HAPSTA TAKES ANTI-SUPERSTITION EDUCATION TO SCHOOLS IN OMUOOKE/KOTA, EKITI

On Tuesday 10th of June 2014, Humanists Association for Peace and Social Tolerance Advancement (HAPSTA) in her effort to advocate for a truly peaceful and social tolerant society has taken science, anti-superstition and social tolerant education to three (3) schools in Omuooke/Kota Ekiti, under the auspices of Humanist and Science Education Programme (HASTEP). 

Among the schools visited for the eventful training were Isedo Comprehensive High School, with about (46) students; Glory Idea College with (27) students and Community Grammar School with (36) students all in Omuooke/Kota Ekiti. Also involved in the training were some of the schools teachers namely; Mr. S. Ajiboye; Mr. Taiwo Wasiu and Mr. Olorunsogbon Femi who are school representatives for the training.

The training which was targeted only at the school prefects (the newly appointed ones), bearing in mind that they are part of the school leadership/authority has as its theme: Good Leadership and Peaceful School Environment essentially emphasized the essence of good leadership for a peaceful and tolerant school environment and society at large.

In his opening remark, Noah Balogun held that the training is to enable the trainees to know, imbibe and put to use the attributes of good leadership, noting that it is the prerequisite for a peaceful school environment and the societies at large. He then took the students through the definitional analysis of leadership; the qualities of good leadership and the virtue of putting the lessons learnt to use in their days to day running of the leadership positions they occupy. On the other hand, Seun Joseph gave his account on peace and culture of peace and its requisite ….. in our schools environment and the country at large. By means of expatiation, he highlighted the reasons for violence and war in our school environment and society at large, and dwelled on how culture of peace can be entrenched and cultivated.

Towards the tail end of the training workshop, crested T-shirts were distributed to participants. On the T-shirt is written the HAPSTA dictum that reads thus: DON’T DISCRIMINATE: All Different, All Equal. Protect my Rights, and Ask Questions, Be Critical …..This is to make the impression long lasting on the minds of the participants.

Also, photographs were taken so as to make the occasion a memorable one. HASTEP Team met with the school authorities/students, took pictures with them and pledged to continue to partner with the schools in ensuring that the students are better leaders. In rounding up the talk, the team leaders, Noah Balogun and Sanmi Adeyanju said that the training is in stages and the final stage would be held in August to commemorate the year’s World Youth Day, later in 2014.

---Noah, Seun, Ope and Samuel, for HAPSTA-OHAWK

HAPSTA International Conference 2014

HAPSTA International Conference, 2014

(In Honour of Late Professor Olusegun Oladipo,

pioneer Chairman, Nigerian Humanist Movement)

Humanist Association for Peace and Social Tolerance Advancement (HAPSTA), Ibadan Nigeria, is pleased to announce its year 2014 international conference aimed at initiating discourses that are dear to humanism promotion in the face of contemporary existential predicaments bedeviling African development. The year 2014 conference is also specially organized to honour Late Prof. O.T. Oladipo, a quintessential scholar and humanist of international repute.

Conference Theme:

Humanism, Existential Predicaments and Africa

Sub-themes:

1.   Humanism, Social Reconstruction and Africa

2.   Epistemicide and African Leadership Crisis

3.   Election, Zero Politics and the Future of Democracy in Africa

4.   Language, Mental Decolonisation and Africa

5.   Crass Religiosity, Morality and the African crisis

6.   Individual, Community and Contemporary African society

7.   Science, Humanism and Development

8.   Nollywood, Ghollywood, Kannywood and the Development Question

9.   Ritual Killing, Yahoo-Yahoo and the Craze for Wealth in Nigeria

10. Witchcraft Stigmatisation/Abuse and Human Security

11. Terrorism, Insurgency and National Security

12. Social Media Activism, Human Rights and Good Governance

Arrival: Thursday 28^th August, 2014

Time:       4.00pm

Conference Proper: Friday 29th August, 2014

Venue: Conference Center, University of Ibadan

Time: 9.00am

                        Opening Address: 
                        Prof. Wale Olajide            

Dept of Philosophy,                                           

Ekiti State University,Nigeria                             

Keynote Speaker: 

Prof. O. B. Lawuyi,
Dept of Archaeology & Anthropology
University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract of not more than 150 words should be sent to any of the contacts below, on or before July 20, 2014:

The Chair, L.O.C, Dr. Francis Offor: offor66@yahoo.com

Secretary, L.O.C, Noah Balogun: nuahbalogun@gmail.com

HAPSTA Secretariat: hapstaconference2014@gmail.com

For information on participation:

08121210824, 08140800310, 08060447494 www.hapstanigeria.net, www.hawkafrica.blogspot.com

Funded by HAMU, Norway

HAPSTA/CRARN Reunifies Two Alleged 'Childwitches'

Earnest Okong and Daniel Uwein Amba, two children who were stigmatized, brutalized and sent away from home for being witches, have both been reunified with their counseled families. The two children who have been living at the HAPSTA/CRARN center, Ikot-Afaha since January, 2013, were rehabilitated and groomed to live normal lives, during their stay at our center.

Daniel with his 'critical' paternal grandfather who believes "Daniel is not a Witch"

While Daniel’s reunification exercise took place in Etisong, Ebugu in Eket local government area of Akwa Ibom state on 23 May, 2014; Earnest was reunified with his paternal Uncle, Mr. Ekong Edet, on Friday 30th of August 2014 at Uyegbe Mbo local government area of Akwa Ibom state.

Earnest and Daniel’s feeding, health and welfare needs were well catered for while at the center courtesy of HAMU, Norway;  AFRUCA-BodyShop small grant also provided for their educational needs. 

HAPSTA/Police team arraigns Man for stigmatizing and abandoning son

Anthony with his son, that he stigmatized as a wizard/witch

On the April 17, 2014 the case of Mr Anthony who was arrested by a team of HAPSTA/CRARN staff and the Nigerian Police for abandoning his son Emmanuel Anthony at Eket Timber market was transferred to Magistrate court 1 Eket but the Judge was not on seat, the man was later return back to the police cell.

On the April 25, 2014 the IPO (Mrs Helen) took the man again to the court and the Magistrate ordered the police to re-arrange the case that the case file was not properly filed; and the man was returned again to the police cell.


The case comes up on Monday, April 28, 2014 at Chief Magistrate Court 1 Eket. The case number was read, as between the Nigerian Police vs. Mr. Anthony. When the charge was read as follows “ that you Mr. Anthony Okon on the 17th of February 2014 accuses your child master Emmanuel Anthony of being a wizard and abandoned him at Eket timber market and ran away, are you guilty or not ?” he pleaded not guilty. The magistrate then ordered that the man be remanded in the prison custody pending the trial on the 30rd May 2014. That family court is not yet constituted in his court therefore the case is been transferred to High court 2 for further hearing. He was transferred to the prison custody Eket with an option of bail of Five Hundred Thousand Naira and that the person should be a village head and must submit 2 recent passport photographs.

The court was dismissed by 3:30pm.

At High Court 2, the case will be presided over by Justice Teresa Obot who is an expert in Child Right Law and was also a member of Akwa Ibom State Commission of inquiry into witchcraft accusation on children that was setup by the State Governor in 2010.

HAPSTA/CRARN SCRIP if funded by HAMU, Norway

Report by Emmanuel Okon