A non-governmental organization is working assiduously with the Ministry of Women’s Affsirs to make sure more than ten thousand women serving various jail terms are free as early as possible.
The group, Arise Monalisa Foundation and One Percent International on Thursday provided a forum to discuss issues affecting women, young female entrepreneurs and children.
Speaking at the occasion, Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy Ohanenye disclosed that modalities are been put in place to free women, who have been abadoned in prison for more than four years through the use of mobile court.
Speaking at the International Women’s Day conference organized by Arise Monalisa Foundation in Collaboration with One Percent International Management Services Limited, where successful female entrepreneurs will be empowered through grants to commence their businesses, the Minister said her visit to the prison opened her eyes to see the wicked being done to fellow human being.
She said after the visit, she made up her mind to ensure that some of the women prisoners, who have been abandoned in prison for over four years just because of N10 thousand debt are free through mobile court.
She explained that because of what she saw, she wrote President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and went to the Nigerian Governors’ Forum for assistance, adding that she has already started moving round the governors to key into the programme of mobile court, which has the endorsement of Mr. President.
According to her, the Osun state governor, Ademola Adeleke, has agreed to start the mobile court to ensure that women are free from prisons, adding, “I saw about 10 to 20 thousand women, some are there for more than four years.
“I want to go out to ensure that the endorsement for mobile court I got from the President is implemented. This will ensure that women and children get freedom.”
She said: “When I went to visit prisons, I discovered that some women have been abadoned in prison for over four years and some are awaiting trials because they are owing N10,000, N15,000.
“We don’t want that to continue happening, that’s why I need the mobile court to enable me to go round the prison yards to get these women release.”
The Minister, however, warned the beneficiary of the grants that their activities will be monitored to ensure that they are job creators and not receivers always.
Addressing newsmen, the founder of Arise Monalisa Foundation, Monalisa Chinda explained the reason behind the venture, adding that participants will be given grant and mentorship program.
She said: “We are looking at empowering young people. The rationale behind this is to accelerate the progress of the young entrepreneurs.
“We have created this platform for young people, considering the economic situation we find ourselves. Every year we in Arise Foundation always coined out something for young people, always focus on them, that’s what this is all about. We are looking to select 10 persons out of the group today and empower them.”
Amb. Stephanie Nnadi, the Chief Executive Officer of One Percent International Management Services Ltd, explained that that the participants will go through training on how to go about their businesses.
She further disclosed that the aim is to provide helping hands, adding, “the aim is to provide helping hands. The aim is that as we start this one, people will emulate what we are doing and start doing it in their little circle as they can.”
The guest speaker of the event, Hon. Justice Mabel Segun-Bello of the Federal High Court, noted that what the organizers are doing is beyond empowering people, but creating legacy.
She said when one is legacy conscious, the world will know what that person has done. She cited the work of Martin Luther King in the United States of America, which Barack Obama has benefited.
According to her, legacy is what you leave in the world. The mark you made while you are alive.
She said: “Your name will resonate from generation to generation when you are legacy conscious.”
She, however, told the Minister of Women Affairs that she will support her in her mobile court venture, adding that she was mobile court judge for 19 years.
