By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has revealed plans to rehabilitate Kuje General Hospital to improve infrastructure and enhance healthcare delivery in the hospital.

Director-General of the FCT Hospital Management Board, Dr Mohammed Kawu, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen shortly after inspecting facilities in the hospital, on Tuesday in Kuje Area Council.

Kawu stated that the board was working assiduously with the FCT Mandate Secretary for Health and Human Services Secretariat, the Permanent Secretary and the Minister of State to reform services in all general hospitals in the territory.

He also said that the FCT Administration at the higher level was thinking of building bigger hospitals to ensure that there was more than one hospital in each Area Council.

There is also a plan to rehabilitate this hospital, you can see it is looking old, rehabilitation may be much longer, so, we will ensure that we do something very soon.

This is a small facility that was built for a smaller population. Population explosion in FCT is unprecedented, because of so many factors that we all know, he said.

Kawu said that the number of patients that were accessing services in the facility was far higher than the number expected.

But, from what we have seen so far, the condition of the hospital is not as bad as has been portrayed.

We have entered all the wards, the toilets are clean, there is water, electricity supply, and staff are there.

The few people we asked said they were satisfied with the services offered to them, but there is room for improvement, Kawu said.

The D-G also disclosed that the FCT Administration was trying to revitalise its Drugs Revolving Fund to ensure the provision of 90 per cent of drugs in all health facilities in the nations capital.

He assured that the board would engage the FCT Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS)to improve its services, adding that health insurance was a system where services were paid for.

So, if it is beyond what you are supposed to access, you cannot access more than that but we will still engage the FCT Health Insurance Scheme.

Since I was appointed as the Director-General of the Federal Capital Territory Hospital Management Board, I have been going round hospitals in the territory.

I went to Abaji, Kwali and Karshi General Hospitals and I visited Kuje General Hospital alone to see what has been going on and I was not very satisfied, so, I effected a change of leadership in Aug. , I appointed a new Medical Director and new management.

So, I just came round to see if there is an improvement and I can tell you that Im very happy with the improvement that I have noticed.

However, that is not to say there is no room for further improvement and we are doing a lots of things with the FCT Mandate Secretary for Health Secretariat, the FCT Permanent Secretary, the Minister of State to do a lot of reforms, Kawu said.

He stated that the drugs revolving fund needs to be revitalised so that all the drugs that are needed in all the hospitals were provided.

Kawu called on the public to always engage the government properly on issues arising from any complaint they have or whatever they observe about the operation of hospitals in the territory.

He added: There is Medical Director and management of all hospitals, there is Director-General of FCT Hospital Management Board and the Secretary for Health and Human Services Secretariat who is like a Commissioner for Health, the FCT Permanent Secretary, the FCT Minister and the Minister of State.

So, if there are issues that we think are not going well, the best thing to do is to approach one of those authorities and lay your complaint.

The D-G disclosed that the board would provide a new anesthetic machine at Kuje general hospital as soon as possible.

On his part, the Medical Director of Kuje General Hospital, Dr Olufemi Oshideko, commended the FCTA for the provision of equipment, hospital delivery beds, blood bank and other facilities to the hospital since he assumed office.

Oshideko, however, said that the main challenge of the hospital was inadequate electricity supply and manpower, saying, we spend so much money on diesel and the issue of manpower, the brain drain is real.

Whether it is nurses, pharmacists and doctors, we still appeal to the FCT Hospital Management Board to bring in more staff to our facility so that we can serve the public better.

Earlier, Some patients who were at the hospital to seek medical care complained over non- availability of drugs above N500 for FHIS.

Mr Austine Okoro and Mrs Sarah Afolabi, who narrated their ordeals to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the hospital, decried huge out -of- pocket spending on drugs meant to be given at 90 per cent subsided rates to enrollees.

The duo appealed to the FCTA Health Secretariat to look into the matter. (NAN)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

By Rotimi Ijikanmi

The Federal Government says the worst is over with regards to the daunting security challenges in the country, adding that terrorists, bandits and their cohorts will never hold sway anywhere in the country.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, gave the assurance on Monday in Abuja at a media briefing he jointly addressed with some of his colleagues.

Others are Ministers of Defence retired Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi, Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and Police Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Dingyadi, as well as the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor.

Mohammed said the security challenges the country had faced were daunting and ranged from terrorism to banditry, kidnapping, separatist violence, crude oil theft, armed robbery and sundry crimes.

He added that the challenges were undoubtedly the greatest to the peace and security of the country since the 1967 to 1970 civil war.

It is the kind of challenge that would have overwhelmed many nations, but thanks to the purposeful leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Today, we are here to tell you that while we may not be there yet, our military and other security agencies have succeeded and are succeeding in substantially restoring security across the nation.

We can say, I want to repeat, that the worst is over and peace and security are gradually returning to the land.

Please dont misunderstand or misrepresent this assertion because we may still witness isolated cases of security challenges here and there, but it will not be on the scale that we have witnessed in the past, he assured.

The minister said the successes recorded was sequel to the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari to the military to crush those terrorising the citizens and there should be no hiding place for them.

He thanked the President for his purposeful leadership as well as the military for their ability to rise to the occasion.

Mohammed also commended the media for their watchdog role and called on them to endeavour to give a big part to the successes being recorded by the security agencies.

Speaking in the same vein, Aregbesola said the security challenges the country faced mostly preceded the President Buharis administration.

He equally commended the security agencies for rising to the challenges and for largely degrading the groups and persons constituting the threats.

What we face now mostly are flashes of cowardly attacks from the rumps of groups that have been routed in one location, moving to another to give the false impression that they are still strong.

Our ultimate goal is to eliminate them altogether and restore total and lasting peace over every inch of Nigerian soil.

We have been doing this and will continue to do so through the operations of the four agencies under the Ministry, he said.

The Minister of Defence who gave accounts of the military operations across the country said they were achieving greater results through synchronised ground and air bombardments of the terrorists.

We have been forcing many of them, including Commanders to surrender in droves, with members of their families.

Areas where terrorists hitherto had some freedom of action are being cleared, socio-economic life is gradually returning to most parts of the North East.

Erstwhile Internally Displaced Persons are now returning to their ancestral homes to start life all over, in dignity, under safer and more secure environment, Magashi said.

Specifically, the minister said in the past four weeks, more than 3,407 Boko Haram Terrorists including members of their families have surrendered.

Additionally, he said 66 terrorists were neutralized including one of the key ISWAP Commanders, Modu Chaka Bem Bem and 20 of his fighters, while 55 were rrested and 52 civilians rescued.

He said troops recovered large quantities of ammunition and illicit drugs while the surrendered and arrested terrorists have been subjected to profiling and the relevant legal processes.

Magashi said for the first time, no single incidence of piracy was recorded in the countrys waters in one full year.

He said in the past four weeks, several illegal oil refining sites, consisting of 493 dugout pits, 512 storage tanks, 413 cooking ovens and 59 wooden boats were destroyed.

Additionally, he said several weapons, vehicles, vessels and equipment were recovered.

The minister said about 25,800 barrels of crude oil, 3,200 liters of Premium Motor Spirit and 2,000 liters of Dual Purpose Kerosene were recovered during various operations while 21 pipeline vandals were arrested. (NAN)

=================

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

Source: NAN News

By Chijioke Okoronkwo, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

When the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) was established in 1992, it significantly raised Nigerias hope of leapfrogging industrial development via innovation and reverse engineering.

NASENIs mandate include, inter alia: To conduct developmental work in the areas of manufacturing, coordinating the proliferation of technologies developed either within or outside of its centres including patents obtained.

Transfer of technologies developed in the areas of spares, components and system engineering to entrepreneurs for the production of goods and services.

The Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Prof. Mohammed Haruna, recently appraised the activities of the agency saying it was making multisectoral impact in the country.

Haruna said that President Muhammadu Buhari had directed NASENI to produce more solar cells to boost the alternative power sources in the country.

He said that the president also directed the implementation of modular irrigation project and the production of more farm implements, to boost agricultural activities.

The president is impressed that NASENI is delivering on its mandate. I gave him the usual quarterly briefing and he is happy with what we have done in this quarter.

Therefore, he has directed us to do more, particularly in the modular irrigation project that we are commencing from Adamawa, the solar cells production and also agricultural implements.

On the power sector, the NASENI boss said that the agency had been able to impact on the power sector, leading to the establishment of a factory in Karshi, Abuja.

According to him, the factory has the capacity to produce 7.5 megawatts of solar energy.

Through our research and development activities in solar, it is so successful that through local innovations we now have a factory, 7.5 megawatts capacity limited liability company.

The company is 100 per cent owned by government in Karshi-Abuja, producing solar modules of highest quality.

These modules are installed in many places, we have dealers who buy these and distribute and we participate in installations in private and government buildings.

7.5 megawatts cannot meet the needs of the nation and that is not making the price of solar power affordable because the cells used are imported.

Solar cells are products of silicon and silicon is obtained from silica, which is nothing other than the sand that we have abandoned, he said.

He said this informed the presidents approval for the agency to obtain the facility from China in order to achieve 100 per cent made in Nigeria products.

When that is done, solar power supply will be affordable because the most expensive component is the cells, he said.

On security, Haruna said that a unit of the agency, the Nigerian Machine Tools Osogbo, Osun, also produces protective wares for security men.

He said that the company was also in the process of assembling armoured personnel carriers, in collaboration with Azerbaijan and Indonesia.

The Nigerian Machine Tools Osogbo has been doing a lot in the production of protective wares; anti-ballistic helmets, and other bullet proof vests and boots among others.

With NASENIs collaboration with Indonesia and Azerbaijan, we have trained people on how to assemble armoured personnel carriers as well as produce certain components of the carrier, he said.

Haruna also said that NASENI had trained Nigerians for mass production of helicopters.

He said that two helicopters successfully produced, were awaiting accreditation by the Nigerian Aviation Authority before it could start flying.

The helicopter project of NASENI is a technology we copied from Belgium and also from Indonesia.

We imported after training staff on all aspects of it, from design to production to assembly, repairs and maintenance.

After they qualified, including pilots, we assembled two helicopters, which we bought CKD from these places and assemble it with a view of producing the parts by part, to have a wholly or fully made in Nigeria helicopter.

Now, these helicopters in the helipad and hanger, were developed in our site in Karishi where our solar manufacturing plant is.

He, said, however, that for expansion, the president had approved the projects to be relocated to Nigeria Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna, because of the already developed facilities there in order not to reinvent the wheel.

Haruna said that the agency moulded what companies like Innoson needed in the production of spare parts in commercial quantity.

However, if there is a unique car, in which only one item of the spare part is needed, instead of mass production, we do produce it because we have facility to recycle scrap metal and molten iron ductile iron even alloys and use it with our moulds to give us the shape and size of any component and machine appropriately, because we use computer aided manufacturing and design.

Haruna also revealed that the agency produced laboratory equipment for science students in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions across the country.

On agriculture, he said that the president had approved N24 billion for NASENI for the execution of a smart modular irrigation project.

More so, Haruna said the statutory one percent of the federation account meant to be drawn for its running was dedicated to execution of some priority projects that had been approved by government.

The application of these funds is in some priority projects approved by government; the capital components include payment of 15 per cent of the local counterpart funding for three key projects in the power sector; the development and production of solar cells locally; development and production of electric power transformers and the third one is high voltage testing laboratory.

Now, these are projects with 85 per cent funding support from China, which is part of what is approved and being implemented in the 2021/2022 Borrowing Plan.

That is number one and in that, out of the 48.79 million dollars representing 15 per cent of what Nigeria is paying as the 15 per cent counterpart funding based on the money remitted to NASENI in the first and third quarters, 23.9 million dollars had been remitted in these two quarters.

He said that the other areas of application of the fund included the development and domestication of technologies NASENI had acquired from a partnering organisation in Italy, de Lorenzo.

According to Haruna, the partnership with de Lorenzo is the production of technical science laboratory equipment for primary schools, secondary schools and tertiary institutions.

The third component is the development of skills development centres in six geopolitical zones.

For now, one each per zone; the fourth component of application of this fund is in the development of three out of 12 new centres approved by the president for different states of the federation and of course, continue research and development, reverse engineering and assembly of some military equipment in collaboration with two different private companies.

The companies are the Nigeria Machine Tools Limited, Oshogbo and PROFORCE, manufacturer of some military hardware, based in Ogun, and of course, completion of the remodeled NASENI headquarters, he said.

According to him, the funds have been applied to priority areas.

The NASENI boss said that President Buhari was impressed with the agency and had urged it to do more particularly in the modular irrigation projects, the solar cells production and also other agricultural implements.

Deserving no less attention, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was excited that Nigeria had all it required to manufacture wide range of products locally.

We are set to manufacture our own vehicles, clean energy trucks and cars, and we are on course to manufacturing our own weapons, armoured mobile platforms and aircraft; we have all it takes.

But I believe that MSME in technology and manufacturing, especially in the clean energy or green economy, deserves special mention.

I am convinced that this sector will be crucial in global industrial development in the coming years and will leapfrog Nigeria to economic prosperity, Osinbajo said.

Osinbajo acknowledged the ingenuity of some of the innovators as they defined the future in terms of clean energy automobiles and precision engineering.

No doubt, the challenge of leapfrogging industrialisation is hinged not only on harnessing local talents, but exploiting requisite know-how externally.

In a tech-savvy world, techies say Nigerian scholars and researchers must show more interest in artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics and mechatronics in order to catch up with the rest of the world.(NANFeatures)

Source: NAN News

By Chinenye Offor

The House of Representatives Committee on Commerce has lauded the trajectory of positive results by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

The commendation is contained in a statement issued by CACs Head of Media unit, Mr Rasheed Mahe, on Monday in Abuja.

Mahe said the Mr Femi Fakaye-led House of Representatives committee on commerce, commended the commissions leadership led by its Registrar-General(R-G), Alhaji Garba Abubakar, at its headquarters to wrap up its oversight visit.

FakayecommendedAbubakar for keeping the agency afloat and turning things around in accordance with his pledge to the National Assembly.

According to Fakaye, the commission has been breathing fresh air since Abubakar assumed office as the R-G.

Heurged the R-G to take steps to maintain the achievements for economic growth, adding that CAC was one of the vital organs that gave life to the Nigerian economy.

Other members of the committee, however,charged the commission to review and revisit certain areas of its operations that needed improvement.

They lauded the commissionscreation of sustained public awareness on its activities and achievements with special emphasis on the rudiments of ensuring successful online registration of companies.

The R-G, in his response, expressed his commitment to sustain and improve on the gains so far recorded.

Abubakar, who described the year 2020 as the best year for the commission in terms of revenue generation and remittance.

He complained that slash in fees was negatively affecting some of its operations.

Abubakar said that the commission was able to surmount most of its challenges and achieved set targets, as well as objectives, because of its dedicated and committed staffers.

According to him, the CAC willcontinue to ensure improvement of its workforce through the provision of adequate work tools, conducive working environment.

The CAC boss also promised to sustain routine training and retraining of members of staff within the available resources.

Abubakar said that the commission was on the verge of deploying a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution to beef up its customer service in line with global best practices.

Highlight of the visit was the guided facility tour of the Status Unit, Special Projects Unitand the Server room. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

====================
Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/ Bashir rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

By Bridget Ikyado

The Governorship flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth-Iormem Alia has assured of better and brighter future for the people, if elected governor in 2023.

Alia gave the assurance during the Igede Agba New Yam Festival in Oju Local Government Area of the state.

Alia in a statement by his media aide, Isaac Uzaan, issued on Monday in Abuja, particularly told people of Benue South Senatorial district to live in the sure hope of a better and brighter future.

He expressed gratitude for the privilege to witness the event, which he described as the reawakening of the Igede culture.

The APC governorship candidate said that the event would strengthen the bond of unity and peace among the people, which have kept them together over the years as one indivisible people.

Alia, however, expressed shock at the lack of development in spite of the huge revenue being generated by government in the area.

While describing himself as a crop for the new planting season, Alia called on Igede people and the entire people of Benue to allow the seed germinate, so as to reap dividends of democracy.

He congratulated the Igede traditional council and entire Igede people for promoting their rich cultural heritage.

Alia also applauded their sense of unity, patriotism and determination, and called on other cultures in Benue to emulate them.

Earlier during the Igede Agba Thanksgiving Mass, Alia was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Odochu I of Igede (star I of Igede), in acknowledgment of his solidarity and goodwill to the community.

In his homily, Rev. Fr. Sylvester Omoke advised politicians and all Benue people to put God first in all things, including the 2023 elections, so as to get the new Benue they aspire for. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

Source: NAN News

By Bridget Ikyado

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) will hold its second 2022 plenary from Sept. 8 to 16, at the Catholic Diocese of Orlu in Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, Imo.

This is contained in a statement issued by Fr Mike Umoh, Director of Social Communications, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, on Monday in Abuja

Umoh said that the Bishops would use the opportunity to deliberate on national issues.

It will be a week-long period of prayer, sharing, deep reflections and deliberations on issues concerning the Church and the society, he added.

He said that the Bishops would meet with the Diocesan Priests Association and also hold an interactive session with some Catholics of Owerri Province.

Umoh said the opening Mass will be presided by the CBCN President and Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev. Lucius-Iwejuru Ugorji while the homily will be taken by the Bishop of Orlu Diocese, Most Rev. Augustine Ukwuoma.

He said that a communique would be issued at the end of the conference. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

===========
Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

Source: NAN News

By Taiye Agbaje

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has advised Nigerians living abroad to be careful not to violate laws relating to campaign funding ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Chairman of NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, made the call at the 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Americas (NIDOA) held at the Nigeria Consulate in New York on Saturday and monitored virtually by newsmen in Abuja.

Dabiri-Erewa at the meeting titled: NIDOA Renaissance: Leveraging on New Generation Leadership, urged them to ensure that they observe the laws in their support for presidential candidates in the 2023 general elections

I have been hearing stories that you are going to raise money for one person or the other person.

Whatever you do, dont break the laws of elections and funding in Nigeria. I think that is very important.

I wont encourage you to break any law relating to political funding; you know how it is operated in America.

Ensure you observe the laws also in Nigeria.

So as we move on, I can guarantee you that under this administration, we will continue to protect our Diasporans, she said

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National Chairman of Labour Party, Julius Abure, recently, inaugurated an 11-man Diaspora Committee to organise fund-raising activities in support of the Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi.

The Inauguration also came a day after the partys Diaspora support groups, in a media report, pledged to unveil a crowdfunding portal with a target to raise million from Obis supporters in the Diaspora and N100 billion from those in Nigeria.

Dabiri-Erewa also urged them not to be disappointed that they wont be participating in the 2023 polls.

She advised them to intensify effort to engage the National Assembly so that Diaspora voting could be passed into law.

I know that you cant vote in 2023, but dont be disappointed.

Rather, you need to work harder to lobby the National Assembly to make it possible for the Diasporans to be able to vote.
.
However, you have the voice and use your voice to urge all eligible voters to cast their vote.

I urge you, as the president always says three things; be good ambassadors, obey the laws of whatever countries you are and let us continue to be proud of you and what you are doing, she said.

She assured members of NIDOA of the commissions robust partnership.

The Chairman, Board of Trustees of NIDOA, Tope Esan, said the organisations mission is to promote the spirit of patriotism, networking, and cooperation among Nigerians in the Diaspora for their individual and collective success in the countries of the Americas where they reside.

He said they are also on mission to mobilise
the vast resources of manpower, technological know-how and wealth of knowledge among Nigerians in
the Diaspora towards building a greater Nigeria.

According to Esan, the present board, after a SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat) Analysis, identified a 3-pronged approach to the present challenges facing the organisation.

The focus areas are NIDOA image redemption, strategic partnerships, giving back to Nigeria and growing NIDOAs base, he said.

NAN reports that some of the activities at the event include a morning breakfast meeting with the states legislators, an afternoon AGM session of members and chapters represented and an evening gala and dinner for members and the community at large.

Participants also used the occasion to pay a tribute to the late Edo-born professor, Joseph Igietseme, former chief of the Molecular Pathogenesis Laboratory, Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia in 2002, and the President of NIDOA in South Savannah, Georgia Chapter, who died in May 24.

Representatives of NIDOA from Sao Paulo, Brazil; Calgary, Canada; Washington, DC; Savannah, Georgia; Columbus, Ohio; Minnesota; New Jersey and
New York were in attendance.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Ruth Oketunde

The governorship candidate of the APC in Benue, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, announced on Sunday that his main mission in politics was to liberate the people of Benue from endemic poverty.

Alia in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said that he had resolved to liberate the people of Benue from incompetent leadership.

The statement was signed by the Media Adviser to the Governorship Candidate, Mr Ado Mohammed.

He said that time had come to end the unconscionable looting of public funds, poverty and economic backwardness that had characterised the state since its creation on Feb. 3, 1976.

According to him, it is regrettable that most of the successive rulers of the state have sustained blatant disregard for the well being of the people of the state.

Successive rulers of the state have failed to address the plight of the governed and have failed to harness the enormous natural and human resources of the state for the benefit of the citizenry, he said.

Alia disclosed that he had put together a bold and strategic comprehensive plan of action, aimed at reinvigorating key areas of the states local economy.

He said that the blueprint would spur economic growth, generate productivity and prosperity and improve the standard of living of Benue citizens.

The governorship hopeful said that the APC campaign manifesto and development blueprint would be unveiled at the stipulated time for electioneering campaigns as outlined by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

I have always believed that a sustained comprehensive growth and technological advancement of the nation is partly hinged on equitable distribution of prosperity and improved standard of living of the people.

Alia identified key ingredients of economic development and national transformation as agricultural transformation, food security, education, communication technology, industrialisation and commerce.

He named others as rural development, human and social development, security, tourism and environmental management.

The APC chief regretted that as the global leader with 70 per cent share of global production of yam and cassava, Nigeria was yet to be recognised as an exporter of the products.

He said that Nigeria was instead, trailing behind Ghana, which according to him, is responsible for 75 per cent of all yam exports from Africa.

Of the 60 million tonnes of yam produced annually by Nigeria, which comes majorly from Benue State, only 200 tonnes are exported and 30 per cent of this meagre figure rots in transit, due to poor preservation.

Yam farmers and exporters have continued to count their losses, rather than counting their gains at the end of each farming season, Alia said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Silas Nwoha

Source: NAN News

By Ruth Oketunde

The Chief Executive Officer of the international charity, IA-Foundation, Mrs Ibironke Adeagbo, has expressed worry over the distressing figure of over 20 million children reported to be currently out-of-school in Nigeria.

Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday, Adeagbo described the huge number of Nigerias out-of-school kids as worrisome, pleading with the Federal Government to rise to the challenge immediately.

On Sept. 1, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), released a research report that put the current figure of out-of-school children in Nigeria at about 20.2 million the highest in the world.

But the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, had earlier on Aug. 18, announced that Nigeria was turning the corner in its out-of-school crisis.

He said that the number of out-of-school children in the country had dropped drastically in recent years from 10.5 million to about 6.9.

However, the issue of high number of out-of-school children has been a contentious issue in Nigeria in recent times.

Nigeria is Africas top crude exporter and one of the continents biggest economies but poor implementation of policies has affected the countrys education industry adversely, according to analysts.

A persistent insurgency, especially in northern parts of the country has also exacerbated the out-of-school crisis, forcing many children out of classrooms.

British born Adeagbo, who has been campaigning for education rights for Nigerian children, pleaded with the Federal Government to give priority attention to education to secure the future of the country.

Education in Nigeria is in a state of emergency. Government must proffer strategic solutions to save the future of our children, she said.

Adeagbo also advised government to forge international partnerships to bring international agencies and foreign governments to assist Nigeria to resolve current problems plaguing the education sector.

The ministry of education must be more vocal on the decadence in the education sector, to find lasting solutions to current challenges.

According to her, Nigeria must create an enabling environment for non-governmental organisations to form strategic alliances with government to salvage the education sector.

She said there was urgent need for government to upgrade infrastructure in schools to foster a congenial atmosphere for teaching and learning.

Adeagbo reiterated the determination of IA-Foundation to partner with State Governments to take education to grassroots communities to give opportunities to hapless Nigerian kids. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chidinma Agu/Silas Nwoha

Source: NAN News

By Cecilia Ijuo

Mrs Asabe Bashir, the Director-General, National Council for Women Development (NCWD) on Saturday extolled the virtues of Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Mrs Ene Obi as she turns 60 years.

She spoke at an event held in Abuja, which was organised by Obis colleagues and friends as well as gender activists.

In her goodwill message, Bashir described the celebrant as a defender of the rights of the less privileged who should be emulated by all.

While wishing her long life and prosperity, Bashir said Nigerian women celebrate her because she has touched lives across Nigeria and even outside Nigeria.

This is a woman that the whole women of the world should celebrate.

She is celebrated globally as a pillar to womenfolk and I am so proud of her.

Speaking on the role of NCWD, the director-general said that the centre was a rallying point for Nigerian women.

The centre is a rallying point for women and we are at the forefront of advocating efforts at tackling violence against women.

We tell such women to always speak up, report cases of violence. If they do not report, we will not know what is happening to them.

We are there to help Nigerian women that have been violated and we urge them to always speak up and come to the centre, she said.

Mr Otive Igbuzor, the Chief of Staff to Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege described Obi as a wonderful personality.

She is a very compassionate person who gives a lot of support to people, especially the weak and the vulnerable and she is so commited to a better society.

That is why she found a good home in ActionAid, an organisation dedicated to eradicating poverty and injustice.

Her proficiency in fighting for justice, equity and for the poor is exemplary.

Igbuzor, who is also a former Country Director of ActionAid and Executive Director African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development decried marginalisation of women in Nigeria.

Historically, women have been marginalised not only in Nigeria but across the world.

We will continue to struggle for a better society, for better condition for women and for better condition for the poor, he said.

One of the friends of the celebrant, Mrs Moji Makanjuola, the Chief Executive of International Society of Media and Public Health, wished her many more years of active service.

She said, Mrs Ene Obi resonates with the aspiration of women across board.

I wish her more strength, good health and more wisdom as she continues to navigate this space that we are yet to cover.

On rising cases of violence against women, Makanjuola said, it breaks my heart each time one gets to know that a woman is abused.

Even these days, boys are being violated. I think the media has a big role to play in this.

Often times we focus on the victims, survivors, it is about time we focus on the perpetrators, she said.

If you find the perpetrator or you see something happening, say something.

This is because it goes beyond the physical. It often affects victims or survivors for life.

So, we need to start speaking loudly to the perpetrators and thank God we have the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP).

She called for the implementation of the VAPP Act so that perpetrators do not get away with any crime against women.

On the forthcoming 2023 general elections, Makanjuola said with the happening so far, it was obvious that women were undermined.

Lets support the man who will support us. Support the party that supports women as an integral part of development.

Support the presidential candidate that supports women as partners in progress.

Until we do that deliberately, until we have rules and regulations things will not change because, the 35 per cent affirmative action for elective position is not being honoured.

In her remarks, the celebrant, Mrs Ene Obi, expressed joy for the encomiums showered on her, saying she was challenged to do more.

She appealed to Nigerians to stand for the country, adding that with the right mindset, the country would take its pride of place.

She said, this country is one of the greatest countries in the world and I believe it will be great again.

On the gender bills that were rejected by the National Assembly, Obi said that ActionAid was re-strategising.

We want the politicians to look at the bills again and make it right.

This is because women represent about 50 per cent of the population and they cannot be pushed aside as if they do not matter.

It is so disturbing to know that there are some houses of assembly where there is no woman, she said.

Obi further called for people with disability to be included in the helm in the country. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Source: NAN News