To mark International Women’s Day 2025, a UK-based geoscientist, data scientist, and advocate for youth and women empowerment with a background in petroleum geoscience and extensive experience in data science and machine learning, Promise Ekeh has organized a one-day workshop on digital literacy education for Delta Secondary Schools across Warri and its environs on Friday, aimed at empowering young girls with the skills and confidence to pursue careers in technology, science, and leadership.

Under the auspices of ‘Empower Her Empower the Future’, the workshop was hosted at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Warri, Main Auditorium, bringing together around 220 secondary school girls comprising 11 schools across Warri and its surrounding areas.

During her welcome address, Ekeh underscored that the vision of ‘Empower Her’ is to establish a world where every girl, regardless of her background, possesses the tools and confidence to excel in STEM fields, leadership positions, and beyond. She noted that the initiative is a movement toward gender equity, ensuring young girls have equal access to opportunities in technology and leadership.

Adding, “The Empower Her initiative is driven by the mission to equip young girls with digital skills, leadership training, and access to mentorship opportunities to prepare them for the evolving job market and global stage.”

Lola Aworanti-Ekugo, a distinguished expert in digital technology and innovation, delivered a keynote speech in which she shared her journey and underscored the importance of perseverance, continuous learning, and embracing opportunities in STEM fields.

In addition, the event featured a distinguished lineup of inspiring female professionals from diverse backgrounds, including Mrs. Gbemi Anderson, Prof. Juliet Emudianuge, Pastor Adeshola Adebayo, Jolomi Adiotomre, and Dr. Zainab Titus, who delivered talks on personal development, digital literacy, and career pathways.

A major highlight of the day was a panel discussion that covered topics on students’ careers, challenges, and advice for overcoming barriers, as well as a quiz competition that tested students on STEM-related topics and awarded top performers with prizes, promoting a spirit of academic achievement.

In the aftermath of the workshop’s success, Ekeh disclosed that ‘Empower Her’ will initiate a year-long mentorship program for 30 carefully selected girls who demonstrated a strong passion, potential, and desire to excel in STEM, digital literacy, and leadership through their responses to various essay topics.

Highlighting the comprehensive support they would receive, including laptops and internet access throughout the program, to ensure they have the necessary resources to excel.

Reported by:
Fidelis Onakpoma
Head of Media and Strategic Communications IHRC Nigeria

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The International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has appealed to the Government of the United Kingdom for leniency in the sentencing of former Nigeria Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, alongside his wife Beatrice and Dr. Obinna Obeta, who was found guilty and convicted under the Modern Slavery Act of the United Kingdom by the Central Criminal Court Old Bailey, London.

IHRC’s Ambassador at Large and Head of Diplomatic Mission to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. Ambassador (Dr.) Duru Hezekiah asserted on Wednesday at his Office in Abuja while addressing newsmen. He said Distinguished Senator Ike Ekweremadu is a Patriotic Nigerian, who has served the Nigerian Senate three consecutive times since 2003.

He reiterated that understanding the Modern Slavery Act of the UK 2015, an Act to make provisions about slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labor and human trafficking, including provision for the protection of victims; to make provision for an Independent Anti-slavery Commissioner; and for connected purposes, the Nigeria former Deputy Senate President Ekweremadu, 60, his wife, Beatrice, 56, and Obeta, 51, were found guilty of facilitating the travel of a young man to Britain to exploit his organ for his daughter Sonia following her diagnosis which indicated that she required a kidney transplant.

He ascribed that Senator Ike Ekweremadu acted on the purview of parental instincts to save his daughter and not for commercial purposes, as well, maybe ignorance of the law of the United Kingdom, adding that a Distinguished Personality and lawmaker of that repute wouldn’t involve himself in the such abominable act.

“In conveying this Clemency, satisfactory evidence having been exhibited to me, the Head of Diplomatic Mission to the International Human Rights Commission in Nigeria, shows that Ike Ekweremadu is a law-abiding citizen of Nigeria. An honest man who has served his country and ECOWAS Parliament in various capacities as Deputy Speaker/Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, and has contributed positively to humanitarian aid and the development of politics in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Continent”, Dr. Duru hinted.

“Although the Nigerian Senate, House of Representatives, and ECOWAS Parliament have appealed for your leniency in the sentencing of Senator Ike Ekweremadu, alongside his wife Beatrice and Dr. Obinna Obeta, paramountly due to the trust and confidence in the Integrity and Fidelity of Sen. Ike Ekweremadu who has great respect for international laws and treaties”.

“However as a Transnational Intergovernmental Organization with an unrepentant approach against Human Trafficking, I avail myself this opportunity to express to you alongside Patriots in the world, our sincere appeal for your leniency in the foregoing testimony as stated therefore. Permit me also, to make reference to the Holy Bible; Grace and Mercy are only available to the unqualified and the condemned, meaning that a man can still be set free even when he has broken the law. The law will always condemn the best in us but Grace saves the worst in us. I therefore pray that you treat him and others with Love, Mercy and Grace who I believe will in turn empower them to sin no more”.

“I wish to express the hope that you will lend us your valuable cooperation and be rest assured that it shall be in my constant endeavor to maintain the trust and confidence of our relationships”, he maintained.

Signed:
H.E. AMBASSADOR (DR.) DURU HEZEKIAH
IHRC Ambassador at Large and Head of Diplomatic Mission, Nigeria.
NGA.04.05.2023

The post EKWEREMADU: IHRC WRITES UK GOVT, PLEA FOR LENIENCY first appeared on ihrc.news.