Sustained advocacy aimed at raising awareness on human rights violations, especially against women, children and inhuman treatments against persons have been identified as strategic approach towards social justice, peaceful coexistence and development in any society.

This was the focus during an awareness campaign in Warri organized by Chairperson of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Delta State Chapter in collaboration with Human Rights Protection Congress, International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Warri Branch and the Development Initiative for Community Impact, DICI, to commemorate World Day of Social Justice with the theme “Bridging Gaps, Building Alliance”.

February 20 every year was designated by the 63rd United nations General Assembly to mark World Day of Social Justice targeted at the economic emancipation of women in bridging the lacuna that exists, as well as championing a coordinated world approach in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals number 1, 2, 3, and 10 agenda by 2030 which seek for gender equality, ending poverty, ensuring healthy living, amongst others.

By this very direction, the goals would encourage women inclusivity, address gender based inequality, ensuring social justice which inturn would impact on the global Gross Domestic Product, and huge returns to developing economies Nigeria’s due to collaborations and impact of globalisation.

In commemoration of this year’s World Day of Social Justice, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Delta State Chapter, led by its Chairperson, Comrade Sonia Unobunjo, flanked by members, together with the National Secretary of the Human Rights Protection Congress, Chairperson, International Federation of Women Lawyers, Warri branch and her team, and the Development Initiative for Community Impact, DICI were at the popular Polokor Market in Warri to sensitize traders, mainly women, on human rights and key social issues that would promote social justice and peaceful coexistence in society.

The NAWOJ Delta Chairperson raised the need for women and other traders to be aware of their rights and stand against social injustice through cooperation with relevant human rights activist, as well as the media so as to achieve a society of equity, fairness, reiterating the need for them to be alert and speak out whenever things go wrong.

Human Rights Protection Congress National Secretary, Comrade Kelvin Ejumudo, Chairperson of International Federation of Women Lawyers, Mrs Ogechi Megbele, as well as a former Councillor in Warri South, Chief Linda Ikpuri, further stressed on the right of women, children and men alike, and made case for the protection of victims of rape, molestation and other gender based violence.

They appealed to mothers to prioritise the welfare of their children, warning against child labour and insisting that child education is a right and not a privilege.

While the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, International Federation of Women Lawyers and Human Rights Protection Congress recognised the present economic hardship in which women are the worst hit, stated that deliberate actions from members of the society in achieving social injustice can still not be overemphasised.

During the sensitization, the various groups encouraged the public to report complaints, especially on human rights violations to the group so as to see that such issues are addressed appropriately.

By Patrick Ochei

The National Child’s Rights Implementation Committee (NCRIC) has applauded Delta State for the successes it has recorded since the inauguration of Delta State Child’s Rights Implementation Committee in 2020.

The Co-Chairman of NCRIC, Dr. Nwaobiala Macjohn gave the commendation during a 2-Day Capacity Building Workshop, organised by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs for three Principal Officers of State’s Child’s Rights Implementation Committee (SCRIC) in the South-South Geo-Political Zone, which held at Uyo in Akwa-Ibom State, from Monday February 19 to Tuesday February 20, 2024.

Dr. Nwaobiala affirmed that the achievements of Delta State Committee were rich enough to form part of the NCRIC reports to be transmitted to Geneva on the progress of Nigeria with regards to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Earlier while making a presentation of progress report from Delta State Child’s Rights Implementation Committee, the Chairman, Mrs. Oghenekevwe Agas had reeled out the achievements of the Committee under her leadership, which were possible by proper partnership with the Government of Delta State.

She said apart from getting regular funding to run the SCRIC Secretariat in terms of carrying out awareness creation of the activities of the Committee, paying of advocacy visits to government agencies, security agencies, religious bodies, traditional institution, etc, the Committee had also gone ahead to inaugurate the Local Government Child’s Rights Implementation Committees (LCRICs) with Secretaries of Local Governments as chairmen and the Heads of Personnel Management (HPMs) as secretaries.

Agas equally reported the milestone accomplishment of the State in setting up the Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) in Specialist Hospitals in the three Senatorial Districts of Delta State to enable victims of rape and defilement get adequate treatment, as well as provide a platform for data to be generated for investigation and legal pursuit for justice.

The Anioma Nation in Delta State of Nigeria, has been thrown into yet another mourning as the very revered Traditional connoisseur and culture colossus, Her Royal Majesty, Obi Martha Dunkwu (Omu Okpanam/Omu Anioma/Nneoha) joins her Ancestors in an unannounced transition.

The Organisation For the Advancement of Anioma Culture (OFAAC) as the umbrella body of Anioma Culture, led by her President and CEO of Contemporary Group Ltd, Arc. Kester Ifeadi has paid a condolence visit to the family of the Omu Okpanam/Omu Anioma and Nneoha.

In their emotional laden visit, the delegationh expressed the unreserved grief of Anioma Nation to the very unexpected and unprepared transition of the epitome of Anioma Culture who was a Board of Trustee member of OFAAC.

Ifeadi in a teary eyes affirmed that Anioma Nation had lost a rare gem, a living legend created in a class of her own and a traditional leader that had brought visibility and glamour to the culture and traditions of Anioma people of Nigeria.

Additionally, he said it would be difficult for Anioma to recover from the irreversible loss that Omu Martha Dunkwu’s transition had placed it, thereby encouraging all and sundry to take solace in the fact that she had left a legacy that can never be erased.

In the family’s response, Omu Dunkwu’s only biological child and lecturer at the University of Benin, Dr. Afamefuna Dunkwu-Okafor appreciated the OFAAC delegation for coming to identify with the bereaved family.

He said his mother lived for her people and had now gone to be with her Ancestors, having fulfilled her earthly mission.

Dr. Afamefuna Okafor acknowledged that her dearly beloved mother had long prepared for this day, thereby charging all Anioma people not to despair but to carry on with the ideology and legacies of Obi Martha Dunkwu.

The Executive members of OFAAC who accompanied the President on the condolence visit include; the Vice President, Mr. Paddy Ugboh, a Director, Mr. Emmanuel Ogwu and the Coordinator, Prince Andrew Obi-Okolie.