Aregbesola Assures FIDA Of FG’s Support For Its Paralegals Project

The Federal Government has expressed its willingness to support the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) in its efforts at training Community Paralegals with a view to providing first responders and vanguards in cases of threatened violation of rights and abuses within the communities.

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf  Aregbesola, stated this when a delegation of the Abuja branch of the Association of International Federation of Women Lawyers in Nigeria (FIDA), led by their Chairperson, Mrs Rekiya Adejo-Andrew paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja.

According to him, “this is aimed at ensuring a  just, peaceful and equitable society for all Nigerians”

The Minister, who commended the role of women in the socio-economic development of every stable nation, applauded FIDA’s efforts at providing free legal counselling, paralegals training as well as the empowerment of the less privileged.

“We will support your programmes and actions because they are tailored towards empowering the less privileged in the society,” Aregbesola said.

The Minister commended the Association for seeking  the Ministry’s support in the areas of programme for shelter  designed to serve as safe home for victims of violence and sexual abuse.

 According to him, “No Society can develop without women,  there is therefore the need to  respect women”.

He  noted further that he decided to support FIDA Programmes and actions in the areas of  empowerment for the less-privileged,  paralegals training  and free legal counseling of inmates which are akin to the Ministry’s mandate.

Earlier, the leader of  the delegation, Mrs. Rekiya Rachael Adejo-Andrew, commended the Minister’s giant strides in the formulation and implementation of policies related to diverse internal security and other ancillary services which are highly quantitative, efficient, courteous and transparent to both Nigerians and foreigners alike.

She stated further that the vision of FIDA Nigeria;  to have a just, peaceful and equitable Nigerian Society where women and children‘s rights and interests are guaranteed and protected and also have the freedom to choose and live their own future.

According to her, “to actualize this vision over the years, FIDA has deployed strategies   such as legal services to women and children, advocacy, campaigns, workshops, seminars, press conferences, litigation and alternative disputes resolution such as rights and gender friendly laws like  Violence Against Rights Act”.

In a related development, Special Adviser to the Minister and  Chairman, Expatriate Quota Administration  in the Ministry, Mr. Bola Ilori commended the legal services being rendered by FIDA in the custodian facilities across the country.

He advised the International Federation of Women Lawyers to  look into the rate at which women are into Drug addictions which often resort into violence  in the society.