First Black Woman to Earn a U-M Robotics PhD
On Saturday, Oluwami Dosunmu-Ogunbi spoke at the University of Michigan College of Engineering Graduate Ceremony. She is the first Black woman to earn a U-M Robotics PhD at the University of Michigan. Born to Nigerian immigrant parents, she came to U-M's mechanical engineering PhD program decorated with academic honors-such as her MVP award from the University of Illinois' Pi Tau Sigma chapter.
Credit: University of Michigan Robotics Department
University of Michigan - May 4, 2024
On Saturday, Oluwami Dosunmu-Ogunbi spoke at the University of Michigan College of Engineering Graduate Ceremony.
She is the first Black woman to earn a U-M Robotics PhD. at the University of Michigan
Born to Nigerian immigrant parents, she came to U-M's mechanical engineering PhD. program decorated with academic honors-such as her MVP award from the University of Illinois' Pi Tau Sigma chapter, the mechanical engineering honor society.
Wami Ogunbi opens up about the importance of advocates and mentors in enabling her to achieve—and delivers a message about the importance of inclusion.
While speaking, she shared what inspires her to be an engineer, especially what it means to be a University of Michigan engineer.
Credit: The University of Michigan Robotics Department
Foreign Airlines Conspiring To Cut Us Off Lagos—London Route
Allen Onyema, Chairman of Air Peace, has raised the alarm over the alleged conspiracy by foreign governments to frustrate his airline out of business. He alleged the airline was being segregated, calling on the Nigerian government to do more to ensure the operation is sustained.
Air Peace CEO Raises Alarm
Tuesday, April 9, 2024; 22:30:14 WAT | Abdulyassar Abdulhamid for Daily Trust
Allen Onyema, Chairman of Air Peace, has raised the alarm over the alleged conspiracy by foreign governments to frustrate his airline out of business.
Recounting his experience on the Lagos-London route during an interview on Channels TV’s ‘Politics Today’, on Tuesday, he said Air Peace commenced its London flight with special students’ fares to make traveling affordable for students going to study.
He alleged the airline was being segregated, calling on the Nigerian government to do more to ensure the operation is sustained.
“We are aware that there are devilish conspiracies. All of a sudden airlines are under pricing below the cost. One airline is advertising $100 and the other $350. If you peel up your entire aircraft and carry people on the wings it is not even enough to buy your fuel.”
Why are they doing that? Their government is supporting them because Nigeria has been a cash cow for everybody. The idea is to take Air Peace out and the moment they succeed in taking Air Peace out, Nigerians would pay twenty times over. It would happen, God, forbids it if they can take Air Peace out.
What is happening is scary. On the inaugural flight out of London 24 hours they moved us to another checking area. The place they gave us things was not working. When you are checking people you need to manually carry the load to go 50 metres and drop it. This was just 'to delay.' No other airline faced that. We were denied a slot. Festus Keyamo had to travel to London with us to warn them. He told them if they continued the foolish act, the Nigerian government would retaliate.
The government of Nigeria is behind Air Peace but the government has to do more now that there is evidence that unofficial statements are taking this airline.
Nigerian Woman Faces Seven Years in Prison For Writing a Damning Online Review of Tomato Puree
For writing an online review, Chioma Okoli faces up to seven years in prison for her views; she said a can of tomato puree was too sweet. The company asked Nigeria's police to arrest her and is suing her for £3 million (three million pounds.)
Chioma Okoli faces up to seven years in prison for her views; she said a can of tomato puree was too sweet
Perkin Amalaraj for DailyMail
For writing an online review, Chioma Okoli faces up to seven years in prison for her views; she said a can of tomato puree was too sweet. The company asked Nigeria's police to arrest her and is suing for £3 million (three million pounds.)
A Nigerian woman is facing up to seven years in prison for writing a damning review of a can of tomato puree after its maker accused her of damaging its business.
Chioma Okoli being criminally prosecuted and sued in a civil court after she made negative comments about a product made by Nigerian food maker Erisco Foods
Chioma Okoli, a 39-year-old businesswoman based in Lagos, the country's largest city, is being criminally prosecuted and sued in a civil court after she made negative comments about a product made by Nigerian food maker Erisco Foods.
She called on her 18,000 Facebook followers to share their thoughts about Ericso's Nagiko Tomato Mix, after sharing a picture of an opened can of the product and saying it was too sweet.
One commenter said: 'Stop spoiling my brother's product. If [you] don't like it, use another one than bring it to social media or call customer service.'
Okoli responded: 'Help me advise your brother to stop ki**ing people with his product, yesterday was my first time using it, and it's pure sugar.'
She called on her 18,000 Facebook followers to share their thoughts about Ericso's Nagiko Tomato Mix
The businesswoman, who's currently pregnant with her fourth child, was arrested by plainclothes officers from Nigeria's national police in September while she was in church and told CNN that she was made to stand around in a leaky cell for hours.
'There were no seats, so I stood all through till the next day. My legs were inside the water [that came in from the leaking roof]', she said.
'Sometimes, I squatted to reduce the pressure on my legs. I was thinking about my children who were at home. I was talking to myself. I would think, I would pray, I was messed up,' she added.
Okoli was criminally charged with two separate crimes, the most serious of which could land her behind bars for up to seven years.
She was charged with conspiring with two other individuals with 'the intention of instigating people against Erisco Foods Limited', and may have to go to prison for up to seven years.
Okoli was also charged with 'instigating Erisco Foods Limited, knowing the said information to be false', a crime that could end with her going to prison for three years, having to pay a fine of seven million naira (£3,950).
The company's CEO Eric Umeofia has come under fire in Nigeria for his threatening behavior against Okoli
He revealed her address to the nation during an interview about the ongoing legal battle
Erisco itself is also bringing a civil lawsuit against her, after claiming earlier this year that 'several suppliers' cut ties with the company following her remarks, and is seeking 5 billion naira (£2.8 million) in damages.
She has launched two countersuits against the police and Erisco, which her legal team has described as a David vs. Goliath battle, for their treatment of the businesswoman.
Amnesty International said: 'Harassment and intimidation of Chioma Okoli must end now.'
The company's CEO Eric Umeofia has come under fire in Nigeria for his threatening behaviour against Okoli.
He revealed her address to the nation during an interview about the ongoing legal battle, which her lawyer, Inhibehe Effiong, said was done 'without regard for the security and safety of Chioma, her husband, and her entire family.'
He also told broadcasters that he would 'rather die than allow someone to tarnish my image I worked 40 years to grow.'
The behavior of the police and Erisco has come under fire from groups across the world.
Amnesty International said: 'Harassment and intimidation of Chioma Okoli must end now.'
Zoo Lifestyles
What is this about my people? I am curious to know! Is this the way genuine, hard-working Businessmen spend money? Ozo Enyi Okunaenyeife of Abagana, lavish parties to welcome a one-year-old child to life's tortuous and elaborate journey.
Ozo Enyi Okunaenyeife of Abagana
Lavish parties to welcome a one-year-old child
What is this about my people? I am curious to know! Is this the way genuine, hard-working Businessmen spend money?
Ozo Enyi Okunaenyeife of Abagana—as he Celebrates his son's 1st Birthday on January 28, 2024.
It was reported to the media as a total shutdown.
See what people are doing with money in this present condition of the country (as the saying, 'Life has no balance at all.')
Tell me! What is this about my people? Is this the way genuine hard-working Businessmen spend money? I'm just curious.
Ozo Enyi Okunaenyeife of Abagana—as he Celebrates his son's 1st Birthday on January 28, 2024.
Video Courtesy
I am very curious to know what type of business can yield this type of money that is squandered with reckless abandon here.
How come Nigerians have not been able to get to the secret of how these youths make such humongous money?
All these lavish parties to welcome a one-year-old child to life's tortuous and elaborate journey?
There is something they are not telling us.
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Corruption! The saddest thing in Africa is that you see those who are living in extreme poverty, and yet defending those same criminal politicians that have destroyed their children's futures. That is why we are not yet ready to move forward as a continent.
Best Custom Executive Education Provider in Africa
The Financial Times (FT) has ranked Lagos Business School’s Custom Executive Education number one (#1) in Africa and among the top 50 in the world.
The 14th consecutive year the School is featuring on the list.
Financial Times Ranks Lagos Business School
The Financial Times (FT) has ranked Lagos Business School’s Custom Executive Education number one (#1) in Africa and among the top 50 in the world.
The 14th consecutive year the School is featuring on the list.
The combined ranking evaluates the performance of the top 50 business schools across the world in the areas of Open Enrolment, and Custom Executive Education puts Lagos Business School (LBS) in the 47th position.
On the Custom ranking table, LBS is the 1st in Africa. It holds the 41st spot globally, moving seven places up from its 48th position in 2019. In Open Enrolment, LBS ranks among top business schools like the University of Oxford: Said and IESE Business School.
LBS Dean, Professor Enase Okonedo said, 'we are incredibly proud to be recognized by the Financial Times of London, for the 14th year in a row. Lagos Business School actively seeks and remain conscious of the unique needs of organizations and their executives.' This ranking comes at a time when the world is witnessing an unprecedented pandemic challenge and its attendant fallout. For us at LBS, it presents another opportunity to help business leaders and managers navigate this challenge; this recognition by FT validates our ability to deliver, she added.
Lagos Business School attracts hundreds of participants to its open enrolment and custom programs annually. Its programs designed to meet the needs of diverse participants and in line with the rapid changes in Africa’s business environment.
At ECOWAS Court of Justice
In a landmark decision for the West African Region and Africa in general, the court again ordered the government of Sierra Leone to put in place measures including social programs to address increased numbers of teenage pregnancies and sensitize the communities against discrimination.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice based in Abuja, Nigeria, on Thursday 12th December 2019, ordered the government of Sierra Leone to lift the ban on pregnant school girls with immediate effect. The Court, in its ruling, found that the government breached the right of pregnant girls to education by prohibiting them from accessing school.
Victory For Pregnant School Girls In Sierra Leone
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice based in Abuja, Nigeria, on Thursday 12th December 2019, ordered the government of Sierra Leone to lift the ban on pregnant school girls with immediate effect. The Court, in its ruling, found that the government breached the right of pregnant girls to education by prohibiting them from accessing school.
In the judgment, the Court found the government of Sierra Leone had not only put in place a discriminatory policy barring pregnant girls from school but also failed to implement measures to reduce teenage pregnancies in line with the National Strategy for the Reduction of Teen Pregnancies, which was adopted after the civil war.
Further, the court found the government had discriminated against the girls by setting up parallel schools that were suboptimal and limiting in scope of subjects. Four subjects taught for three days a week.
In a landmark decision for the West African Region and Africa in general, the court again ordered the government of Sierra Leone to put in place measures including social programs to address increased numbers of teenage pregnancies and sensitize the communities against discrimination.
Speaking in Abuja at the sidelines of the judgment reading, Miss Hannah Yambasu, Executive Director of Women Against Violence, and Exploitation in Society (WAVES) said she was overjoyed.
A victory for the girls who have been dehumanized since 2014
The government has no option but to comply with the obligations declared by the Court. WAVES, Child Welfare Society, Equality Now, and Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa IHRDA filed the case against the Sierra Leone Government in May 2018.
Ms. Judy Gitau, Africa Regional Coordinator at Equality Now, was also at the court as the agent of the girls was excited by the outcome of their case. The girls have had their day in court and have emerged victorious. The ECOWAS Court has given them their voices back and by that a chance at life again.
Amnesty International, who was Amicus Curiae in the case, also was present at the judgment reading.
The Court sought to set the record straight regarding what policy was since the government of Sierra Leone had initially denied the existence and claimed it was an unfortunate statement by their Minister. The Court held that the government took what was a sporadic practice and entrenched it as State policy banning pregnant girls from accessing school on account of their status.
Sexual violence remains widespread in Sierra Leone with women and girls, who constitute more than 50 percent of the population, bearing the brunt of these violations. In 2018 the Family Unit of the Sierra Leone Police recorded 8,505 rape cases including 2,579 cases that involved minors. Admittedly many more went unreported because of the existing gaps in the country’s reporting systems as well as the stigma associated with this violation. The situation became so dire that the Head of State declared rape a national emergency in 2019.
The ECOWAS Court of Justice specifically held that: There exists a policy which was discriminatory against pregnant schoolgirls in Sierra Leone as it barred pregnant schoolgirls from attending mainstream schools. Consequently, the court held that the Government was in breach of its commitments and responsibility under both local and international law particularly Articles 2, 3, 17, 18, 25 of the African Charter; Article 21 and 28a of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention Against Discrimination in Education.
About alternative schools for pregnant girls, the Court held that the establishment of separate schools for pregnant with four taught subjects operating three days a week was discriminatory and a violation of the right to equal education.
The Court also asked the Government of Sierra Leone to develop strategies and nationwide programs that focus on reversing negative societal attitudes that support the discrimination and bias against pregnant girls.
These strategies and programs must enable teenage mothers to attend school.
The Government of Sierra Leone also ordered to integrate Sexual Reproductive Health Rights in the school curriculum. Increase knowledge of family planning and contraceptive to address the high rate of teenage pregnancy.
The New Direction government has an opportunity now to reverse a ban instigated by the former APC government led by Ernest Bai Koroma.
Women Against Violence and Exploitation in Society (WAVES) is a registered indigenous non-governmental organization with its vision, mission, and values geared towards women’s empowerment and protection. WAVES strive towards the achievement of a non-violent, non- discriminatory, and non-exploitative environment for women and children, especially the 'girl-child.' An environment that has respect for humanity, dignity, and equality before the law.
Equality Now is an international non-governmental, human rights organization that was founded in 1992 to advance the rights of women and girls across the world. The organization holds governments responsible for ending legal inequality, sex trafficking, sexual violence, and harmful practices, such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and "child marriage." While working through various projects, Equality Now champions legal and systemic change by setting important legal precedents and exposing barriers that hinder access to justice.
Equality Now has therefore been working with WAVES, Defence for Children International (DCI) Sierra Leone, Women’s Partnership for Justice and Peace (WPJP), Graceland Sierra Leone, Child Welfare Society (CWS), and the Education for All Coalition – Sierra Leone, to call on the government to lift the ban on pregnant girls attending regular schools. To ensure that schools are safe spaces for girls, and to ensure that perpetrators of sexual violence against girls are punished.
Purposeful is a feminist movement-building hub for adolescent girls. We amplify girls’ voices, resource their resistance, build solidarity between and across girls’ movements, catalyze collaborative philanthropy, and support innovation in grassroots programming with/ and for girls.
Purposeful convened a coalition for girls’ education in Sierra Leone, launched a political advocacy campaign underpinned by media outreach to bring attention to the injustice of Sierra Leone ban on pregnant girls’ school attendance.
The Coalition for Girls Education
Comprises over 30 organizations among them, national NGOs, UN Agencies, and international NGOs that focus on conveying the importance of girls’ access to education. The national conversation on the impact of the ban on the rights of girls in Sierra Leone. Besides, the Coalition for Girls Education is a subset of the Sierra Leone Adolescent Girls Network and works to empower adolescent girls with improved health, social, economic, and cognitive assets while protecting their human rights and elevating their status in their communities.
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Nigeria To Meet Its Own Fuel Needs
Dangote Industries Limited, based in Nigeria, confirmed the country's Federal Government support towards the completion of its Petroleum Refinery.
A press release issued by the group dated Monday 4th November 2019 disclosed that the Honorable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva made the pronouncement that his government is going to ensure the completion of the historic 650,000 BPD, Dangote Petroleum Refinery during an official visit to the Petrochemical complex located at the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos, Nigeria.
Nigeria is supposed to meet the needs of West, East, and Central Africa in terms of supply
Dangote Industries Limited, based in Nigeria, confirmed the country's Federal Government support towards the completion of its Petroleum Refinery. The Dangote refinery, which is designed to maximize petroleum output, will produce enough to allow for a small surplus of fuel for export. Dangote plans to export its diesel to Europe, and gasoline to Latin America, Western, and Central African markets. The evacuation of refined products will be done by sea and through roads. Nigeria is Africa’s largest crude oil producer but lacks refining capacity to meet its own fuel needs.
A press release issued by the group dated Monday 4th November 2019 disclosed that the Honorable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva made the pronouncement that his government is going to ensure the completion of the historic 650,000 BPD, Dangote Petroleum Refinery during an official visit to the Petrochemical complex located at the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos, Nigeria. Sylva said the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical was a testament that the country possesses an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and that the success of the project will boost investors' confidence in the country's oil and gas project. He implored Nigerians to support the refinery project to ensure it creates more value-added to the economy.
There is no way a project of this magnitude will be going on, and the government will not be interested.
The country's Minister of State for Petroleum Resources said the project signals a lot if it succeeds, adding that the whole world is looking at the success of the project. And they will come to Nigeria to at least also enjoy the benefit of investing in the country.
In his remarks, Aliko Dangote, Group President, and Chief Executive, Dangote Group, said his group believed in Nigeria. He said there is a three percent growth population increase annually in Nigeria.
Nigeria is supposed to meet the needs of West, East, and Central Africa in terms of supply.
Mr. Devakumar Edwin, the company's Group Executive Director, Strategy, Capital Projects and Portfolio Development, said that the asset creates a market for 11billion per annum of Nigerian crude, and can meet 100 percent of the Nigerian requirement of all liquid products.
The minister who was led on a tour of the Refinery by the Group President & Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, and the company's Executive Director, Strategy, Capital Projects and Portfolio Development, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, was accompanied by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream, Senator Sabo Nakudu; Chairman, Senate Committee on Services/member, Senate Committee, Upstream, Senator Muhammad Musa; GMD, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari; Director, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr. Ahmed Shakur; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Simbi Wabote; and the Executive Secretary, Petroleum Equalization Fund (PEF), Mr. Ahmed Boboi; among others.
Lagos Business School Graduates New Set of Healthcare Leaders
The goal of the in-residence training program facilitated by Johnson & Johnson is to equip health sector leaders and managers with requisite knowledge and resources to lead teams in various capacities, implement national health priorities, and improve the effectiveness of the healthcare system.
To lead teams in various capacities
After a week of intensive training, Lagos Business School recently handed out certificates to this year’s graduating set of the Management Development Institute (MDI) Healthcare Leadership Program at an event, which took place at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The goal of the in-residence training program facilitated by Johnson & Johnson is to equip health sector leaders and managers with requisite knowledge and resources to lead teams in various capacities, implement national health priorities, and improve the effectiveness of the healthcare system.
Speaking at the event, the Special Guest of honor and Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, highlighted the challenges facing the healthcare sector in Nigeria while calling on relevant stakeholders to do more in tackling those challenges.
Studies have shown that the major drivers of underperforming health systems include limited access to medicines, equipment, human resources, infrastructure, financing, and governance.
The task of revamping Nigeria’s healthcare system is, and must continue to be, a collective one - the government, private sector, international and indigenous development partners, and all Nigerians - must work together to create a health system that we all desire to see and benefit from,” said Dr. Balarabe.
Fola Laoye, the Guest Speaker and Chief Executive Officer of Health Markets Africa, delivered a keynote address on the gaps present in Nigeria’s healthcare financing system while identifying shortfalls in government healthcare expenditure towards achieving universal healthcare coverage as required by the United Nations.
The Dean, Lagos Business School, Professor Enase Okonedo, emphasized key values in teamwork, ethics, and professionalism in achieving quality healthcare delivery in Africa. She urged the graduate students to mirror the change they want to see in society.
We believe that as students of the MDI Healthcare Leadership Program, you are indeed ambassadors of Lagos Business School, and this comes with great responsibility. We, therefore, expect you assimilate the institution’s values and return to your respective organizations as change agents and exemplary leaders.
Over 1,400 participants from 39 African countries have so far benefited from the program administered by the Global Business School Network (GBSN).
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Lagos Business School Commences Annual MDI Health Leadership Program
Lagos Business School on Sunday commenced its annual MDI Program for Health Leaders and Managers in Africa at Protea Kuramo Waters, Victoria Island, Lagos.
With the focus of this year’s program being ‘Capacity Improvement for Maternal, Newborn, and Community Healthcare Workers’, the program allows participants to learn and understand the critical challenges facing the sector while also working together to provide workable solutions towards solving these problems.
Courtesy: nigeriapresslog.com
Capacity Improvement for Maternal, Newborn, and Community Healthcare Workers
By Benson Afful: Courtesy: nigeriapresslog.com
Lagos Business School on Sunday commenced its annual MDI Program for Health Leaders and Managers in Africa at Protea Kuramo Waters, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The week-long in-residence training program is organized in partnership with the Management Development Institute (MDI) and facilitated by Johnson & Johnson. It is designed to improve the effectiveness of health systems by enhancing leadership and management skills of professionals devoted to delivering healthcare services to underserved populations.
"Much focus has been on the technical areas of skills development in the healthcare sector. With MDI Health Leadership Program, our objective is to build a new crop of professionals who possess the technical knowledge as well as business and managerial skills to deliver high-quality healthcare service," said Professor Olayinka David-West, the Academic Director of Lagos Business School.
With the focus of this year’s program being ‘Capacity Improvement for Maternal, Newborn, and Community Healthcare Workers’, the program allows participants to learn and understand the critical challenges facing the sector while also working together to provide workable solutions towards solving these problems.
In her remarks, Clare Omatseye, the President of Healthcare Federation of Nigeria and CEO, JNC International, highlighted the issues facing the healthcare industry in Africa and the importance of innovation and disruption in tackling the identified challenges.
Participants in the MDI Health Leadership Program will gain access to management tools, frameworks, and knowledge that will enable them to increase the quantity and quality of health services they provide while expanding access to healthcare.
The MDI program, which is administered by the Global Business School Network (GBSN) has since inception in 2006, graduated over 1400 participants from 39 African countries.
ECOWAS States Adopted Single Trade Currency 'ECO'
AFRICA NEWS UPDATE: The ECOWAS states adopted single trade currency 'ECO.'
Will launch 2020
Courtesy video
africa news
AFRICA NEWS UPDATE: The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) adopted single trade currency 'ECO' will launch by 2020. The 15 member group announced at the end of an ECOWAS summit in Abuja, Nigeria's capital on Saturday, June 29, 2019.
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Pregnant School Girls Await ECOWAS Court Decision
In suit no. ECW/CCJ/APP/22/18, the Women Against Violence and Exploitation In Society (WAVES) and Child Welfare Society, Sierra Leone (CWS-SL), who are acting on behalf of the Pregnant Adolescent School Girls in Sierra-Leone, described the policy as grossly unlawful, discriminatory, against the interest of the victims, a violation of their rights to education and non-discrimination.
End Sexual Violence, Women Against Violence and Exploitation In Society (WAVES)
The group photo includes a 3-judge panel
The case filed at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice challenging Sierra Leone’s ban prohibiting pregnant schoolgirls from attending school, will be heard on June 25, 2019. This announcement made at the last adjourned date Monday, May 7, 2019, in Abuja, Nigeria, by a 3-judge bench, after the Government of Sierra Leone had made an application to have the case dismissed citing lack of competence on the part of one of the applicants to appear before the court. The application, however, was dismissed, and the court ordered a full hearing on the case merits 25th of June 2019.
The case was filed on May 17, 2018, by the Child Welfare Society, Women Against Violence and Exploitation Society (WAVES) based in Sierra Leone. The case filling is done in partnership "Equality Now" whose Africa office based in Kenya.
In suit no. ECW/CCJ/APP/22/18, the Women Against Violence and Exploitation In Society (WAVES) and Child Welfare Society, Sierra Leone (CWS-SL), who are acting on behalf of the Pregnant Adolescent School Girls in Sierra-Leone, described the policy as grossly unlawful, discriminatory, against the interest of the victims, a violation of their rights to education and non-discrimination.
The plaintiffs emphasized that the policy worsens the situation for pregnant girls of school age who already stay away from school either because of the social stigma associated with teenage pregnancy or financial constraints. They, therefore, want the Court to order the revocation of the policy and the development of strategies and campaigns that will address the issue of teenage pregnancy in Sierra Leone through public education or awareness on sexual and reproductive health rights, among others.
Naitore Nyamu-Mathenge
Equality Now’s Program Officer – End Sexual Violence, Naitore Nyamu has said her organization has been in readiness for a year now to proceed with the said matter that is before the court since in their view the issues they plan to canvass before the court are still ongoing in Sierra Leone.
The courts' agreed to a request from the government of Sierra Leone to have the matter adjourned to prepare their defense.
Equality Now’ Program Officer – End Sexual Violence, stated, as an organization, they remain concerned by the high rates of sexual violence in Sierra Leone and the impact it has on women and girls. Adding, while they are happy with President Julius Bio’s recent announcement declaring rape a national disaster, they note the need to address the injustices from policy level to enforcement level a priority.
A Press Release from 'Equality Now' explained further, recent statistics from the Family Support Unit of the Sierra Leone Police revealed 8,505 rape cases reported nationwide last year. Out of these, 2,579 involved defilement of children young as seven months old. The situation in 2017 was not any better. At the time, Equality Now interviewed 250 girls aged between 14 to 17 and another 250 women aged between 18 and 35. Out of the 500 girls and women that participated, 100 reported that they had been victims of sexual violence. A further 60 percent of the girls who participated in this study said that they knew between one and three girls who had become pregnant as a result of sexual violence and had been forced to drop out of school as a result.