The appointment was conveyed in a letter addressed to Bello, signed by the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Tinubu, in the letter dated Aug. 8, stressed that Bello who was an aspirant in the partys presidential primaries held in June, deserved the appointment owing to his impressive political achievements and the exemplary leadership he had demonstrated as governor of his state and as a party member.

The former governor of Lagos state added that he was confident that the Kogi governor would do his best in the new responsibility given him so that the party could run an effective, message-driven campaign, which would lead to victory in the 2023 presidential election.

Recall that multitudes of youths and women across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria, had, during the build-up to the APC presidential primary election, demonstrated their strong support for the Kogi governor, owing to his youth- and women-friendly policies.

Party members and analysts described the appointment as a big boost for the campaign, considering the important place of youths in the 2023 elections and the impressive youth-targeted campaigns Bello conducted before the primary election.

The letter, titled, Appointment as National Youth Coordinator for Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, read in part: By way of this letter, we are pleased to formally convey your appointment as National Youth Coordinator of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council.

This appointment is fitting and appropriate, given your impressive political achievements and the exemplary leadership you have demonstrated as governor of your state and as a party member.

We are grateful that you have joined our campaign team. We know you will do your utmost in this new responsibility so we conduct an effective, message -driven campaign leading us to victory in the 2023 presidential election.

Together, not only can we ensure victory for our party in the February 2023 election but we shall also move Nigeria along the path of national greatness, Tinubu said.

This, he added, would be achieved by building on the achievements of the President Muhammadu Buhari -APC administration in providing progressive good governance to Nigerians.

He congratulated Bello and wished him Gods speed and guidance.

Congratulations. Please, accept the assurances of our highest respect and regards always, Tinubu added.

In his acceptance letter, Bello pledged to deploy all in his capacity, working alongside the presidential candidate, to ensure victory for the APC in the 2023 general elections.

Tinubu is one great Nigerian , who not only exemplifies but abundantly demonstrates through transformational leadership and good governance, my own aspirations for a Nigeria that is secure, united and prosperous, he stated.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Deborah Coker
No fewer than 10 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the IDP camp in Uhogua, near Benin, have graduated from various tertiary institutions across the country.

The Coordinator of the camp, Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, disclosed this on Sunday, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Folorunsho explained that the figure represents eight of the IDPs who have completed their courses of studies and graduated earlier and two who recently graduated from the Edo University, Uzairue.

According to him, so far 10 of our IDPs have graduated from various tertiary institutions since the inception of the camp about nine years ago.

Giving a breakdown of the figure, he said two of the graduands graduated with a B.Sc in Nursing/Midwifery from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and the Edo University, Uzairue, respectively.

He added that one other graduated with a B.Sc in Pharmacy, from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and another with an M.Sc in Anatomy from the same institution.

We also have one who graduated with a B.Sc in Microbiology from the University of Maiduguri, another one with a B.Sc Agricultural Science from the same institution and yet another with a B.Sc Health Education from the same school.

Then we have one graduate each with Higher National Diploma (HND) in Accounting from the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, HND, Mass Communication, Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Adamawa state and B.A, History and International Studies, Edo University, Uzairue.

He disclosed that presently there were about 158 of the IDPs in various institutions of higher learning across the country, with about 53 of them from the North East.

He however added that of the total number of the IDPs in tertiary institutions, 10were in their final year.

The Coordinator also disclosed that no fewer than 200 of the IDPs would have gained admission for the next academic session if not for the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

He added that in spite of the daunting challenge in footing the education bills of the IDPs, the management of the camp was resolute in ensuring that the dreams of the IDPs with regards to education was not aborted.

I can assure you that in few years from now we will have several medical doctors, engineers and accountants, from this camp.

We are not talking about 30 or 40, but several. That is why in spite of the challenges of footing their educational bills, we are trying our best.

And we are appealing to the elite and wealthy Nigerians out there to assist us to better the lives of these ones, Folorunsho said.

Meanwhile some of the graduated IDPs who spoke with NAN via telephone said their motivation to pursue their educational dream was because of their love for education.

Yahaya Gulla told NAN he graduated with a second class upper division in Nursing/Midwifery from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.

Gulla said he newly got admission to the university when the crisis of Boko Haram insurgency started, and he was displaced as his family members were killed.

But today Im a graduate, all thanks to the management of the IDP camp in Uhogua, Edo.

However, I was motivated to study the course I studied, because when I was fleeing to Edo, I saw how people were injured and were bleeding during the insurgency attacks.

Many would have survived if there were to be any medical attention, but because there were not, many died, he said.

Similarly, Christiana Jame, a graduate of the University of Maiduguri from the department of Health Education, said her motivation in continuing her education in spite of the challenges of insecurity was her love for education.

She also said that encouragement and support from the management of the IDP camp in Uhogua, helped her achieved her dream in education. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
DCO/ISMA

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Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

A former member of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ahmed Wadada, has called on the indigenes and residents of Keffi Local Government in Nasarawa State to contribute towards improving the economic development of the area.

Wadada, who holds the traditional title of Sarkin Yakin Keffi, made the call at the commissioning of Keffi Emirate Council Investment Committees Groundnut Milling Machine, on Sunday in Keffi.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event also featured the inauguration of Keffi Emirate Council Investment Committees Cooperative Groups.

The former lawmaker said that it was the responsibility of every resident of Keffi to strive to give back to the society in order to enhance the living condition of the less privileged and vulnerable groups in the area.

I will want to leverage on this medium to call on each and every indigene and residents of Keffi Local Government Area to look much more inwards to see what he or she is in a position to do to better the livelihood of people of the area.

Because a people without economic strength or advantage are inactive people. Of course, Keffi even before now had not been a left back community in every facet of human endeavour.

But this is to rejuvenate the old spirit of Keffi and I pray Allah continue to guide, bless and protect all our efforts, he said.

Wadada, who is the Senatorial Candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP) for Nasarawa West Senatorial District, described the inauguration of the Groundnut Milling Machine as an occasion of fulfilment, joy, gratitude, pride and challenge.

For Keffi Emirate Council Investment Committee to achieve this under its Sub-Committee on Women Empowerment is quite fulfilling, encouraging, gratifying and challenging.

Challenging so that we all do more than what we have just done so that the mileage will be longer or higher than what it is now, Wadada said.

Earlier, Mrs Ramatu Sani, the Chairperson, Sub-Committee on Weaving and Groundnut Oil Processing, said the inauguration of the Groundnut Milling Machine was a result of communal efforts by the sons and daughters of Keffi.

Sani revealed that the subcommittee spent over N3.5 million to procure the groundnut oil extracting machine, adding that the committee intended to provide additional two machines for two different locations on Keffi.

She also discloed that so far the subcommittee had trained over 90 indigent women on different skills aimed at empowering them to be self-reliant in the society.

The Emir of Keffi, Dr Shehu Muhammadu Chindo Yamusa III, constituted the committee to see to the revival of the old lost trade and economic activities of this town and to the glory of God, all of us the indigenes of Keffi contributed money to put this together.

We plan to reach out to more people to sell this product and I am sure it will go a long way in eradicating poverty among women who are the target beneficiaries.

We feel strongly that if women are empowered, the society will be better for it and they will be able to look after their children and even help their husbands. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Grace Yussuf

Source: NAN News

By Lydia Ngwakwe

Mr Muyiwa Akinyemi, the Deputy Managing Director, United Bank for Africa Plc, has advised the Federal Government to take advantage of the opportunities in the creative industry for sustainable export earnings.

Akinyemi gave the advice at the annual conference of the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) with the theme: Boosting Domestic Capacity for Sustainable Export Earnings, in Lagos.

He said that the countrys creative industry was the second biggest growing industry in the world spurred by the emerging digital trends in technology.

Historically, some of us grew up in Nigeria with the groundnut pyramids in Kano, cocoa house in Ibadan and a few other places like that, but over time, when we discovered the black gold, we abandoned those our primary commodities.

And what I see happening now is that we are moving to the third revolution of exports, japa syndrome. So, that is knowledge export that is happening right now and not only is it happening in that space, you also have a technology revolution as well.

Innovation Hub in Yaba portends a large pool of intelligent guys building things in the Fintech and technology world that is not even recognised; but its a huge potential full of export business. We are in that technology space wherein Nigeria needs to take advantage of it, he said.

Akinyemi noted that 200 exporters were responsible for 95 per cent of the .2 billion the country earned from non-oil export in 2021.

The .2 billion achieved in 2021 did not include informal exports largely in the wholesale trading in some sectors such as information technology, entertainment and solid minerals, he said.

Akinyemi urged the government to also talk about the creative industry the same way it was speaking about export, commodities and crude oil.

He said, most countries you go to in Africa today or globally, when you talk about Nollywood, its second biggest industry. Music- Wizkid, D banj, Burna boy, all huge export earnings that we have not taken advantage of.

The knowledge and the creative skills is the third wave of export business we are seeing in Nigeria today. How are we supporting those young stars?

It is not just to talk about them on Facebook or Instagram, its about how do we harness those capacity and build it to an industry that will generate massive earnings for us.

Akinyemi commended NEXIM, NEPC for what they were doing as well as incentives given by the Central Bank of Nigeria and rebate scheme launched to boost export earnings.

He, however, said that should be done from the fiscal perspective for economic growth and development.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Source: NAN News

Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali

Source: NAN News

By Franca N Ofili

The World Health Organisation (WHO) in Abuja on Saturday organised an awareness campaign walk to raise consciousness on medication-related errors and unsafe practices.

Mrs Ade-bimpe Adebiyi, Director of Hospital Services, Ministry of Health, who represented the Minister of Health,Dr Osagie Ehanire, said that the walk was organised to sensitise the public on the dangers ofmedication errors and unsafe practices.

Ehanire cautioned Nigerians against self-medications, adding, such acts can causeincorrect self-diagnosis and delays in seeking medical advice when needed.

In the same vein, there are usually severe adverse reactions as well as dangerous drug interactions, among other effects.

Ehanire said that the country has regulatory bodies that handle issues of malpractice on health matters.

According to him, any case that was reported to the agencies would be sanctioned according to the law.

We are using this walk to sensitise the entire populace, that it is not enough for one to have headache and go to buy paracetamol from the pharmacy.

The person needs to visit the hospital to see a qualified doctor that will examine him and prescribe the right drugs, he said.

Mr Edi Idem, Patients Safety Ambassador, Patient Safety Movement Foundation said that the it was currently drafting the policy on patients safety for Nigeria and worldwide.

Idem said that the issue of medication error had taken centre stage, particularly as the year focused on medication.

According to him, in a country like Nigeria where people can buy over the counter drugs, such obnoxious habit must be discouraged.

We need to educate Nigerians on the dangers inherent in this kind of practice.

You need to know the drugs you are consuming, the consequences of these drugs.

We need to empower patients, individual families, so that they can ask the right questions.

So, today WHO wants to raise awareness globally, not only in our country, but across the world, Idem said.

According to him, the Bill of Rights for question was one thing, but a policy was needed to drive the action of regulators, government, individuals and stakeholders.

Idem said, WHO would participate to ensure that for every medication that one takes, anywhere in this country, there are rules or regulations guiding it.

The bill emphasises on the role of the various stakeholders, government, individuals and families.

We empower them in terms of increasing their knowledge and also empower them in terms of funding for certain aspects of mutations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that according to WHO, medication errors contribute to more than 3million deaths globally every year. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

By Nabilu Balarabe

The Yobe government on Saturday says it has expended over N2.9 billion on procurement of fertilisers from 2019 to date.

Dr Mairo Amshi, Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, stated this at a ministerial briefing in Damaturu.

She said that N1.5 billion of the amount was spent on procurement of 3,000 tones of NPK 20:10:10 fertilisers in 2021.

According to Amshi, distribution and sale of the fertiliser is ongoing through an open market at a subsidised rate of N13,000 per bag.

She also said that N1.4 billion was spent on supply of 7,500 tones of NPK 15:15:15 in 2020, adding that the commodity was sold to the farmers at N5,000 per bag, representing 40 per cent subsidy.

The government, she said spent N882 million on procurement of 40 tractors in 2019, adding it had been given as loans to large scale farmers at N11million each, payable within four years.

Amshi said the state in collaboration with International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), had vaccinated over 1.2 million cattle, sheep, goats and dogs within the period under review.

The commissioner said the states Livestock Development Programme is being supported by 135 veterinary surgeons, 47 animal scientists, five equipped veterinary clinics and 17 Area Veterinary/ Livestock offices across the state.

She said the state government in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), set up livestock development centres at Jakusko/Nasari, Badegana and Gurjaje grazing reserves.

Amshi said the facilities were designed with boreholes, earth dams, veterinary clinic, feed lots, fish ponds, access roads, electricity, artificial insemination and milk collection units, among others.

Similarly, the commissioner said a Livestock Investigation and Breeding Centres (LIBC) had been established in Nguru to enhance livestock production.

To boost dry season activities, she said that over 2,000 hectares of land had so far been acquired for the take off of the 2022 LAVA irrigation scheme in some parts of the state.

Accordong to her, the state in collaboration with Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria has established National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) North-East Outreach Station in Damaturu.

The state also secured approval to participate in the Federal Governments Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Programme ( L-Pres Programme). (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

By Vivian Emoni

The Federal Government says it has trained more than 10,000 refrigeration technicians and provided Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and refrigerants identifiers in the refrigeration servicing sector to ensure effective ozone friendly.

The Minister of Environment, Mr Mohammed Abdullahi, said this at the commemoration of World Ozone Day, (WOD), in Abuja.

Abdullahi said that the theme for the 2022 WOD was Montreal Protocol at 35: Global Cooperation Protecting life on Earth.

He said the theme highlighted the protocols positive impact on the Ozone Layer and Climate over the past 35 years.

The minister said that the theme also recognized its wider impact on climate change and the need for global cooperation to further address the challenges of Ozone Layer Depletion and climate.

He said that the government in line with the protocols ODS phase-out schedule, had assisted over 700 Large, Small and Medium Scale enterprises.

Abdullahi said that the assistance was in foam, refrigeration and air conditioning, aerosols and solvent sectors, adding that the effort was to convert to Ozone friendly substances and technologies.

He said that the commitment resulted in 100 per cent phase out of over 4,000 metric tonnes of ODSs, with high Ozone ODPs.

The Minister said that about 26 institutions, polytechnics and government technical colleges, were identified and equipped to serve as training centres on good refrigeration practices.

Therefore, we have trained the trainers from the identified centres and developed training manuals on good refrigeration practices.

These have also led to the training of more than 10,000 refrigeration technicians in the refrigeration servicing sector.

However, we have trained more than 850 chemical regulatory and enforcement officers on identification of ODSs, to ensure their effective control and provided the relevant agencies with ODSs refrigerants identifiers, he said.

Abdullahi said that the ODS phase out activities were achieved with support from the Multilateral Fund (MLF) for the implementation of the Montreal Protocol to meet its compliance obligations.

He said that under the refrigeration and air conditioning servicing sector, a lot had been achieved through the support of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The minister said that procurement of servicing equipment for two master training centres, 16 other training centres and a reclamation centre, among others had been achieved.

Abdullahi said that Nigeria had ratified the Kigali Amendment, adding that it had also come into force.

He said that the implementation of the amendment would provide an opportunity to adapt ozone and climate-friendly technologies and improve energy efficiency in the cooling sector.

In order to establish a regulatory framework for its implementation, my ministry updated the existing Ozone Layer Regulations (2009).

This is to include provisions and guidelines for the phase down of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HFCs) in line with the amendment.

The updated regulation is now known as The Ozone Layer Protection and HFCS Phase Down Regulation 2022.

We will continue to work with other relevant agencies for effective enforcement of the regulations, he said.

The minister was represented by the Director, Pollution Control and Environmental Health of the Ministry, Mr Charles Ikea.

The UNDP Programme Manager, Mr Oladipo Osibo, said that the ozone layer was important in protecting lives on earth.

Osibo said that the essence of celebrating the preservation of the Ozone Layer was to raise awareness on the importance of the ozone layer and other living things on the surface of the earth.

He, however, encouraged Nigerians to do all that could be done, by intensifying effort in ensuring that the earth was protected. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by John Amieyeofori/Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Angela Atabo

Follow The Money (FTM) a Civil Society Organisation, has tasked politicians seeking elective offices in 2023 poll, to place the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the centre of their campaign.

Mr Hamzat Lawal, Founder, FTM, said this at the SDG and Follow The Money Hangout, marking the 10 years anniversary of mobilising communities for impact driven campaign in 10 African countries on Saturday in Abuja.

Today is a global SDGs campaign called flip the script and FTM in all the 10 African countries was marking the day by mobilising citizens to take action by holding government to account and taking the SDGs to the grassroots, Lawal said.

He said there was the need to flip the script in terms of how Nigeria and Africa were working toward achieving the SDGs, saying that the current script was not working for Africa.

This, he said, was because the current script does not ensure justice, equity, gender equality, tackling poverty and ensuring that people do not go to bed with hunger.

He stressed the need to localise the goals and have citizens take ownership of them.

The political atmosphere presents a unique opportunity to flip the script, that is why our politicians must ensure that SDG is in the centre of the conversation as we go into campaign and the election.

So flipping the script is saying that let us mobilise more young people,lets educate and sensitise them,let us be more organised and not dwell on the last but use digital technology to change the narrative by taking our destiny into our hands.

We know that in a few weeks campaigns will start in Nigeria, so we are using this opportunity to say that as campaign season starts, and in the spirit of flipping the script, we must ensure that campaign messages are based on issues not sentiments.

If you look at the SDGs goals , it literally talks about ending poverty, ending hunger, providing justice, equity and fairness, it talks about gender equality, education, healthcare, job sustainable growth among others.

These are the issues that are plaguing the nation ; so if our politicians actually use SDGs to inform their manifesto, these are ideals that would address our problems, but most importantly provide opportunity for emerging solution, he said.

According to Lawal, the SDGsslogan is leave no one behind, so youths want a democracy and politics that leaves no one behind including people living with disability because they have a role in governance.

So for us, SDG can reform our democracy and our politics and we can take that into 2023 to flip the script so that we can have a script that will work for every Nigeria irrespective of where they are, he said.

He urged Nigerians to collect their Permanent Voters Card and vote on election day toprevent voter apathy.

He said that the FTM would mobilise more than 20,000 observers across Nigeria to monitor the electoral process, saying that Nigerias democracy would be stronger with the synergy of all stakeholders to make sure that the SDGs become household initiative to be achieved in 2030.

Mr Semiye Michael , Curator ,Global Goals Community Centre and Executive Director, DEAN Initiative, said Nigeria had lagged behind in the achievement of the SDGs, thus the need to take deliberate action towards them.

Michael said that a new data in education had jerked up the number of out-of- children from 10 million to 13 million indicating that the figure could be getting to N20million.

Today is what we call the SDGs birthday globally, a week of action is declared by the UN to intensify effort on the accelerated action needed for the achievement of the SDGs.

So around the world, different mobilisation activities will take place like we are doing here today.

This year, we call it flip the script to see what scripts we are leaving behind for instance, COVID ravaged the world and it has staled the action on the SDGs.

So we are trying to see how we can galvanise action, mobilise more supports and also make statements to leaders holding them accountable to their promises on SDGs, he said.

Michael said there was a challenge with data so the government needed to be deliberated in putting mechanisms in place to know the progress made and areas of intervention through concrete data and performance tracking. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Saidu Adamu/Ali Baba-Inuwa

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA) on Saturday, offered skills training for teachers in its schools to enhance their capacity.

The teachers were also drilled on security measures for their safety and that of students in their care.

The capacity development training with the theme, Creativity in Teaching Learning and Safety Measure, was held in Abuja and had participants from NAOWA nursery, primary and secondary schools.

In her speech, NAOWA President and wife of the Chief of Army Staff, Mrs Salamatu Yahaya, said educational development remained a key component of her administration.

Yahaya said that continuous training and retraining of staff would enhance their productivity, adding that the training seminar was the sixth in the series.

She said it was aimed at making the beneficiaries better and effective given the array of resource persons that delivered lectures in various areas.

She urged the teachers to justify the investment that had been made on them in the area of capacity development by putting in their best to teaching and learning outcomes.

To have an effective teacher, training and retraining is very important. Since coming on board, we have been organising the staff development series and this is the sixth series.

It is all aimed at making them better and effective teachers.

It is also a means for them to interact with other teachers because all the resource persons are also professional teachers in their own right.

So, it is also a way for them to interact and exchange ideas, and understand current trends in teaching methodology as well as teaching in the 21century.

The theme is apt and the topics treated are also apt with regards to current trends in education.

NAOWA has really invested in them by training them and ensuring that they have good welfare package. It is expected that they put in their best and be the best teachers that they can be, she said.

The Head, Staff Training Committee, NAOWA, Mrs Fatima Mohammed, said the training was organised for the teachers to learn more effective ways of imparting knowledge to their students.

Mohammed added that the training would also help them to match the teaching techniques of the past with new skills to produce a greater generation of Nigerians.

She said technological and infrastructural development have made it necessary for teachers to bring creativity into their daily activities to achieve the desired goals and ensuring that schools were safe and conducive for learning.

One of the resource persons, Mr Abdulrazak Muhammad, in his lecture titled, Safety and Security Measures in Schools said that safety of schools was paramount to educational development.

Muhammad, a former Secretary of FCT Universal Education Board, said the current security challenges had affected the nations educational system in some parts of the country.

It is very important that we create awareness among the stakeholders, teachers, students and administrators in order to enhance and ensure safety and security of children in schools, he added.

He said many schools and institutions all over Nigeria have porous security system, and were not adhering to standard security measures.

Muhammad said there must be strong understanding between host communities and schools, while government should provide adequate security for schools.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NAOWA president used the event to honour some members of staff with gifts for their dedication and commitment to duty. (NAN) ()

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

Source: NAN News