By Emmanuel Mogbede

The All Progressives Congress (APC) 2023 Presidential Campaign Council has said that the list of members of the council being circulated on social media and published by some online news platforms is unofficial.

Mr Bayo Onanuga, Director of Media and Publicity of the council, said in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, that the purported list did not emanate from the council.

He, therefore, urged the public to disregard it, adding that the partys leadership and its presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu would formally unveil the campaign council.

Onanuga said that the party understood the interest of the general public in the APC and its presidential candidate.

He, however, urged the media to exercise restraint in disseminating information that were not correct.

While quoting the Secretary of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Mr James Faleke, Onanuga said that the various directorates of the campaign were still being put together.

He said it was being done in consultation with the APC governors and other critical stakeholders. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Shuaib Sadiq/Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

By Kadiri Abdulrahman

A political support group, Buharists for Tinubu (B4T) says Sen. Bola Tinubu, stands the best chance to win the 2023 presidential election.

Convener of B4T, Dr Uche Diala, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja.

According to Diala, Tinubu is the candidate to beat due to his nationalist stature.

The chances of Tinubu in the 2023 presidential polls could not be any brighter.

With an exceptional track record of performance, exceptional leadership credentials,a pan-Nigerian and nationalist stature, there is no surprise why he is the candidate to beat.

His pro-democracy credentials and his performance as governor of Lagos state clearly stand him out, he said.

He, however, said there was need to make effort to convince more Nigerians on the immense development potentials of Tinubu succeeding President Muhammadu Buhari.

All that is needed is to get even more Nigerians to see the need to elect a proven achiever.

We shall respectfully make many more Nigerians see that to ensure a landslide victory, he said.

.

Diala described Tinubu as detribalised, self-confident, liberal and independent minded; with a nationalistic flair.

These are exceptionally strong qualities that undoubtedly qualify him as the best suited of all the candidates for a time as this, he said.

On the controversy surrounding his choice of former Borno governor, Sen. Kashim Shettima as running mate, Diala said that the choice was guided purely by political consideration.

I totally appreciate and respect the sentiments of those Nigerians who feel uncomfortable about the same faith ticket, especially the sincere ones.

But, like I have said on several other fora, it is a needless controversy. That was a purely political decision; one that was not premeditated nor planned by the APC.

Tinubu, a southerner, having emerged as presidential candidate through a clearly democratic and transparent process, needed to balance the ticket in such a way that would guarantee greater chances of victory.

With the choice of Shettima, a fair, liberal-minded Nigerian, I am even more confident that we can achieve more.

Both of them will surely build on the key foundations that have been laid by the Buhari administration, he said.

Diala added that if elected, Tinubu would address current and evolving challenges; including insecurity, the economy and move the nation even closer to its potentials.

He urged Nigerian to set aside ethnic and religious sentiments and elect a nationalist-without-borders who had the capacity to build the nation.

Diala added the B4T group was informed by the desire to unite supporters of Buhari to elect a successor that will consolidate and improve on his achievements.

There is no question that running on the APC platform, Tinubu will inherit the assets and liabilities of Buhari and the ruling party.

He will no doubt run on his exceptional track record as former executive governor of Lagos state, but equally, on the manifesto, legacies and achievements of the last seven years.

We do not have any challenge whatsoever selling Tinubu to Nigerians, because he comes more relevantly qualified than any of the other candidates.

With his excellent track record as ex-governor in Lagos state, plus all the excellent work done and ongoing by the Buhari administration, Tinubu stands a better chance for victory in 2023, he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

By Bridget Ikyado

The UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Beatrice Eyong, has commended Nigerian women for their drive in enhancing empowerment for economic development.

Eyong gave the commendation on Friday, in Abuja when she received a delegation from the National leadership of the Women Wing of the Christian Association of Nigerian (WOWICAN)

According to her, involving non government agencies and having other interreligious partnerships for women empowerment is a wise decision to grow an association and the country at large.

She noted that interrelationships also promoted peace in a nation and enhanced growth and development.

Partnering traditional rulers and getting to the grassroots is very necessary for effective and efficient services, child education, challenges in capacity building and cooperative management, personal hygiene are critical and would be looked into, she said.

She urged the women not to allow their children and wards get involved in electoral violence and malpractices such as rigging, vote buying and selling which had a long term negative effects on the society.

She said that UN Women had developed a new five-year plan from 2023 to 2027, known as Our Strategic Notes, adding that the plan was done in a unique way.

We went round the six geo political zones and had town hall meetings; we met with the women and ensured they spoke out, expressing themselves.

They told us what they wanted, how they wanted it and why. We seek to know the issues and how they could be curbed.

She noted that a holistic involvement programme which was multifaceted, multidimensional was developed as womens needs were not the same and thus should be captured as presented by affected persons.

Eyong also said that her office had collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and other relevant agencies in how to tackle gender issues.

She said that the UN women would partner them in all they had listed for empowerment and curbing gender based issues as it concerned national development.

She further told them that the Federal Government had approved two major programmes initiated by the UN Women with other UN donor in support.

Eyong listed the programmes as rural women economic programme and the market women transformative initiative.

The first which is the rural women economic programme, as we all know agriculture is the countrys backbone, we want to ensure food security and reinforce women capacity.

We will inform and educate them of the market generally, hygiene and how to sell their produce anywhere by stating the details, price, quantity and location as companies and other countries will be involved in the trade.

The second, which is the market women transformative initiative, food wastage and storage is a key factor resulting to poverty and all farmers should note and have a way to go around this.

These farmers need to be transformed from informal to formal ways of carrying out their activities, she said.

She assured them that the UN Women was with them for any women empowerment programme leading to national development.

We are a credible partner and will like to work with you and the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) including the Muslim women.

In his speech, Osalobo Osemhenjie, Programme Specialist, Womens Leadership and Participation, said women involvement and participation was critical as the general elections approached.

We are going to different institutions, strengthening women leadership capacity. This will enable them observe elections to mitigate Gender based violence and other election violence.

We also collaborate with the media, political candidates, political parties, traditional rulers and the National Centre for Women Development, she said.

Earlier, Deaconess Victoria Ihesiulor, National President, Women Wing of the CAN commended that UN Women , stressing that they had come to seek for partnership in women development programmes.

She sought for continuous assistance by the UN Women in gender equality globally, womens empowerment and the girl child education.

Our education programmes have helped out over 5,000 vulnerable families with educational materials, as well as adult literacy for educationally disadvantaged single mothers who are victims of rapes or had been abandoned.

We have equally helped 3,500 educationally disadvantaged mothers to read and write at the basic levels.

Other areas she listed included economic empowerment to address challenges of capacity in business management for women.

The women also specially invited the UN Women representative to their national convention coming up in October in Enugu.

She said WOWICAN had membership strength of over 48 million women and girls across Nigeria.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Femi Ogunshola

Raymond Emamezi Okoro also known as RayEm has released an eight-track album titled: Albedo, the album includes his previously released singles, New Life and Jason.

The singer, while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday said Albedo is his third project as an upcoming artist.

He said the technical meaning of Albedo is the amount of light something reflects compared to the amount of light it receives.

In Albedo, I reflect the different kinds of light I have received in different ways. Many people think you have to be one thing or the other, and thats what Albedo serves to disapprove.

The fast rising artist said that the project was special and very personal to him, adding that he was exploring two extreme sides of himself.

He said that both sides were the outcome of influence and experience with one side being love and the other side being life on the streets.

The main themes of Albedo are fatherhood, change, love, commitment, determination, and confidence.

RayEm, who got married in 2021 and just had a son, said one of the tracks, New Life was inspired by the birth of his son and portrayed how the experience had changed his world.

He said that it was designed to calm the soul and make the listener think about and appreciate life, adding that the Sabalibella track is dedicated true life-long love.

On the other hand, theres Jason and Sekede which are amapiano-styled street and club anthems and express determination and confidence to succeed.

The artist said Albedo had been well received by music lovers and fans alike, adding that it was a project he would allow to digest before releasing another.

And by that, I mean music videos and other forms of content to flesh out the art and drive it home for the fans and listeners.(NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Grace Yussuf

Source: NAN News

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has rolled out regional awareness and sensitisation workshops on the importance of Codex Alimentarius standards and codes of practice for food safety.

This is contained in a statement on Friday in Abuja, by Mr David Tsokar, Communications Specialist for FAO.

Tsokar said the aim of the awareness/sensitisation was to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the international food trade.

He said this would be achieved by educating the key stakeholders on the importance of the food safety standards and codes.

He explained that the awareness would also ensure the safety, quality and fairness in international food trade, the Codex Alimentarius or Food Code.

This is a collection of international standards, guidelines and codes of practice adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, he said.

He also said that during the awareness raising workshops in Kano and Lagos States, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, who chairs the National Codex Committee (NCC), highlighted the issues of food safety practices to participants.

He advised them to pay attention to quality and standards in food production and processing, to ease trade facilitation, especially at the international markets.

The NCC membership in Nigeria is made of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, the Private sector, All Farmers Association, Research Institutes and the Food Industry.

The Minister pointed out that little or no attention was given to the issue of safety, quality and standards in food production, processing and trading and that it was high time to take the message down to the grassroots for awareness, Tsokar said.

Similar, Director-General, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Malam Farouk Salim, harped on the need for enhanced synergy between regulatory agencies, the private sector and research institutes.

He said this would continually contribute to the efforts of ensuring food safety in the country.

Mr Fred Kafeer, FAO Representative in Nigeria, noted that food safety is an essential path to sustainable food security and could be attained by establishing workable food safety control systems.

Kafeer, represented by the projects Focal Point, Mrs. Saadiya Haliru, also notedthat the safety control systems could transform to international food standards.

Among the recommendations made was Local Education Levels Communication (IEC) handbooks by FAO, interpreted and translated into different local languages for distribution.

Recommendation was also made to include journalists in the membership of NCC to effectively assist in the dissemination of information.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng).

Edited by Deborah Coker/Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Angela Atabo

The Christian Aid UK in Nigeria, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) on Friday said anestimated 8.4 million women, men and children need humanitarian assistance in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

Mr Temitope Fashola, Country Director of the group disclosed this at a news conference to mark the 2022 World Humanitarian Day in Abuja.

The theme for this years celebration is: The Human Race; It Takes a Village.

According to Fashola, the conflict in North-East Nigeria has generated an alarming and large-scale humanitarian and protection crises, that show no sign of abating.

He said the group had been delivering humanitarian assistance to conflict and crisis-affected people across nine states of Adamawa, Anambra, Benue, Borno, Delta, Gombe, Kaduna, Kogi and Plateau.

The country director noted that the organisation with its humanitarian response team of 60 staff and 38 volunteers, had been working in different locations to respond to the needs caused by floods, violent clashes and insurgency.

He said that communities of intervention include: Biu, Bayo, Hawul, Mafa and Kwayo Kusar Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Borno, as well as in Michika and Madaggali LGAs in Adamawa.

In 2022 alone, an estimated 8.4 million women, men and children are in need of some form of humanitarian assistance in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states, with over 2.2 million displaced people.

According to the March 2022 Cadre Harmonise, there are 4.1 million people at risk of hunger this lean season, normally lasting from June to September.

Among them is an estimated 587.955 people, who are projected to be at emergency levels (phase4). This crisis is happening to a population that is already highly vulnerable, as millions of people have been pushed into survival mode.

Malnutrition is increasing and threatening the survival of more than a million highly vulnerable children, approximately 1.74 million children under five, are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition across the north-east in 2022.

Of these, over 300,000 are expected to suffer from sever acute malnutrition and are at high risk of death, if they do not receive urgent treatment, he warned.

Fashola further noted that about 80 per cent of people in need of humanitarian assistance across the North-East states are women and children.

He explained that the development disproportionally affect women and girls, as they face increased risk of violence, such as abduction, rape and domestic abuse.

He said that humanitarians in the region work in extremely challenging circumstances, often risking their lives and safety to reach people in need.

According to him, the security environment is volatile and unpredictable and includes threats to both humanitarian assets and personnel.

Fashola noted that findings by the Aid Worker Security Database (AWSD),since 2015, had shown that 35 aid workers had been killed in the North-East, 22 wounded and 28 kidnapped, adding that so far, in 2022, six aid workers had been kidnapped.

He said the group therefore joined the rest of the world to honour and applaud the thousands of volunteers and professionals.

He added that these persons risked their lives daily to deliver urgent healthcare, shelter, food, protection, water and much more, to crisis-affected and hard to-reach communities.

Just like it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a whole community to help people in need; in an emergency, the first people to respond are always crisis-affected people themselves.

The world may feel fractured right now, but this humanitarian action is evidence that unity and solidarity are still alive and strong, as individuals, our impact is limited, but together, we have tremendous power, he stated.

Fashola encouraged states to invest their own resources in assisting and protecting their citizens in disasters.

According to him, Christian Aid will continue to advocate for governments in Nigeria at all levels, along with the private sector, to mobilise necessary resources to reach vulnerable populations.

He said the group has over 3,000 households benefitting from the ongoing humanitarian responses that cut across food distribution and nutrition, cash distribution, education in emergency, protection, agriculture and WASH.

He said it also has 1,639 households participating in 20 different Income-Generating Activities (IGAs) such as food, processing, tailoring, making of caps, shoes, bags and other wears, bricklaying, production of briquette and energy-efficient stoves.

Fashola said that these interventions were being implemented with a view to meeting the immediate needs of the people, boosting economic growth, creating jobs and improving the overall livelihood(NAN)(nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Nwachukwu/Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Ruth Oketunde

The Redemption Ministries Champions Place, an Abuja-based church, says it has empowered no fewer than 50 youths on requisite skills and capacities to stand out in their various business endeavours.

Mr Hippolite Amadi, the pastor of the church, said that the gesture was geared towards preparing the next generation with the right mindset and requisite skills to guarantee a thriving future.

He said that the event with the theme Sustainable Wealth, was also aimed at raising leaders, capable of managing resources that would bring about national development.

We are hosting the programme because we believe that if we raise and build capacity for youths, there will be multiplying effects.

One person with one talent or skill developed will help and impact the next person and at the end of the day, we will be driving a larger society and Nigeria will be better.

Youths are very vulnerable, if they dont know what they should know and do what they should do, no matter what we do, we will still have issues that we need to address.

We know that government come up with policies that everybody must comply with and we know that they have good intentions but we also need to collaborate with government to see where we can come in to help, he said.

Mr Sam Okoro, Convener of the Programme, said the meeting was borne out of necessity to transform the minds and develop the skills of youths in the society.

This Programme was borne out of a need, mostly because you find people that are perfect in one area and are seriously lacking in another and we want to find a way to balance it out.

If they are Christians for instance, you see that they are spiritual in one part and are lacking in life generally, so we felt we should have a platform share experiences and teach them things.

Where we can arrange lessons and ensure that we have balanced individuals and if a society have more of balanced individuals, some of the ills and disgust we complain about will be taking care of.

Because if we have someone that is perfect in one place and lagging in another place, the lack will always find you out and mess one up eventually, he said.

Mr Emmanuel Sanni, a Human Resource Consultant, said that the event was organised to assist youths with business idea and strengthen start-ups of young entrepreneurs.

We have come together to touch lives because the environment in Nigeria have become so tensed because of lack of job opportunities and inability of people to find their level in life.

And so these few people have decided to bring young people together so that their lives can be touched, so that the right mindset can be created.

Because nobody achieves success without the right mindset and right mindset begins with God and having an idea and running such ideas into their future, he said.

A beneficiary, Mrs Ngozi Amadi, appreciated the church for organising the programme.

I have really benefitted from this programme, it is an awakening for me, my mind is already transformed and I am ready to hit the road, she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Kayode Olaitan

Source: NAN News

By Mohammed Tijjani

The Kaduna State Government said Troops of Operation Forest Sanity have foiled a kidnap attempt, rescued a father, his daughter and one other person in Chikun Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, made the disclosure in a statement on Friday in Kaduna.

Aruwan said Troops of Operation Forest Sanity foiled a kidnap attempt in the Ungwan Madaki general area of Chikun local government area.

This was reported to the Kaduna state government in an operational feedback following the rescue mission in response to a distress call from the area.

According to the report, the troops arrived the area and engaged the bandits, forcing them to flee and abandon their victims.

Three victims were rescued by the troops, a father along with his daughter and one person, he stated.

The commissioner said the Kaduna state government received the feedback with gratitude and praised the troops for their swift response and successful rescue.

The victims have been reunited with their families, Aruwan said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng).

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Edited by Chioma Ugboma

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya has called on military commanders to promote synergy and cordiality with other stakeholders in the efforts to surmount the nations security challenges.

Yahaya made the call while delivering a lecture titled, Military Strategic Leadership: My Perspective to participants of the Nigerian Air Force War College Course 8/2022.

This is contained in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Friday in Abuja.

He said that building synergy and cordial working relationship with all stakeholders in the security sector was essential for operational success and attainment of the common goal of defending the nation.

The COAS said that commanders as leaders in the military, should ensure interoperability, integration and synergy with other services, security stakeholders, as well as Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

Earlier, Commandant of the College, AVM Shayo Olatunde, said the training in military strategic leadership was critical in developing the capacity of participants, as future military leaders.

Olatunde expressed appreciation to Yahaya, saying he was the first COAS to deliver a lecture in the college.

Meanwhile, Yahaya has inaugurated the newly constructed 4-bedroom official residence of the Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM), Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering, Markurdi.

According to Nwachukwu, the COAS said the project was part of effort to meet the welfare of personnel and empower RSMs in the Nigerian army.

The COAS emphasised that the project is one of the welfare programmes aimed at regenerating and strengthening the office of the RSM as custodians of discipline and regimentation in the Nigerian army.

He charged all RSMs to ensure discipline was maintained in all formations and units of the army.

Gen. Yahaya also inaugurated the newly renovated Command Children School as part of several civil military cooperation efforts of the Nigerian army.

The Commandant Nigerian Army School of Military Engineering, Maj.-Gen. Joseph Omali, said the newly inaugurated project would inevitably bring succour to both personnel and the civil community, he added.

Present at the inauguration of the project were the Chief of Operations (Army). Maj.-Gen. Olufemi Akinjobi, Provost Marshal (Army). Maj.-Gen Robert Aiyenigba, Chief of Military Intelligence (Army), Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Salihu and Commander Operation Whirl Stroke, Maj.-Gen. Kevin Aligbe.

Others are Air Officer Commanding, Tactical Air Command, AVM Precious Amadi and Commandant, Nigerian Army Institute of Technology and Environmental Studies, Brig.-Gen. Yahaya Abdulhamid. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

Source: NAN News

By Bridget Ikyado

The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev. Dr Yakubu Pam, says pilgrimage is not Tourism as it requires a lot of patience and sacrifice.

Pam said this when he addressed the 8th batch of intending pilgrims to Israel and Jordan on Thursday at the Pilgrims Terminal, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

According to him, as pilgrims you must endure what you pass through in the course of your pilgrimage journey.

In evangelism, there is no hurry, you are patient and ready to sacrifice.

Pilgrimage is not luxury, it is a journey to an expected end.

He said that it was not a journey that was very easy in all ramifications as you must have patience and must experience delays.

Pam also admonished the intending pilgrims to be of good conduct while at the airport in Israel and Amman, Jordan.

He urged them to cooperate with the airport officials as well as the Commissions staff by obeying instructions.

He intimated the intending pilgrims that the Commission through the Ground Handlers in Israel and Jordan had made all the necessary arrangements that would make their Pilgrimage exercise a hitch free one.

He pointed out that the current cost of Christian Pilgrimage is meant to encourage christians to participate actively in Pilgrimage as the cost is comparatively cheap and affordable, considering many variables.

The cost of Pilgrimage is very cheap because we want to encourage christians to go on Pilgrimage.

Rev Pam further reiterated the importance of Pilgrimage such as serving as a veritable platform for enduring fellowship amongst the pilgrims and more importantly Pilgrimage is for spiritual impartation and transformation.

He congratulated all the intending pilgrims for scaling through the Commissions screening exercise which qualified them to embark on the spiritual journey.

The 8th batch of intending pilgrims were made up of Yobe and Borno contingents as well as Consular. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ese Erica Williams

Source: NAN News