General
Acting SEC DG Advises Women to Break Stereotypes
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Acting Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms Mary Uduk, has urged women to continue to break stereotypes that impede their progress in the socio-political set up of the country in a bid to make meaningful impact.
Speaking in commemoration of the 2020 International Women’s Day in Abuja, Monday, the capital market guru said, “Women must be ready to challenge stereotypes. We must remove barriers that stand in the way of the progress of women and consciously take giant strides towards the emancipation of women.”
She stated further that, “When we stand together, we can achieve anything and any obstacle can be pulled down. We must support women for emerging opportunities whenever they arise and mentor them. Supporting one another is a duty we owe and must carry out every time for women to move on.”
Ms Uduk enjoined all whether women or men, sisters or brothers to consciously take giant strides towards the emancipation of women in all spheres of life as the rise of a woman is never the fall of men.
According to her, “Those of us who are older women should consciously look down and mentor our sisters, our upcoming sisters, our children so that as they grow up, we are not in competition with each other, it is always our happiness to see that those that we mentor surpass us, they do better than us, just like we like our children to do better than us.”
“Therefore, I charge all of us in this room, to please look down at all times and pull up your younger sisters, your children and bring them up to speed in the way you would like your own children to be.
“If you are not a woman, you have a daughter, or married or a girl child, therefore it is for everyone. It then provides an opportunity for us to reinforce the fact that everyone, both women and men have a role to play in building and sustaining a more gender balanced world,” she noted.
Ms Uduk said International Women’s Day is for celebrating the achievements of women and on calling for gender parity, as historically the role of Nigerian women has differed depending on religious and geo graphic factors.
“Women’s role was primarily understood as mothers, sisters, daughters and wives. These have gradually changed through the ages with the presence of women in almost every sector in Nigeria.
“Our women can be found in Medicine, Law, Engineering, Architecture, Building, Technology, Accounting, Teaching, International Relations, Aero-nautical Engineering and in Capital Market related professions,” she said.
“Regarding gender bias there is much improvement in how women are perceived and treated in Nigeria these days.
“However, there is still much work to be done, women are still being marginalized in politics, discriminated against sexually harassed in the work place. These days it has become evident that there is no such thing as bottom power.
“What you have are very hard working women that God has raised and they do well and everybody knows that it is not because of any man’s influence but because they do that in their own right as hard working women,” Ms Uduk added.
In her remarks, Leadership and Management Consultant, Dr Karmell Andzenge, said as the world celebrates the woman, the men are also celebrating themselves as without the men the women cannot be and vice versa.
Ms Andzenge said equality is a respecting point where the women respect the men and the men also respect the women and therefore urged men to support women beginning from the homes.
She, however, lamented that women are still not treated equally in some instances adding that some cultural and harmful traditional practices have to be done away with.
The International Women’s Day is celebrated around the world on March 08 and the day is focused on celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and for highlighting challenges that women face in the different phase of life and we all know that, women face a lot of issues in life.
This year’s celebration marks a call to action for celebrating women’s equality.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, has disclosed that the state government has not restricted the movement of people during the re-introduced monthly environmental sanitation exercise.
Responding to an enquiry by an X user, Faveo Autos, on Saturday, he said the exercise was not brought back to restrict the movement of residents, noting that arresting anyone during the sanitation was unlawful and not backed by law.
However, he encouraged Lagosians to use the period to keep their surroundings clean.
“What is the fine for movement during environmental [sanitation]?” Mr Wahab was asked by Faveo Autos today.
In his response, the Commissioner said, “For clarity, there is no restriction on movement during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise. Consequently, arresting anyone on the basis of movement during the exercise is unlawful and does not represent the position or policy of the Lagos State Government.
“The monthly environmental sanitation exercise was reintroduced primarily to restore and strengthen the culture of environmental cleanliness across the state.
“The initiative is backed by the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017. However, the law does not provide for any restriction on movement during the exercise.
“Our focus is on encouraging Lagosians to embrace environmental sanitation as a civic responsibility and a shared commitment to maintaining a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Lagos, rather than relying on enforcement measures.”
Life is full of unexpected moments that test our patience, strength, and perspective. Everyone experiences setbacks, disappointments, and periods of uncertainty. While these moments can feel overwhelming, they also provide opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery.
One of the most valuable lessons we learn is that difficult situations rarely last forever. Time, reflection, and a willingness to adapt often help us move beyond even the toughest circumstances. Maintaining a positive outlook and focusing on practical solutions can make a significant difference.
Relationships also play an important role in overcoming hardships. Support from family, friends, or mentors reminds us that we are not alone. At the same time, learning to let go of anger and resentment can free us from emotional burdens that prevent us from moving forward.
The only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive. It is nothing to die. It is frightful not to live. Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt.
Personal growth is not about avoiding challenges but about responding to them with resilience and wisdom. Every experience, whether positive or negative, contributes to the person we become. By embracing change and practicing gratitude, we can create a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
In the end, moving forward requires courage, forgiveness, and hope. When we choose to focus on what we can control instead of dwelling on the past, we open ourselves to new opportunities and a brighter future.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The establishment of four new army divisions has been approved by President Bola Tinubu, bringing the total to 12.
In a statement on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, it was stated that the President also authorised the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel to strengthen national security.
The new divisions created include 5 Division, with the headquarters in Makurdi covering Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States; 9 Division, with the headquarters in Ilorin covering Kwara and Niger States; 10 Division, with the headquarters in Jalingo covering Taraba and Adamawa States; and 83 Division, with the headquarters in Benin City covering Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States.
It was disclosed that the establishment of the new Divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will significantly improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, improve counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and ensure faster military response to emerging threats nationwide.
Implementation of the new force structure will be done in two phases. The first phase, covering the establishment of the 5, 9, and 10 Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, will be completed by September 2026. The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83 Division and further reorganisation, is expected to be completed by December 2026.
The statement said the expansion of the Nigerian Army’s structure from eight to twelve divisions will improve the operational effectiveness of the security agency and strengthen national defence capabilities further.
Before now, the Nigerian Army operated 1 Division, with the headquarters in Kaduna covering Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States; 2 Division, with the headquarters in Ibadan covering Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States; 3 Division, with the headquarters in Jos covering Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States; 6 Division, with the headquarters in Port Harcourt covering Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States; 7 Division, with the headquarters in Maiduguri covering Borno and Yobe States; 8 Division, with the headquarters in Sokoto covering Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States; 81 Division, with the headquarters in Lagos covering Lagos and Ogun States; and 82 Division, with the headquarters in Enugu covering Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States.
Mr Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s determination to continue investing in the Armed Forces, ensuring they remain adequately equipped, highly motivated, and fully capable of protecting the nation and guaranteeing the safety and security of all Nigerians.
He lauded the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and all officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication, professionalism, and steadfast commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
