ByRemi Koleoso

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

Source: NAN News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz

Source: NAN News

By Naomi Sharang

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Edited by Ummul Idris/Emmanuel Yashim)

Source: NAN News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: NAN News

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

(NAN) ()

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

ByLizzy Okoji

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Edited by Olabisi Akinbode/Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Edeki Igafe

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Edited by Benson Iziama/Olagoke Olatoye

Source: NAN News

By Funmilayo Adeyemi/ Folashade Akpan

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It is something we should really be happy about.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Edited by Folorunso Poroye/Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

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