8 govs’ wives to receive awards

The committee of the Most Valuable Governor’s wife Award (MVGWA) is set to present awards to wives of eight state governors who have made positive impacts through their pet projects. 

While briefing newsmen yesterday during a press conference in Abuja, the Chairperson of the group, Dr. Bilkisu Magoro(Founder of Ismor Mogoro Foundation) said the award which is scheduled for February 2017, with the theme; “The role of the governors wives NGOs in helping the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria” is designed to lead a new phenomenon in the assessment and recognition of the governor’s wives’ achievements.

The awardees are wives of Anambra state governor,  Ebelechukwu Obiano Bauchi, Hajiya Hadiza Abubakar, Bayelsa , Mrs. Rachael Dickson and Kebbi, Zainab Bagudu. Others are; Nasarawa, Hajiya Mairo Al- Makura, Niger, Dr. Amina Bello, Lagos, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode and Oyo, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi.

340 women train on shea butter production in Katsina

Three hundred and forty women from the 34 council areas of Katsina State have commenced training on the production of shea butter.

The training, which is aimed at exploring the potentials of shea butter and it’s economic benefits, is sponsored by the Katsina State Department of Economic Development in collaboration with Global Shea Alliance. Speaking to participants during the train-the-trainers workshop, Special Adviser to Governor Ibrahim Shema on Economic Affairs, Dr Garba Shehu Matazu, said participants will be equipped to train others in their respective localities and necessary attention will be accorded to Shea butter production in the state.

He said: “We hope to expose these women to different skills of using Shea butter to produce household products and in so doing, improve their economic status while exposing investment opportunities of our state to the world.”
Representative of the Global Shea Alliance, Bilkisu Magoro, regretted that the potentials of the product are poorly explored in Nigeria. Magoro said the exercise will expose women to various economic empowerment opportunities.

EMPOWERING INDIGENOUS AFRICAN WOMEN TO COMBAT CERVICAL AND BREAST CANCER

The Access to Basic Care medical foundation of the wife of the Oyo state governor H. E. Mrs Florence Ajimobi yesterday the 22nd March 2017 had a side event as part of the ongoing annual commission on the state of women 61st session in New York. The theme of the session was: Empowering Indigenous African Women to combat cervical and breast cancer. Medicaid Cancer Foundation was represented by Dr Bilkisu Magoro.

The session sought to find ways of carrying out the empowerment of indigenous women in the African setting to confront cases of breast and cervical cancer. The focus was on early detection as a way of reducing mortality rates of the disease.
One of the speakers Dr Sola Oriniowo said “1/2 the women in Africa do not know about breast and cervical cancer, even though 85% of the cases occurs in developing countries and 90% of girls do not have access to the HPV vaccine. Another expert, Dr. Alaa Murabit said ” there is no substitute for education in improving health seeking behaviour of African women and their economic empowerment is vital”.
Her Excellency Mrs Florence Ajimobi Founder of ABC called on international partners to work together with not so lucky ones in identifying women who are most at risk and focus limited resources on them.

Medicaid Cancer Foundation has so far screened over 15,000 women free for breast and cervical cancer. It works with partners such as ABC to spread the early detection message to women across Nigeria.

#CSW61 #BreastCancer #CervicalCancer
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#MedicaidCancerFoundation

Nigeria’s Side Events By Chukwuemeka Okereafor

Nigeria hosted two Side Events yesterday at the AU Conference Hall, Hammarskjold Plaza, at the on-going 61st Session of the UN CSW, New York.
The events were chaired by Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan, Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development.
She also launched the National Action Plan for Women’s Peace and Security
Event 1: ‘Enhancing Nigerian Women’s Participation in Politics, Peace and Security’
Co-chair: Dr. Phumzile Ngcuka
Panelists: Senator Binta Mazi Garba, Prof. Simbine, Prof. Sunday Ochoche, Dr. Eleanor Nwadinobi
Moderator: Mrs. Esther Eghobamien-Mshelia
Event 2: ‘Accelerating the Elimination of Harmful Traditional Practices (HTPs) with a Focus on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C)’
Co-Chair: Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, (represented by Dr. Natalia Kanem)
Panelists: Bar. Hauwa Shekarau, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Dr. Zainab Atiku Bagudu (represented by Dr. Bilkisu Magoro)
Moderator: Mrs. Anetu-Anne Aliu