#BringBackOurGirls: Police offer $300,000 for information leading to girls’ rescue

A new twist into efforts aimed at rescuing the 200 girls of the Government Girls College, Chibok unfolded Wednesday with the Nigeria Police force announcing a mouth watering cash reward of N50million to anyone who volunteers credible information that will lead to their rescue. Making the disclosure in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations officer, CSP Frank Mba, the Police called on all Nigerians and general public to be part of the solution to the present security challenge. It assured all citizens that any information given would be treated anonymously and with utmost confidentiality. The Force urged all patriotic citizens with such useful information to contact the following numbers: 09-2914649, 08081777309, 08055547536, 08032125050, 08034617591 and 08035969731. Meanwhile, the Defence headquarters has assured protesters from different parts of the country that it was treating the issue of the abduction of over 200 school girls from Chibok town in Borno state as a special test case pointing out that the military is committed to bringing back the girls.

Director Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade made the disclosure to the media and scores of protesters after a closed door meeting between selected leaders of the a protest group that stormed DHQ and top officers of Defence headquarters.

According to General Olukolade “Nigerian military is freshly committed to finding the girls. Let me assure the Nigerian the public that the best will be done to bring back our girls safe and alive. Please, keep supporting us, keep praying along. We will get result very soon.”

One of the leaders of the protesting group, Dr Jibrin Ibrahim in his response said, “The key outcome of the interaction we have had is that the priority for this nation, for the military and for us, the Civil Society is to bring back our girls.”

“They have committed to intensifying their efforts, but above all to produce results in the shortest possible time. They have briefed us fully about the activities they have engaged in, a lot of which we do not want to reveal in the open”.

Dr Ibrahim added, “I want to assure you that the very clear message we got from them is that their engagement is serious, is being escalated and is focused on the objective of bringing back our girls alive and safe.”

While speaking with the protesters, General Olukolade told them, “Your concerns are our concerns, these children are our children as well, in this building you see here, there are people who have children and relations among those people; so we equally share your concern and be sure that we are not leaving Nigerians alone.”

Furthermore, he said, “we are not shirking our responsibilities. This meeting will give us the opportunity to explain to you the efforts that are ongoing at the level of the military and the government; be sure that every effort is ongoing to bring back our daughters and our children alive.”

One of the protesters Saudatu Mahdi, who read from a prepared speech said, “Millions around the world have been unable to come to terms with the loss; today millions of Nigerian women and men call on the federal government and the security agencies to find and bring back these girls currently living in captivity”.

She added, “These young girls are daughters, sisters, nieces, women and mothers; those that are directly affected grieve and we as Nigerian and Human beings join them in their anguish and distress, we want them back safe in their homes where they belong.”

Mahdi also said the trend of conflicting information about the exact number of the girls that are missing are weak and unconvincing adding “This makes it imperative for all Nigerians to amplify and demand of those with the responsibility to for the safety of all Nigerians to act and constructively engage to find and return these girls to their parents.”

“As citizen it is our right and responsibility to ask question so we ask that in this age of Google maps and Ariel surveillance, how is it possible that the rescue of over 200 girls is giving us so much challenge”.

Chairman Chibok Community in Abuja, Hosea Tsambido in tears, begged the federal government to do everything possible to bring back the girls.

Among the top military officers who hosted the protesters at the Defence Headquarters included the Chief of Administration, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogbor, Director Defence Communication, Major General Odunukwe, Chief of Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal A. Iya, and Director Military Intelligence, Major General L. W. Wiwa.

Brazil 2014: Keshi releases 30 man provisional list

Ahead of FIFA’s May 10 deadline for the submission of final list of players selected to represent their countries at next month’s World Cup in Brazil, the Nigeria Football Federation Tuesday released a provisional list of 30 Super Eagles players for the mundial.

The list comprised of four goalkeepers. They are Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim and Daniel Akpeyi.

The team’s defenders selected for the mundial are Elderson Echiejile, Juwon Oshaniwa, Efe Ambrose, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kenneth Omeruo, Joseph Yobo and Kunle Odunlami.

Also in the team are  John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Ejike Uzoenyi Sunday Mba, Gabriel Reuben,  Nosa Igiebor, Joel Obi and Michael Uchebo. Others are Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Victor Moses, Emmanuel Emenike, Victor Nsofor, Osaze Odemwingie , Babatunde Michael,Uche Nwafor and Nnamdi Oduamadi.

The list which was read out by the Head Coach of the team Stephen Keshi was released after he held a three-hour meeting with the NFF Technical Committee at the Glass House in Abuja. He further stated that the final list of 23 players who would represent the nation in Brazil would be released on June 2.

Last Monday Keshi had insisted  that he was not arm-twisted by members of the Nigeria Football Federation to include or drop any player in the list. He said he had a free hand from the NFF to select the best players for the World Cup, but he was not averse to taking advice from well-meaning Nigerians on squad composition.

According to him:, “The NFF is our parent body and should be concerned about team composition for the World Cup, because the body is made up of well-meaning Nigerians. But to be honest to Nigerians, nobody in the NFF has come to me to say pick player A or B. They respect my job as the head coach and I respect them as my employers and there is no clash of interest.”

Al-Azhar: Boko Haram free abducted girls

CAIRO (AFP) – Egypt’s prestigious Islamic institute Al-Azhar urged the Nigerian Muslim group Boko Haram group Tuesday to free more than 200 schoolgirls it kidnapped and has threatened to sell into slavery.
Al-Azhar, which runs the main Sunni Islamic university in the region, said harming the girls “completely contradicts the teachings of Islam and its tolerant principles.”
It called “for the immediate release” of the girls, abducted on April 14 in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno state.
Abubakar Shekau, who leads the group that has killed thousands in a five-year uprising, claimed responsibility for the kidnappings.
In a video message obtained by AFP on Monday, Shekau said the group was holding the girls as “slaves” and would “sell (them) in the market.”
A total of 276 girls were kidnapped when Boko Haram stormed their school under the cover of darkness and loaded them onto trucks. Some managed to escape, but more than 220 girls are still being held, according to police.
Global outrage, initially slow to emerge, has been building, including calls by US senators for Washington to intervene.

How to start providing sex education in your home

How to Start Providing Sex Education in your Home

Upon hearing that I teach sexual education courses, a new father commented, “That conversation is so far off, I can’t even think about it.” He was quite surprised when I suggested that the conversation about sexuality began the moment he and his partner became parents.

The minute parents hear, in the delivery room, “It’s a boy,” “It’s a girl,” or "Your child may be intersex," they begin communicating ideas about sexuality to their children. Consider how many parents bring newborns home in a pink or blue outfit or use the phrases, “He’s all boy” or “She’s such a Daddy’s girl.” These gendered messages are part of your child's sexuality education.

The “birds and bees” story of old—a confusing analogy that uses flower pollination to describe human reproduction—alludes to only a small fragment of human sexuality. In reality, sexuality includes, but isn't limited to, gender identity, sexual orientation, eroticism, the ability to love and feel loveable, self-image, interpersonal relationships, sexual physiology and health, sexual manipulation, and, yes, sexual behavior and reproduction.

You may wonder why you would need to introduce all these concepts to your child. It’s not a matter of introducing the information—that often happens without parental intervention—rather, it’s a matter of helping children put the information into perspective. Without your guidance, your children may have a hard tim understanding their bodies, their feelings, the images they see, or the words they hear.
You can help your children become sexually healthy individuals who value and respect themselves and others by communicating honestly, consistently and intentionally about sexuality. I use the word “intentionally” because you’ve already been communicating about sexuality even if you haven’t meant to. You have done it if you have:

selected your child’s clothing and toys according to “girl colors” or “boy colors," "girl toys" or "boy toys";
assumed you know your children's sexual orientation;
created rules about nudity or privacy in your home;
discouraged or encouraged your children's exploration of their own bodies:
displayed, or avoided displaying, physical affection for your partner;
responded to questions about sex comfortably or by changing the topic.
Who do you want to teach your child about sex?
It's important to talk with your children about sexuality because if they aren't hearing from you, they are absorbing someone else’s messages. And whose messages are those? Siblings and friends, grandparents, babysitters, teachers and doctors as well as video games, toys, television, magazines, movies and newspapers.

Messages about sexuality may be healthy or innocuous, confusing or disturbing. You can't control every message your children receive, but you can help them put the information into the context of your values. Research has shown that children want to learn from their parents early on; as they age, they tend to look to their peers for information. By starting the conversations at an early age, you can encourage your children to keep talking with you as they mature.

Many years ago, my daughter, then age 10, attended a birthday party during which the girls watched an R-rated film. She told me later that the film included a scene in which a boy tries to rape a girl at a teen party. Her father and I had talked to her about sexual boundaries and consent, so she knew the male character's behavior was unnacceptable. I can't say the same for all the other pre-teens at the party, whose parents may never have provided sexuality education at home.

What had we done right? We had talked with our daughter about sexual relationships and the importance of mutual consent, respect, maturity, and protection. What had we done wrong? We hadn't gotten to know the girl's parents or their values; in addition, we hadn't asked what the party entertainment would include.

Monitoring children's media access is harder today, since many children and young teens have near-constant access to cable TV and online content. It's all the more important for you to serve as your children's primary sexuality educator, ready to share your values and wisdom gained through life experience.

Getting Started
Use the topics below to spur discussion between you and your co-parent or teens and other adults who play a significant role in your children's upbringing. Jot down responses and ideas that will improve communication with your child.

What messages did you receive about sexuality when you were a child?
Did you have an adult to discuss sexuality with, and if so, what helped create that trusting relationship?
What were some of the biggest questions you had about sexuality, and by what age did you want answers?
If you would have preferred to learn about sexuality differently, and if so, how?
What kinds of messages would you like your child to receive about sexuality, e.g., no-holds-barred access to information, or a more moderate or conservative approach, and why?
Next, make a list of the some of the sexuality information sources in your childrens's lives, including caregivers, friends, relatives, television, magazines, internet, etc. Consider ways you can support or counterbalance those outside sources so your values and sexuality education play a primary role.

Learning More
For more tips about parent-child communication, see my eManual, "Sexuality Talking Points: A guide to thoughtful conversations between parents and children."

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