News
WINET moves to end child, forced marriages in Ebenebe Community in Anambra State
BY: Sandra Ani
Women Information Network, an Enugu based Non-Governmental Organization, recently consolidated its campaign targeted at ending community acceptance of child and forced marriages in Ebenebe community in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The one -year project is a product of a baseline survey carried out by WINET in 2016 to determine the veracity of the information within its disposal that Ebenebe was among the communities endemic with child marriage.
The baseline survey did not only reveal the truth but also disclosed the many factors responsible for this, top among which was the cultural practice called “Tum, Num”, a tradition which compels a man or boy who impregnates a girl to marry her, regardless of age.
This was identified as being in violation of the provisions of the Anambra State Child Rights Law 2006, which prohibits child marriage and betrothal among other protective provisions, put together in the overall interest of the child.
WINET had earlier organized separate dialogues with the men, the women, the male and female youths of the community to teach them the provisions of the Child Rights Law, CRL of Anambra State of 2006, which many of them had contravened ignorantly.
A town hall meeting was also organized recently for all the segments of the community already trained to advance the course of the campaign, which has as its title “The Right to be a Girl”.
Addressing the gathering, the Executive Director of WINET, Mrs. Miriam Menkiti, appreciated the measure of support the organization had enjoyed from the locals since the commencement of the campaign.
Represented by Mr. Nnadozie Oshigbo, the WINET Executive Director re-echoed the essence of the project, funded by a Spanish Non- Government Organization, Mundo Cooperante, which is to abolish the practice of “Tum, Num” in Ebenebe, as it undermines the dignity of the teenage girls, who most often are forced into marriage, even against their interest and consent.
She explained that the campaign is not to undermine the culture and tradition of the people but to help the society to catch up with the realities of the time.
Mrs. Menkiti charged the people of the community to work together to abolish the traditional practice of “Tum, Num”, which derails especially the young girls from pursuing and fulfilling their dreams and ambitions in life.
The WINET Executive Director pointed out that the event was to validate all the commitments made by various gender groups during previous dialogues.
She further explained: “The overall goal of the project is to end community acceptance and practice of girl child and forced marriages in Ebenebe. The practice of Tum, Num whereby some girls under eighteen years are given out in marriage or forced into marriage is prohibited by Anambra State Child Rights Law 2006. At the end of each of the dialogues, the girls, male youths, women and men agreed on some of the practices that the Anambra State Child Rights Law prohibit. Today, all of you as community members have gathered to validate those things you agreed on during the dialogues to confirm that your community will no longer encourage girl child and forced marriages”
The Legal Consultant to WINET, a former Solicitor General and former Chairperson, International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA in Anambra State, Barrister Mrs. Tina Emekekwue, explained to the people that every child has rights and obligations under the constitution of Nigeria, especially under the Child Rights Law, CRL, and such rights must be respected.
She enumerated the rights to include: the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, which forbids parents from imposing their will and choices on their daughters especially the teenage ones.
She further explained:
“The right to dignity of the child says nothing should be done to affect the dignity of the child negatively. Rather, help him or her to be somebody in life, who you can proudly call your child. Every child is free from any discrimination no matter the circumstances of birth. Whether given birth to in the house of the father of the girl or abducted or otherwise. A child has right to education, freedom of association, right to private and family life, right to survival and development. The child equally has right to dignity and should not be maltreated for any reason. Even the unborn child has right to be protected against harm, and none should encourage abortion as it is a contravention of the law. A child also has right to parental protection and maintenance. Also, a girl child is forbidden from Female Genital Mutilation, FGM”.
The President General of Ebenebe, Hon Paul Nnatuanya, who was represented by the Secretary, Mr. Charles Onyebuchi, extolled WINET for the campaign and appealed to everyone in attendance to spread the good news across the nooks and crannies of the community.
The President General also charged parents to stop at nothing in ensuring that their children grow to become useful to themselves, their families and the society at large.
The occasion featured question and answer session while the people again pledged their commitment to ending “tum num”, which fuels forced marriages among teenage girls.
With the momentum on display across gender divides in the community about the project, Tum, Num may soon lose its appeal and efficacy as the Anambra State Child Rights Law has made better provisions for the protection of the girl -child particularly those who are being coerced into marriage at their teenage ages.
News
Naija Times celebrates 5th anniversary, launches nonprofit arm to promote quality journalism and social impact
Naija Times, Nigeria’s leading independent online newspaper, proudly celebrates its 5th anniversary.
To mark this milestone, the management is excited to announce the launch of Naija Times Journalism Foundation, its nonprofit arm, reinforcing its commitment to quality journalism and social impact.
Founded on September 15, 2020, by Ehi Braimah, a notable PR expert and media personality in Nigeria, Naija Times has delivered high-quality, unbiased, and informative content to its readers. Akpandem James and Jahman Anikulapo – two senior and highly respected journalists – are Braimah’s co-founding partners of Naija Times.
The newspaper covers politics, business, health, education, culture, and sports, while its regularly published editorials provide sharp insights into Nigeria’s pressing issues. The newly launched website, www.ntm.ng to mark the anniversary, offers a seamless, user-friendly experience, making it easier for readers to navigate the website and access Naija Times’ diverse content.
On its 3rd anniversary two years ago, Naija Times launched the book, ‘For a Better Society,’ a compilation of editorials published from September 2020 to July 2023 in Abuja, further solidifying its role in shaping public discourse.
Naija Times Journalism Foundation, accessible at www.ntjfoundation.org, expands the organisation’s mission by supporting investigative journalism on critical social issues, promoting media literacy to educate the public on evaluating information and combating misinformation, and empowering community development through initiatives that foster social cohesion and economic empowerment.
“We are proud to celebrate five years of delivering credible journalism to our readers,” said Braimah, founder and publisher/editor-in-chief of Naija Times.
“Five years ago, we launched Naija Times with the following goals in mind: build strong institutions, promote transparency and accountability in public spending, uphold the rule of law, and defend the public interest.
“Together with my colleagues, we remain committed to building an egalitarian society that is founded on equity, justice and respect for fundamental human rights. The launch of Naija Times Journalism Foundation represents a bold step forward in our mission to drive social impact and elevate journalism practice in Nigeria.”
Naija Times Journalism Foundation is a knowledge production and journalism innovation hub dedicated to strengthening democratic governance and promoting inclusive development and accountability by empowering a vibrant and free press in Nigeria, Africa and Black Diaspora.
The Foundation’s Programmes Officer is Hart Onoboh, a seasoned programmes and communications professional with over five years’ experience, driving impactful development projects in Nigeria.
Hart has a robust background in strengthening democratic governance, combating misinformation, and facilitating community-based interventions.
Previously a fact-checker and visual communications officer at the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa), he led initiatives to counter misinformation and promote electoral integrity, training over 25 fact-checkers across four states in Nigeria.
Hart is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Information Management at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and he brings technical expertise, creative communication, and field experience to the Foundation’s advocacy and governance initiatives.
The Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, Sijibomi Ogundele, is under intense interrogation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the alleged diversion of ₦5.7 billion paid by the Enugu State Government for an ₦11 billion contract.
Ogundele, who had earlier been declared wanted, turned himself in to EFCC Abuja headquarters and was grilled for more than 10 hours on Tuesday. His personal and company accounts have been frozen, and his passport seized to restrict his movement.
According to investigators, Ogundele convinced the state to release 50% of the contract sum—₦5.7 billion—after promising speedy delivery. However, state officials allege that work done so far is worth no more than ₦750 million, accusing him of abandoning the project.
The Enugu State Government’s petition triggered EFCC’s probe, which may see Ogundele spend more time in custody as investigations continue.
In a tearful online video, Ogundele denied any wrongdoing, framing the matter as a contractual dispute: “I’m not a thief, I’m not a fugitive. This is between my company and the Enugu State Government. It’s not criminality.”
…Unveils Selection Panel
The Nigeria Digital PR Summit has officially opened nominations for the second Nigeria Digital PR Awards, a prestigious platform that recognizes excellence, innovation, and impact in digital public relations across Nigeria.
Honourees will take the spotlight at the Nigeria Digital PR Awards Gala; a premium evening celebrating the individuals, organizations, and campaigns that defined digital PR in the past year, marking the 10th Nigeria Digital PR Summit. Adding flair to the night is the Digital PR Fashion Runway; a bold fusion of fashion, technology, and communications that promises an unforgettable experience.
This year, 19 award categories will honour campaigns across four classes including Campaign Excellence Awards, Sector Excellence Awards, Innovation and Technology Awards, and Individual & Professional Excellence Awards.
The Summit also unveiled a three-member Selection Panel responsible for reviewing entries and shortlisting winners.
The panel is chaired by the Founder and CEO, Fernhill Digital Consulting, Datari Ladejo, and includes the former Senior Business Program Manager, MarComms, Africa Development Center (ADC – West), Microsoft, Oluwamuyemi Orimolade; and Founder/Lead Partner, PuzzleCraft PR and Communications, Beatrice Okpara.
Nominations are open to agencies, corporate communication teams, NGOs, startups, and individual practitioners whose work has delivered measurable results and demonstrated creativity in leveraging digital platforms.
Nominations run from September 1 – 8, 2025. Shortlisted nominees will be announced during the Awards Gala on October 16, 2025, at the Conference Centre, Naval Dockyard, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island. For entry guidelines and submission details, visit: https://forms.gle/cM2oFQTnSSqL51EC9.
Founder, Nigeria Digital PR Summit, Segun McMedal, said, “We are excited to launch this year’s call for nominations and to welcome such distinguished professionals to the Selection Panel. This panel reflects the breadth of expertise driving digital communication in Nigeria, and its stewardship will ensure a fair and transparent evaluation process.”
The seven categories in the Campaign Excellence Awards include Best Overall Digital PR Campaign, Best Brand Advocacy Campaign, Best Crisis Communication in Private Organisations, Best Crisis Communication in Government, Best Public Affairs Campaign, Youth Impact Award for Social Change, Outstanding Influencer Collaboration, and Best Use of Content Marketing.
Categories in the Sector Excellence Awards include Excellence in Public Service Digital Campaign, Digital PR Excellence in Telecom Services, Digital PR Excellence in Financial Services, and Sustainability and ESG Communication Excellence.
The Innovation and Technology Awards category include Innovative Use of Technology in PR, Best Digital Engagement with Citizens, Outstanding Digital Customer Experience, and Creative Use of Short-Form Video in PR. The Individual and Professional Excellence Awards include Emerging Digital PR Professional of the Year and Digital PR Professional of the Year.
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