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IWD: Dangote Pledges Greater Investment in Women Empowerment

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2 years ago

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Aliko Dangote middle
Dangote Group has reiterated its commitment to continue supporting all forms of investments that would help develop and empower the women personnel within the organisation in Nigeria and across its pan-African operations.
To commemorate the annual global International Women’s Day, Dangote Group, through the Dangote Women’s Network (DWN) celebrated the various outstanding contributions of its female workforce while hosting all its members of staff across Africa to collectively mark the 2022 IWD celebration titled: “BreakTheBias”.
International Women’s Day, celebrated yearly on March 8 since 1911, has become a day set aside for companies to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, while speaking out against inequities including gender-based violence and workplace discrimination.
Speaking at the opening of the virtual event, President/CE of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote described “BreakTheBias” as “the start for a gender-equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination; one that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.”
According to him, “#BreakTheBias is not a slogan but a continuous fight to eliminate gender discrimination, social, cultural, religious or other forms of deliberate or unconscious bias stereotypes that hinder women from fulfilling their potential.”
Dwelling on his personal experience, Dangote revealed, “I personally understand the value of women and the power of having them involved in all aspects of business, including the boardroom. I have always been a champion of women’s empowerment. I am sure that it stems from being raised by a strong Mother, who taught me about business and philanthropy.
“I am also the father of three women, and grandfather to four girls. I have seen what they can do when given equal access to opportunities. My three daughters, Mariya, Halima and Fatima are all senior executives at the Dangote Group, and I can tell you they are critical to the success of our business. They have challenged, pushed, and made me a better leader. They are not alone in the Dangote Group.  We have a strong bench of women leaders across the Group. Our focus is on skills, productivity, and ability to deliver on given assignments. I am confident that they will help drive the organisation through its next stage of growth.”
He disclosed that the company is working hard to completely eliminate any bias against women. “Within the Dangote group, I am proud to say that women are taking up topmost responsibilities and are doing very well in contributing to the rapid growth and expansion of our conglomerate across Africa. I will continue to support women and depend on their tremendous potential to transform the organisation and societies in positive ways”, he said.
Group Managing Director, Dangote Industries Limited, Mr. Olakunle Alake, said the theme of this year’s IWD celebration “BreakTheBias” is an inspiration to women and young girls all over the world.
According to him, equal education opportunities remain one of the foundational steps in promoting a world free of bias. “The female child should be given equal opportunity while growing up and made to understand that she is not inferior to the male child. She should be encouraged to always put her best foot forward, and that there is no barrier against her ambitions,” he said.
Non-Executive Director, Dangote Cement and Matron, Dangote Women’s Network, Halima Aliko-Dangote, said the International Women’s Day provides a useful opportunity to reinforce the fact that everyone has a role to play in forging a more gender-balanced world.
Halima said, in its effort to ensure women empowerment within and outside the organisation, the company launched the Dangote Women’s Network in 2016 to support the growth of women in the organisation and to serve as a place for them to share experiences and interact.
According to her, since the establishment of the network, the group has recorded tremendous growth in just six years. “From empowering and collaborating as a community (charity walk where we raised over N20 million for Internally Displaced Persons in Borno State), donating food, clothes and sanitary products to the less privileged across our Pan African countries (including Nigeria), to changes in policies that protect, support and enable our women to thrive,” she added.
Moderating a special panel session with focus on gender bias and possible solution to it, Managing Director, Aliko Dangote Foundation, Zouera Youssoufou said Dangote Group has increased its female representation on boards, executive committees, and senior management and is committed to have one of the most gender-balanced senior management team among all its businesses.
Speaking during the panel session, Managing Director and Head of Sub-Saharan Africa (Ex-RSA), Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Mrs. Yvonne Ike Fasinro, commended the Dangote Group for its efforts in having a more gender inclusive workplace. She stressed the need for women to develop confidence in themselves and be ready to speak out when necessary.
Fasinro also emphasised the need for women in senior cadre to pull others along in the development of their career path.
Also, Special Advisor to President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Investments, Hajiya Maryam Wali-Uwais urged women to pay special attention to their mental health. “Mental health is a serious concern for all women who strive to be at the top of their game in an organisation. Trying to balance family and work may have serious impact on their mental health. They need to create time for leisure as a way of protecting their mental health”
Senior Advisor to the Dangote Group President, Fatima Wali Abdurrahman, said that Dangote Group has done so much in breaking bias, and urged women to support each other in career development.
Speaking on her experience over the years in her career, Group Executive Director at the Dangote Group, Dr. Adenike Fajemirokun, urged women to eliminate bias against one another. She said that most bias that she has encountered so far came from fellow women, therefore the need for women to support one another.
Speaking at the end of the event, Group Chief Human Resources Officer at Dangote Industries Limited, who is also an Advisory Board Member of Dangote Women’s Network, Mrs. Nglan Niat said the Human Resource Department of the company is involved in raising greater awareness on gender issues.
She stated, “We are reviewing our retention and succession plans, ensuring we include our women in our talent pool and in addressing the skills gap to provide more opportunities.” She commended the speakers and colleagues who made out time to attend the event to commemorate the celebration of the International Women’s Day.

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50 Civil Society Groups Criticize Withdrawal of Police at Kano Anti-Corruption Agency

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8 hours ago

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May 2, 2024

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Civil society groups have raised concerns over the withdrawal of police personnel from the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, criticizing the move during a press conference held in Abuja.

The groups said the withdrawal of approximately 40 police officers, responsible for security and investigative tasks, has not only hindered the commission’s work but also raised questions about the impartiality and independence of law enforcement agencies.

According to them the action is perceived as an attempt to impede ongoing corruption investigations involving Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the National Chairman of the ruling All-Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Kano State.

The civil society groups have also issued recommendations to address corruption effectively in Nigeria.

They emphasize the need for autonomy and integrity within the judiciary, urging the National Judicial Council to monitor its members diligently.

They also call for transparency and accountability in governance, urging political parties to denounce and suspend members facing corruption allegations.

They also call for adequate resource allocation to anti-corruption agencies and also highlighted the essential to uphold their independence and efficiency.

Furthermore The groups called on religious leaders, community leaders, and opinion influencers to promote ethical behavior and combat corruption within their spheres of influence.

The reinstatement of police personnel withdrawn from the Kano State Anti-Corruption Commission are urged to facilitate the commission’s duties effectively.

The Civil society organizations also reaffirm their commitment to the fight against corruption and call for collective action to build a corruption-free Nigeria.

The withdrawal of police personnel from the Kano State Anti-Corruption Commission was allegedly ordered by the Inspector General of Police on April 25th. The move has sparked widespread criticism and calls for accountability in law enforcement actions related to anti-corruption efforts.

The groups are as follows

1. Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)
2. Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre)
3. Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED)
4. Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)
5. African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL)
6. Borno Coalition for Democracy and Progress (BOCODEP)

7. BudgIT Foundation
8. Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA)
9. State of the Union (SOTU)
10. Tax Justice and Governance Platform
11.Transition Monitoring Group (TMG)
12.Women in Media Communication Initiative (WIM)
13.Zero Corruption Coalition (ZCC)
14.Alliance for Credible Elections (ACE)
15.Centre Democracy and Development (CDD)
16. Accountability Lab, Nigeria
17. Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID}
18.Say NO Campaign – Nigeria
19.Femi Falana Chamber
20.Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF)
21.Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)
22. Good Governance Team
23.21st Century Community Empowerment for Youth Initiative
24. OCCEN-Kano
25. Mothers and Marginalised Advocacy Centre ( MAMA Centre)
26.Social Action
27.Centre for Transparency Watch
28.West Africa Civil Society Forum WASCSOF
29.Global Rights
30 African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD)
31.Partners West Africa
32.Order Paper
33.Say No Campaign
34 Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria. ERA
35.Center for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity
36.Amnesty International Nigeria
37. RULAAC – Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre
38. Connected Development (CODE)
39. Centre for Democratic Research and Training (CRDDERT)
40. Praxis
41.CLEEN Foundation
42.Spaces for Change
43.Abuja School of Social and Political Thought
44.Yiaga Africa
45.Policy Alert
46.Socio Economic Research and Development Centre
47.Procurement Observation and Advocacy Initiative
48.Media Rights Agenda
49.MEDIA INITIATIVE FOR TRANSPARENCY IN EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES (MITEI)
50.Centre for Social Justice

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Plateau NLC Demands inclusion of LGA worker’s in the minimum wage

Published

11 hours ago

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May 2, 2024

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By Asile Abel,Jos

Plateau state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC Comrade Eugene Manji, has mandated goverment to ensure that the new minimum wage to be implemented covers the local government sector.

“As workers, we want to place on record that, we will no more accept differential salary structures in the Plateau State between state and local government workers in the new minimum wage arrengment.”

Comrade Manji made the appeal at the annual international workers day been marked in Nigeria every 1st of May each year.

The Plateau State NLC boss equally complained that workers are being shortchange of their due rights.

“Even the recent fertilizer that was shared by government of Plateau state, workers were denied.’

Speaking on the insecurity bedeviling Nigerians, Comrade Manji said security operatives are not doing enough in protecting citizens.

“It should be noted that Nigeria is in a sorry state.” People are Killed daily and our national security offices are Celebrating drop on the number of deaths resulting from banditry, kidnapping, armed robberies and other vices as if Nigerian lives do not matter.” He noted.

On his part, Chairman TUC Plateau State chapter, Comrade Kenneth Shammah, reminded government that workers of a state owned hotel (Hillstation hotel) are being neglected.

Comrade Shammah revealed that the said workers are owed 50 months salaries.

“Workers in the Hillstation hotel have not been paid salaries for as for as over 50 months, we therefore appeal for the payment of those salaries to those category of Workers.”

Reacting to the agitations of the workers, governor of Plateau State Barr Caleb Mutfwang, reminded workers that his administration prioritize welfare of workers.

The governor pledged that his administration shall always prioritize welfare of civil servants.

Governor Mutfwang was represented at the event by the Head of Civil Service Plateau State, Barr Rauta Dakok.

Mutfwang told the gathering that his administration has upset the 11 billion naira unpaid salaries of civil servants; according to him, the said salary arrears was abounded by his predecessor, Ex-governor Simon Lalong.

He stressed that his administration has commenced payment of pension arrears from year 1986, since December 2023.

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HISBAH Commandant Offers 50 Slots to Journalists in Next Mass Wedding

Published

13 hours ago

on

May 2, 2024

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Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa HISBAH Commandant Kano

 

Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa, Commander-General (CG) of the Kano State Hisbah Board has revealed that the board has offered 50 slots to journalists and media workers in the next batch of the state’s mass wedding program.

Reports indicate that Sheikh Daurawa revealed this in an interview with journalists on Wednesday.

The Hisbah CG said following the success recorded in the last batch of the mass wedding which saw about 1,800 couples married off, the board decided in to include interested members of professional groups and trade unions in the programme.
We have given 50 slots to journalists and other members of the media who are interested in participating in the mass wedding programme,” he said.

He added that the board would also include legal practitioners and health workers in the next batch of the exercise.

Sheikh Daurawa also explained that the essence of the mass wedding program is to entrench moral values in the society and reduce immorality among young men and women.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Daurawa has urged Hisbah personnel across the 44 local government areas of the state to re-commit themselves to the job or resign.

He made the call during a meeting with heads of Hisbah commands in the 44 LGAs in the state at KERD conference hall in Kano city on Wednesday.

According to him, the Hisbah management has since provided written guidelines to help operatives understand their roles and responsibilities.

He explained that the Hisbah board has collaborated with Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano (YUMSUK), Amine Kano College of Islamic Legal Studies, Sa’adatu Rimi University of Education and the department of Islamic studies at Bayero University, Kano (BUK) to establish a Hisbah Academy.

He said when established, the Hisbah Academy would be an institution where formal knowledge and skills pertaining to Hisbah work would be taught and certificates would be awarded to its graduates.

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