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Beni Lar

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Beni Lar
House of Representatives Member for Langtang North, Langtang South Federal Constituency of Plateau State
Personal details
BornAugust 12, 1967
NationalityNigerian
Political partyPeople's Democratic Party (PDP)
Parent(s)Solomon Lar and Prof. Mary Lar
OccupationPolitician

Beni Lar born (August 12, 1967) is a politician of the People's Democratic Party from Plateau State, Nigeria. She is a member of the Nigeria Federal House of Representatives from Langtang North, Langtang South federal Constituency of Plateau State.[1] She was first elected to the house in 2007 and in 2019, she was re-elected to a fourth term in the house.[2]

Biography and career

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She is the eldest daughter of Solomon Lar, a former Governor of Plateau State and Prof. Mary Lar. She says,

“My father taught me that there is no difference between a male and a female (child). He taught me to be hard-working; so, I trained as a lawyer just like him."[3]

She has "Urged Nigerians not to forget her father's legacy of unity, peace and love, adding, "This is what we need to promote this nation."[4]

In 2007, she was elected to the House of Representatives.[5] In 2008, she served as the House of Representatives Chair on Women's affairs.[6] As of July 2014, she represents the Langtang North and South constituency. She serves as Chairperson of the House of Representatives' Committee on Human Rights.[7][8]

She has supported emergency funding for the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP),[9] increased penalties for child abuse[10] and the creation of a National Child Protection and Enforcement Agency.[11] In 2010, she participated in The GlobalPOWER® Women Network in Africa: Women Parliamentarians and Ministers United Against HIV/AIDS.[12] She was one of only 11 women elected in 2007 who were re-elected in 2011 when the lower house was nearly 95% male,[13] other women elected included Mulikat Adeola-Akande, Abike Dabiri, Nkiru Onyeagocha, Uche Ekwunife, Nnena Elendu-Ukeje, Olajumoke Okoya-Thomas, Juliet Akano, Khadija Bukar Abba-Ibrahim, Elizabeth Ogbaga and Peace Uzoamaka Nnaji.[14]

After 2013 attacks by herdsmen in Langtang South left seventy people dead, she urged the Nigerian Federal government to improve the conditions of local roads, so as to make it possible for security forces to arrive in a timely manner.[15] She has also called for the creation of grazing reserves for Fulani herdsmen, saying:

“All who eat meat should be considerate enough to let go of their land for the source of the meat. Nigeria is blessed with enough land for everybody, and Nigerians should be gracious enough to recognize that the meat that the herdsman provides is for the community."

In May 2014, she led a group of protesters from Nigerians United Against Terrorism, wearing T-shirts "with the inscription "#ReleaseOurGirls.", showing solidarity with the Nigerian military in its efforts rescue the victims of the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping.[16] One news source reports that some rally attendees received government funding.[17][18]

Lar has been used as an example for strong women in government, although some argue that it was because of her privilege as her father's heir that granted her this power.[19] She has advocated for women participation in government and is part of a new trend of more women in government than ever before following Nigeria's independence in 1914.[20]

She has advocated for women's rights such as age of women to marry, abortion rights, and had a hand in the bills: The abolition of all forms of discrimination against women in Nigeria and other matters bill, and the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill.[21]

In 2017, Hon. Beni Lar spoke as the House Chair for the Science and Technology Committee and urged for the advancement of sustainable, reliable power for Nigeria.[22] She also has advocated for the option for students to choose what kind of religion they would like to learn about in school, rather than having a predetermined requirement. She presented this to the House and it was passed in part because of her point that because Nigeria is a secular state, religion and national values should be separated.[23]

In 2019, Lar ran for the House re-election and won.[24]

Quote

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“We must say things that will cause the country to grow.”[25]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Lawmaker wants more funds for science and technology". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Beni Lar Returns to Reps in a Landslide". The Lagosian Magazine Online. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  3. ^ "The pillar of my life is gone, says Beni Lar". Vanguard News. 16 October 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  4. ^ "Eight Months Later, Mrs Jonathan Promises To Stand By Lar's Widow". Information Nigeria. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  5. ^ "Nigerian Women who will shape Seventh National Assembly". Nigeria Daily News. 6 July 2011. Archived from the original on 29 March 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  6. ^ Godwin, Ihemeje (August 2013). "The need for participation of women in local governance: A Nigerian Discourse" (PDF). International Journal of Educational Administration and Policy Studies. 5 (4): 59–66.
  7. ^ Hamza Idris; Yahaya Ibrahim (15 July 2014). "Nigeria: 38 Killed As Boko Haram Attacks Borno Village". Daily Trust – AllAfrica. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  8. ^ Murdock, Heather (28 April 2014). "Abuja Blast Impacts Lives, Livelihoods". Voice of America. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  9. ^ "House committee seeks emergency funds for NAPTIP". P.M. NEWS Nigeria. 11 May 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  10. ^ "House C'ttee on Health calls for amendment of law on child abuse". Radio Nigeria: News. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  11. ^ "Establish Child Protection, Enforcement agency- Lar – Vanguard News". Vanguard News. 18 May 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  12. ^ "The GlobalPOWER® Women Network in Africa: Women Parliamentarians and Ministers United Against HIV/AIDS". Center for Women Policy Studies. 3 November 2010. Archived from the original on 18 July 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  13. ^ "22 years after, women still poorly represented in Nigerian parliament". Daily Trust Nigeria. 19 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Women who will shape Seventh National Assembly". Vanguard News. 6 June 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  15. ^ Uzondu, James. "Another Crimson River on the Plateau". Nigeria News World Magazine. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  16. ^ Isiaka Wakili (27 May 2014). "Nigeria: We Know Girls' Location, Says Defence Chief". Daily Trust - allAfrica.com. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  17. ^ "Photonews: Fake #BringBackOurGirls Protesters Surface In Abuja". Sahara Reporters. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  18. ^ "Corruption stalls Nigeria's war against B'Haram – US". 23 May 2014. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  19. ^ "ODL, An Imperative to Women's Educational Status and National Development: A Study of Bende Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria" (PDF).
  20. ^ "Institutionalization of Fund and Women Participation in Politics in Yenagoa". KORI. 25 October 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  21. ^ Para-Mallam, Oluwafunmilayo J. [birmingham.ac.uk "The Role of Religion in Women's Movements: The Campaign for the Domestication of the CEDAW in Nigeria"]. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  22. ^ Oak TV, 'Nigeria power sector defies improvement' ― Hon. Beni Lar, retrieved 6 December 2018
  23. ^ Polycarp, Nwafor (12 July 2017). "School curriculum: Why Reps returned CRK as independent subject". Vanguard News. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  24. ^ "Beni Lar Wins Langtang North Reps' Seat In Plateau | Independent Newspapers Nigeria". www.independent.ng. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  25. ^ "Democracy Day: No reason to celebrate – Gbajabiamila … We have a lot to celebrate – Beni Lar". The Nigerian Times. 30 May 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
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