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Alcaraz Sweeps Into Argentina Open Semi Fnals

Sports

vonsports

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February 18, 2023

Top seed Carlos Alcaraz shrugged off damp, cold conditions to sweep into the semi-finals of the Argentina Open with a straight sets victory over Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic.

The Spanish world number two, who is making his return to tennis at this week’s event in Buenos Aires after a four-month injury layoff, eased into the last four with a 6-4, 6-2 victory in 1hr 33min.Friday’s quarter-finals took place in chilly conditions after a week of wild weather swings in Buenos Aires which saw temperatures go from 38.1 C (100.6 degrees Fahrenheit) last Sunday to 7.9C (46.2F) on Thursday.

Nevertheless the weather did not deter around 5,000 fans from packing the Guillermo Vilas court at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club to watch Alcaraz march into the last four.

Alcaraz, who had looked rusty in his opening match of the tournament on Wednesday, made a solid start to take a 3-0 lead before surrendering the initiative to allow Lajovic to level at 4-4.

The 19-year-old then held and broke Lajovic to take the first set.

Alcaraz was stronger in the second, swiftly opening up a big lead before clinching victory with a trademark forehand winner.

“Everything was very different from what we have been used to — there was rain and it was cold,” Alcaraz said of the conditions.

“Bu the tennis player’s day-to-day job is to adapt to the conditions, and I think a great match came out.

“I have competed very well, I have played at a great level, but I want to continue improving in the semi-finals.”

Alcaraz will face either Argentinian fifth seed Francisco Cerundolo or Spain’s Bernabe Zapata Miralles in the last four.

In the other side of the draw, Peruvian qualifier Juan Pablo Varillas will play Britain’s Cameron Norrie for a place in the final.

Varillas upset third-seeded Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-4 in their quarter-final.

Second seed Norrie meanwhile beat Argentina’s Tomas Etcheverry 5-7, 6-0, 6-3 to book his semi-final berth.

Punch/Samuel Isaiah

Naira Redesign Policy: People’s Redemption Party Calls for Reversal

Politics

Amaka Nliam

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February 17, 2023

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With the countdown to Nigeria’s presidential election, the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) has called on the Federal Government to reverse its Naira Redesign Policy to ameliorate the hardship being experienced by Nigerians.

(The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had on 26 October, 2022 announced its intention to redesign the 200, 500 and 1,000 naira notes to tackle corruption and counterfeiting. However, since the unveiling of the notes, Nigerians across different parts of the country have been struggling to access them from banks and ATM cash points).

The party also urged the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, to resign from office.

The PRP’s National Chairman, Alhaji Falalu Bello, stated this in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, at the presentation of the party’s manifesto titled “Compact with the People.”

Bello said the withdrawal of over N2 trillion from circulation and printing of N300 billion by the CBN is the reason for the present crisis in Nigeria.

‘Any policy that denies citizens access to their money is not good and is not a good policy.

‘It (the Naira redesign policy) is a man-made crisis that is avoidable.

‘For the failure of this policy, which made and still makes Nigerians suffer, we ask that the CBN governor honourably resign, failing which the president should fire him.

‘As a registered political party in Nigeria and a juristic person, the PRP has been denied access to its credit balances in banks on supposed order of the CBN that has disallowed withdrawal beyond twenty thousand naira (N20, 000) across the counter.

‘This order, we must say, is an illegal one and we are testing the powers of both the banks and the CBN from denying us access to our credit in court and will ask for punitive damages,’ he added.

The PRP chairman, Alhaji Falalu Bello, thereafter presented a 34-page manifesto which, he said, if given a chance to rule Nigeria will bring security to the nation, make Agriculture an economically viable activity, stop the hemorrhage in the nation’s economy and grow it for the benefit of the Nigerian people rather than the Nigerian elite.

It promised to also improve the educational and human development needs of the nation and address the over 10 million out-of-school children that can not be wished away.

‘The manifesto would also make Nigeria a truly federal nation and grow the extraction industry to benefit all Nigerians. It would be pursued vigorously by all PRP government at all levels.

‘It would address the problems the country is presently passing through under the government of the All Progressives Congress,’ the manifesto further revealed.

According to the PRP’s national chairman, the party’s manifesto, a six-point agenda, will also address the infrastructural development and health of the nation.

‘It will enhance national security and revamp the oil, gas and solid minerals sector,’ he noted.

He lamented that the last eight years of the APC-led administration had witnessed continuous growth in petroleum subsidy which, according to him, the president himself had tagged as a fraud.

‘President Muhammadu Buhari should address the alleged fraud going on in the oil sector before leaving office in three months’ time.

‘The continuous wastage of the nation’s resources on Warri, Kaduna and Port Harcourt refineries upon which the government spent over N4. 15 trillion without the refineries producing must not be allowed to continue,’ stressed the PRP national chairman.

For his part, the PRP presidential candidate, Kola Abiola, said the party would be accountable to people, adding that ‘a lot of things you see in this manifesto is something we would do, if we are elected by the grace of God.

‘We are here because we want to serve the interest of the common man, mentor the next generation and also correct the wrongs in the past.

‘In the next four years, Nigerians would see a different Nigeria. We live and stand by our manifesto.’

Edited by Amaka E. Nliam

NEPZA, SEC to list free trade zones on capital market

Business and Tech

Hauwa Abubakar Anaja

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February 17, 2023

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Plans are underway to begin the listing of Free Trade Zones and zones’ enterprises on the Nigeria Capital Market.

The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA); Nigeria Economic Zones Association (NEZA) and the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) as well as the Lagos Free Zone (LFZ) are the key establishments involved in this innovation.

The Managing Director/CEO NEPZA Mr. Adesoji Adesugba while speaking during a business interface meeting with the Director-General of SEC, Alhaji Lamido Yuguda at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, said that the prosperity and wealth of the free trade zone would be effectively extended to the investing public through the stock market.

Mr. Adesugba, explained that the law establishing NEPZA gave it substantial latitude to effect changes that ensured dimensional linkages between the free zone and the Nigerian public for mutual benefits.

“We are not in this alone; it is indeed a synergy between some key agencies of government with the Security and Exchange Commission driving the process in order to grant access to the free trade zone community to trade on the Nigerian Stock Market.

“The best governance structure and framework to drive this innovation is also being worked on. This initiative is a sign of greater things the Authority and the Commission can do together to position the country’s business environment and the stock market for global competitiveness.

We are, therefore, about to unleash immeasurable wealth, technology and prosperity into the country’s stock market. It is our desire to convert the country’s business space into a free trade zone as obtained in Dubai. This is like a first step towards that direction,’’ the NEPZA boss said.

A Good Cause

Mr Dinesh Rathi, Managing Director of the Lagos Free Zone (LFZ), said that it was gratifying that the Lagos Free Zone was among the team championing this good course, adding that the move would allow shares of the Lagos Free Zone, Lekki Deep-Sea Port and the 24 enterprises under zone’s supervision available to the public in the future.

“We are, therefore, happy that the Working Group drafting the framework has been given six weeks deadline within which to submit the final draft of the would-be operating framework.

“We need a document that will stand the test of time. This system of linking the free zone with the customs territory using the stock market is not new; we are currently sharing the experiences of Dubai, China and India that have been successful with this,’’ Rathi said.

For his part, Mr Yuguda, expressed delight in the initiative that aimed to pull more players into the stock market net, adding, however, that all grey areas that could act as impediment must be dealt with.

The DG, SEC also said that the commission was interested in the governance structure of the free trade zones enterprises

as that was fundamental to the declaration of profits and sharing of dividends.

“On the whole, the commission welcomes this innovation and we must all work hard for it to come to fruition in the shortest possible time.

“ Already, six weeks deadline has been agreed to submit the final draft of the framework and we must work within this period to deliver this big gift to Nigerians,’’ Yuguda said.

NRM Presidential Candidate Unveils Manifesto; Proposes Exciting, Unhindered Opportunities

Politics

Amaka Nliam

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February 17, 2023

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The presidential candidate of the National Recue Movement (NRM), Ambassador Felix Osakwe, has unveiled his party’s manifesto, stating that one of the key ideologies of the NRM is to provide what he terms “New, Exciting, Unhindered Opportunities” that focus on building human capital to grow the God-given skills of young Nigerians.

Ambassador Felix Osakwe, the presidential candidate of the National Recue Movement (NRM).

Ambassador Felix Osakwe stated this in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, at the official unveiling of the “Raising Nigeria Again 2023 NRM Presidential Manifesto.”

The NRM presidential candidate further said that one of the ways the party would rescue Nigeria, if given the opportunity, is to set up a National Council of Parenting and Mentorship which would tackle the major root cause of societal problems as well as build character through the educational system.

‘We are going to reform the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme by making the one year a valid work experience to tackle the issue of working experience for graduates to get experience.

‘If working experience is a condition for a graduate to get a job, while serving, they need to move from one region to another to acquire experience and to understand other cultures, have a better picture of Nigeria so that when they finish they have something to show as their working experience gained from these various parts,’ Ambassador Osakwe disclosed.

Security/ Safe Communities

Ambassador Osakwe advocated the setting-up of a database system whereby individuals in a community can easily be identified for accountability to one another.

‘State police, street police and forest police need to be established in addition to federal policing system for a more robust amd effective coverage of the entire nation.

‘If suddenly you see a stranger and you are able to identify who is not a community member with the help of a database, it makes the job of policing easier.

‘We have many weapons in our hands on how we can fight insecurity, one of which is a serious dialogue approach between different religions, ethnicity, tribalism and sectionalism without suspicion and fear of one another with the help of traditional rulers.

‘Without dialogue and understanding we cannot win the war against insecurity in Nigeria. It is most important to unite the nation, bring back trust of one another.

‘I have so much faith in our military. The might of our military in Nigeria can not be underrated by any man; once the opportunity is given to them to do the needful, I can assure you, they will do beyond what you ask them to do.

‘Ask the military and the police to go out for peace-keeping, the report will say that they are one of the best. Once opportunity is given to them, they can do beyond our expectation,’ said the NRM presidential candidate.

Healthcare System

Ambassador Osakwe stated that part of the NRM’s agenda for the health care system is to build an inclusive untramodern health care system by designing a central digital health care management system whereby patients’ information is easily displayed for a more swift and efficient health care service.

‘If given the opportunity, I would recommend to the National Assembly to scrap the idea of identification systems that identify people by where they come from or religion and ethnicity rather than emphasizing being a Nigerian first before anything else.

‘The NRM is a movement that gives everyone equal opportunity,’ he noted.

The National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Isaac Ode, while addressing the gathering, stated that in recognition of the fact that every country belongs to the grassroots, the party identifies itself as the National Rescue Movement.

Earlier, the keynote speaker, Dr. George Ikpot, called for the setting-up of a committee to draft a proper constitution out of the manifesto, which he described as a well thought-out document.

He called on Nigerians to take ownership of the country and eschew the things that cause more separation rather than unity such as religion, ethnicity, and selfishness.

Edited by Amaka E. Nliam

General Election: Commission seeks Army’s support in Borno State

Nigeria

Peace Piak Kanu

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February 17, 2023

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The Borno State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mohammed Ibrahim has called for a close working relationship and support from the Nigerian Army towards the successful conduct of the general election in the state.

The REC made the call when he paid a courtesy visit to the General Officer Commanding 7 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Sector 1 Operation HADIN KAI, Major General Waidi Shaibu at Headquarters 7 Division, Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri, the state capital.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner said that the visit to 7 Division was to also commend previous collaborations with the Army and to ensure a free, fair and credible electoral process during the forthcoming 2023 general election adding that the visit to the Division was crucial at a time when the Commission was faced with the task of delivering a safe, secure and violence-free election.

He, therefore, appealed for the support and collaboration of the military to aid INEC in delivering its mandate without any encumbrances.

Responding, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division and Commander Sector 1 Operation HADIN KAI, Major General Waidi Shaibu assured them of the Division’s readiness to ensure a successful and hitch-free exercise. He equally assured that adequate arrangements had been made to support the Commission in ensuring the safety of men and materials throughout the period of the election.

General Shaibu further stressed that the Division was fully aware of the critical nature of the election, especially in the North East and emphasized that all strategies had been mapped out in conjunction with other security agencies, to dominate all flash points in order to ensure the safety of both INEC staff and the electorate during the exercise.

He thereafter informed the commission that the Division would operate within its mandate, in line with the Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement for Nigerian Army Personnel, during the 2023 general election, as directed by the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya.

PIAK

War College: Army Chief urges participants to remain focused

Nigeria

Peace Piak Kanu

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February 17, 2023

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The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya has urged the participants of Course 7/2021 of Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) to remain focused and apply themselves towards maximizing the benefits of the college.

General Yahaya made the comment while inaugurating Course 7/2021 of Army War College Nigeria (AWCN), at the College Auditorium in Abuja.

The COAS who congratulated the participants said the content of the course would equip them with the requisite expertise to plan and execute military operations in the theatres.

“It is highly envisaged that by the end of your course, you all would have joined the elite league of critical thinkers who strive not only to identify challenges bedevilling our dear nation but to proffer possible strategies or solutions that would succinctly mitigate the challenges.”

The COAS further enjoined them to also leverage the jointness in the training for enhanced synergy with other security agencies in the conduct of operations.

He challenged the participants to imbibe all that is gained from the repository of this great institution so as to adequately bring pragmatic solutions to bear when confronted by such problems in the field.

The Commandant Army War College Nigeria Major General BA Alabi said the AWCN was established to bridge the knowledge gap between the tactical and strategic levels of leadership across the Services.

This gap according to him gave rise to the need to produce well-trained, educated and inspired operational-level leaders for the Nigerian Army ( NA)

General Alabi reaffirmed that bridging the identified gap would no doubt positions the NA to respond to the increasing need for integrated political/military response in contemporary and future battlespaces.

PIAK

Anambra State: YPP Loses Appeal Against APGA Senatorial Candidate

Politics

Amaka Nliam

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February 17, 2023

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Anambra State: YPP Loses Appeal Against APGA Senatorial Candidate

The Court of Appeal, Awka Division, has dismissed the appeal of the Young Progressive Party’s (YPP) candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, against the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for Anambra South, Engr. Chris Azubogu.

Azubogu, who was nominated as the senatorial candidate of APGA for Anambra South district, has faced legal battles from the YPP in their

effort to have his name removed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); the YPP argued that APGA held its Anambra South Senate primary outside Anambra South district.

Recall that Justice Ngajiwa had on December 8, 2022 presided over the Federal High Court, Awka, and ruled that the YPP does not have locus standi to question the outcome of another party’s primary election.

Not satisfied with the judgment, the YPP appealed the judgment.

Delivering the judgment, the court dismissed the YPP’s appeal and judgment of the Federal High Court by Justice Ngajiwa, which was appealed, sustained, and affirmed on the ground that the YPP, being a different political party, does not have a locus standi to institute action against the nomination of Azubogu as a candidate of another political party (APGA).

The court also held that the suit was statute-barred, being that it was filed outside the 14 days allowed by law, assuming they even had a locus.

The court also admonished the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), urging lawyers to always advise their clients properly so that they avoid pursuing frivolous matters that waste the time of the court like the YPP’s case against Azubogu and the APGA.

The court also ordered the YPP to pay Chris Azubogu, the APGA and INEC the sum of one million naira (N1,000,000) each.

The YPP Senate candidate for the Anambra South zone has been striving to remove Engineer Chris Azubogu and the APGA from the INEC list for the Anambra South senatorial election in what many consider as a failed attempt by Senator Ubah to run unopposed at a time people of Anambra South are looking forward to electing Azubogu as a senator from the people’s platform called APGA.

Safety Net Programme: FCT collaborates with Digital Identification Project

Nigeria

Peace Piak Kanu

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February 17, 2023

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The Federal Capital Territory’s (FCT) Social Safety Net Programme has pledged to collaborate with the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (NDID4D) project on the proposed Pilot Ecosystem Enrolment Project (PEEP).

The NDID4D External Communication Manager, Mr Mouktar Adamu in a statement issued in Abuja, said it was billed to begin on April 12.

The pledge was made by the State Office Coordinating Unit (SOCU-FCT) Coordinator, Garba Baba Gambo, when a delegation from the NDID4D paid him a courtesy call to intimate him of its forthcoming enrolment in the FCT.

The enrolment will also include the poor and vulnerable people, a primary area of interest to the safety net programme.

The visit followed a similar one undertaken to the National Coordinating Office, NASSCO, of the programme that oversees the National safety net programme at the federal level.

The NDID4D Coordinator, Solomon Musa Odole said the collaboration is important to the project as the mandate of the project to ensure an increase in the number of people having the National Identification Number (NIN) was in tune with the safety net’s collection of data on the poor and vulnerable for the National Social Register.

“We know you collect data too and hence our need to sit and talk with you,” Odole emphasised, as he pointed to the fact that this goal aligned with the safety net data capture alongside the NIN.

He stated that this would also help the NDID4D to track an indicator of its Project Development Objective that related to SOCU-FCT’s focus on the poor and the vulnerable

After identifying the four key components of the NDID4D, Odole said the visit was also in conformity with its mandate of managing its stakeholders, especially in light of the implementation of the PEEP.

Gambo, in his response, appreciated the idea of collaboration, saying that the safety net programme had structures from the federal to the community level, but many of its subjects were without the NIN and any mining of SOCU data by the NDID4D would help the programme update its records.

“We have the structure, the workforce, for state and community levels and have covered about 740 local government areas in the country’’, especially after the national programme’s mandate was upscaled since up in January 2023.

“You are (therefore) coming at the right time’’ he told his visitors as he pledged to mobilise the programme’s Community-based targeting (CBT) and update its Rapid Response Register (RRR) for the collaboration.

He called for documentation from the NDID4D and the need to intimate the National Coordinating Office of the Social safety net programme on plans for the SOCU-FCT.

This, he said, was important since the SOCU-FCT CBT would be expected to work closely with the NDID4D’s Front End Partners (FEPs) who would be conducting enrolment under the PEEP.

PIAK

Ghanaian peacekeepers receive prestigious UN medals

Africa

Hauwa Mustapha

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February 17, 2023

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A total of 633 soldiers and 80 officers from the pioneering Ghana Battalion (GHANBATT) and Ghana Level II Plus Medical Unit (GHANMED) serving with the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) have received the prestigious United Nations Peacekeeping Medals at a colourful medal parade at the mission’s headquarters.

The Acting Director Defence Information (DDI), Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, also disclosed that the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei, UNISFA in Sector South Headquarters of UNISFA, extol the virtues of the Ghanaian Contingents to UNISFA

This is in recognition of their meritorious service and immense contributions towards the peace process in the Abyei Administrative Area.
Also decorated were Headquarter Staff Officers and some Military Observers.

Addressing the contingents, the Acting Head of Mission and Force Commander, Major General Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr, applauded the peacekeepers for exhibiting a high sense of professionalism and dedication in the performance of their duties.

“Beginning with the first attack on a Ghana Battalion (GHANBATT) Recue Team to Agok on 6 March 2022, the Unit has come under unprecedented direct attacks of armed elements on 10 different occasions in their line of duty, making you the first that bear the scar of peace on your equipment”, stated General Sawyerr.

He stressed that through all these incidents GHANBATT 1 courageously stood their ground and defended UNISFA personnel, and installations and provided protection to civilians under imminent danger.

General Sawyerr noted with satisfaction how on several occasions, the unit went out into communities under attack to save lives and properties giving first aid, food, and shelter to internally displaced persons at the peril of their own lives, stressing that the battalion deserves the highest commendation for the extreme show of bravery and professionalism.

“I wish to express my satisfaction for the effective way you have operated in Sector South which is currently the most sensitive area in the Box” said General Sawyerr.

The Acting Head of Mission expressed satisfaction with the fact that aside all the daily operational commitment, GHANBATT has taken a keen interest in education within Sector South leading to several donations to most of the schools within its AOR, holding periodic medical outreaches, opening its health post at all its locations to offer support to locals which have helped save several lives.

The veterinary services provided to the locals have been a novelty in this Mission which has been highly appreciated by the locals, given the fact that animal husbandry is their mainstay.

General Sawyerr commended the professional services provided by Col Thomas Gbiseh and his medical team at Ghana Level 2 Plus Hospital which is the sole provider of radiological and dental services in Abyei Box, on which the local community depends.

He also commended the Sector South Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Eric Aboagye Tieku for the exemplary manner he has led his troops to achieve the great feat and for displaying professionalism, courage, and flexibility to lead a well-trained and highly motivated force to weather every storm that confronted the Unit despite the austere resources available to him.
In a goodwill message from the people and government of Ghana, Major General Charles Kodjo Asomanning, appreciated UNISFA leadership for the support given to the Ghanian Battalion and the Medical Unit which made them perform creditably well even though they arrived at the 2mission area with little logistics.

He solicited the same support for the incoming battalions that may soon be coming to replace them General Asomanning Awity pledged the Ghanaian government’s commitment to supporting UNISFA and peacekeeping globally.

Hauwa M.

NGO Enjoins Women to Vote for Gender-aware Candidates

Politics

Amaka Nliam

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February 17, 2023

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BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights (BAOBAB), a non-governmental organization (NGO), has enjoined women and their male allies to vote for gender-aware candidates, who have the interest of women and girls at heart in the forthcoming elections.

Bunmi Dipo-Salami, Executive Director of BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights, a Non-governmental Organization.

In a statement the Executive Director of BAOBAB, Bunmi Dipo-Salami, asserted that candidates who understand the issues and struggles of women and have shown concern in addressing such over the years would change the negative narrative on gender equality.

‘… The elections on February 25 and March 11 have presented another opportunity to vote in such candidates.

‘As we all know, politics is a game of numbers and records have shown that more women vote during elections.

‘While you cast your vote, remember that we need to bring in competent, capable, and compassionate leaders, whether male or female, who will prioritize women’s development for the benefit of the nation,’ the statement read in part.

She called on women to remember the campaign promises made by all the candidates and identify those who included the needs of women in their manifestos and also proved how the needs could be met. She also charged women to also recall the antecedents of those who had been voted for in the past and assess how women and girls fared under their watch.

‘Look out for those with plans of appointive positions for women; candidates who have transformative plans for the education of the girl-child; those who will prioritize good quality and affordable healthcare for women and girls; candidates that will fight against all forms of gender-based violence; candidates that can take Nigerian women out of poverty so as to enable them live meaningfully in the society,’ Dipo-Salami urged.

BAOBAB called on the electorate not to be carried away by the temporary gifts of food, cash and other incentives, which had been the strategy of vote buying and selling.

‘Voting for candidates who believe in women’s inclusion, who will advance their interests and position them in critical areas is in the best interest of the country,’ she added.

The NGO lamented that the call for an increase in the representation of women in governance and other leadership positions had remained a mirage in Nigeria, with several factors militating against the achievement of the demand for many decades, especially since the advent of the Fourth Republic.

‘With a total of 93,469,008 citizens, which comprises 49,054,162 males and 44,414,846 females who are eligible to vote in the general elections, records from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) show that only about 10% of the candidates are women.

‘Only one out of eighteen presidential candidates is a woman, and not a single woman is being fielded as a vice-presidential candidate.

‘Women constitute only 6% of the 416 candidates contesting governorship across the 36 states, only 8.4% of the 1,101 candidates gunning for senatorial seats are women, and of the 3,122 candidates contesting seats at the House of Representatives, only 288 are women.

‘At the level of the sub-national legislatures, only 1,046 out of the 10, 225 candidates are women,’ the statement further read.

It said the poor representation of women in elected offices, which is both a cause and effect of persistent inequality and discrimination against women, exacerbates the silent pandemic of gender-based violence, continuous relegation of women to the background, lack of support for the implementation of laws that favour women and girls and feminization of poverty, among other issues.

Expressing the belief that what a woman can not do cannot be done, Dipo-Salami appealed to the electorate to vote for Nigerians who would bring in women to help heal the land and also called on the government to ensure that security agencies protect voters and peace reigns at all polling units so that Nigerians, especially women, could cast their votes with no threat to their lives.

‘The time to change Nigeria for the better is NOW. Vote capacity. Vote track record. Vote to advance women’s progress. Vote commitment. Vote WISELY!’ BAOBAB appealed.

Edited by Amaka E. Nliam

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