From Esther Akaa, Lafia
Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB) has promised to partner the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) in order to promote activities of women in the state.
The Secretary of the board, Hajiya Hasiya Ahmed made the promise recently when the leadership of NAWOJ, Nasarawa State chapter paid her a courtesy visit in her office in Lafia.
According to her, the administration of Governor Abdullahi Sule has placed premium on the welfare of women in the state by initiating programmes that have direct benefits on women and youths in the state.
She thanked Governor Sule for finding her worthy to serve in that capacity, even as she used the medium to advice women in the state to form a united front, in order to benefit from government policies and programmes.
Hajiya Ahmed promised to work in synergy with NAWOJ to ensure that all victims of gender based violence get the justice they deserve.
“This is an organisation that I have known for quite a long period of time because I also belong to an organisation called National Council for Women Society (NCWS) and we have been working together with NAWOJ, so we will continue to work in synergy with you.
“I have known you for your pedigree and doggedness and I am happy to associate myself with you. We will work together to ensure that the problems of women are addressed in the state because I am a woman and I know all the challenges of women,” she said.
Earlier, in her presentation, the Chairman of NAWOJ, Nasarawa State Chapter, Comrade Hadiza Umar decried the increase in the number of gender based violence, especially rape committed against women and children.
Comrade Umar said NAWOJ was committed to giving voice to the voiceless especially women, girl child and other vulnerable children, saying that the organisation was working in partnership with other human rights organisation to give justice to the vulnerable in the society especially women.
“NAWOJ is an umbrella body for all practising women journalists in Nigeria. We are committed to giving voice to the voiceless especially women, girl child and other vulnerable children because there have been increase in the cases of violence against women such as rape, force marriage , harmful traditional practices among others .
“As women journalists, we advocate for justice and fairness for women and girls and we have been working with other human rights organisations such as United Nations (UN) Women, Action Aid Nigeria, faith based organisations and the Nasarawa State Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
“The challenges of women should not be left to them alone, they need people to help them grow. So, we want to collaborate with your office to support the information dissemination in the state.
“We have also been collaborating with the federation of female lawyers to follow up and report cases of rape but most times we have challenges were people withdraw especially cases of rape from the court because of pressure or even threats so we need people like you to support us get justice for victims of rape in the state,” she said.
She used the opportunity to inform their host of the forthcoming NAWOJ National Delegates Conference slated to hold in Minna, Niger State and solicited for her support.
The NAWOJ Chairman, therefore, congratulated Secretary of NSUBEB on her appointment, encouraging her to live above board while carrying out her assigned duties.
