By Naomi Sharang

Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, Director-General National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), has urged African parliamentarians to act fast in tackling insecurity on the continent.

He made the call on Tuesday, in Abuja during a working visit to NILDS by a delegation from the Ethiopian Oromia Regional Parliament led by the Speaker, Seada Abdurahman.

Receiving the delegation, Sulaiman said that Africa as a continent is facing a lot challenges bothering on security, development and good governance.

There is no country in Africa today that is immune to insecurity in one way the other; be it on religious fundamentalism or ethnic secession.

We are facing a lot of challenges bothering on terrorism; issues of economic growth and development; a lot of people are jobless and issues of unemployed youths, out of school children and starvation.

Within the context of Afrocentric policy, the era of looking onto our colonial powers has gone.

We must device African solution to African problems, Sulaiman said.

He further said that it was high time for African governments to look onto ourselves as Africa.

That is why a lot of innovations, Conventions and Protocols came up that Africa must develop Africa panacea to addressing Africans problem.

We must find a way to most of these problems.

On some of its legislative interventions in tackling insecurity in Nigeria, Sulaiman said that NILDS had in the last one year, partnered with donor agencies like Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (German Foundation) in coming up with bills to solve insecurity.

He said, We also partnered with the Office of the Speaker House of Representatives to review the security sector regime.

While saying that the essence of democracy is to ensure good governance, Sulaiman added that it was essential for stakeholders to identify what the problems are.

He said that the initiative had produced nine new bills for the Nigerian Parliament which tend to examine the security problems facing the country.

The director-general listed the bills to include: the Armed Forces Amendment Bill; Proliferation of Small Arms Bill and National Security and Civil Defence Bill.

Sulaiman also noted that Nigeria and Ethiopia share a lot in common in terms of population, culture, religion and in terms of long years of struggle for emancipation.

Nigeria is the largest country in Africa with about 200 million people while Ethiopia is the second largest in Africa with almost 120 million people.

The two countries share a lot of diversity in terms of multiplicity of ethnic groups. In Nigeria we have more than 250 ethnic groups while Ethiopia, that is Oromia region alone has above 80 ethnic groups.

As such, if you have decided to visit us in the institute, that idea is not out of place. We welcome you to our institute, he said.

In her remarks, the speaker of the Ethiopian Oromia Regional Parliament, Abdurahma, commended NILDS for the administrative support to the parliamentarians and the standing committees of the house.

Abdurahman who spoke through an interpreter said the Ethiopian regional council is very grateful to the institute. We will work closely with NILDs and we will take the lesson learnt back to our country.

She assured of strengthening bilateral-relationship between Ethiopia and Nigeria.

On his part, Mr Mamush Lellisa, Director of Capacity Building of the Ethiopian Regional Parliament, said they were in Nigeria to garner experience from the legislative institution.

We will use the experience gained to improve on our democratic practices, he said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Defence and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA) is to establish an ultramodern Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) facility to cater for members of the armed forces.

The President of DEPOWA and wife of the Chief of Defence Staff, Mrs Vickie Irabor, said this while briefing newsmen in Tuesday in Abuja.

PTSD is a mental health condition that is triggered by a terrifying event experienced or witnessed with symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.

Irabor said the association had over the years, noted the physical, mental and psychological challenges faced by personnel of the armed forces while securing the nation.

She said that while there are regular hospitals to take care of physical injuries sustained by personnel on the frontline, there remained a huge gap in mental health responses globally, including Nigeria.

According to her, the gap is more noticeable in the treatment, management, and rehabilitation of PTSD for troops dealing with very traumatic conditions on the frontlines.

DEPOWA is therefore embarking on the setting up of a novel, fully equipped, and World class PTSD Diagnostic, Treatment, Rehabilitation and Research Centre at Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment, Giri, Abuja.

This project has secured relevant stakeholder buy-in and will continue to require more stakeholder engagement to serve the communities intended.

With the full support of Nigerias Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs, and other stakeholders, the centre will help to evaluate, counsel and provide adequate support to personnel and by extension, their families before reintegration from conflict zones.

This facility will also serve as a repository for research on mental health challenges in the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

The project when completed, with Phase one proposed to be commissioned by April 2023, will ultimately enhance national, regional, and global stability.

It will as well help boost military capability thereby contributing to the worldwide fight against terrorism.

We also believe that establishing this facility will be a step towards ensuring the stability of military families, she said.

Mrs Irabor said that DEPOWA realised that the establishment of PTSD centre would also help to support the women, personnel and vulnerable groups impacted by the ongoing war against insurgency.

She said the personnel that had been deployed to the frontlines had suffered physical injuries and suppressed emotional trauma, built from experiences in the field.

According to her, these experiences going unchecked have led to damning consequences in the military community.

The DEPOWA president solicited for sensitization by the government and relevant stakeholders on mental health acceptance, PTSD treatment and anti-stigmatisation, to enable personnel submit to specialist care.

She also called on all Nigerians, private sector, NGOs, development partners and stakeholders to join DEPOWA in its campaign to actualise the dream of an Armed Forces PTSD Centre.

Consequently, we the wives of our gallant soldiers have decided not to sit and watch but mobilize timely intervention towards reducing the impact of such trauma on our personnel.

We have advocated for the establishment of an Armed Forces PTSD Centre for Diagnosis, Treatment, Rehabilitation and Research in Nigeria.

It is our desire to have a reintegration structure for our husbands that ensures they return to us in good health and total wellness.

We have therefore invited you here today, to join us as partners in this very important project, to boost the morale of our troops on the frontlines by saying thank you to them for all the sacrifices in the defence of our fatherland.

Join us today toandin support of the PTSD project, she added. (NAN)()

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

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Source: NAN News

Professor Emmanuel Ameh, a Paediatric Surgeon at National Hospital, Abuja, has stressed the need for adequate attention and care to end preventable mortalities among babies born with cleft.

Ameh made the call at the sideline of a two- day Nationwide Media workshop organised by Smile Train, the world largest cleft-focused Organisation in Abuja.

According to him, the biggest challenge facing cleft treatment in Nigeria is the lack of adequate awareness and firsthand knowledge on how to handle these babies, especially those with breathing difficulties.

Some of these babies die before they get to the hospital due to malnourishment, lack of proper care, the manner in which they are handled even in tertiary hospitals can be detrimental to their health and may cause death.

One of the things we are trying to do is to train staff, especially the nurses, community health officers, local birth attendants who will in turn train the women on how to identify cleft cases in new-borns and identify those with breathing problems in good time.

Ameh, also the Chief Consultant at the Hospital, said Smile Train was making available basic equipment to ensure cleft babies breathe well at the point of identification before getting to go for surgeries.

Smile Train has also established a helpline and these persons will be trained on how to get help via contacting the helpline, he said.

Ameh stressed the need for legislations at state levels to ensure that the state governments are investing in cleft care training and equipment for cleft lips and palette treatments.

We need to train a lot more personnel for the position of nurses and medical professionals, because we have young people who are interested but have no support for training, he added.

Dr Amina Abubakar, Consultant Plastic Surgeon, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, said that stigma, unfounded myths and misinformation around Cleft are the reason why Cleft lip and palette patients suffer.

According to her, Smile Train had done a lot to support, from providing 100 per cent free surgeries to provision of training, funding and resources to empower local medical professionals on proper care for cleft patients.

No child born with Cleft should die in 300 corrective surgeries done, I have never lost any cleft patient, I can say it is a 100 per cent guarantee of successful surgeries.

Most times, when we go into the communities for awareness about Cleft, we find that indigenes are not willing to present their relatives or loved ones for help due to a lot of traditional beliefs.

This needs to stop, Cleft is a birth defect with yet to be identified causes and not a curse. It is not caused by sins of parents and is corrective, they can live normal and happy lives if well managed, she added.

Emily Manjeru, the Public Relations and Communications Manager of the Organisation, reiterated its commitment towards making sure that babies born with these abnormalies were given adequate treatment, get their voices and confidence back and become big achievers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that cleft lip and palate is a gap or split in the upper lip or roof of the mouth, which is mostly present from birth. (NAN)

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Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Kadiri Abdulrahman

The Director of Trade and Exchange Department, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr Ozoemena Nnaji, says there is urgent need to diversify the Nigerian economy to spur growth.

Nnaji made the call at the 33rd Seminar for Finance Correspondents and Business Editors in Abuja.
She said that the status of Nigeria as a mono-product economy had been detrimental to economic growth.

She described a mono-product economy as one that depends on a single product or resource for economic growth and development.

She said that the concept could further be referred to a case where a country depended on a single product for sales or exports for for 70 per cent of its budget funding.

According to her, a mono-product economy is unstable.

An increase or decrease in the world price of the product will affect the budget of the economy.

It may witness a high percentage of unemployment; it is import-dependent and cannot stand on its own.

It weakens the foreign exchange base of the countrys economy, she said.

She said that such an economy weakend local production of goods that were imported into the country.

In addition to importing finished goods, a country may also import inflation and other economic effects she said.

She said that oil and gas accounted for 90 per cent of export income and 85 per cent of government revenue in the first quarter of 2022.

According to her, that makes Nigeria a mono-product economy, owing to its dependence on oil and gas.

She added that a more committed engagement in agriculture would grow the economy faster.

Nigeria is a hugely agrarian economy which vast arable land, and with a large portion of the population into subsistence agriculture.

Only less than 40 per cent of the vast arable land is cultivated, she said.

She said that the overbearing impact of the oil sector on the nations economy exposed the country to external shocks whenever there is change in price.

To insulate the Nigerian economy from the shocks and FX shortages, there is need to develop new strategies.

It should be aimed at earning more stable and sustainable inflows of FX through diversification of the non-oil export sector, she said.

She added that diversification would guarantee sectoral dependence and balance in the economy.

According to Nnaji, the need for more sources of export products to reduce importation of goods and services that can be produced locally makes diversification imperative.

Promotion of international trade that will lead to balance of payment position; the need for a dynamic economy capable of absorbing shocks while maintaining full employment.

The need for a high rate of economic growth and development, she said (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Olasunkanmi Onifade

National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), has inaugurated a committee on restructuring and vacancy creation.to address the challenge of stagnation, especially for research officers.

This is in statement signed by the press secretary to the Director- General of the agency, Mrs Toyin Omozuwa , on Monday in Abuja.

The Director-General of the Agency, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, enjoined the committee to adopt the new scheme of service as approved by the Head of Service.

The Chairman, Establishment Committee, Member, NABDA Governing Board, Baba Shehu, applauded the efforts of the D-G in restructuring the agency for seamless career progression and workplace efficiency.

The committees terms of reference include; adopting the new conditions of service, addressing the challenge of stagnation, and creating additional departments.

The committee recommended the creation of additional service and technical departments such as: Planning, General Services, Procurement and Service Innovation on Bio-entrepreneurship.

Furthermore, Heads of Departments appointment would henceforth be rotational.

Members of the Restructuring Committee include the Director- General, Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHETSCO), Prof. Paul Oyenekwe, Member, NABDA Governing Board, Chief Livinus Opuakpa and Secretary General, Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI), Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku.

Others are Director, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, representative from the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Mrs Ronnel Dola, and NABDA Directors.

This restructuring is one among many initiatives of the Director- General to advance the agency since his appointment in Nov., 2020

NABDA carries out well- focused research and development in biotechnology in priority areas of food and agriculture, health, industry and environment and other strategic sectors for National development. (NAN)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

By Olawale Alabi

A former Director of Sports in Katsina State, Aliyu Kofar-Soro, has urged the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, to take urgent steps to save football in Nigeria.

Kofar-Soro told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja that the football sport needed Dares urgent intervention in order to save it from a collapse.

He said it was important to do so now that President Muhammadu Buhari has given the minister the approval to implement the 10-year Football Development Master Plan.

Since he (Dare) already has the go-ahead from Mr President to implement the 10-year Football Development Masterplan in the country, he should kindly take immediate steps to save our football from total collapse, Kofar-Soro said.

He added that the only way to save the game is for the Minister to ensure that the present executive committee of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) stepped aside.

The Executive Committee and its members have to leave, just as the federations President, Amaju Pinnick, did, the former Director of Sports said.

He stated that failure of the executive committee to leave would be a sign that Nigerian foot ball is on a time bomb.

Kofar-Soro, who is a retired football referee and Match Commissioner, said doing as demanded would ensure that the Minister would be leaving behind a legacy whenever he was leaving office.

You (Dare) have to do this so that Nigerians will for ever remember you.

The former Katsina State Director of Sports also advised that the NFF Statutes needed to be amended before the forthcoming elections.

NAN reports that elections into the NFF Executive Committee have been slated for Sept. 30 in Benin.

We have one million and one Nigerians that can move the game of football forward. Nigerians are tired of the present executive committee.

Please, Honourable Minister, rescue us from untimely death that can arise as a result of the high blood pressure and cardiac arrest that can afflict us as a result of the maladministration we are presently seeing, Kofar-Soro said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Olawale Alabi

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Afonne

The Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Integrity Watch (CeFTIW) says it has developed a portal that hosts information on grand corruption-related probes in the country made public between 1999 and 2022.

A statement on Sunday by Mr Victor Agi, Head, Public Affairs, CeFTIW, stated that the effort was to deepen democracy and enhance transparency in the countrys democratic process.

Agi said the portal would be unveiled for public viewing on Aug. 31 in Abuja.

We are therefore concerned, first and foremost about the abuse of constitutional processes in which case probe panels are constituted and abandoned halfway.

Agi said that the move was also to draw the attention of all concerned stakeholders to the litany of abandoned probes for them to take advantage of the portal and data to demand transparency and accountability from the leaders.

One of the oversight functions performed by the three arms of government is the constitution of probe panels to check, investigate and scrutinise the actions and inactions of government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and public office holders.

These probes are often also constituted to ensure that laws are adequately implemented, to curb power abuse and prevent public sector corruption.

The non-implementation of some probe committees reports in the country is a source of concern to the centre.

The continuous defiance of government institutions and public officers to extant laws in this regard will continue to weaken our democratic processes.

He said it was common to come across media reports of probe panels constituted by different authorities across the three arms of government to investigate allegations of grand corruption and misconduct by public service holders.

According to Inhim, in most cases, the probe panels have clear terms of reference, but Nigerians are left in the dark about their findings, actions and when their reports are concluded and submitted.

He urged lawmakers at the federal and state Houses of Assembly to be diligent in their constitutional assignments, having derived their oversight powers from the 1999 Constitution in sections 88, 89, 128 and 129.

The Constitution empowers the National Assembly to set up investigative panels on any matter or thing with respect to which it has powers to make laws in order to expose corruption.

It also has powers to expose inefficiency or waste in the execution or administration of laws within its legislative competence and in the disbursement or administration of funds appropriated by it

This is also true of the judiciary, led by the National Judicial Commission, which has also severally constituted probe panels as a self-cleansing mechanism to deter lawyers and legal practitioners from acting corruptly and punishing infractions.

He, however, urged the executive arm of government not to disregard sanctions and recommendations of probe panels in order not to make a charade of the constitutional process. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuella Onah

Some residents of Kubwa in Bwari Area Council of the FCT have decried the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the area, which has become a menace.

The residents, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), described the development as worrisome, adding that it would have an adverse effect on their health.

Mrs Christiana Ezeala, a trader in Kubwa Ultra modern Market, decried that the odor coming from the waste was unhealthy and was an eyesore.

She said, the act was caused by the residents that show little or no concern over the issue not minding the health threats.

Ezeala also called on the government and other relevant bodies to seek possible solutions to the impending problem.

The government should issue orders to stop the dumping of refuse in the market and surrounding environment, this situation is very bad and not healthy for the resident, Ezeala said.

Mrs Cordelia Ezeugwu said that dumping of waste make the environment unkempt and very unhealthy.

She said, the act of dumping refuse indiscriminately was terrible and people have become comfortable living in a dirty environment, which was worrisome.

The residents have grown to enjoy sleeping and leaving around a dirty environment without feeling irritated and disgusted.

This act needs to stop, residents need to understand that we are humans and our health comes first.

This issue cant be eradicated by the government alone, it all starts with us, Ezeugwu said.

Mr Chibuzor Eloka, the maintenance Engineer of Kubwa Ultra modern market, said that the issue of refuse dump inside and outside the market environment was out of hand.

Eloka said, the government was also having a hard time eradicating waste in our environment today.

He said that the market managers were doing their own quota by hiring trucks for the market since they cant afford to pay tippers anymore.

Dealing with humans is not an easy task. Even though we enforce no dumping of dirt order, nobody will obey it, thats how they are.

We are trying our best, the problem of waste in the market is from the constructors of the market as they didnt plan a place for waste.

The managers have ordered a truck to pack out the dirt from the market environment to a place that does not discomfort humans, Eloka said.

Jennifer Ike, said that the issue could only be eradicated if the residents come together and decide we want a conducive environment. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

By Bridget.Ikyado /Emmanuella Onah

A parent, Mrs Deborah Agim, has advised parents to monitor and assist their children reach the peak of their dream careers, as it enhances excellence in nation building.

She spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday when the children at St. Lukes Catholic Parish, Kubwa-Abuja, celebrated their 2022 Career and Harvest day celebration.

Agim, who doubles as the Churchs 2022 harvest committee chairperson said it was time to correct a lot of issues in the country.

She said, we have the youths placed where they dont want to be and hence they were not productive.

According to her, children should be encouraged to follow their dreams and aspirations, to get better results in the different sectors of the economy.

The purpose of putting this up as one of our harvest activities is for us to draw the children closer to participate in the harvest activity this year.

We want the children to educate the crowd. We want people to know what their children and wards can do

We do not only have professionals for white collar jobs ,but we have other professions like the farmers, entrepreneurs and the likes.

Secondly, the aim is to build boldness in the children, you could see how articulate and bold these children were when they were talking before the congregation in the church.

That will be able to instill in them courage. We encourage other children to key into this when next we call children for other activities.

She said that discipline and boldness had been instilled in some of the children and we are teaching them how to stand before a crowd and talk without fear and intimidation.

She said all the crafts and displays from children were to encourage self reliance and ensure they avoided peer group influence.

In his sermon, the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Tyolumun urged Christians to practice the act of charity as it was rewarding.

He said, there was always someone who is better than we are,; nobody in this world do not know what poverty is about.

I call on my friends to be in humble union and reach out to the needy.

Let us create resources and employment for the poor. If you have resources from time to time, organize things for those who are poor.

Invite them to come to your place so that they can see that you are not only privileged but humble.

He encouraged those who were privileged to come to God, so that they can see His goodness in their lives through Christ, our Lord. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

A News Analysis by Taiye Olayemi, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Nigerians struggling with consumption and use of locally made products has been a great challenge for the country.

Nigerians seem not to understand that patronising locally made products will boost the nations Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

This simple act has transformed the economy of great nations of the world like China, Japan, UnitedStates of America, France and Germany, just to mention a few.

The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) has taken the campaign for the need to patronise local products to the next level, which is evident at the just concluded 35th International Arts and Crafts Expo (INAC), in Abuja.

NCAC took advantage of the expo which attracted delegates from over 26 countries and 15 states to sensitise Nigerians on the advantages of embracing local products.

This was done through consumption of local drinks and cuisines by both local and international delegates.

Kunu, Tigernut, Zobo drinks, Ofada rice, and other major delicacies were served to the delegates.

With the theme of the expo, Networking Nigerian Crafts to the World, NCAC went ahead to exhibit local crafts, arts, fabrics, and also indigenous engine oil manufacturers.

The expo held from Aug. 18 to Aug. 20 at Sheraton Hotel in Abuja.

In a bid to promote reading culture among the Nigerian youth, NCAC also encouraged exhibitors to display books of African authors.

Nigerian musical bands and artistes were not also left out. The delegates were thrilled with indigenous music peculiar to Nigeria and Africa.

Alhaji Ado Yahuza, Executive Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), urged Nigerians take conscious efforts in patronising local products.

He said Nigeria is well endowed with various nutritious cuisines which can be developed and exported to boost the nations foreign exchange earnings.

Nigeria is so blessed with different kinds of delicacies, let us all work on embracing our products, project them for international acceptance and then make money from it, he said.

Chief Olusegun Runsewe, NCACs Director-General, said the focus on consuming and exhibiting local produce was a deliberate move like the previous years to further drive home the need to patronise the nations products.

Runsewe said that INAC is organised annually with the aim of showcasing the rich and unique collections of African arts and crafts and as an avenue to promote rural economy.

He said Nigerians must be aware that expos are good avenue for product launch.

He noted that he deliberately wanted to make culture Nigerias new oil by taking conscious efforts in projecting the countrys diverse crafts and arts.

Runsewe urged Nigerians to invest in branding local produce for export, adding that good packaging will attract the needed audience.

The expo is meant to promote importation and exportation of arts and crafts to international communities.

We also aim at sensitising investors on the need to invest in the arts and crafts sector as a way of encouraging enterprise development and export oriented production.

We are also looking at establishing an international arts and craft market in the African region, we want to attract international investment in line with governments development agenda, he said.

Runsewe said that the creative industry should be seen as Nigerias new oil, capable of creating huge employment opportunities, tackling the nations security problem and engaging the youthmeaningfully.

We can address the problem of insecurity and youth restiveness in this sector, if we can get things right by believing in our products and our skills, taking them to the next step, he said.

Runsewe also took opportunity of the platform to woo investors and tourists to Nigeria, adding that Nigeria is a safe country with lots of opportunities.

The expo which also featured a skills acquisition programme empowered no fewer than 137 youths in skills like bead making, body ornaments, gele making, and makeup.

12-year-old Munachi Okoronkwo of Federal Government Girls College, Bwari, who was mandated from school to learn a skill during the summer holiday was elated with the skill she acquired.

Also, Mrs Patience Ameh, who learnt bead making and body ornaments said the three-day skills acquisition programme was quite effective as she could independently produce neck pieces and beaded slippers.

According to Ameh, she sold some of the slippers she made and looks forward to generating revenue from it and converting it to her business.(NANFeatures) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Folasade Adeniran

Source: NAN News