ECOWAS

By Temitope Ponle

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says it is facilitating the empowerment of women and strengthening the fight against gender-based discrimination through policies and programmes.

The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Mr Sidie Mohamed Tunis, said this at the ongoing ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA) Town Hall meeting in Abuja on Friday.

The theme of the meeting is Rejuvenate Democracy by Giving Voice to the Young People, organised by the parliament and ECOFEPA.

Tunis said the meeting was strategically aligned with the current ECOWAS Vision 2050, which placed more emphasis on women and youths development in the sub-region.

The speaker said it aimed to address some of the issues that had contributed to gender inequalities.

He also said the regional economic bloc had recognised the special role of women and youths as actors, agents and beneficiaries of development.

Tunis said that was why the ECOWAS had made concrete commitments and taken tangible actions to ensure the integration of the gender dimension in all planned actions and activities of the parliament.

Significantly, the allocation of a budget line to ECOFEPA and gender programmes in the parliaments annual budget, has facilitated the empowerment of women and strengthened the fight against gender-based discrimination, all designed to address inequalities between men and women and to promote gender equality.

We do not take for granted the critical role women and youths play in advancing gender parity, promoting social diversities and inclusion, holding the executive to account, and drawing attention to specific issues such as the plight of street children, rising youth unemployment and illegal migration.

Tunis noted that the Fifth Legislature, under his leadership, had been working to ensure that the voices, aspirations and inclusion of the women and youths in politics and decision-making received regional attention.

Tunis said he was working with political stakeholders, civil society organisations, developmental partners, women and youths networks and ECOFEPA to achieve this.

The speaker said they were also a mandatory prerequisite needed for the attainment of a peaceful and prosperous future for everyone.

He further acknowledged and commended steps being taken by ECOWAS member states to address gender issues.

The speaker expressed optimism that lessons learned at the end of the meeting would go beyond the region.

Moreso, Tunis expressed gratitude to ECOFEPA for organising the meeting as a way of deepening the integration process and scaling up social inclusion for the citizens in the region. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Benson Iziama/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Source: NAN News

By Kadiri Abdulrahman

A financial expert, Prof. Uche Uwaleke, says the Ways and Means Advances of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the Federal Government is strictly within the purview of the apex bank.

Uwaleke, a Professor of Capital Market at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja.

He spoke against the backdrop of effort to securitise the pending N22.7 trillion Ways and Means Advances, approval of the process by Senate and the role of the Debt Management Office (DMO).

According to Uwaleke, the DMO had no role because the Ways and Means were completely under the control of the CBN.

He said that the DMO could only have played advisory role when necessary.

The much the DMO could have done would have been to include the CBN overdraft to the FG as part of the countrys domestic debt stock.

This will enable the DMO issue early warning signals whenever the Ways and Means limit as stimulated in the CBN Act was being breached, he said.

NAN reports that the Ways and Means provision allows the federal government to borrow from the CBN if it needs short-term or emergency finances.

This is to enable the government to fund expected cash receipts of fiscal deficits.

The Nigerian Senate had, on Wednesday, approved the request of President Muhammadu Buhari to restructure the advances through securitisation.

Based on statutory provisions, however, the approval of the Senate and the House of Representatives are required for securitisation.

Implementation can, thus, only be upon concurrent approval of the House of Representatives.

Uwaleke, however, explained that securitisation of the N22.7 trillion Ways and Means Advances would afford the Federal Government a breather in terms of debt service burden.

According to him, this is in view of the fact that repayment of the N22.7 trillion will now be spread over 40 years with a three year grace period on the principal sum.

In respect of the securitisation of the Ways and Means, the government debt restructuring arrangement affords it a breather in terms of debt service burden.

Similarly, the cost of annual debt service will reduce given the concessional rate of nine per cent as against the current 20.5 per cent interest rate charged on CBNs Ways and Means.

The cumulative effect of these would be a reduction in government budget deficit and freeing up resources that could be applied to more productive areas, he said.

According to him, since the securities will only be taken up by the CBN and not the public, the fear that it will crowd out the private sector is no longer there.

There is equally the issue of debt transparency that it engenders.

Before now, CBNs Ways and Means did not form part of the public debt stock reported by the Debt Management Office.

Securitisation would entail including it as part of the countrys public debt which makes for transparency he said.

He said that, henceforth, adequate safeguards should be put in place to ensure that CBNs Ways and Means were curtailed due to its negative impact on the general price level.

The relevant provisions of the CBN Act should clearly stipulate the conditions under which debt limits can be breached.

The process should involve approval by the National Assembly as well as stiff sanctions for breach of the limits provided in the Act without following due process, he said.

According to Okechukwu Unegbu, a past president of the Chattered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), the Ways and Means Advances constitutes money that has already been appropriated by the Federal Government.

It is important to note that the Federal Government does not need the DMO to obtain such facilities from the CBN.

It does so directly, and sometimes, it entails the printing of money.

The DMO will only be required to record it as debt after it is securitised, he said.

NAN reports that the CBN is legally authorised to issue Ways and Means Advances to the Federal Government according to Section 38 of the CBN Act, 2007.

The N22.7 trillion Ways and Means Advances, therefore, do not represent new borrowings, but overdrafts by the CBN to the Federal Government.

The advances is statutorily managed by the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General in the Consolidated Revenue Fund where it is domiciled.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Abigael Joshua
The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has sealed up the Garki International Market in Abuja over accumulated refuse dumps that may cause an epidemic outbreak.

The Director AEPB, Mr Osi Braimah, who led the board operative to seal it up, condemned the breakdown of law and order in the market.

Our environmental officers in carrying out their routine/monitoring activities by April 26, discovered that the market was in a bad shape.

Solid wastes, cabbages all over the place, bleeding sewage lines and heaps of refuse dumps were all over the market.

We served them an abatement notice unfortunately nothing was done, Braimah said.

The director noted that the non-challant attitude of the market users made the board to seek a court order to seal the market.

So, we simply went to the court for an order to seal up the market, so that everything can stop, until it is cleaned up.

We derive no joy in shutting down the market but we will be failing in our responsibilities if we allow them to continue.

As it is now, if we allow them to operate, it is a recipe for epidemic outbreak, he worrie.

The director frowned at the deplorable state of the market saying, they cannot have these activities side by side with filth.

A market is where fresh foods and vegetables are sold, you cannot have all these side by side with cabbages

An epidemic is far worst than not selling your potatoes for a couple of days.

Once they clean up the market we will reopen because the court order says the order subsists, so long the market remains in that condition, Braimah noted.

He warned that the market remained shut until the wastes were evacuated.

Braimah promised that AEPB would go back to the court to seek for an order to reopen it as soon as the wastes are evacuated.

He urged market operators to tidy up their wastes to avert epidemic outbreak in the Federal Capital Territory.

Commenting on the seal up of the market, Mr Desmond Arebenjamo Chairman of Fruits and Vegetables in Garki International Market, said that they received calls that the market had been sealed up by the AEPB.

We pleaded that many of us are selling perishable items and have purchased them in large quantities fearing loss.

We learnt that some of the unions in the market took the market management to court over increased service charge, Arebenjamo said.

He said that the fellow traders told him that the court ordered that everyone observe the old rate of the service charge pending the outcome of the court judgment.

Arebenjamo, who said that they had not been officially notified on how to resolve the issue, appealed for the quick reopening of the market.

Also, Mrs Nwokoema Joyce, who owned a shop in the market for over five years, said that there was an increase in the service charge.

I remembered that there was an increase in the service charge in which a lot of people disputed.

There was a platform that said we should hold on with the payment and that they were discussing with the management later on we heard that if we dont pay, the market will be sealed up.

Mr Innocent Amaechina, Head, Corporate Affairs/Business Development Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML), said that the market was sealed up following the court order obtained by AEPB on the evacuation of wastes.

It came to the notice of AEPB during one of their routine exercise that the whole place is littered with refuse dumps and of course you will agree with me that its now a public health issue.

Many court orders on abatement notice was served. Before now AEPB gave notice to abate nuisance, it was not done.

Amaechina noted that, Garki International Market is managed by AMML.

It came about that some traders went to court to challenge the increase in service charge we proposed.

It is regrettable that none of the market officials have engaged us on the increased service charge, we just needed to serve them better.

For instance if you want your diesel to run for 10 hours instead of five hours you are going to pay higher, he said.

Amaechina said that as law abiding organisation they had to restrain themselves.

if they are in court invariably they are saying we should not enforce the collection of service charge hence the service providers withdrew their services.

Amaechina said that although, while the matter has been in court some officials of the market have continued to engage them.

The meeting is being held right away to meet on a middle ground, to address all the infractions being raised by AEPB.

We are addressing the problems raised by AEPB and lets say in some hours we would have reached an agreement and the market would be reopened, he assured.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the refuse dumps had gathered there for three weeks to one month ever since the service providers withdrew their services.

NAN reports that as at press time the manager of the Garki International Market was still in the meeting with relevant stakeholders to address the issues.

All the traders attested that this was the first seal up of its kind and worried over the condition of their perishable items. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

The Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education, Prof. Idris Bugaje addressing participants at a one-day meeting with the Provosts, Proprietors, Principals of Health Institutions and Registrars of Health Professional Bodies in Kaduna

By Philip Yatai, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

In September 2022, the Police Command in Niger arrested two suspects for allegedly operating an illegal health science college in Bosso Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects were operating a school known as Excellence College of Health Sciences and Technology, somewhere in Maikunkele.

The school was allegedly established in 2020 and commenced admission in 2021 without any authorisation or certification from appropriate government bodies.

The operators of the school allegedly forged a certificate of registration to deceived members of the public to register and gain admission into the school.

As at the time of the arrests, about 100 unsuspecting students had enrolled into the college after paying N78, 000 each for tuition and other charges.

Similarly, in July 2022, theKano State Government shut down at least 26 illegal private health training institutions.

The State Ministry of Health in a statement explained that the institutions were established without recourse to extant regulations governing the establishment and operation of such institutions.

According to Kano State Government, the unrecognised institutions lacked definite sites and offered dubious programmes against the established curricula while extorting exorbitant fees from students and their parents.

In Kaduna State, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Mohammed-Baloni, recently announced plans to fish out and shut down unequipped and unregistered schools and colleges of health sciences in the state.

The commissioner also said the government had closed some of the schools some time ago because they did not meet the minimum criteria to exist and operate.

Similarly, the Gombe State Government, in 2022 banned 10 health training institutions from teaching and awarding certificates to students of health-related fields over alleged non-accreditation.

The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Zubairu Umar had explained thatbecause the institutions were not accredited by regulatory bodies and they did not have the required facilities to train health workers.

These are just few among several of such illegal institutions that scattered all over the country.

Health experts have expressed concern over the high incidence of death arising from handling of patients by unprofessional health workers.

They have tried to establish a link between such deaths and health workers who obtained their certificates from illegal and substandard health training centres.

They particularly argued that any functional health system relies on skilled manpower to deliver the much-needed services.

Worried by the development, the Federal Government, through the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) said it was taking measures to sanitise the system.

Consequently, NBTE convened aone-day meeting with provosts, proprietors, principals of healthinstitutions and registrars of health professional bodies in Kaduna.

The Executive Secretary of the board, Prof. Idris Bugajetold meeting that the authorities will not fold its arms and watch some elements flout regulations on establishment of diploma awarding institutions.

He warned that anybody who decided to call its programme National Diploma (ND) or Higher National Diploma (HND) without NBTE registration and accreditation is creating a serious problem for himself or herself.

According to him, NBTE is determined to clean up the system because .

This is why we invited all the provosts and proprietors of health colleges, both legal and illegal and professional bodies, to discuss the challenges and develop a common roadmap to address them.

If it is the registration conditions that are too stringent, let us know so that we can review what can be reviewed without compromising standards.

We will give a moratorium for every health institution to go and regularise its registration, after which, we will bring the full ambit of the law and security agencies at our disposal to close the illegal ones, he told the meeting.

The executive secretary said that the NBTE had already reviewed Bank Guarantee mandatory requirement for registration downwards from N100 million to N25 million.

He disclosed that some of the operators of illegal health colleges were currently being investigated by the Department of State Services (DSS) in two states.

He added that the board had also constituted a standing Disciplinary Committee to try members of staff who were colluding with illegal institutions to give them fake accreditation.

Already, some senior management staff of the NBTE involved have been suspended and as I speak, while some are facing disciplinary committees, we will leave no stone unturned.

One of you gave one of our staff N2.5 million to facilitate registration. It is illegal and we are investigating the fraud. I learned the staff has refunded the money but must face the full wrath of the law, Bugaje said.

Also, the NBTE Director, Inspectorate, Hajiya Bilkisu Daku, said at the session that registration with the board is crucial in the establishment of colleges of health technology offering ND or HND in the country.

Daku added that the board partnered the police, DSS, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission and other anti-graft agencies to curtail the proliferation of illegal institutions.

It has been argued in some quarters that government established institutions alone cannot develop enough manpower required by the nations health sector.

While acknowledging this assertion, NBTE Director, Monotechnic Programmes, Mr Samaila Tanko, said private sector participation in the training of manpower must follow approved channels.

He said NBTE was the agency that regulates all aspects of technical education that falls outside university education.

He said that health training offered by colleges of health technologies and nursing schools was among the training regulated by the NBTE and as they must comply with NBTE regulations.

Dr Sani Barka, Chairman, Association of Heads of Health Training Institutions in Nigeria, said at the event that the proliferation of illegal health colleges in the country was alarming.

Barka, who is the Provost, Gombe State College of Health Sciences and Technology, Kaltungo, commended the NBTE for taking steps to curb the trend.

Also, Dr Bayo Ojo, Chairman, Association of Provosts of Colleges of Health Sciences and Technology of Nigeria, described the move to sanitise the operations of colleges of health sciences as laudable.

Sharing a similar view, Mr Yahaya Tsumi, the Director, Special Duties, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, said what the NBTE is doing is a laudable move to check illegal health institutions.

As a regulatory institution, we are in full support so that the right thing will be done to produce qualified health professionals, he said.

For a country whose health sector needs to be upgraded, Nigeria can ill-afford poorly trained healthcare workers and care givers at whatever level.

This makes it necessary for all stakeholders to play their part in ensuring that training of health workers is done in environments that boast of global best practices.

Source: NAN News

By Abigael Joshua.

Razaq Abubakre, an Emeritus Professor and former Federal Commissioner, says LP Presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, couldnt have defeated the President-elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu, at the last presidential election.

Abubakre, also a former Vice Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University Ilorin
spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.

The technocrat alleged that Obis lacklustre performance as former governor of Anambra worked against him.

Abubakre also claimed that Obis inability to build leaders, unlike Tinubu, who had inspired several leaders nationally and internationally, was part of his undoing.

His use of religion in contradistinction to Asiwajus Muslim-Muslim ticket gave him a transient false national spread, Abubakre said.

He recalled the simile employed by Rabiu Kwankwaso, NNPP presidential candidate, during his speech at the Chatham House, London, that Obis electoral fortune was like the foam of Andrews Liver Salt that comes with power and disappears almost immediately.

This is quite apposite to describe his eventual performance, especially during the elections of state governors and House of Assemblies. Unfortunately, desperation is not a good manner, Abubakre said.

He said he could not endorse the permutation that if all the other contestants whose origin was PDP, such as Atiku, Obi and Kwankwaso, joined forces, PDP would have probably won the presidency.

This is underlying the divine intervention favouring Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu ab initio.

The pattern of voting could have changed. For example, the bulk of votes that Obi received from the South-East, parts of South-South and pockets of North-Central could not have gone to Atiku.

Some of it would have also been cast for Tinubu on his merit and record of performance, Abubakre asserted.

He said the internal evidence of this claim is the undiminishing successes and superiority of the APC in all the elections, such as National Assembly, gubernatorial elections and state assemblies, in spite of the global economic challenges.

He said Tinubus superiority lies in his excellent performance record as governor of Lagos State; his cosmopolitan outlook spread nationally and with global ramifications.

It is instructive to note that Tinubus emergence is divine and critical when the nation needs a true unifier, a performer par excellence and a strategic leader focused on nation-building for sustainable and inclusive growth, Abubakre said.

Abubakre was a Federal Commissioner for the Public Complaints Commission for Osun State between 2012 and 2018, and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Ilorin from 2001 to 2003. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Razak Owolabi

Source: NAN News

By Oluwatope Lawanson

The International Press Centre (IPC) in Lagos has announced that it is establishing a Centre on the Safety and Protection of Journalists (CSFPJ) as part of activities to commemorate the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) 2023.

IPCs Executive Director, Mr Lanre Arogundade, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, lamented the increasing attacks on journalists and the media.

Establishment of the centre is to further address the growing spate of attacks on journalists and the threats on media freedom in Nigeria.

Mrs Melody Lawal has been appointed as the Coordinator of the centre.

Lawal has the task of positioning the CSFPJ to strategically coordinate initiatives to respond to the challenge of addressing the worsening state of journalists safety and press freedom in Nigeria, Arogundade said.

The statement quoted Lawal as saying that the indication of the deteriorating press freedom situation was the fact that there were more attacks on journalists and the media in 2022 than the previous year.

Unlike 2021 when forty-one (41) attacks were documented, the IPCs Safety of Journalists Alert Desk recorded sixty-six (66) attacks in 2022 with the perpetrators including law enforcement and security agents; political thugs and hoodlums, and unknown gunmen among others.

The breakdown shows that four (4) attacks were recorded in the North-West; sixteen (16) in North-Central; six (6) in the North-East; twenty-six (26) in the South-West; four (4) in the South-East and ten (10) in the South-South.

The types of attacks recorded include physical assault, abduction, gun attack, threat to life, denial of access to information, unlawful arrest and detention, harassment, threat to sanction and payment of fine.

Twenty-six (26) broadcast journalists, thirteen (13) print journalists and twenty-four (24) online journalists were among those affected.

In terms of gender, fifty-six (56) male journalists and ten (10) female journalists suffered one form of molestation or the other, Lawal disclosed.

According to her, full details of the attacks and the modus operandi of the new centre on the safety of journalists will be unveiled at a media roundtable to be organised by the IPC on May 5.

The CSFPJ coordinator said that the roundtable would be organised in partnership with the West Zone of the Nigerian Guild of Editors and the Oyo State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists at Ibadan, Oyo State.

She said that the keynote address at the roundtable would be delivered by Prof. Tokunbo Adaja, Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU).

According to Lawal, the keynote address will have the theme Protecting Freedom of Expression in the Age of Misinformation and Disinformation..

She said that the event would be attended by editors, media professionals and leaders of the NUJ, adding that the press freedom situation in the country would be discussed and recommendations made on how the deteriorating situation could be checked.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) or World Press Day was established on May 3,1993 by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

It is observed annually on May 3rd to recognise the great efforts and contributions of journalists in uncovering the deepest and unknown truths of society.

The theme of the 2023 World Press Day is: Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as the Engine of Other Human Rights.

According to the UNESCO, the 2023 edition marks the 30th anniversary of the United Nations General Assemblys decision to proclaim International Press Freedom Day. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Vivian Ihechu

Source: NAN News

Nura Rimi, Ambassador of Nigeria to Egypt

Mr Nura Rimi, the Ambassador of Nigeria to Egypt, says Nigeria is being accorded top priority by the Egyptian government in the granting of evacuation approval for its citizens fleeing Sudan.

Rimi told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) on Thursday that the feat was achieved because of the cordial relations between both countries.

NAN reports that the sudden slide into violence between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group, Rapid Support Forces, had left thousands of foreigners, including diplomats and aid workers, stranded in that country.

He said that many countries chose to evacuate their citizens through the southern part of Egypt because of their confidence in the government and people of that country.

Rimi added that foreign countries refused to use some of Egypts neighbours because of the instability in those countries.

He explained that in offering assistance to the countries seeking evacuation approval, Egypt must first think of the security implication.

It was not an easy decision as I said because security considerations were taken, but Nigerians were within the shortest possible time granted approval to be evacuated through Egypt.

Thats why I kept saying those conditions and guidelines that were given were in good faith because Egypt has to preserve its own national security.

If you look at the countries around Egypt, almost all of them are in one form of crisis or the other.

So, it is always necessary for countries to safeguard their territorial integrity and to make sure that they guarantee their own security because if a country is not secured then nobody will want to leave in it.

Even the citizens will run away and leave the country, he told NAN.

Rimi lauded the sincere efforts of the Egyptian government for the priority given in approving the use of its border to evacuate Nigerians stranded in Sudan.

I must thank President Abdulfattah el-Sisi for graciously accepting to opening the Egyptian borders to Nigeria.

These borders were open first and foremost to Nigerians before any other nationality.

I met my colleague ambassadors from other countries waiting and waiting for approvals to be able to bring in their citizens to be evacuated.

Nigeria was, I believe, the first country to be given this approval and then other countries followed suit.

I must also thank my friend, the ambassador of Egypt to Nigeria, Amb. Ihab, who not only facilitated the granting of this approval but also happened to be in Egypt at that time and worked hand in hand with me to make sure that this exercise succeeds, he said.

Rimi further said that the Nigerian embassy in Cairo liaised with its counterpart in Khartoum, Sudan, to arrange for the safe evacuation of citizens residing there.

Colleagues in Khartoum were overwhelmed; so we helped by sending our staff of Sudanese origin from Cairo to go to Khartoum to assist them in evacuation, he said.

The envoy lauded the Nigerian community in Cairo for coming to the assistance of fellow citizens in dire need.

Nigerians in Cairo assisted because they offered food, fruits and water to the victims.

This shows the spirit of Nigerianness. It is a good gesture in the face of such emergency, he said.

He advised Nigerians living abroad to always be prepared in times of emergencies in order to make their passage easy.

It is good to always have your traveling documents in places that are handy.

I am sure the Sudan crisis did not start in one day. There was enough time for people to start making plans for leaving if it gets to an emergency, he said.

Rimi said that the embassy staff in Cairo offered the best service to its citizens and other government agencies involved in the evacuation process.

We try our best within our available resources to give every citizen the best service delivery. And, so far things are going according to plans.

The embassy facilitated the process but other agencies of government whose responsibility it is to arrange and execute the evacuation of Nigerians in war-torn countries and crisis situations were also involved, he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

Source: NAN News

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

Strategic Outreach Support (SOS), an NGO, has given financial support to 500 rural and market women in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The spokesperson for the group, Mr Raqaz Ivori, told newsmen on Friday, shortly after the empowerment, that the support was to complement the ease of doing business.
He explained that the SOS was a Tax Exempt and Not-for-Profit organisation that focused on providing the relevant elements of sustainable development to communities in the areas of Health, Education, Artisan/Skill Acquisition.
He added that the organisation used strategic partnerships as the necessary tool to sustain humanity.
This Programme is tagged Market Women Support Fund initiative, powered by SOS and in partnership with Zenith Bank.
Over 500 women, including food vendors, retail provision sellers, and farm produce traders became beneficiaries of the Market Women Support Fund.
The capital funding exercise saw a very large turnout of women and women trade associations in Dutse/Bwari Area Council of the FCT.
It started with an account registration facilitated by Zenith Bank. Over 500 unbanked women had new accounts opened and credited with the sum of N10,000 naira each.
The funding was made available by SOS. This exercise would be extended to other area councils in the FCT, after which it will be taken to every local government area of the country, Ivori said.
Ivory explained that the purpose of the funding support was for the renovation of existing market infrastructure and building new markets, and support with providing clean water, sanitary facilities, electricity and safe storage
Others are to support with providing small funds for market women to help their weekly contributions and expand their goods and services, stocks and sales.
Also, working with partners on adult literacy and entrepreneurial training Programmes as well as savings and loans associations and providing daycare centres and playgrounds for children and health facilities for the market.
Lastly, another reason for the funding is spearheading the advocacy movement of market women across Africa and the world, he stressed.
Ivory also hinted that a seminar to promote the establishment of funding for market women to boost trade of small/medium scale enterprises, to also cushion the global economic challenges, would hold soon.
According to him, the title of the seminar is Influencing Global Policy Implementation for Sustainable Development, slated for Tuesday in Abuja.
He explained that the seminar would have Rev F. I. Omobude, President of NCGC Worldwide and former President of PFN Nigeria, as keynote speaker and guest of honour.
Minister for Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare, Minister for Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen and members of the local and international NGO community would be in attendance. (NAN)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

Federal Commissioner, NCFRMI, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim with some IDPs stakeholders at its programme on Thursday in Abuja

By Jacinta Nwachukwu

The National Commission for Refugees, migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) said that 4000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) would be enrolled into the just launched Transitional Learning Centre.

The Federal Commissioner of NCFRMI, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim disclosed this while launching the Transitional Learning Center on Thursday in Abuja.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim said that the initiative was part of the ongoing intervention under its Project Educate All.

She said the Commission had engaged 54 instructors from the IDP hosting communities to serve as facilitators.

We are pleased to announce that 4,000 learners between the ages of five and 18 will benefit from this phase of our programme in eight IDP camps located in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Nassarawa State.

These camps include New Kuchingoro, Takuchara, Karamajiji, Wassa, Waru, New Karshi, Malaysian Garden, and Yimutu, with 700 pupils already enrolled.

Furthermore, to ensure the success of this initiative, we have engaged 54 instructors from the IDP hosting communities to serve as facilitators, she said.

According to her, this engagement has not only provided much- needed employment in this communities but also allowed us to prioritize the localisation of our interventions and promote the sustainability of the programme.

She acknowledged that education played a fundamental role in promoting peaceful coexistence, adding that lack of it during displacement could have severe social and economic consequences for both displaced and host communities.

She further explained that having access to education during crisis was imperative with over 52 per cent of the 69 million displaced individuals globally under 18.

She noted that displacement crises were increasingly protracted and often affect the time a child took to grow, develop, and prepare for adult life.

Despite significant improvements in enrolment access to education over the last ten years, most children living in conflict-affected contexts are often left behind.

We must not forget that education is a fundamental human right, and the right to quality education should not stop because of conflict and displacement.

Children must be able to go to school, learn in a safe environment, and be given a chance to develop their full potential, whether they live in an IDP camp, a makeshift settlement, a town, or are still on the move.

It is important to stress that education is a right enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of Children and a collective responsibility of all stakeholders, she added.

She said the Commission regarded education as an essential foundation for individual, social, and economic development and a pillar for equality, respect, tolerance, and dignity.

According to her, basic education and vocational skills development are priority areas of our integrated approach towards ensuring durable solutions.

Therefore, since 2021, the Commission has scaled up technical and financial provisions in education in emergencies and protracted crises.

In line with the Commissions camp exit strategy and delivering durable solutions to persons of concern (POCs), with strong consideration for host communities, the Commission signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Aid for Rural Education Access Initiative (Areai).

This is to support the implementation and facilitate access to accelerated and informal educational opportunities for IDP, refugee, and migrant children.

This is through a comprehensive multi-layered approach that matches learning and academic skills with psycho-social support and life skills training, she said.

She said the main objective was to promote social integration or re-integration into formal education in camps and host communities.

She further explained that the Transitional Learning Center was an outcome of this very robust collaboration.

The learning center is more than just a school. It is a place where children can regain a sense of normalcy and stability in their lives.

It is also a place where these children will make friends, learn new skills, and dream of a brighter future and build their foundation needed to succeed in life.

Given the human-centred design nature of our interventions as a key fundamental of our Strategic Roadmap, it is important to note that aside from members of the IDP community, host community members are also playing a critical role in co-leading the implementation process of the Transition Learning Centers.

Bi-monthly workshops for key stakeholders are deployed as part of quality control measures.

Sulaima-Ibrahim also said that workshops are also hosted at the Centre that focus on training local stakeholders and women groups on peacekeeping, self-awareness, basic hygiene education, and prevention of violence against children, including gender-based violence (GBV) and disabilities.

In addition to providing comprehensive education, the Commission is committed to promoting sexual and reproductive health and HIV prevention of children in displacement, she added. (NAN)(www.nanews.ng)

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Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Ekemini Ladejobi

Source: NAN News

Amb. Hassan Tukur

By Deji Abdulwahab

Amb. Hassan Tukur, the Patron of the Unveiling and Rebranding Nigeria Initiative, has called on Nigerians to be hard working and dedicated towards nations building, saying these attributes pay and can never go unnoticed.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by the Programme Manager, Unveiling and Rebranding Nigeria Initiative, Malam Abdulkadir Lawal.

Lawal stated that Tukur gave the advice when he was awarded a honorary doctorate degree by the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Oyo State.

According to him, Tukur, who is also the former Principal Secretary to President Goodluck Jonathan, expressed his high regard for the award, which he described as unique.

For all of us at the Unveiling and Rebranding Nigeria Initiative, this is a milestone. This award speaks volumes as it highlights my hard working and dedication towards nation building.

These pay and can never go unnoticed. I am indeed honoured and grateful. It is my prayers that this begins our thrives, marking great achievements, Tukur quoted as saying.

He noted that he once aspired to become a lecturer, but eventually ventured into diplomacy.

This change was largely influenced by the elimination of my mentor and lecturer, Dr Bala Muhammed on July 10, 1981 in Kano; a traumatising event that altered his view on academic-centred careers.

Therefore, receiving an award in the academic world is a unique feat for him, Tukur said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

Source: NAN News