Ezekiel 37 v 7 - "So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone." King James Version

On June 14th, 2021, I had an accident with a broken ankle. I was scheduled for a major surgery called an ORIF procedure, but in one way or the other, it didn't happen and then The Spirit opened my eyes and I found Ezekiel 37 v 7.

Through the Xray, I could see that there was a dislocation and separation of bones, then I cried with intense faith in prayer, that every bone out of place should go back to it's bone, as The Word of God in Ezekiel 37 v 7 tells us. It wasn't long, I got my healing.

Ezekiel 37 v 4 - "Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord."
What is your current dry bone? Are you currently sojourning in a dry and thirsty land

• failed businesses

• hopeless situations

• affliction, sicknesses

• depression

• failed marriages

• lost hope / marriage delays

• unanswered prayers

Well I have good news for you. Our God is so so Good. See what he says he would do to your dry bones; Ezekiel 37 v 5-6

• I will cause breadth to enter into you. meaning the breadth of Life

• Ye shall live, meaning your dry bones shall be over

• And I will lay sinews upon you, meaning there will be unity

• and will bring up flesh upon you & and cover you with skin; meaning your nakedness will not appear See Revelations 3 v 18

• and put breath in you, and ye shall live; meaning it is now beyond certain that this will come to pass; when God repeats a sentence or phrase twice; it's forever settled

And then finally, ye shall know that I am the Lord.

No one takes Glory except the Lord, with you coming to realization that The Lord did this; you would Glorify Him alone. This is just God's pure nature of loving kindness.

Jeremiah 9 v 24 - "But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD."

Prayerfully raise an alter over dry lands, dry situations and unpleasant circumstances in your life and see how God swings into action through his Word to bring you into victory.

Prayers

• Every dry situation in my life (non working businesses, failed marriages), receive life today in the Name of Jesus Christ

• Father let your Word clothe me with flesh over every situation that want s to expose my nakedness in the name of Jesus.

• Every failing health in my life, receive Life in Jesus Name. Every failing organ in my body, receive Life in Jesus Name

• I shall not die but live to declare the Works of the Lord in the land of the living.

• It is written, I will cause breadth to enter into you; I decree every good thing called dead in my life, receive the breadth of God in the Name of Jesus.

• Every situation that wants to bring me shame, I bind such situations in the mighty Name of Jesus

Sehinde Afolayan, the CEO of Haul247

By Lucy Ogalue

Haul247, an end-to-end logistics tech platform connecting businesses to haulage and warehousing assets in one ecosystem, has raised 3 million dollars in a seed funding round.

Sehinde Afolayan, the CEO of Haul247, said in a statement on Tuesday that the fund would be channeled into increasing its market share in Nigeria and other African markets.

Afolayan who founded the company with Tobi Obasa, and Akindele Philips, also said that the fund would enable the company recruit talents, develop its technology and cement its position as Africas Airbnb for trucks and warehouses.

Alitheia Capital led the million seed funding round via its uMunthu Fund. Investment One also participated in the round through debt funding.

This investment follows a pre-seed funding round in 2021 by Khafid Gbadamosi and Horsham Gates.

More recently, the company was selected as one of the recipients of the 2022 Google for Startups Black Founders Fund.

Africas logistics sector continues to be hampered by a lack of supporting infrastructure, bottlenecks in service delivery, and a widespread informal approach to logistics business.

Over 80 per cent of the market is dominated by informal carriers operating with one to three vehicles, Afolayan said.

He further said that solutions to logistics in Africa that do not solve warehousing challenges would be more costly, inefficient, and risky.

We provide a unique platform for businesses to seamlessly book trucks and warehouses across multiple geo-locations in Africa, using real-time technology, with over a thousand trucks and about 151,000 sqm of warehouse space across various locations.

We founded Haul247 to address the supply-demand mismatch in the ecosystem, and this funding will enable us to optimise logistics service delivery in key African markets.

Our platform connects businesses with reliable and efficient haulage and warehousing assets, making the movement of goods across the continent easier and faster.

With the support of our investors, we will expand to new markets, recruit more talent and develop our technology to make logistics even more accessible and efficient for businesses in Africa.

Tokunboh Ishmael, Managing Partner at Alitheia Capital, said the organisation was excited to be at the forefront of optimising logistics service delivery in key African markets.

Ishmael said trade and commerce had been the key lever for driving development and would catalyse economic benefits and transformation across the continent.

Our investment further enables Haul247 to provide a seamless logistics solution for transporting and storing goods across the continent in a way that unlocks value and amplifies impact for individuals and companies throughout the value chain.

The timing of Haul247s fundraising aligns with the critical importance of logistics for the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Logistics plays a vital role in driving development, and the World Economic Forum predicts a 28 per cent increase in demand for intra-African freight by 2030. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

==========
Edited by Vivian Ihechu

Source: NAN News

By Adebola Adegoke

The Cece Yara Foundation, on Thursday, said it was equipping no fewer than 200 educators and caregivers in Kosofe Local Government in Lagos State with best practices aimed at safeguarding children from abuse.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Cece Yara Foundation was established in 2016 to prevent child sexual abuse, and provide emergency intervention for children who have experienced sexual abuse or who are at risk.

The foundation, a child-centered non-profit organisation, provides psycho-social, legal, and medical support for children through a 24-hour free child telephone helpline (0800 800 8001) and its child-friendly Child Advocacy Centres in Lagos and Abuja.

The foundations Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Detutu Ajibodu, spoke at the opening of a two-day workshop being held in collaboration with Cummins West Africa, in Lagos on Thursday.

Ajibodu explained that the foundations gesture became imperative as statistics had shown that one in four girls and one in ten boys would be abused before the age of 18.

She said the workshop would avail participants the platform to learn crucial skills, exposure to knowledge, tools, and strategies to identify as well as how to respond effectively to instances of child abuse.

She added that facilitators would use the interactive sessions to teach educators how to recognise different forms of abuse, understand warning signs, and how to implement proper reporting procedures.

By doing so, they are better equipped to create safe and nurturing learning environments for children, she said.

Ajibodu stated that child abuse was a deeply distressing issue affecting countless children worldwide, saying it was educators responsibility to be well-informed and equipped to identify and respond to any signs of abuse.

She said with proper training, educators could identify signs of abuse and how to implement appropriate interventions to break the cycle of violence and provide a secure environment for children to learn and thrive.

The workshop sessions would delve into the complexities of child abuse, providing insights into establishing supportive atmospheres within schools, promoting open dialogue, and empowering children to seek help when needed.

The story of the success of this workshop would not be complete but for the generous partnership of Cummins West Africa, a company deeply committed to corporate social responsibility.

Their support will ensure that educators and caregivers will have access to this vital training and strengthen their ability to protect childrens well-being.

The Cece Yara Foundation, renowned for its dedication to child protection and advocacy, believes that educators play a transformative role in the lives of students beyond academics, she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Salif Atojoko

Source: NAN News

L-R: Mrs Vivian Ihekweazu, Managing Director, Nigeria Health Watch; Mr Mufutau Ojo, Director, Special Duties, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN); Mr Buki Ponle, Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and Mr Ismail Abdulaziz, Deputy-Editor-In-Chief, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), at a project closeout event organised in Abuja, by the Nigeria Health Watch

By Abujah Racheal

The Managing Director, Nigeria Health Watch, Mrs Vivian Ihekweazu, has said that Solution Journalism is a key instrument in changing the narrative of how news is reported in the country.

Ihekweazu said this on Thursday in Abuja at the organisations project closeout event to share the impact of the work and celebrate organisations, newsrooms, and individuals that made the project successful in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that in 2021, Nigeria Health Watch officially commenced the implementation of the Nigeria edition of the Solutions Journalism Africa Initiative project supported by Solutions Journalism Network (SJN), USA, and overseen by Africa Initiative.

The three-year journey has been fulfilling and purposeful, according to the organisers.

She said that evidence had shown that consumers of news tend to switch off when the news reporting is focused on problems.

Solutions journalism, rigorous reporting about how people respond to social problems tells the whole story as it discusses the problem and response to problems.

The collaboration between Nigeria Health Watch and the Solutions Journalism Africa Initiative (SJAI) is the generous support of Solutions Journalism Network, she said.

She said that the project had trained and supported newsrooms and journalists, enabling them to produce impactful stories that inspire change and offer hope to our communities.

Through newsrooms, we have trained and through higher institutions, with universities now including in curriculum solutions-oriented reporting so that future journalists are able to report solutions to issues faced in Nigeria and not just leaving it to the usual way we see the news as negative.

We have collaborated with 30 media organisations, forming three cohorts of newsrooms and engaging a total of 90 journalists.

We have had over 250 solutions stories published, with over 100 of them indexed. while this is commendable, we will continue to focus on the impact made, she said.

According to Mr Buki Ponle, Managing Director, NAN, Whatever we do as journalists, conscience matters.

As you tell stories, ensure your writing touches humanity and promotes the public interest.

Speaking on the importance of balancing stories as journalists, Ponle said that there was always a positive aspect of every negative situation.

Ponle commended the Nigerian Health Watch for the initiative and urged journalists to always look for the positive side of every situation.

We should think of making heroes and heroines, he advised.

He said that the relevance of journalists in community service was a crucial strategy for advocating for development through factual and resourceful stories.

As a journalist, it is important to always stand by communities, he said.

Ms Ruona Meyer, Manager, Africa Initiative, SJAI, said that stories that inspired policy reform in the country had been produced through the solutions journalism initiative.

Meyer said that the initiative was bringing about a change in the media reporting approach in the country.

She said that the incredible stories the project produced while implementing it were now being used to train colleagues in journalism, which was a key achievement.

She said that solutions Journalism added more value to news reporting in the country.

Journalists and media practitioners agree that consumers are becoming more discerning about the kind of news they read.

The current generation of readers has been noted to stay away from news that amplifies problems, seeking solutions journalism stories to uplift and inspire change, she said.

She urged journalists to continue to use their platforms to make good impact in the country.

Mr Chibuike Alagboso, Senior Programme Manager, Nigeria Health Watch, while presenting what Solutions Journalism Africa Initiative had been able to impact, said in spite numerous social problems, things were still working in Nigeria.

Alagboso said that solutions journalism was interested in encouraging journalists to expend more energy pushing solutions rather than dwelling on problems.

To drive the project initiative, we had newsroom and fellowship engagements, which involved field trips into areas where there were established problems in a bid to find how people are responding to the problems and what can be learnt from their experience.

This project has made us understand that there are people responding to social problems. Lets continue to find them and tell their stories so that others can learn, he said.

Speaking on the Future of Impactful Journalism: The Roles of Solutions Journalism, Mr Adedeji Adekule, Programme Director, Nigeria Media Innovative Programme, said that the Nigerian media horizon was growing and seemed to be undergoing restructuring with different media springing up.

Adekule said that the currency of a media organisation was its audience.

Solution stories add more value and increase engagement.

As a journalist, you should not be one-dimensional, your stories must be well-balanced, and Solutions journalism is a good way to start, he said.

Mr Ismail Abdulaziz, Deputy-Editor-In-Chief, NAN, said during a panel session that solutions journalism pioneered extensive story writing with the introduction of its four pillars.

Abdulaziz said that the solutions highlighted in any story usually came with a sense of satisfaction as a journalist.

This is helping to address the predominant trend of problem-focused reporting that is contributing to news avoidance by the audience.

NAN recalled that the event featured conversations with leaders and the journalists who participated in the project.

The official reports and story dashboard featuring the project story outputs were also launched during the event and featured an exhibition of the stories.

The event provided an informal platform for participants to engage, network and share ideas around propagating solutions journalism across Nigeria. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

==========
Edited by Vincent Obi

Source: NAN News

Dignitaries at the unveiling of a baseline data book (Nigeria in Figures) to aid Nigerias planning process

By Rukayat Moisemhe

Chief Economist, Analysts Data Services and Resources (ADSR), Dr Afolabi Olowookere, has unveiled a baseline data book (Nigeria in Figures) to aid Nigerias planning process and drive socioeconomic growth and development.

Olowookere, during the book launch on Thursday in Lagos, said Nigeria in Figures was presented as a reference data book to guide the measurement and assessment of Nigerias socioeconomic performance over time.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the event was, Nigerias Socio-Economic Performance since 1999: Lessons for New Policymakers.

According to the economist, the book provides evidence-based inputs into the discussions, analysis and planning by policymakers, researchers, businesses and other key stakeholders in the country.

He stated that the data book specifically showed the countrys relative performance against selected comparator countries providing detailed sources and description of relevant data.

Olowookere described the data book as a must have for the new government, particularly as the availability of these baseline data would afford Nigeria the opportunity to benchmark itself among top global countries.

The Nigerian economy is changing and we have a new government that would need the data that scores performance of democracy from 1999 till date to aid its policy planning processes.

This book presents in a comprehensive manner data at national, regional and state levels and describes the development, challenges and policies of different sectors.

More often than not, Nigerians complain about the unavailability of data but we have lots of data in different sources such as libraries, bookshelves of many professors among other places, said Olowookere.

He said he had put together all the data from different places, across different sectors in a single and simple source called Nigeria in Figures (A socioeconomic data book) even though his goal was to have the largest database in Africa.

The data was collated across different key sectors of the economy and has compared the data from 1999 till date to provide background information aimed at driving socioeconomic growth and development.

Alongside the data presentation, economic policies, trends, and development across different sectors of the economy are collated into a single source for easy access to provide insights for policymakers, he said.

In her remarks, Mrs Toyin Sanni, Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Emerging Africa Group, stated that access to such data would help align policies and initiatives that would aid private sector development.

According to Sanni, the private sector, though very dynamic and entrepreneurial, has been crippled by unfavourable policies and environment, which does not give room from planning.

She stressed that henceforth, the private sector should be brought in during policy creation, infrastructural development discussion, among others, for improved economic growth and development.

Policy environment needs to change, infrastructure needs to be tackled and we need to know the initiatives that would ameliorate the impact of subsidy removal on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).

I am looking forward to some of these savings directed to stimulate MSME growth, healthcare, education, and security not just doling out cash to anybody, she said.

Dr Chukwuka Onyekwena, Executive Director, Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa(CSEA), emphasised the need to mobilise resources towards education, agriculture and health sectors to promote socioeconomic stability.

He said for Nigeria to fulfil its socioeconomic objectives by 2050, the human capital must be developed by investing in sectors that directly impacted their development.

This can be achieved by freeing up resources spent on things that are not urgent and channel same to those that impact the citizens directly.

I suggest there should be expansion of vocational training and Nigeria must develop rural areas via rural infrastructure and ensure agricultural intervention programmes to drive economic growth and development, he said.

Dr Suleyman Ndanusa, CEO, Global Mandate Consulting, said the data book was a massive and excellent undertaking by the author who has succeeded in creating a data encyclopedia on Nigeria.

He, however, emphasised the need for government to embrace measures that would help earn the trust and build the confidence of Nigerians in its abilities.

He noted that citizens needed to have confidence in the government to do what was fair and right and that trust was essential in a free and democratic environment.

People are not willing to trust government, and when citizens lack trust, they are less likely to comply with laws and regulations.

The challenges a country would face when they are building trust include people saying things that foster disunity along religious and tribal sentiments causing insecurity.

Government needs to fulfil socioeconomic promises to build the trust of the citizens and the top priority area for the new government is good governance and discipline to perform its social contract, he said.

Prof Olu Ajakaiye, Executive Chairman, African Centre for Shared Development Capacity Building, said Nigeria in Figures offered comprehensive coverage of the key social and economic development indicators.

He stated that it would be particularly useful for policymakers at all levels of government. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

================
Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Salif Atojoko

Source: NAN News

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu

By Florence Onuegbu

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Thursday approved the appointment of Mrs Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

The Head of Service, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola, said in a statement that Gov. Sanwo-Olu also approved the re-appointment of Mr Tayo Ayinde as the Chief of Staff (CoS) and Mr Gboyega Shoyanwo as the Deputy Chief of Staff.

Muri-Okunola said that Salu-Hundeyin, an erudite, experienced barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, had over three decades experience at the Bar.

According to him, she is an astute business, human and economic resources manager who has great passion for excellence.

Before her present appointment, Barr. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin was a Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission (NPC), a position in which she had served since November 2020, he said.

The Head of Service said that both Ayinde and Soyannwo were being re-appointed as Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff respectively, having served Gov. Sanwo-Olus administration with diligence and great commitment during the first term, from May 2019 to May 2023.

He expressed optimism that the knowledge, experience and capacity of the appointees would put them in good stead to serve diligently.

Muri-Okunola congratulated and urged them to continue the delivery of selfless, effective and efficient service to the people of Lagos State.

These are the first set of appointments made by Mr Governor during his second term in Office. The appointments take effect from Thursday, June 8, 2023, he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

==========
Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

Source: NAN News

By Deborah Coker

The management of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Uhogua, near Benin, has appealed for sponsorship from well-meaning Nigerians to help some IDPs achieve their educational dreams.

Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, Coordinator of the camp, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Folorunsho said that the appeal became necessary, following the large number of IDPs in tertiary institutions, currently sponsored by the camp management.

He explained that the IDPs were in various stages of their primary and secondary educations before insecurity forced them out of their ancestral homes and they sought refuge in the camp.

He said that in view of this, the camp could not just fold its hands and allow their educational dreams and ambition to die.

We know the value of education, and we saw how traumatized they were when they got here.

Several of them felt that all hope was lost, but then we realised that more than 90 per cent of them were students in various stages of primary and secondary schools.

So, to rekindle their hope, give them a sense of belonging and ensure that they are useful to themselves and the society in future, we decided they must continue with their educational dreams and pursuit even while here.

And, this is because, we know that the importance of education cannot be over-emphasised, and to the glory of God, they have been doing us very proud in the various external examinations they take, he said.

Folorunsho disclosed that 148 IDPs in the camp sat for the recently-concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

He said that of the figure, two scored above 300, while 22 scored between 287 and 250, and 54 between 248 and 200.

He added that while others scored between 199 and 159, four, however, didnt get their results.

According to him, you can see why we are appealing for sponsorship for some of our IDPs. This is a large number, even though we know that not all of them will get admission to tertiary institutions.

Already, we have 158 in various tertiary institutions, and when some of these ones are admitted, the number will further increase, yet we are resolute to ensure that they achieve their educational dreams.

That is why we are appealing to well-meaning Nigerians, corporate organisations like MTN, Guinness Nigeria, Coca Cola, the Elumelu Foundation, the TY Danjuma Foundation, and Multinational Companies to help us give these IDPs a place of pride through education, Folorunsho pleaded. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

===============
Edited by Vincent Obi

Source: NAN News

Gov. Godwin Obaseki

By Nefishetu Yakubu

Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo on Tuesday reduced the number of work days that civil and public servants would have to commute to their workplaces from five days to three days a week, amongst other measures.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Benin, Obaseki said the measure was part of efforts to ameliorate the sufferings currently faced by the people in the wake of the rise in prices of goods and services occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal.

In the wake of fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government, fuel prices have increased astronomically, leading to rise in prices of goods and services and overall cost of living.

The Edo State Government shares the pains of our people and wants to assure everyone that we are standing with them in these very challenging times.

We want to reassure our people that we will do all within our powers as a sub-national government to reduce the pains and ameliorate the sufferings our people are currently facing due to the current realities.

As a proactive government, we have since taken the step to increase the minimum wage paid to workers in Edo State from the approved N30,000 to N40,000.

We hope to increase it even further, if more allocation accrues to our state from the Federal Government in view of the expected savings from the removal of the fuel subsidy, the governor said.

According to him, we know the hardship that has been caused by this policy which has increased the cost of transportation, eating deep into the wages of workers in the state.

Therefore, the Edo State Government is hereby reducing the number of work days that civil and public servants will have to commute to their workplaces from five days to three days a week till further notice.

Workers will now work from home two days every week.

Similarly, for teachers and parents, their commuting to school will be reduced as government is working on deepening the initiative.

To create more virtual classrooms, thereby, reducing the cost of commuting on parents, teachers and pupils.

The Edo SUBEB will provide details on this initiative in the coming days, Obaseki said.

He said that to lower the rising cost of energy on the people, the state government would continue to work with the electricity companies in the state to improve power supply to homes and businesses.

Similarly, fiber optics connections are being made available to help our people work remotely, thereby reducing their cost of transportation, he said.

Obaseki called on all to remain calm and go about their daily businesses lawfully while government intensified effort to alleviate the burden of fuel price. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

===========
Edited by Adeleye Ajayi

Source: NAN News

A participant making a comment during a training of secondary school staff members from Kaduna North Senatorial District on School Related Gender-Based Violence Safeguarding in Zaria

By Philip Yatai

The World Bank-supported Kaduna State Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project is training 30,000 academic and non-academic staff of secondary schools on School Related Gender-Based Violence (SRGBV) Safeguarding.

The AGILE GBV Officer, Hajiya Aisha Mohammed stated this in Zaria on Tuesday, during the training of 1,663 secondary school staff members from Kaduna North Senatorial District on SRGBV safeguarding.

Mohammed identified the staff as principals of government secondary school, Grievance Redress Mechanism Officials and Guidance and Counselling Officers.

She said that 300 staff members within the Kaduna Central Senatorial Zone have been trained, adding that others within Kaduna South Senatorial Zone would also be trained until the 30,000 staff were covered.

This, according to her, is part of efforts by the AGILE project to ensure SRGBV prevention and mitigation such that all adolescent girls in the state would be able to attend secondary schools safely.

She explained that the training was critical following the significant infrastructural investments and upgrades being undertaken by the Kaduna AGILE project in 550 secondary schools, with an accompanying increase in the number of workers.

The GBV officer explained that AGILEs objective is to improve secondary education opportunities among adolescent girls by addressing constraints that limit adolescent girls ability to complete secondary school.

Speaking on the states SRGBV Safeguarding Code of Conduct (CoC), Hajiya Zainab Maina-Lukat, the projects Technical Assistant on System Strengthening, said that each of the 30,000 staff would sign the CoC.

Maina-Lukat reiterated that in all, the CoC has 15 commitments to which all staff and site workers would be expected to adhere to as part of effort to prevent SRGBV in schools.

She explained that the CoC was based on the Kaduna States Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, Child Welfare and Protection Law, GBV prevention policies as well as the States and National Teachers Policies.

She disclosed that among the CoCs commitments, staff and site workers were required to refrain from any form of sexual exploitation and abuse, inappropriate sexual behaviour or act(s) toward students or staff.

The technical assistant also said that the CoC also prohibits the use of sexually suggestive language and inappropriate physical contact with students, including beating of any student.

The SRGBV training and CoC is an excellent example of a collective process and action of deepening safeguarding measures within education sector agencies.

The agencies include the Teachers Service Board, State Universal Basic Education Board, and the Kaduna State Quality Assurance Authority.

Other agencies include the Ministry of Human Services and Social Development, Ministry for Justice, and Ministry for Health as well as the Partnership for Education for All in Nigeria programme, she said.

Mr Joseph Damola, one of the facilitators at the training, noted that access to justice plays an important role in the fight to end GBV in schools and communities.

It is important to have a well-coordinated and integrated justice response system. This will enhance the conviction of perpetrators and contribute to safety and well-being of survivors, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the UN said GBV is the most pervasive yet least visible human rights violation in the world.

It includes physical, sexual, mental, or economic harm inflicted on a person because of socially ascribed power imbalances between males and females.

It also includes the threat of violence, coercion, and deprivation of liberty, whether in public or private. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

===========
Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

Cross section of dignitaries with Hon. Alli Goni Gujba, Board Member, ICPC. who represented of ICPC Chairman at t the maiden edition of the Commissions inter-schools debate for tertiary institutions in the FCT and Nasarawa State.

Corruption is a dream killer, ICPC boss tells youths

Corruption

By Isaac Aregbesola

Abuja, June 7, 2023 (NAN) The Chairman, Independent and Corrupt Practices and Other related Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, has described corruption as a dream killer that must be fought to a standstill by the youth.

The Chairman, represented by Alhaji Alli Goni Gujba, Board Member, ICPC, said this on Wednesday in Abuja, at the maiden edition of the Commissions inter-schools debate for tertiary institutions in the FCT and Nasarawa State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the institutions participated in the debate included Veritas University, Baze University, Bingham University, University of Abuja, Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa and College of Education, Zuba

The ICPC boss described the youth as the leaders of tomorrow, who needed to fight corruption with great rigour for them to achieve the desired goal.

He said that, for this to effectively happen, both the older generation and the youth themselves must take steps to provide an enabling environment, both physically and intellectually, to encourage this progressive ideal.

You must realise that corruption is a dream killer and if you do not fight it to a standstill at your level, it will kill your future dreams.

Corruption is often erroneously viewed as an adult problem, yet the seeds of this societal virus are planted in the early stages of a persons life.

One of the holy books admonishes us to train a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he shall not depart from it.

I therefore urge you to determine in your heart that you will not give the evil seeds of corruption and value degeneration a conducive environment to germinate.

He said that the youth had the capacity to shape the future of the country with determination by deliberately shunning corrupt practices.

According to him, it is indeed a truism that no nation can grow and develop faster than its level and standards of education.

Owasanoye noted that the deficiencies of the society were magnified by the fact that the youth are starved of the appropriate ethical and cultural values necessary to become model citizens.

He urged the youth to take the advantage of the debate platform to reshape the society

This inter-schools debate is one of the several platforms ICPC created to encourage capacity building, ethical re-orientation, behavioural change and positive value rejuvenation, especially amongst the youth, he said.

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, charged the youth to contribute their quota towards a Nigeria free of economic and financial crimes, urging them to Do the Right Thing Always.

Bawa, represented by Chidimma Amanambu, Assistant Commander, EFCC, Head Media Academy, Karu, charged them to contribute their quota towards a Nigeria free of economic and financial crimes..

The youths are the future of our country and any opportunity to engage their minds in activities that will be beneficial to nation building is a welcome one, Bawa said.

He expressed concern over the prevalence of cyber crimes among students of tertiary institutions, adding that this is an illegal activity and not a good narrative as it affects the image of our country.

He urged the youth, especially students, to shun the act and use the advantages provided for them by the institution of learning positively

Institutions of learning are the fertile ground where students nurture and imbibe the virtues of integrity, honesty, punctuality and decency as future leaders, he said.

Paulinus Okwelle, Executive Secretary, National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), in his remarks, called for concerted effort to build a culture of integrity and rid the education system of corruption.

Okwelle, was represented by Bello Abdullahi Esq, Deputy Director, Legal Services, Information and Corporate Service Department.

We commend you for your efforts to tackle corruption in our educational institutions. By addressing this topic, you have demonstrated a deep understanding of the challenges we face and the critical need for change.

Tertiary institutions are important in shaping the future of our country. They should be indicators of knowledge, innovation and integrity, but corruption threatens to undermine the foundations on which these institutions are built, he said.

Deputy Programme Director, Step Up Nigeria, Feranmi Iyanda, said that the event was a testament to the unwavering commitment of the youth to create a better and corruption-free future for Nigeria.

Iyanda urged the students to have the responsibility to champion anti-corruption efforts, not only within their educational institutions but also in all facets of our society.

I believe wholeheartedly in the power of our youth to shape the future of our nation, and this is what drives the work we do at Step Up Nigeria.

Your passion, energy and innovative ideas hold the key to transforming our society into one that is characterized by integrity, transparency, and good governance. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

=========

Edited by Vincent Obi

Source: NAN News