Ready to Lead Africa, a civil society organisation said it would lead Presidential Candidates to commit against exploiting youths for violence ahead of the General Elections.
Mr Godbless Otubure, Founder, Ready to Lead Africa, made this known at a news conference, themed: “Youth-led Presidential Peace Accord and Unveiling of the National Youth Peace Symbol” in Abuja.
Otubure said that Ready to Lead Africa would host the youth-led peace accord in partnership with the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Connected Development (CODE) and Nigerian Youth Parliament.
He said the project, supported by the Open Society Foundations, is aimed at curbing potential election-related violence in the 2023 elections and also address youths on plans for a peaceful election.
He said that Ready to Lead Africa is set to lead millions of Nigerian youths to choose peace over electoral violence as it hosts Presidential Candidates on Feb. 2 at the International Conference Centre.
“We are familiar with the events of violence that surround the process of elections in Nigeria.
“Our mission is to contribute to national leadership and development of sustainable peace in Nigeria, Africa and across the world.
“The Youth Against Electoral Violence Accord (YAEVA) is a Ready to Lead Africa peace-building initiative, designed to bring youths into the promotion of peace during elections via signing of an accord by Candidates.
“Youths are used to being used for violence, but now we are the ones calling on candidates to say we are no longer going to fight for you, we are no longer going to fight ourselves because of you.”
Otubure said that the YAEVA had been signed before ahead of six governorship elections of Anambra, Ondo, Lagos, Edo, Ekiti and Osun states.
He said that it was a testament to the strong intent of Nigerian youths to eschew violence and the corresponding commitment of political leaders to participate in electoral processes without inciting or sponsoring violence.
“The YAEVA is similar to the peace accord initiated by Rev. Kukah, Gen. Gowon and Gen. Abdulsalami but the only difference is the fact that it is led by youths.
Mr Hamzat Lawal, Executive Officer, CODE, said that the fate and the outcome of the election is centred around young people.
Lawal said that for the very first time in the history of Nigeria, youths have decided that they would not condone electoral violence.
“Therefore, the young people across Nigeria should join us in advocating for this and any candidate that does not show up on Thursday to sign the peace accord means that candidate does not support Nigeria’s unity, progress and democratic dividends.
“Youths have signed up for peace, so we are calling on all the presidential candidates to show up and sign this accord and say no to electoral violence and stop using young people to perpetrate evil, we would not accept it.”
Mr Rafiu Lawal, Executive Director, Building Blocks for Peace Foundation, said that it was not only enough to get politicians to commit to not using youths for violence but also to hold them accountable to involve youths in national peace building and security.
Lawal said that there was the need to have politicians to commit to the youths agenda of Nigeria and to adopt the National Action Plan for peace and security to involve youths in governance, among others.
Mr Yusuf Dantalle, National Secretary of the Inter Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC), commended the Ready to Lead Africa for the initiative.
Dantalle assured the group of IPAC’s commitment to building peace in the nation and for free, fair and credible elections.
He advised youths not to jump into politics starting from the national level but to grow through the process from the grassroots level.
He said that IPAC would continue to give the necessary support to all electoral stakeholders to ensure a credible poll. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
The Federal Government has again raised the alarm over increase in the use of fake news and disinformation to destabilise the electoral process and plunge the nation into crisis.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the worrisome trend was being perpetrated by destabilising agents, some of them linked to the opposition.
Mohammed made this known on Tuesday in Abuja at the 21st edition of the President Muhammadu Buhari’ (PMB) Administration Scorecard Series (2015-2023).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the scorecard series, organised to showcase the achievements of the PMB Administration featured the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo.
Mohammed said the increasing wave of fake news and disinformation, permeating especially the social media space, in the run-up to the general election portended danger.
He recalled that he reiterated the same challenge at several fora including two previous editions of the scorecard series
Mohammed reassured that the government would not stand by and allow “some miscreants with access to phones and data” to destabilise the country.”
Mohammed said: “I am therefore warning the purveyors of fake news and disinformation to desist.
“The government is not and cannot be helpless because we have a range of options to checkmate the use of fake news and disinformation.
“We are looking at the best options to ensure that agents of destabilisation do not thwart the success of the elections with their unscrupulous resort to fake news and disinformation.”
NAN reports that after Mohammed’s opening remarks, Adebayo gave the scorecards of his ministry.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
The US Institute of Peace (USIP) on Tuesday in Abuja, urged the media to ensure thoroughness and due diligence in their reportage of the 2023 general elections.
USIP’S Interim Country Manager, Dr Chris Kwaja, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the public relied largely on the media for credible information about the polls.
Kwaja said that it was the duty of journalists to conduct due diligence on news sources and contents before publication.
”The information we push out to the public can incite violence, it can also mar the electoral process.
”The media should be prepared to portray the truth and counter narratives capable of undermining the electoral processes.
”So the media should carry out due diligence, balance their reports and ensure that contents are not harmful to the society,” he said.
He further urged the media not to forget their critical roles in the electoral process, saying that they should mobilize, educate and correctly inform the citizenry.
”It is also expected that as a cornerstone democracy institution, the media should moderate political discourse and direct the path for peaceful engagements.
”Journalists should not allow themselves to be used as tools to cause division or incite violence within the system,” he said.
Kwaja said that the elections had saddled the media with the responsibility of promoting social cohesion and discipline among politicians and Nigerians generally.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Little Naja’atu Gambo of Albarkawa community, Kwarbai B Ward, Zaria City in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State was one year old when her mother died and as such, did not get sufficient breast milk.
Her aunt, Mrs Fatima Aliyu, who raised her, said that Naja’atu at two years old was so skinny and too weak to do anything by herself.
“She cannot speak or crawl, but only sits in one place. Even crying was a struggle for the little girl who looked unhealthy from all indications.
“But this has changed when she was enrolled for the house-to-house delivery of nutrition services under the World Bank-supported Accelerating Nutrition Result in Nigeria (ANRiN) project.
“Naja’atu, who is now two years and two months old, is now learning how to speak, how to crawl and can play by herself,” said her aunt.
Similarly, a year and a month old Sauwama Haruna at seven months was very skinny, quiet, and inactive, but witnessed a remarkable transformation when enrolled in the project.
“The now agile and playful little Sauwama started walking at 10 months,” said her 30-year-old mother, Mrs Faiza Haruna.
Also, Mrs Amina Awwal, the mother of one-year Muhammad Awwal, said her little boy was always sick, weak and could not crawl, until he started receiving the services.
Awwal said that her little boy was only not growing stronger by the day, but now crawling, learning how to stand and the recurrence of illness significantly reduced.
These children were among the more than two million pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls and children under five years reached with cost-effective nutrition services in Kaduna State under the ANRiN project.
One-year Muhammad Awwal with his mother, Mrs Amina Awwal
The disturbing indices of malnutrition in Kaduna State and the need for cost-effective intervention
Children under five years constitute 1.9 million, representing 19.2 per cent of the estimated 10 million population of the state, 22.1 per cent of which are stunted, according to Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2018.
The survey also indicates that 1.1 per cent of the children are wasted, 7.5 per cent underweight, while 17.2 per cent are born with low birth weight.
The report further shows that 1.5 of women of reproductive age are of short stature, while 8.2 per cent of them are acutely malnourished.
At the national level, Nigeria has very high rates of malnutrition with stunting, a measure of chronic malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, constituting the highest burden since 2008.
According to the World Bank, the long-term nutritional problem in the country shows that two out of every five children under five years of age suffer from chronic malnutrition.
This translates into 14.5 million Nigerian children at risk of either dying or not developing to their full potential.
Micronutrient deficiencies– mainly in vitamin A, iodine, iron, folic acid, and zinc – are a serious problem and despite their high cost-effectiveness, coverage rates of micronutrient supplementation and fortification remain generally low.
It is estimated that 30 per cent of Nigerian children and 20 per cent of pregnant women are Vitamin A deficient, while 76 per cent of children and 67 per cent pregnant women are anemic.
Why nutrition intervention matters
Maternal and child undernutrition is estimated to be responsible for about 45 per cent of child mortality and 11 per cent of the global disease burden.
Malnutrition, in all its forms, imposes unacceptably high costs – direct and indirect – on individuals, families and nations.
According to a technical brief, “The Cost of Malnutrition: Why Policy Action is Urgent” by the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition, malnutrition is a major impediment to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
The brief estimated impact on the global economy could be as high as US$3.5 trillion per year, or US$500 per individual.
It highlights that adult earnings are reduced by 2.4 per cent for every 1 per cent loss in potential attained height and affects human capital, leading to losses in national economic productivity and economic progress.
Further costs are decreased cognitive ability, poor school performance and educational outcomes, compromised adult labour productivity, and increased health care costs.
Overnutrition also bears a significant cost; at least 2.6 million people die each year as a result of being overweight or obese.
The recent Lancet series on early childhood development estimates that, every year, Nigeria loses about three per cent of its GDP as a result of not addressing the developmental needs of children in the first 1000 days of life.
At the individual level, chronic malnutrition in children is estimated to reduce a person’s potential lifetime earnings by at least 10 per cent.
Mr Sunday Okoronkwo, Executive Secretary, Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) also said that investment in nutrition would build human capital, adding that early nutrition programmes can increase school completion by one year.
Okoronkwo equally said that investment in the sector would raise adult wages by five to 50 per cent, stressing that children who escape stunting were 33 per cent more likely to escape poverty as adults.
“Also, reduced stunting among children under five years can increase GDP by four to 11 per cent in Asia and Africa,” he said.
Providing cost-effective nutrition services to households in Kaduna communities
Responding to the challenge, the five-year World Bank-supported ANRiN project was designed to increase utilisation of quality, cost-effective nutrition services for pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls, and children under five years of age.
Two non-state actors – eHealth Africa and the Society for Family Health (SFH) were contracted in 2021 to deliver integrated Basic Package of Nutrition Services (BPNS) and Adolescent Health Services (AHS) to the targeted groups at community level.
Other beneficiaries are also being reached at health facilities and currently the services are being provided in 100 facilities across 12 LGAs in the state.
The BPNS involves increasing knowledge of mothers and caregivers of children from zero to 23 months of age on improved behaviours related to maternal, infant, and young child feeding practices.
Other services include provision of micronutrient powders to children from six to 23 months to improve the quality of complementary feeding and iron-folic acid tablets to pregnant women during pregnancy and counseling during ante-natal care sessions.
There is also the provision of intermittent preventive treatment for malaria during ante-natal care to pregnant women, zinc and oral rehydration solution for treatment of diarrhea among children from six to 59 months.
The project also provides semi-annual vitamin A supplementation to children from six to 59 months of age and semi-annual de-worming among children from 12 to 59 months.
The AHS on the other hand, involves counseling for increased birth spacing amongst married women of reproductive age, particularly adolescent girls, 15 -19 years and provision of a full range of short-term and long-acting reversible birth-spacing methods.
Interpersonal Communication Agent administering Vitamin A to children during service delivery at community level
One of the Interpersonal Communication Agents (IPCA), Ms Samira Ahmed, Limancin Kona Ward, Zaria LGA, who delivered the services directly to the beneficiaries in their homes, described her experience as “life touching”.
“I am going house to house to deliver the services to the beneficiaries, some of the services like Vitamin A and deworming are every six months, while iron-folic acid for pregnant women is every month,” she said.
Her supervisor, Ms Salaha Sambo, Adolescent Health Supervisor, SFH, said that each of the IPCA was given a specific number of communities to provide the services and make referrals to health facilities.
“We are working with community structures like Village Head and other community leaders to ensure that the IPC are doing their job and delivering the services to the targeted beneficiaries.
“The project has also put in place a Grievance Redress Mechanism in communities for beneficiaries to report concerns, complaints, dissatisfaction, and claims or make requests or enquiry,” she said.
Impact of the project on the targeted population
The Project Manager, Dr Zainab Muhammad-Idris, described the ANRiN project as a “key preventive measure” that helps to stem the tide of malnutrition in the state.
Muhammad-Idris said that so far, more than 3.6 million contacts of the targeted groups across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state have been reached with BPNS and AHS in their homes and health centres.
According to her, the objective of the project is to reduce chronic malnutrition, maternal and child mortality rates and in the long run, increase school completion, performance and improve labour force productivity.
“Through strategic partnership, ANRiN is reaching more children and women and saving lives by providing nutrition services to children under five years, and adolescent mothers during pregnancy.
“2022 has particularly been a remarkable year for us because we have been able to reach over three million beneficiaries through the non-state actors and healthcare facilities.
“We will make further inroads this year to ensure that all the beneficiaries enrolled received the complete service packages.”
She added that the project also carried out stakeholders’ mapping of all nutrition programmes and interventions being implemented by partners and government ministries, departments and agencies, and local councils.
She said that the mapping has become a reference document for all partners in deciding where a nutrition intervention should be sited in the state,” she said.
“The project also secured 2.7 million dollars (about N1.1 billion) in 2022 for procurement of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) for the treatment of children with severe acute malnutrition,” she added.
RUTF is an energy-dense, mineral- and vitamin-enriched food specifically designed to treat Severe Acute Malnutrition.
From Left: Project Director, eHealth Africa, Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) Project, Dr Aminu Abubakar; Project Manager, ANRiN Kaduna State; Dr Zainab Muhammad-Idris; Director Public Health, Kaduna State Ministry of Health Dr Hajara Kera; and Project Director, Society for Family Health ANRiN Project, Mr Ibrahim Mohammed, after a one-day Quarterly Stakeholders Meeting on ANRiN Project in Kaduna
The project’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Mr Musa Abubakar, said that out of the 3.6 million contacts reached between July 2021 to Jan. 22, 2023, 815,483 children received Vitamin A and 787,734 received deworming tablets.
He added that 320,155 children received micronutrient powder, 564,028 received zinc/ORS while 477,334 mothers and caregivers of children were counselled on MICYN practices.
“Also, 295,144 pregnant women received iron folic acid, 261,295 others received intermittent preventive treatment for malaria during ante-natal care, while 108,783 adolescent married women received short-term and long-acting reversible birth-spacing methods,” he said.
Also, the State Nutrition Officer, Mrs Ramatu Haruna, said that the number of children under five years dying of malnutrition has decreased from 323 in 2019, to 142 in 2020, and further dropped to 58 in 2021 and 37 in 2022.
The Multiple Indicators and Cluster Survey 2021 also shows some remarkable improvement in exclusive breastfeeding practice which increased to 41.1 per cent in 2021 from the 19.7 per cent recorded in 2017.
The report also indicates that children six to 23 months who received minimum dietary diversity had also increased to 28.4 per cent from 15.8 per cent.
Also, at the recent event held in Abuja, Kaduna State emerged the ‘Best Performing State’ out of the 11 states assessed for the ANRiN project’s community-based nutrition service delivery.
The state emerged as the Best Performing State on Social Behavioural Communication; Partner Mapping and Coordination; Safeguards; and the Most Innovative State.
Kaduna State also emerged the Second Performing State on Fiduciary, and Service delivery at PHC level, while the project manager received the Question Asker Award and Note Taker (documentation) Award.
Leveraging faith-based institution for social behavioural change communication
On Social Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC), the Project Manager said that beneficiaries, particularly the mothers and caregivers of the children were being counselled on how to adopt good Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MICYN) practices.
She added that the SBCC also involves secondary targets including traditional and religious leaders, husbands of the women, fathers of the children and other community members through various communication channels and faith-based approaches.
This, according to her, is very important because everyone has a role to play in contributing to promoting breastfeeding and other MIYCN practices.
To this end, the ANRiN project contracted the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI) to implement the faith-based component of the SBCC.
Malam Ibrahim Abubakar, State team Lead, CCSI, said that the centre was leveraging on the dignity of faith actors – religious leaders, faith-based groups, organisations, schools, and faith-based institutions to raise awareness on MICYN practices.
Abubakar said that the messages focus on five key areas namely maternal nutrition, early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding, and hygiene and sanitation.
According to him, the strategies of demand creation include sermons during services in Church programmes and Friday Juma’a prayer, and other occasions like naming ceremonies, weddings, graduations, and other public gatherings.
“So far, we have trained 115 pastors and imams, and 108 Community Volunteers to assist them and in December 2022 alone, we have reached an estimated 131,000 people with MIYCN messages.
“They include pregnant women, married and unmarried men, women with children under five years, breastfeeding mothers, and mother in-laws.”
State team Lead, Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI), Malam Ibrahim Abubakar; Rev. Giwa Kanda of the Assemblies of God Church, Television, Kaduna; Senior Mobilisation Assistant, CCSI, Mr Sunday John; and ANRiN Community Volunteer, Wheapadu Emmanuel, at Assemblies of God Church, Television, Kaduna.
One of the clerics, Chief Imam of Kaduna Polytechnic, Abubakar Yusuf, acknowledged the prevailing ignorance among mothers and caregivers on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding and other complementary feeding practices.
Yusuf said he was using the mosque and during naming ceremonies, marriages, and other public gatherings to enlighten mothers, caregivers, including fathers on MICYN practices.
“It was difficult at the beginning because of people holding on to their cultural practices but using religious perspective and provisions in the Quran has helped in changing the mindset of the target groups.
“Currently I am receiving calls from mothers and fathers seeking for more information on what to do in respect of appropriate feeding of the child when in doubt,” he said.
Chief Imam of Kaduna Polytechnic, Abubakar Yusuf
Also, Rev. Giwa Kanda of the Assemblies of God Church, Television, Kaduna South LGA, said the ANRiN project has increased his knowledge on the importance of breastfeeding and adequate complementary feeding.
Kanda said that the faith-based initiative was providing critical information to parents and caregivers using the pulpits during church service and other religious gatherings.
“Due to ignorance, some parents and caregivers link the death of children to witchcraft, but this is changing due to access to critical information on how to adequately feed children,” he said.
Addressing challenges for better results
Stakeholders noted that while progress has been recorded over the years, there is much that needs to be done considering the retrogression in some of the nutrition indicators in the MICS 2021 report.
CS-SUNN has said that Kaduna State needs N6.4 billion to treat 96,488 severely malnourished children in the state, noting that funding remains the critical challenge to addressing malnutrition in the state.
Stakeholders pointed out that although the price of addressing malnutrition can be huge, evidence shows that the cost of doing nothing is immeasurably greater.
They call for more attention to the costs of inaction and urges policymakers, particularly those in economic planning and finance ministries, to invest in nutrition and in actionable food and agriculture policies.(NAN)
edited by Ismail Abdulaziz
***If used, credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
The University of Abuja, Gwagwalada, FCT, has advised Nigerians to go for regular diabetics test to ensure early detection of the disease for healthy living in the country.
A diabetes specialist in the hospital, Dr Yakubu Lawal, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gwagwalada on Sunday.
He said that many diseases can be prevented or their consequences minimised through regular test and early detection or change to a healthy lifestyle.
According to him, complications from diabetes can cause cardiovascular disease, kidney, eye damage, hearing impairment and depression to an individual if not properly managed.
“Diabetes mellitus is a global pandemic while the prevalence is increasing at geometric rate because of the poor awareness among the populace.
“Some people don’t know when to go for a medical check-up in the hospital to know whether they are diabetic or not, or to associate with diabetic patients.
“The awareness is very poor and that is why the prevalence has increased in our society today because of the paucity of the enlightenment.
“There are people when you tell them their sugar level is high and they should come to the hospital for check-up, they tell you there is nothing wrong with them.”
He added that the need to encourage people to promote and adopt a healthy lifestyle was very important to help reduce the prevalence in the society.
Lawal revealed that there are three major types of diabetes namely; type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes, adding that people with type I diabetes are insulin-dependent, which means they must take artificial insulin daily.
He further explained that people with pre-diabetes are, however, at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, although they do not usually experience the symptoms of full diabetes.
“Changing your lifestyle could be a big step towards diabetes prevention — and it’s never too late to start.
“Regular check-up and healthy lifestyle goes a long way in preventing type 2 diabetes mellitus,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Students of Queen Amina College, Kaduna, who passed out in 1985 and 1986, have renovated six toilets and 14 bathrooms in the school.
The facilities inaugurated on Saturday are expected to arrest the practice of open defecation by students.
Hajia Amina Junaidu, Deputy Director, Higher Education, in the Kaduna State Ministry of Education, inaugurated the projects on behalf of Halima Lawal, education commissioner.
The commissioner commended the former students for the projects which she described as “a wonderful achievement”.
“The facilities will certainly ease students suffering; they will minimise the inconvenience of long queues in the morning,” she said.
She urged the students to make judicious use of the facilities and maintain them adequately.
Mrs Rakiya Ahmad, Principal of the College, thanked the students for contributing to the teaching, learning and welfare of the students through financial donations and mentoring.
She said that the school currently had over 3,000 students with inadequate facilities to cater for them.
She urged parents to support the state government’s free education policy by providing writing materials for students.
“Aside their conventional studies, we offer Information Communication Technology courses where students learn how to operate computers.
“Last year, one of our students scored 320 points in her UTME test.
“The government has done a lot but we need more assistance and we hope you won’t relax your efforts because you have set a record. There is no doubt that this is the best set of the Queens,” she said.
Earlier, the National President of the association, Mrs Bukola Fatunbi, had recalled that the old students received quality education, thorough discipline and mutual respect during their days in the school.
She explained that the association was focused on giving something back to the school and also helping the next generation to access education in a conducive environment.
She thanked her colleagues for contributing to the reunion and the execution of the projects.
Some members of the group, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) expressed happiness over the reunion which had enabled them to meet old friends.
One of them, Funke Omotunde, said that she had not seen many of her classmates since they parted in 1985.
“I feel so happy seeing them alive and healthy,” she said.
Omotunde urged government to renovate the school and build more hostels, toilets and classrooms as the number of students had increased.
Another old student, Aisha Sambo, said that a sense of nostalgia enveloped her when she saw her classmates.
“I am visiting the school after a long time. I am so delighted to meet old friends and some of my old teachers,” she said.(NAN)
2023 elections: Giving Nigeria the best is task for all stakeholders
By Ismail Abdulaziz, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Recent debates and public opinion have established the need for the coming administration to, as a matter of urgency, work towards uniting the nation. While that is true, this only posits such a responsibility within the purview of the elected or constituted authority.
The legitimacy and credibility of the leadership that will emerge from the coming elections is a function of how free, fair, credible, and inclusive the electoral process is perceived to be. Hence, ahead of the 2023 General elections, all political actors to demonstrate leadership in ensuring we remain a nation in the face of an “existential election”.
With less than 30 days to the 2023 General Elections, pundits have pointed out many lapses in the way political campaigns are misguiding the electorate from the real issues that should ordinarily form the crust of the matter in the match to a stable democratic transition in the country. It’s time to do away with the campaigns of calumny and the making of unrealistic promises. Candidates need to focus on outlining the plans and suggest how they intend to proffer solutions to some of the challenges confronting us as a nation.
From the councillors, chairmen, state house of assemble members, governors, House of Representatives members, senators and the president, a lot is expected to maintain the much-needed ambience of peace, development, and unity in the country.
Providing facts about issues to the people is paramount in this election, and Nigeria and its people would be better for it. The mundane concept of singing the old song of messianic vision would just not be enough this time around.
The democratic practice of the government of the people, for the people and by the people must be on the front burner of every Nigerian seeking to represent the people.
At a function held in August 2022, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, spoke on the new innovations introduced to ensure a level playing ground for all stakeholders in the 2023 election with the introduction of technology: “Please be assured that these innovations are intended to deepen the Electoral Process in our Country and their optimal performance in the just concluded gubernatorial election in Ekiti and Osun States is an eloquent testimony to their electoral value. We shall only do more to consolidate their deployment in our election. Once again, I wish to assure you that INEC has no preferred party or candidate. We shall only ensure that valid votes count and that the voters decide the winners.”
Such a level of commitment from the commission’s leadership is a welcome development. However, it needs to be cascaded down through the hierarchy to polling officials and security agents responsible for the conduct of elections at the polling unit. While we are leveraging on technology to help mitigate some of the challenges confronting the electoral process, such innovations must be complemented with a high level of professionalism and a strong will to stand by what is right.
Africa and the rest of the world are looking at the outcome of the 2023 general election as a watershed for the continent. The West African Elders Forum (WAEF) stressed the relevance of a free, fair and transparent election in the country at their Pre-Elections Assessment Mission to Nigeria in December 2022. The Elders called on Nigerians to ensure that the 2023 general elections are credible and conducted in a violence-free atmosphere. The forum says this will signal to the rest of the region that democracy has come to stay and discourage the trend of democratic recession in West Africa.
Head of the WAEF Pre-election Mediation Mission and former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma, emphasised that the election is of great significance for West Africa and the entire African continent.
“We call on all Nigerians to exercise their rights to civic participation both before and during the coming elections without fear while also respecting the rights of others to do the same.
‘’Our region, West Africa, of late, has experienced some reversal in democratic practice with unconstitutional changes of government in some countries. At the heart of the instability within the sub-region are the issue of disputed elections and citizen disaffection.
“The 2023 general election in Nigeria is crucial not just for Nigeria alone but for West Africa and the African continent. They are the first of three to be held in the region next year. The successful conduct of peaceful, credible, inclusive, free and fair elections here will set a good example for others.
“This will not only send a message that democracy is here to stay in West Africa but will also resuscitate hope at a time when the sub-region is plagued with various challenges. The WAEF will stay engaged and accompany the process before, during and after the general elections until a smooth and peaceful transition is achieved.
Nigeria must rise up to its bidding of being the giant of Africa by not only allowing the people to have a say but must be seen to have allowed the wish of the people to prevail this time around. Nothing less is expected from the lists of expectations of Nigerians, Africans and the world at large.
Nigeria and Nigerians must subscribe to the wise counsel of the elders to chart a new course for the country to show an example that the continent has really come of age in terms of stable democratic rule.
The Elders expressed optimism that the upcoming polls will be an improvement from previous elections. Particularly as they received assurance from President Muhammadu Buhari and all other relevant stakeholders that a secure and free environment and a level playing field would be guaranteed for all citizens and political actors irrespective of political affiliation.
The President particularly assured that come 2023, people would be allowed to vote whomever they want, in whatever party. He further reiterated that his administration would not allow anyone to use money and thugs to intimidate the people.(NAN)
**If used, credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
***This article is with support from Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF), a pro-peace and good governance initiative dedicated to preserving and promoting democratic principles as a prerequisite for peace and prosperity in Africa.
How entrepreneurs are fighting unemployment among women through social media
By Aisha Gambo, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Employment is essential to every adult who have needs and responsibility to cater for. It is what makes one self-reliant and help reduce or completely eradicate poverty in the society.
Skill acquisition is the art of learning to do something in order to earn a living and or to survive. There are different types of professionals e.g. fine artists, mechanics, potters, vulcanizers, etc. from whom one can learn trades in order to earn a living. Learning to read and write is a skill you acquire at school.
Unemployment rate in Nigeria has increased to 33.30 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2020 from 27.10 per cent in the second quarter of 2020, according to the National Bureau for Statistics.
The unemployment rate refers to the share of the workforce that is currently not working but is actively searching for work. It does not include the economically inactive population, such as the long-term unemployed, those aged fewer than 15 years or retired persons.
It is in this vain that a group of entrepreneurs from the northern part of Nigeria, named Entrepreneurs Connect (EC) organized and conducted skill acquisition training for over 1,500 women across Nigeria using the WhatsApp social media platform.
The co-founder of the group, Mrs Inna Mamman-Bukar, said the training was organised to arrest the high number of women and young ladies sitting idle at home doing nothing due to either lack of skills, motivation or poor finance.
“Well, the initial or rather main purpose of the group was to support each other’s business by patronizing, sharing and creating awareness of other business vendors.
“So along the line, we were discussing in the group of how a lot of Arewa women are into business nowadays, yet a lot are sitting idle at home doing nothing due to one reason or the other, maybe due to financial constraints, maybe lack of inspirations and motivations.
“One of our members suggested, why don’t we organize a free online skills acquisition programme for women, at least the little we give might make a very big positive impact in someone’s life.
“We all agreed to teach what we know and decided to teach 16 different skills such as incense production, baking, make-up, soap and detergent production, skin care products among others across the nation.
“Many women are interested in running or starting a business, but lack the basic knowledge of business and online marketing as well, while others are already doing the business but lack motivation and inspiration to carry on.
“We believe that skill acquisition will help a lot, and bring out the hidden talent in them and we executed the plan which has recorded success as many have started running their businesses with the little they have”, she said.
Tackling the challenges of participants access to the programme
Mrs Mamman-Bukar, who reside in Abuja and an incense and perfume dealer, said the challenges recorded from the training was from the participants as most of them complain of lack of capital to start a business.
She said that others complained of available data to download video tutorial for the class, adding that text, images and videos were used to teach and illustrate a given skill.
“Despite the fact that we have non capital intensive skills like graphic design, but you know there are some certain businesses that are not environment friendly, there are businesses you need to run them based on your audience.
“Initially we planned to train 500 women, but we ended up training 1500, which is a huge success to all EC members, and a lot among these women have already started running their businesses from the skills they learned, others are motivated, inspired.
“The cooperation we got from the participants, the prayers and well wishes is just overwhelming. What success could be better than this to the entire members of Entrepreneurs Connect, because it gives us joy to see others benefitting from us for free.
What criteria were taken by the group to select participant?
The training was done online using the WhatsApp social media app with links of the group broadcasted for any interested female to join.
” The criteria was very simple, we just ask any interested woman from our contact to repost the flyers containing details of the training, so as to give room to other interested women to join.
“We adopted the one to tell 10 approach, and before you know it, it cut across, went viral and a lot joined, and even after the training, people are still joining due to the valuable trainings they received at no cost.
” Even though the training is free, a token of N300 is paid for certificate ; which is optional for any interested participant”, she said.
Some Participants share their experiences
Shamsiyyah Yunusa, a married woman residing in Gombe state, stated that she had learnt how to produce local cologne known as Humra along with making other perfumes and incense.
“Immediately after the online class, I went to the market and bought N4,500 worth items for the cologne production just for a start as well as to see the outcome.
” Since I live in a suburb area where people prefer cheap things, I decided to sell the Humra at N200 per small bottle and to my surprise I sold half the products in few days.
Another beneficiary, Nafisa Sani-Daneji, from Kaduna state, said she joined the training group because it was free, saying she had been looking for such opportunities to learn a skill as she was a student who cannot afford paid trainings.
“I was viewing a friend’s status on WhatsApp one day and I saw a flyer stating skill acquisition for free, so I clicked the link which directed me to the group.
” We were taught many skills but I only tried the budget friendly and locally made perfumed body cream known as Kulleccham in which the outcome was great; I sold two creams in a day.
” I plan to add body mist and other locally made perfumes as the business prosper; I appreciate the EC group for this selfless service in empowering women and I pray God uplift them more.
“Skill acquisition training like this would assist greatly in reducing poverty and dependency on spouse among women because many women are tired of being idle, but have no idea of what business to engage in,” she said.
Zainab Haruna, another resident of Gombe and a student, said she had learnt graphic design from the group, adding that it was a skill that does not require much capital.
” With a smart phone and data, I was able to design invitation cards for friends and family where I charged them N1,500 to N2,000; I hope to improve in the skill so that I can start earning high,” she said.
On her part, Fatima Gambo, a married woman residing in Azare, Bauchi state, said she had gained knowledge and experience with regards to business, marketing and sales in the group.
“We were trained on different skills but I chose to venture into skincare business due to the passion I have for skincare; now I know how to produce different skin product.
“I thank God, I have made N12,000 sales in few days and I am getting positive feedback from my first customers who tried the product.
” I started with N30,000 only and I hope to expand on the business and teach other women interested in skincare products”, she said.
Making the programme a sustainable point for the women
”We are looking at a bigger and better entrepreneurs connect in the nearest future,” Mrs Bukar-Mamman said.
“We are planning to conduct the training twice a year, that is after every six months. Because, after the success of the first training, we got to realize that a lot of women in Nigeria, particularly Northern Nigeria, need to be empowered and enlightened on the importance of been financially independent.
“While some just need emotional support, others still need financial support which is the key to starting any business.
“Already some foreign partners are interested in partnering with us in this our initiative. We are planning on training as many women as we can in the future.
” Not only train them, but also support them emotionally and financially if need be. Even as of now, the group is still actively engaging the participants with so many activities,” she said. (NAN)
Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz
***If used, credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
By George Odok
The Cross River Chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has endorsed the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state, Sen. Bassey Otu, for the 2023 polls.
Mr Daniel Obo, Chairman of NYCN in the state, said this on Wednesday in Calabar during a town hall engagement with youth leaders in Southern Senatorial District of the state.
He said that the council endorsed the governorship candidate of the APC and adopted the party because of its youth friendly disposition.
“We are not going back in our support for the governorship candidate of Cross River and we will win because we have 70 per cent of the votes.
“We have come here to reaffirm our commitment as an institution. We will stand for the party that recognises young people.
“We, the youth council in Cross River will support the APC and will mobilise our youths to stand with the party, and God willing, we will win,” he said.
Obo said that governorship position in the state rotates round the three senatorial zones of the state for equity, fairness and justice.
“The position of governor rotates around the three senatorial districts. It is the turn of Cross River South to produce the next governor.
“About 80 per cent of the youths are with us; and as you know, politics is a game of interest.
“We have one of us as a deputy governorship candidate in APC; we will try our best to see that his ambition sees the light of the day,” he said.
Obo said that the governorship candidate shared with the council his plans for youth development in the state and his antecedents as a lawmaker in the National Assembly.
“It is no longer time to hijack materials or send youths to fight against themselves, but the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System will speak for itself.”
The chairman, therefore, encouraged the youths to get their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the polls. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
By Gami Tadanyigbe
The University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada, FCT, has called on Nigerians to be safety cautious to help prevent burns and other domestic accidents for healthy living.
The Manager, burns and plastic unit of the hospital, Mr Linus Ameh, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gwagwalada on Wednesday.
Ameh said majority of burn cases handled in the unit range from gas explosion, fuelling generator set while on or hot, hot water, fire outbreak, motor accidents among other domestic accidents.
According to him, prevention is better than curative measures, hence the need for Nigerians to take safety measures seriously and adhere to safety ethics towards a safer country.
“We normally have 60 to 70 burn cases and only critical cases are brought to this unit and the ones that are already infected are posted to different wards.
“Most times we go out to sensitise people on preventive measures, because most cases of burns are from fuelling generator while on or near the kitchen or children burnt from hot water.
“Bush burning at this period can also destroy lives and property and poses danger to healthy living in our various communities.
“With this entire incidence, it is high time Nigerians learn from it and there is need to put in place basic safety equipment and features for protection,” he said.
However, the manager explained that if proactive measures are properly adopted, it could save lives and properties in the country.
He appealed for more funding to the unit to help address some challenges in terms of treatment, especially for the indigents who cannot afford money for treatment.
He also called on the Federal Government to put in place adequate policies that would help address safety challenges and help prevent domestic accidents among Nigerians. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz
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