UNICEF HOLDS TWO-DAY LIVE CHAT EVENT IN LAGOS HIGHLIGHTING U-REPORT UNDER SPOTLIGHT INITIATIVE END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS.

Within the framework of Spotlight Initiative End Violence Against Women and Girls, UNICEF held a 2-day live chat event at the Golfview Hotel and Suites, Ikeja, Lagos from October 21^st to 22^nd 2019. 

The very educative event focused on the Youth under the U-Report and Innovation was anchored by Innovation Specialist, Mr. Kolawole Ladejobi and Salma Muhammed from UNICEF. In attendance were representatives of UNICEF and CSOs, undergraduate students from University of Lagos (Unilag), corps members, postgraduate students from Unilag and NYSC officials. The Lagos State NYSC coordinator, Mr. Shuaibu Ibrahim and the representative of the Minister for Youth and Sports Development also graced the event. 

Mr. Adedoyin, the representative of the Minister for Youth and Sports Development emphasized the importance of seminars and training for the youths, this he explained was key to the capacity building of the youths “and when you build a youth you are building a nation” he said. Mrs. Dick Ihunabare a representative from UNICEF explained the importance of being a U-reporter and its impact on crime-solving.

Mr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, Lagos state NYSC coordinator thanked UNICEF and U-report for their efforts in building the capacity of the Nigerian youths.

The Spotlight Initiative is a global partnership between the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. The six mutually reinforcing pillars of the Spotlight Initiative are: Laws and Policies, Institutions, Prevention, Services, Data, and Women’s movements. 

During the interactive Panel session, topics like the root causes and solutions to gender-based violence was discussed.

The event emphasized the use of technology to end violence against women and girls. Bridge Point, SAED Connect and Google Digital Skills, all made remarkable presentations on the use of IT for digital empowerment and the development of youths. 

 

Gifts were presented to the winners of the U-Report quiz at the end of the day 2 event.

The U-Report is an online platform where young people can send and receive useful information about the various happenings in their communities in order to bring about positive social change. It is presently run in 60 countries. Nigeria, with over 3 million youths, has the largest number of U-Report subscribers.

The event which will be hosted in all the 6 States selected for the Spotlight Initiative project was truly a great and inspiring experience. It was a call to action of all youths to take positive steps to end violence among women and girls in Nigeria.

Save Our Needy was ably represented at the workshop by Marvella Odili, Founder/CEO. 

Spotlight Initiative Nigeria Organizes 3--Day Orientation Workshop for Implementation Partners

A 3-Day Orientation Workshop was organized in Lagos by the Spotlight Initiative Nigeria working in collaboration with Spotlight Global, for its implementation partners. Participant States were Lagos, Ebonyi, Adamawa, Cross River, FCT and Sokoto.

Some of the participants at the workshop

The training sessions aimed at exchanging ideas, sharing of knowledge and experiences, brought together key government ministries, selected Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Recipient UN Organizations (RUNOs). The sessions also gave the much needed opportunity to network. During the training sessions, participants were intimated on the project deleverables, targets, implementation arrangements, reporting/financial reporting requirements. The project start-up workshops supported the development of a results-oriented, state-specific CSO workplans from the already approved Spotlight Initiative (SI) 2019 workplans. Save Our Needy was one of the CSOs selected to participate at the workshop. The organization was represented by its Founder/CEO, Marvella Odili.

Marvella Odili (L) at the workshop

Adetutu Ajibodu, Centre Manager, WARIF (L) with Marvella Odili

Marvella Odili, Founder/CEO, Save Our Needy at the workshop

Marvella Odili

Marvella Odili

 

Patience, UN Women (middle)

The Communications trainer at the workshop

The Spotlight Initiative, a joint initiative of the EU-UN, is centred on the theme, Elimination of All Forms of Violence Against Women and Girls. The initiative aims to support the transformative change on the ground to end violence against women and girls, and harmful practices, in numerous countries globally. Nigeria is one of the eight countries in the African region selected to benefit from the Spotlight Initiative. It is anchored in the UN Sustainable Development Partnership Framework (UNSDPF) 2018-2022 and is implemented by five UN agencies (UN Women, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNFPA and UNDP), the Government of Nigeria, including federal and State governments and Civil Society. 

#SpotlightEndViolence #SpotlightNG

Mr. Kwasi emphasizing on a point