BY JACINTA HYCENTH
The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs (FMWA) has disclosed plans to enhance the reintegration process of Ruth Ogunleye, the recently discharged female ex-Army Private, to enable her adapt easily with her new environment.
The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister (Mrs) Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, gave the assurance when she received the discharged ex-Army Private in her office in Abuja on Friday.
This was highlighted in a statement signed on Saturday by the Head, Information and Public Relations, FMWA, Mrs. Grace Njoku, stating that the Ministry will create an enabling environment to enable her access funds and also acquire skills in Information Technology.
Recalled that on 25 September, the Nigerian Army announced the discharge of a female officer, ex-Private Ruth Ogunleye for accusing a senior officer, Colonel I.B Abdulkareem, of sexual harassment; an issue that prompted the Women’s Minister to wade in her matter.
In January 2024, ex-Private Ogunleye through her TikTok page, @Ogunleyeruthsavage1, alleged that Colonel I.B. Abdulkareem, Colonel G.S. Ogor, and Brigadier General I.B. Solebo had made her life unbearable. She specifically accused Abdulkareem of making repeated attempts to assault her, administering injections against her will, forcibly removing her from her residence, and confining her to a psychiatric hospital for several months after she rejected his sexual advances.
But after series of allegations, the Army through its spokesman Major-General Onyema Nwachukwu, revealed the outcome of the investigation, which read, “Upon receipt of her complaint, the Nigerian Army referred the matter to the Military Police for a thorough investigation. The investigation concluded that Colonel IB Abdulkareem did not commit the alleged offences.
He further stated that the medical reports following an evaluation at the National Hospital in Abuja indicated that Ogunleye was suffering from a condition that rendered her medically vulnerable.
However, in the statement, the Minister informed that the Ministry of Women Affairs is in liaison with the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Technical, Vocational and Enterpreneurship Education (TVEE), headed by Abiola Arogundade, to enable Ms Ogunleye acquire relevant skills, especially in the ICT within the shortest possible time, and thereafter be provided with necessary equipment for an online IT job.
In addition, the Minister said that arrangements are also on by the Ministry to obtain a scholarship that will see her through her life’s ambition of becoming a professional nurse.
She commended Nigerians who take their time, through various social media platforms to keep the citizens and government abreast with sinister happenings in society, with a view not to only create awareness but also, to ensure that solutions are proffered.
The Minister, therefore called on Non-Governmental Organisations, philanthropists and the general public to show her love and care by supporting the Ministry in its effort to rehabilitate Ms Ogunleye in order to enable her embrace the new opportunities being offered to her so as to put the past behind.
In her response, ex-Private Ruth Ogunleye thanked the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs as well as the Management and Staff of the Ministry for lending her support in her hour of need.
Highlight of the visit include the presentation of the sum of Two Hundred Thousand naira in cash to Ms Ogunleye by the Ministry through the Honourable Minister, Barrister (Mrs) Kennedy-Ohanenye.