Author: nationalpoint

By OweiLakemfa.Wordswent round the University of Ife, now, Obafemi Awolowo University, that a leading literary critic,Ms. Molara Ogundipe (later, Professor) from the University of Ibadan,was visiting. She was at Ife to give a Marxist interpretation of Professor WoleSoyinka’s 1965 novel, “The Interpreters.” This was1980/81 when Soyinka was Head of IfeDrama Department, and, still half a decade from his Nobel Prize. Many found ‘The Interpreters’ a turgid and impenetrable novel. Thenovel’s very first statement: “Metal onconcrete jars my drink lobes.” wasa put off for some. But this leadingfeminist writer was coming, not just to dissect it, but give a Marxistinterpretation.Thepresentation went well and…

By Constance MejuParticipants at the validation display copies of the research publicationTransparency International in conjunction with Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center, CISLAC organized a validation session on a research they jointly conducted on “Military Involvement In Oil heft” in Nigeria Thursday June 13, 2019. Venue was Landmark Hotel, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.Welcoming participants drawn from civilsociety organisations, media and community representatives, CISLAC programmeofficer said the discussion paper,outcome of the research arose from the fact that Nigeria loses 200,000 barrelsof crude oil everyday to oil theft and this affects the federal revenue anddeliverables to citizens. He said the situation is made…

Clarice Azuatalam CLARICE AZUATALAM is a veteranjournalist and long term unionist who in response to heightened calls forincreased participation of women in political decision making joined the frayin the 2019 general elections. She contested in her Owerri Constituency for a federalseat in the Lower Chamber of the National Assembly. In a telephone chat withConstance Meju, she reviews her experience contesting for office under MAJAParty. Money was a major issueVotebuying was really a major issue. People were selling their votes for N1,000,N2,000, N5,000 depending on the municipality and party. The two major partiesfully engaged in vote buying. In fact it was…

The League of Women Voters of Nigeria has received with utmost shock and disbelief a video showing a so called Civil defense officer preventing a female Kebbi High Court Judge, Justice Elizabeth Karatu from delivering judgment in cases before her. Sources indicate that in addition to discrimination on the basis of religion, and gender, there are efforts by powerful political forces to force her to pervert justice in the cases before her. We believe that Nigeria is not a Banana Republic and is too civilized a Nation to allow this type of intimidation and action against a Judicial officer who…

By Constance MejuAs killings andatrocities continue to take center-stage in Rivers State, youth representativesfrom varied sectors of the state have pledged to take pro-active measures tosupport concerted efforts by all stakeholders in the state towards stamping outthe high wave of criminality strengthening the sanctity of the state.Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Center, a non-governmental organization working on development, environment and women’s right in the Niger Delta has in the last few months, been engaging stakeholders on how to restore peace in the troubled zones.  First it met with security heads including the Directorate State Security, DSS, Nigeria Defence Security, NDSC,…

By Iduozee Paul, Benin correspondentThe Odionwere.oflguogbe village, in Ovia North East Local Government of Edo State, AmbassadorJoseph Aghedo, has eulogized HRM Oba Ewuare 11, the Oba of Benin for upliftingthe rich Benin cultural heritage and promoting norms and traditions since hisassumption on the throne.Hon. Aghedo made thecommendation at the 2019 Edo State Schools Cultural Competition, Season 15, puttogether by the Edo Legacy Foundation International,in conjunction with Bravin Magazine. Theme was, “Giving Back To TheSociety.” The traditional rulersaid the culture and tradition of Edo people is their pride and called onothers to join the crusade.“Our culture andtradition is our pride; I call…

By Iduozee Paul, Benin correspondentTo enable them caterfor their households and families, an NGO known, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundationhas empowered 20 Muslim widows with the total sum of N300,000for injection intotheir businesses.Explaining why themoney was given to Muslims widows, the administrative officer of Zakat andSadaqat Foundation, Edo State, Jatto Abdurasheed, said a lot of Muslim widowsare passing through various suffering in the society, citing the new reportreleased by the United Nations (UN) that258 million widows in the country are suffering.“The criteria weused to select people we gave money is the issuance of forms to all in the senatorialdistricts. After giving…

By Mrs.Adebanjo Ayomide TemitayoCorruption is a universal feature in every society. The tendency to be corruptis inherent in human nature. That is why every society and culture has its ownjustice system and established punitive measures for various degrees of corruptpractices.In as much as it is impossible to completely eliminate corruption in anyenvironment, it is however, mandatory that every society makes an attempt toreduce corruption to the barest minimum. This is because the short andlong-term effects of corruption in any environment can be quite devastating,unfortunately, women and children are worst hit.The responsibility of reducing or eliminating corruption largely lies with thegovernment,…

By Mrs. AdebanjoAyomide TemitayoAccording to W.H.O (World Health Organisation), health can bedefined as both physical, social, emotional, and mental well- being of an individual.This definition elucidates that being healthy can not only be justified orportrayed by physical appearance, being healthy involves the mental and socialwell-being of an individual. Now one maywonder, what are the causes of mental illness? Although, there is no particularcause that can be capitalised as the root of mental illness. However, there aremany situations and occurrence that may lead to mental illness one of which isvery common in Nigeria, depression. Other causes of mental illness areemotional distress,…

Mrs. Christie Bature OgbeifunMrs. Christie BatureOGBEIFUN, the chief executive officer of 180 Degrees Rehabilitation Centre,Port Harcourt was part of the civil society coalition against child abusetagged, “Anti Child Abuse: Stop the Rapeand Save a Child,“ which held in Port Harcourt June 27, 2019 in response toheightened incidents of child abuse, especially sexual abuse in the state.National Point’s GiftJonah who was part of the rally that saw activists marching from Isaac BoroPark to the gate of the Rivers State University, Nkpolu Port Harcourt,interviewed Mrs Christie Ogbeifun.Excerpts:Please introduce yourself and your centerMyname is Mrs. Christie Bature Ogbeifun, I run 180 Degrees Rehabilitation…