Abiodun Appoints Transition Committees For Ogun LGs

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has appointed transition
committees for the 20 local government areas of the state.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Kunle Somorin,
disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abeokuta, the state
capital.

The transition committees, according to him, will be in place
until the Ogun State Electoral Commission (OGSEIC) conducts
elections to pick new council chairmen in the state.

Somorin explained that the new caretaker committee members were
chosen in furtherance of the government’s philosophy of inclusive
and participatory governance.

Each of the committees comprises a chairman, a vice-chairman,
and Secretary to the Local Government as well as two other
members.

It will be recalled that the tenure of elected council
executives ended last October.

The caretaker chairmen are Hon. Ayo Shomide (Abeokuta South);
Prince Tunde Tella (Abeokuta North); Fatai Mustapha {Obafemi
Owode); Mr Semiu Bola Lawal (Odeda); Hon. Fola Salami (Ifo); Mr
Muyiwa Babayemi (Ewekoro); Engr. Gbenga Olugbile (Ijebu-Ode); Hon.
Femi Onokoya (Odogbolu); Segun Odunola (Ijebu North -East); Hon.
Rotimi Akinsanya.

Others were Hon. Gbenga Baruwa (Sagamu); Hon. Biodun Somoye
(Remo North); Jaiyeola Yekeen (Ijebu North); Mr.Falujo Callistus
(Ijebu East); Comrade Femi Onanuga (Ogun Waterside); Mr Fagbenro
Olabode (Yewa South); Hon. Shuiab Adeoshun (Ipokia); Babatunde
Bankole (Yewa North); Olusola Oke (Imeko Afon) and Wasiu Lawal (Ado
Odo/Ota).

Enugu Assembly, MAMA Centre parley on improving
socio-economic status of Ngwo women

The Chairman House Committee on Agriculture, Enugu State House
of Assembly, Hon. Hillary Ugwu has assured of the House commitment
to securing socio-economic priority and rights of the Amachalla
Ngwo women (right holders) in the state.

He gave this assurance during an advocacy visit by the women to
the House, led the Executive Director of Mothers And Marginalised
Advocacy Centre (MAMA Centre), Barr. Ola E. Onyegbula, under the
aegis of a project “Engendering More Participation of Women for
Economic Revitalization” supported by The Voice Nigeria.

While commending the unique initiative led by MAMA Centre, Hon.
Ugwu, said the visit had further exposed the House to the common
socio-economic needs and priority across various communities in the
state.

He promised full support to the right holders in achieving their
goals through appropriate legislation and oversight activities.

Earlier, in her advocacy remark to the Committee, Barr.
Onyegbula, observed that women were responsible for some 60% to 80%
of food production in developing countries; and in many farming
communities, women constituted the main custodians of knowledge on
crop varieties.
She said: “In the analysis of World Bank, women are the backbone of
the rural economy, especially in developing countries. They make up
almost half of the world’s farmers, and over the last few decades,
they have broadened their involvement in agriculture.

“The number of female-headed households has also increased as
more men have migrated to cities. As the primary caregivers to
families and communities, women provide food and nutrition; they
are the human link between the farm and the table.

“More importantly, as the global community works toward
achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — among them,
SDG2, which aims to end hunger and malnutrition by 2030 — women can
be the key agents of change in agriculture, nutrition and rural
development.
“With better access to information, training, and technology, women
can alter food production and consumption so that land and
resources are used sustainably.

In Nigeria the involvement of women in agriculture has received
greater attention in recent years.”

The Executive Director emphasised the need to develop suitable
extension service that is gender specific and tailored to women
farmers; as sustainable production of food is the first pillar of
food security.

“Given critical research on the significant roles of women in
Nigeria Agricultural production, processing and utilization,
Mothers And Marginalised Advocacy (MAMA) Centre has observed that
efforts of women in enhancing sustainable food production in
commercial quantity for greater comparative advantage are
constrained by the existing socio-economic barriers arising from
inadequate or lack of technically know-how capacity, lack of
modernisation, poor networking for sales and distribution both
within and outside Nigeria, and little research capacity,” she
explained.

Barr. Onyegbula further called on the Committee to through
constituency outreach services, prioritise sustainability and
development of Ngwo palm-oil processing to further empower and
promote self-sufficiency among the female-headed households in the
community; and assist in reiterating the need for prompt
legislative attention to sustained palm-oil processing and
socio-economic development of Ngwo at relevant plenaries and
committee sessions of Assembly.

Other requests by her were strengthening oversight function on
budgetary allocation to agriculture to ensure judicious utilisation
to enhance Small, Medium and Large scale agricultural productivity
in the state; legislative support in prioritising the development
of Ngwo palm oil processing in legislative budgetary decisions and
allocation; and creating linkage with Member representing the Ngwo
for appropriate follow-up.

Also, the Ngwo women leader and Volunteer under The Voice
project, Mrs. Grace Oriaku, recalled that the economic mainstay of
Enugu people if not the entire Igbo race was palm-oil
production.

According to her, overtime, the very viable means of economic
empowerment has eroded for increased priority for white collar jobs
and other means of livelihood.

“This is owing to the fact that palm-oil production is still
practised in the crudest form, making it not such an attractive
business for the teeming population of Enugu and its environs.

“It is for this purpose that MAMA Centre chose to work with Ngwo
Women (right holders) at this pilot stage to seek this Committee
support and intervention towards resuscitating the ailing palm-oil
industry with the hope of empowering about 100 women from Ngwo with
Palm-oil processing machines to enhance their economic capacity,”
she added.

Rahma Oladosun
Information Officer