NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
5G partnership will bring world of possibilities in Nigeria’s education- MTN
Science & Tech

5G partnership will bring world of possibilities in Nigeria’s education- MTN

205 total views today

By Jessica Dogo

The MTN Chief Enterprise Officer, Lynda Saint-Nwafor, says 5th Generation partnership will open doors to a world of possibilities in education.

Saint-Nwafor spoke at the tripartite event hosted by MTN in partnership with Huawei and Baze University on Wednesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the partnership came with the signing of a Memoradum of Understanding (MoU) to the launch of 5G education in Nigeria.

In a recorded video she said the partnership is a prove of shared vision and commitment.

“The partnership with Baze University, Huawei and MTN symbolises our shared commitment to harnessing the power of 5G to unlock unprecedented opportunities for educational institutions and businesses across Nigeria.

“We believe that 5G will transform how we teach and learn, expand access to quality education, and enable remote learning like never before.

“This, indeed, positions Baze University as a model for educational excellence where the boundaries of traditional education are redefined.

“Huawei, our partner on this ground-breaking collaboration, brings onboard its expertise and legacy of driving digital transformation.

“Together, the full potential of 5G technology to enhance educational outcomes will be unlocked.”

She said that the synergy with this tripartite partnership was a transformative force that would propel towards a future where education knows no boundaries.

“This is a testament to what can be achieved when visionary organizations come together with a shared purpose,” she said.

In his remarks, the Key Account Director of Huawei, Nigeria, Joey Wu, said that the Tripartite partnership of 5G to Education plan by the Baze University would revolutionise education in Nigeria.

“We are witnessing the launch of 5G to Education at Baze University in partnership with, this actually marks a milestone because this marks the first 5G initiative in the education sector in Nigeria.

“MTN, Baze University and Huawei has embarked on a revolutionary journey to redefine education in Nigeria.

“The 5G education plan at Baze University is not just a plan but a bold step into the future, hologram and visuals we show you here are tools that will revolutionise the way our students learn and interact with their environment.

“We will continue to explore the limitless opportunities that come with 5G to the education sector, business and the medics alike as Nigeria continues in her journey towards technical excellence.” He said

Earlier, the acting Vice-Chancellor, Baze University, Kathleen Ebele, said, with the increase of courses and students the use of technology would ease lecturing and research.

“This partnership is going to lead us to teach more intelligently in a digital time. We have courses increasing and students increasing. So we need to partner Huawei in this excercise.

“The cost implication is that we have invested heavily in this and all partners are looking at the long term.

“This partnership will improve the quality of delivering lectures, research and we will have more space to work with and more platforms to work with.

“We have an MoU in place a tripitit MTN, Baze University and Huawei. As you know we are trail blazers in Africa especially in Africa and the best place to start with.

“You can see how developed our infrastructure is. Our people are well schooled for what we have ahead of us; that’s why they chose us, we didn’t choose them but they chose us,” she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Edu seeks inter-ministerial collaboration on illegal migration, human trafficking
Metro

Edu seeks inter-ministerial collaboration on illegal migration, human trafficking

138 total views today

By Ahmed Ubandoma

Dr Betta Edu, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has called for inter-ministerial collaboration to address illegal migration and human trafficking.

Edu made the call when she paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in his office in Abuja.

The minister said the call became urgent to tackle the root causes of poverty and humanitarian crises which she believed insecurity, illegal migration and human trafficking.

Edu assured the interior minister that the National Social Register would be expanded to capture families and widows of ex-servicemen in the paramilitary organisation.

“The inmates of the Nigeria Correctional Services will also be captured to benefit from the skills acquisition programmes of my ministry.

“For us to achieve the desired result, we must ensure an effective and sustainable inter-ministerial collaborations.

Edu said the synergy would enable her ministry to get the required  intelligence to coordinate and  effectively administer any humanitarian crisis.

“We need intelligence from you. We just got the approval for officers from NAPTIP to be present at the different ports.

“We need you to know the importance of our collaboration with you on the border.

“We have to find ways to step up our intelligence in Nigeria, we have too many illegal borders” she said.

The minister said the partnership became necessary to accomplish President Bola Tinubu’s plans to reduce poverty and humanitarian crises in the country.

“We are here for serious business and for us to succeed, we must work as a team through inter-sectoral and ministerial collaboration to achieve success.

“My new responsibilities covers  a greater population of vulnerable Nigerians and to provide them with humanitarian services and alleviating their poverty in line with President Tinubu’s agenda,” she said.

She, therefore, expressed optimism that the synergy between the two ministries would help in addressing some of the challenges.

“We need your support, heads of security agencies here will help us to work with our team to gather intelligence on how people are moving in and out of our country.

“There are issues of human trafficking, child labour and sexual exploitation, amongst other things which lead to Humanitarian crises.

“We cannot continue to allow this trend to go unattended, It’s not acceptable, we need your support,” the minister said.

In his response, Tunji-Ojo, commended the courage and commitment of his Humanitarian counterparts for pushing the renewed hope agenda.

Tunji-Ojo said the inter-ministerial committee headed by the two permanent secretaries in the two ministries will work out modalities that will strengthen the focus of the agenda.

He commended the offer made by the humanitarian minister to train the inmates of the Correctional services in skills acquisition(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Angela Okisor/Sadiya Hamza

Minister refutes claim of planning to cause crisis in Reps
Politics

Minister refutes claim of planning to cause crisis in Reps

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By Naomi Sharang

Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha has refuted claim that she is planning to cause leadership crisis in the House of Representatives.

Onyejeocha said this in a statement signed by her Chief Press Secretary, Gabriel Emameh on Monday in Abuja.

Emameh was reacting to a statement credited to one Abidemi Johnson, convener of Coalition of Asiwaju Progressive Women (CAPW).

He said that she was focused on her national duties assigned to her by President Bola Tinubu at the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

“And also by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a co-chairman of the party’s national council for governorship election slated for November.

“Her loyalty to party is unquestionable,” Emameh said.

Johnson had tagged Onyejeocha as ungrateful and plotting to cause a leadership crisis at the House of Representatives for undisclosed reasons.

Onyejeocha who represented Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia at the House of Representatives, was appointed a minister after losing at the Feb. 25 election.

But the Election Petition Tribunal had affirmed that she was the winner of the election, after sacking her opponent.(NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ali Baba Inuwa

IATF Nigeria Roadshow: Experts seek production, manufacturing capacity boost to enhance AfCFTA trade
Economy/Business

IATF Nigeria Roadshow: Experts seek production, manufacturing capacity boost to enhance AfCFTA trade

145 total views today

By Rukayat Moisemhe/Adebola Adegoke

Trade experts have emphasised the need to boost Nigeria’s productive and manufacturing capacity to facilitate trade, improve foreign exchange inflows and engender competitiveness under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

They spoke at a panel session of the 2023 Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2023) Roadshow Nigeria with theme: “Growing Intra-African Trade amidst Increasing Regional and Global Geopolitical Challenges” on Monday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that IATF2023, scheduled for Nov. 9 to Nov. 15 in Cairo, Egypt, is organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), African Union Commission and the AfCFTA Secretariat.

The event is a platform for businesses to access an integrated African market of over 1.3 billion people with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of over 3.5 trillion dollars created under the AfCFTA.

Mr Intong Eric Monchu, Regional Chief Operating Officer, Anglophone West Africa, Afreximbank, stated that AfCFTA’s implementation remained a critical arrowhead of the bank’s strategy to drive Africa’s economic integration.

Monchu, noting that the continent was blessed with abundant natural resources, observed that Intra-African trade level was pegged at 18 per cent; a very low value when compared with that of Europe and Asia.

He stated that Nigeria’s current export of raw commodities needed improvements and said that the Afreximbank was committed to supporting solutions tailored toward facilitating trade across the continent.

“Nigeria tops country to drive intra African trade because they have what it takes in the way they think, reason, drive, aggressiveness to move Intra-African trade.

“We must, therefore, stop being last in terms of trade while Afreximbank works to promote special economic zones, industrial parks with states and countries across the continent,” he said.

Engr Mansur Ahmed, Immediate Past President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), noted that the real cause of Africa’s failure was the inability to keep up productive manufacturing capacity.

Ahmed said the country needed to trade in manufactured goods, produce what is needed for consumption and also what is needed for exportation.

He lauded the Afreximbank for its efforts in creating financing systems and urged the bank to focus on promoting manufacturing.

Mr Olukayode Pitan, Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BOI), noted that one clear challenge affecting the Nigerian economy was the absence of enough diversification.

Pitan, represented by Mr Leonard Kange, Divisional Head, Corporate, BOI, stressed the need for depth to diversify the country’s revenue, noting the volatility that accompanied its dependent on oil.

He noted that opportunities existed to earn foreign exchange in manufacturing sectors such as motor parts and cars, iron and steel, plastics, textile, energy, agriculture running into billion of dollars.

“As it is, Nigeria is exporting money and importing poverty and so it has become very important to support and develop our industrial base to drive economic growth and development.

“With the opportunities in manufacturing, it is glaring that the market is there and so we must do what is needed to take advantage of this market to begin to earn the much needed foreign exchange,” he said.

Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadir, Director-General, MAN, said the lending rate of credit funding to manufacturers was quite high, hindering competitiveness.

He added that the challenges of power, ability to scale, transportation and logistics, infrastructure, bureaucratic bottlenecks beguiled manufacturing.

“When extrapolated to the continent, the situation is not so different and until individual countries address these constraints, Intra-African trade may be difficult,” he said.

Mr Olatayo Omodiji, Head, Strategic and Corporate Communications, Nigeria Export Import Bank, said the reason for low Africa trade was because trade was more in primary commodities.

He noted that the composition of trade globally was mainly manufactured finished products and so that starting point would be to add value to raw material.

Omodiji also emphasised the need to develop infrastructure and technology for manufacturing to compete globally.

“Nigeria also needs to address issues of informal trade by getting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) to be part of formal structure to grow trade.

“We must add value to agricultural products such as cocoa, leather, nuts, crude to boost trade while Nigerians work on their psyche to adopt Made In Nigeria goods massively,” he said.

Mr Emeka Uzomba, Senior Advisor, AfCFTA, Afreximbank, describing AfCFTA as the most developmental tool for Africa, urged the private sector to organise themselves to harness its opportunities.

He said some of the bank’s intervention tools included financing and equity risks to support development of industrial parks and special economic zones across Africa.

He pledged the bank’s support to providing more interventions tailored to drive MSME participation and growth under the AfCFTA.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Vivian Ihechu

Tribunal sacks Imo PDP house of Reps member, orders supplementary election within 90 days
Judiciary

Tribunal sacks Imo PDP house of Reps member, orders supplementary election within 90 days

146 total views today

By Blessing Ibegbu

The Imo Sate National and State House of Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, has nullified the election of  a member of the House of Representatives, Ikenga Ugochinyere of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Tribunal also ordered National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a supplementary  election within 90 days.

This was contained in a unanimous decision on Sunday by a three-member panel of the Tribunal 3, which conducted its proceedings in Mararaba, Nasarawa State.

It held that Ugochinyere was not validly nominated by the PDP to contest the Ideato North/South Federal Constituency election that held on Feb. 25.

In its lead judgment delivered by its Chairman, Justice Anthony Akpovi specifically directed the electoral body to conduct the supplementary poll.

He said the supplementary poll should be in 55 polling units, where elections did not hold on Feb. 25.

It held that the PDP and its candidate should be excluded from the supplementary election.

The judgment followed a petition that was lodged before the tribunal by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Abazu Benson.

It will be recalled that INEC had declared the PDP candidate, Ugochinyere, as winner of the election with a total of 13, 026 votes.

Whereas the candidate of the labour Party (LP), Chigozie, came second with 5,696 votes, the petitioner who was sponsored by the APC, came third with a total of 2, 368 votes.

Dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, the APC candidate filed a petition wherein he contended that Ugochinyere was not qualified to participate in the election.

The petitioner, among other things, argued that all the votes that were credited to the PDP candidate amounted to wasted votes.

He told the tribunal that contrary to the express provision of the Electoral Act, the PDP conducted its primary election in a venue that was outside the constituency.

The tribunal stressed that documentary and oral evidence that was laid before it, established that the primary election of the PDP conducted on May 25, 2022, which produced Ugochinyere was outside the constituency.

It was held at Aladinma Shopping Mall, a location that was outside Ideato North/South Federal Constituency.

Relying on the provisions of section 84 (5) (c)of the Electoral Act 2022, the tribunal held that PDP’s primary election was invalid.

It held that a valid candidate could not have emerged from an invalid primary election.

“Failure of the 3rd respondent (PDP) to abide by the sacrosanct provision of the Electoral Act invalidated its sponsorship of the 2nd respondent,” Justice Akpovi held.

The tribunal maintained that for a primary election to be valid, it must be done in compliance with section 29 (1) of the Electoral Act.

It held that in view of the fact that Ugochinyere was not validly nominated, he was therefore not qualified as at the time the House of Reps election held.

More so, the tribunal held that owing to the principle of margin of lead, candidate of the LP, Chigozie, could but be declared the winner of the seat.

Since INEC admitted that it could not hold election in 55 polling units in the constituency, owing to activities of unknown gunmen.

It therefore, directed INEC to conduct supplementary poll in the remaining polling units with all the parties participating, except the PDP.

Other members of the panel that concurred with the lead judgment, were; Justices Usman Kudu and Ibrahim Mohammed.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Joseph Edeh

CSO wants FG to revive Abuja Carnival
General News

CSO wants FG to revive Abuja Carnival

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By Naomi Sharang

The Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) has called on the Federal Government to revive the annual  Abuja Carnival which has not been held for some years now.

Executive Director, Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) Ms Faith Nwadishi, made the call in Abuja on Saturday during the schools’ cultural competition, season two, on the original inhabitants of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the competition was organised by CTA for schools in the FCT and featured poetry and arts categories.

Nwadishi was represented by CTA’s Programmes and Communication Manager, Mr MacDonald Ekemezie.

She said the first school cultural competition was held in the six Area Councils of the FCT on Dec. 14, 2022.

“This event aligns perfectly with our organisational mission of “Catch them young”.

While urging the Federal Government to fund and encourage such projects in schools, Nwadishi said the Abuja Carnival should be revived to reawaken the cultural creativity of states.

“I pray the new administration, that they should revive the carnival. They should inculcate, as a matter of right and privileges, in the young persons of the original inhabitants and other ethnic groups to showcase their culture.”

She further said that the objective of the school competition was to recognise and preserve the cultural heritage of the indigenes of the FCT.

“In the process of urbanisation and development, historical, cultural, and artistic treasures were lost. But CTA through this project, has continued to amplify the voices of the original inhabitants and their culture.

“This may have been tagged a competition, but truly, it is just a discussion and conversation conveyed through the beautiful lenses of young people – talents and spoken words on canvas.

“These brave young ones are the tomorrow we see today.”

David Jiraji of Mercy Model School Kuje, who emerged winner in the Arts Category, expressed appreciation to CTA.

Jiraji said through the process of the competition, he was able to understand other cultural aspects of the people of the FCT. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Nigeria’s 24 years of uninterrupted govt an affirmation of thriving democracy -AUDA-NEPAD
General News

Nigeria’s 24 years of uninterrupted govt an affirmation of thriving democracy -AUDA-NEPAD

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By Ruth Oketunde

Inspite of nation’s challenges, Nigeria’s 24 years of uninterrupted  power is an affirmation of the country’s thriving democracy.

The National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer of AUDA-NEPAD, Ms Gloria Akobundu, made this known at a one-day symposium on Elections Monitoring and Observation tagged 2023 General Election and Way Forward, in Abuja.

”The 2023 general elections, which marked 24 years of the country’s unbroken democracy in a stretch, since its independence, was a major milestone.

“I have never seen a country that the military governed and they were able to build their country back.

“I have never seen any country where there are instability and the military were able to consolidate development and economic growth.

“That is why it is important that we need to first celebrate Nigeria for ensuring that democracy stands in our nation and that is why we need to encourage democratic processes to enable us realise the Nigeria we all want.

“We need to join hands with our leaders to make it better, we do not need to compare ourselves with the Western world,” she said.

On the key objective of the symposium, she said that it was important to x-ray how well its campaign and sensitisation prior to the election, had an impact to the peaceful conduct of elections in the country.

She said that it would also build capacity of relevant stakeholders on managing pre and post electoral crisis for sustainability of the National Programme of Action (NPoA) and Country Review Report (CRR) recommendations.

Also speaking, Mr Abdulkarim Chukkol, Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said the commission’s effort in combating voter inducement, sent strong shivers to those involved in the act.

Chukkol, represented by Mr Adariku Michael, said that the EFCC deployed its operatives across the country to prevent the issue of vote-buying and selling and it was able to arrest, investigate and prosecute those found wanting.

He recommended that for the country to get it right, there was need for continuous sensitisation of voters on the short, medium and long term effect of selling their votes.

“Selling votes brings bad governance, Nigerians must desist from this act.

“There is also need to amend our legal reform to make stiffer punishment for offenders.

“There is need for close monitoring of elections by security agencies by making their presence well felt in every polling unit.

“It is also important that we have a strategic planning and deliberate implementation of cashless policy, this will sure help in reducing voters inducement,” he said.

For his part, Mr Omotade Folorunso, Director, Corps Welfare and Health Services, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), said it was important to deploy adequate security personnel to hard-to-reach communities in the country.

He said that though the corps did not lose any corps member in the last election, it was however important to deploy adequate security to protect the lives of the adhoc personnel in subsequent elections.

He however called for an upward review of renumeration given to the corps members participating in subsequent elections.

The Commandant of the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), Ayodele Adeleke, added that in tackling logistics problems in future elections, INEC should make adequate provisions for transportation of materials to all the polling units in the country.

Adeleke, represented by Dr Adegboyega Kareem, Director, Research, NISS, added that simulation exercise in this regard, with all the critical stakeholders must be carried out to identify loopholes and proffer solutions before the elections.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event had in attendance, representatives from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Nigerian Army, FRSC, NSCDC, among others. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Toastmasters task leaders on skills devt to achieve meaningful progress
General News

Toastmasters task leaders on skills devt to achieve meaningful progress

181 total views today

By Fortune Abang

The Toastmasters (TM) International Club, a non-profit organisation, on Thursday underscored the need for leaders to always develop their leadership skills to achieve meaningful progress.

Nadine Mbikina, District-Director of TM Club, District 94, in charge of Southern and Western Africa, gave the advice in her address at the Division “E and U ” Town-hall in Abuja.

According to her, it has become important for leaders to place priority on investment in leadership development to advance Nigeria growth.

Mbikina said: “TM Club is a non-profit organisation, which helps our members to be better public speakers and inspiring leaders.

“As you know leadership is very important, all the competencies that you can gain in TM can build a strong leadership in our countries.

“TM can provide all those skills our young people need to be better leaders, particularly all the skills that can enable people to achieve successes.”

Panelists at the TM Club District 94 town-hall in Abuja. Picture by NAN
Panelists at the TM Club District 94 town-hall in Abuja. Photo by NAN

For his part, Kayode Yusuf, the Programmes Quality Director for District 94 of the TM Club, declared the readiness of the organisation to hold its district conference in 2024.

Yusuf said that it was an annual conference that would bring together TM from across 23 countries, to learn, have fun and network with other people.

He said: “Strategies have been put in place to ensure that we have a good conference in 2024; we are getting interest from our members across 23 countries.

“So, we are going to be seeing about 1, 000 people flocking into Abuja in 2024, for the conference.

“The conference is not just for TM alone, but people will get trained on leadership; there will be speech contest from all Area to Division levels.”

Yusuf furthfer said that some of the contestants would participate at the international convention scheduled to be held in California, in the U.S., in 2024.

High point of the event was panel discussion on marketing Toastmasters to non-Toastmasters and updates on District initiatives.

TM International Club with Division E and U, and Districts in Northern parts of Nigeria promotes improvement in public speaking, self-confidence, leadership and networking skills. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Cecilia Odey/Bashir Rabe Mani

Inequality: Oxfam, others call for review of tax policies
General News

Inequality: Oxfam, others call for review of tax policies

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By Felicia Imohimi

An International NGO Oxfam has called for review of tax policy in Nigeria to reverse the current trend of payment of higher taxes by the vulnerable in the society than the rich.

Dr William Mafwalal, Acting Head of Programmes, Oxfam Nigeria made the call on the sideline of the Fiscal Accountability for Inequality Reduction FAIR4ALL Media Colloquium and Exhibition in Abuja.

The programme was organised by Oxfam Nigeria in collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Connected Development (CODE), Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), budgiT and Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre.

Mafwalal representing the Acting Country Director, Oxfam Nigeria Hamza Tijani, frowned at current practice of payment of higher or multiple taxes by market women and farmers.

He described the inequality as a contributing factor to the high rate of poverty in the society.

“Our tax system need a lot of work to ensure that this taxes are collected as they should and also ensure that the people saddled with the responsibility of pushing this taxes do their job.

“We have seen through research conducted that vulnerable people down the ladder in terms of economic status are the ones that pay more taxes than people up there having more economic opportunities due to policies and systems put in place by our government.

“The policies give sometimes tax relieve on some of these corporations and organisations that are suppose to pay heavy tax and allow the vulnerable market women and farmers in the villages pay tax on everything that they need or access to earn a living.

“Government should look at their policies again and ensure that those policies are balance that is ensuring fair taxation.

“Those who are suppose to pay taxes should pay those taxes and those who are suppose to pay more pay more while those that are suppose to pay less pay less,” he said.

He said the vision of Oxfam is for a Nigeria without inequality and poverty, and where every voice counts.

According to him, Oxfam Nigeria mission is to strengthen and empower civil society to help shape a Nigeria without inequality and poverty.

Mafwalal said Oxfam was trying to foster partnership among government agencies to strengthen system and block leakages within the tax system as well as ensure the budget system is as participatory as possible and delivery services as it ought to community.

“Part of what we are doing is Oxfam strategy of reducing inequality and gender justice and also contributing to global oxfam strategy on just economy, gender justice and accountable governance,”he said.

Henry Ushie, Project Coordinator, FAIR4ALL identified the programme as a global programme implemented across 14 countries including Netherlands.

“The overall objective of FAIR4ALL is to see how we reduce inequality as one of the root causes of poverty.

“Base on the research we conducted we realised that the reason for this much poverty is inequality which has really be endemic. We need to end that menace that is why this programme was introduced, ” he said.

According to him, through the programme supported by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oxfam since inception of the programme three years ago has been able to work across policy area in terms of fostering policy implementation within the tax industry.

Ushie further said the organisation in collaboration with partners “have also ensure that budget is as participatory as much as it can and also promoted fair taxation,”.

Foluso Adejoro, Policy Advisor, Food Security and Climate Change, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands expressed concerns at the high inequality in rural areas.

He however said everyone should strive for positive change.

Adejoro who congratulated Oxfam and other partners for the progress so far in tax justice said it is important that “in driving change the action start at the community level”.

Also, Joseph Amenaghawon, Strategy, Growth and Analytics Advisor, budgiT, said the biggest trigger was to energise Nigerians to prioritise fiscal accountability adding that the measure could be used to deal with challenges of inequality.

Amenaghawon said his organisation working with Oxfam in three focal state of Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Delta, identified one of the biggest area as collaborating with the media.

“Also to train government around open contracting and also enabled communities better understand the dynamics around budget and planning.

“Ultimately the combination of all this things will enable citizens directly involved in how to manage public finances and most importantly how we can then use that to deal with challenges of inequalities,” he said.

Participants at the colloquium were drawn from Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), National Environmental Standard Regulations and Enforcement Agency, National Human Right Commission among others. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

Agrofair: LCCI seeks commitment to agribusiness entrepreneurship, sustainable agro practices
Economy/Business

Agrofair: LCCI seeks commitment to agribusiness entrepreneurship, sustainable agro practices

167 total views today

By Rukayat Moisemhe/Mercy Omoike

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has called for an enabling environment to encourage sustainable agricultural practices, support smallholder farmers and promote agribusiness entrepreneurship.

The President of LCCI, Dr Michael Olawale-Cole, made the call at the opening of the 2023 LCCI Agrofair and Symposium, on Wednesday in Lagos.

Olawale-Cole said that the event’s theme,” Food Security and National Development in Nigeria”, resonated deeply as it addressed a national and global fundamental challenge.

He noted that the Federal Government, in July, declared a national emergency on food security as inflation made basic foods unaffordable to many, pushing up malnutrition rate.

The LCCI president said that food security – the ability to ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all – was a vital foundation upon which communities, the economy and the future were built.

He said that while the resilience and determination of farmers and entrepreneurs had resulted in noteworthy advancements, challenges still persisted.

“In Nigeria, a nation blessed with abundant agricultural resources, the importance of food security cannot be overstated.

“Our ability to provide ample food for our citizens has a direct impact on our overall development, stability and progress.

“We must embrace modern technologies that enhance productivity while safeguarding our natural resources.

“Moreover, we must recognise the interconnectedness of food security with other critical aspects of national development such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and social welfare,” he said.

Olawale-Cole said that the 2023 LCCI Agrofair and Symposium served as a platform for dialogue, learning and collaboration on innovative farming techniques and supply chain efficiency to market access and trade policies.

The Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Ibironke Emokpae, said that the theme of the symposium was pertinent to ensuring food security in the country.

“The theme of the symposium is very pertinent in our rapidly-changing world.

“As we deliberate on the critical intersection of food security and our nation’s development, we must recognise the profound implications that this theme holds to our society, our economy and our future.

“Food security is not only ensuring that every individual has access to enough food for sustenance.

“It encompasses factors that include not only availability of food, but also the accessibility, affordability and nutritional value,’’ she said.

The official said that in a country as diverse and dynamic as Nigeria, where agriculture played a significant role in the economy, food security was beyond a moral imperative.

She said that food security was also a strategic necessity for national development.

“Historically, agriculture has been the backbone of our economy, providing employment to a substantial portion of our population and contributing significantly to the gross domestic product.

“Addressing the challenges of the agricultural sector requires a comprehensive approach that will involve governments, the private sector, investors, the academia, civil society groups,” Emokpae said.

The Chairman of LCCI Agro and Allied Sector, Mr Kola Aderigbigbe, said that there was the need to make agribusiness the frontier of national development.

He said that the sector was one of the highest employers of labour notwithstanding its current low profitability due to poor infrastructure and investment.

Aderigbigbe called for more investment in security and innovations to boost agricultural production and increase exports.

He added that Nigeria should emphasise sustainable food production which, he said, required collective efforts.

“There are several issues that must be considered holistically to create the enabling environment for food security and national development,’’ he said.

He listed the issues to include ecological system, security of farmers and adequate infrastructure.

“The ministry of agriculture is very critical to national survival and development; so, the ministry must get it right to deliver its mandate of national food security and seamless flow of agriculture-based raw materials for industrial development.

“When a nation sufficiently builds the capacity to self-feed, it would literally move to the next stage of development which is transferring its agricultural surplus to industrial raw materials.

“If we are going to get it right and lay the real foundation for the total development of Nigeria, we must begin by getting it right in the agricultural sector,” he said.

Aderigbigbe said that there was the need to address the country’s ecological system to guard against flooding and achieve sustainable food security.

He expressed the hope that effective implementation of Bola Tinubu administration’s agriculture strategic plans and other initiatives would lead to attainment of national food security.

The Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Mr Alwan Hassan, represented by the South-West Zonal Manager of the Bank, Mr Adekunle Osho, said that ensuring food security in Nigeria was pertinent.

“Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for most Nigerians, and it remains the foundation of the country’s economy.

“Achievement of food security in any nation is driven by several factors.

“These factors affect agro production level, handling of produce, value addition, seamless distribution that ensures all-round availability and the right details of food items for healthy living. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

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