Kogi FIDA inaugurates Students wing in Prince Abubakar Audu University Anyigba
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria Kogi State chapter has inaugurated its Students wing in Prince Abubakar Audu University, (PAAU) Anyigba.
Alongside the inauguration, was the training of 250 female students as Para-legals who will serve as ambassadors to stop all forms of Gender Based Violence in Kogi State.
Speaking during the inauguration and training ceremony, the Kogi state Chairperson of FIDA Barr. Ajuma Lilian Okolo disclosed that the purpose of the training was to enable the female Students help as first aiders in Gender Based Violence, (GBV) cases or cases pertaining to Women and Children in their various communities.
Okolo posited that the Students represents the 21 Local Government Area of Kogi State and even beyond.
“This is a major achievement for FIDA Kogi State because we have taken our services beyond borders. FIDA Students PAAU chapter will be able to attend to Women and Girls who are passing through any form of abuse, or GBV before they can actually contact a lawyer to handle the matter.
“As you students have been trained on the nitty-gritty concerning GBV, you are all expected to be good ambassadors of your institution by ensuring that, cases of GBV or any forms of abuse is reduce to it barest minimun in our society. GBV has been a menace that has eaten deep into the fabrics our society.
“As upcoming female lawyers, it is expected of you to have the basic foundation on how to fight this menace in our environment. As young counselors, it is your duty to ensure that, you put in your best to reduce the psychological effects of GBV by ensuring that survivors (Victims) get the best treatment.
While declaring the event open, the Dean, faculty of law Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU) Anyigba Prof. Enemaku Obaje commended FIDA for their great work in Nigeria stressing that, the inauguration of the Student wing of FIDA in the institution will help mitigate all forms of Gender Based Violence within and outside the institution.
“It is indeed a great achievement that FIDA Kogi came up with this laudable ideas in our in institution. On behalf of the management of PAAU, I want to also say a big thank to FIDA Nigeria for what they have been doing in bringing sanity to our great nation”.
Highpoint of the event was the forming of a seven member exco to kick start the Students wing of FIDA Kogi PAAU Chapter and the presentation of an office accommodation by the dean, faculty of Law, to enable them function effectively in the institution.
Present at the event were senior Lecturers, management and staff of the institution, including the Secretary of Fida Kogi Mrs Kemi Omeiza Usman amongst others.
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria is a Non-Governmental, Non-Profit Organization made up of women lawyers which was formed in 1964 and now has about 44 branches.
FIDA is the acronym for the Spanish name “Federación Internacional dé Abogadas” which translates to “International Federation of Women Lawyers”. In 1964 Ambassador Aduke Alakija established the Nigerian branch of the organisation, FIDA Nigeria.
