The International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA (Nigeria) Abuja Branch has set up a student chapter at Baze University Abuja, to pilot the affairs of the association in the school environment.
Its Chairperson, Chibuzo Maureen NWOSU, while speaking during the inauguration ceremony at the School’s auditorium explained that the inclusiveness of the female law students was “to groom the younger generation early to have the freedom to choose a befitting life style and live their own future in order to have a just, peaceful and equitable Nigerian Society where women and children’s rights and interests are guaranteed and protected in schools, homes and workplaces”.
According to Nwosu, having a FIDA chapter at the university level is to drive the FIDA campaign to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls and to equip the students to protect themselves and be ambassadors, disclosing that more student chapters will be inaugurated acriss the country.
“FIDA Abuja Branch is committed to working with the Baze University Chapter to see that female students in FIDA excel beyond their academics and also achieve the objectives of the Association. Our main objective is to protect, promote and preserve the rights of women and children. These we realize through the provision of free and effective legal services, counselling, mediation and empowerment to indigent women/children who are victims of violence or threatened rights’ violation.
“FIDA is an Association of Women Lawyers who have been called to the practice of Law in Nigeria. However, the membership has been extended to female Law Students in Universities, Law Schools and Law Graduates.
“The inauguration of Female Law Students is undoubtedly a significant milestone for the University community and FIDA movement in Nigeria,” she added.
Vice Chancellor of Baze University Professor Prof. Kathleen Okafor (SAN) lauded the initiative, tasking all FIDA members to build on their digital skills and network with others, stressing the need for FIDA to do better with progressing the association.
“The task for these students is very simple: they need to meet other people both inside and outside, FIDA is an international organization and so this is a launching pad to more national cohesion and international networking with other women linking other platforms for women development and emancipation,” she urged.
In his remarks, the Dean Faculty of Law, Baze University, Prof. Agbo Madaki, who noted that the University has been existing for over 11 years, with many graduates from the Faculty, expressing gratitud to FIDA Abuja for for inauguration of the Baze University Student Chapter while congratulating the pioneer executives.
Newly elected Chairperson of FIDA Baze, Odebala Onemena, expressed gratitude as the first Chairperson of the Student Chapter of the University, assuring that the exco will make a difference to inspire change to leave a lasting impact in the lives of the university students in the law faculty, women and children in the community.
“It is a great honour and privilege to be the first Chairperson of the newly established FIDA Baze university chapter.”
” FIDA is a beacon of hope and empowerment for women and children across the globe founded on the principle of justice, equality and human rights. FIDA has been in the forefront of championing the rights of women and children in the legal sphere for decades.
“As a woman who has experienced first hand the challenges and obstacles faced by women and children in Nigeria, my journey with FIDA would be deeply personal , it is this lived experience that fuels my passion and commitment to FIDA, for me, FIDA is more than just an organisation, it is a beacon of hope and catalyst for hope,” she said.
Farida Usman , the Financial Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association was also apointed the matron of the FIDA Baze university to guide them along FIDA Abuja branch.