GR Diary
Why improving the female image creates a better balance:Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF) is Changing perceptions one day at a time


BY: Sandra Ani
Women thrive on being beautiful and resourceful. Our beauty is more than skin deep and the wide array of attributes we possess have enabled us to survive countless obstacles. Our ubiquitous influence is felt across every facet of society.
We are trend setters; our flair and allure timeless and often brazen. Image is everything. The female who has had to endure the hurt of a violent attack can relate to this enduring statement of fact.
Every minute 7 girls will experience sexual violence in Nigeria – WARIF
Changing the perceptions of the perpetrators of violence towards girls is an urgent need and in WARIF we know time is vital. This is the blueprint that has shaped the last 1.2 million minutes spent by WARIF and dedicated supporters of this worthy cause.
We have invested time into redefining the image of girls and women. One woman and one story at a time, we have listened, reflected, invested, empathised, advocated and become the voice of one of the most vulnerable groups in our communities. The journey has been as poignant as it has been exciting.
Changing the narrative for women in our modern society is crucial to our generation. WARIF has become the voice of the voiceless girls and women who face social isolation and a higher risk of poor mental health due to the pervasive exposure to violence. We long to see all females flourish in our generation and time.
“By investing in women, children and adolescents today, and over the next 15 years, we can save a generation, within a generation — while benefiting many more to come. But the opportunity and responsibility to act belongs to us, now.”
AMINA MOHAMMED. United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on
Post-2015 Development Planning
Culture and social norms have shaped the evolution and acceptance of behaviour that promotes violence in our society.
Over time, because of early exposure to violence, women have borne the brunt of negative outcomes creating an imbalance of immeasurable dimensions thereby increasing the inequalities that we face.
WARIF is working with institutions, professionals, community champions, the public, survivors, role models, policy makers and a host of key players to rebuild the positive image of being a woman. Creating an endemic consciousness in our modern society that every women or girl has the fundamental human right to live a life free from violence or abuse.
It is our social responsibility to increase the contribution of every citizen into the plight of girls and women who are often ensnared insidiously; unaware of the risk. We are committed to investing our time in proliferating a new ideology about the female gender and eliminating the paradox of being a female who is considered vulnerable yet continually violated because of this vulnerability.
We need to understand the root causes and contributory factors so we can support both the survivor and the perpetrator.
Our founder Dr Kemi DaSilva-Ibru is a visionary and an advocate of women’s health who is devoted to embedding and reinforcing a positive image about girls and women into our communities and wider society.
She has inspired innumerable initiatives in various settings including educational institutions, media, corporate and commercial sometimes using the voice of survivors to deliver impactful life-changing messages.
When a girl or woman is violated an image is created, with time, that image becomes a scar.
Scars are putting our women and girls at risk and this risk is creating an imbalance. WARIF is shaping society by raising awareness and this takes time as we are discovering.
You can find out more about WARIF at www.warifng.org
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Celebrating Women’s Month #BalanceforBetter #IWD2019


Events
NOTAP Announces Plan for 2025 Technology and Innovation Summit
….Harnessing R&D and Innovation Potentials of Nigeria’s STI Ecosystem


The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has announced the forthcoming NOTAP Technology and Innovation Summit (NTIS 2025), scheduled to hold on Thursday, 6th and Friday, 7th November 2025 at THE HALL, 16 Musa Yar’Adua Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, commencing daily at 9:00 AM.
Themed “Harnessing R&D and Innovation Potentials of Nigeria’s STI Ecosystem,” the two-day summit will convene key leaders from government, private sector, academia, development partners, and the startup ecosystem to explore strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s innovation landscape and positioning the nation as a hub for technology-driven economic growth.
Speaking on the upcoming summit, Dr. Lady Obiageli Amadiobi, the director-general of NOTAP, emphasized that the forum will serve as a strategic platform to foster dialogue and action around innovation policy, technology transfer, intellectual property, and commercialization.
“Our goal is to accelerate the transformation of research and creativity into commercially viable enterprises that drive national development,” she noted.
Summit Highlights
The NOTAP Technology and Innovation Summit 2025 will feature:
- Ministerial Address and Keynote Sessions by renowned leaders in innovation, policy, and technology.
- High-Level Panel Discussions on key themes such as technology transfer, intellectual property sovereignty, and building an AI-ready human resources.
- Launching of Project NOVA (Nigeria’s Outsourcing Value Acceleration) and promotion of the NOTAP Local Vendor Policy (LVP) across all sectors of the economy.
- Workshops and Breakout Sessions on IP management, funding access, and talent development.
- Exhibitions and Innovation Showcases, featuring startups, research institutions, and technology companies.
- Hackathon and Pitch Showcase, for emerging innovators and young entrepreneurs.
- Networking and Partnership Sessions to foster collaboration across sectors.
The Summit will also host a Special Exhibition Pavilion to highlight Nigeria’s emerging technologies, research outputs, and development partnerships, reflecting NOTAP’s commitment to bridging the gap between invention and commercialization.
Partnership and Collaborations
The event is organized by the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) in partnership with Crestsage Limited and collaboration with stakeholders, to ensure a world-class experience that aligns with NOTAP’s mission of accelerating technology, promoting innovation and sustainable development across Nigeria.
The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) is a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, mandated to regulate the acquisition of foreign technology, promote local research, and encourage the development and commercialization of indigenous technologies. Through strategic partnerships, policy advocacy, and capacity development, NOTAP continues to play pivotal roles in advancing Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.
Events
Ortom, NOA DG, others to feature as Panelists at GOCOP 2025 Conference


The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has announced that Chief Samuel Ortom, former Governor of Benue State, will serve as one of the panelists at the upcoming GOCOP 2025 Conference.
The conference theme is “Reconciling Campaign Promises with Governance Realities: Challenges and Prospects.”
A press statement by GOCOP publicity secretary, Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, disclosed that the panel discussion will feature esteemed panelists, including Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, Registrar, Base University, Abuja; Prof. Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika,2025 Director, Institute of Continuing Education (UNILAG); and Alhaji Lanre Issa-Orilu, Director-General, National Orientation Agency.
The conference, he said, will take place on October 9, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
He recalled that GOCOP had earlier announced that the keynote speaker will be Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and immediate past Governor of Katsina State.
Events
Takang, Ladid Lead Africa’s Digital Sovereignty Debate At DACE 2025


How can Africa remain safe and powerful in a world being rapidly redefined by Artificial Intelligence?
That pressing question will take centre stage at the 13th Digital Africa Conference & Exhibition (DACE), scheduled for October 28–29, 2025, in Abuja.
The two-day gathering will be anchored by two powerhouse keynote speakers: Dr. Armstrong Takang on Day 1 and Prof. Latif Ladid on Day 2, each bringing unique expertise to Africa’s digital sovereignty conversation.
Dr. Armstrong Takang, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), will open the conference with a keynote that situates Africa’s digital sovereignty within the broader context of economic reform, institutional innovation, and strategic governance.
A consummate professional and visionary thinker, Dr. Takang has spent decades bridging the gap between public reform and private investment across Africa and the United States. Before his current role at MOFI, he served as Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, where he led the MOFI Transformation Team.
His career includes leading Growth Alliance Partners (GAP), a pan-African firm that helped turn around several businesses to create shareholder value, and working at KPMG in New York.
He has been instrumental in designing and implementing key national initiatives such as the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), the Voluntary Asset and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS), and the ICT components of EFCC/NFIU systems.
Dr. Takang has also chaired national ICT committees and contributed to landmark policies, including Nigeria’s Content Development in ICT and the country’s 50-year Development Plan. His keynote will highlight how digital and financial sovereignty intersect to secure Africa’s long-term competitiveness.
On the other hand, Prof. Latif Ladid, Founder & President of the IPv6 Forum and Chair of the AI & Blockchain Global Forum, brings decades of global leadership in internet architecture, digital policy, and emerging technologies.
His expertise spans across pivotal roles from IEEE Future Networks to the Internet Society, 3GPP, and EU research on next-generation networks.
Organizers say his keynote will set the tone for the conference, unpacking how Africa can assert digital sovereignty, safeguard its data, and lead in shaping the ethics and standards of AI on the global stage.
“This year’s theme, ‘Sovereign Intelligence: Africa’s Voice in the Global Digital Order,’ isn’t just a concept, it’s a necessity,” said Dr. Evans Woherem, Chairman of Digital Africa Consult. “Prof. Ladid’s keynote will highlight what it takes for Africa to remain safe, independent, and powerful in the new AI era.”
At a time when global powers are racing to define AI norms and secure digital dominance, Africa risks being left behind if it fails to act. Much of its technology remains imported, its data stored abroad, and its languages invisible in mainstream AI systems.
DACE 2025 is designed to change this narrative, by equipping Africa with the tools, strategies, and partnerships to become a proactive co-author of the digital future.
The conference will feature high-level dialogues on digital sovereignty, policy innovation, and cross-border cooperation, alongside exhibitions of homegrown startups, developer workshops, and showcases of African-built AI tools for health, agriculture, finance, and education.
Beyond the panels and showcases, DACE 2025 is expected to produce a concrete roadmap for Africa’s digital sovereignty.
“This isn’t just about technology,” noted Woherem. “It’s about agency, safety, and independence. With Prof. Ladid setting the stage, we hope to leave Abuja with a united vision of Africa’s place in the global AI order.”
With delegates expected from across Africa and the world, the two-day gathering promises to be a defining moment in the continent’s digital journey.
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