• Calls for an end to Female Genital Cutting
By Chioma Umeha
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists,
NAWOJ, Lagos State Chapter, has called on the Federal Government and all state
governments to pass death penalty for rape.
This call was contained in a communique signed by
the Lagos NAWOJ Chairperson, Hajia Sekinah Lawal at the association’s February
Congress which held in Ikeja, Lagos State.
The group commended the Lagos State House of
Assembly and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for passing a death penalty for
kidnapping in the state as they noted that rape is also a big problem in the
country.
“The Police and parents should be ready to report
and follow cases of rape to the latter.
“Mothers should make sure their grown-up girls
were well-dressed as a strategy to curb rape while those found guilty should be
sentenced to death in order to serve as deterrent to others,” it added.
Lagos NAWOJ also urged Federal and state
governments to urgently do something about the economy with a view to tackle
high inflation, saying access to drugs, medical care and food items is becoming
more difficult.
Similarly, members expressed concern over the
likelihood of emergence of fake drugs due to unavailability of the originals.
The group also commended the first lady, Hajia
Aisha Buhari for the women empowerment programme through vocational trainings
and called for more empowerment programmes for unemployed graduates and women.
“A place like Lagos State for instance has a lot
of riverine communities; with this, we can have more fish farmers so as to meet
the deficit of fish farming in Nigeria.”
In conclusion, the group urged all and sundry to
do everything within their capabilities to end female genital mutilation.
