Oiwona Launches Two Books

 

NEWS EXTRA

ERA, FoEN PARTNER WITH NUJ EDO STATE COUNCIL

BY LEO EZEKIEL

 

Speaking as the Executive Director, Environmental Rights Action and as well as Friends of the Earth Nigeria at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Edo State Council at Oba Oguola Press Centre Reservation Road, GRA, Benin-City, Edo State, Barr. Chima Williams states that Environmental Rights Action and Friends of the Earth Nigeria have decided to enter into partnership with the Nigeria Union of Journalists Edo State Council so that NUJ shall pragmatically, objectively, effectively, efficiently and assiduously disseminate the activities of ERA/FoEN to the general public most especially the powers that be adding that the partnership really got be critically improved on workable and rewarding relationship.

Speaking further to the members of the fourth estate of the realm Barr. Williams noted that the herculean task of disseminating information to the general public of the yearnings and aspirations of the women do largely rest upon the shoulders of the pen pushers adding that ERA/ FoEN do heavily have the convictions that through NUJ their demands shall be proactively attended to.Speaking again to the audience Barr. Williams concurs that the women are the ones that go into forests to pick up firewoods for cooking their foods for their households, that the women are the ones who know the leaves that could be plucked up and used to treat ailments that affect both men and women et’al.Speaking to the gathering the women themselves stated that their farmlands have been grabbed away from them by land grabbers adding that this land grabbing has adversely affected them with loops of heavy poverty, untold hardship, and as well as rendering them helpless and hapless.

Mrs. Gladys Osaghae did read out loudly and clearly a statement titled “Women impacted by Industrial Plantation Expansion in Edo State and in the said statement several salient issues are raised which they really desired to be critically addressed by the powers that be. The women concurred that ‘Women” Rights Are Human Rights, their forest is their Life Plantations Are Not Forests.

Responding to the presentations ERA/FoEN made available to NUJ, the Chairman of NUJ, Edo State Council Comrade Festus Alenkhe states that he commends the Management of ERA/FoEN for their uncommon supports they have been rendering different communities adding that these companies that operate on these lands should provide Education with Scholarship for the Citizenry, Health Care Facilities, Roads Constructions, that the labour laws have to be employed so that the citizenry could be gainfully employed by the companies that have taken over their farm lands. He further stated that there has to be Gender Justices for all and sundry. The theme of the event is (Women’s Rights Are Human Rights, Plantations are not forests while the Programmes Manager, forest and Biodiversity programmes, ERA/FoEN Mrs. Rita Uwaka compered the said event.