Gangandharan Balasubramanian, Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria (3rd left) and other awardees at the award to honour some outstanding Nigerian women by India High Commission on Tuesday in Abuja

By Muhyideen Jimoh

The High Commission of India in Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja honoured some outstanding Nigerian women as part of activities to mark the 2023 International Womens Day celebration.

Gangandharan Balasubramanian, Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the event was organised to celebrate and give awards to distinguished Nigerian and Indian women from various fields.

NAN reports that the International Womens Day is celebrated annually on March 8, in honour of womens achievements, raise awareness about discrimination and take action to drive gender parity.

The High Commissioner said the event was organised on March 7, so as to have all the stakeholders on board to herald the Day.

The International Womens Day is celebrated all over the world and we have so many achievers here in Nigeria.

So the high commission considered it appropriate to recognise and celebrate the achievements of these great women on this special day, he said.

NAN reports that four outstanding Nigerian women were honoured from various fields ranging from Health, Politics, Diplomacy and Medicine.

While three Indian women residing in Nigeria were also recognised from the Business, Education and Culture sectors.

The Nigerians honoured include Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, CEO Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).

Others are Amb. Janet Olisa, Director overseeing Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mrs Maimuna Habib, Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria.

Adeyeye after receiving her award stressed the importance of women to home and nation building while calling for more women in places of authority.

The Indian women honoured are Ms Ritu Sahajwalla, MD Greenville Liquefied Natural Gas Company Ltd, Ms Sonali Gupta, Principal India Language School, Lagos and Ms Hamisha Abuja, a movie Director/Producer.

Balasubramanian highlighted the immense contributions of women to nation building in both countries and stressed the need for gender equality.

The 2023 International Womens Day has as its theme DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.

Highpoint of the event was the presentation of awards to recipients/ cultural exhibitions while there was also the launch of the Abuja chapter of the India women association.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

By Muhyideen Jimoh

The Association of Women Town Planners in Nigeria (AWTPN), has called for gender equity and focus on girl-child education as the nation celebrates the 2023 International Womens Day celebration.

Mrs Bukola Bello, AWTPN Chairperson, made the call on Wednesday, in Abuja at an event by the association to commemorate the Day.

This years International Womens Day presents an opportunity to celebrate, discuss and embrace Equity: equal opportunities are no longer enough but Equity should be the order of the day.

There is also the need to engage more women in governance and administrations as well as to empower and invest in the girl-child with a view to achieving equality and equity in all directions for a better society, she said.

Bello specifically called for the implementation of the 35 per cent affirmative action for gender inclusion in all states and the Federation.

She said the association would continue to lead the campaign of catching the girl-child young through frequent sensitisation programmes in secondary schools.

Earlier, Mrs Oluwayinka Bello, Chairperson AWTPN, FCT chapter, said the Day was meant to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women to nation building.

This celebration (marked on March 8) is another call to power on efforts to make the digital world safer, more inclusive, more equitable and create a better future not just for women and girls but for all humanity, she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the International Womens Day is celebrated annually on March 8 in honour of womens achievements, raises awareness about discrimination and takes action to drive gender parity.

This years celebration has the theme DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vincent Obi

Source: NAN News

NCWS National President, Hajiya Lami Lau

By Dorcas Jonah

The National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) has urged stakeholders in the technology industry to mainstream women into the sector for gender equality.

The National President of NCWS, Hajiya Lami Lau, said this in a statement on Tuesday in commemoration of the 2023 International Womens Day (IWD).

The theme of this years edition is: DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.

Lau said that the United Nations observance of the IWD recognises and celebrates the women and girls who were championing the advancement of transformative technology and digital education.

She said that bringing women and other marginalised groups into technology results in more creative solutions and had greater potential for innovations that meet womens needs and promote gender equality.

The non inclusion of women comes with massive costs and according to the UN Women 2022 Snap Short Report, womens exclusion from the digital world had reduced one trillion dollars from the GDP of low- and middle-income countries in the last decade.

This loss will grow to .5 trillion by 2025 if no action is taken to mainstream women in digital world,, she said.

Lau said that to change this situation will require tackling the problem of online violence, which according to the reports, 38 per cent of women had personally experienced.

The national president stressed the need for digital education that could increase the awareness of women and girls regarding their rights and civic engagement in the sector.

She called for the adoption of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) courses by girls to address the discrimination, gender bias and improve participation in all spheres.

Lau said that the celebration of the IWD 2023 would explore the impact of the digital gender gap on widening economic and social inequalities.

This, she said, would also highlight the importance of protecting the rights of women and girls in digital spaces and addressing online and ICT-facilitated gender-based violence. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation has called on government and other stakeholders to address structural biases against women and girls in order to build an equitable and peaceful society.

Executive Director of the Foundation, Ms Ann Iyonu, gave the advice in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday to mark this years International Womens Day.

Iyonu said that 2023 celebrations called for urgent action towards eliminating gender violence as well as the need for increased investment in technology for women and girls.

She said that Nigerian women had been making significant contributions toward sustainable development of the country.

It is therefore timely for governments across levels to initiate policies and programmes that will address the systemic biases against women.

She said that the foundation acknowledged and appreciated the strides and notable contributions of women toward sustainable development and nation building.

This years theme DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality, highlights the need for increased investment in technology for girls and women in our society.

It is also an urgent task to ensure that violence against women both online and offline are addressed.

On International Womens Day 2023, we renew our call for an inclusive society, one that is just, equitable, devoid of bias and discrimination.

Let us embrace equity in all spheres of our society, by initiating policies and programmes that will address structural biases against women and girls. This way, we can build an equitable and peaceful society.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz

DD/Website

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-olu taking pictures with some traders in Lagos

By Florence Onuegbu

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Tuesday embarked on campaign tour of major markets populated by people from the South-East.

Sanwo-Olu took a tour of the markets ahead of the Saturday gubernatorial election, following the open endorsement for his re-election by Ndigbo community in the state.

It was a rousing welcome for Sanwo-Olu at an open forum organised by traders, under the aegis of the Auto Spare Parts And Machinery Dealers Association (ASPAMDA), in Trade Fair Complex, Ojo.

The governor at the open forum pledged to ensure safety of the businesses and properties of Ndigbo in Lagos State.

Besides, Sanwo-Olu met an amalgamation of Igbo traders across 58 major markets in Lagos. The traders, under the aegis of Ndigboamaka Progressive Markets Association, unanimously backed the governors re-election.

The governor also had interaction with traders at the popular mobile phone, computer and other electronics market (Computer Village) in Ikeja.

The engagements were initiated in response to concerns raised over safety of businesses and properties owned by South-East traders in Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu allayed the fears of the Igbo traders, assuring them that Lagos would continue to be a melting pot for all Nigerians.

He said his administration would continue to foster security and promote peaceful coexistence among all ethnic nationalities in the state.

I am here on a solidarity visit and to thank you for your public endorsement of my humble self, which I believe will be reflected at the polls on Saturday with the highest number of votes cast from members of your community.

You are not giving us your support for anything; you believe we deserve this encouragement because my team and I have worked tirelessly to improve your well-being.

Very soon, Ojo will have a brand new General Hospital that will serve your needs. You also have seen expressways and bridges being completed on this corridor and we have awarded rail project into Okokomaiko that will aid movement of people and goods.

I am excited that Lagos is on the path of growth. Through your cooperation and peaceful coexistence, we can ensure that we will not only build the state, we will build a better country for ourselves, the governor said at the Trade Fair forum.

He assured the Igbo traders of his governments commitment to their prosperity, adding that the approval recently received by the state for development of Badagry Seaport was to facilitate economic development and boost logistics, especially in the movement of goods.

Sanwo-Olu pledged his administrations commitment to the safety and security of non-indigenes living in Lagos, urging the Igbo traders not to listen to the scaremongers threatening to attack them because of their electoral choices.

We will continue to work with your leadership to enhance cooperation and identify areas we can improve on to foster peace and stability. We will not be hostile to any community of non-indigenes.

For as long as you conduct yourselves in a peaceful manner, your safety and security will remain our priority. There is no need for any law-abiding resident to be scared, he said.

ASPAMDA President, Chief Ngozi Emechebe, described Sanwo-Olu as a true friend of Igbo, noting that the governor had never been hostile to non-Yoruba residents living in the state.

Emechebe said that the forum was initiated as a re-assurance of support of the Ndigbo community to the governors re-election, saying that the traders would work for Sanwo-Olus electoral victory in their respective polling stations.

Sanwo-Olu is a good man and has demonstrated that he is a lover of Igbo. We have resolved to support the governor for second term because of his performance and his economic policies that have supported our businesses.

Through this forum, we are assuring the governor that we shall sing the song of victory together with him, he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Source: NAN News

The Head of Personal Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, Korede Demola-Adeniyi, says investing in and developing women contribute to the development of the economic and human resources in Africa.

According to her, this is also important to adopting financial integration across the continent.

Demola-Adeniyi, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone as the world marks the 2023 International Womens Day (IWD) on Wednesday, said that women should be supported to achieve gender parity in all spheres.

NAN reports that the IWD is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.

The United Nations theme for 2023 IWD is: DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.

Demola-Adeniyi also stressed the need for empowerment and financial self-sufficiency for women.

If you develop a woman, you develop the resources which is the human resources in Africa.

This is important because you will be developing economically and also be working to adopt financial integration across the continent.

Women make the continent one of the highest in terms of women entrepreneurs across the world.

Again, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) account for up to 90 percent of all businesses in Africa, and women own about a third of all these registered African SMEs.

We have one in four female adults in Africa who manage or start a business.

To show the dedication toward empowering women and female-owned businesses, Demola-Adeniyi said that Ecobank had put in place offerings aimed at bridging the financing gap for African Women entrepreneurs.

We have been able to use our flagship programme called Ellevate by Ecobank, dedicated to supporting female entrepreneurs.

We have also recorded success stories in this area in countries where we operate.

The Ecobank by Ellevate is aimed to bridge the gap, the financing gap for African Womens entrepreneurs, and what we aim to do is to up skill them to be more effective and efficient in running their businesses.

And that makes us kind of different from other brands for women supporting women businesses.

Also, under the Ellevate Equip, we have been able to build training and capacity platform for the Ellevate initiative.

According to her, success stories have been recorded in Sierra Leone, where a dynamic freight forwarding and delivery company, was initially supported with an Ellevate contract financing facility.

She said the organisation had also partnered with the Global Business School Network to organise a leadership programme for 35 of their top ellevate customers in 2022 with pioneering graduating class was actuall y made up of participants from Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

This was more in line with our African footprints.

The participants benefited immensely from the world class faculty from the MIT global programme, INSEAD Africa Initiative and INSEAD Gender Initiative, the American University of Cairo School of Business, Stanford SEED and the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business

She said the bank had also successfully handled flagship MSME training financing programme for over 4,000 African MSMEs, 30 per cent being women, under part of the SME booster series.

In Kenya and Ghana, she said that Ecobank also supported women through their offerings.

In Nigeria, she said that projects had also been put in place to ensure that female customers had access to financial services.

We have a KYC Light Account opening whereby a woman in the rural area can just use the phone and dial *326; automatically you have an account.

So, it helps us to at least introduce them into the digital world and ensure that they can start banking from there, she told NAN.

According to Demola-Adeniyi , since the launch of Ellevate, the organisation has dedicated at least 10 per cent of the commercial banking portfolio loan book to women.

And since we launched Ellevate two years ago, we have on boarded over 50,000 customers.

We have extended loans up to 188 million dollars and attracted deposits of 465 million dollars.

She also noted that the partnership between Ecobank Foundation and the UN Womens Regional Office for Western and Central Africa, was also a laudable initiative to develop the continent.

This established a framework for cooperation that would enable achievement of the common goals and accelerate the empowerment of women in Africa.

Particularly, were going to be paying attention to the specific needs and challenges faced by women and women entrepreneurs in both the rural and the urban areas.

And one of the specific things we have said is that we are going to work together to combat violence against women and girls, and also encourage women to take part in sports.

It is a partnership in the right direction and will also strengthen women empowerment.

So, for us at Ecobank, its not only about one woman shining, it is a situation of when one woman shines, let several others shine at the same time, she said. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

Source: NAN News

The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, says it will be important for the future of the country that Nigerians do not let their differences divide them.

According to her, legally established process for resolving challenges to the election should be allowed to take its course

In an Op-ED titled: The Elections of February 25, Leonard said that the people of Nigeria demonstrated their dedication to democracy on Feb. 25.

However, that there were many angry and frustrated Nigerians just as there were many celebrating victories they believed were hard-fought and well-earned.

In the coming days, it will be important for the future of this country that Nigerians not let their differences divide them.

And that the legally established process for resolving challenges to the election be allowed to take its course.

We commend Mr Obi and Mr Abubakar for their recent statements committing to take this path, and Mr Tinubu, who INEC declared the president-elect under Nigerias electoral framework, for acknowledging their right to do so.

The United States is no stranger to election-related controversy and conflict.

As much as it can be unsatisfying to end an electoral process in a courtroom, in a constitutional democracy bound by the rule of law, that is where electoral conflicts may appropriately conclude.

She said it was clear that the electoral process as a whole on Feb. 25 failed to meet Nigerians expectations.

As I said numerous times prior to the elections, Nigeria has accomplished much in just the two-plus decades since the return to democracy, and a gradual improvement in the quality of its elections in that time constitutes one of those accomplishments.

We recognise that Nigerians want that positive trend to continue, including through the use of new technology intended to make the process of reporting results more transparent.

We, thus, reiterate our call on INEC to address promptly the challenges that can be resolved ahead of the March 11 gubernatorial elections.

And to undertake a broader review of the problems that transpired during the last elections and what can be done to fix them.

In all cases, INEC should share with the Nigerian public information about the actions it is taking.

She highlighted some of the remarkable results from the past election that showed how Nigerias political landscape was indisputably changing.

In more than half of the states 20 the winning candidate represented a different party than that of the incumbent governor.

Twelve of these states are led by APC governors. For the first time, four presidential candidates won at least one state, and the top three each won 12 states based on these initial results.

In the National Assembly elections, even with results still incomplete, we already know that changes are afoot.

Seven sitting governors lost in their attempts to win election to the Assembly; the Labor Party has won at least seven seats in the Senate; the NNPP has won at least 11 seats in the House of Representatives.

She said that the Nigerian people had made clear their desire for responsive and inclusive governance, and that the U.S. strongly supported the ability to express that desire.

The United States and Nigeria are the two largest presidential democracies in the world, and longtime partners.

As Nigeria goes through these next weeks and months, we stand with you, the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria said. (NAN) www.nannews.ng.

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

Source: NAN News

NDE logo

By Ibrahim Kado

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) on Monday commenced a five-day training for 1,235 graduates under the NDE-Enterprise and Finance Counseling Clinic (NDE-efcc).

Malam Abubakar Fikpo, Director General, NDE, disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the training in Yola.

Fikpo, represented by Mr Nuhu Bello, Acting Adamawa State Coordinator, said the training was simultaneously taking place in Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Plateau, Sokoto and Taraba states.

In all, a total of 1,235 participants have been selected from 18 states at the rate of 65 participants per state.

The concept of the NDE-efcc was borne out of the desire to provide opportunity for business persons facing challenges to obtain solutions through experience sharing with other businessmen.

Or through counseling sessions with the established business persons that are part of the facilitators of the training, he said.

According to him, the clinic also seeks to guide them in solid business management.

He called on the participants to take advantage of the opportunity before them to succeed in life, as there were several persons without white collar jobs.

Ms Chikodi Ike, Head, Small Scale Enterprise, NDE Abuja said, the training developed as part of the effort of the NDE to equip unemployed graduates of tertiary institutions.

Ike, represented by Ms Aishatu Aliyu, Enterprise Development Officer (EDO) of the scheme, said that the training would enhance their capacity to succeed in the chosen businesses.

Mrs Naamar Jonnah, HOD Small Scale Enterprise, NDE Adamawa, congratulated the beneficiaries and advised them to actively participate throughout the training to acquired business skills.

She encouraged them to also be entrepreneurs and contribute to the socio-economic development of the state and county at large.

Mr Bello Ishaq, who spoke on behalf of the participants, appreciated the Federal Government for the opportunity, and gave assurance that they would do their best and be employers of labour in their communities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the participants were also counseled on the dangers of drug abuse by NDLEA. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Deborah Coker/Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

Prof. Olalekan Akinbo

By Sylvester Thompson

Prof. Olalekan Akinbo, Expert Supervisor at Centre for Excellence in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) says STI hold key solutions to curbing poverty and economic development challenges.

Akinbo spoke on the role of STI to national development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

STI have been central in the progress and development of virtually all the nations of the world, contributing immensely to all sectors of the economy.

STI are intimately connected with development because they have a historical record of bringing advances that have led to healthier, longer, wealthier and more productive lives.

They are key ingredients to solutions to the most serious poverty alleviation and economic development challenges that we currently face and are likely to face in the future, he said.

According to him, STI has been central in the progress made till date in the fight against poverty and in stimulating economic growth.

Akinbo said that advances in STI were in many ways the ultimate global for good public use, adding, because once discovered, their benefits could be extended to additional users at little or no marginal costs.

He said in most basic and critical areas of human needs, STI have made significant progress till date, and that they hold the best prospects for continued progress, particularly in respect to agriculture, health, energy among others.

Underscoring STIs role in agriculture, the NEPAD Expert said advances in STI had facilitated higher yields, greater efficiency and nutritional content in the worlds food supply.

He added: Food production, however, must double in the coming decades to meet rising demand and challenges entailed in inter alia improving resistance to drought, pests, salinity and temperature extremes.

Akinbo also mentioned raising the nutritional content and reducing post-harvest losses all in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner.

At the same time, the regulatory challenges of assuring safety in food production and consumption will increase exponentially, he said.

Accordingly, he said that although the necessary technology for increasing agricultural output was available in many developing countries including Nigeria, certain requisites were to be met.

Akinbo said these requisites were the will to advance economically, opportunity and organisation to use technology, elimination of political, social and economic obstacles to development, among others.

Explaining further, he said in the area of food security, advances in STI provided the foundation for the green revolution, and also allowed food prices to remain at historical lows for the past decades.

He stated that improved knowledge of plant biology and breeding techniques led to better seeds and cultivation practices that drastically increased yields.

In the area of economic growth and rural development, Akinbo said STI were tragically important.

He said for many years, policy makers had suspected a close link between economic growth and productive investment in STI, and that now mounting evidence supported this.

He said firstly, since the industrial revolution, developed countries have had the most STI capacity and have been the ones to grow fastest.

From 1870 to the present, scientifically and technologically advanced countries have become increasingly wealthy, and their rates of growth have not diminished over the years.

Second, returns to rural development have been shown to be consistently positive and high in countries where science and technology were properly established, Akinbo said.

He added that in such cases, there was always a correlation between innovation and growth. (NAN)()

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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Source: NAN News

Tinubu and Jack-Rich

By Emmanuel Afonne

Oil mogul, Tein Jack-Rich, has congratulated Sen. Bola Tinubu, the President-elect and vice-president elect, Sen. Kashim Shettima, over their victory at the 2023 presidential polls.

Jack-Rich, a frontline aspirant during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary that produced Tinubu as the partys flag bearer, said this in a congratulatory message on Saturday in Abuja.

The philanthropist who is the Deputy Director of the Councils Fundraising Committee of the APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), described Tinubus victory as well deserved.

I write on behalf of my wife, Mrs Elizabeth Jack-Rich, members of the PCC from Rivers State, and the entire APC family in the state, to felicitate with you and the Vice President-elect over your victory.

It is a well-deserved victory and it was a keenly contested presidential election, he said.

Jack-Rich also the President/Founder of Belemaoil Producing Ltd., said that Tinubu and Shettima presidency would usher in a new dawn for the country and promote inclusivity in governance for national good.

He expressed optimism that Tinubu would preside over a peaceful and prosperous country given his enviable track record of hard work, devotion and dedication to duties.

Jack-Rich, however, called for the cooperation and support of all Nigerians, including candidates that contested the presidential election, to join hands with him to build an egalitarian country that would work for all and sundry.

According to him, now is the time to build bridges for the good of the country and not plot to tear it apart. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Source: NAN News