Coalition of Civil Society Takes a Stand Against Child Marriage in Nigeria

  The International Day of Girls in ICT 2024: Empowering Girls in ICT The International Day of Girls in ICT 2024 was commemorated with great enthusiasm at the Akure Tech Hub at Futa. Emerging Communities Africa (ECA) partnered with Kids&Teens, EnactUs, and AIESEC to celebrate the day under the theme of Leadership. The event began with an opening message from Miss Success from ECA. Also she emphasized the significance of the day, highlighting its purpose to inspire and equip young girls to explore the world of technology. The event featured insightful speeches from representatives of EnactUs and AIESEC, focusing on the essence of leadership. Ife-Oluwa David from EnactUs defined leadership as the ability to unite individuals to achieve a common goal. She also stated that leadership is not confined to holding a title. Rather, it revolves around the capacity to communicate effectively, persuade others, and inspire commitment to a shared vision. Furthermore, she outlined the qualities of a true leader. Here, she laid emphasis on vision, patience, and the ability to guide others on the right path. Miss Toluwanimi from AIESEC reiterated this, emphasizing the importance of a leader’s ability to bring out the best in others. She further explained the

  Stakeholders’ Capacity Building Workshop; Reducing Child Labour Child Labour; a menace affecting the dignity of children morally and academically, upsetting their future contribution to global development. ILO recent estimate reveals that Nigeria has the highest children labourers among the ECOWAS countries with 10.5million children toiling in different exploitative conditions in Global supply chains. Hence there is a need for a call to action to reduce the challenges posed by Child Labour. Against this backdrop, the International Labour Organization Accelerating Action Against Child Labour in Global Supply Chains in Africa (ACCEL Africa) Project organized a 3 day M&E Training on ACCEL Africa Results Framework and Indicator Measurement Guidelines with funding support from the Government of the Netherlands. The Capacity building programme held at Grand Pela Hotel Abuja had in attendance. It was a cross section of stakeholders from Government Agencies, Employers Association, Organized Labour, Academia and Civil Society Organizations (CSO). Stakeholders were introduced to the Result-Based Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the ACCEL Africa II Project, development of key-performance indicators that are SMART in nature. Also, participants were exposed to innovative data collections methods, tools and reporting guidelines. The training emphasized the importance of avoiding over or under reporting. Rather, it

Good Deeds Day 2024: Spreading Kindness in Ondo State The 2024 Good Deeds Day celebration in Ondo State unfolded with resounding success, marking a transformative moment that resonated with kindness, empathy, and community spirit. The event took place at the Ago-Ireti Community. It was a testament to the power of collective goodwill and the potential for positive change. The day commenced with a solemn opening prayer, symbolizing the unity and shared purpose of the community. Esteemed guests, including the National Coordinator Good Deeds Day Southwest, Martin Mary Falana, State Coordinator Mrs. Abidoye Irene, and Assistant State Adviser Mrs. Odedele, graced the occasion. The event also welcomed representatives from various NGOs, such as Kids & Teens Resource Centre, Gold Heart Foundation, Glorious Child of Hope, Mercy Speaks Initiative, Pace Setter, Gender Vanguard CDs, and Sojitade Foundation, underscoring the collaborative efforts towards fostering kindness and positive change. Mrs. Abidoye Irene delivered the opening speech, tracing the origins of Good Deeds Day. She noted its global impact since its inception at Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. Highlighting the movement’s focus on promoting kindness, positive speech, and actions, particularly among the youth. She also emphasized the far-reaching influence of Good Deeds Day, engaging over 108

Empowering Women in Rural Communities At the recent UN CSW68 event in New York, Mrs. Folashade Bamigboye, the Executive Director of Kids & Teens Resource Centre, shared an inspiring message about the crucial need for innovatively empowering women in rural areas. This important gathering brought together participants to discuss and address gender equality challenges affecting women in rural African communities. In her address, Mrs. Bamigboye highlighted the persistent gender inequality faced by rural women and girls. She emphasized the theme, “Challenges and opportunities in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls.” Also, she stressed the need to overcome challenges and create opportunities for the empowerment of rural women and girls. She laid emphasis on key reasons why this empowerment is vital: 1. Economic Empowerment: Empowering women with access to financial resources, education, and training can help them start businesses, increase productivity, and gain independence, breaking the cycle of poverty. 2. Healthcare Improvement: Empowered women are more likely to seek healthcare for themselves and their families. This in turn leads to better maternal and child health outcomes. 3. Social Empowerment: Empowering women allows them to have a voice in decision-making processes. It also gives them the opportunity