On Wednesday, August 23, 2023, a 4-man team of Volunteer Corps Members (VCMs) representing the OCI Foundation featured prominently at the “23rd Regular National Council Meeting on Women Affairs”, held at the Calabar International Conference Centre, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. The wife of the Cross River State Governor, Her Excellency, Mrs Eyoawan Bassey Otu (represented), was Special Guest at the event. A picture of her representative and a team from the OCI Foundation, is shown on Day 3, below.
The 4-day event lasted from August 20th to 25th, and was organized by Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Women Affairs (FMWA). The FMWA has been an official partner of the OCI Foundation over the past 4 years. This is the 2nd time that the Foundation is participating in this National Council Meeting.
Video: OCI Foundation's Speech.
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The OCI Foundation featured prominently at days 1and 3 of the event. Pictures from both days are included below.
A speech by the OCI Foundation’s President (Dr. Chris Ifediora) was read by PATIENCE OCHAYI, one of the VCMs. Other VCMs who appeared on behalf of the Foundation were CHIOMA JIDEUNO, FRANK NDUKWE, and KERIN EBI-KELLE. All four are part of Nigeria’s NYSC (National Youths Service Corps) Scheme, and are currently serving the country in Cross River State, Nigeria. The NYSC is also an official partner of the OCI Foundation.
Mrs. CHRISTIANA OLIKO OF the FMWA, a highly valued associate of the OCI Foundation, was also at the event.
The speech by the OCI Foundation’s President invited the delegates at the event, drawn from all of Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT, to join in the implementation of the two women-friendly pieces of legislation facilitated by the Foundation through the country’s 9th National Assembly/Parliament (NASS). Both legislations, fully passed by the NASS, are now only awaiting presidential assent before they become laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. When implemented, laws from the two bills can significantly advance the welfare of women in Nigeria.
The first legislation compulsorily integrates anti-breast and anti-cervical cancer teachings into the regular curriculum of all Senior Secondary Schools and Colleges of Education in Nigeria, while the second does the same with the preventive measures on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
The OCI Foundation is grateful to the FMWA for the opportunity to collaborate with them yet again, and thanks the NYSC and the VCMs, for their role in advancing the life-saving measures of the organisation.
Part of the Speech from the OCI Foundation can be watched in a Video available by licking HERE (also has as link above). A full version is available, either as a PDF File HERE, or as image files further down below.
