STATEMENT DELIVERED BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, H.E. GEOFFREY ONYEAMA AT THE HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT OF THE 43RD SESSION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 25TH FEBRUARY 2020 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND Mr. Vice President, Your Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, On behalf of the Government of Nigeria, I congratulate H.E Ms. Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger, President of the 14th Cycle of the Human Rights Council and other members of the Bureau for your election. In line with extant provisions, your election has entrusted you with the mandate of leading and co-ordinating the work of the Council for the year 2020. We assure you of Nigeria’s support and cooperation, as you lead the work of this important body. 2. I also congratulate the fourteen (14) Member States that were elected into the Human Rights Council during the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). I reassure you all of Nigeria’s willingness to partner with other Member States of the Council in promoting the core mandates of the Council. Mr. Vice President, 3. This Session is holding at a time the world is preparing to mark the twenty-fifth (25th) anniversary of the Fourth (4th) World Conference on Women and Adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This milestone is pivotal for accelerated realization of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls the world over. It is pertinent to recognise that gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls will make a substantial contribution to the progress and prosperity of nations, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. 4. We must recognize that the achievement of society’s full human potential and sustainable development will not be possible if vulnerable members of our societies do not enjoy their full human rights and opportunities. Women and girls, for instance, must enjoy equal access to quality education, economic resources, political participation, as well as equal opportunities for employment, leadership positions, and participation in decision- making at all levels. 5. The promotion and protection of fundamental human rights and fundamental freedoms are critical elements for the achievement of international peace and security, and the attainment of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. It is for this reason that the international community must support the mandate and operations of the Human Rights Council in its quest to strengthen institutions in upholding the human rights of all, especially as it relates to gender equality and women empowerment, as well as the elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls across the globe. 6. I seize this opportunity to reiterate that Nigeria remains committed to the promotion and protection of human rights, devoid of any discrimination, in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Nigeria reaffirms its commitment to the work of the Human Rights Council, as it vigorously pursues the implementation of its core mandate of promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms worldwide. Mr. Vice President, 7. The fight against terrorism remains a priority for the Federal Government of Nigeria. In light of the need to ensure respect for human rights and professionalism, President Buhari has committed to the retraining and human rights awareness raising of the Nigerian military in engaging the growing exigencies of security in the country. The President has underscored the point that professionalism, and a culture of respect for human rights among the armed forces and other security agencies are essential policy thrusts of his administration in the fight against terrorism, the Boko Haram insurgency, kidnapping and other forms of criminalities that have bedevilled Nigeria. 8. In prosecuting the fight against terrorism, Nigeria recognises the importance of adherence to international human rights obligations. With the establishment of a Human Rights Desk at the Headquarters and formations of the Armed Forces and inauguration of the Department of Civil-Military Relations, our military and security agencies are continually sensitized on the imperative of respect for human rights, while countering terrorism. The Nigerian Army has earned accolades for Military Aid to Civil Populace (MACP) engagements at home and abroad. 9. Furthermore, with the launch of the National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, which focuses on building institutions, as well as de-radicalisation and re-integration programmes, a number of repentant Boko Haram fighters have undergone de-radicalisation processes, and have been re-integrated back into the society. Recent reforms in the judicial sector have also strengthened the Rule of Law, Access to Justice and Human Rights, the right to be protected, enhanced community resilience; sustainable livelihoods; peace-to-prosperity efforts; Community Violence Reduction (CVR) and integrated strategic communication to curtail and counter Violent Extremism. Mr. Vice President, 10. The North-East Development Commission (NEDC) has been empowered through budgetary allocation and relevant institutional structures. Moreover, our policy to ensure post-conflict recovery and build a counter-criminality environment, for speedy rehabilitation, reconstruction and resettlement of victims of terrorism in the North-East, is being vigorously pursued. 11. In addition, Nigeria has created the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. This is to enable us to respond adequately and expeditiously to humanitarian emergencies in the country. It also affords us the opportunity to interface with other humanitarian actors and engender proper co-ordination of humanitarian activities and disaster management. Mr. Vice President, 12. There is no doubt that corruption hampers development, as it impedes and frustrates the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). My Delegation therefore calls for continued international cooperation in the effort to repatriate looted funds stashed in foreign jurisdictions back to Nigeria. The availability of the funds will further facilitate the full enjoyment of basic human rights and fundamental freedoms for our citizens. Nigeria therefore calls for concerted efforts in combatting illicit financial flows. Mr. Vice President, 13. In conclusion, I want to unequivocally state that Nigeria will continue to support the Global Action for the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda, especially in critical areas of Poverty Eradication, Zero Hunger, Quality Education and Climate Change. Nigeria will, also, continue to promote and effectively defend the fundamental human rights of Nigerians and all others within our borders. 14. I thank you.

Former NAWOJ President Advocates Commission for Older Persons By Joy Idam-Ajah, Abuja. In order to ensure that the rights of Older Persons in the society are protected, a former President of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, JCIN Amb Evelyn Onyilo, has called for the establishment of a Commission that will see to the needs of older persons. Amb Onyilo, advocated for this while delivering a Keynote Address, Monday in Abuja, at a training programme on Gerontology and Geriatrics for journalists, organised by The Dave Omokaro African Institute on Ageing and Development (DOFRIAD) in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, with theme: Leveraging the Power of the Media for Social Justice in the Context of Inclusion of Older Persons in Development. Stressing that “A Commission for the protection of older persons should be created as a matter of priority. Explained further that such a Commission, when set up will put in place the necessary policies for the inclusion of older persons in the development agenda of Nigeria.” The keynote speaker, who is also the Founder of the Initiative for Women’s Accelerated Development in Africa (INWOAD), said: “The fast growing number of older persons during the last few decades has significantly impacted on the political, economic, and social functions of societies in both industrialised and developing regions.” She said there was need to talk about older people and the media has a strategic role to play in sustaining the issues as it concerns empowerment of older persons especially with people retiring earlier than before. “The media should be in the forefront of advocacy and work with other NGOs to compel the National Assembly to enact laws that would cater for the welfare of older persons. “Our media houses, reporters, and editors should make deliberate efforts to focus on the plight of our vulnerable older persons in news reportage. “Let’s give them voices to speak again by paying consistent attention to them, so that even the government will take note and perhaps do the needful by establishing institutional framework for the alleviation of the sufferings and hardships being faced by our dear older persons” she declared. Earlier during his opening remark, the Chairman Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Emmanuel Ogbeche, said ageing was a demographic reality and it was important that the issue of ageing and its attendant challenges be addressed in a holistic manner to get all sectors of society especially government to take definite steps to protect older persons. Comrade Ogbeche noted that“It is not clear if Nigeria has a functional national policy on the care and welfare of older persons. I am unaware of any. Perhaps, I as many others will gain clarity on this.” “With changing demographics and the progressive breakdown of the family structure and absence of a social security system, the older persons in Nigeria are faced with unique challenges. He appreciated the organisers of the programme adding that it was the type of opportunities the NUJ FCT desires in building institutional synergy for the good of society. The training, which will last for five days, has participants drawn from different media organizations, NHRC, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education and National Bureau of Statistics. Dr Emem Omokaro, Founder DOF, said that no fewer than 10 million older persons live in Nigeria in 2020, (NPopC 2013). “At a projected growth rate of 3.2 percent, this number is expected to grow to 28.9 million by 2050. “With varied intrinsic capacities, older persons continue to contribute to families, communities and the larger society in economic, social, political and cultural spheres. Dr. Omokaro, who is also the Convener, Stakeholders Group on Ageing in Africa (SGA), said there were concerns for healthy ageing, long term and palliative care, social protection, age friendly environment, older persons’ right to work. She added that there were also concerns of access to labour market, concerns for ageism, neglect, violence and abuse, thereby raising personal, family, state and national stakes for policy, data, legislation and human resource capacity. She noted that the targeted participants and course was designed for the Nigerian Union of Journalists, the FCT Area Council Service Commission and some Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies. She noted that participants at the end of the 5 days are expected to design workable Media interventions that will highlight the major existing bottlenecks.

Nilowv, Actionaid, GAC Seek More Participation of Women in Governance By Sharon Akuboh Azubuike, Abuja The League Of Women Voters in Nigeria (Nilowv) has re-echoed the power of women population for socio political relevance in the country. The women stated this during A ONE DAY TOWN HALL MEETING ON TACKLING THE BARRIERS OF GENDER EQUALITY AND INCLUSION OF WOMEN IN ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNANCE held at the NUJ Abuja Council, secretariat, Utako, Abuja. Chairperson Nilowv FCT chapter Chief Mrs Marie Enegwea noted that the project under the Nilowv Actionaid and Global Affairs Canada, WOMEN’S VOICES AND LEADERSHIP PROJECT is to empower women in politics. “As women, we need to support one another, come together to build a formidable team so that we can achieve anything we set our hands to do. The League Of Women Voters in Nigeria (Nilowv) is passionate about doing tha and we have been fortunate to Actionaid and GAC as partners in progress. She added that “To hold a political appointment, you must start from somewhere. As market women, religious associations, communities…Women must have a voice. We can no longer be silenced. The first stage is what we are doing today- meeting women from different walks of life under same roof to discuss how to excel in leadership positions,” she said. FCT Nilowv programme officer AYONI M. AGBABIAKA noted that in 2019 female population in Nigeria was 99.1 million persons. Over the last fifty years, female population grew substantially from 28 million to 99.1 million persons rising at an increasing annual rate that reached a maximum of 2.98% in 1978 and then decreased to 2.58% in 2019. This is out of the 180 to 200 million population of Nigeria. What then does this number mean to us as women? It means, whether we are half of the population or a little less, OUR VOICE DOES MATTER! We cannot continue to be bench warmers, back benchers and the amuludun of our policy makers where we are only remembered for votes and to sing and dance to the glory of our male folks. Our women are good for the positions also. We can chair the board and even become the president of the world,” she said. She noted that, “The time of fear and timidity is over. We are strong, bold and beautiful with brains. Let no one tell us or our girl child otherwise! This WVL project is designed for a period of five years from December 2019 to November 2023 with the support from Global Affairs Canada. We need to be ready, we need to let our voice speak, get your girls registered, get a voters card. It is the surest way to involve in governance and above all, be a woman supporting women.” President Coalition Of Women In Governance Asmau Adamu, PhD, in her keynote address on ‘Barriers affecting Women In Politics’ noted that women are supposed to be each other’s strength aspiring everywhere they find themselves. One of the participants, a senatorial candidate in the past, Hajia Muslimat Nike Abdulrahman, said “the normal thing they be say about us is that we are enemies of ourselves; we must all come together. We should not allow the men use divide and rule for us. I’m looking forward to supporting some of you,” she said while expressing her pleasure with programme. Another participant, chairperson Nigeria Association of Women Journalists Stella Okoh-Esene stated that women can only experience change “when we are able to accept ourselves.”

PRESS RELEASE FCTA STAFF MULTIPURPOSE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETTY ELECTS NEW OFFICIALS The Director of CO-OPERATIVE in Agric and Rural Development Secretariat, Mr. Innocent Ajaefobi has called on FCTA Staff Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society not to make elections a do or die affair. Speaking during the Annual General Meeting and Election of New Executives, which saw the immediate past past President, Mr Emmanuel Abenu re-elected , Mr Ajaefobi emphasized the need for the co-perators to be patient and orderly during the elections so that credible management can emerge. The outgoing Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Tortiv while presenting the Minutes of the last Ordinary General Meeting said that the Society plans to deploy ICT in giving alerts to members quarterly upon a small charge, adding that plans were in the pipeline for the Co-operative to train members on means of empowerment outside of the monthly paid sources. The Federal Capital Territory Administration’s Staff Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society eventually got a new set of Executives after a few hours of casting votes with Emmanuel Abenu re-elected as President. Speaking after the election, Mr. Emmanuel Abenu appreciated everyone for coming out to vote in the new officials and promised to serve the co-operators better in the renewed tenure. A look at the overall results from the Elections shows that for President Frank Akajiofor, a Pharmacist from Wuse General Hospital got 89 votes against the incumbent Emmanuel Abenu who defeated him with 97 votes. For Vice President, Musa Abdullahi Halidu, an Engineer with Agric and Rural Development Secretariat suffered a setback with 53 votes against former Secretary of the Cooperative, Comrade Emmanuel Tortiv who scored 130 votes. For Financial Secretary, Deborah Kassah got 52 votes, Elijah Olatayo got 55 votes while Olalekan Jimoh came top with 70 votes. For Treasurer, Maureen George, an Accountant with Monitoring and Inspection Department of FCTA had 82 votes while Hajia Saadatu Salau, the incumbent Treasurer was retained with 107 votes. For Public Relations Officer, Mr. Akaa James had 80 votes while Mrs Peace Okezie had 114 votes. For the post of Secretary, Fortune Onwumere and Assistant Secretary, Angela Efiong, were both returned unopposed. Speaking in an interview with Weekenders magazine, the Vice Presidential Contender Engr. Musa Abdullahi Halidu who congratulated his opponent described the election as open, free and fair. He said the new Executive should drive the needed progress in the Co-operative with zeal and passion for the betterment of all members. More than 600 members of the Society attended the AGM/Elections which was observed by the Chairman of Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) Comrade Oluwakorede Matilukore. Signed: Emmanuel Tortiv, Vice President, FCTA Staff Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society LTD.

FCTA ORGANIZES ELECTION