News
Peter Obi to speak, as 2000 youths gather against violence in Enugu
…As Boys Champions convoke peace talk to end gender based violence
No fewer than 2000 youths drawn from different sectors and communities nationwide would participate in this year’s annual conference in Enugu, organized by Boys Champions, a non-governmental organization, to curtail gender based violence in Nigeria.
The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi is among the discussants expected at the event, slated for November 25, 2022 at The Base Landmarks Event Center, Independent Layout, Enugu State.
The Youth Conference, with focus on the theme ‘Shaping the Future’ would bring together over 2,000 young leaders from different sectors in Nigeria and across the continent, who are working to make social impact in their communities.
The convener of the Conference and founder of Boys Champion, Noel Ifeanyi Alumona, told journalists that renowned personalities, the former Presidential Candidate, Prof Pat Utomi, Bishop (Prof) Godfrey I. Onah of the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, the CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon Abike Dabiri Erewa and erudite scholars from Oxford, Cambridge and Vanderbilt Universities would make presentations at the event.
Alumona, who won the 2022 AFS Award for Young Global Citizens recently, told newsmen that the conference would provide an interactive forum with young people as part of the ongoing campaign by the non-governmental organization, Boys Champion, to arrest the spate of violence against women in local communities.
He noted that participants would be exposed to impactful and transformative panels, workshop and speeches by high profile resource persons, and help them to build sustainable networking for personal and career development.
It is expected that the participants would become the vanguard of the crusade in their local communities, and spread the value chain across the length and breadth of African continent.
He expressed optimism that the conference would be profitable for youths in tapping from the resources of different speakers who had made their mark in education, humanitarian, political, business, and other areas of human endeavor.
He further explained that the conference was his little way of giving back to the society, and promote inter-cultural dialogue to stem the tide of violence against girls and women in African society.
According to him, the programme would also be a golden opportunity to several deprived youths by creating a viable platform for them to gain quality training and mentoring sessions from captains of industry, erudite scholars as well as local and international experts.
He said delegates would have the opportunity for question and answer session with leading experts, and also build lasting relationships and connections that could help them advance their works and social contracts with the people in their respective communities.
The Conference, he said, would feature Plenary Session where experts would discuss Global Education and the Nigerian Struggle, Opportunities for Youth, Gender Equality and Women Inclusion, Ethical Leadership, Conflict Prevention and Peace building, among others.Dr. Maureen Manning of The Pie News, USA would be the keynote speaker at the conference, which would also include presentations by Daniel Obst, President of AFS Intercultural Programs, USA, Prof. Veronica Boix Mansilla, Harvard University, USA and Dr. Nancy Dickson, from Vanderbilt University, USA. .
Other speakers expected at the event include: Dr. Helmut Schuster, from the United Kingdom, Rtd. General Chris Eze, former Ambassador of Nigeria to India, Augustine Achu, United States Marines Corp, Virginia USA, Hawa Taylor, United Nations Global Communications Office, Dr. Onyeka Nwelue, Visiting Fellow, Oxford University and Chike Nwoke, Carleton University, Canada. Other speakers lined up for the conference include: the CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon Abike Dabiri, Ephraim Bassey, United States Institute of Peace, Prof. Pat Utomi, Founder, Center for Value in Leadership, Osowobi Oluwaseun Ayodeji, Founder, Stand to End Rape, Hauwa Ojeifo, Founder, Shewriteswoman and Prof. Joy Ezeilo, HOD Law, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus.
Scholars lined up to discuss the theme of Global Education and the Nigerian Struggle at the conference include: Prof. Veronica Boix Mansilla, Harvard University, USA, Dr. Nancy Dickson Vanderbilt University, USA, Bishop Godfrey I. Onah, Catholic Bishop of Nsukka, Chike Nwoke, Carleton University, Canada, among others.
This life-changing conference would be held at The Base Landmarks Event Center, Independent Layout, Enugu on November 25, 2022.
Participants can register online by visiting www.boyschampions.org/attend. For Sponsorship and inquiries, please call: 08066165813 or +16156099565ABOUT BOYS CHAMPIONS
The vast majority of gender-based violence is perpetrated by men, specifically against women and girls. Although most men may not use or condone the use of violence, the simple fact is that men are overwhelmingly the perpetrators of gender based violence.
Since men are major perpetrators, holders of social norms and influencers of other men, it makes working with boys and men necessary – a must – as a target audience for primary prevention. Working with boys and men can have a positive, transformative impact for the lives of women and girls, but also for the lives of men and boys themselves as it frees them from harmful limiting aspects of masculinities.
Founded on October 1st 2018, Boys Champions is a primary preventive youth-led nonprofit organization that is committed to providing safe place for women and girls by engaging young boys and men, teaching them healthy masculinity and how to relate to females respectfully.
Boys Champions focuses on gender transformative interventions with both men and boys, engaging them to take actions and become part of the processes to end violence against women and girls. We work primarily with boys and men through sports, support groups, recruiting exceptional volunteer mentors and expectant fathers to share and exchange lessons in birthing and child-rearing process, trainings and our Boys Champions Couch sessions.
Through our impact-oriented and mentorship programs, our Champions are provided with the foundation they need to excel in school, pursue college education, and succeed in life.
Through our 100 Champions program, we provide academic enrichment, social skills building, college preparation and career development programs for under-served male youth. Our organization is committed to these boys because we believe they can maximize their talents with the right education, experience and encouragement.
The Federal Commissioner representing Kaduna State at the National Population Commission (NPC), Hon. Sa’adatu Garba Dogonbauchi, has presented letters of permanent and pensionable appointment to three youths drawn from different local government areas of the state.
The presentation, according to a statement issued by Dogonbauchi, is aimed at expanding employment opportunities for young people and supporting youth empowerment in line with the Federal Government’s development objectives.
The beneficiaries are Shamsuddeen Abdulaziz Bagi from Igabi Local Government Area, Abdulfatah Abdulwakil from Kaduna South Local Government Area, and Aisha Adamu from Birnin Gwari Local Government Area.
Speaking during the presentation, Dogonbauchi described the appointments as more than an administrative exercise, saying they provide beneficiaries with an opportunity to build sustainable careers in public service while improving their economic prospects and contributing to national development.
She said the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises employment generation, economic empowerment and improved living standards for Nigerians.
The NPC commissioner expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve and represent Kaduna State, pledging to continue supporting programmes that create opportunities for young people and strengthen public institutions.
She also acknowledged Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen, and Hon. James Abiodun Faleke for their support, which she said contributed to her appointment and service.
Dogonbauchi urged the new employees to discharge their duties with discipline, integrity and professionalism, while adhering to public service rules and serving as worthy representatives of their communities.
She congratulated the beneficiaries and encouraged them to justify the confidence reposed in them through excellence, accountability and dedication to public service.
Hon. Obi Aguocha, member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, is facing mounting criticism and backlash over his video in which he is seen singing and vibing to a sexually vulgar and demeaning song against women.
In the video, which is currently making the rounds online and in Ikwuano/Umuahia WhatsApp groups, Aguocha is clearly seen singing and enjoying the Ogele cultural song, whose lyrics reduce women to objects of sexual gratification.
The footage was reportedly recorded at a public gathering that had families in attendance, including children, a detail that has intensified the backlash.
The song, performed in the Ogele cultural music tradition associated with communities in Abia State, has sparked outrage among women and women’s groups who say the lyrics are not just vulgar but deeply degrading.
“This is not culture. This is humiliation dressed in tradition,” said Mrs. Ngozi Ibe, a women’s leader in Umuahia North. “We have watched the video. The words used against women in that song are not the kind of thing any serious leader should be associated with. A lawmaker representing our constituency should be defending our dignity, not promoting content that strips women of it.”
Another woman, a trader in Umuahia South who identified herself simply as Madam Grace, said the video had caused deep anger among market women.
“We heard about it and we watched it. Many of us were shocked. You cannot claim to represent women and then be seen singing and vibing to a song where women are being insulted in the most vulgar way. We are not laughing. We are insulted,” she said.
A coalition of women’s groups in the constituency, under the aegis of the Ikwuano/Umuahia Concerned Women’s Forum, also issued a statement condemning the video.
“The lyrics go beyond ordinary expressions of affection. They employ vulgar sexual references that reduce women to objects and make our sexuality the subject of degrading entertainment. For a serving federal lawmaker to be seen actively singing and enjoying such content is a serious indictment on his judgment and his respect for the women he claims to represent,” the group said.
The women’s forum also expressed concern over the presence of children at the event.
“What message does it send to our children when a leader they look up to is seen celebrating a song that reduces women to sexual objects? This is not the kind of example we should be setting for the next generation,” the statement added.
“Ogele is our heritage. But heritage is not a licence for vulgarity. Culture should uplift, not humiliate. We call on Hon. Aguocha to explain his involvement in this video and to apologise to the women and families of Ikwuano/Umuahia,” the group said.
The controversy raises questions about the judgment expected of a public officeholder and the appropriateness of associating with content that many women and families could reasonably find offensive and humiliating.
Aguocha has not responded to requests for comment as of press time.
News
National Assembly Receives Proposals for New LGAs as Lagos Seeks 37, Akwa Ibom Missing from Lis
The National Assembly has reportedly received proposals for the creation of additional local government areas (LGAs) across Nigeria, with Lagos State seeking 37 new councils, while Akwa Ibom State is conspicuously missing from a published list of submissions.
The proposals, according to a report by The Insight Lens Project, cover various communities across the country’s six geopolitical zones and reflect demands for administrative restructuring, improved grassroots representation and better access to government services.
However, the complete list of submissions has not been independently verified, and the proposals do not constitute approval for the creation of new local government areas.
In the North-East, the reported requests include Bidoma and Michika South in Adamawa State, Boi-Tapshin in Bauchi, Banki in Borno, Cham in Gombe, Gudi in Yobe and Wukari in Taraba State.
In the North-West, the proposed areas reportedly include locations in Jigawa, Piriga in Kaduna, Dankama in Katsina, as well as Moriki and other communities in Zamfara State.
The North-Central zone also features in the reported submissions, with proposals covering Agasha and other communities in Benue State, alongside several areas in Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau states.
In the South-East, the list includes Abiriba in Abia State, proposed councils around Obosi in Anambra State, several communities in Ebonyi State and numerous proposed local government areas in Imo State.
The South-West proposals reportedly include Eso-Obe and Gbonyin in Ekiti State, Ogijo and other areas in Ogun State, as well as additional proposed councils in Osun and Oyo states.
Lagos State stands out with a reported request for 37 new local government areas, although the published report did not provide the names and proposed boundaries of all the councils.
In the South-South, the reported proposals include Akassa and other communities in Bayelsa State, Ughievwen in Delta State, several areas in Edo State, and Ataba, Evo and Alesa in Rivers State.
Cross River State is also listed, with proposed councils around Mbube and Calabar. Akwa Ibom State, however, has no clearly identified entry in the published list, raising questions about whether the state submitted proposals or was omitted from the report.
Constitutional Requirements
The creation of new local government areas is governed by Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, which prescribes a series of procedures involving consultations, a referendum, legislative approval and the submission of relevant records to the National Assembly.
The constitutional process must be completed before newly created councils can be recognised and reflected in the relevant constitutional schedules.
Consequently, proposals submitted by states or communities do not automatically translate into legally recognised local government areas.
The reported development comes amid broader constitutional review efforts by the National Assembly. In October 2025, the legislature reported receiving 278 requests for additional local government areas and 55 proposals for the creation of new states.
Nevertheless, the specific state-by-state submissions contained in the latest published list, including Lagos State’s reported demand for 37 additional councils and the absence of Akwa Ibom, remain subject to confirmation through official National Assembly records.
The proposals, if confirmed, could reopen discussions on administrative boundaries, grassroots governance and the constitutional procedures required for the creation of additional local government areas in Nigeria.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The Mayor of Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Ezennia Emelie Ibekwe, has issued a stern warning to traders and residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse and blockage of drainage channels, threatening sanctions against those who fail to comply with sanitation directives.
Ibekwe, who handed down the warning during an inspection of Ajasa Market, expressed displeasure over the deteriorating environmental conditions in parts of the commercial city, describing the situation as unacceptable and detrimental to healthy living and business activities.
During the inspection, the Mayor observed that refuse and other waste materials generated from market activities were being dumped into drainage channels, obstructing the free flow of water and exposing traders, residents and their properties to flooding.
“This practice contributes to flooding whenever it rains, putting traders, residents and their properties at risk.
“An environment of this nature is not conducive to business and healthy living. It does not speak well of a commercial city that houses one of the largest markets in sub-Saharan Africa,” he stated.
Consequently, Ibekwe directed traders and other persons responsible for the blocked drainage channels to ensure their immediate clearance, giving them until the following day to comply.
He further announced that he would return to the market for another inspection to ascertain the level of compliance with the directive.
“People should be alive to their responsibilities by ensuring a clean and healthy environment. Government alone cannot handle this effectively without the active participation of residents and traders.
“I am going to come back here to see what you have done,” he warned.
The Mayor stressed that the sanitation directive was not restricted to Ajasa Market but extended to all markets within Onitsha North Local Government Area.
He consequently charged market leaders to take responsibility for enforcing environmental sanitation regulations within their respective markets, warning that the council would no longer tolerate practices capable of worsening flooding and environmental degradation.
“It is not only Ajasa Market but all the markets in Onitsha North Local Government Area. Market leaders should ensure that this directive is not compromised,” Ibekwe declared.
The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, has commissioned a community market in Afi, Ikom II State Constituency, as part of his commitment to sustainable development and improved living conditions in rural communities.
The project, facilitated and completed by the Speaker, was identified as one of the priority needs of the community following consultations by the Constituency Needs Assessment Team established by Ayambem to evaluate infrastructure and identify projects that would directly benefit the people.
The team was mandated to identify critical infrastructure capable of improving the livelihoods of residents and promoting sustainable economic growth across the constituency.
According to community members, the absence of a suitable trading environment had been a major challenge for years, forcing traders to conduct business under harsh weather conditions, including rain and intense sunshine.
Speaking on behalf of the community, the village head, Chief Etta Ekawor, commended Ayambem for the intervention, describing the market as a miracle and a blessing that would transform the fortunes of the people.
In his remarks, Ayambem expressed appreciation to the Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, for his continued support for people-oriented projects and development initiatives across rural communities in the state.
He also thanked the people for their patience, support for his leadership and commitment to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Speaker was accompanied by the member representing Yala I State Constituency, Hon. Brian Odey; the Vice Chairman of Ikom Local Government Area, Hon. Maurice Ndome; and the Assistant Financial Secretary of the APC in Cross River State, Hon. Akanya Agbor.
Other stakeholders from Nde Ward who attended the commissioning included the former Vice Chairman of Ikom Local Government Area, Hon. Asinya Ntan, and the Community Relations Officer, Hon. Abang Neji.
Matthew Okache
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker
October 22, 2026
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