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Occupy Kano Update

2012-01-21T05:28:00.001-08:00

Occupy Kano Update:

In the face of the current unfortunate situation in Kano and the consultations we made with CSOs in Lagos and Kaduna on the need to harminzed the continuetion of mass peaceful protest against FSR, the Kano 'UNITED FRONT 4 GOOD GOVERNANCE' has put on hold its planned continuetion of the protest scheduled for tommorrow to a date to be announced soon! Struggle must continue no matter what!!!

Update on Occupy Kano Day 8

2012-01-16T14:25:00.000-08:00

In spite of the unfortunate early morning speech made by president Jonah on the reversal of fuel pump price from N141 to N97, and the subsequent hypocritical announcement on the suspension of the ongoing nation wide strike and protest by the NLC, the Kano NLC, ASUU, CSOs, COESU and students have staged yet another peaceful mass protest today. They matched from the famous Gyadi round about to unguwa uku, naibawa up to ring road fly over chanting anti fuel subsidy slogans. The leaders of various coalitions delivered their solidarity speeches respectively.

In the same vain, our fellow comrades in sabon gari area also organized another protest at Eldorado cinema under the coordination of ASUU, NLC and CSOs. The two protests went well in spite of the large number of crowd that attended the two events. Its also important to note that Aminu Ala entertain the crowd with his new anti subsidy songs!

WOMEN TOO PROTEST:
Perhaps, one of the most interesting thing about today's protest is the rate at which women participated. And conduct them selves peacefully at today's occupy kano protest. Among them include hajiya amina hanga of wali empowerment initiative, hajiya altine of VOWAN and lots of hausa movie actress. They have been supportive and a source of motivation to us all. The Hisbah personnel gave them adequate protection.

THE PRESS CONFERENCE:
A press conference was organized by the grand coalition under the leadership of NLC kano to respond adequately to the suspension of the ongoing national strike and protest by the NLC national body. The press were addressed by NLC chairman comrade Danguguwa in which he categorically made it clear to them that NLC Kano and the coalition members has agreed not comply as there was no consultation and basis for them to call off the strike and the protest.

In sustaining the tempo, a different grand coalition has now being formed under the leadership of Danguguwa and it will be named at a subsequent meeting to be held tomorrow at BUK ASUU secretarial by 3pm. The new coalition is going to be the flat form in which the fight against fuel subsidy removal will be sustained!

RADIO PROGRAM:
The general public will be enlightened tomorrow in freedom and Rahama radio stations respectively on the way forward.

Next Step!
A meeting will be organized tomorrow to name the new coalition and to further restrategize on how best to continue to occupy kano! The protest will resume on wednesday.
We shall not relent!
Let's go occupy kano
#occupynigeria#

Nura Maaji
Acting Secretary Kano CSOs Coalition against fuel subsidy!
08032601697
www.nuramaaji.blogspot.com

Occupy Kano Day 4

2012-01-11T13:34:00.000-08:00

As the occupy nigeria mass protest enters its third day nation wide, below is an update from Kano:

Though, the NLC/ASUU/CSOs and students grand coalition for occupy kano mass protest did not take place yesterday (the 2nd day of the protest) because the day was purely dedicated to mourn and sympathize with the death of our fellow protestants (3 of them), and those who are currently receiving medical treatment at the hospital. We also use the day to restrategize in order to have a successful mass protest ahead.

STAKE HOLDERS AT FREEDOM RADIO:
A night before today's protest, there was a very educative and mind engaging radio program between ASUU/NLC and police force where sensitive issues like the killing and shooting of the protestants on one hand, and the vandalization and burning of government cars, all were critically and clinically x-rayed.

As a result, the police force represented by its PPRO ASP Magaji Majiya assured NLC and ASUU their readiness to cooperate while at the same time calling the attention of the NLC chairman Danguguwa and ASUU representative Prof Tabiu to ensure effective crowd control. Also in attendance was Barrister Aikawa.

DAY 3 PROTEST:
Responding to the NLC's radio announcement that people should assemble in its secretarial at 8 to 9am in the morning for the protest, protestants across the metropolitan city of Kano massively responded to the call and assembled at 9am chanting anti subsidy removal slogans and carrying placards with different messages on the need for unity and peaceful coexistence. The crowd was approximately believe to be about 3 million.

Soon after, the NLC/ASUU/CS0 leadership address the crowd at 10am and read out the 'DOs' and 'DON'T s' of the occupy kano protest where the protesting crowd unanimously agreed to abide by them. They also introduced some prominent sons of Kano comprising of Lawal Jafar Isah, Dan bilki commander, Prof Yadudu, TY Gwarzo, and other prominent activists in the state. The leadership then led the crowd through katsina road, zungeru road to hajj camp and down to the famous Kano pyramid 'filin dala gyada' where solidarity messages where delivered and anti subsidy songs where played.

More over, after the solidarity messages we went though kofar mazugal down to Mallam Aminu Kano's house to pay a solidarity visit, being a radical progressive humanist, where prayers were offered by the protestants. We stayed for some time and then move through kofar ruwa and back to the NLC office.

WOMEN TOO...
Quite a number of women (more than 200 of them) participated fully in today's protest chanting, in their own way, different anti subsidy slogan. They were surrounded by Hisbah personnel to avoid mix up.

DAY 4 ANNOUNCEMENT:
The grand coalition leadership has at the end of the protest addressed the crowd and ask them to listen to the radio this evening for announcement against tomorrow's meeting point. The protest ended at 4:05pm because of the curfew imposed by the state government so that people can go back to their various destinations in time.

Long live Nigerians!
Let's go occupy kano!
#Occupy Nigeria#

Occupy Kano Protest Resumes

2012-01-10T14:49:00.000-08:00

Hello,

Below is a presentation of the happenings in Kano today:

As fuel subsidy removal mass protest enters its second day nation wide, the Kano grand coalition comprising of NLC, ASUU, CSOs, and Student union coalition, have in their meeting today restrategize to continue with the mass protest tomorrow wednesday the 11th of January 2012. Perhaps, the meeting was necessitated because of yesterday's unfortunate attack on fellow protestants by security personnel which led to the death of three and the unlawful shooting of many others. Though, the day was not without protest because some people staged it in different places.

OBSERVATIONS MADE:
In view of the massive turn out of protestants (assume to be up to 3 million people) unprecedented in the history of the state which consequently went out of control because of the inability to provide effective leadership which will give direction and entertainment to the protestants.

THE WAY FORWARD:
The meeting agreed on the following:

- NLC with the support of the coalition members will have to provide effective leadership

- Several committees comprising of mobilization, welfare, surveillance, tactical, and media were set up in order to ensure orderliness

- Placards carrying messages that promote harmonious coexistence will be displayed by the protestants

- Tomorrow's mass protest will be announced in the media and people will be stationed at strategic places for them to direct protestants to the agreed meeting point

- As people stationed at the meeting point, they will be led through gwammaja to kofar mazugal up to the federal secretarial, and then will be camped at the round about that will lead you to the airport where solidarity messages and entertainment will be delivered. We will stay there up to 6pm because of the unjustifiable curfew imposed by the state government

- On thursday, a different route from the labor secretarial will be followed up to kofar naisa where we will camp for the day

- On friday, we are expected to camp at the famous liberation square (silver Jubilee) from the labor house, and subsequently we will be moving to different strategic places within the state.

The rational behind camping in different places is to draw the attention of the general public on the subject matter under review because of the vastness nature of state.

Long live Nigerians in the struggle!

Let's go occupy Kano!
#occupy Nigeria#

Update on occupy Kano Day 1 protest

2012-01-09T10:48:00.000-08:00

Below is an update report of the happening in kano on the occupy nigeria protest going on nation wide:

AT THE BEGINING:
The protest organized by the Kano grand coalition of ASUU, NLC, TUC, Students etc, went as planned but in the process there was large turn out of people (uninvited) across all ages and gender expressing their grievances and showing their disapproval with the ill-conceived policy of fuel subsidy removal by the jonathan led administration.

THE HAPPENINGS:
Surprisingly, the crowd outing is unprecedented in the history of Kano as the liberation square, race course and lodge road, the places reserved by the protestants for camping, cannot contained the crowd, and there were series of mis understanding with the security personnel because they failed to allow them to pass through state road to liberation square, and in the process they(police men) shot 9 people and two were confirmed dead. The killing took place at the government house round about, and the protesting people who camped at the liberation square where seriously tear gassed and dispersed.

More over, the protestants staged a come back and re occupy the liberation square and bowed to spend their night at the square.

THE NLC COALITION AND THE CROWD:
The grand coalition under NLC after studying the atmosphere moved away from liberation square to race course where they addressed fellow protestants with lectures and bowed to carry on with the protest no matter what. They also informed us that they are going to see the state commissioner of police to reevaluate their agreement.

It is important to note that the coalition members under NLC did a lot in terms of controlling the protesting crowd.

NLC PRESS CONFERENCE:
NLC had a press conference at 4:30pm, where they addressed the media guys on the situation under review and promised to take legal action on the brutal behavior displayed by the police. They informed the coalition members to meet tomorrow again at the labor house by 9am for the 2nd day protest where an undisclosed venue is expected to be the venue of camping.

CURFEW IMPOSED:
We also heard of curfew imposed by the state government 6pm to 8am.

We will not relent!
Let's go occupy kano!
#occupynigeria#

KANO'S FINAL MEETING FOR THE GRAND OF ALL NATION WIDE 'OCCUPY NIGERIA' PROTEST

2012-01-08T20:09:00.000-08:00

A grand coalition under the platform of NLC Kano has finally finish all the necessary preparation ahead of the grand of all protest against fuel subsidy removal scheduled to hold tomorrow monday 9th of Jan. 2012 in Kano state in line with the occupy nigeria protest also to hold nation wide same day.

Coalitions in attendance include CSOs, ASUU, NLC, TUC, harmonized kano student union coalition, coalition of join lecturers of kano tertiary institutions, NUJ, NBA Kano, coalition of kano medical and health workers, and coalition of kano widows and divorces.

Also, the following committees were formed: strategic and planing committee, crowd control committee, security committee, emergency committee, mobilization committee among others. These committees were saddled with the responsibility of ensuring the success of the protest.

NLC secretarial is the meeting venue of the protest and is scheduled to start at 8am tomorrow. The protestants will go round the major roads of kano metro area and will then camp at a liberation square till FG reverses its devilish fuel subsidy removal policy!

Long live Nigerians!
Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria!!

Acceptance of Family Planning among Rural Dwellers in Kano State, Nigeria

2011-10-26T10:06:00.000-07:00

ABSTRACT

This study examines the extent of family planning acceptance among rural dwellers in Sumaila town of Sumaila Local Government Area of Kano State. It also examined weather fertility rate of families of rural dwellers differ according to their educational and income levels. The result of the study revealed that education and income had significant relationship with family size, and ignorance, illiteracy and poor quality services are responsible for low level of contraceptive prevalence among rural dwellers. Based on the findings, the study recommended that more awareness should be created at grassroots level, state governments should provide free material and child health services, and family planning services should be integrated with other health services.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Since the publication of the popular Malthusian thesis on population, world leaders, Demographers, Educational Planners, Development Economists and many other international bodies like the World Bank, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations International Children Emergency Funds (UNICEF) and the World Population Bureau, have made remarkable contributions towards population control, particularly in the developing countries. In particular, the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), held in Cairo further stimulated governments and these bodies to begin to formulate population policies to stem population growth through improvement in the lives of women and the populace (Umoh 2001:7).

In spite of the deliberate effort by these bodies to educate the world on the consequences of a growing population the growth rate in world population has been unprecedented in world history.

However, the developing countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America have a greater proportion of the world population. For example, while average births per women in the year 2000 remained 1.5 for developed countries, 2.8 for Asian and Latin American/Caribbean countries, for African countries, it was 5.3. Of the Six Billion people in the world by 2000, 4.9 Billion or 81.67% live in the developing nations (Ashford, 2001:2). That much has not been achieved in the developing countries by way of reduction in fertility rate has been very obvious for the fact that most of their populations are mainly youths who are likely to either be in their child bearing ages or approaching it.

According to the data released by the world population reference bureau in 2001 about Nigeria, presented a frightening picture of a population crisis with grave consequences on the socio-economic development of the country. For example, the Nigerian population has grown steadily from about 56 million in 1960 to 127 Million in 2001 and is projected to rise to 204 million in the coming years 2025 (2001 world population Reference Bureau-PRB). This represent growth rate of 126.79% and 60.63% for the periods respectively. This implies that world population particularly those of the developing world and specifically Nigeria, will continue to record high growth hence family planning is imperative.

1.1 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

According to the Nigeria Demographic Health Survey (NDHS 2008), the level of fertility rate in Nigeria is quite high because the total fertility rate (TFR) is 5.7, which means that an average Nigerian woman will bear approximately six (6) children throughout her reproductive years. The 2006 population census conducted by Nigerian population commission, gave a total number of Nigeria’s population at One Hundred and Forty Two Million (142 Million) with an annual growth rate figure of 3.1 percent, which means that Nigeria’s population will double it self in the next 22 years. As of mid 2009, Nigeria’s population rose to One Hundred and Fifty Two Million, Six Hundred Thousand (152,600,000) (UNICEF Info by Country 2000).

In the same vain, NDHS (2008) observed that low level of family planning is a major factor in the high rising rate of fertility pattern and population growth rate, with contraceptive prevalence rate of about 14.62 percent for any method and 9.7% percent for modern method in 2008. Beside, the United Nations observed that persistent unmet need for family planning can undermine global efforts toward the attainment of sustainable human development. Family planning as a health programme is very beneficial and important to reduce the currently high growing fertility and maternal mortality rate.

In view of the above, and when we consider that Kano is Nigeria’s most populace state with a population of 9, 383, 6829 (NPC: 2006), and with a fertility rate of 8.1%, and Sumaila being among the most populace LGAs in the state, this research will study the extent of family planning acceptance among rural dwellers in Sumaila town of Sumaila Local Government Area, Kano State. This study will also answer the following research question.

· To what extent are the modern and tradition methods of family planning acceptable among rural dwellers of Sumaila Local Government Area of Kano State?

· Does the fertility rate of families of rural dwellers differ according to their educational and income levels?

1.2 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The idea of writing this study was conceived purposely to study the extent of family planning acceptance among rural dwellers, when we take into cognizance the fear that high fertility rate and population growth poses challenges to sustainable human development.

It is also important to note that this study becomes imperative because over the years some adult members of the Nigerian society have concerned themselves with procreation and mass production of babies without much concern for the moral, social, economic and educational well being of the babies (Nelson E. 2008; 3).

1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is significant because it will:

· Provide guidance to policy makers and development partners in strengthening health programmes in the state,

· Provide a picture of family planning acceptance among rural dwellers of Sumaila town in Sumaila Local Government Area,

· And to contribute to the development of knowledge in the area of family planning.

1.4 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The study has the following aims and objectives.

· To assess the rate of family planning acceptance among rural dwellers,

· To provide policy action steps to policy makers on how to strengthen family planning programme.

· To contribute to the development of knowledge in the area of family planning

1.5 HYPOTHESIS

The study intends to find answers to the following hypothesis:

· Educational and income levels are the factors influencing fertility pattern among rural dwellers.

· Ignorance and illiteracy are responsible for high fertility and population growth among rural dwellers.

· Poor quality services and lack of awareness are responsible for low level of contraceptive prevalence among rural dwellers.

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

The study is being scoped to focus purely on the acceptance of family planning among rural dwellers in Kano State with a case study of Sumaila town of Sumaila Local Government Area.

The study may encounter the following limitations:

· In adequate financial resources to cater for the research’s monetary needs.

· Fear of the respondents in ability to objectively respond to the questions administered to them.

· Bureaucratic bottlenecks of public organizations interms of information collection which affect the research.

1.7 DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS

The study intends to define the following terms as follows:-

· Family planning:

Family Planning is a concept which allows individuals and couples to anticipate and attain their desired number of children and the spacing and timing of their births. It also means the planning of when to have children and the use of birth control and other techniques to implement such plans.

· Rural Dwellers:

Are those that do not live in urban, built up areas or cities.

· Fertility rate:

Is the natural capability of giving life. As a measure, “fertility rate” is the number of children born per couple, person or population.

· Contraceptive:

Is the use of various devices, drugs, agents, sexual practices, or surgical procedures to prevent conception or impregnation (pregnancy). It can also mean any means to prevent pregnancy.

1.8 ORGANIZATION OF CHAPTERS

This study will be presented in five (5) chapters as follows:

· Chapter One:-

This chapter will comprised of an introduction of the study, statement of research problems, purpose of the study, significance of the study, Aims and objectives of the study, Hypothesis, scope and limitations of the study, definition of key terms, and organization of chapters.

Chapter Two:-

It will purely contain the review of relevant literatures on family planning and population.

· Chapter Three:-

It will comprise of the history of the study, sampling techniques, and instrument for Data analyses.

· Chapter Four:-

It will contain the presentation and Analysis of Data, interview, Analysis of responses, and testing of hypothesis.

· Chapter Five:-

It will have the summary of findings, recommendations and conclusion.

REFERENCES

1) Boniface A. et al (2006); Community-based study of Contraceptive Behaviour in Nigeria.

2) Clifford O.O (1999); Family Planning Attitudes and use in Nigeria: A factor Analysis.

3) NPC (2006) National Population Commission Report

4) NDHS (2008), Nigeria Demographic Health Survey

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW ON POPULATION AND FAMILY PLANNING

2.0 INTRODUCTION

Being one of the four fundamental features of a state, population is an important factor in the global as well as world politics. In deed, population related issues are now a days in the forefront of development activities/issues. Myriad demographic theories were developed overtime and over places to explain the arguments for or against population expansion. Prominent amongst such include those theories of Adam smith who was vehemently optimistic of the need for population growth to sustain the emerging industrial muscle of Europe in the 19^th century. Thomas Robert Malthus (in the 19^th century too) was pessimistic of exploding population when the commensurate food supply was not in sight. Marxist-Lenists on the other hand argue that countries all over the world will follow trends of the advanced countries. In other words, the third world countries will ultimately attain demographic stability.

Cornucopians or optimist just like Adam Smith are of the option that resources in the world are just too numerous for the global population and so there is no fear what so ever for in crease in population (Umoh 2001: 5). Arguments on why human numbers on the earth should be given unrestricted proliferation or ought to be checked against explosion are employed continuously in many circles of opinions. However, the recent increasing economic prosperity being registered in China, India and Brazil are good examples of the prospects of highly populated areas where there is effective management of human and natural resources. On the other hand, with the changing nature of global climate, the need for population control became imperative as it’s mostly caused by human activity (Adogi M. 2009: 5).

Some theories suggest that more rapid population growth should be bad for economic performance because with a larger population each worker will have less productive factors, both non-accumulated and accumulated, to work with. Other theories suggest that greater population growth will lead to greater productivity either by inducing innovation, producing innovation, or through creating greater economies of scale, specialization or agglomeration (Boserup, 1981, Simon, 1992, Kremer, 1993). Robert Cassen’s (1994) recent summary of the state of the art in research on population and development, states nicely the conventional wisdom of contrasting negative factor accumulation effects versus possibly positive productivity effects: What about the effect of population on per capita income? Here simple economics suggests that the effect is probably negative. Unless population exerts a strong positive influence on capital formation- and the suggestion that it does is a minority opinion-the more people there are, and the less capital there is per person; as a result even though total output may be larger with a bigger population, output per person is smaller. There are however, three arguments against this: larger population may generate economies of scale; they may induce favorable technological change; and when population is growing, the average age of the labor force will be younger, which may have beneficial productivity effects. The fact that the different theories predict a different causal mechanism shows, that there is a gap yet to be filled with empirical evidence across countries.

Between 1950 and 1995, the world’s population grew from 2.5 billion to 5.7 billion people, and is expected to grow by another 4 billion people over the next 50 years. There has been a long-standing debate on the effects that such population growth can have on economic development and growth of countries. This debate is generally couched in the distinctions made by ‘population optimists’ and by ‘population pessimists’. Population optimists believe that increases in population increase the incentives for the invention of new technologies and the diffusion of existing ones [Boserup 1981]. They also point out that larger populations allow for economies of scale both in production and in consumption [Kuznets 1966, Simon 1977]. Population pessimists, on the other hand, believe that the burden placed on the resources of an economy by an increasing population is a hindrance to economic development. The original ‘Malthusian’ perspective focused on agricultural resource constraints, while later economic models were based on the capital to labor ratio: increases in population meant that there was less capital per person, thereby reducing the productivity of labor (Todaro 2001:45).

Empirical studies, which have used cross-country data to try and evaluate these claims, have, however, found little evidence to support either argument. Once the effects of initial income, education, and other determinants of growth are taken into account, population growth is found to have a negligible effect on growth of GDP [Bloom and Freeman 1986]. This gave rise to the “population neutralist” or “revisionist” perspective, which held that demography, was not a significant factor in the ‘economic growth process. This view was in part responsible for the tenuous position population variables have recently occupied in studies of economic growth.

More recent research, however, has pointed out that it is not sufficient to take into account simply the growth in population when attempting to evaluate the role-played by demography, as demographic effects are significantly more complex. Kelley and Schmidt [1995] show that the composition of population growth is an important factor. For example, if population growth occurs mainly through mortality declines that affect infants and children disproportionately (as is well known to be the case in high mortality populations), the effect on age structure will be different than if population growth occurs due to migration, which generally selects for working age people. These changes in age structure can be extremely relevant to the process of economic growth. Bloom and Williamson (1998) further explores the role of a changing age structure, evaluating the impact of demographic transitions on economic growth.

While the historical literature on the role of demography in the growth process dates back many decades, its role in the current debate has been peripheral. Current work on the impact of demographic changes on economic growth, however, shows that demography might in fact play a significant role (Bloom and Williamson, 1998). Integrating fertility and mortality with capital accumulation in a process of economic growth has the potential to explain very large differences in observed outcomes.

Demography is also linked to the accumulation of both physical capital and human capital (i.e. health and education). Evidence from developing countries has shown that lower fertility has a direct effect on human capital, as smaller families are more likely to educate their children. Health and nutrition status is also higher, as large families tend to be poorer and hence less able to fulfill basic needs. More recently, economists have pointed to the indirect effects of a changing demography: as life expectancy increases, individuals are expected to save more for their old age, thereby increasing the accumulation of physical capital in the economy (Mason (1997), Bloom and Canning (1999)). Furthermore, as couples have fewer children to care for them in their old age, they will invest, instead, in assets that can provide financial returns, thereby accelerating capital accumulation.

Demographic factors have been used to explain the growth of government expenditure. Goffman and Mahar (1971) found the age structure of the population to be an important factor explaining growth of public expenditures in developing countries. Tait and Heller (1982) and Heller and Diamond (1990) analyzed growth of different categories of government expenditures and found demographic variables to be significant in explaining growth in some categories of government expenditures. The Heller and Diamond (1990) study, based on pooled data for developing countries, found the proportion of the population over 65years to be significant in explaining growth in the share of social security expenditures in GDP, and the proportion of population aged 14 and under to be significant in explaining growth in the share of education expenditures. Tung (1984), using an econometric demographic model for Taiwan, noted that a reduction in population increased per-capita income. Then, using an economic demographic model for Ethiopia, Kidane (1991) found that a lower fertility rate increased per capita GDP.

Once these linkages are incorporated into the system it is easier to explain the wide discrepancies in income that are observed, as an exogenous change in any one of the factors will affect each of the other factors and will get multiplied as it works through the system. For example, the introduction of a family planning program may bring down fertility rates. This may increase income, which could, in turn, increase education levels perhaps further lowering fertility rates. The linkages can thereby set in place a virtuous spiral of economic development. Of course, the reverse may also be true. Economies may be trapped in a downward spiral of low growth and high fertility and mortality if endogenous growth only occurs after a critical level of income has been achieved.

Thus viewing demography as part of the larger economic system enables us to explain why some countries have been so much more successful than others at generating economic growth. Yingfang (1994) Maintains that the quality of economic growth cannot be ensured, nor can economic efficiency be improved, nor can economy grow rapidly, without adequate attention being paid to the effect of population. In particular, the study of and solution to these issues are in the immediate interest of developing countries, especially densely populated, low-income nations and impoverished areas.

2.1 Fertility: Determinant s and Consequences

With by far the largest population and the current growth rate of 2.38%, Nigeria adds 3.7 million people to the world’s population every year (Microsoft Encarta, 2008). This phenomenon, as Malthus warned, has serious consequences, like the cycle of poverty, starvation, women subordination, social conflicts, and political instability.

In many cases, women’s inferior roles, low status, and restricted access to birth control is manifested in their high fertility. High fertility, however, affects the health of the mothers. The health of mothers, in turn, could result in low birth weight and, eventually, infant and maternal mortality. As of 2008, infant mortality was as high as 100 per every thousand born, female life expectancy is 47 years and child malnutrition or underweight was 39% (Population Reference Bureau, 2008).

Women form about 36.2% (compared to 23% of men) of the illiterate population in Nigeria (National Bureau of Statistics, 2008). This situation makes it difficult to enter the high status employment of the public sector. For instance, women’s proportion in federal civil service was 24.1% in 1991 and increased to 36% in 1997 (Federal Office of Statics, 1996; To’darro, 2001). Such women, therefore, end up in the informal sector of the economy. Ogunleye-Adetona (1996) discovered that women in southeastern Nigeria that are in the informal sector of the economy and low educational attainment had high fertility rate. This was due to the ease with which they can bear and bring up children without fear of losing their job due to frequent maternity leave. Women and children also form the bulk of the people living in poverty (United Nations Information and Children’s Education Fund, 2000). Poverty and low standard of living induces a large family size because more children is believed to serve as a source of cheap labor and old age security (United Nations Information and Children Education Fund, 2000). A large family however, means greater population growth, high dependency burden of 35%, 46% lower savings (both at household and national level), slow economic growth, and, ultimately, greater poverty.

As a result of large number of the population under 15 years, government will have to increase its expenditure on education. This will imply less investment in other sectors of the economy. Less investment in other sectors, on the other hand, will mean lower savings and, therefore, slow economic growth. As such, the prospect for any improvement in the living standards of the existing generation is reduced; therefore transmission of poverty to the future generation, especially of low-income family, is assured. For instance, people with low educational attainments are easily thrown out of their jobs due to government’s economic restructuring or re-organization programs, which is a panacea to the slow economic growth. These people thrown out of jobs may not be able to send their children to school, which will unable unschooled children to get good jobs, through which they could have relief their parents’ of the poverty burden. The vicious cycle of poverty, therefore, continues (To’darro, 2001).

Apparently, higher population growth retards economic growth. Since women are perceived to be the perpetrators of these phenomena, a program for• social and economic progress should aim at improving their health and empower them educationally. Their economic well being should be improved, along with their role and status, in both the family and the community. The empowerment of women will, inevitably, lead to smaller family size and lower population growth, as echoed at the 1994 United Nations Conference on population and development in Cairo.

In line with the above assertions, the family planning program was put in place by the Federal government to make birth control methods readily available and accessible to women, since they are the ones at the risk of child birth. Accordingly, women’s contraceptive knowledge increased to about 64.4% at the national level and 70% in Kwara State (Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, 1999). However, its use is just about 15% and 18% at the national level and in Kwara State, respectively. Men’s contraceptive knowledge is also moderate (78%); however, only 14% of men used the modern method. The low percentage of those using contraceptives calls for concern and re-examination of population issues, especially because, according to the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (1999) report, sexual activity is high (48.8%) in the country. Fertility rate may increase or remain high if contraceptive usage does not increase. Apart from this, unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion, and the consequent high incidence of sexually transmitted diseases like HIV, and/or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) could be on the high side.

The need to promote behavioral change in communication for no risk sexual behavior and effective fertility regulation cannot be over emphasized. This could be done by the government putting in place incentives and disincentives that will encourage the use of contraceptive, by both men and women, since it takes two to make babies.

2.2 State of the Economy and Population Structure’

Prior to the oil boom of 1970’s, Nigeria was one of the poorest and least economically developed nations, with a per capita Gross National Domestic Product of $90 in 1968 to $1,020 in 2008 due to the rapid economic expansion and major structural transformation ‘(Microsoft Encarta, 2008). However, the per capita Gross National Product dropped to $752.30 in 2005, one of the lowest in the southern Sahara and in the world (Population Reference Bureau, 2008). This was due to the neglect of agricultural sector and massive rural- urban migration with the attendant consequence of a high rate of unemployment. The consistent urban bias in development kept the unemployment rate persistently high. Accurate unemployment rates are difficult to obtain especially in a society where many who work are marginally employed. Also data on Nigeria labour force have limited values because most Nigerians earn their living in more than one field. For instance urban workers “moonlight” to make ends meet and most rural dwellers have second jobs. However, from national statistical records, the number of registered unemployed, vacancies declared, and job placement presents a gloomy picture. For instance, in 1991 about 12,391 people registered as unemployed. Of the 20,475 vacancies declared, only 2,795 persons were employed. As of 2005, the number of government workers was 46,868 and about 3.2% of the population unemployed (National Bireau of Statistics, 2006). This situation has remained so ever since.

Furthermore, out of the economically active population, out of the people between the ages of 24 - 45 years, those not employed was as high as 23.0% in 1991 and 31.0% in 1996 (Federal Office of Statistics, 1996). This is an additional stress on the economy, coupled with a dependency ratio of 35% accruing from large number of the young and the aged people in the country. The number of the unemployed persons, by educational qualification of between 19.0 in 1991 to 18.7 in 1995, confirms the high illiteracy rate in the country.

2.3 Human Resource and Development

There is, therefore, a need for policy makers to have a sound knowledge of the demographic situation in the country at any point in time in order for them to plan ahead to meet the nation’s educational and industrial labor force need and demographic changes. In other words, the knowledge of the determinants and consequences of population size, distribution, structure, and change in population is a necessary tool to planning and implementing. For instance, the knowledge of the age structure, particularly the number of young children under five years, will enable planners to plan ahead of time for the provision of primary schools facilities for an adequate and effective primary education. Also, the knowledge of the number of people that will graduate from the universities in the next two or three years time will enable the government to create more jobs. This is because unemployment is not only due to the relatively slow growth rate of labor demand in both the modern and industrial sector, but a rapid growth of labor supply due to accelerated population growth. Therefore the higher the nation’s rate of population growth the greater the amount of capital that will be necessary merely to make provision for the added population and the less the fund left over for making capital improvement.

The knowledge of high level of unemployment in the urban areas will enable the government to redirect population away from the rapidly growing urbane areas, by eliminating the current in-balance in economic and social opportunities, in both urban and rural areas. Otherwise, the agricultural labor force will dwindle and the nation might not be able to feed its people, which will negate the planned objectives of a self-reliant nation. The above explains the fact that, it is not the number of people that is causing population problems, rather it is the inadequate understanding of the determinants and consequences of population structure as it interact and influences socio-economic development in Nigeria.

2.4 Contraceptive prevalence and fertility in Nigeria

The prevalence of contraceptive use has increased worldwide due to the development and introduction of modern contraceptive and the establishment of organized family planning programs. The contraceptive prevalence rate in many developing countries rose from 9% in the 1960 to 60, in 1997, and this has helped in reducing the total fertility rate of some developing countries (the lifetime average number of children per woman) from 6.0 in 1960 to 3.1 in 1997. The proportion of Nigerian women using modern contraceptive methods rose from 3% in 1990 to 8% in 2003. The slow rate of contraceptive use in Nigeria results in high fertility rates, particularly in the rural areas and the northern part of the country. This high fertility rate accounts for Nigeria’s high maternal, infant, and neonatal mortalities, and the use of modern contraceptive methods has been reported to be very limited in the northern part of Nigeria, with only 9% of Nigerian women reported to be using these in 2003. In addition, only 3% o of women front the northeast and the northwest reported using a modern method, compared with 23% in the southwest. These data correlate well with the high fertility rate in the northern part of the country. According to the 2003 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, the country’s overall fertility rate was 7.0 children per woman in the northeast and 6.7 children per woman in the northwest, compared with only 4.1 in the southwest.’ This survey has shown that there is still a large unmet need for contraceptive use in Nigeria.

2.5 Contraceptive knowledge, attitude and practice

Several studies in the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria indicate that contraceptive knowledge and awareness, especially among female students aged I5 to 24 years, is very high. In one study done in Ilorin, the methods mostly known by respondents were the condom (69.0%), the oral contraceptive pill (OCP. 38.8%), IUCD (29%), and periodic abstinence (32.9). With most respondents being able to name at least one method of contraception. Unfortunately, all of the studies that showed good knowledge and awareness did not show a strong prevalence of use of contraception. Instead, these studies showed a high level of sexual activity corresponding with a low contraceptive prevalence. The average age of sexual debut in many of the studies ranged between 12 and 20 years, with a mean age of 16 ± 1.2 years. The consequence of high sexual activity and low contraceptive use is an increased frequency of unplanned pregnancies and subsequent induced abortions or unplanned deliveries. Studies reveal that a high percentage of adolescents and young adults have had at least one unwanted pregnancy leading to induced abortion. The reasons given in these studies for not using contraceptives were fear of side effects objections from their partner. Conflicts with their religious beliefs, objections from family members, not thinking about using contraceptives, not having sexual intercourse to have a baby, and unplanned sexual debut.

2.6 Contraceptive use and choices

Contraceptive use and choices vary widely in Nigeria according to type of’ health facility, geopolitical zone, and within urban or rural settings. Various factors, related to both supply and demand, account for these variations and contribute to the low levels of contraceptive use and choices in Nigeria.

On the supply side are issues such as limited availability, quality, and cost of family planning services. As a consequence of limited availability, many Nigerians (particularly in rural areas) lack access to modern contraceptive and family planning services. In areas where services do exist, their quality is often poor, with inadequate contraceptive supplies, insufficient numbers of trained service providers, poor interpersonal skills on the part of providers, and limited essential equipment.

Research on factors associated with demand for contraceptives and family planning services in Nigeria has identified the relative powerlessness of women (especially in northern Nigeria), household poverty, low level of education (especially in northern Nigeria), myths and rumors about modern contraceptive methods, parity, pronatalist attitudes, and widespread preference for male children, as key influences on contraceptive use. In addition to these factors, and especially in northern Nigeria, early marriages and early initiation of sexual activity have contributed significantly to the high fertility and subsequent higher prevalence of maternal and fetal complications.

2.7 Some Commonly Contraceptive Choice in Nigeria

a) Condoms

According to the 2003 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), the condom is reported to be the main contraceptive method known of and used by Nigerian women of reproductive age. The extensive marketing of condoms in response to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic, with the active involvement of both government and nongovernmental organizations, has been responsible for this increased awareness and subsequent increase in condom use. Condoms-are also the preferred choice for post partum contraception, especially among educated women with high parity. Studies in Nigeria have indicated that because patent medicine stores are common sources of contraceptives and because condoms are readily available over the counter at these stores, there is much less restriction on contraceptive purchases and use compared with the family planning clinics and health facilities where there are more restrictions.

b) Oral contraceptive pill

As already stated above, OCPs, like the condom, are readily available over the counter at patent medicine and pharmacy shops in Nigeria. They are also available at the health facilities, and are the second contraceptive method of choice for women of reproductive age, particularly young unmarried females and students, A significant problem in Nigeria is a general lack of adequate information about the OCP. The myth that prolonged use of the OCP leads to permanent sterility has limited its use in Nigeria and may explain why most young females in Nigeria, especially students, prefer to use abortion instead of contraception for unwanted pregnancy. Also, the protective effects of OCPs are virtually unknown by the majority of women in the Nigerian population.

c) Intrauterine contraceptive device

The IUCD is very popular and widely used in Nigeria, particularly by older married women. Studies carried out in the Nigerian cities of Lagos, Benin, Ibadan, and llorin specifically concerning use of’ and reasons for discontinuation of the IUCD indicate that the majority of women in these areas are in the age range 31.7 + 5.7 years with a mean parity of 4.0. The most common reason for discontinuation of IUCD use was a desire for pregnancy, especially among those younger than 35 years. Other reasons for discontinuation were side effects (mainly heavy menstrual bleeding), spousal disapproval, fear of infertility, and menopause. Experiences of “having a foreign body” or a missing IUCD and expulsion were also reasons for discontinuation. In many of these instances, the levonorgestrel IUCD should be considered because it tends to reduce menstrual bleeding and has a longer duration of action which would ultimately lead to a reduction in the high IUCD discontinuation rate. Unfortunately, the levonorgestrel IUCD is not available in Nigeria. It is envisaged that the introduction of this device in many centers in Nigeria would lead to an increased acceptance of this method by multiparous and grand multiparous women. IUCDs are also a common post partum contraceptive choice, especially for older women of high parity.

d) Female sterilization

Female sterilization by tubal ligation is not a common or acceptable contraceptive choice in Nigeria. However, this method is commonly used worldwide, especially in developed countries and in some developing countries in Asia and South America. Many factors can influence decision-making about sterilization in Nigeria. including religion, ignorance, and superstition based on ancient beliefs, even among more literate members of the community. The acceptability of sterilization in Nigeria and other developing countries might be influenced by the high cost of the procedure, scarcity of skilled providers (especially in rural areas), and fear of surgical complications. Nigerian studies have shown that the demand for tubal ligation is low, but is commonly accepted in conjunction with another surgical procedure, such as a cesarean section or laparotonty for repair of uterine rupture. Possible surgical complications when using the Pomeroy’s technique of tubal ligation via laparotomy or the mini—laparotorny route (the latter being the most common) include uterine perforation, bladder and intestinal injuries, and intra-abdominal bleeding, although the occurrence of these complications was found to be minimal.

e) Male sterilization

Male sterilization or vasectomy is a rarity among Nigerian men, There were only two eases of voluntary vasectomy performed over a 30-year period at University College Hospital in Ibadan. In a study in Jos, northern Nigeria, only 10 eases of vasectomy were recorded over a 16-year period compared with 3,675 female sterilizations. Eighty percent of the men who underwent a vasectomy were well educated, with 20% of them being medical practitioners. Although the procedure is simple, safe, and effective, it is not readily accepted as a method of fertility control in Nigeria. This low incidence has been attributed to male attitudes, whereby men are perceived to be more interested in proving their virility than in family planning. In addition, Nigerian men are afraid that vasectomy will hurt their sex drive, which they treasure for fertility reasons, especially in polygamous relationships. For these reasons, very few men in Nigeria who know about this method would choose it as a contraceptive method.

f) Emergency contraception

Knowledge and attitudes towards the use of emergency contraception (EC) have been reported by a national cross-sectional survey of the Nigerian population. The various groups survived included unmarried women in the community, female undergraduate students, health care providers, private medical practitioners, and men. All studies concluded that there is very poor knowledge of EC in Nigeria, even among private medical practitioners. There are very few programs in Nigeria designed to increase the awareness of EC in spite of the very high maternal mortality rate associated with induced abortions which occur as a consequence of unwanted pregnancies. In a cross-sectional sample of potential providers of EC conducted by the Society for Family Health. 81% approved of EC. The reasons cited far disapproval of EC in this study included religion (5%), potential side effects (3%), and the belief that EC leads to permanent infertility (29%). In the same Society for family Health survey, only 80% of the providers had training in EC’, only two providers knew both the correct dose and correct tinting of EC, and no provider knew both the correct dose and timing for Postinor. Private medical practitioners provide a substantial proportion of family planning and reproductive health services in Nigeria, but the study by Okonofua et al (2008) showed that while 79.9% of doctors correctly described EC methods, only 23% reported that they had EC products in their clinics, and only 13.8% used the correct brand and closes currently available in Nigeria. Similarly a large proportion of the doctors did not know the exact tuning of EC in relation to sexual intercourse, while only a few gave correct names and dosages of administration. Traditional fertility methods for post—coital EC use in Nigeria include use of gin, codeine tablets, and potash mixed with blue and lime taken with pepper seeds.

Reference

1. Netson E.A (2008), Education as correlate of fertility Rate among families in southern Nigerian.

2. Isaac F.A et al (2006), Community Based study of cocntraceptive behavour in Nigeria.

3. Population Reference Bureau (2004); The Unfinished Agenda: Meeting the need for family planning in less Developed Countries.

4. Akinrinola B. et al, (2009), Fertility transition in Nigeria: Trends and prospects

5. Microsoft Encarta (2008), Nigeria Facts and Figures, Microsoft Corporation, USA.

6. NBS (2008), National Bureau of Statistics Report.

7. NDHS (2008), National Demographic Health Survey.

8. Federal Office of Statistics (1999), Socio-Economic Profile of Nigeria

9. NPC (1999 & 2006), National Population Commission

10. www.unfra.org/pds/trends.htm

11. www.kanoonlint.com/populationhtml

CHAPTER THREE

HISTORY OF THE STUDY AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 THE HISTORY OF SUMAILA TOWN

The town SUMAILA was historically a name of one herdsman Isma’ila, this man Isma’ila left one village by name “WA’ITA” as far back 1745. This herdsman has a lot of cows which he uses to go from one place to another in the bush for rearing. It was said, among the cows he has, there is one that atimes runs to (SARKAKIYA) where she use to hide and drink water from a well. One day, the herdsman said he must follow that cow and see where she uses to go. So he followed that cow to that (SARKAKIYA) and he realized there is water which that cow normally drinks. So that well is now popularly today known as (KUNDUM). And up till today “Kundum” has water, and the government modeled it in 1980 under the leadership of Governor Abubakar Rimi. It is further said that (KUNDUM) up till today no one knew the one that did it except the Almighty Allah. So, this man Isma’ilu move to his former village (WA’ITA) and take all his belonging from Waita to that (SARKAKIYA) where that well (KUNDUM) was situate. He stayed near that (SARKAKIYA) about 1,000 feets, and the name of that place is (BAUDAR) south to the (SARKAKIYA). Later his relatives and other Fulani people started coming to that place. And he organize them to clear that (SAKAKIYA) and then they started building houses there, and they surrounded that well (KUNDUM).

After they completed building houses there, they continue to build a boundary (GANUWA) that will surround the town/village. And that boundary has four gates and the names of such gates are as follows:

1) Kofar Gabas – Akwai Sarkin Kofar Gabas Abubakar

2) Kofar Yamma – Akwai Sarkin Kofar Yamma-Ubandadi

3) Kofar Kudu-Akwai Kudu-M/Gidan Kofa

4) Kofar Arewa-Akwai Sarkin Kofar Arewa – Guga

Significantly, it was said they do that to protect themselves and their families from the attack of enemies particularly from Kasar Ningi, secondly, as at that time there are many bush animals near them. So that will assist them to atleast feel secured and live in peace.

All the people in that place said nobody deserve to rule them except that herdsman ISMA’ILU, since he is the first one to see the place for them, and he is the first one to settle there before them, so all the people accepted him as their leader and he settled crises and conflicts that arises in the course of daily happenings. Any problem that occurs will be taken to this herdsman ISMA’ILU for settlement. This occurred between 1784 to 1747 respectively.

As time goes on the people in that place and neighbouring places started calling that place “GARKIN ISMA’ILU”. After he died in 1749, they continue to call the place SUMAILU in memory of Isma’ilu. And since from 1749 to date any village head of Sumaila is popularly known as “DAN-SUMAILA” SARKIN SUMAILA. Histrocially, it was said that all these people that left Waita to Sumaila are Muslim and Fulani speaking people; about 255 years ago. The first leader of GARIN ISMA’ILU” that herdsman by profession died childless.

So people later (Big people around) appoint one Fulani man by name DANGI as their leader and called DAN-ISMA’ILU later called DAN-SUMAILA which means village head (Sarkin Sumaila) it was said he too stay long before he died. He ruled Sumaila from 1749-1829 respectively. As normal, people elected another Fulani man by name Muhammad to be their leader. It was during Dan-Sumaila Muhammadu that he fought war with enemies from Kasar Ningi; and he won them at first place. He fought Butawa people and also dealt with them severely. It was said later these Butawan Ningi get more organized and comeback to Sumaila for war and people and their leader Dan-Sumaila Muhammadu in Sumaila are not aware. And the Butawa people from Ningi succeded in fighting Sumaila, and it was said they catch Dan-Sumaila Muhammadu and killed him. They also caught a lot of cattle’s, people etc. to Ningi for their own selfishness. The rest ran to other place like Savina, Garko, Darki and Waita villages. Later it was said they comeback one by one to Sumaila and continue their normal life. Dan-Sumaila Muhammadu ruled Sumaila from 1829-1869. And he was killed by spongers from Ningi.

There was another man by name Akilu who appointed himself to rule and people accepted him from 1829-1869 respectively; it was said that during this man that three people came from Lardin Barno and Adamawa (Bare-Bari people) and they are rich all, and they collectively assist the people a lot, especially those that lose their property as a result of Butawan Ningi’s exploitation. So when Dan-Sumaila Akilu died in 1869, one of these three people by name JUMMA went to Kano to see the Emir of Kano, Maje Karofi for a special greeting and request of becoming Sarkin Sumaila. The names of these three people that came from Lardin Barono were Habibu, Jumma and Garba Maje Gabas. So, Jumma succeded in making contact with Emir of Kano Maje Karofi and made a special greeting to him with request of becoming the village head of Sumaila (Dan-Sumaila). Emir of Kano Maje Karofi appointed him as Dan-Sumaila and he reigned from 1879-1885.

Dan-Sumaila Jumma tried to bring people that ran away back to Sumaila and organized them toward their proper protection from enemies. And it was said that he ruled Sumaila for six (6) years before he died, and he did’nt have an off-spring to succeed him. So, his senior brother Habuna too followed the same process to Emir of Kano Maje Karofi and he accepted him and appointed him as the (Sarkin Sumaila) village head of Sumaila. It was during Dan Sumaila Habuna that he plans to retaliate the damages on Butawan Ningi and he succeded in doing what they did to Sumaila people. Emir of Kano was happy with this development and sent gift to him over that. He really fought Ningawa that tried to destroy Kano. It was further said that Emir of Kano Maje Karofi sent more people (Hausa Fulani) to Sumaila with (Kayan Yaki) to assist Dan-Sumaila Habuna in dealing very well with Butawan Ningi’s people.

It was in the course of this struggle that Dan-Sumaila Habuna died in 1885-1897, and he spent 12 years as village head of Sumaila and Sarkin Yaki. After his death, his last brother Garba Maje Gabas was appointed Dan Sumaila by Emir of Kano, Bello. He was said to be Islamic teacher that knows Islam adequately. He too fought enemies but with strong believe of peaceful reconciliation not through war. And he built a room where he teach Islamic religion to Fulani people in Sumaila. He fought Sarkin Ningi Haruna, and Sarkin Ningi Gajagi and he surprise them by the order of instructions of the then Emir of Kano Bello.

Dan-Sumaila Garba maje - Gabas spent 5 years 1897 - 1902; as the village head of Sumaila. And it was said that; it was during his time or tenure that the European missionaries came to Nigeria. Hisorical1y, they started with the annexation of Lagos in 1801 as a colony under colonial rule. And he was the first to appoint his children with titles as follows:

(1) Turakin Sumaila

(2) Daniyan Sumaila and

(3) Ciroman Sumaila.

By the time he realised the coming of Europeans to Nigeria, Garba moved to Kano with his three children to see Emir of Kano, Alu Emir Alu accepted his children appointments and then they discuss the European missionaries issues, and all of them decide not stay under European control. Dan-Sunaila Garba maje-Gabas runs to Mecca, and Emir of Kano Alu moved to Sokoto to meet sultan, and it was said that he did’nt reach Sokoto he met them (European people) on his way to Sokoto in Lakwaja and they killed him there.

Furthermore, it was later reported that Dan-Sumaila Garba maje too died in Sudan on his way reaching Mecca from his children by the time they came back. Since from if then, the leadership of Sumaila move or back to real Fulani people and the first settlers in Sumaia till date. It leaves the hands and relatives of those people that cames from Lardin Borno for over 23 years and each of these people or each one of them ruled Sumaila as Sarkin.-Sumaila (Dan-Sumaila). Within that 23 years the Surnaila affairs was re-alocated under the District head of Wudil by the Emir of Kano.

The Fulani people of Sumaila response to accept those children of Dan-Sumaila Garba maje - Gabas who died in Sudan. And they nominated one from them by name Isah and take him to Emir of Kano, and he accepts him as Sarkin Sumaila and Dan Sumaila. So, Fulani man Isah became village head of Sunaila (Dan-Sumaila) in the year 1902. He ruled Sumaila up to 1935 when he died. He has three children and two of them ruled Sumaila. Futhermore, it was during Dan Sumaila Isah that, the then Emir of Kano Shehu decided to establish more district areas in the Kano Emirate, Sumaila Area is among the selected towns by the Emir considering its history and the role it played with Ningawa during war. Suma’ila Area became a district Area of Kano in the year 1918 along others.

Therefore, after the death of Dan-Sumaila Isah in 1935, The first son of Dan-Sumaila Isah was appointed Sarkin-Sumaila Dan-Sumaila Ilyasu ruled Sumaila Area from 1935-1942 when he too died. His junior brother by name Muhammadu Nura was appointed Dan-Sumaila by the Emir of Kano Alhaji Abdullahi Bayero in 1942. Before then he was a village head of one small village near Suma’ila by name Alfindi, and he was promoted to Sumaila from Alfidi. It was said that he stayed in Alfidi for 10 years and he ruled from 1942 - 1992. He died on Tuesday the 17th November, 1992. He was indeed a man of integrity and honesty; and he loves the people of Sumaila Area and they too believed in his transparency trust and honesty.

Upon his death his first son, Alhji Bello Muhammad Dan-Sumaila who was then a manager in Devcom Merchant Bank Kano was appointed the new “DAN-SUMAILA Sarkin Sumaila on 10 December, 1992; by his Royal Highness the Ernie of Kano Aihaji Ado Baycro. He has contributed generally to various sectors of Sumaila Development, like the establishment of Sumila Community Bank, he donates a lot to various community projects like Sumaila Progressive Association, the New central mosque presently under construction and many others.

Alhaji Bello Muhammad Dan-Sumaila appointed a representative by name Hausa

“Wakilin Dan-Sumaila” to see the affairs of the town for mm under his instruction and command.

In a logical conclusion of the socio-cultural formation and history of Sumaila. The main cultural norms of Sumaila people are weaving, cattle-rearing, farming, business, butchering, fishing, hunting, and blacksmith etc. are the main daily business; and generally the people main religion was Islam.

3.2 Sumaila as a Local Government

Historically, during the second republic when Alhaji Muhd Abubakar Rimi was the Governor of Kano State, 9 Local governments including Sumaila were established, and it has two chairmen before it was cancelled by Buhari Regime in 1984 and they are:-

S/NO	NAMES	TIME
1.	Alhaji Umaru Farouk Sumaila	1980-1982
2.	Alhaji Sani Aliyu Sumaila	1982-1983

Furthermore, in 1989 the Babangida regime created more local governments in the country including Sumaila in Kano State. The principle and cardinal philosophy behind creating Local Government was to bring government closer to the people and for development programmes to take place for the fulfillment of people’s needs.

There is the Divisional police office in Sumaila Local Government Area of Kano State, headed by a Divisional Police Officer (D.P.O) and some policemen under him that assist in maintaining laws and order in the area.

The local government was headed by a chairman and his council members namely secretary, HOD’s, treasurer, and some principal staff officers for daily administrative work. There is also treasury Department that collects revenue from markets across Sumaila Area as revenue.

Below are the lists of the names of Local Government chairmen that rule Sumaila from 1989 to date:

S/NO	NAMES	TIME
1.	Alhaji Mohd.	1989-1989
2.	Alhaji Mohd. Musa Umar Gumel	1989-1991
3.	Alhaji Aliyu Yahaya Rimi	1992-1993
4.	Alhaji Aliyu Mustapha Tsanyawa (Secretary)	1993-1994
5.	Alhaji Sani Mohd Ma’aji	1994-1995
6.	Alhaji Garba Adamu Sumaila	1995-1996
7.	Alhaji Shehu Musa Usman	1996-1997
8.	Alhaji Musa Inuwa Gala	1997-1998
9.	Alhaji Abdullahi Sani	1998-1999
10.	Alhaji Aliyu Yahaya Rimi	1999 – 2003
11.	Alh. Zubairu Hamza Massu	2003-2011

3.3 Research Methodology

Sampling techniques

The married couples of Sumaila town of Sumaila Local Government Areas of Kano State will form the subjects of this study. The sampling will be carried out in two stages. First, the researcher will randomly select five (5) different areas in Sumaila town, and secondly use a stratified sampling technique to obtain the subjects of the study based on their large family size, educational attainment and income levels. A total of 100 families will form the subjects of the study.

Data Collection

The data will be collected from the responses of the 100 families who will form the subjects of the study. Review of some relevant literatures will also be conducted to help answer the research questions.

Instrument for Data Analyses

The main instrument for the study is a questionnaire which will be titled: questionnaire on family planning. The instrument sought to elicit responses on area of residence, age at marriage, and highest educational qualification etc. It also identified duration or age of marriage, and number of children owned.

Other areas which the questionnaire will cover are the factors that encourage large families and their general perception on family planning.

The third part will purely seek information on family planning acceptance in both modern and traditional way.

CHAPTER FOUR

Presentation and Analysis of Data

4.1 Introduction

This chapter examines the varied information gathered from the responses of the one hundred respondents who were contacted with one hundred (100) copies of a questionnaire on family planning across Sumaila town of Sumaila Local Government Area, Kano State. A total of twenty questions are contained in the questionnaire, and each question will be presented and analyzed. They are as follows:

Question 1: What is your Age?

Table 1

Types of responses	No of Respondent	Percentage
15-25 years	18	18%
26-35 years	35	35%
36-45 years	29	29%
46-55 years	18	18%
Total	100	100%

Source: Survey Research

This means that 18% of the respondents fall within 15-25 years old, 35% fall between 26-35 years old, 29% fall between 36-45 years old, and 18% within 46-55 years old.

Question 2: What is your gender?

Table 2

Types of Responses	No of Respondents	Percentage
Females	13	13%
Males	87	87%
Total	100	100%

Source: Survey Research

This means that 13% of the respondents are females while 87% are males.

Question 3: Marital Status?

All the respondents are married couples. In other words, 100% of the respondents are married couples.

Question 4: Did you attend school?

Table 3:

Types of Responses	No of Respondents	Percentage
Yes	85	85%
No	15	15%
Total	100	100%

Source: Survey Research

This means that 87% of the respondents have attended schools, and 13% did not go to school.

Question 5: If yes, indicate your educational qualification?

Table 4:

Types of Responses	No of Respondents	Percentage
Post Graduate	5	5.9%
Post secondary	55	64.8%
Secondary	20	23.4%
Primary	5	5.9%
Total	85	100%

Source: Survey Research

This means that 5.9% of the respondents attended post graduate school, 64.8% attended post secondary school up to a university degree, 23.4% attended secondary school, and 5.9% attended primary school.

Question 6: Did you attend Quranic School?

Table 5:

Types of Responses	No of Respondents	Percentage
Yes	100	100%
No	0	0%
Total	100	100%

Source: Survey Research

Table 5 shows that 100% of the respondents have attended Quaranic schools

Question 7: If yes, indicate the level of Quranic knowledge?

Table 6

Types of Responses	No of Respondents	Percentage
Not Completed Qur’anic	65	65%
Competed Qur’ain	30	30%
Completed with memorization	5	5%
Total	100	100%

Source: Survey Research

This means that 65% of the respondents have not completed Qur’an, 30% have completed it, and 5% have memorized it.

Question 8: Are you employed?

Table 7:

Types of responses	No of respondents	Percentage
Yes	80	80%
No	20	20%
Total	100	100%

Source: Survey Research

The table shows that 80% of the respondents are employed while 20% are not employed.

Question 9: If yes, indicate your employer?

Table 8

Types of Responses	No of Respondents	Percentage
Public sector	70	87.5%
Private sector	10	12.5%
Non-governmental organ	0	0
Total	80	100%

Source: Survey Research

This means that 87.5% of the respondents are working with government, while 12.5% are working with private sector, and none is working with non-governmental organization.

Question 10: Are you in to Business?

Table 9:

Types of Responses	No of Respondents	Percentage
Yes	60	60%
No	40	40%
Total	100	100%

Source: Survey Research

The table shows that 60% of the respondents are into business, while 40% are not.

Question 11: If yes, indicate your level of income?

Table 10

Types of Responses	No of Respondents	Percentage
0-20,000	5	8.4%
20,000-40,000	30	50%
41,000-80,000	20	33.3%
Others	5	8.3%
Total	60	100%

Source: Survey Research

This means that 8.4% of the respondents who said they are into business, earn N0-20,000 naira, 50% earn 20,000-40,000 Naira 33.3% earn 41,000 80,000, while 8.3% earn 81,000 – 200,000.

Question 12: How many children do you have?

Table 12

Types of Responses	No of Respondents	Percentage
0-10 children	10	10%
11 – 20 children	60	60%
21-30 children	30	30%
Total	100	100%

Source: Survey Research

This shows that 10% of the respondents have 0-10 children, 60% have 11-20 children, and 30% have 21-30 children.

Question 13: Did you know about family planning?

Table 12:

Types of Responses	No of Respondents	Percentage
Yes	60	60%
No	40	40%
Total	100	100%

Source: Survey Research

This means that 60% of the respondents are aware of family planning, while 40% are not. This goes to show that majority of many couples are aware of family planning.

Question 14: If yes, what is the source of information?

Table 13

Types of Responses	No of Respondents	Percentage
Seminar	5	8.3%
Radio	40	66.7%
Hospital	15	25%
Total	60	100%

Source: Survey Research

This shows that 66.7% of the 60 respondents who are aware of family planning, heard information through radio, while 25% through Hospital, and 8.3% from seminars and trainings.

Question 15: Have you ever used family planning contraceptive methods?

Table 14

Types of responses	No of respondents	Percentage
Yes	20	20%
No	80	80%
Total	100	100%

Source: Survey Research

The table shows that 20% of the respondents used family planning contraceptive methods, while 80% did not.

Question 16: If yes, are the methods traditional or Modern? Specify.

Table 15:

Types of Responses	No of Respondents	Percentage
Yes, modern	15	75%
Yes, traditional	5	25%
Total	20	100%

Source: Survey Research

This shows that 75% of the 20 respondents who used family planning contraceptive methods, out of the total number of 100 respondents, are using modern methods, while 15% are using traditional methods.

Question 17: If yes, what influence you?

Table 16:

Types of Responses	No of Respondents	Percentage
Non-government organization	5	25%
Health workers	10	50%
Religion	5	25%
Total	20	100%

Source: Survey Research

Question 18: If No, what prevented you?

Table 17:

Types of Responses	No of Respondents	Percentage
Religion	10	12.5%
Not having enough knowledge	50	62.58%
Don’t know	20	25%
Total	80	100%

Source: Survey Research

This means that 12.5% of the 80 respondence did not used family planning, because Islamic religion prevented them, 62.5% don’t have enough knowledge on family planning while 25% don’t know.

Question 19: Do you think family planning is worth pursing in Sumaila town?

Table 18:

Types of Responses	No of Respondents	Percentage
Yes	40	40%
No	60	60%
Total	100	100%

Source: Survey Research

This means that 40% of the respondents agree that family planning is worth pursuing, while 60% are of the opinion that is should not be pursued.

Question 20: What do you think is the level of acceptance of family planning in Sumaila town?

Table 19:

Types of Responses	No of Respondents	Percentage
0-20%	60	60%
21-30%	40	40%
31-50%	0	0%
51-100%	0	0%
Total	100	100%

Source: Survey Research

This shows that of the one hundred (100) respondents, 60 of them believe that the level of family planning acceptance in sumaila town is 0-20%, while 40 of them believes its 21-30%. This means that even though 60% of the total respondents (100) are ware of family, 20% of them are using both traditional and modern methods.

4.2 Hypothesis Testing

To find answers to the research questions and to decide the outcome of this study, three hypotheses were developed. They will now be subjected to empirical test based on our finding. They are as follows:

i) Educational and income levels are the factors influencing fertility pattern among rural dwellers:

Based on the information gathered from the responses of the 100 hundred respondents who formed the subjects of this study, especially questions No. 4, 5, 6 and 7, it is very clear that 85% of the respondents have attended school, 60% said they knew about family planning, and 20% of them used contraceptive methods both traditional and modern.

Moreover, of the 20 respondents who are used family planning contraceptives, methods, 25% of them were influence by non-governmental organizations through training, 50% of them through health workers, while the remaining 25% through Islamic teachings.

Besides, from the responses of questions such as No. 8, 9, 10 and 11, it is obvious that 60% of the 100 respondents are into business and 80% of them are employed, and earned income, and income is a motivating factor towards their educational pursuit. From the foregoing, it is true that education and income level influence fertility patterns among rural dwellers of Sumaila town:

ii) Ignorance and illiteracy are responsible for high fertility and population growth among rural dwellers:

From our findings, especially with respect to questions no. 13, 15, 16, 17, and 18, it is clear that 40% of the respondents didn’t know anything about family planning, and 80% have never used contraceptive methods at all.

One can say that ignorance and illiteracy are responsible for high fertility and population growth among rural dwellers of Sumaila town:

iii) Poor quality services and lack of awareness are responsible for low level of contraceptive prevalence among rural dwellers of Sumaila town.

This is true because, from the findings of this study, only 20% of the 100 respondents have used family planning, and 40% doesn’t know anything about it, and the fact that Radio is the major medium upon which they heard about family planning.

Furthermore, it is important to note that, even though only 20% of the 100 respondents used contraceptive methods (both modern and traditional), 40% did not have access to the services and 40% didn’t show interest in it at all.

Therefore, it should also be noted that fertility rates of families in rural dwelling areas differ according to their educational and income levels.

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION

5.1 Summary of Findings

From the forgoing, it is very clean that education and income are among the key factors affecting fertility patterns among rural dwellers of Sumaila town of Sumaila Local Government Area, Kano State. Fertility rate will continue to go high and population will continue to grow if there are no increased awareness and availability of family planning contraceptive services among rural dwellers. It is also important to note that family planning used is imperative because without which Nigeria’s population will double it self in the next 22 years, there by making government unable to provide jobs and provide basic amenities to its teeming populace.

5.2 Recommendations

To ensure a more organized family setting and population control, below are some policy action steps:

1. Governments at local and state level should partner to create more awareness at the grass root, and the partnership should involve faith based organizations and traditional leaders.

2. All the three levels of government: federal, state and Local Government, should integrate Health Services with family planning services because, with increased family planning services and its usage, the chance of child survival will also increased, and birth spacing will also means more mothers survived.

3. State Governments should provide free maternal and child health services at all levels by allowing for free antenatal and neonatal treatments for women in general.

5.3 CONCLUSION

In conclusion therefore, and based on the findings of this study, family planning stood out to be the only option for the survival of any society in today’s contemporary world. This means that for a society to continue to exist and have relevance in terms of achieving sustainable human development, that societies most have a well organized system of family planning so as to ensure an orderly organized and stable family and population setting.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Akinrinola B. et al, (2009), Fertility transition in Nigeria: Trends and prospects

Boniface A. et al (2006); Community-based study of Contraceptive Behaviour in Nigeria.

Clifford O.O (1999); Family Planning Attitudes and use in Nigeria: A factor Analysis.

Diary – “KANO STATE GOVERNMENT 1998” where the population figures was made available.

Federal Office of Statistics (1999), Socio-Economic Profile of Nigeria

Isaac F.A et al (2006), Community Based study of cocntraceptive behavour in Nigeria.

Microsoft Encarta (2008), Nigeria Facts and Figures, Microsoft Corporation, USA.

M.S Isa (2010), Family Planning in the Islamic Faith

Netson E.A (2008), Education as correlate of fertility Rate among families in southern Nigerian.

Nasiru M. Ziyara – “Tariwan Kasar Sumaila Da Hausa”. And transalated into English given by the District Head of Sumaila.

NPC (2006), National Population Commission Report

NDHS (2008), Nigeria Demographic Health Survey

NBS (2008), National Bureau of Statistics Report

NDHS (2008), National Demographic Health Survey

NPC (1999 & 2006), National Population Commission

NPC (2006), National Population Commission Report

Population Reference Bureau (2004) The Unfinished Agenda: Meeting the need for family planning in less Developed Countries.

Yusuf M. et al, (2008), Reading in Social Science Research.

www.unfra.org/pds/trends.htm

www.kanoonlint.com/populationhtml

www.gatefundation.org/global.../family-planning-strategy.pdg

www.fphandbook.org/

www.healthpolicyinitiative.com/.../996_1_Nigeria_FamPlan_FINAL_12_3_09_acc.pdf

www.usaid.gov

www.prb.org/pdf/famplanworldwide_eng.pdf

APPENDIX I

RESEARCH QUESTIONNAIRE

Acceptance of Family Planning among Rural Dwellers in Kano State: A case study of Sumaila Town of Sumaila Local Government Area.

Dear Respondent,

I am a postgraduate student of Bayero University, Kano pursuing a Masters Degree in Development Studies with History Department. As part of the academic requirement of completing the course, I am currently conducting a research on the acceptance of Family Planning among Rural Dwellers in Kano State with Sumaila town of Sumaila LGA as a case study. It will be appreciated if you kindly answer the following questions which will immensely conduct of this research. All information provided is purely for academic purpose and will be treated confidentially.

Thank you for your cooperation. Please tick √ where appropriate and explain where necessary.

1. What is your Age?

15-25 years ( )

26-35 years ( )

36-45 years ( )

46-55 years ( )

2. Gender?

Male ( )

Female ( )

3. Marital Status

Married ( )

Single ( )

4. Did you attend School?

Yes ( )

No ( )

5. If yes, indicate your educational qualification below:

a. Primary ( )

b. Secondary ( )

c. Post secondary ( )

d. Others , please specify _________________________________________

6. Did you attend Quranic School?

Yes ( )

No ( )

7. If yes, indicate the level of Quranic knowledge?

a. Not completed Qur’an

b. Completed Qur’an

c. Completed with memorization

8. Are you employed

Yes ( )

No ( )

9. If yes, indicate your employer below:

a. Public sector

b. Private Sector

c. Non-Governmental Organization

d. Others, please specify __________________________________________

10. Are you into Business?

Yes ( )

No ( )

11. If yes, indicate your income level below:

a. 0-20,000

b. 20,000-40,000

c. 40,000-80,000

d. Others, please specify __________________________________________

12. How many children did you have please specify ________________________

13. Did you know about family planning

Yes ( )

No ( )

14. If yes, what is the source of information?

a. Seminar

b. Radio

c. Hospital

d. Other, specify ________________________________________________

15. Have you ever use family planning contraceptive methods?

Yes ( )

No ( )

16. Are the methods traditional or modern? Please specify

Yes ( )

No ( )

17. If yes, what influences you to use them?

a. NGOs ( )

b. Health Workers ( )

c. Religion ( )

d. Others specify ________________________________________________

18. If No, what prevented you from using them?

a. Culture

b. Religion

c. Non have knowledge of family planning

d. Others please specify

19. Do you think family planning is worth pursuing in Sumaila?

Please explain_________________________________________________

20. What do you think is the level of acceptance of family planning in Sumaila?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for your time.

A BRIEF NARRATIVE ON OCCUPY KANO PROTEST AGAISNT NIGERIA'S FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL POLICY

2010-03-09T01:16:00.000-08:00

Below is a brief narrative on how the occupy kano protest began, what happened during the protest, and what we are doing in sustaining it to monday when the grand of all protest will be staged across the country.

THE BACKGROUND:
Sequel to the various news paper reports that PPPRA have formally announced fuel price hike from N65 to N144 resulting from the devilish and satanic fuel subsidy removal policy of Nigeria's Jonathan led FG, and also the report that kano SG supported the policy, and perhaps the subsequent adjustment of the prices by all the metropolitan filling stations including NNPC mega stations to the said price, the student union govts of the 16th higher institutions of learning across the state resolved to mobilized students and people from civil society to protest against the policy.

PROTESTANTS PROFILE:
The protestants are mostly students including those from secondary schools, members of civil society, and even lecturers from BUK and other higher institutions of learning.

OUR RESOLVED:
We all agreed to demonstrate peacefully and also to continue to sensitize whoever join the protest to behave peacefully. We used microphone to do that.

THE PROTEST:
It started last monday 1st of Jan along BUK road but police men prevent us from moving along the street. We later decided to meet the following day - tuesday, at gidan murtala so that we can move to the govt house kano.

DAY 2 OF THE PROTEST:
We met at gidan murtala and started moving to KNSG government house but were stopped from advancing beyond silver jubilee round about by a significant number of police men and vigilante holding guns and tear gases blocking the road with their vehicles. As a result, we resolved to remain there till FG and the state govt reverses their satanic policy. We then called the place liberation square.

We remained at the liberation square chanting anti subsidy removal songs and delivering lectures aimed at sensitizing our fellow protestants on the need for a peaceful protest.

ATTACK ON THE PROTESTANTS:
While some of us were sleeping on the road, others were doing night prayers at about 1:35 pm, the security personnels started shooting tear gas at the protestants and the vigilante were busy beating people with the aim of disrupting our peaceful protest. In response, the protestants also threw back the tear shot to them by the police. The face off lasted till about 3:30pm with many people injured, students vehicles destroyed, and an un confirmed report of the death of one of the protestant (I wasn't able to confirm coz I had to run away too).

THE ASUU INTERVENTION:
The academic staff union of nigerian universities decided to re mobilize students and CSOs for another peaceful protest to the office of kano state commissioner of police to express their dissatisfaction over what happened at the liberation square, and also to ask the police to repair the damaged vehicles, and released the arrested protestants. They informed him of the need to investigate over a report of the death of one of the protestants as a result of the attack, and that unless subsidy is removed, they will continue with their protest.

In response, the police commissioner assured them that the commission will repair the damaged vehicle and will released the arrested protestants. An investigation will also be done.

GESTURE FROM THE PUBLIC:
A lot of people from the public have made voluntary donations by providing breads, pure water and fuel to the protestants.

NLC SECRETARIAT:
After seeing the police commissioner, we march to the NLC secretarial to attend the planning meeting of the grand of all protest come monday. At the meeting, ASUU, NLC, NAKSS, SUGs, CSOs, and several other NLC affiliates were in attendants. Several committees were set up ahead of monday protest, and a motion was tabled on the need of continuing with our protest each day up to monday. The house unanimously approved it and NLC secretarial was also agreed to be the occupy kano secretarial.

NEXT STEP:
We are meeting today after juma'at mosque by 3pm at the NLC secretarial for continuation of the protest. We hope to continue meeting at NLC for the protest up to monday.

EARLY MARRIAGE AND THE STATE OF ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN KANO STATE

2010-01-26T11:16:00.001-08:00

EARLY MARRIAGE AND THE STATE OF ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN KANO STATE, NIGERIA

Introduction:
Let me begin by briefly introducing ancient city of Kano to you because probably this is the first time some of you came in contact with the name. It is located in the north-western part of Nigeria, and perhaps it is one of the thirty six states that made up present contemporary federal political Nigeria. Going by the 2006 population census, Kano is adjudge to be the most populace state with about ten million inhabitants, majority of which are youth, and Hausa/Fulani people constitute the major tribes that made up the state. Socially and economically, the inhabitants of Kano mostly engaged in commercial activities which made it to be called “center of commerce”.
My decision to write on early marriage in Kano, is due to the fact that high proportion of adolescent girls are being married before their eighteenth years of age, with many of them being forced not only to accept their partners (husbands), but also to leave their various schools, which I see as an encroachment upon their fundamental human rights, and if this trend will be allowed to continue, majority of them will be married in the same way. It is the objective of this paper to draw upon my little knowledge and experience, as a young person from Kano, the dangers of early and forced marriage as it affects the lives of my peers in the state, so as to provide some action steps for policy makers and other relevant stake holders in order to stop the trend.

Definition of Key Terms:
For the purpose of this discussion, I intend to define the following key terms as follows:
Ø Early Marriage: Any marriage of adolescent girls that are below eighteenth years of age.
Ø Forced Marriage: Any marriage that is not in accordance with the consent of the parties involved. In other words, any marriage that did not take in to cognizance the right of the parties involved to choose their partners without any external pressure or influence.
Ø Adolescent Girls: Young Girls who fall within the age bracket of tenth to seventeenth years of age.
Early Marriage and Adolescent Girls in Kano
On a general note, it is important to note that Marriage is a social institution that is found in any society, and it is the institution that has the legitimate right to provide for the formal union of a man and a woman by which they became husband and wife. In fact, it is a moment of celebration because it signals a milestone in adult life. Though the way and manner through which the institution of marriage is established differ from one society to another, this is due to differences in terms of cultural, traditional and even religious ways of lives of their people. Perhaps, in spite of these differences, they share some responsibilities in terms of reproduction, socialization, and even economic activities. Though, there is generally no specific age at which a girl should be married, and while in some countries the age is increasing, in others particularly those of the developing world, the age is slow. As a result, various international human rights documents provided the norms to be applied in marriage particularly on issues of age, consent and equality within marriage. Such instruments include for example article 16 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) of 1948, which states that:

1) Men and women of full age… have the right to marry and found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and its dissolution.
2) Marriage shall be entered in to only with the free and full consent of the intending parties.

Other instruments such as Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and African charter on the rights of the child, also reiterated the same position. In fact, African charter prohibits child marriage and instead suggested that legislation should be done to make the minimum age for marriage to be eighteenth years of age.
At this juncture, let me share the experience of a lady who, while at her 16th years of age, got married recently to a man who is at his 40s, so that we can have a clear picture on what made most parents in Kano to give their daughters out for marriage at their younger age below eighteenth. When the man first contacted the lady, she rejected him, he then decided to inform her mother about his intention and what her daughter said to him, the mother assured him of her corporation and insists that she is a girl that is why she responded to him that way. When the mother talked to her daughter to accept the man, the lady turn the offer down and insists that her education is her only priority. The mother responded to her by saying that “…ba kya ganin ya na da halin da zai iya kula mun da ke, ko kin fiso in barki haka kiyi ta yawon gantali a gari akan gidan mijinki” – don’t you see that he is a business man and he can take a good care of you for me, or do you want me to allow you to be going round the street just like that instead of you being in your husband’s home. The lady still didn’t accept the offer and insists on the pursuance of her education, but the mother decided to go ahead with her plan.
Though, the mother of the lady is not living with her daughter’s father because they have since separated, but when he was informed about the issue, he encourage the mother of the lady to go ahead with the plan of getting their daughter married to the man, even though is not in accordance with her interest. After getting the marriage, she had to run back from her newly husband’s home but they still take her back and insists that she must stay or she should find another place to live, and her dream of getting admission in to a diploma program became a forgone issue. Also worthy to note, is the experience of a lady I knew who got married to an eighteenth year old boy when she was thirteenth, and she never attended any formal school and has a child, and was divorce when she was seventeenth. Ladies and Gentlemen, how do you expect this lady to survive after all she doesn’t have education not to even talk of having access to any income generating skills? Perhaps, this is a clear picture of the kind of roles most parents think they should be playing in giving their daughters out for marriage at their younger age, and the most unfortunate aspect of it, is that, most of them tend to see their daughters as burden which they can no longer bear and instead will decided to get them married not minding the risks associated with it. Some of them also believe that it will protect them against unwanted pregnancy outside marriage, HIV/AIDS, and other Sexually Transmitted Infections.
More over, some of the dangers associated with early marriage, based on my experience, include the possibility of contracting HIV/AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Infections, because some of these girls have no knowledge of HIV at all and they are being married to the men who are older and more experienced than them. Ladies and Gentle men, it is also important to note that by marrying adolescent girls at their younger age, their bodies have not fully developed and there fore stand a chance of experiencing complication during pregnancy which can lead to maternal and child death. Other dangers include that of exclusion in virtually every sphere of activity, this is because some of these girls have limited educational attainment and doesn’t have economic empowerment skills to earn a living which is contributing to the current on going circle of poverty.
Perhaps, it is important at this juncture to note the contribution of some NGOs such as Advocacy Nigeria – a network of volunteer advocates of which I am one of them, who have been working in six states of northern Nigeria including Kano, purposely to change laws and policies in order to promote the provision of reproductive health services and increase public funds devoted to reproductive health. In doing so, we are working with state legislative arm, ministries of health, justice, and that of women and of youth to achieve our aim of ensuring that healthy mothers have healthy babies and raise healthy children. Also worthy to note, is Adolescent Health and Information Project (AHIP), who have been working to sensitize young adolescent girls and boys to understand their sexuality, and to also empower them with income generating activities in order to live a healthy life. In fact, I am a beneficiary of this training because I was trained as a peer health educator in AHIP, and many youth like me are still being trained.
Some action steps:
Below are some steps which I think can be useful in trying to reverse the trend:
Ø From the part of the policy makers, Family Life Education should be incorporated in to our school curriculum, and adolescent school attendance should be encouraged by lifting the payment of school fees.
Ø Policy makers and NGOs should strengthen their partnerships with the media in order to create more awareness holistically so as to reorient the entire society on the dangers of early marriage and also the importance of girl child education.
Ø We should also dedicate international days for women for a massive campaign to end early and forced marriage.
Ø They should also as a matter of urgency, concentrate more on economic empowerment trainings for those adolescent girls that were divorced out of marriage through vocational trainings, so that they can earn a living.
Ø And lastly, Policy makers should look at NGOs as partners in development not enemies of progress.
Finally, if our dream is to ensure a just and egalitarian society, a free and democratic society, a great and dynamic economy, a just and healthy life for women must be taken as a priority by both the policy makers and other relevant stake holders, because early and forced marriage is a threat to adolescent girls’ rights to existence and right to choose their partners as enshrined in most international human right documents.

NURA IRO MAAJI
A VOLUNTEER ADVOCATE WITH ADVOCACY NIGERIA.
http://www.nuramaaji.blogspot.com/
nuramaaji@gmail.com
+2648032601697

Yola: letter of death as Student gives HIV to 124 including Lecturers !

2009-12-22T04:34:00.000-08:00

Yola: letter of death as Student gives HIV to 124 including Lecturers !

Outrage and amazement are some of the emotions currently on display in Yola, Adamawa State, after the startling revelation contained in a letter addressed to a radio station in the state capital, Radio Gotel, by a lady who claimed to be an undergraduate of the Federal University of Technology Yola (FUTY).The lady, in the letter which was sent to the producer of the programme, "Heart to Heart", said she contracted the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) from her student boyfriend and has, in revenge, willfully slept with some 124 students and lecturers at the school.The letter also contained the writer's threat to make public the names of those who have had sex with her "on the notice board." This has led to panic and spirited discussions among the male population in Yola, especially within the school community. The school's authorities, however, claim to be unaware of the letter, but promised to look into it.The letter reads, in part: "I have a well-documented report of all those guys and lecturers who crossed my path, since I got infected with this deadly disease in the campus. So far, I have had 124 students and lecturers; out of these, only six (6) used condoms".On a revenge missionContinuing, she said in the letter, "I owe nobody an apology and am still on a spreading till I spread it no more."The writer, who did not hide the trauma and disappointment she faced, explained in the letter that her first impulse upon the discovery of her HIV status was to take away her own life."I, however, did not confide my status to anyone until today (i.e the disclosure via the letter)," she said. "Since 2006, I promised myself that it's in the university I got it and here I will leave it. I have indeed lived to keep my promise."I was in year three when a student on his attachment in our school proposed for a relationship. He had all the qualities a woman would want in a man so I gave in. He told me all a girl would want to hear. In my innocence and naivety, I succumbed to his pressure to have sex with him. Consequently, I lost my virginity to him."After his placement, he reported for his final year and we still had contacts. I visited him on a number of occasions, I have even lost count the number of times I visited him. He was my first and only love and, therefore, hanged on every word he told me."My boyfriend later graduated and we lost contact until last month when his sister told me about his whereabouts. Before registration in the faculty of science, I went for medical test as is the requirement. I then opted for an HIV/AIDS test, which unfortunately turned out to be positive."It then dawned on me that I have traded the rest of my life for a university student who had deliberately and intentionally preyed on my innocence".

Child Trafficking

2009-09-26T13:06:00.000-07:00

CHILD TRAFFICKING
One of the most pressing issues of concern that is currently disturbing our contemporary globalize world, is the issue of child trafficking. Perhaps, In a study conducted by the United Nation’s Children Emergency Funds (UNICEF), it argued that about one million and three hundred thousand children are being trafficked annually, also in a separate survey conducted by the united state’s department in 2004, found out that an estimated six hundred to eight hundred thousand children are being trafficked yearly.
Further more, the first internationally agreed upon definition of child trafficking is embodied in united nation’s protocol to prevent, suppress, and furnish trafficking in persons, especially children, supplementing the UN convention against transnational organized crime (2000), as follows:
The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of persons by of the threat or use of force or other means of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payment or benefits top achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. The exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery or practices similar to slave, servitude or the removal of organs.
In a different conception, though with the same meaning, child trafficking refers to any act or transaction where by a child is transferred by any person or group of persons to another for remuneration or any other consideration. This refers to the process that puts children in a situation of commercial exploitation as its practicable now in most countries of the world especially African countries. There are different of child trafficking which include child labor, child slavery, child prostitution and pornography, children used in armed conflict, children used for crime and also domestic child servant.
More over, if we take children in armed conflict for example, we will come to understand that it means the involvement of children as combatants or supporting workers in armed conflict, whether by government forces or rebel forces, whether recruited forcibly or voluntarily. Article 3(a) of the international labor convention 182 includes specifically the case of “forced or compulsory recruitment of children for used in armed conflict,” and Article 3(d) which covers “work which, by its nature or circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children” would include the broader case of children used in armed conflict, as such work can universally be seen as likely to harm the safety of the children. This is reinforced by article one of the optional protocol to the convention on the rights of the child on involvement of children in armed conflict, which requires states to take all feasible measures to ensure that members of their armed forces who have not attained eighteen years of age do not take a direct part in hostilities.
Besides, children who have voluntarily joined government forces that are presently involved in hostilities may not strictly be considered part of this category, but information about them has been included to give a broad picture of the situation.
In Nigeria for example, in 2003, the government passed the child rights Acts which comprehensibly deals with child trafficking. Mean while, it also ratified the UN protocol to prevent, suppress and furnish trafficking persons, especially women and children in 2001, and passed a national law on trafficking in 2003 entitled “Trafficking in persons (prohibition) law enforcement and administration Act 2003.” Though Nigeria is one of the countries in the world that passed such law on trafficking, more still needed to be done in terms of its enforcement because available are showing that hundreds of thousands of children are being trafficked yearly, with an estimation of one million, eight hundred thousand of them are vulnerable to trafficking, out of which 80% of them are girls below the age of eighteen years.
As a matter of urgency, all hands must be on deck for us to reverse the trend. However, we must acknowledge the efforts of international donor agencies and international non governmental organizations, and also our own domestic non governmental organizations, in their attempt towards reversing the menace of child trafficking. Governments the world over and most particularly Nigerian government, should as a matter of urgency deploy more resources, commitment and political will that adequately help in ending child trafficking. One key important thing that we have to understand is that, any society that failed to place the issues of children as their priority, that society will have no future at all.
LONG LIVE WORLD CHILDREN!!!

Ibrahim Mohammed Ma'aji

Perspective on Sexual Health and Right

2009-04-08T05:24:00.000-07:00

MY Perspective on Sexual Rights and Health

Let me start by sharing with you the real life experience of a female friend of mine who once married. She told me that her unforgettable day was the day her former husband approached her and requested to have sex with her, she declined because she said to him, she was not feeling fine. The husband did not agree with her and decided to tear the cloth she wore and forced her to sex. It was only in the morning she said, after he had finished satisfying himself, he realized she was not well after touching her body and found the body was hot. To that morning, she reported him to his parents but they said to her it’s a normal thing because that is how she can adapt herself as a NEWLY married woman.
Furthermore, Then she later decided to report him to her parents that she was no longer interested in the marriage and her parents after consulting with their son in-law’s parents decided to disengage the marriage. She was in tears when she was telling me the story, and she said to me she does not even want to see any of her former husband’s relatives, she also said to me that she is afraid of getting married to another man because she doesn’t want to experience the same thing which happened to her. After learning from her experience and the subsequent experiences learnt particularly among the participants of National Youth Consultation on Feminism held last year here in Abuja, Nigeria. I decided to stay back to critically and clinically look at the issues of sexual rights and health as it mostly affects the life of girls and women in our society (Nigeria).
Generally, I view rights as indispensable to human existence because they are what human beings requires or entitle to have in order for them to earn a live meaningfully. They include rights such as right to sustainable livelihood, quality basic services such as health, education and also right to be heard and also have identity. These rights are universal, in alienable and indivisible to all human born or alive irrespective of gender, religion, etc. I personally view these rights as indispensable because without them, human beings will live a life that I prefer to term as “empty life” with no purpose of being in existence as human being.
Moreover, my own understanding and at the same time conception of what sexual rights and health is, based on the above experiences, is having a satisfying and safe sex life that is free of violence, discrimination and without hindrance to relationships based on equality, respect and justice, and also have control over and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to your sexuality. These rights should include right to bodily integrity, choose to be sexually activity or not, to have sexual relations that are consensual, right not to be pressured into sexual activity, to get married to one’s own free will, and also rights to information, access to contraception, birth control, fertility regulation, abstinence by informed choices, and prevention and treatment of STI’s including HIV/AIDS.
Conclusively therefore, sexual rights and health are very indispensable to human existence born or alive. These rights should be re-emphasized and humans should be allowed to enjoy them, failure to do these will turn our society to be lawless or even anarchical and by extension morally unstable.

NURA IRO MA’AJI
PROGRAMME MANAGER
GENDER, DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIETY FOR YOUTH AWARENESS AND HEALTH DEVELOPMENT, KANO, NIGERIA WITH SUPPORT FROM IWHC USA AND GPI NIGERIA
+2348025699001
nuramaaji2000@yahoo.co.uk

Being a paper presented at the 3rd african conference on “sexual rights and health” held in international conference centre, abuja, nigeria.

Perspective on Open Letter Turai Yar'aduwa

2009-04-08T05:19:00.000-07:00

Dear Nura,

What sickens me most is that both Prof. Akunyili and Mrs Yar'adua don't seem to have an alternative source to corroborate their careless statement(s). They have not shown any factual cause to defend their careless assertions. I am disturbed that the highly respected Prof. will associate herself with such an unscientific way of determining data.

They should be more concern in addressing the problem irrespective of whether we are doing badly down below or not. No mother should die giving birth... it is absolutely unacceptable. Mrs Yaradua and Prof should face the very hard reality and make the issue as important as the so called RE-BRANDING of Dear Nigeria or what ever they choose to call it. How can they re -brand Nigeria when they cannot do a simple scientific and credible research on the issue of maternal health.

Yes Nigeria is at the bottom end, it is ranking second lowest after the Democratic Republic of Congo and yes the UNICEF says so, SAVE THE CHILDREN says so, Yes PATHFINDER says so, Yes WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION says so, Yes WORLD POPULATION LIST says so and so many other credible organisations are saying and will continue to say so. More over the Nigerian people see these deaths happening every day. I am not surprised Mrs Yar'adua is saying so because her daughters may never see a Nigerian hospital when they are having their babies.... lucky Nigerians they are!

Dear Nura lets ask them to give us their own version of a credible data assuming they have one!

Sincerely,

Sa'ida Sa’ad 08037876939

LETTER TO TURAI YAR'ADUA

2009-02-19T01:21:00.000-08:00

LETTER TO HER EXCELLENCY FIRST LADY HAJIYA TURAI YAR’ADUA

Your Excellency, I find it necessary to write this short letter to you, in response to the comment you made, as reported by Ruby Rabius of daily trust newspaper of January 18th 2009, concerning the 2009 report of United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), on the state of the world children, which estimated that out of 5.6 million babies born in Nigeria, one million of them die annually before the age of five years. The report also said Nigeria’s national mortality ratio is 800 per 100, 000 live births, resulting in 47, 000 maternal deaths annually, “and indicating that every woman who dies of maternal causes, at least, six newborns die and four babies are still born”. Your Excellency, you categorically argued that the report “is not factual and does not reflect the true situation in the country, and therefore could not be true in the face of numerous interventions by government and other partners to reduce the alarming rate”. Your Excellency, while every Nigerian enjoys the freedom to express his or her opinion on the report, ordinary Nigerians like me are not convinced by your argument and have some comments and suggestions to offer. While I agree with you that Federal government, your self as a first lady, a select few other state governments, and development partners, and in addition, other NGOs across Nigeria, are making efforts towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortality in the country, a lot still needs to be done because most of the government health programs ended up in the cities rather than reaching out to the people at the grass root. Your Excellency, UNICEF’s report should be seen as an opportunity to re double your effort to all part of the country.
Your Excellency, are you aware of the fact that, other studies conducted by other International Humanitarian organizations also support UNICEF’s position? For Example, in 2008, Save the Children, a US-based International organization also assert that one million under-5 children die annually in Nigeria. Your Excellency, with do you respect, if you said you will not accept UNICEF’s report, what about world development indicators that was released by world bank in 2008 which shows that poverty, as its directly linked to maternal and infant mortality, is widely spread in Nigeria, with about 70% of the population living on less than 1 dollar per day? With do you respect Your Excellency, If not of the likes of donor agencies, international NGOs, Individual philanthropists, and numerous other NGOs across Nigeria, the situation would have deteriorated more than what UNICEF reported, and by looking at some past happenings in the ministry of health which led to the resignation of the then minister of health Prof. Adenike Grange, is a clear manifestation of the kind of mismanagement and other corrupt practices that has been going on in the ministry. It is also even more unfortunate to say that the performance of 2008 budget was between 40 – 45%, which is not even up to 50%.
Your Excellency, as a Development worker, and a mother to us all, and at this stage of our national live, we cannot stay dwelling on whether to accept UNICEF’s report or not, the reality is, this things are real we cannot closed our eyes and say they are not. Let us engage UNICEF and many other donor agencies to continue to help change the situation, and we need to use a more holistic collaborative approach on the issue, and it has to be done in all the three tears of government. In doing so, all the three tears should collaborate with the donor agencies, International NGOs, domestic NGOs and various other community based organizations so as to reach people at the grass root. To our wealthy Individuals, I say, its time to look up to people like Bill Gate, who came all the way from USA to make his own contribution purposely to ensure the eradication of polio in Nigeria, and start changing lives. I thank you very much your Excellency for your time, and look forward for answers to my questions. May God continue to guide all of us.

LONG LIVE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

LONG LIVE WOMEN, YOUTH AND CHILDREN

NURA IRO MAAJI
SYAHD, KANO, NIGERIA
08032601697
nuramaaji@gmail.com
www.nuramaaji.blogspot.com

Perspective on Maternal Mortality

2009-02-14T13:26:00.000-08:00

Dear All,

Thank you very much Nura for bringing this up at this crucial time of our existence in Nigeria. You have surely touched on something very dear to my heart!

I am so glad to see that the issue of Maternal Health and Infant Mortality is beginning to be at the forefront of issues initiated, discussed and debated by men and women alike. It is alarming and unfortunate that Nigeria and Northern Nigeria in particular is ranked to be doing woefully in the preservation of the life of our WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

The causes of Maternal Morbidity and Infant Mortality are very clear, and they are simply related to lack of or inadequate access to proper medical care. 92% percent of maternal and infant death is caused by lack of access to medical facilities. Access to medical care does not include a large building infested by cobwebs cockroaches and rodents. It means a well equipped emergency facility with well trained medical personnel, it means a clean building with adequate in patient and out patient facilities, it means ambulance services, it means a hospital/health care center travel of less than 20km within every local Government areas of every state of the Federation, it also means capacity building for Traditional birth attendance, it means Girl Child education and empowerment, it means Primary health care centers within communities. It simply means holistic and sustainable health care intervention in our communities.

We are all in agreement that Govt has a responsibility to provide access to medical care to all its citizens and most specifically to WOMEN AND CHILDREN. It is actually a fundamental Human Right of Nigerians; however this and so many other social responsibilities have been ignored with impunity and total disregard to our Divine RIGHTS. We have come to a time when individuals and communities must work together actively, effectively and sustainably to move this agenda forward by making noise, I believe it is the only way our Government will hear this and all the yearnings of its people. We have no choice but to radicalize our approach to ensure that our Govt and Policy makers give us what we deserve or they continue to cart away our resources to take their families and loved ones out of the country for minor hiccups and rashes(true).

To the Northern Governors, chairmen, Representatives and other policy makers celebrating their weddings and getting ready for overseas childbirth(s), Allah is watching all of you! They should bear in mind that for every child/mother that dies as a result of their disregard to the duties, The Almighty will surely ask them on the day of reckoning! Well most of them rigged and committed all kinds of atrocities to get there anyway so what do we expect?

Nigerians made a lot of noise when we collectively killed the third term agenda in 2005, the world heard us, and it was a determination shared by all alike. Sometimes I wonder if we can implore that kind of fire and determination for all our aspirations to make Nigeria a better place for us and those yet unborn. THE PEOPLE spoke so loud to throw out the third term bid, so why can't the same people do the same this time? Could it be that MH/IM and other social issues are not as serious as third term?(remember the idea of debating term issues is surely about Leadership and Leadership here is about making the lives of all Nigerians better) Is it that issues of Nigerian women and children is unable to raise hell loose?

We must demand an end to this unnecessary waste to human lives. The statistics are unacceptable. In this modern age when countries have long eradicated the menace of MH/IM 100s of years ago and most have considerably reduced its occurrence significantly. Nigeria has the resources, man power (mostly in the Diaspora) and skills to take care of its women and children.

Putting issues of women and children at the fore front of National programs will by no doubt expedite the development of Nigeria, because access to medical care will bring about an improvement to almost all spheres of our daily lives. In giving access to medical care you take care of various other needs in our communities. like good roads, electricity, clean water, education especially that of the girl child, Bringing back home our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora, trained medical personnel and of course a strong and healthy nation.
So Malam Murtala, agreed CORRUPTION has eaten up the very fabric of our existence but we cannot sit back and watch these hyenas continue to disrespect our humanity and making a fool of us. We must all get active in the governance of our Country bearing in mind that we disassociate ourselves with the dirty 'Bull dogs'.
There are several NGOs; pressure groups etc working on different themes all geared towards developing MOTHER NIGERIA, but all there efforts are looking more and more futile. I guess what we have to start doing now is networking effectively, getting together like minds to form a coalition (for lack of a better word) to get down to practical solutions. Enough about Seminars/conferences/round tables/workshops etc. Let’s get down to basics and stop doing grammar.
Get involved in your Local Govt; find out what these Chairmen are doing there. It has to start from down up!
Let me know your thoughts on how to loud this agenda.
Sa'ida Sa'ad
0803 7876939

BENI LAR VS PENAL CODE OF NORTHERN NIGERIA

2009-02-12T16:12:00.000-08:00

BENI LAR V.S PENAL CODE OF NORTHERN NIGERIA

“Our lives begin to end the day we became silent about things that matter”
- Martin Luther King Jnr

In response to the text message sent to daily trust newspaper of January 15, 2009, by a woman from Maiduguri , criticising the statement made by Chairman House committee on Human right Honourable Beni Lar on the interview granted to her by the same newspaper of January 14, 2009. In the interview, Beni Lar was asked: “what do you have to say about wife beaters especially when you here men say I paid her bride price so I can beat her when I feel like?” In her response she said, I quote “I am sure you know a wife is a human being and a woman is as good as any man. I would believe that the problem we have with that is the penal code in northern Nigeria allows wife beating and that is very outdated.” So the woman from Maiduguri has this to say, I quote “Let me correct a very wrong impression making the rounds in Nigeria . Whoever said that the penal code in northern Nigeria allows wife beating is a big liar. Northern laws have respect for women.” It was as a result of this encounter, I find it necessary to make my own input concerning the subject matter so as for all of us to have a clear picture of what Beni Lar means.

As a result of a survey and series of consultations to some learned gentlemen and women, I was made to believe that section 55 of northern Nigeria ’s penal code really allows wife beating, below is an excerpts from the section:

“Wife beating is permitted in so far as it does not amount to grievous injury… Nothing is an offence which does not amount to the infliction of grievous hurt upon any person and which is done by husband for the purpose of correcting his wife, such husband or wife being subjected to any native law or custom in which such correction is recognised as lawful.”
I was also made to believe that penal code came in to being as far back 1958 in an attempt to reconcile English criminal law with Islamic Shari’ah law and also the traditions of the people of northern Nigeria who are predominantly Muslims. From the foregoing, it is very clear to me that many men hide under the provision of section 55 of the penal code, to perpetrate violence against women, there by denying them the opportunity to enjoy their right as contain in the chapter four of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria .

Another interesting thing raise by Beni Lar was that, her self and personalities like Honourable farouk Lawan are currently working on a bill that will help in bringing the perpetrators of violence against women to book, so as for them to face the appropriate penalty. To me, this is a very interesting development and is one of the best things that will ever happen in the Nigeria ’s national assembly. According to Beijing declaration and plat form for action, violence against women “result in or is likely to result in physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.” It has many forms ranging from raping, beating, and any other thing that can cause physical or psychological harm. The must annoying and disturbing thing in Nigeria, is that the perpetrators of this acts are most of the time left unfurnished, as the Secretary General of Women’s Right Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) observed, she said while reacting to what happen to Ms Rosemary Dzer, a victim of acid bath, that “gender based violence in Nigeria rather than reduced is increasing by the day and with new and hitherto unknown method of attacks.” This is perhaps more than unfortunate and shameful.

In order for us to have a violence free society, we need to have violence against women bill both at the federal and state level, failure to do that our society will eventually decay. I am personally advising the entire members of our law making body (National Assembly) to corporate with Beni Lar and other members who are working on the bills, so as to ensure a successful passage of the bill as soon as it come out, and to also prevent our society from moral decay.

NURA IRO MA’AJI
SYAHD, KANO STATE , NIGERIA
nuramaaji@gmail.com
2348032601697

WOMEN AND POLITICS IN NIGERIA

2009-02-12T16:06:00.000-08:00

BETWEEN WOMEN AND POLITICS IN NIGERIA

One of the reasons why democracy is generally believe to be the best form of governance in the world today, is because it carries people along in respective of their gender, ethnicity, and skin color. Ideally and practically, democracy is about Good governance, and good governance is about being responsible, and being responsible is about being accountable to the people for the purpose of bringing about positive societal development. As a system of governance it has also preaches for the accommodation of everybody in the process of bringing positive development.

While some nation states have succeeded in accommodating their people in respective of their gender, to bring about more positive development, others are yet to, because of their inability to answer the call made by democracy as a global system of governance. Beside, Nigeria is also yet to answer the call. This is because as Gender Electoral and Reform Memoranda Committee (GEM), 2008 argued, though women constitute 49% of Nigeria’s population, but they only constitute 9% of the number of persons in the senate, 9.27% of the number in the House of Representatives, 16.6% of the Deputy Governorship positions, 5.45% of the State House of Assembly and 0% of Governorship and Presidential elective officers.

Furthermore, it is very clear from the above mentioned figures that Nigeria’s women have for long been marginalized by men in political process. The question now is, why? In my own opinion, men have succeeded in turning Nigeria ’s political atmosphere to a volatile one, which is characterized by thuggery, assassination, total absent of internal party democracy etc. finally I am convince that a step has already been taken by Gender Electoral and Reform Memoranda Committee (GEM), Coalition for Change (C4C), Women Right Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) and other Non-governmental Organizations across Nigeria, to make sure that these imbalances politically did not continue to prevail in Nigeria’s political process, by making submission at Abuja sitting of Nigeria’s Electoral Reform hearing on 24th of June 2008. Secondly, I think government itself has to make sure that the recommendations are been taken into consideration. Besides, I think is time for all of us to stand up and make sure that the voice of Nigerian women are heard in the Nigeria’s decision making process.

Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria

Long live Nigerian Women

Long live Women world over!!!

Nura Iro Maaji
Society for Youth Awareness and Health Development (SYAHD), Kano State, Nigeria
+2348025699001
nuramaaji@gmail.com

EARLY MARRIAGE AND ADOLESCENT GIRL IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

2009-02-12T16:01:00.000-08:00

BETWEEN EARLY MARRIAGE AND ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

Globally, the age at which girls are married is increasing but in some countries like Nigeria, particularly Northern Nigeria is slow because high proportions of girls are married during childhood or adolescent. Generally marriage is a social institution which provides formal union of a man and a woman, by which they become husband and wife. The inauguration of marriage institution depends on people’s own religions, traditions and cultural background, but they are generally regarded as marriage institution and they serve the same purpose among which are: :reproductive purposes, raising children inform of socialization, and also to partake in the political and economic developmental activities of their own societies or communities without discrimination either on Gender bases, religion or even skin color.

Generally, there is no clear specification concerning the age at which a girl should be married. However, at 18years of age, a girl should be married because it has attained the legal age of marriage, but the girl should be allowed to make such decision without any pressure. Legally speaking, any girl married at the age below 18, that marriage can be seen as early marriage. Even at the age of 18/19, I think the girl will not be emotionally and psychologically ready to carry out responsibilities of marriage or parenting when she has children. A survey conducted by population council Nigeria office, on HIV/Aids and early marriage in Northern Nigeria, shows that the percentage of girls, who are married by age 15, is much higher in north than in the south. For example, North West alone has 35.8%, north east has 24.9%, north central has 7.7%, while south west has 0.7%, south-south has 2.4% and south-east has 0.4%.

Furthermore, most of the marriage below of 18years of age in northern Nigeria are forced married, and most of the victims are less educated, they lack opportunities and skills for income generating activities, and above all lack adequate knowledge of reproductive health, HIV/AIDS and STIs issues, and 1/3 of the marriages are polygamous with an average age of 18yrs between husband and wife. The survey also shows that over 50% of the marriages are at an average age of 15years, and some of the risks associated with early marriage comprises of the risk to be HIV positive because of unprotected sex with spouse that are mostly older, maternal, infant mortality and pregnancy problems, susceptibility to health condition such as VVF, RVF, also limited involvement in decision making processes, and limited educational attainment.

Conclusively, I think the only way to avoid all these effects is to delay marriage to a more appropriate age (26years). We should also encourage Adolescent girls’ school attendance and also provide economic opportunities to them in terms of vocational trainings so as for them to be economically independent.

Nura Iro Ma’aji
Society for Youth Awareness and Health Development (SYAHD), Kano State, Nigeria.
nuramaaji2000@yahoo.co.uk
+2348025699001

DIVORCEES AND NORTHERN GOVERNORS IN NIGERIA

2009-02-12T15:57:00.000-08:00

DIVORCEES AND NORTHERN GOVERNORS

“Success in marriage does not come merely from finding the right mate, but by being the right mate”.
Barnett R. Barker

Generally, most men do not care about spending time in finding the right mate before getting married, not to even talk about being the right the mate after getting in to the institution, they rather demand and expect more from the institution instead of thinking what the institution will require from them. Revelations from the report written by Hassan A. Karofi in Sunday Trust News paper of December 28, 2008, did not only show the crises bedeviling the institution of marriage in kano state, but also gave us a picture in to the current condition of women divorcees in the state and also the possibility of finding same situation in other part of the northern region. The report argued that, there are about 20,000 women divorcees in kano alone, and 15,000 thousand of them are attending activities of just one association called Voice of Women Divorcees, and this association complain of not getting any support from Kano sate government or even any of the international donor agencies. This is perhaps an unfortunate and disturbing situation.

In 2004, population council Nigeria office, made a survey and reported that about 50 percent of marriages in northern Nigeria are at an average age of 15, and the worst thing is that, these girls have limited educational attainment with no economic empowerment skills. What am saying is that, this situation deserves urgent attention in the whole entire northern states not just kano state. Though, kano state government has stated taking steps towards empowering the divorcees in the state, I am perssonally advising the whole entire northern state governors to make a survey in their various states concerning the rate of divorce and condition upon which divorcees are experiencing.

More Over, am also advising the governors to incorporate Non Governmental Organizations with focus on women’s issues, so as for you to find it easier in empowering the divorcees. Invitations should also be extended to international donor agencies so as for them to make their own input. Programs that will further educate people on issues related to marriage both from religious point of view and any other way through which people can understand the message and Legislations that will check mate the situation should also be put in place.

NURA IRO MAAJI
SYAHD, KANO STATE
nuramaaji@gmail.com
+2348032601697

WOMEN AND HIV/AIDS IN NIGERIA

2009-02-12T15:54:00.000-08:00

BETWEEN WOMEN AND HIV/AIDS IN NIGERIA

This issue of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria has remained the most pressing issue of concern over the years, and has attracted the attention of non-governmental organizations domestically and internationally. This is due to the fact that various Nigerian governments have not paid adequate attention toward reversing the epidemic. Historically, studies have shown that the first two HIV cases in Nigeria were identified in 1985 and were reported at an international AIDS conference in 1986. Since then, no effort has been made by government to assess HIV situation in the country until in 1991 when the federal ministry of health made their first attempt to assess the situation, the result showed that 1.8 percent were infected with HIV, and subsequent surveillance report revealed that during the 1990s, the HIV prevalence rose from 3.8 percent in 1993 to 4.5 percent in 1998.

However, hope was restored in 1999 when President Olusegun Obasanjo established National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), and in 2001, he set up HIV Emergency Plan (HEAP). Despite these positive intentions, in 2006, it was estimated that just 7 percent infected women and men were receiving antiretroviral therapy and only 0.2 percent of pregnant women were receiving treatment to reduce the risk of mother to child transmission of HIV. In 2005, studies showed that 240,000 children were living with HIV most of whom became infected from their mothers. Another study also showed that 80 percent of HIV infections in Nigeria are transmitted through heterosexual sex and this due to transfusions account for up to 10 percent of new infections in Nigeria. Moreover, women are particularly affected with the epidemic in Nigeria. In 2006 for example, UNAIDS estimated that women accounted for 6.15 percent of adults aged 15 and above living with HIV. All these in my own opinion should be attributed to the poor health care system we have in Nigeria, which is also characterized by corruption and mismanagement. This is because large parts if the country lack even basic health care provision making it difficult to establish adequate HIV testing services.
Finally, I think if the dream of the present administration is to make Nigeria one of the twentieth most industrialized economies of the world by the year 2020, the problems militating against health care system in Nigeria must be dealt with in its entirety. Secondly, since women suffer most without their consent, they should be allowed to participate in the decision making process so as to find the best way out.

NURA IRO MA’AJI
SOCIETY FOR YOUTH AWARENESS AND HEALTH DEVELOPMENT (SYAHD) KANO STATE, NIGERIA
nuramaaji2000@yahoo.co.uk
+2348025699001

BETWEEN RAPE AND WOMEN'S SEXUAL RIGHT IN NIGERIA

2009-02-12T15:45:00.000-08:00

BETWEEN RAPE AND WOMEN’S SEXUAL RIGHTS IN NIGERIA

The issue of rape in Nigeria has attracted the attention of not only human right activists, feminists from Non-governmental organization here in Nigeria, but also from international Non-governmental organizations. This is due to the fact that, there are so many incidence and cases of rape occurring on almost daily basis and actions are yet to be taken to normalize the situation. Rape is a form of Gender Base Violence (GBV) against women, according to the Beijin declaration and plat form for action, it defines violence against women as “any act of GBV that result in or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women [and Girls], including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life. Among the forms of sexual violence against women, rape is the most prevalent and disturbing in Nigeria.

Although, there is no accurate data which will exactly tell us the rate of rape cases and incidence occurring in daily or annual bases in the country. Though, some Nigerian NGOs with the assistance of international NGOs have conducted researches with the aim of knowing the rate of rape cases and incidence that is occurring in the country and be able to educate the society of its effect in order to reduce it. For example, CLEEN Foundation, an NGO which promote public safety, security and justice, in a nation wide survey undertaken in 2005, found out that only 18.1% - lees than one in five – of some 10,000 respondents who had been raped had reported to the police. Also, CLEEN Foundation’s figures shows that, in 1999 there were 2,241 cases of rape and indecent assault. In 2000, 1,500 cases were reported; in 2001, 2,284; in 2002, 2,084; in 2003, 2,250; in 2004, 1,626; and in 2005 1,835 cases were all reported.

Furthermore, the punch newspaper, in 2005 reported that only one in fifty (50) rape cases were actually reported. This attitude of not reporting rape cases in Nigeria today, is assuming different dimension. Part of the reason is that, it carries heavy social stigma, some times due to fear of rejection by family members and communities, and the fact that victims are unwilling to report to the police because they themselves are perpetrators. People have to understand that rape causes a lot of damage to women, it increase their chances of getting HIV/AIDS and STIs. It also causes mental disorder and feeling of low self esteem, it also affects their academic performance.

Moreover, people have to understand that Nigeria is a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and according to CEDAW, rape violate the principles of equality of right and respect for human dignity, and also violate women’s sexual right. Women, as part of their sexual rights, enjoy the right not to be pressured into sexual activity, the right to make autonomous life within one’s context of social ethics and values, to have sexual relations that are consensual and live a life that is free of violence, discrimination and without hindrance to relationships based on equality, respect and justice. So rape in its entire entirety is a crime and it violates women’s sexual rights.

Conclusively there for, women and Girls should not be taken for granted, they should not be raped and they should not be relegated to all kinds of treatment, rather should be allowed to enjoy equal rights and opportunities as men enjoy.

NURA IRO MA’AJI,
SYAHD, KANO STATE, NIGERIA
nuramaaji@gmail.com

MATERNAL MORTALITY AND NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT

2009-02-12T14:46:00.000-08:00

MATERNAL MORTALITY AND NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT

“We have not placed the issue of women and children at the center of our heart. There is no attention given to them despite the fact that they are asset to us. With out their good health, we don’t have future. The issues of mother and child are linked and we are failing to scale up high impact contribution that can save lives of mothers and children.”
- Dr. Tunde Adegboyega
Consultant WHO

It was on the evening of Sunday 8th of January 2009, while reading some past newspapers; I came across a report on maternal mortality on thisday newspaper of July 7th 2008, written by Taiwo Olawole. The report came with frightening and very disturbing figures concerning the rate of maternal death in the country which made me to voice out my mind concerning the subject matter and also offer some advises to both the state and federal government. The report revealed that Nigeria is the second highest in the world in terms of maternal death with 59,000, and India is occupying the first position with 117,000 deaths annually. The reporter went on to argue that Nigeria shouldn’t supposed to be ranked second instead should be ranked first, because he argued that the whole of Nigeria’s population constitute only 10% of India’s population. He further argued and I quote “India actually improved between 2000 and 2005. In 2000, India’s maternal deaths were 136,000. It was this figure that dropped to 117,000 in 2005. On the other hand, Nigeria’s 37,000 deaths in 2000 rose to 59,000 in 2005! So, place within the right context, Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate is perhaps the most dangerously high in the world.” Looking at the argument of the reporter, I think he is absolutely right and Nigeria should be ranked first not second.
After reading the report, the questions that come to my mind were: where are the policy makers? Did they really know what is happening? How about the promises they made while campaigning I mean the seven point agenda? Or did any of their relatives fall within the people that are dying annually? My answer to these questions are: they knew what is happening, only though, they have forgotten all the promises they made while campaigning, and perhaps I don’t think their relatives are dying of maternal problems. Though the report said states like Kano has already taken a step and went on to argue that “Interestingly, the Kano state free antenatal care which is now a model for some states, is not affecting the quality of services at government Hospitals.” The reporter also said “after the seemingly success story of kano state in reducing maternal and child mortality, some states have come to emulate the concept.” States like Nassarawa, Borno, Enugu, Rivers, Ebonyi and recently Kaduna have introduced various degrees of free medical facilities for pregnant women as well as for children which is a step on a right direction, even though there are complains of inadequate medical facilities, thanks to their effort and hope they will continue to do more so as to ensure that their efforts are sustained. I am also calling the attention of other states to copy from their brothers because the situation is very disturbing and needs urgent attention. Now that states has started making impact by providing antenatal care, Federal government should also do the same and provide free medical treatment for pregnant women and children, and to also collaborate with states, civil society organizations, donor agencies, so as to reversed the trend. Failure to do that will instead worsen the situation. For me, neglecting women and children is the greatest mistake any society can make, because they are our future and we have no option other than to take good care of them, and I am sure you knew that. Please am appealing to you lets all stand up and do some thing, remember united we stand divided we fall.

NURA IRO MA’AJI
SYAHD, KANO STATE, NIGERIA
nuramaaji@gmail.com
2348032601697