviate same, especially when it reaches the eventual ugly climax, which could lead to death and lose of properties.
“Nigeria Journalists Wives Foundation (NJWF) will strive at all times to be self-sustained,” she said, stressing that they would collaborate with the organisation and corporate entities as long as the affiliate would benefit NJWF members through ensuring economic empowerment.
Mrs. Nweke, who also is a trained journalist, said that the foundation would try to remain focused and avoid distraction usually associated with women organisations by engaging on constructive social revolution for Nigerian women for the end benefit of the entire family.
NJWF condemns incessant threat to life of journalists
NJWF condemns incessant threat to life of journalists
A newly founded organisation, the Nigeria Journalists Wives Foundation (NJWF) has condemned the incessant threat to life of journalists in the country.
Speaking through its national –coordinator, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke, said that the foundation is concerned that despite the very poor conditions, journalists in the country face in carrying out their jobs as the fourth estate, the society has not realised the need to appreciate them.
She also called on the government and security agencies in the land to live up to their responsibility by taking such threats to journalists lives very seriously and ensure that it put a stop to it.
NJWF, further urged NUJ and its membership to come up with an empowerment plans for their wives and families like insurance.
“There is no level of insurance for the lives of journalists that would equal the risk they take on daily basis,” she declared.
Women, she said, must not be made to suffer unduly because and very often their breadwinners, which usually leave them and Nigerian Journalists wives with very huge tasks in keeping up with the family aspirations of having and raising educated children that would contribute to the society meaningfully.
A newly founded organisation, the Nigeria Journalists Wives Foundation (NJWF) has condemned the incessant threat to life of journalists in the country.
Speaking through its national –coordinator, Mrs. Nkemdilim Nweke, said that the foundation is concerned that despite the very poor conditions, journalists in the country face in carrying out their jobs as the fourth estate, the society has not realised the need to appreciate them.
She also called on the government and security agencies in the land to live up to their responsibility by taking such threats to journalists lives very seriously and ensure that it put a stop to it.
NJWF, further urged NUJ and its membership to come up with an empowerment plans for their wives and families like insurance.
“There is no level of insurance for the lives of journalists that would equal the risk they take on daily basis,” she declared.
Women, she said, must not be made to suffer unduly because and very often their breadwinners, which usually leave them and Nigerian Journalists wives with very huge tasks in keeping up with the family aspirations of having and raising educated children that would contribute to the society meaningfully.
UNIFEM to support increased women in governance by 2015
Mrs Kemi Ndieli, Gender and HIV/AIDS Coordinator, UNIFEM, has said that the organisation will increase the level of women representation in governance in Nigeria by 2015.
Ndieli said this in Abuja at a press briefing, organised by UNIFEM to give an update on the progress made by the National Consultative Group (NCG), a group formed in May to increase the number of women in governance.
According to her, UNIFEM will hold sensitisation campaigns to create the awareness that money is not the ``all-in-all’’ in politics and re-introduce civic education in schools.
``Part of the resolve at the last meeting is that there will be a national leadership and capacity building plan for women politicians.
``This is to increase the quantity and quality of female participation and representation in politics by 2015 elections.
``We will also look at re-introducing civic education in schools where children would be taught that honesty and credibility is golden and not this current love of money before love for country.’’
She said although it would be laudable to have increased participation in 2011, UNIFEM wanted to be sure that ``by 2015, there would be credible and honest women, who are not just interested in money but in the welfare of their electorate’’.
Ndieli said further that the media had a huge role in ensuring increased level of women participation in 2011 elections and beyond.
``The NCG identified the need for a media and communication strategy for women’s sustained and increased participation in democratic governance in Nigeria and is developing a roadmap spear-headed by some media houses, including NTA, AIT, FRCN, NAN and Guardian Newspapers.’’
Mrs Maureen Lance-Onyeiwu, Programme Manager, Governance, UNIFEM, said although the organisation realised that funding was a major problem hindering women participation in elections, the ``hype and unnecessary interest in money should be discouraged.
``We realise that funding is the major problem women have and we are working towards that in a coordinated manner but also disabusing people’s minds from the current politics-for-money philosophy.
``Politics should not come to a stage where the highest bidder wins. We must seek to have women who can sell credible and sincere candidacy to the electorate and who will stress that quality leadership should be exchanged for vote and not money.
``UNIFEM instituted a Women Politicians Trust Fund in 2006, which will systematically coordinate and resuscitate credible women to make available resources to operate and run a decent campaign,’’ Lance-Onyeiwu said.
Dr Otive Igbuzor, a women rights activist, noted that ``Every country that takes women development seriously advances faster than others.
``To accelerate the development process in Nigeria, we must ensure that women participate in the electoral process.
``Politics in Nigeria today is the exclusive preserve of the rich. It is not women alone who are faced with the challenge of funding but poor men. This leaves the arena for indecent and unscrupulous people’’.
Also speaking, Mrs Janet Adeyemi, a former member of the House of Representatives, said 70 per cent of election problems would be solved if the media stood for the truth.
``The media is the most important sector in this country. If the media stands for truth, 70 per cent of our election problems, including rigging and thuggery will be solved.
``We don’t have to wait for the number of years it took America to get it right to do same.
``All hands must be on deck in 2011 because corruption has eaten deep into the system and it will take the help of the younger generation to wipe it out,’’ Adeyemi said.
NCG has members drawn from the National Assembly, political parties, CSOs, the civil service, international donor agencies and the media. (NAN)
Ndieli said this in Abuja at a press briefing, organised by UNIFEM to give an update on the progress made by the National Consultative Group (NCG), a group formed in May to increase the number of women in governance.
According to her, UNIFEM will hold sensitisation campaigns to create the awareness that money is not the ``all-in-all’’ in politics and re-introduce civic education in schools.
``Part of the resolve at the last meeting is that there will be a national leadership and capacity building plan for women politicians.
``This is to increase the quantity and quality of female participation and representation in politics by 2015 elections.
``We will also look at re-introducing civic education in schools where children would be taught that honesty and credibility is golden and not this current love of money before love for country.’’
She said although it would be laudable to have increased participation in 2011, UNIFEM wanted to be sure that ``by 2015, there would be credible and honest women, who are not just interested in money but in the welfare of their electorate’’.
Ndieli said further that the media had a huge role in ensuring increased level of women participation in 2011 elections and beyond.
``The NCG identified the need for a media and communication strategy for women’s sustained and increased participation in democratic governance in Nigeria and is developing a roadmap spear-headed by some media houses, including NTA, AIT, FRCN, NAN and Guardian Newspapers.’’
Mrs Maureen Lance-Onyeiwu, Programme Manager, Governance, UNIFEM, said although the organisation realised that funding was a major problem hindering women participation in elections, the ``hype and unnecessary interest in money should be discouraged.
``We realise that funding is the major problem women have and we are working towards that in a coordinated manner but also disabusing people’s minds from the current politics-for-money philosophy.
``Politics should not come to a stage where the highest bidder wins. We must seek to have women who can sell credible and sincere candidacy to the electorate and who will stress that quality leadership should be exchanged for vote and not money.
``UNIFEM instituted a Women Politicians Trust Fund in 2006, which will systematically coordinate and resuscitate credible women to make available resources to operate and run a decent campaign,’’ Lance-Onyeiwu said.
Dr Otive Igbuzor, a women rights activist, noted that ``Every country that takes women development seriously advances faster than others.
``To accelerate the development process in Nigeria, we must ensure that women participate in the electoral process.
``Politics in Nigeria today is the exclusive preserve of the rich. It is not women alone who are faced with the challenge of funding but poor men. This leaves the arena for indecent and unscrupulous people’’.
Also speaking, Mrs Janet Adeyemi, a former member of the House of Representatives, said 70 per cent of election problems would be solved if the media stood for the truth.
``The media is the most important sector in this country. If the media stands for truth, 70 per cent of our election problems, including rigging and thuggery will be solved.
``We don’t have to wait for the number of years it took America to get it right to do same.
``All hands must be on deck in 2011 because corruption has eaten deep into the system and it will take the help of the younger generation to wipe it out,’’ Adeyemi said.
NCG has members drawn from the National Assembly, political parties, CSOs, the civil service, international donor agencies and the media. (NAN)
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