A coalition of over 300 women’s groups has called on all Nigerian women to boycott all products sold by Erisco Foods Limited.
In a statement issued on Friday morning and signed under the aegis of Womanifesto, the groups condemned the police’s continuous detention and prosecution of Chioma Okoli, a Lagos resident who gave a negative review of one of Erisco’s products.
This prosecution came after Eric Umeofia, CEO of the company, launched an attack on Okoli, claiming her review negatively impacted his business.
According to Inibehe Effiong, Okoli’s lawyer, the reviewer suffered a miscarriage during the course of the prosecution. Still, on Wednesday, Justice Peter Lifu of a Federal High Court in Abuja, ordered her remand in a correctional facility in Suleja, Abuja, until Friday, May 31, 2024, for a bail application hearing.
READ MORE: Chioma Okoli Suffers Miscarriage Amid Legal Battle With Erisco
Ahead of the hearing, the group issued this statement:
“We call on all Nigerian women to join us to #BoycottErisco products with immediate effect, for the following reasons:
“The continued harassment & detention of Chioma Okoli. The insufferable stress and trauma that has been inflicted on Chioma Okoli since September 2023 to date, which has also led to the loss of her pregnancy.
“Loss of earnings and livelihood due to her inability to work and provide for her family as a direct consequence of the ongoing persecution and psychological molestation.
“The apparent risk and threat to her life and flagrant abuse of her human rights.
“For being subjected to constant litigation for exercising her freedom of speech and expression, including freedom to hold opinions, and to receive and impart information without interference as granted to her under section 39 of the 1999 Nigerian constitution.
“We are concerned about her ability to get justice in a country with a reputation for compromised justice.
“We salute Chioma’s continued courage, bravery and tenacity in the face of intimidation and threats. We will continue to support her quest for justice.
“It is worthy to note that in other countries where the health and nutritional well-being of the citizens are paramount, relevant government agencies would be at the forefront of the investigations into all Erisco products and the corresponding labels, instead of leaving this landmark issue in the hands of those who prioritise profit to the lives and general well-being of 200 million Nigerians.
“We call on the government to come to the aid of Chioma as your silence is deafening and sends the wrong message. No market can exist without buyers. Therefore, no consumer should be subjected to persecution, mental and psychological abuse, or intimidation for writing a review about any product purchased in good faith and with their money. #ReleaseChiomaOkolinow!”
Here are the groups that signed the statement:
Purple Woman Foundation (PWF)Women Advocates and Research Documentation Centre (WARDC)9jafeministaAbiodun Essiet Initiative for GirlsAbove Whispers FoundationAction Aid NigeriaACTS Generation GBVAde Grange Child FoundationADEM Community Human Development FoundationAdinya Arise Foundation (AAF)Advocate for Health and Development InitiativeAfrican Women’s Initiative (AWI)Ajegunle Community ProjectAjoke Ayisat Afolabi FoundationAlliances for AFAica (AfA)Amazing Grace InspirationsAminchi Women Cooperative SocietyAmnesty International NigeriaARDA Development Communication Inc.Arise Nigerian Woman Foundation.ASWHANATATA Development and Empowerment Foundation (ADEF)Affirmative Action Initiative for Women (NCAA)Association of Nigeria Women’s Business Network (ANWBN)Association of Women in Trade and Agriculture (AWITA)AWEPANWIBAWFANFEBWEFEDANBLECCA FoundationBring Back Our GirlsBriskila Emefesi Women Foundation (BEWOF)Baobab for Women’s Human RightsCece Yara FoundationCedar Seed FoundationCEE-HOPE NigeriaCenter for Economic Empowerment and Gender Activities (CEEGA)Centre for Alternative Development and Self-Enhancement (CEADESE NG)Centre for Health and Development in Africa (CHEDA)Centre for Nonviolence and Gender Advocacy in Nigeria (CENGAIN)Centre for Peace Education and Community DevelopmentCentre for Women’s Health and Information (CEWHIN)Change Managers International NetworkCenter for Women’s Health and InformationCentre for Media and Development CommunicationsCivil Resource Development and Documentation Center (CIRDDOC)Citizenship and Human Development InitiativeCharity Women Spring of SalvationChedal Multi-Purpose Cooperative SocietyChild Care and Adult Protection Initiative (CCAPI)Choung-Dung Women Association.Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment in Nigerian Society (CWEENS)
Christian Women in Nigerian PoliticsCitizens Center for Integrated Development and Social Rights (CCIDESOR)Community and Youth DevelopmentCommunity Education Advancement of Peace and Development Initiative (CEAPDI)Community Initiative for Healthy and Peaceful SocietyCommunity Life Project (CLP)Community Rescue Initiative (CRI)Community Women Initiatives (CWI)Country Associates Network (CAN)Courageous People Health and Development Initiative (CPHDL)Crestville Development Foundation (CDF)CWEMADaria Media Foundation (DMF)Development in Practice Gender and Entrepreneurial Initiative (DIPGEI)Diaspora Womanifesto2019Dinidari Foundation (DF)Dorothy Njemanze Foundation (DNF)Dream Alive Women and Orphans Support Foundation (DAWOS Foundation)Dr. Oby EzekwesiliEchoes of Women in Africa InitiativesEdo Women’s Development InitiativeEducation As A Vaccine (EVA)EiE NigeriaEmerge Women (EW)Empowerment and Action Research Centre (EARC)Equality Through Education Foundation (ETEF)Equity Advocates/ The Woman Today NewspaperFACICP Disability PlusFAME FoundationFederation of Informal Workers of Nigeria (FIWON)Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN)Federation of Paralegal Network (FEDPAN)Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA)Fembridge Development Initiative (FEDI)FIDA NigeriaFirst Future LeadershipFOMWANForward in Action for Education, Poverty and Malnutrition (FACE-PAM)FREDFEDANGender Action Awareness TrustGender and Constitution Reform Network (GECORN)Gender and Development Action (GADA)Gender and Environmental Risk Reduction Initiative (GERI)Gender Awareness Trust (GAT)Gender Development InitiativeGender Equality CenterGender Equality, Peace and Development CentreGender Technical Unit (GTU)Gender Strategy Advancement International (GSAI)Girl Child Advocacy and Education InitiativesGirl Child AfricaGirl Child Education, Care & RehabilitationGirl Education Rehabilitation and Care (GERAC)Girls Power Initiative (GPI)Global Hope for Women and Children Foundation (GLOHWOC)Green Spring Development InitiativeGender Awareness Trust (GAT)Gender and Constitution Reform Network (GECORN)Habiba Dangana (Hadis) FoundationHeal Disability InitiativeHealth Education and Human Rights Advocacy InitiativeHealth Reform Foundation Of Nigeria(HERFON)HEIR Women Development (HWD)Help Initiative for Social Justice & Humanitarian DevelopmentHope for New Life (HNL)International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA)NigeriaInitiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD)Inter Africa Committee (IAC)Inter Gender Peace Foundation (IGPF)International Action Network on Small Arms Women Network (IANSA)International Federation of Women Lawyers (Fida Nigeria)International Hairstylists, Barber and Body Therapists (IHSTOBAN)International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH)International Women Communication Centre (IRIAD)Iyaniwura Children Care Foundation (ICCF)Jamatul Nasir Islam, Women WingJana Health Foundation (JHF)Julie OyegunFoundation for Justice Development and Peace (FJDP)Justice Development and Peace Mission (JDPM)KMashi Gamji WomenKebetkache Women Development And Resources CentreKudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND)Kungiyar Tallafin Mata Development Initiative (KTMDI)League of Queens International Empowerment (LQIE)League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV)LEDAPLift InitiativeLeague of Queens International EmpowermentLegislative Advocacy Coalition on Violence Against Women Initiative (LACVAW)MBULA Women AssociationMedia &Teens NetworkMedia Concern Initiative for Women and ChildrenMedia Concern Initiative (MediaCon) for Women and ChildrenMODACMothers United and Mobilised (MUMs)More Women in PoliticsMy Voice My Future NGONasrul – Lahi-L- Faith Society (NASFAT)NAWENNEWNAWORGNigerian Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ)
National Centre for Women DevelopmentNational Council of Women Societies (NCWS)NECA’s Network of Entrepreneurial WomenNeighbourhood Care-Well FoundationNetwork of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria, NRHJNNext Initiative for Gender Actions (NIGA)NEWANGAS Women Farmers’ Cooperative SocietyNigeria Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ)Nigeria For Women ProjectNigeria Labour Congress, Women CommitteeNigerian ExpressNigerian Women Politics ForumNigerian Women Trust Fund (NTWF)Ogayem Merciful Care and Support Initiatives (OMCSI)Ogun Women AliveOkwuzi Women ForumOlive Community Development InitiativesOnomese FoundationOpen Arms Initiative for Sustainable Development (OPAISD)Osi Joe Touching Lives InitiativeOvie Brume FoundationPartners West AfricaPeasant DragnetPrincess Olufemi-KayodeProactive Gender Initiative (PGI)Project Alert on Violence Against WomenRay of Hope Community FoundationRelief Development Initiative KadunaResponsible Citizenship and Human Development InitiativeSesor Empowerment FoundationShe Forum AfricaSafe Space InitiativeSave a Child Lend a Hand FoundationSheforshe Africa InitiativeShe Mentors InitiativeShout Global HealthSmall-scale Women Farmers Organization of Nigeria (SWOFON)South- South Professional Women Association.Stand to End Rape (STER)Stephanie Peace Building Development FoundationSupport For Needy Children and Women Initiative (SUNCHI)TechHerNGTHR MediaThe Inclusion Project (TIP)The Priceless Jewels FoundationTHR Media – HERFESSIONS INITIATIVETonia Bruised but Not Broken FoundationTransformation and Development Center (TDC)Transition Monitoring GroupTunde & Friends Foundation (TAFF)UC Women CommissionUTO FoundationVision Spring Initiatives (VSI)Voice of Ogun Women (VOW)West African Network for PeaceWEWENETWORK AFRIQUEWEPDNWidows Development Organization (WIDO)Woman-Being Concern Nigeria (WBC)Women’s Leadership Group (WLG)Women &Youth Awareness Empowerment Network (WOYAEN)Women Advocacy, HIV Prevention and Other Diseases (WAHPOD)Women AT Risk International Foundation(WARIF)Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC)Women Aid Collective (WACOL)Women in MiningWomen and Youth Empowerment for Advancement and Health InitiativeWomen Youth and Children Upliftment Foundation (WYCUT)Women Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON)Women education advocacy and development Initiatives (WEADI)Women Empowerment and Initiative DevelopmentWomen Empowerment and Reproductive Health Centre (WERHC)Women Empowerment Education and Peace Building Initiative (WEPBI)Women Environmental Programme (WEP)Women Farmers Alliance (WFA)Women for Peace and Gender Equality Initiative (WOPEGEE)Women for Women International (W4WI)Women Foundation Initiative (WFI)Women Foundation of Nigeria (WFN)Women in Action for Positive Development and Gender Enhancement Center (WAPGADEC)Former Women Action Organization (WAO)Women in Africa Initiative (WIAI)Women in Agriculture (WIA)Women in Mining (WIM)Women in Politics Forum (WiPF)Women Information Network (WINET)Women Initiative for Democracy and Empowerment (WIDE)Women Law and Development Initiative (WOLDI)Women Law Development Center of Nigeria (WLDCN)Women Lead Agric (WLA)Women League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)Women of Vision Development InitiativeWomen Protection Organization (WOPO)Women Wing of The Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN)Women, Infants and Children Care Initiative (WICCI)Women, Youths and Children Advancement ProgramWomen Optimum Development Foundation-WODEFWomen Right to Education Programme (WREP)Women’s Crisis Centre OwerriWomen’s Rights and Health ProjectWomen’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP)Working Moms Africa (WMA)Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA)Women Initiative on Climate changeWomen in Politics Forum (WIPF)
Women in Management Buisness and Public Service (WIMBIZ)WISCARWomen Democracy Network Africa – NigeriaWomenPreneurs (AWEBO)Yiaga AfricaYouth Future Savers Initiative (YFSI)Zonta International Club of Lagos 150MAWSP100 Women Lobby Group (100WLG)
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