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

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

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

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

• failed businesses

• hopeless situations

• affliction, sicknesses

• depression

• failed marriages

• lost hope / marriage delays

• unanswered prayers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prayers

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sehinde Afolayan, the CEO of Haul247

By Lucy Ogalue

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Edited by Vivian Ihechu

Source: NAN News

By Adebola Adegoke

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Salif Atojoko

Source: NAN News

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

By Abujah Racheal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Solution stories add more value and increase engagement.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Edited by Vincent Obi

Source: NAN News

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

By Rukayat Moisemhe

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Salif Atojoko

Source: NAN News

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu

By Florence Onuegbu

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

Source: NAN News

By Deborah Coker

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Edited by Vincent Obi

Source: NAN News

Gov. Godwin Obaseki

By Nefishetu Yakubu

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Workers will now work from home two days every week.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Edited by Adeleye Ajayi

Source: NAN News

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

By Philip Yatai

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

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

Corruption is a dream killer, ICPC boss tells youths

Corruption

By Isaac Aregbesola

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Edited by Vincent Obi

Source: NAN News

Amb. Bolaji Akinremi, Director, Trade and Economic Relations in the Ministry (R) and Ms. Hanneke Schuiling, Vice-Minister for Foreign Trade of the Kingdom of the Netherland at the opening of the Economic Consultation on Tuesday

By Lizzy Okoji

The Federal Government and the Kingdom of Netherlands have engaged in an Economic Consultation to modernize the existing bilateral investment treaty between both countries to strengthen economic interest and opportunities.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Adamu Lamuwa, at the opening of the Economic Consultation on Tuesday in Abuja, said that discussion would also be opened or the establishment of a joint Bi-national Commission.

Lamuwa, who was represented Amb. Bolaji Akinremi, Director, Trade and Economic Relations in the Ministry, said that the Economic Consultation was timely as rebuilding the nations economy is the focus of the new administration.

This gathering of professionals would foster productive dialogue on Nigeria-Netherlands Economic Cooperation, the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA), Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (ADTA), and other legal frameworks.

During this Economic Consultation, Nigeria is willing to explore further, areas of economic cooperation with the Netherlands in Agricultural value chain, secular economy, renewable energy, waterways management and water scarcity.

Other areas are Oil and Gas, Special Economic Zones, African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Trade facilitation in Western Africa, Science, Technology and Innovations (STI) Education and Health

Mines and Metallurgy, Arts and Crafts, Tourism, Creative and Entertainment Industry, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Aviation, Anti-Money Laundry and Counter Financing Terrorism (AML/CFT) / General Security matters. Digital Economy and FINTECH,

He noted that in spite of the longstanding bilateral relations between Nigeria and the Netherlands there was no Joint/Bi-National Commission Agreement between the two countries.

Negotiation for the establishment of a Joint Commission has been inconclusive since 1987.

Against this background, the Government of Nigeria would like to reopen the negotiation for the establishment of a Joint/Bi-National Commission Agreement, as this would further consolidate and boost the relations between the two countries, Lamuwa said.

Ms. Hanneke Schuiling, Vice-Minister for Foreign Trade of the Kingdom of the Netherlands said the Dutch government attaches importance strengthening bilateral economic relationship with Nigeria, its fifth trading partner in Africa.

Schuiling said that updating and modernizing the investment agreement between both countries will create a more stable and predictable investment environment.

In this regard we see a high potential in four areas in particular: agriculture, IT, healthcare and renewable energy.

As you may be aware, the current treaty was signed in 1992. Since then, both countries have experienced significant changes in their approach to international investments which can be adopted into a new treaty.

It is important to modernize our treaty to reflect these changes. A modernized treaty can also foster stronger economic relations between our two nations.

I hope we can seize the opportunity to mutually agree on a new investment treaty, that reflects the evolving economic landscape and guarantees a fair and transparent investment climate for both parties.

Firstly, we recognize the importance of promoting and protecting investments in both our countries. It is important that we facilitate investments and that we provide a transparent legal framework to investors. This will be crucial to fostering investor confidence.

At the same time, we need to ensure that our respective governments right to regulate is enshrined in the treaty.

Secondly, incorporating sustainable development and responsible business conduct in this treaty is another element that we feel is very important. These topics are increasingly important in trade and investment agreements. .

Thirdly, it is our ambition to include provisions for transparent and predictable dispute settlement procedures. This will provide both governments and investors with greater certainty and confidence in the investment process, Schuiling said.

Dr Bashir Jamoh, Director-General, Nigeria Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA), said that the Agency looked to partnering with the Netherlands as a maritime nation to develop Nigerias blue economy to becoming the nations main source of revenue.

What we are advocating now is the issue of the blue economy, and already, the Federal Government has inaugurated a committee to look into ways of harnessing our blue economy.

The Netherlands having being a maritime nation, they owe it a duty to join hands together and see how we can continue to build and expand our own fleets, the ships, small ships, the fishing trollers, passenger ferries, instead of using small canoes that every day we record accidents.

The fishing industry used to give Nigeria the second largest income, today, because of the extinction of these fishing trollers we no longer have any sizeable income from our fishing.

We are doing what we can explore from the over 2.5 trillion dollars worth of ocean resources, Jamoh said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 35 Ministries, Department, and Agencies (MDAs), the Lagos State Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN) would be participating in the three-day economic consultation. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

Mrs Jane Ahmed, Competition Secretary of the Women Section of IBB Golf Club (First Left)

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

The Ladies Section of the IBB International Golf and Country Club says 30 female caddies will be engaged to enhance professionalism in the game.

Lady Captain of the club, Mrs Comfort Olateju, said this at the celebration of the International Women Golf Day on Wednesday in Abuja.

The celebration, with the theme: Be the best version of yourself that you can be, was organised by the Ladies Section of the Club.

Olateju said to achieve the theme of the celebration, there was need to involve caddies to play with.

This is because we want to empower and celebrate female golfers around the world and we want a kind of empowerment that will be sustainable.

There is going to be a lecture and programme where each woman player will be encouraged to adopt a caddy and empower her in the area of mentorship.

Let me also add that playing golf is an exercise; as you walk and go round, you are seeing the trees and nature that improve our health,Olateju said.

Similarly, the Vice Lady Captain of the club, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, said there were young girls that played as professionals and some playing to become professionals.

Here in IBB, we encourage as many young girls as possible to come out and play golf as their male counterparts, and as a matter of fact, we are going to sponsor some of them, she said.

In the same vein, the competition Secretary for the Ladies Section, Mrs Jane Ahmed, said the celebration of the International Women Golf Day started in 2017.

The whole idea of this years celebration is to empower girls and for ladies to network; so the day is for uniting, bringing in new golfers, networking and empowering the young ones.

So we in the IBB and Ladies Section have chosen to empower female caddies, because, you must start from your immediate environment.

We have 30 female caddies and we have chosen to see how we can sit together and help them in their individual circumstances.

This is the first time we are doing this, and we hope it will yield fruits, Ahmed said.

One of the female caddies, Miss Hanatu Timothy, a champion for Carddies from Adamawa, said she was happy to play in the Ladys Day.

She expressed optimism thatOlateju, Okah-Donli, Ahmed and others would empower her and her fellow caddies to take their game to the professional level. (NAN)

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Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

Promoting disease control through hand hygiene culture

By Racheal Abuja, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

According to UNICEF nine out of 10 schools in Nigeria have no handwashing facilities for students. This, according to the UN agency, does not augur well for the fight against infectious diseases.

UNICEF said in a report that in 2018, only 21 per cent of Nigerians had access to basic handwashing facilities at home adding, that the figure dropped to 16 per cent in 2019.

The global response efforts to the COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented hand hygiene culture, yet, progress remains far too slow for the most vulnerable and underserved communities, UNICEF said.

A Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, UNICEF said, showed that while more than half of Ghanaian households have designated places for washing hands, only about one household out of every five has water or other cleansing agents available at home.

Nigerias statistics is even worse when compared to the less developed countries, where only 7 out of 10 schools lack basic hand washing facilities.

Experts say hand hygiene reduces the transmission of communicable diseases. Therefore, poor hand hygiene practice in schools, workplaces, homes and marketplaces even in hospitals remains a public health challenge.

The World Health Organisation states that 50 per cent of healthcare facilities worldwide lack basic hygiene, while about 32 per cent of healthcare facilities in Africa do not have access to hand hygiene facilities at the points of care.

Public health experts suggest that hand hygiene should be entrenched as a routine clean care habit for everyone, especially in health care facilities, schools, crowded public spaces, camps, and prisons.

According to Dr Jean Kaseya, Director-General, Africa Centre for Disease Control, hand hygiene practices are critical in reducing the transmission of infections, particularly during disease outbreaks such as Ebola, SARS, Influenza, and currently, COVID-19.

Kaseya said in a goodwill message in commemoration of 2022 world hand hygiene day that improving hand hygiene could also reduce the occurrence of diseases like diarrhoea and respiratory infections.

According to Dr Chris Eleoma, Director Community Health Services, National Primary Health Care Agency, handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of diseases and save lives.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Nigerians should build on the handwashing gains of COVID-19 to make hand hygiene a culture.

He said that there was need for more investment in water, sanitation and hygiene to help prevent the outbreak of communicable diseases in communities.

Dr Tochi Okwor said it was important to recognised that workers were at the forefront of the countrys response strategy to prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases.

Okwor is the Assistant Director, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Okwor said it was unfortunate that some health workers did not pay attention to health hygiene.

He advised them to wash their hands before touching a patient, before a clean/aseptic procedure, after body fluid exposure risk, after touching a patient and after touching the patients surroundings.

The patient is at the centre of the care. The patient could be you or me. We are either patients today or patients in the future.

We need to empower healthcare workers to do regular hand hygiene and we also need patients to get involved.

Maintaining hand hygiene does not come by accident, it is cultivated.

Dr Rita Okonkwo, Global Health Security Manager and Research Scientist, Institute of Human Virologist Nigeria (IHVN) said that there were two sides to building a culture of hand hygiene.

Okonkwo told NAN that health workers were expected to maintain a culture of hand hygiene during while giving care and support.

IHVN is using empirical data to create targeted hand hygiene interventions. Based on our assessments, we see the need to create more holistic efforts towards improving systems that sustain the culture of hand hygiene, she said.

According to experts given its importance in disease prevention and control and seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, stakeholders should take advantage of the traditional and new media to promote hand hygiene culture in Nigeria.

They also advocate that handwashing should be included in the curriculum at primary and Junior Secondary School levels so that Nigerians would inculcate the culture from young age.

They further advance that hospitals and health centres should provide handwashing facilities and make it mandatory for care givers to use them before and after attending to patients. (NANFeatures)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.

Source: NAN News

By Ibukun Emiola
Prof. Olukayode Ogunsanwo of Forest Products Utilisation, University of Ibadan (UI), has described the death of his friend, Prof. Opeyemi Ajewole, as an irreplaceable one, considering his loving nature toward all.

Ogunsanwo recounted his last moments with his best friend, Ajewole, also a lecturer in the same university, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ibadan.

NAN reports that Ajewole was killed on Monday evening by yet to be identified gunmen.

Until his death, Ajewole, aged 61, was a lecturer at the Department of Social and Environmental Forestry at the university.

NAN also reports that friends, staff members as well students, who accompanied Ogunsanwo, to the office of the deceased at the Department of Social and Environmental Forestry to pick one of his pictures for condolence register, were wailing and weeping uncontrollably .

Late Prof. Opeyemi Ajewole

Sympathizers were seen in pensive mood at the deceaseds Department and his house, as people were trooping in to mourn and testify of his good nature and lovely demeanors.

Ogunsanwo told NAN that they were both at the UI Staff Club until the deceased was ready to go home around 7.30 p.m, on the unfortunate day, saying that they could not leave together because he had a visitor from Cameroon.

When we departed, Ope went to the Department and helped to switch off my air conditioner, closed my office windows and locked the door.

He told me not to bother coming back to the office that he had helped me closed for the day, he said.

He said that he was called around some minutes to 8.00 p.m that his friend had been shot and kidnapped. I then alerted the Oyo State Security, who swung into action immediately.

I rushed to his house and met a relative who helped in buying his car, coming back with his family.

He called me aside and informed me that the police have found his body.

He said he saw his picture and confirmed to the police that he was the one they were looking for and that he was dead by then.

Ope was shot twice, the first shot was when he was abducted in front of his house and the second time was while he was being dragged into his car.

The traces of blood in front of his house was enough to have killed him, but he was shot a second time and was dropped by the roadside.

When I saw his corpse at Adeoyo, where the police took him to, he was soaked in blood from head to the toe, Ogunsanwo said.

Late Prof. Opeyemi Ajewole

He said that Ajewoles killers went away with his Toyota Camry Car, which has not been found.

I had to call his pastor and some other professors from UI at about 11.00 p.m to break the news of his death to his wife and children.

This is because they were told at the police station to go home and bring the original of his cars papers, as police did not want to break the news there, he said.

Ogunsanwo described the deceased as an easy-going, kind-hearted and warm person who does not lust for the things of the world, but always cheers people on,admonishing them to take things easy.

According to him, his death was not because he was in any shady business or had dealt with someone.

Meanwhile, Rev. Kayode Oluleye, on behalf of his family, said that further details on the burial arrangement would be announced later by the family.

With surrendered heart to God, we announce the passing to glory of Prof. Opeyemi Ajewole.
He was born on March 6, 1962 and died on June 5, 2023, Oluleye said. (NAN)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Olagoke Olatoye

Source: NAN News

PPDC logo

By Jacinta Nwachukwu

An NGO, the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) says it is necessary for government to continuously engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the dividend of democracy reaches the average Nigerian.

Mr Shittu Jubril, the Chief Executive Officer, PPDC, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

Jubril said the most transparent and governable society was possible when citizens were actively informed and engaged.

As civil society, our expectation is that the consultation which the new administration has started will continue to be all inclusive and engaging in a more transparent and cohesive manner.

This will ensure that the dividends of democracy and governance reaches the average Nigerian.

Access to information, access to the decisions that are being made and being part of the decisions are things we try to promote, he said.

Jubril said that PPDC had been in existence for 20 years as a civil society organisation promoting good governance and citizens engagement.

He added that one of the centres thematic areas was procurement covenant, saying this was about how government resources were utilised for the provision of health care, transportation and infrastructure such as schools.

According to Jubril, for government to be effective, it has to deal with the allocation of resources.

What we then do is to ensure that these allocations are transparent and accountable, and that would not exist where there is a rule of law and there is no impunity.

He, therefore, commended President Bola Tinubu for stating clearly in his inaugural speech that his administration would adhere to the rule of law. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Folasade Adeniran

Source: NAN News

Prof.-emeritus Umaru Shehu Maiduguri, Chairman, Board of Directors, IHVN

Abuja, June 6, 2023 (NAN) The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) celebrated a momentous occasion on Tuesday as it officially commissioned its newly constructed IHVN Campus.

At the ceremony in Abuja, Mr Rolf Olson, Acting United States Deputy Chief of Mission, said the commissioning of the campus provided an opportunity to reflect on past accomplishments and also set goals for what the U.S. Government would work towards within these walls in the future.

Olson said that the U.S. Governments current sub-Saharan Africa strategy reiterated its commitment to health security in the region.

He said that through its agencies like US Centre for Disease Control, it was able to work towards the vision of a world where people lived healthier, safer, and longer lives.

The US CDCs mission is to protect and improve health globally through science, policy, partnership, and evidence-based public health action.

These actions, driven by science and data, are a core component of the U.S. Governments global health diplomacy efforts in Nigeria. he said.

He said that the U.S., through its collective investments, research and programming, aimed to first impact on the health of Nigerians in a positive way and strengthen health security in the country and in the region,

He said that the third was to establish the country as a leader in public health science and practice.

Through partnerships with the Government of Nigeria, civil society partners, and communities, we work towards that first goal- to save lives, improve health outcomes and foster healthy populations, he added.

The Chief Executive Officer, IHVN, Dr Patrick Dakum, expressed gratitude to all those who contributed to the realisation of the ambitious project.

Dakum highlighted the growth of IHVN since its establishment in 2004, emphasising its leadership role in providing quality health services, capacity building and research in the country.

The IHVN Campus, located in the heart of the country, would now serve as the headquarters of the institute.

The first phase of the project, which was officially completed and opened during the ceremony, includes a seven-story edifice comprising the International Research Centre of Excellence (IRCE), administrative offices, and lettable spaces.

Tower A of the building houses state-of-the-art laboratories, including a bio-repository with liquid nitrogen facilities, a genomics resource centre, and various clinical and diagnostic laboratories.

It also features a Clinical Trials Unit, which will facilitate the conduct of crucial clinical trials to study the effectiveness and adverse effects of vaccines and drugs on the Nigerian population, it said.

He said that Tower A also accommodated offices for researchers and a restaurant for staff and visitors.

He said that Tower B, on the other hand, offered office spaces, a boardroom, banking facilities, a gym and a creche.

With the completion of Phase 1, IHVN now sets its sights on the subsequent phases.

Phase two involves the construction of a multi-level car park capable of accommodating 200 vehicles, currently underway adjacent to the newly commissioned building, he said.

Meanwhile, Prof.-emeritus Umaru Shehu Maiduguri, Chairman, Board of Directors, IHVN, said the commissioning of the campus gave hope that the country could curb todays emerging diseases of publich health concern.

I feel fulfilled because I have been a witness and participant in Nigerias efforts at stopping Epidemics like Smallpox, Polio, Ebola, HIV, and COVID-19; so this is a major contribution to Nigerias healthcare efforts.

Other things being equal, I predict that with facilities such as the ones you find on this campus, Nigeria will soon become the destination for medical tourism, clinical diagnostics, treatment, and care for people with infectious and non-infectious diseases.

I see more young scientists inspired and emboldened by the facilities on this campus to develop and execute research projects under the mentorship of more experienced investigators at the institutes International Research Centre of Excellence.

As chair of the Board of Directors of the Institute, he said he was a witness to the active participation of the indefatigable and resourceful colleagues on the board, banks, donor agencies, corporate organizations and management of IHVN to the development of the campus project.

Seven years ago, this untiring Board of Directors teamed up with Access Bank and Dangote Foundation to organise a fundraising dinner at Eko Hotel, Lagos to raise N5 billion.

About 700 million Naira was raised from this drive and other savings and contributions from partners.

At that time, it was a dream but today it is a reality, he said.

(NAN) www.nannews.ng

AIR/IA

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

Desk Officer, Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) programme, Kaduna SUBEB, Mrs Josephine Michael, addressing participants at a one-day sensitisation on the enrolment of out-of-school children in Kafanchan

By Philip Yatai

The Kaduna State Government has pledged to provide adequate school furniture, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and other facilities to encourage school enrolment and retention in public primary schools.

The Executive Chairman, Kaduna Basic Education Board (Kaduna SUBEB), Alhaji Tijjani Abdullahi made the promise in Kafanchan, during a one-day sensitisation campaign on the enrolment of out-of-school children in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the campaign was organised by the Kaduna SUBEB, under the World Bank-supported Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) programme.

Abdullahi, who was represented by Malam Kabiru Lawal, acting Director of Social Mobilisation, said that the government was also working to improve security in schools and improve teachers capacity for quality teaching and learning.

He called on the School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) to step in, particularly in the provision of WASH facilities when necessary before while awaiting government intervention.

He explained that the enrolment campaign was to mobilise relevant stakeholders to support the government to mop-up out-of-school children in the streets, motor parks, farms, houses, markets, and other places.

Also speaking during the campaign, Mrs Josephine Michael, Desk Officer of BESDA, Kaduna SUBEB, said that the effort was to ensure that no child was left behind in the government drive to provide quality education to all.

Michael appealed to the stakeholders to support the state government efforts to address the menace of out-of-school toward building the needed human capital that would move the state forward.

BESDA, a Programme for Result (P for R) was initiated by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) with support from the Federal Ministry of Education, designed to address the menace of out-of-school children.

The programme began in 2019, with a 611 million dollars loan from the World Bank, which the Federal Government gave 17 participating states with the highest number of out-of-school children as grant.

Also, Malam Magaji Mohammed, Community Participation Officer, Kaduna SUBEB, urged the stakeholders to strengthen advocacy and sensitisation to ensure that no child was left behind.

He noted that the government was doing the best it could to provide the needed facilities in schools to enable children to learn in line with the states free and compulsory basic education.

Earlier, community stakeholders from Jemaa, Kaura, Zangon Kataf and Sanga Local Government Areas of the state commended the government efforts to enrol out-of-school children in school.

They, however, urged the government to improve security in schools and provide adequate school furniture and WASH facilities.

One of them, Mr Peter Owaze, said that the provisions of school furniture and other facilities would encourage children to enrol in school and remain in school.

On his part, Mr Ango Arkilawus, lamented that some teachers and pupils were struggling for space in bushes around public school due to lack of toilet and water facilities.

NAN reports that religious and community leaders at the meeting pledged to sensitise community members on the importance of education and work with parents and caregivers to enrol their children in school. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

Newly inaugurated executive members of Ndigboamaka Progressives Markets Association (NPMA)

By Kingsley Okoye

Prof. Obiora Okonkwo of the University of Abuja has urged governments at all levels, especially Lagos State, to intensify support for traders, given their contributions to the growth of the economy.

Okonkwo made the call in Abuja on Thursday at a meeting with the new executives of Ndigboamaka Progressives Markets Association (NPMA).

NPMA is the umbrella body of Ibo Traders in Lagos , made up of 58 market groups across the state.

It has the mandate to facilitate trade for its members, improve volume of trade for further growth of the economy of Lagos and Nigeria in general.

Okonkwo, said the call became necessary given the high volume of trading activities and turn out by the traders and the impact to the economy of Lagos and Nigeria in general.

This people who are representing a turn over of trillions in this our economy, as simple as they might look, they can not be taken for granted.

This people here have millions of youths who are engaged over their mentorship in different markets in Lagos, they should be recognised, and that is going to be our objective.

So they need all the support to add more to grow their business because the bigger their business becomes, the more trillions of turnover they are turning in, the more customs duty, the more taxes to the nation.

A good number of them are moving from trading to manufacturing, to assembling and not Just buying and selling.

The association is a very important group to the life, future and economy of the nation because these people consist of about 60 to 70 per cent of Lagos economys Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Okonkwo, who is a professor of Business at the University of Abuja Business School, said the group has worked out a way to create mutual working relationship and understanding with government.

There is an improved relationship within my leadership; last year, there was a special event where they gave a special award to the Lagos governor based on association and collaboration on improved relationship.

And the governor for the first time appointed a member of the association into the Lagos State Market Advisory Council.

At that meeting, the governor received an open endorsement of the association for his second term in office.

Okonkwo, who is the National Grand Patron of the association, commended the association for the transparent and peaceful conduct of election of the new executives .

He urged them to consolidate on the peace amongst members of the association.

For the fact that they are organised and for the fact that they organised their election peacefully, is a manifestation of unity among them.

And we shall continue to work for peace, and consolidate on the unity and understanding,

They have been men of credibility and integrity, having successfully served in their various business, and that is what the society we have now needs and unfortunately it is a scarce commodity.

I am committed to working with everyone of you in whatever markets with pride, with joy to the glory of God, to attain the objectives of these associations for the benefit of members.

The new President of NPMA, Mr Chinedu Ukatu who is also a member of Lagos state Market Advisory Council, said the association was having a cordial relationship with the Lagos State Government.

According to him, the priority of the new executive is to intensify trade facilitation among members for the benefit of traders who consist of different races.

What we are concerned is about facilitating trade for all traders in Lagos by uniting the traders, the markets on issues like multiple taxation, and untimately further promote welfare of traders by collaborating with government and other well meaningful stakeholders. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus

According to him, the dredging of the three rivers will check the perennial flooding in affected areas and ease difficulties faced such communities.

Yelwa disclosed this at the 2023 stakeholders meeting on flood mitigation and other related issues in Ilorin on Thursday.

He said it would be difficult for the Federal Government to handle without intervention from international donor agencies.

He said that the estimated cost for dredging of the rivers as at 1983 was 2 billion dollars, adding that the cost had gone up over 10 times.

The dredging of River Niger or Benue, as the case may be, has always been repeatedly suggested in all the places we have visited.

We have visited about five states including Kwara, almost all the states were asking for dredging.

In 1983, when the former President, Shehu Shagaris government asked for the cost of dredging of River Niger and Benue, a bill of billion was given.

You can imagine the scope now, even if the dollar had remained the same, the scope would have gone up 10 times. That is why it is difficult.

It is not what HYPPADEC nor the federal government can do without making recourse to international organisations for intervention and that is what we are working towards to mobilise international donor agencies for intervention, he said.

To mitigate the 2023 flood prediction by the Nigerian Metereological Agency (NIMET), Yelwa said the commission would embark on aforestration programme, where trees would be planted in five hectares of land in each of the five local government areas in Kwara North senatorial district.

Also speaking, one of the civil society organisations at the event, Global Hope for Women and Children Foundation (GLOHWOC), called for multi-sectoral approach towards mitigating flood in Kwara.

The foundations CEO, Mrs Christy Abayomi-Oluwole, said that Rapid Response team on flooding should be reviewed towards addressing challenges associated with flooding and their effects on dwellers of riverine areas.

The Kwara Commissioner for Environment, Mrs Remilekun Banigbe, who was represented by the Director of Ecological Services, Malam Ilyasu Yahaya, said the high risk of the imminent flooding predicted by NIMET could cause high rate of disease and displacement of people.

The state Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Segun Adeyemi, said the way we manage our environment pre-diposes us to flood.

He said the NOA would work in all local government areas to sensitise people on what is ahead of them.

The Kwara Coordinator, World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Salihu Abdullahi, said the rapid response team should be reviewed to involve necessary stakeholders that would look into different aspects of the flooding.

On his part, the Emir of Shonga, Dr Halliru Yahaya, who spoke on behalf of traditional rulers at the meeting, called for the mapping of the flood prone areas to reduce the impact.

Yahaya also advised government agencies to enforce all environmental laws to ensure sanity in the communities.(NAN)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

DD/Website

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has granted automatic employments in the Federal Civil Service to 65 former members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Speaking at the NYSC 50th Anniversary Honours Award held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, on Thursday, the Nigerian leader also highlighted numerous achievements of the scheme since its establishment 50 years ago.

The president said out of the 65 recipients, 52 individuals received the Presidential Honours Awards, while the remaining 13 were physically challenged ex-Corps Members recognised under the NYSC Hope Alive programme.

In addition to the employment, Buhari also disclosed that both groups would be awarded scholarships to pursue their education up to the doctorate degree level at any university of their choice within the country.

He also announced a cash prize of N250,000.00 for each of the top award winners, N200,000.00 for other award recipients, including the physically challenged ex-Corps members under the NYSC Hope Alive Programme.

Consequently, the president issued a directive to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Federal Civil Service Commission, and the Minister of Education to ensure adherence to the employment offers and the granting of scholarships.

Buhari also used the occasion to pay tribute to corps members from the batches being honoured, who lost their lives under various circumstances while serving the nation.

But for their transitioning, some of them might have been here today as part of the honourees. May God grant their souls peaceful repose. They remain our heroes and heroines.

The nation shall continue to remember their sacrifices towards building a strong, indivisible and egalitarian entity, he said.

The president also sympathised with those sustained varying degrees of disability during the service year, acknowledging their significant sacrifices for the progress of the country and assuring them that the nation stands in solidarity with them.

Your labour shall not be in vain, he said.

He also congratulated the founding fathers, past and present managers of the NYSC on its Golden Jubilee, commending their enduring faith, which has maintained NYSC as a vital platform for mobilising the youth towards national unity and development.

Buhari praised all Nigerians who have answered the call for National Service in the past fifty years for their patriotic zeal and commitment to the NYSC mandate.

According to him, it has justified its establishment as an interventionist agency, with a core mandate to foster national unity across the country, thereby breaking down ethnic suspicions and divisions.

The multiplicity of marriages contracted over the years by Corps Members, cutting across the boundaries of ethnicity and religion in no small measure, justifies my assertion, he said.

Buhari also expressed his deep appreciation to retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, the founding father of the scheme, who conceived the idea of the corps and brought it to fruition on May 22, 1973.

The NYSC has continued to afford successive batches of Corps Members as the veritable platform to make meaningful contributions, in the various spheres of our national life, he said.

The president specifically commended the corps members for their role in combating the COVID-19 pandemic by producing and distributing essential items such as face masks, hand sanitizers, liquid soap, and providing food and other relief materials to the needy people across the country.

He also applauded their discipline and neutrality when serving as adhoc personnel for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), including during the 2023 General Elections, which contributed to enhancing the credibility of the electoral system.

The president acknowledged their contributions to the successful implementation of Social Intervention Programme,s such as N-Power and the School Feeding program through beneficiary enumeration.

I hasten to state without equivocation that with the quality of youths such as these, the future of this country, which rests upon their shoulders, is guaranteed.

I give kudos to my dear diligent, patriotic and virile youths. You have done very well; and the Nation is very proud of you.

The success story of the fifty-year-old noble scheme will be incomplete without conspicuous mention of your outstanding contributions, he said.

While recognising the crucial role of the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development program in diversifying the national economy towards a more production-oriented model, Buhari assured continued government support for youth initiatives.

He highlighted the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), with a budget of N75 billion, as an example of empowerment initiatives aimed at promoting youth-related activities and fostering a better Nigeria.

The president commended the NYSC Management for its efforts in revenue generation and encouraged them to sustain its commitment.

He also appreciated the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers implemented by the NYSC and recognised the support of the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, who donated a well-equipped ambulance for the operation of the NYSC Mobile Clinic.

Buhari called on individuals and corporate bodies to emulate this gesture to enhance access to quality healthcare, especially in rural communities.

On the need to reinvent the NYSC through the establishment of a Trust Fund, Buhari said he had been briefed adequately on the matter and commended the Management for the initiative.

He pledged his support for any genuine effort aimed at assisting the scheme in achieving its time-tested objectives.

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, while commending the former corps members chosen for the presidential honour, said their sacrifices and commendable contributions, reflected the positive values they embodied during their service year.

By distinguishing yourselves among hundreds of thousands of Corps members, you embody the nations pride and serve as a source of inspiration for other young people in Nigeria.

Your strong sense of discipline, selflessness, dedication to work, exceptional community service, innovation, and leadership qualities enhance our hope for the countrys future.

I am confident that this award will motivate you to render even greater service to our homeland.

To the current corps members and other young individuals, it is my sincere hope that you will emulate these awardees by embracing higher ideals of patriotism.

In everything you do, always prioritise Nigeria and let it manifest through sacrifice and dedicated service to our beloved nation, he said.

Dare listed the N75 billion NYIF, the Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme (P-YES) and the National Young Farmers Scheme (NYFS) as enduring legacies of the Buhari administrations deep commitment to the well-being and development of the Nigerian youth.

He said the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development had actively pursued initiatives such as Digital Skills Acquisition, Employability, Entrepreneurship, and Leadership (DEEL), as well as the Work Experience Programme (WEP), among others for the benefit of the youths.

According to the minister, the progress achieved through the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) program of NYSC is being consolidated by the current management.

He urged corps members and other young people to participate in these programmes, which would enable them to become self-employed and contribute to the growth of the nations economy. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News