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2023: Clamour for Women’s Inclusion in Governance Heightens As CWSI Calls for Immediate Action

Published

4 years ago

December 20, 2022

In the build-up to the forthcoming general elections in 2023, there is a growing call for women’s participation and inclusion at several tiers of governance. The Center for Women Studies and Intervention (CWSI) made this powerful call on Thursday, December 15 during its roundtable interfaith sessions with religious leaders, community heads, women leaders, and a host of other stakeholders.

The executive director of CWSI, Rev. Sr. Ngozi Frances Uti said the inclusion of women in governance has been insignificant over the years while noting that the 2023 election should serve as a year of opportunity and redemption for women.

Rev. Sr. Ngozi said “For once let us see that the 35 percent affirmative action is respected. We are not asking for equality. “If we have more women in leadership, in decision making, then their voices will be heard. If you have a house with 20 members and there is no woman, women’s voices won’t be heard. Especially in a society where people believe that men are superior and women are inferior. We don’t want to use those words but that’s exactly what’s happening and it cuts across; in politics, in the church, and everywhere.”

Also speaking at the event Lola Mamedu the program officer of the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) and major partner of CWSI said the idea of the interfaith is to get feedback from stakeholders on the interventions that have been made to foster better women’s inclusion and participation ahead of the 2023 polls.

Lola stated that the outcome of these interventions from stakeholders has been positive and outreach to women and young girls has brought about sensitization on electoral practices, and their rights.

During her interfaith sessions with participants and stakeholders titled; “Electoral amendment on election day voting procedure”, Lola sensitized them to some of the innovations that have been induced by the electoral body ahead of the 2023 polls. Her session also covered issues on electoral violence, gender-based violence, and other vices attributed to the elections.

Similarly, another CWSI partner, Emeka Obiezu the director of the Augustinian Centre for Advocacy, Justice, and Peace (ACAJP), said the 2023 poll is a great opportunity for women. He said: “We have the opportunity and we can’t lose the opportunity, so we should go out and get it. There are no barriers that stop us from getting it. It is between us and against ourselves.”

Participants at the CWSI interfaith also reeled out their thoughts on the need for women and young girls to be major players in the 2023 general elections.

One of the participants, Augustina Richard stated that women need to start supporting the course of participating in governance. She said: “I think women should be strong, and they should believe in themselves. That for me, starts it all. And they should move in unism, because when you believe in yourself, it means you know where you’re going and what you want. And then you have that sense of direction and purpose.”

The CWSI interfaith is the second of its series on the project; “Action for better female inclusion and participation in the electoral process in Nigeria.” The project is in partnership with the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) and aimed at promoting a campaign on social media, conducting virtual engagements on various social media platforms, community engagements, use of radio jingles for wider reach on the tenets of the project which is “Women exercising their power and voice by voting and supporting more women in politics”. It also seeks to promote religious and faith-based influence to drive voter education and increase awareness, participation, and inclusion of young girls and women (Aged 18-35) in electoral. processes in view of the forthcoming elections.

News

From Producing Nigerian Internationals to Building Their Own Stadium: Buruj Sports Academy Takes Bold Step as Ikorodu Football Dream Attracts Investors

Published

42 minutes ago

October 28, 2026

PlateauReports

Buruj Sports Academy is turning years of grassroots football success into an ambitious infrastructure project, unveiling a proposed stadium development in Ikorodu, Lagos State, aimed at transforming opportunities for young Nigerian footballers.

The academy, founded by Dr. Waheed Salaudeen, has presented a new development layout featuring a standard 105m × 68m football pitch, spectator stand, changing rooms, administrative and first-aid facilities, toilets, parking spaces and perimeter security.

The project represents a significant step toward establishing a permanent home for the academy’s growing football development programme.

Buruj’s ambitions are backed by its record of nurturing promising talents, including former Nigeria Under-15 internationals Raheem Moyinoluwa Salaudeen and Fawas Ayomide Adeleke, who represented Nigeria in youth competitions in Morocco and Algeria.

The academy has also facilitated opportunities for players in Spain and Lithuania, while six Buruj youngsters recently earned selection for an international football exposure programme following the Italian Consulate General U-20 Tournament.

Unlike its earlier three-acre, 5,000-seat stadium concept, the latest architectural proposal adopts a more practical, phased approach, beginning with an approximately 80–100-seat stand and essential football facilities. Punch Newspapers +1

Dr. Salaudeen, who serves as founder and Chief Executive Officer, has consistently championed football development alongside education.

“This dream is bigger than Buruj Sports Academy alone. We are appealing to private individuals, corporate organizations, investors, and well-meaning Nigerians to support this vision.”

His appeal reflects a determination to build a sustainable sporting institution capable of serving generations of young Nigerians. Sports247 Nigeria +1

For potential investors, the project offers opportunities in stadium naming rights, facility sponsorship, youth development partnerships, football tournaments and community sports programmes.

With a survey document and proposed layout now presented, Buruj is inviting partners to help turn its vision into reality, subject to necessary technical assessments and development approvals.

From discovering football stars to building the infrastructure that produces them, Buruj Sports Academy is no longer simply dreaming of the future — it is preparing to build it.

News

ADC Postpones Presidential Campaign Flagoff, Fixes New Date

Published

45 minutes ago

October 28, 2026

PlateauReports

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has postponed the flag-off of its presidential campaign in Sokoto State, earlier scheduled for Saturday, October 31, to Wednesday, November 4.

The party’s Presidential Campaign Council in Sokoto State announced the postponement in a press statement issued on Wednesday, and signed by its Director-General, Bello Aliyu Goronyo.

According to the statement, the decision was taken to address certain planning and coordination issues to ensure the successful conduct of the campaign event.

The council appealed to party leaders, stakeholders, supporters and members of the public to take note of the new date, while expressing regret over any inconvenience caused by the change in schedule.

“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council in Sokoto State wishes to announce the postponement of its Presidential Campaign Flag-off, earlier scheduled for Saturday, 31st October 2026, to Wednesday, 4th November 2026,” the statement read.

Explaining the reason for the change, the council said, “The decision follows the need to address certain planning and coordination considerations to ensure the successful conduct of the event.”

“The Campaign Council regrets any inconvenience the change may cause and sincerely appreciates the understanding, patience and continued support of party leaders, stakeholders, supporters and members of the public,” Goronyo added.

He urged all concerned to take note of the new date and expressed the council’s readiness to welcome party leaders, supporters and other stakeholders to the event.

The postponement comes amid reports of difficulties involving hotel accommodation in Sokoto ahead of the campaign flag-off originally scheduled for Saturday.

Reports had emerged that hotel rooms were being booked ahead of the planned ADC event, with allegations that some hotel owners were refusing to release rooms to prospective guests.

The development comes as the ADC continues preparations for the 2027 general election, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate.

The party is seeking to strengthen its support across the country as opposition parties prepare to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming presidential election.

Earlier on Wednesday, the ADC Presidential Campaign Council at the national level disowned an unsigned campaign timetable circulating on social media, urging party members, supporters and other stakeholders to disregard the document.

The council said the timetable, which contained proposed dates and locations for campaign rallies and other political activities across the country, had not been authorised by the campaign organisation.

In a statement signed by the Director of Media and Publicity of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party clarified that the document did not originate from the council or its campaign office.

“The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has disowned an unsigned campaign timetable currently in circulation, clarifying that the document did not emanate from the Council or its campaign office,” the statement said.

Ologbondiyan urged party members and stakeholders to wait for official announcements regarding the campaign schedule.

“Accordingly, all members and stakeholders are urged to disregard the document and await official communications from the ADC-PCC on campaign activities and schedules,” he added.

The unsigned timetable listed Sokoto State as the proposed starting point for the presidential campaign on October 31, 2026, and outlined proposed activities in several other states before a closing rally scheduled for Adamawa State on January 11, 2027.

The document also contained proposed dates for rallies, town hall meetings and other political engagements in states including Kebbi, Zamfara, Ogun, Oyo, Rivers, Delta, Edo, Cross River, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, Kano and Borno.