Edith Ike-Eboh - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Edith Ike-Eboh
Mar, Mon, 2021

Health

Panelists task women on changing narratives for global impact

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By Oluwafunke Ishola

Ms Beatrice Kallay, Head, Gender, Sierra Leone High Commission, Lagos, says women need to change the narrative from what they can get to what they can offer to increase their global impact.

Kallay, who is also the Consular/Liaison Officer at the Commission, made the assertion on Monday at a virtual panel discussion in commemoration of the International Women’s Day and the 2021 Commonwealth Day.

The programme was organised by the Commonwealth Business Women Network Nigeria (CBWN Nigeria) with the theme: “Choose to Challenge”.

The International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated annually on March 8, to seek help to forge a gender equal world, celebrating women’s achievements and increasing visibility, while calling out inequality.

Also, the Commonwealth Day is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations, often held on second Monday in March.

Kallay urged women to strive to give their best in whatever positions they were occupying, saying that they should make a big difference to the world by doing their best.

According to her, women should be intentional, persistent and refuse to be intimidated by challenges they might encounter in their various endeavours.

She advised that everyone should understand and appreciate diversity by recognising the uniqueness of others, saying differences shouldn’t stop collaboration.

Also, Erelu Florida Okunowo, the Director, Nigerian Association of Indigenous Petroleum Explorers and Producers, urged the leaders to shun stereotyping and give position to people based on merit, irrespective of their genders.

Okunowo said that everyone should challenge inequalities, oppression and violence that limit women from exhibiting their God given talents in homes, organisations, businesses and society.

In her comments, Mrs Ngozi Oyewole, Vice Chairperson, CBWN Nigeria, said that for the first time in several years, the International Women’s Day and the Commonwealth Day were being celebrated on the same day.

Oyewole said that the 2021 theme was in alignment with the global support for women, achieving an equal future and within the broader Commonwealth nations.

“The theme celebrates the tremendous efforts by women around the world.

“It calls for women’s rights to decision making in all areas of life to build back better policies, local government, social, education, health and legal services, as well as ending all forms of violence against women and girls.

“CBWN Nigeria promotes the empowerment of women and girls to be key change agents as gender equality will drive the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“In CBNW Nigeria, we focus on SDG Goal Five- gender equality.

“We know that the Coronavirus pandemic had threatened to roll back the hard won efforts of reducing the barriers to women effective participation and leadership in public life.

“Globally, women remain significantly underrepresented in many aspects of decision making.

“However, the efforts of the few women at the helms of institution of highest level of decision making should be recognised and built upon,” the vice chairperson, CBWN said.

She said that supporting women’s contributions in the home, community, organisation, networks, regional and international levels would ultimately shape the future of the country.

Oyewole added that in commemoration of the International Women’s Day (IWD), CBWN Nigeria organised an essay competition inviting undergraduate girls in the universities to write on the theme for 2021 celebration.

She said that the competition had over 280 entries, with Miss Bolutife Afolabi emerging first; Miss Precious Oparanozie came second and Truth Nwabueze came third in the essay competition.

Oyewole said that the competition also sought to know the views of the undergraduates on a brave and courageous woman who challenged the norm to change the world, and inspire them to emulate such values. (NAN)

Edith Ike-Eboh
Mar, Mon, 2021

Economy/Business

Chapel Hill Denham boosts Havenhill’s mini-grid roll-out with $4.6m funding

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By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Havenhill Synergy Ltd. has raised N1.89 billion ($4.6m) for the construction of 22 mini-grids from Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund (NIDF) under the Nigeria Electrification Project.

The NIDF Chief Executive Officer, Anshul Rai, in a statement on Monday said that NIDF would provide Havenhill long-term financing of N1.89 billion ($4.6m) to part-finance the roll out of these mini-grids.

He said that the mini-grids would connect 70,000 people along with other establishments in the host communities to clean, reliable energy supply.

Rai said that the development was part of Havenhill’s strategic focus on energy access and clean energy for Nigerians.

He said it was quite fulfilling to note that NIDF was playing a significant role in improving energy access in Nigeria.

“NIDF prides itself in being the leader in financing of clean energy and energy access projects in Nigeria and thus contribute to the achievement of UN’s sustainable Development Goals.

“In multiple projects such as Havenhill, our unit holders can see their capital in action and generating not only financial returns but also making a strong, positive impact on the daily lives of their fellow citizens”, Rai said.

He said that financing of the project would be funded from the fund’s recently concluded Series-7 capital raise, which also involved the participation of African Development Bank.

“With the support of AfDB, NIDF is also implementing a comprehensive Environmental & Social Management System for the fund.

“It is also supporting its borrowers adopt the international best practices in the area of environmental and social sustainability” he added.

On his part, Director, Energy Financial Solutions, Policy & Regulation, African Development Bank, Wale Shonibare, described the investment in the project as a welcome development.

Shonibare said that the investment would assist in complementing its role to the sovereign loan offered to the Federal Government of Nigeria targeted at supporting the implementation of the Nigeria Electrification Project.

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Havenhill, Mr Olusegun Odunaiya, said that it was quite exciting to have the NIDF as a long-term partner for the mini-grids roll out project.

According to him, the NIDF team’s commercial savviness has enabled it to implement a highly innovative financing structure that fully addresses the peculiarities of the project and, therefore, ensure its long-term success.

“This milestone serves as a renewal of Havenhill’s commitment to powering Nigeria’s most remote communities and delivering last-mile electricity connections.

“These mini-grids will catalyse economic activities in host communities, serve healthcare facilities, and overall deliver a transformative multiplier effect.

“I appreciate the efforts and grit of our team in solving one of the most important problems in the world today,” Odunaiya added.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Havenhill is a clean-tech utility company committed to improving energy access in rural and urban Nigeria using clean energy sources.

In rural areas, Havenhill deploys smart solar mini-grids to commercially viable off-grid rural communities. (NAN)

Edith Ike-Eboh
Mar, Mon, 2021

General News

NMA urges Nigerians to shun biases, stereotypes

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By Oluwafunke Ishola

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called on all well meaning Nigerians to shun biases and stereotypes enshrined in gender inequality.

Dr Adetunji Adenekan and Dr Ime Okon, the Chairman and Secretary of NMA, Lagos chapter, jointly made the call in a statement on Monday in commemoration of the celebration of the International Women’s Day (IWD).

The NMA leaders also urged Nigerians to do everything within their sphere of influence to foster a more equal and unbiased society.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on March 8.

The celebration seeks to help forge a gender equal world, celebrating women’s achievements and increasing visibility, while calling out inequality.

They said that a great society would enable people to thrive and reach their peak, irrespective of their gender and allows people to contribute their quotas without being boxed in a corner.

“Leaders in every sphere of the society must continually use their platforms to smash these stereotypes if we must make progress collectively and achieve a greater Lagos and indeed a better Nigeria,’’ Adenekan and Okon said.

According to them, the IWD sheds light on the gravity of the work that needs to be done to further bridge the inequality gap in the society.

“The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the largest body of medical professionals in the centre of excellence Lagos State, is using all her platforms to speak up against stereotypes against women and girls.

“We implore the general public, leaders in the corporate world and governments, to join the IWD’s community, and also use their various platforms to advocate a more equal and equitable society, irrespective of gender.

“NMA Lagos, with every given opportunity and on all platforms, chooses to challenge stereotypes against women and girls in our society.

“If we continually speak up against these biases, our society will be better,’’ they said.

The NMA leaders said they have utilised various media platforms to celebrate women, particularly those who distinguished themselves in the practice of medicine and dentistry, adding that women were worth celebrating.

“With all of these changes going on around the world, we realise that women have contributed greatly in the achievements that we have recorded, both locally and in the global space,’’ they said.

The NMA decried various biases and stereotyping that tend to deter women from reaching the peak of leadership, career or businesses in the country.

“Many women are still being discouraged from aspiring to reach great heights because they are told that `a woman’s place is in the kitchen’.

“Today, the world is celebrating some of our women imagine, if they were not properly educated, or that they didn’t get requisite support needed because of `age-long’ derogatory stereotypes limiting women from exhibiting their full potential,’’ they said.

The NMA appealed to governments at all levels to ensure that the rights of women were upheld.

“Violence against women must never be tolerated in any way. The girl-child must be encouraged to study to the highest level attainable.

“We must do all it takes to end child marriage and prosecute those who engaged in such abominable acts. Women should be encouraged to get actively involved in politics,’’ Adenekan and Okon said.

They said that the intentional celebration and continual support for women who were exemplary and excelling in their various fields of endeavour should be improved. (NAN

Edith Ike-Eboh
Mar, Mon, 2021

Economy/Business

PIB will address Production Sharing Contracts issues on gas – Sylva

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By Edith Ike-Eboh

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, says the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) currently before the National Assembly will resolve the issues under the Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) on gas.

Sylva made this known at a National Assembly Public Hearing organised by the Joint Committee on Gas Resources, Petroleum Resources, Upstream and Downstream, on Monday, in Abuja.

The hearing was on the topic: “Inclusion of Gas Terms in Production Sharing Contracts by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).”

He said that issues on gas terms was not captured under the PSC especially with the commercial aspect.

“ Issues on gas terms was not captured in the PSC because at the time, the offshore was just a frontier territory, today, it is no longer frontier, it is a proven territory.

“There have been a lot of discussions on how we can change the terms, I believe that most of these issues will be addressed in the PIB, especially the issues around gas terms which we all believe were not properly captured in the document.

“Already, the NNPC is engaging in a lot of discussions around the PSC, most of them are commercial discussion and they are bringing good progress.

“But of course, knowing that the PIB is in sight, and the National Assembly invited us for this, we felt that we are making progress and I believe that the PIB will be able to resolve some of the issues that will come up in the discussion,’’ Sylva said.

He noted that part of the reason gas was not captured in the PSC was because it was not the focus in the exploration activities at the time.

According to him, the new push for gas is what is needed for economic development in the country.

Sylva said that government had in December 2020 rolled out auto gas initiative and would soon inaugurate tax force that would ensure full implementation to make Nigerians use gas in their cars.

“In terms of domestic household usage, we are also pushing for penetration, especially in the rural areas. The general idea is to make sure that gas is pushed to the fore in Nigeria, ” he said

Sylva urged the National Assembly to live up to its promise of the passage of the PIB in April to help the growth of the oil and gas sector and the country at large.

In his remarks, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, said that in November 2019, the House resolved to take necessary action to achieve focused utilisation of abundant natural gas resources.

“To that end, the House appointed a joint committee made up of the committees on Gas Resources, Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and Petroleum Resources (Upstream) to engage with stakeholders, review statutes and make recommendations to the House of Representatives, and to the Federal Government.

“The Public Hearing we have gathered for today is an important part of the joint committee’s assignment.

“It is also an opportunity for stakeholders across the oil and gas sector and the country to present information, and contribute ideas that will help the joint committee arrive at the proper conclusions and propose effective solutions.

“This Public Hearing ought to have happened and the joint committee’s assignment should have been completed long before now. However, we had to adjust plans and make modifications to accommodate the new realities imposed due to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic,’’ he said.

The minister said that Nigeria’s natural gas resources had existed almost as an afterthought both as a matter of policy making and as a focus of investment and exploration.

“Given the potential of natural gas for industrialisation, job creation and revenue generation for government, this is a significant error that ought to be corrected with all urgency,” he added.

Also, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari, said that the 1993 PSC was designed around award of crude oil that was why the framework for gas was weak.

Kyari said that adequate proposal had been made in the current PIB to capture all that was necessary in gas terms.

He said that the non associated gas in the country needed fiscal response than the associated gas.

According to him, good fiscal environment and pricing framework are the two things needed to ensure that the PSC will work.

In his remarks Lead Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Nicholas Mutu, said that the committee would focus on ensuring that Nigerians benefit from huge deposit of gas

Mutu said that the review of contract terms to accommodate cost was neccessary to ensure gas was utitilised for economic development (NAN)

Edith Ike-Eboh
Mar, Sun, 2021

Judiciary

Buhari mourns Supreme Court Justice Ngwuta

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By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the family and friends of a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta, who passed away on Sunday in Abuja.

The President, in a statement by his spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, on Sunday in Abuja, joined the people and government of Ebonyi, the Nigeria Bar Association and members of the Bench in mourning the legal luminary.

He expressed regrets that the death of the eminent justice would leave a gap in the Supreme Court, considering his experience and dedication to the interpretation of the nation’s constitution.

President Buhari expressed the belief that Ngwuta lived and served the country with his knowledge of the law.

The president prayed that the almighty God would accept the soul of the departed and comfort his family. (NAN)

Edith Ike-Eboh
Mar, Sun, 2021

Economy/Business , Food Security

Rice farmers in Kebbi produce 4m tonnes annually – RIFAN

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By Muhammad Lawal

The Chairman, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) in Kebbi, Alhaji Muhammed Sahabi-Augie on Sunday said the total rice output produced annually in the state has reached over four million tonnes.

Sahabi-Augie told some students on excursion at the Zauro Rice Pyramid near Birnin Kebbi, that the rise in production was as a result of massive support of the Federal Government and the state Governor, Atiku Bagudu.

He noted that before the intervention, the highest rice output was 700 metric tonnes.

The chairman said that the Anchor Borrower Programme (ABP) has greatly helped farmers in the state and across the country.

He said: “Rice production output had increased from 700 metric tonnes to over four million metric tonnes per annum in the state.

“Before now, more than 80 per cent of the rice we consume in Nigeria was imported from China, Thailand and other countries, despite the fact that we have enough land and enough farmers to produce rice internally for our consumption.

“This is the kind of setback our economy went through.

“Agriculture used to be the bedrock of our economy in Nigeria, unfortunately, previous governments didn’t have the political will like what we are witnessing in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.”

He also hailed Gov. Bagudu for being in the forefront of supporting farmers to overcome their challenges.

“We told him the challenges of fertilisers and other inputs to produce rice. He was devastated about our challenges and promised to give us all the necessary support.

“Most of the farmers involved are rural farmers who don’t have income, because rice farming is capital intensive.

“You need fertiliser, water pumping machines, insecticides and other agro chemicals for rice farming”.

Sahabi-Augie recalled that the Anchor Borrowers Programme was flagged off by President Muhammadu Buhari on Nov. 17, 2015 in Zauro, during which about 77,000 farmers in the state benefited.

“All the farmers were given inputs such as fertiliser, water pumps, agro chemical and seeds, as well as fuel for their water pumping machines.

“Before the anchor borrowers programme, our output in Kebbi state was just about 700 metric tons, but in the first year of implementing the programme, we recorded 1.4 million metric tons in the state.

“From that time on, our yields have been rising up the time that we are proudly producing four million metric tons per annum”. (NAN)

Edith Ike-Eboh
Mar, Sun, 2021

General News

Stop planned demolition of Okorocha’s properties, Imo Govt urged

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By Deji Abdulwahab

Ms Zainab Mohammed, Adviser to Sen. Rochas Okorocha on Public Affairs, has called on the agents of Imo Government to stop the planned demolition of properties belonging to the family of Okorocha.

Mohammed made the call on Sunday while speaking with journalists in Abuja.

She said that the call followed the court order stopping the agent of the state government from further trespass on the said properties.

“Justice T. N Nzeukwu of High Court of Imo State had, in a ruling delivered on Sept. 7, 2020, granted prayers of the Applicants.

“He declared that the forced entry of the agents of the state governor into the House of FREEDA was illegal and a violation of their fundamental rights.

“The suit marked HOW/947/2019 was brought pursuant to the enforcement of fundamental human right of House of FREEDA Limited, Mrs Uloma Rochas Nwosu.

“And two others where the plaintiffs challenged the forced entry and seizure of property belonging to the family.

“The properties are at Issue House of FREEDA situated at KM1 Port Harcourt Road, beside Greatwood Hotel, East High College, East High Academy, West Brook Hotel Ltd., El FREEDA Foundation, all located in various parts of Owerri, Imo Capital,” Mohammed said.

She said it was unfortunate if the state governor was aware of the impunity by agents of the state government.

“There is a subsisting court order barring the government from entering these properties.

“This will amount to a government encouraging lawlessness and resort to self-help, which are features of a lawless society, if they authorised these trespassers,” Mohammed said. (NAN)

Edith Ike-Eboh
Mar, Sun, 2021

General News

Presidency describes reported Aso Villa fire incident as fake news

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By Ismaila Chafe

The Presidency has described as fake news the reported fire incident in Aso Rock Villa, the seat of the Nigerian government.

Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, dismissed the report, saying there was no fire breakout inside the Presidential Villa.

He, however, stated that on March 6, a fire broke out burning shrubs between the outer wire fence and walls surrounding the Villa, ”precisely in the area between the Villa and the Barracks, towards Asokoro.”

The presidential aide revealed that the incident recorded no casualties in terms of human life or property.

According to him, the cause of the incident is being investigated by the Federal Fire Service.

The statement read in part: ”People in the country and even abroad have been expressing concerns over reports of a fire incident in Aso Rock Villa, the seat of the Nigerian government.

”I would like to clarify that there was no fire inside the Presidential Villa.

”In the evening of Saturday, March 6, a fire broke out burning shrubs between the outer wire fence and walls surrounding the Villa, precisely in the area between the Villa and the Barracks, towards Asokoro.

”The fire, as being speculated, might have started from a passerby dropping a burning cigarette.

”The Federal Fire Service will ascertain the reason for it when they complete their investigation.

”It suffices to say that this bush fire, which started and ended outside the perimeter walls of the Villa, was seamlessly contained by fire stations of the State House and the one nearby from the Federal Fire Service.

”No loss of life, no loss whatsoever to building and property was recorded.

”We thank well-meaning Nigerians for expressed concerns.” (NAN)

Edith Ike-Eboh
Mar, Sun, 2021

Health

IWD: WHO wants leadership potential of women recognised

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By Cecilia Ologunagba

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, has urged everyone to recognise the leadership skills and potential of women toward moving the world closer to gender equality.

She made the call in her message to mark the 2021 International Women’s Day (IWD), globally celebrated on March 8 to recognise the achievements of women and to take stock of progress toward gender equality.

The regional director said overcoming inequities in societies would lead to better health, development and prosperity for all people.

She added that WHO remained committed to enabling women to advance in their careers and enhance their leadership potential.

“Over 80 mid-level and senior female staff in the region have participated in leadership training and we are piloting its expansion to ministries of health.

“In the Republic of the Congo, 34 women leading decentralised primary health institutions participated in the programme.

“Last year, we launched the Africa Young Women Champions Initiative in partnership with the UN volunteers programme to recruit 100 UN volunteers in the African Region.

“In spite of the immense challenges of the COVID-19 response, already 27 volunteers are on board, 93 per cent are female and more than 20 additional will be on board in the coming months.

“Women now account for 33 per cent of our workforce, up from 30 per cent in 2015,’’ she said.

In addition, she said, WHO had established a mentoring programme and a task force to promote a more conducive working environment for female WHO staff in the Region.

On the 2021 IWD theme; “Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World,” Moeti said the pandemic had shone light on the effective leadership skills of women.

According to her, 70 per cent of the frontline health workforce exposed to a heightened risk of infection and as stewards of families and communities are women.

She said women had stepped-up to this challenge with courage and honesty, learning and adapting in a rapidly evolving situation.

“At the same time, inequities that disadvantage women have been exacerbated in this pandemic.

“Stay-at-home orders brought the livelihoods of many African women – working as hairdressers or market vendors, for example – to a standstill.

“Lockdowns, coupled with fears of infection and health workforce shortages, are among the reasons for reports of drops in access to contraception, antenatal care and births in health facilities in Zimbabwe and other countries.

“These restrictions, including school closures, also increased the risks of sexual and gender-based violence, teenage pregnancies and dropping out of school, particularly for girls.

“This pandemic will have long-term impacts on the social and economic fabric of our societies, including progress toward gender equality.”

She, therefore, explained that the organisation was providing guidance and technical support to governments to ensure the continuous delivery of essential gender-responsive services and to assess the barriers girls and women face in reaching quality services.

“Thirty-six Member States in the African Region have integrated at least one gender-responsive measure in their national COVID-19 response plans.

“We have trained 155 health workers in 22 African countries to support women suffering from gender-based violence and to continue to safely deliver sexual and reproductive health and HIV services in the context of COVID-19,’’ she added. (NAN)

Edith Ike-Eboh
Mar, Sun, 2021

General News

Free Tv decoders will be affordable – NBC

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By Rotimi Ijikanmi

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has assured that the decoders for the Digital Switch Over (DSO) Free Tv, otherwise known as Set Top Boxes (STB) will be affordable.

The Director-General of the Commission, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, gave the assurance during an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja on Sunday.

Idachaba allayed the fear expressed in certain quarters that with the removal of subsidy on the boxes and the decision by the Federal Government to hands off DSO sponsorship, the decoders would be out of reach of the common man.

“At the moment, there is PayTv in Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) in Nigeria, like DSTv, Gotv and Startimes.

“What the government intends to do is to get this same digital content quality available to ordinary Nigerians in FreeTv, hence the transition from analogue to DTT proposition that we are pushing.

“Accessibility to this by those in the low social equilibrium is very vital because government has the obligation to get information available to all segment of the citizenry whether high or low.

“For the ordinary man to be able to afford STB which is the major device to access digital television, the Government has deliberately set up two middleware companies.

“The boxes are driven by the software that is imbedded in it and we hope that by competition, the charges for the price of the boxes will get low,’’ he said

Idachaba said there was a deliberate clause in the DSO White Paper that empowers the Digiteam with the supervision of the NBC to regulate the pricing of the boxes.

“We are giving this box manufacturing business to entrepreneurs who might want to maximise profit, but government has to consciously watch how they fix those prices in order to remain affordable,’’ he said.

Idachaba said government all over the world, must find a way to support the indigents and people in the low income rung of the society.

He recalled that at the pilot stage of the DSO roll out, the government incentivise the boxes by making it very low and affordable.

According to him, because the subsidy is not sustainable, they have devised other ways to make the purchase of the decoders easy.

“The box manufacturers said they can engage the people directly, the state government, the civil service structure to arrange a financing plan where people just take the boxes and pay over time till they defray the cost.

“Another way is to encourage the local government, NGOs, social responsibility organisations and other groups to purchase the boxes and distribute free of charge to lower rung of the society,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that following the successful inauguration of the DSO in April 2016 in Jos, the Federal Government announced the reduction of price of STB to N1,500 to get it across to all Nigerians.

Similarly, the Plateau Government had announced subsidy plans for its citizens and promised to distribute 300,000 boxes to them. (NAN)