USAID logo

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced a grant of US million to the World Food Programme (WFP), to purchase wheat for the people of Sudan.

The grant by the U.S. government is subject to Congressional approval, and would help to alleviate the shortage of the cereal grain in the country.

A press release by USAID, published in Khartoum on Saturday, said the funding will enable the WFP to procure approximately 65,600 metric tons of wheat for Sudan.

It added that the civilian-led Transitional Government of Sudan will use the wheat to help reduce shortages of flour and bread in the greater Khartoum area.

Khartoum currently witnesses long queues by civilians in front of bakeries to get their daily supply of bread.

This grant represents the United States contribution to a US million commitment to provide the Government of Sudan with wheat needed to address the immediate shortage.

The Government of the United Arab Emirates will be matching the U.S. contribution with US million, and the Government of the State of Israel will be providing US million, it further said.

The press release said the USAID announcement came as Sudan entered a promising new era for its people, together with joining the Abraham Accords and moving toward the normalization of diplomatic relations with Israel.

The announcement also came as Sudans Transitional Government reformed laws and state institutions to represent and better respond to the needs of Sudanese people, and engage in difficult negotiations with armed groups to sign a peace agreement in October.

These efforts demonstrate the Transitional Governments commitment to ending and combating terrorism and decades of violence and corruption in Sudan, USAID stressed.

It added: The United States looks forward to a new era of cooperation with the Transitional Government, civil society, and the private sector in Sudan to bring stability and prosperity to the Sudanese people. (PANA/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. Atiku Bagudu while inaugurating the State Contributory Healthcare Scheme for vulnerable people in Birnin Kebbi

By Ibrahim Bello

The Kebbi State Governor, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, has inaugurated the State Contributory Healthcare Scheme (KECHES), in a move to boost access to affordable healthcare services by vulnerable people in the state.

Bagudu, who officially kicked off the scheme in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday, said the initiative by the state government was aimed at ensuring that the people were healthier and productive through the provision of quality primary healthcare services.

The Contributory Healthcare Scheme is a great milestone and we will leave no stone unturned to ensure that it thrives successfully, the governor said, adding that the scheme provides ample opportunities for the communities across the state to collaborate with the state and local governments in running primary healthcare centres.

He explained that such collaboration would enable the efficient running of the PHCs and the possibility that over 80 per cent of diseases could be dealt with at the PHC level with only the rest 20 percent of diseases requiring referrals.

All these will be done without over burdening the families and what more can be better and happier than this?, he asked.

He pledged to do everything humanly possible to ensure that the scheme functions effectively, especially by ensuring sustainable training of all the personnel to handle the scheme, provision of the needed facilities and sensitization, while commending the invaluable contributions of all the stakeholders, development partners, traditional and religious leaders, to the scheme.

Earlier, the state Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Jafar Muhammad, said that the state had been taking the appropriate steps towards ensuring Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as one of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The scheme is a strategy at ensuring sustainable funding for health, and to defray out of pocket expenditure (OOPE) for health care, hence the domestication of the State Social Health Insurance Scheme (SSHIS) in line with our culture and religious beliefs.

It is also established to ensure that residents of the state, irrespective of tribal, religious or social affiliation, enjoyed unfettered access to qualitative and affordable health care without the risk of financial hardship linked to paying for care, he said.

Muhammad said that the vulnerable groups, pregnant women, children under five years and orphans as well as the elderly would be cared for from the pool of funds generated from others and from government subsidy in the form of equity funds as provided for in the law.

The commissioner assured the people of the state that the scheme would be people-centred, urging them to own the scheme and participate fully in order to ensure successful outcomes.

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the schemes management agency, KECHEMA, Dr. Jafar Augie, commended Gov. Bagudu for his visionary leadership and foresight both of which, he said, would help in achieving UHC in the state.

The organized labour, CSOs, State Council of Ulama, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the association of private medical practitioners were all important in proactively shaping the contributory healthcare scheme. They remain important stakeholders whose support is practically indispensable for the agency, he said.

The secretary also commended the Wife of Gov. Bagudu, Dr Zainab Shinkafi- Bagudu, for her advocacy and being a true ambassador of KECHEMA.

Giving an overview of the Scheme, the Permanent Secretary state Ministry of Health, Alhaji Ibrahim Maigandi, told the gathering that the Agency came into being in line with the National Healthcare policy on the provision of accessible quality health care as the foundation for socio-economic development.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Kebbi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Abubakar kaoje, welcomed the establishment of KECHEMA, describing the action as an important achievement and blessing to Kebbi as it would enable more communities access quality healthcare without facing any financial problems.

He disclosed that all primary healthcare centres in the State were now functional as 112 health centres have been renovated and upgraded statewide.

Alhaji Attahiru Gwandu, the State Coordinator of the National Health Insurance Scheme, ( NHIS), in his speech at the occasion, described the introduction of KECHES by the government as a huge step forward in reducing expenses incurred on health services by the people. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Maureen Mmadu

By Chimezie Anaso

Former Super Falcons Coach, Maureen Mmadu has launched a football talent hunt for young girls aged between 10 and 15 years with the aim of building capacity in female football and reviving recent flagging interest in the game.

Tagged: Anambra Football Kiddies Camp: Discovering The Next Super Falcons, the programme seeks to gather 300 talented or interested youths who would be in closed camp between Dec. 17 and Dec. 23, 2020, for intensive on and off field training and mentorship.

Mmadu told sports writers in Awka on Saturday that in addition to training, each participant will get football kits including bag, set of jersey, booths, shin guard, stockings and other accessories for free.

I have played football at the highest level. I have played for European clubs where I also worked as Coach developer but now I want to give back to Nigeria, particularly Anambra where it all started.

I want to build and develop female football. I want 300 girls of ages 10 and 15 years for an intensive training camping.

My dream is to produce future Super Falcons stars who will take over from us and I am calling parents to make their children available for this opportunity of good beginning, she said.

She, therefore, urged parents to go to designated points in Awka, Nnewi and Onitsha and obtain the application forms for their wards.

Mmadu, who had won a record 101 national caps in her career, one of the highest in Africa, said her desire was to have as many females as there were males in football so that they too could benefit from the fortunes and fame the round leather games could offer players.

The former Super Falcons Assistant Coach also said she wants to develop players that would form the nucleus of the Anambra Female Football club which the state government was establishing. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

ASUU Strike

By Abbas Bamalli

A prominent Islamic Scholar in Kano State, Sheikh Abdulwahab Gadon-Kaya has appealed to the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to find a lasting solution to the ongoing ASUU strike.

The Islamic Scholar made the call during a Town Hall meeting tagged Struggle: In Defense of Nigerian Public Universities held on Saturday in Kano.

According to him, there was the need for the urgent reopening of the Universities because the seven month old strike had generated a lot of issues, includingpushing many students into committing different crimes, especially robbery, drug abuse and girls roaming the streets.

Gadon-Kaya also wants the Federal Government to look into the demands of the lecturers so that the students can return to school and continue their studies, pointing out that the strike mostly affected children of the masses.

You should also seriously look into the issue by softening your demands so that government can be able to meet up with them. He told ASUU, whileappealing to the National Assembly to intervene on the issue so that the strike could be called off.

In his remarks, the Kano Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Prof. Mahmud Lawal said the meeting was to engage the public and create better awareness on why the Union was on strike.

We think there is the need to engage the communities where the Universities are located so that they could appreciate the reasons for the strike and how it affects their children also.The meeting was also called to hear their views on the strike and their suggestions on how to resolve the problem between us and the Federal Government. He said.

He further explained that on many occasions, the Union had softened its demands andon different occasions we had agreements with the government, but many of them were not respected by the government.

Also speaking at the meeting, Sani Garba, President Students Union, Bayero University Kano (BUK), said students were tired of the strike and appealedto the Federal Government, ASUU, National Assembly and all stakeholders to do everything possible so that they could go back to school. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Djokovic rules

Novak Djokovic has sealed the year-end mens world number one tennis ranking for the sixth time to go level with childhood hero Pete Sampras, after closest rival Rafael Nadal opted against playing in the ATP Tour event in Sofia next week.

Spains 20-time Grand Slam champion Nadal, ranked second, was the only player who had a chance to stop the Serbian from finishing as the top-ranked player in 2020.

Pete was somebody I looked up to when I was growing up, so to match his record is a dream come true Djokovic said in an ATP statement.

I will also keep striving to be a better player, hopefully have more success and break more records in a sport I love with all my heart.

During the year Djokovic won the ATP Cup in January before picking up a record-extending eight Australian Open Grand Slam in Melbourne. He also won the Cincinnati Masters and a record 36th ATP Masters title in Rome.

In September Djokovic also overtook American Pete Sampras, who ended as No. 1 for six straight years between 1993 and 1998, for the most weeks overall at the top ranking and will begin his 294th week in first spot on Monday.

The 33-year-old Djokovic, the winner of 17 Grand Slam titles, has mentioned that Roger Federers record of 310 weeks as No. 1 remains his target and he will have a chance to move past the Swiss on March 8 if he can hold on to his top spot.

To finish the year as No. 1 is one of the most impressive achievements in our sport, one which requires sustained excellence across the season, ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi added.

To see Novak achieve this for the sixth time and match Petes record is simply incredible, and he continues to cement his place in the history books.(Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Casemiro and forward Eden Hazard

Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro and forward Eden Hazard have tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of their La Liga clash at Valencia, the Spanish champions said on Saturday.

Our players Casemiro and Hazard have given positive results in the COVID-19 tests carried out on Friday morning, Real said in a statement.

The club said that all other first-team players and coaching staff, as well as the club employees who work directly with them, had returned negative tests.

Real defender Eder Militao had tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week and was forced to miss Tuesdays 3-2 victory against Inter Milan in the Champions League.

Real, who are a point and place behind La Liga leaders Real Sociedad with a game in hand, face 13th-placed Valencia on Sunday. (Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State

By Ariwodola Idowu.

Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has approved 121 new appointments into boards of agencies and commissions in the state.

The appointments were announced in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ado Ekiti on Thursday.

The statement, which was signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, stated that the gesture was intended to enhance service delivery and smooth running of government businesses.

It further announced the governors approval of the appointment of some Special Assistants and Senior Special Assistants to take charge of some critical responsibilities in his administration.

The appointees include Anifowose Badejo, Chairman, Environmental Protection Agency and five others as board members.

Rtd. Capt. Sunday Adebomi serves as Chairman, State Emergency Management Agency with two other members.

The State Education Trust Fund has Prof. Muyiwa Igbalajobi as Chairman with three other members.

The State Boundary Commission has Mr Kayode Olaosebikan as Chairman with 13 statutory members from Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.

Other boards with between three and five members are Muslims Pilgrimage Welfare Board, Micro-Credit And Enterprises Development Agency, Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, State Electricity Board and State Scholarship Board.

The list also includes the State Housing Corporation, State Traffic Management Agency, State Tourism Board, State Library Board and State Traditional Medicine Board.

Others are the State Board of Internal Revenue and State Aids Control Agency, Sustainable Development Goals Network, Water Corporation, State Sports Council, State Pension Commission, Judicial Service Commission, Investment Promotion Agency, State Signage and Advertisement Agency, and Ekiti Agric Marketing Agency.

According to the statement, all the appointments take immediate effect. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Joe Biden

Democratic candidate Joe Biden has taken the lead in the U.S states of Pennsylvania and Georgia, two of the final states still in play in the presidential election.

Biden has overhauled what was a substantial lead for President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania, and on Friday he pulled slightly ahead as mail-in ballots were added to the tally, broadcasters CNN and Fox reported.

The results of a little over 30,000 ballots were announced, Biden won around 87 per cent of those votes.

Winning Pennsylvania would give either candidate 20 of the crucial Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency.

This is more electoral votes than any other of the undeclared swing states, and could on its own be enough to push Biden over the critical 270 mark.

A win for Biden in Georgia not at all certain given that the margin is less than 1,000 votes would hand him the states crucial 16 Electoral College votes.

If Georgia, which has voted Republican every election cycle since 1992, is called for Biden and Arizona holds for the Democrat, this would also push him over the 270 mark.

The pressure is rising on Trump, who has fewer paths to victory with time running out for him to overturn Bidens leads.

Election officials say staff are diligently working in several states to count every vote, noting that mail-in balloting has added some time to the tallying process.

Trump has made repeated unsubstantiated claims of fraud since Tuesdays election, with Twitter slapping warning signs on post after post, saying the president is apparently spreading misinformation.

No election officials have reported fraud.

In a speech from the White House, his first since the night of polls closing, Trump railed against his opponents, claiming they were aiming to rig the election against him.

The president blamed a conspiracy of big media, big money, and big tech for the whittling away of his lead.

Biden has struck a markedly different tone, noting that votes take time to tally and that he was content to wait until the end of counting, saying he has no doubt that he would emerge the winner.

Democracy is sometimes messy and sometimes requires a little patience as well, he said in brief remarks from his home state of Delaware on Thursday. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Nigerian Stock Exchange building

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Investors on the Nigerian Stock Exchange on Friday traded 637.49 million shares worth N5.23 billion transacted in 6,354 deals.

This was in contrast with 430.12 million shares valued at N6.62 billion achieved in 4,319 deals on Thursday.

Omoluabi Mortgage Bank was the toast of investors exchanging 139.50 million shares worth N83.70 million.

It was trailed by FBN Holdings with 91.37 million shares valued at N594.95 million, while Sterling Bank traded 51.50 million shares worth N93.69 million.

Access Bank sold 47.27 million shares valued at N382.07 million while UBA exchanged 44.55 million shares with N356.44 million cost.

Also, the market capitalisation rose by N144 billion or 0.90 per cent to N16.206 trillion from N16.062 trillion achieved on Thursday.

Dangote Cement led the gainers chart with N5.50 to close at N174.50 per share.

Guaranty Trust Bank gained N1.20 to close at N33.50, while Presco improved by N1.10 to close at N67.

Guinness garnered 95k to close at N17.50, while Dangote Sugar Refinery rose by 95k to close at N16.50 per share.

On the other hand, BUA Cement dominated the losers chart, dropping N2.45 to close at N43 per share.

Flour Mills lost 40k to close at N27.20, Mansard was down by 20k to close at N2 per share.

NEM Insurance dipped 18k to close at N2.05, while Oando depreciated by 6k to close at N2.70 per share. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

DTigers

By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus

DTigers coach Mike Brown has released a provisional list of 20 players for the 2021 Afrobasket qualifiers slated for Kigali in Rwanda from Nov. 27 to Nov. 29.

Afolabi Oni, the Media Officer of Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

Brown who is officially starting his coaching stint with Nigeria submitted a list featuring seven players who were at the 2019 FIBA World Cup where Nigeria qualified for the Tokyo Olympics.

Team captain Ike Diogu will lead the group which includes 29-year-old Stan Okoye (Gran Canaria), Ben Uzoh, Ike Iroegbu, Talib Zanna, Ekpe Udoh and Michael Eric.

Festus Ezeli, a 2015 NBA winner with Golden State Warriors, also has a chance to represent Nigeria for the first time ever alongside Mike Gbinije, a member of the 2015 Afrobasket-winning team, he said.

Oni stated that France-based Ike Nwamu, after missing the final 12-man team to the World Cup, will make another return to the team.

He is there alongside Tonye Jekiri, Christopher Obekpa, Braxton Ogbueze, Mike Efevberha, Obinna Emegano who at some point featured during the teams 2019 qualifiers series.

Chima Moneke who has averaged 12.3 points and 5.8 rebounds in four games for Orlan in the French league has also been called up for the first time.

Zaid Christopher Hearst-Okpalannaka who plies his trade in the second tier of the French league is also on the list.

Other new faces who will hope to earn their first cap include Real Betis power forward, Obi Enechionyia, alongside Ogbunu John and Rasheed Sulaimon who play for Casademont Zaragoza.

FULL LIST

S/No. Name Position Club

1.Stan Okoye Small Forward Club Baloncesto Gran Canaria (Spain)

2.Ikechukwu Nwamu Shooting Guard Cholet (France)

3.Ike Iroegbu Point Guard Capital City Go-Go (NBA G League, U.S.)

4.Talib Zanna Centre Hapoel Tel Aviv B.C(Israel)

5.Chima Moneke Power Forward Orlans Loiret Basket (France)

6.Obinna Enechionyia Power Forward Real Betis (Spain)

7.Micheal Gbinije Shooting Guard BC Nevis (Lithuania)

8.Obi Emegano. Shooting Guard Baloncesto Fuenlabrada (Spain)

9.Mike Efevberha Shooting GuardJA Vichy-Clermont Mtropole (France)

10.Michael Eric Centre Turk Telekom Basketball (Turkey)

11.Tonye Jekiri Centre Club Deportivo Saski-Baskonia (Spain)

12.Rasheed Sulaimon Shooting Guard Casademont Zaragoza (Spain)

13.Zaid Hearst-Okpalannaka Shooting Guard Antibas (France)

14.Ekpe Udoh Centre

15.Ben Uzoh Point Guard

16.Christopher Obekpa Centre

17.Ike Diogu Centre

18.Braxton Ogbuezue Guard

19.Festus Ezeli Centre

20.John Ogbunu. (NAN)

Source: NAN News