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Civil societies warn of imminent food scarcity over lost of forests to multinationals in Edo.
As the world marks this year's Monoculture Day, a cross section of civil societies in Benin have drawn attention to worsening effects of continuous land grabbing by oil palm plantation in Women.
The Civil Societies led by the Environmental Rights Action and Friends of the Earth (ERA/FoEN) hinted on imminent food crises in the State over lost of forest reserves .
Over 60, 000 peasant farmers living at host Communities in Ovia North East, Ovia South West and Uhunmwode Local Government Area of the State have lost their means of livelihoods to deforestation.
To draw attention to the problem the Civil Societies led by Environmental Right Action and friends of Earth Nigeria, ERA /FoEN put together a sensitization programme tagged gender inclusiveness ,making women's voices count, where they challenged the Women to stand up for their rights and resist land grabbing by Okomu oil palm plantation and others.
The Executive Director, ERA/FoEN Dr Uyi Ojo addressing the women appealed to Edo State government to enforce the revocation order granted by previous government of Adams Oshiomhole against the multinational company while he also charged the company to equally comply with Edo State revocation order.
A former President of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Stella Ojeme, and Benin-based Human Rights activist, Jennifer Ero, challenged women to acquire skills by building capacity.
In their separate presentations on the topic: "women empowerment and advocacy messaging", the duo,of project officer Forest officer and Biodiversity Rita Uwaka and Gender officer, Adesuwa Jang charged women to pay due attention to skill acquisition and pepper education of their Children through hardwork and determination.
The Executive Director, Foundation for Good Governance and social Justice, Austin Osakue who gave a brief historical background of gender issues, said: "Gender equality is the men's battle which women must pursue to advance their rights and respect in society.
The protesting women,including Joan Obaze, Hajaratu Abdulahi and Bose Eruanga resolved more ever to sustain the struggle to compel the Palm Oil Multinational Firms to do the needful.
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