ByRemi Koleoso

Wife of the Ekiti Governor, Mrs Bisi Fayemi, has decried the various forms of violence and dimensions against women in Nigeria politics, saying it called for concern.

Fayemi spoke during a live Radio programme on Thursday, organised by the Stop Violence Against Women in Politics (Stop-VAWIP) and Balm in Gilead Foundation for Sustainable Development (BIGIF) monitored in Ado-Ekiti.

BIGIF is an NGO, committed to empowering women, youths and children to ensure equal access to sustainable livelihood through the provision of care and support services, education, referral, resource mobilisation, human rights promotion, social inclusion, youths development and women empowerment.

The governors wife promised to enhance womens active participation in politics and the electoral processes by mitigating effect of violence against women in politics in all its forms in the state.

According to her, some of them are, but not limited to physical, economic, emotional, sexual, and other forms of violence.

She said that the violence negatively impacted womens health and the general wellbeing, adding it also has negative effects on the countrys political and socioeconomic development.

The objectives of Stop-VAWIP campaign are to raise awareness about the harmful effects of violence against women in politics and engage relevant stakeholders to mitigate it.

It is also to encourage women to actively participate in the electoral processes and to track and respond to cases of violence against women in politics during election period, she said.

Fayemi, at the Town Hall meeting, took the listeners down the memory lane, sharing how the GBV response programmes and law started in Ekiti and grew to the point where it was institutionalised.

She said the VAPP/GBV Prohibition Law is now established as a comprehensive legal framework that protects women and promotes a culture where women could live freely and safely.

As of June, 32 states in Nigeria have domesticated the VAPP Law, mainly because of the marching order given by the Governors Forum.

It became a matter of concern because one out of three women is faced with or have suffered from GBV. This is to promote a culture whereby women can live their lives in dignity.

Some of the lessons we learnt and applied along the way were the linkages between Education and GBV prevention.

Consequently, we developed a GBV Policy for educational institutions and also embarked on community engagement working with the traditional and religious institutions.

We saw the need to establish an effective GBV Management Committee, as MDAs and development partner contributed to the process of mitigating GBV in Ekiti.

It is evident that one cannot address GBV without paying attention to the economic state of women, because poverty fuels women and childrens vulnerability leading to poor life choices and outcomes, she further explained.

The Town Hall meeting also provided the opportunity for participants to make recommendations for strategic actions in implementing the VAPP/GBV Prohibition Law in Ekiti State.

The Town Hall also hosted Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, the incoming Governors wife, who shared her intentions to continue to give women agenda priority attention after the tenure of Gov. Kayode Fayemi administrations in the state.

Oyebanji gave her commitment to continue to advocate the implementation of the Ekiti Women Policy Agenda, 2022, GBV Prevention Strategic Plan, Political Office (Genderp Composition) Bill, 2022 when signed into law and other programmes and plans, as she is passionate about the issues.

To make Ekiti a model state for implementing a GBV law, both women advocate for funding of different Ministry Department and Agencies (MDAs), training more gender specialists and social workers, to decentralize the access to GBV services in the state.

She assured the people that the incoming administration would include gender updates as part of the state Executive Council briefing.

This is to ensure that GBV and other related issues are addressed at the highest level of the state.

BIGIF, through the programme, got an instant justice for a 16-year-old teenage pregnancy survivor, who is kept in her abuser house in Ado-Ekiti, as wife of the governor gave a marching order to the concerned ministry to get the girl supported and bring her abuser to book within 24 hours.

The convener of the Stop Violence Against Women in Politics (Stop-VAWIP), commended the efforts of the Fayemis wife toward ensuring the eradication of GBV in the state. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

Source: NAN News

The Federal Government on Wednesday said plans were underway to build a 2.5 Megawatts (MW) hybrid solar power plant in the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna.

This information is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by Mr Iyali Peter, Special Adviser, Media to the Minister of State Power.

Peter quoted the Minister of Power, Mr Abubakar Aliyu, as saying this at the 40th National Solar Energy Forum (NACEF 2022) held in Kaduna.

The two days forum was organised by the Solar Energy Society of Nigeria (SESN) in collaboration with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and National Energy Commission (NEC).

Aliyu, who was represented by the Minister of State, Power, Mr Goddy Jedy-Agba, said that the building of the solar power plant would enhance security at the academy

Aliyu said that the theme of the forum: The Role Of Green Energy Technologies in National Security, Power Generation and Economic Sustainability, was timely and necessary.

He said that reliable and sustainable energy was key in the fight against insecurity in the country.

According to him, such meetings with extensive and robust discussions will always bring out desirable outcome that can move solar energy penetration in the country forward.

He said, Countries all over the world are exploring avenues of fulfilling their specific commitments and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in line with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and COP26 Agreement in Glasgow. Nigeria is not left out.

To achieve Nigerias commitment to COP26, President Muhammadu Buharis administration is implementing different initiatives targeted at achieving at least, 30,000MW generation by 2030 with 30 per cent from renewable energy sources.

The Buhari administration is fully committed to the global decarbonization drive. To demonstrate this commitment, Government has opened discussions with some Independent Power Plant (IPP) solar project developers planning to deploy Solar mini-grids across the country, he said.

Aliyu said that 10 state governments are facilitating solar projects in their states that would deliver 100MW each, contributing 1000MW to the Off-grid structure.

On her part, Kaduna Deputy Governor, Hadiza Balarabe, said the outcome and suggestions reached at the forum would further enhance governments efforts to rid the country of insurgency.

Earlier, Commandant of NDA, Maj-.Gen. Manu Yusuf, in his address said the theme of the forum was to address the contemporary security challenges facing the country.

Yusuf said that, there is still much to do to achieve improved access to green energy sources.

As an institution, we have devoted a lot of resources to improve knowledge on the issue and track global development on renewable energy sources because energy is a critical component of national security.

Managing Director of REA, Mr Salihijo Ahmad, while delivering the keynote address said that in the last few years, there had been significant improvement in the nations renewable energy space because of different initiatives of the government.

Ahmad said FG was deliberately driving policies that are targeted at drawing in private sector participation by encouraging investments and scaling up socio-economic impact of off-grid electrification nationwide.

The managing director assured NASEF of REAs continued support and collaboration.

He urged the participants to see themselves as active stakeholders within the renewable energy space.

It is important to keep up with this momentum by playing our part in different spheres because on this journey towards ending energy poverty in Nigeria, strategies and roadmaps cannot be designed in silos.

But must be implemented as fit-for-purpose and deliberate endeavors to solve the nations energy problems, he said. (NAN)www.ng

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz

Source: NAN News

By Naomi Sharang

Dr Lilian Omekara, Head of Operation and Financial Advisor of New Approach to Rural Programme has called for Federal and State Governments partnership to support Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

She made the call on Wednesday, in Abuja, at the unveiling of a project Rescue Village Expo: Shelter and succour for all- accounting for and supporting children and adults in internal displacement .

Omekara who decried the state of accommodation of the IDPs said that government needed to ensure they make better tents for them to avoid health-related issues.

The way and manner IDPs live their life is somewhat worrisome. Yet, the society does not recognise the fact that the internally displaced persons once had a dream.

That is why we are calling for concerted efforts by governments, NGOs and communities to provide for the displaced persons.

As an NGO, we are willing and ready to work with states, communities and organisations that are ready and willing to partner with us and make sure people do not gnash their teeth for a long time over problems that can get solutions.

It doesnt take more than three hours to set up 20 tents. It is is doable, she said.

Also speaking, Chairman Benham Group, Dr Maurice Ibe said that the large number of IDPs in the country was a product of insecurity.

Ibe who was represented by the groups legal adviser Barr. Eric Ifeanyi commended the Rescue Village Initiative adding that situations and circumstances create opportunities.

It is a worthy course to get involved in, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the UN says there are 3.2 million IDPs in Nigeria and in dire need of help.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

Former German chancellor Angela Merkel is on the road to recovery after injuring her knee, her spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said on Wednesday, in response to a question on whether the former German chancellor would travel to Russia for the funeral of former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

It was not possible to make a statement about such a trip, the spokesperson said, as a number of factors were still uncertain.

However, she did say that Merkel would not be able to attend such an event in September, as she sustained an injury to her knee at the end of her holiday, around three weeks ago.

The spokesperson added that Merkel did not require surgery and was recovering well.

Merkel had paid tribute to Gorbachev as a unique global politician earlier on Wednesday, after the news emerged that Gorbachev had passed away on Tuesday. (dpa/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

(Edited by Ummul Idris/Emmanuel Yashim)

Source: NAN News

The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has described some presidential candidates as power mongers who are bent on using disinformation and divisive rhetorics to curry sympathy votes from unsuspecting Nigerians.

In a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, BMO said it was not surprising to hear opposition candidates using the recent NBA conference to take pot shots at the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

With Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) having two kindred spirits in the person of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party candidate Peter Obi in the 2023 race, we were not exactly surprised to hear their rhetorics at the NBA conference, but what we find disturbing is their resort to disinformation.

For instance, a man who as Vice President presided over a privatisation process that shortchanged the Nigerian people and pushed millions of people into the unemployment market had the temerity to promise to tackle a problem he was part of.

And knowing how he once tagged the PDP as a hopeless basket case at the time he was hibernating in the All Progressives Congress (APC), we view his tantrums exactly the way Senator Kashim Shettima described it- a worn out rhetoric and sophistry of pretentious politicians.

We dare say nothing could be more pedestrian as the position of the Labour Party candidate who, while describing Nigeria as a failed state, opted as usual to pluck figures from the air when he claimed that there are over 100m people living in poverty in the country.

It is no longer news that the former Anambra governor conjures up figures and. scenarios to impress his audience but it should be a concern to hear former top government functionaries mocking the military just to score cheap political points on security.

it is ironic that on the same day that both men who are seeking to be commander in chief of the armed forces were downplaying the hardwork of security agencies, the media were replete with news of a successful air raid on the Sambisa forest enclave of the leader of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) Fiya Ba Yuram and other terrorist strongholds.

While we acknowledge that the country is facing security challenges, it is depressing to see opposition politicians making light of the good work the military authorities have been doing in recent years, the statement added.

BMO also decried the manner the opposition blamed the current administration for the nations challenges

As for the economy, we have a government that has twice taken the country out of recession that it could not be blamed for.

We have had a situation where the party Obi and Atiku served did nothing to wean the nation from oil for 16 years inspite of oil booms but instead left massive infrastructure deficit and a not-too-resilient economy.

inflation is a global phenomenon today and even at that, the countrys current rate is at same level with what it was in 2005 when the PDP Presidential candidate who is making lots of promises was Vice President.

It was also a period when PDP introduced commercial tricycle popularly known as Keke NAPEP as a one- size-fits all poverty eradication solution compared to the basket of initiatives which the Buhari-era National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) represents.

We need to remind Nigerians how In 2012, there were 112m out of a population of 167m people living below the poverty threshold and that was a time of sustained period of higher oil prices with no covid-19 or a Russia- Ukraine war creating havoc anywhere in the world.

BMO maintained that the Buhari administration has done far more than previous administrations with little resources. (NAN)
ABI

Source: NAN News

The Nigeria Immigration Service captures a Nigerian in Padova during FG consular intervention to Padova Province, Italy

(NAN) ()

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

ByLizzy Okoji

The Malaysian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gloria Tiwet, says no fewer than 13,000 Nigerians study annually in her country, signalling robust bilateral relations between the two countries.

Tiwet made this known on Tuesday, at the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) Alumni Programme 2022 in Abuja.

She noted that the numbers of Nigerian students to Malaysia had started to pick again following a disruption of academic exercise; as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before COVID-19, every year, we had a total of 13,000 Nigerian students.

During COVID-19, there was no movement, so there was zero students because most of them would have returned to Nigeria.

Starting this year,, our borders have been opened since April, and right now, we have around 4,000 Nigerian students who returned to continue their studies and there are also very few who are just starting their universities.

So, right now, there is around 4,000 and I look forward to the numbers to increase to the numbers before COVID-19, that is, 13,000. Every year, there was 13,000 students, Tiwet said.

Tiwet who also noted that Malaysia was one of the top destinations for Nigerian students said the numbers of students received in Malaysia were either sponsored by their parents, the Government of Nigeria, or Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).

She also noted that the concerns of students were adequately handled and responded to, by relevant authorities and the schools.

So, their affairs are under their respective universities or colleges that they study. And these universities are responsible for their wellbeing.

And if they have any difficulties, they are to inform the security. But of course, in an institution of higher learning, they have a department of student affairs that will have check and balance and to see that they are good students, she added.

Tiwet said the MTCP was established in 1980 in the spirit of South-South Cooperation, adding that the programme was a proof of the commitment of the government of Malaysia towards the promotion of technical cooperation among developing countries.

She said that the programme offered support to areas where Malaysia had experience and expertise.

She said that since its establishment, Malaysia had extended trainings to 144 recipient countries and a total number of 34,000 people have benefited, including Nigerians.

Tiwet disclosed that 495 Nigerian officials have participated in the programme amongst those from the 144 countries.

President of MTCP Alumni, Solomon Adams, said the trainings had been very impactful and very helpful in their various offices.

And, it has impacted us positively. We wish to state categorically clear, that we hope that in the future, we are going to have more of our citizens benefit from this training, Adams said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the event, in its third edition witnessed the provision of food items to individuals by the MTCP Alumni, with support from the government of Malaysia. (NAN) ()

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Edited by Olabisi Akinbode/Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Edeki Igafe

A socio-political group, South-South Movement for Tinubu/Shettima, has urged Nigerians to shun campaigns of calumny against the candidacy of Sen. Bola Tinubu and his running mate Sen. Kashim Shettima of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The group made the call in a communique issued at the end of its meeting on Monday in Warri and made available to newsmen.

The communique was jointly signed by the groups National Coordinator, Besidone Eyengho; Dr Emem Wills, National Secretary; Thank God Deizigha, National Organising Secretary; Nwulu Uche, National Publicity Secretary; George Ogaga State Coordinator and Abu Momodu a Member.

The meeting was attended by the senatorial coordinators and delegates from the six states in the South-South geo-political zone.

The group in the communique, described the campaign of calumny against Tinubu/Shettima as part of the antics of desperate and drowning politicians.

It said that Tinubu/Shettima ticket was the best choice and answer to the multi-faceted problems confronting the country.

The group also called on stakeholders in the South-South region to embrace the ticket to guarantee a prosperous Nigeria.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu is hale, hearty, agile and fit to tackle the challenges and demands of a prosperous Nigeria.

Sincere and concerted efforts should be made to return the South-South fully into the mainstream of national politics in order to ensure meaningful and accelerated development in the region.

The Tinubu/Shettima ticket will return the country to a path of sustainable peace, socioeconomic growth and development, it said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Benson Iziama/Olagoke Olatoye

Source: NAN News

By Funmilayo Adeyemi/ Folashade Akpan

Port Harcourt, Aug. 30, 2022 (NAN) Imo and Ekiti rank the lowest in the number of out-of-school children in the country with one per cent and two per cent respectively, according to United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

The Chief of Measurement for Results (M4R) UNICEF, Mr Claes Johanson, gave the figures on Tuesday at a two-day Media Dialogue on the Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey 6 (MIC6) Results in Port Harcourt.

Also, the 2018 statistics indicated that Abia, Kwara, Enugu, Bayelsa, FCT and Ekiti were topping other states with the lowest number out-of-school children.

He said that 27 per cent of children aged seven to 14 years have foundational reading skills while only 25 per cent are with foundational numeracy skills.

Johanson, however, stated that the MIC6 had helped in fishing out data in every sector that would help in analysing how things were working and why they were not working.

He said, The lowest out-of-school rates are found in Ekiti (two per cent), and Imo (one per cent). The highest rates are in Kebbi (65 per cent), Zamfara (61 per cent) and Bauchi (61 per cent).

Johanson said that the MIC6 results showed that Kebbi, Zamfara and Bauchi States have the highest number of out-of-school with 65, per cent, 61 per cent and 61 per cent respectively.

According to him, the figures indicate that Nigeria has not seen improvement in the number of out-of-school in the past five years and should begin to improve on this area.

It would be recalled that the data on the 2018 Digest of Basic Education Statistics by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) showed that Kano, Akwa Ibom, Katsina, Kaduna, Taraba, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara and Bauchi were having the highest figures.

The MIC6 cleared many things. In education and health, weve seen some of the most important findings. There is a good news, weve seen that fewer children under five were dying.

A large percentage of this is driven by increase in immunisation.

So, we had only 34 per cent children immunised five years ago. But now, we have 57 per cent, which really calls for celebration.

It is something we should really be happy about.

We also see that there is room for improvement everywhere particularly in education.

For the first time, we are looking at children that are actually learning, and we see that only 25 per cent have foundational numeracy.

One out of four children does not even go to school, so, the number of out-of-school children is still one in four and thats the same as five years ago.

So, continuing education is the most important thing, he said.

Johanson stated that the girl-child education plays a huge impact on every sector from health to the education of the child.

Hence, there is the need for policy makers to step in, to address problems that may emanate from inadequate focus on education, he said.

According to him, Sokoto has improved in the area of child marriage as a result of the level of education, urging journalists to report on the MIC6 results.

He stated that such reports would make other states with high out-of-school figures learn from the activities of states improving in this regard.

Overall, we see that the child marriage dropped a lot in Sokoto State. It used to be one in four, but now, it shows that one in three girls can marry before the age of 18.

Sokoto has improved on that more than the other states. As such, we are here with the media to look at the why this has happened, he said.

According to Johanson, UNICEF is working with the government to use the MIC6 to inform programmes and learn about what the country can do differently.

Similarly, the UNICEF Communication Specialist, Geoffrey Njoku, said that MICS 6 was an improvement on previous five years, which had presented indices on poor performance on health, education and other areas of SDGs in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Njoku stated that the media dialogue was organised to look into factors responsible for the poor indices specifically and why some lingering challenges still remained in some parts of the country.

We have some good figures and we also have some that are not so good, so, we want to know why some of these indices are not very good.

We have to look at it from: could it be as a result of wrong identification of application of funds or non-application and wrong identification of where to apply the funds, he said.

Njoku described political will as essential with marked resources to intervene with positive impact that would yield better results on the SDGs.

He, therefore, called for more actions and better interventions to make significant difference in reducing the number of out-of-school children in states with prevalence.

Good, we say that out-of-school is decreasing, but in absolute numbers we have a population growth that swallows up and minimises the results, he said.

Njoku said the dialogue was held to get good and better results five years from now on health, education and SDGs through reports in various media platforms.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the dialogue brought together over 40 journalists covering the education and health beats from different media organisations across the country. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Folorunso Poroye/Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News