NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
Metro

2023 Hajj: NAHCON to begin screening of airlines in March – Chairman

140 total views today

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCOH), says screening of airlines for the 2023 Hajj operation will commence in the first week of March.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, said this at an interactive session with newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.

Hassan said that the aim of the interactive session with the media was to foster a deeper understanding with media professionals.

He said that the commission was working assiduously to ensure that the 2023 Hajj operation was conducted smoothly to enable the Nigerian pilgrims to perform an acceptable hajj rite.

Hassan said: ” You are aware that 95,000 seats have been given to the NAHCON and I must also tell you that we have gone to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for our first Pre-Hajj visit in order to familiarise and screen service providers.

” We have already allocated hajj slots to the 36 states of the Federation, the Federal Capital Territory and the Armed Forces.

”We are in the process of doing so many other things after which we will have another media interface.

” We intend to start screening the airline by the first week of March. I can assure you that this year’s hajj will be hitch free.

”This year the coast is very clear by God’s grace.”

In his goodwill message, NAHCON’s Commissioner of Operation, Alhaji Abdullahi Magaji-Hardawa, said that the commission was determined to satisfy the expectations of the Nigerian pilgrims for this year’s hajj.

He said that the leadership of the commission was always open to suggestions and prepared to answer questions from the media as credible partners of the commission. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/ Bashir Rabe Mani

Health

Rotary Club donates birthing kits, wheelchairs, others to Maitama hospital

143 total views today

By Ruth Oketunde

The Rotary Club of Abuja, Maitama District 9125, on Monday, donated
birthing kits to 100 pregnant women at the Maitama District Hospital, Abuja.

The club also donated two wheelchairs, one stretcher, medical consumables and renovated the accident/ emergency unit, as well as the matrons’ and nurses’ compound of the hospital.

The President, Rotary Club of Abuja, Maitama, Mr Yusuf Alli, said the donation is aimed at complementing government’s efforts in providing quality healthcare services to Nigerians.

He said “what we only do is to complement what the government does in any country or environment.

`In our case this year, we chose to renovate accident and emergency unit of this hospital.

“Drawing from the lessons of COVID-19 and what is happening in Turkey and Syria now, we don’t need a soothsayer to tell us that emergency unit is a fighter component of hospital service.

“We have also given birthing kits to pregnant women to assist them in safe delivery, so this is a token contribution to maternal care in the country.”

Mr Goddy Nnadi, the Governor, District 9125, said that the medical outreach is part of the club’s committment to fulfilling its humanitarian services to mankind.

Nnadi, who commended the club for the numerous humanitarian projects, called on other clubs to focus more on projects that touches human lives.


He said “this is in line with our seven areas of focus and one of them is child and maternal health and the other one is disease prevention and care.

“These are part of the programmes that Rotary Club at the international level had built to fit into the realms of maternal and girl-child, as well as disease prevention and care.

“These are multiple projects in one.”

Dr Igbinovia Imuentiyan, the Chief Medical Director of Maitama District Hospital, Abuja, thanked the club for the donation, adding that the gesture would boost heathcare services.

He said “it is my great pleasure to say that this district in Maitama has made this hospital a place they always remember and they try to share love to patients.

“We are deeply indebted to you and we remain eternally grateful.”(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Politics

Group calls for more sensitisation on BVAS

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By Naomi Sharang

Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to create more sensitisation to the use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for the 2023 general elections.

Executive Director of the Civil Society Organisation, Ms Faith Nwadishi, made the call at a news conference in Abuja on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference was on the concluded mock trial of the BVAS by INEC, preparatory to the 2023 General Elections.

Nwadishi, who called for more sensitisation to the use of the BVAS, also called for the relocation of names to decongest polling units.

She said that the CTA, as an election observer group, had embarked on meeting with critical stakeholders across the six geo-political zones and came up with some recommendations.

The recommendations, she said, included proper enlightenment and training of party agents, more sensitisation of security agents to the do’s and don’ts at polling units on election days.

“More attention should be paid to potential flash points across the country.”

Nwadishi, however, commended INEC for the overall performance of the BVAS while also noting improvement in the performance of the system.

“As we move closer to the elections, we call on all stakeholders to support INEC towards achieving credible, peaceful, fair, inclusive, and conclusive elections in February and March.”(NAN)
(www.nanews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Health

Stakeholders advocate condom use for prevention of STI’s, unwanted pregnancy

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By Justina Auta

In commemoration of 2023 International Condom Day, stakeholders have called for the correct and consistent use of condoms for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) and unwanted pregnancy.

The call was made on Monday, in Abuja, in commemoration of the 2023 International Condom Day (ICD) Organised by AIDS HealthCare Foundation (AHF), in collaboration with various key stakeholders.

The stakeholders among which are NACA, UNFPA, Education as a Vaccine, Association of Positive Youths (APYIN), Society for Family Health, among others.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ICD which is celebrated annually on Feb. 13, in conjunction with Valentine’s Day has its 2023 theme “Always in Fashion”.

Dr. Echey Ijezie, AHF Nigeria Country Program Director said ICD was celebrated every year to ensure awareness was raised about the use and importance of condoms in view to reducing STI’s and unwanted pregnancies around the world.

Ijezie said the day was focused on a lot of creativity among adolescents and young people to raise awareness, demystifying stigma and misinformation on condom use.

“AHF have been commemorating ICD since 2009 and this is our 14th year.

“Over the years condoms have played a significant role in reducing STI’s and unwanted pregnancies and it has contributed significantly in no small measure in reducing these infections and the reduction of unwanted pregnancies.

“So it’s a message we propagate, it’s a message we teach and it’s a message we want everyone to use,’’ he said.

Dr Einne Okey-Uchendu, Assistant Director NACA, said ICD was set aside to create awareness on correct and consistent use of condoms among young people who cannot abstain from sexual activities to protect themselves.

“NACA implements programmes on comprehensive effective condom programming, we provide condom awareness on different activities especially for young and unmarried people because there is a high rate of HIV infection among young people.

“We are also using the social media platforms so they have information on condom programmes like where to get condoms and how to use them correctly.

“Tomorrow is Valentine ’s Day and a lot of people try to show love by having sex, my message to everyone is love wisely, engage in safe sex and protect yourself by using condoms correctly,’’ she added.

Ms Oluwkemi Gbadamosi, Director for advocacy and Marketing for Africa Bureau AHF, said ICD was an innovative way of promoting safer sex awareness and the importance of condom use.

Gbadamosi said condoms still remained critical and the only prevention tool for STI’s and unwanted pregnancy adding that people should not be ashamed or afraid to use them.

“ ICD is strategically positioned on Feb.13, the day before Valentine’s Day.

“This is because we know that on valentine day there is a lot of conversation around expressing love in different forms which includes sexual activities.

“At AHF, we say regardless of how you choose to express yourself, with your loved ones, it is important to remember that the act of protecting yourself is an expression of love,’’ she said.

Speaking on awareness on condoms use, Gbadamosi mentioned that a condom culture survey conducted recently by AHF showed that Nigerians perception on condoms use was highly influenced by culture and religion.

“We still have high rate of infections particularly among young peoples, a lot of misconceptions about the use, were some people feel when they use condoms they do not enjoy sex, but that is wrong.

“People still have pleasurable sex, even with the use of condoms, also some people believe if a woman ask for condom , it means she is promiscuous , not realising that she is protecting herself and her partner.

She, however, called for the need to educate pharmacies, supermarkets and chemist shops in rural communities on encouraging people to freely purchase condoms and not feel judged.
Mr Edoko Philips Programme Assistant, Education as a Vaccine, said the Day was set aside to engage young people in a fun and lively way, to ensure the message of practicing safe sex was promoted.

“Young people have a way to show love which can easily translate to having sex. So the day is for people to understand safe sex, how to use condoms and how to access the commodity.

“Statistics released in 2022 of state of the world population report by UNFPA, stated that over 2.5million teenage pregnancies were recorded which means young people are engaging in sexual intercourse.

“As much as we preach abstinence, from the statistics, it is difficult for them to abstain and we will not sit back and allow young people to lose their lives.

“Whereby they have unintended pregnancies that can lead to unsafe abortion and contacting HIV and STI’s.

He further encouraged young people to abstain from sexual activities hence practice safe sex by using condoms if they can’t.

Joy Oboyi Girls Act AHF Nigeria, said there was a need to make available appropriate messaging for all young person’s raging from teenagers and those transitioning to become adults.

“We have to pass out information that cut across abstinence, saying yes to sex when ready, and teaching comprehensive sexuality education.

“This is important because when young persons are faced with the problem of `a guy is asking me out and i do not know what to do’?

“Communication skills become important so they can make informed decisions and are able to negotiate safe sex with their partners,’’ Oboyi said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Water Resources

States’ performance making 2025 Open Defecation- free target gloomy- Adamu

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By Tosin Kolade

The Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu has said states’ attitude and poor governance culture in the water and sanitation sector may affect the attainment of an Open Defecation Free country by 2025.

Adamu said this at the Opening of the National Retreat for States on the ‘Clean Nigeria: Use The Toilet’ Campaign in Abuja on Monday.

He said there was the need for states to show more commitments by complementing the efforts of the Federal Government in meeting the national ODF targets by 2025.

“Some states are still upcoming. Katsina state is hopefully going to be the next one, But there are states where there’s virtually no progress at all, that’s why every time, we need to review the situation from time to time, and find a way to encourage the states.

“We have given every support and we will continue to provide that support, but we need that political level, the highest level in the states, for the country to have a lot of traction.

“But I keep saying that once we have the political will as a people, take this campaign as ours, we own it, it’s going to go on autopilot.

“So what we are waiting for is for the nation, not only the state government, but the people themselves, to own this campaign, to understand that sanitation is a personal obligation”.

The minister noted the need to revisit all strategies and goals on ending open defecation and address the funding gaps, saying this would change the poor narrative.

According to him, ending open defecation is not just about access to tollets, but about generating demand for toilets and effecting behavioural change in favour of the use of toilets.

“It is imperative that we strengthen our supply chain towards sanitation building and the creation of a sanitation market that will propel a new economy that will ensure better livelihood.

“Poverty reduction and job creation are all the benefits of the new economy, achieving this however, will require the involvement of all Stakeholders”.

Also speaking, Mr Oumar Doumbouya, UNICEF Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Specialist said it was impressive that Nigeria is able to attain over 100 ODF local governments.

This, he noted, is a huge achievement even for the West African region as Nigeria holds a critical part of the region.

He said closing the gaps and leveraging on current efforts was crucial if the nation would attain its target.

According to him, there is the need for inclusion of everyone in interventions, adding that using innovation approaches was the key to achieving open defecation free target.

Ms. Evelyn Mere, Country Director, said Nigeria had the potential to excel in sanitation economy, through job creation, revenue generation and a healthier economy, with efficient provision of safely managed WASH services.

Mere hinted that the organised private sector in WASH would be announcing a few partnerships in the coming month, aimed at declaring 100 LGAs open defecation free.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the meeting had representatives from all state water agencies, and other partners.

The meeting was an avenue for cross-learning, discuss challenges and analyse opportunities in the water and sanitation sector. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Economy/Business

NGOs express concerns over difficulties to access grants

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By Kelechi Ogunleye

Some small Non-Governmental Organisations NGO) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) expressed concerns over difficulties experienced in accessing grants for humanitarian services.

They expressed their concerns in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during a one-day training organized by West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF), on Sunday in Abuja.

Mrs Ene Jonathan, Chief Executive Director (CEO), Global Integrity Crusade Network, said that sourcing for funds from donor organisations had been difficult for her foundation.

Jonathan said that her education and gender-based foundation has been in existence for five years and has never gotten financial assistance from external persons asides from family and friends.

She hoped that the training organised by WACSOF which had in attendance representatives of some civil society grant donors would enlighten small and new humanitarian organisations on how to appropriately seek for grants.

“Applying for grants is not easy so we are here to know better on how to apply as well as what we are doing wrongly.

“Funds is a major challenge so we are here on capacity building to learn how to apply for funds,” she said.

Also speaking, Mrs Andrea Uwadiae ,CEO Pit to Peak, an NGO said that her organisation which has been in existence for four years is fully funded by herself and husband.

Uwadiae, who is also the Chairman of WACSOF said that it would be a great relief to the orgaisation to get assistance from local and international fund donors.

She described the training as prompt, adding that it would help NGOs know how to properly write fund proposals and network with important stakeholders and partners.

The Malala Fund, Advocacy Manager in Nigeria, Mr Femi Aderibigbe said that although funds are limited compared to demands and availability, there is need for NGOs to make use of the media in all humanitarian works.

“Your lack of fund could be attributed to your inability to effectively report through the media because it is through the media some grant donors will know and track events carried out by NGOs.

“Civil society budget less in communicating what they do. They say stories rather than communicate results and impact which will drive support from partners who believe in your course.

“It is also important to invite stakeholders for events as this will aid collaboration with international organizations and partners to access available opportunities.

“In the Malala Fund, our strategy in giving out grants is not to call for applications. We carry out researches and or bases on recommendation from organisations that have implemented programmes similar to what we want to do.

“Before seeking for funds, do research and apply to places clearly in line with what you do and ensure proposals are properly written.

“Organisations should follow up on feedbacks as to why they miss out on opportunities even after writing proposals”.

WACSOF National Coordinator, Mr David Olatunji said that the forum was a coalition of all civil society that make up the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS), serving as a vehicle to reach the grassroots.

He said that the programme is aimed at training members on how to get grants, discover the abilty to identify where funds are and requirements to assessing funds and to put ourselves in a way that funders will be willing to work with us.

“Organization should follow up on why they missed out,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannres.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Judiciary

Rivers judiciary inaugurates court for adjudication of commercial dispute

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By Lucy Ogalue

The Rivers State Judiciary, in collaboration with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC),
has inagurated a Small Claims Court to improve the speed of adjudication for commercial disputes
Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Special Adviser to the President, Ease of Doing Business/PEBEC Secretary said this in a statement in Abuja on Saturday.
According to Oduwole, the Small Claims Court will improve the speed of adjudication for commercial disputes involving financial claims under N5 million.
She said this would be achieved by introducing self representation and delivery of judgments within 60 days, among other transformative procedural rules.
“I wish to express my appreciation to the Rivers State Judiciary for collaborating efficiently with the PEBEC Secretariat team on the delivery of this reform.
“This will effectively help the delivery of speedy access to justice for Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) operating in Rivers State,” she said.
The Chief Judge of Rivers State Judiciary, Justice Simeon Amadi, affirmed his commitment to implementing more innovative reforms in the state.
Amadi said the establishment of the Court was the latest in a host of judicial reforms being implemented by the State Judiciary.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rivers State Judiciary is the 8th State Judiciary to establish specialised Small Claims Court within its magistracy.
It joins Edo, Ekiti, Jigawa, Kano, Lagos, Nasarawa, and Ogun States Judiciaries in this intervention. (NAN)

Edited by Constance Imasuen/Ese E. Eniola Williams

Religious

National assembly quarters mosque gets new chief imam

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By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Management Committee of the National Assembly Central Mosque, Legislators’ Quarters, Abuja, has appointed Sheikh Sufyan Malumfashi, as the new Chief Imam of the mosque.

The Secretary of the Mosque Management Committee, Malam Mansur Jarkasa, said in a statement on Sunday in Abuja that the appointment took effect from Feb. 1.

The appointment came about 10 months after the disengagement of Sheikh Muhammad Nuru-Khalid as Chief Imam of the mosque in April 2022.

According to Jarkasa, the new appointment was endorsed by the mosque’s management committee headed by Sen. Saidu Dansadau and his deputy, Abubakar Bawa-Bwari.

He said that the committee “after all necessary due diligence, consultation with stakeholders and due process resolved to unanimously appoint Sheikh Sufyan Malumfashi as the new Chief Imam of the mosque.”

Jarkasa said Sheikh Malumfashi had served as the Chief Imam of Area 11 Jumu’at Mosque, and was at the Saudi Arabian Consulate Office, Asokoro, as Jumma’at prayer imam.

The secretary said Sheikh Malumfashi is currently a visiting Jumu’at Imam of Al-Noor mosque, Wuse II, all in Abuja.

“Shiekh Malumfashi is presently the Deputy Ameer (Chairman) of the FCT Committee of Imams.

“He coordinate Da’awah activities on behalf of an International Donor Agency in six African countries

“He hails from Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State and obtained his first degree in Islamic Studies from the Islamic University of Medina in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“Similarly, the new chief imam of the National Assembly Central Mosque, Zone, E, Legislators’ Quarters Apo, got his second degree from the Nasarawa State University, Keffi and is happily married with children.” (NAN)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

Economy/Business

FG inaugurates technical working group for not-for-profit governance code

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By Ikenna Uwadileke and Lucy Ogalue

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo on Thursday in Abuja inaugurated the Technical Working Group (TWG) for the development of the Not-For-Profit Governance Code.

The minister said that the code would enshrine good governance and ethical practices in all sectors and operating environments of Nigeria’s economic space.

According to him, the code when ready shall be adopted and complied with by not-for-profit organisations in Nigeria.

“This is coming against the general notion of insufficient regulation on the organisational/operating structure and sustainability of various not-for-profit organisations in Nigeria.

“Therefore, having successfully issued the Private Sector Governance Code called Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance (NCCG) 2018, and now set to issue a Public Sector Governance Code, council deemed it necessary to concurrently develop that for not-for-profit organisations,’’ he said.

The minister expressed optimism about the success of the group in carrying out the assigned task.

He said that there was the need to enshrine good governance and ethical practices in all organisations whether profit oriented or not could not be overemphasised.

Adebayo said that it would enhance the fulfilment of the overall mandate of not-for-profit entities so they could achieve their intended outcomes for citizens and render better service to users.

“It will also aid not-for-profit entities to operate in an effective, efficient, transparent and ethical manner while engendering public accountability of resources received from donor agencies.

“More so, it will ensure sustainability of these not-for-profit entities among others,’’ he said.

The minister encouraged members of the TWG to employ their wealth of knowledge, expertise and professionalism in developing an acceptable code that would rebuild and reshape perspectives about Nigeria’s economic operating environment.

The Chairman of the Group, Dr Joe Abah, described it an honour and privilege to find the members worthy to serve.

“On behalf of my colleagues, the members of the technical working group will like to appreciate the ministry and the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) for deeming us worthy to work on this very important assignment.

Abah, who was a former Director-General, Bureau for Public Sector Reforms, described the code for the not-for-profit organisations as the most contentious among others.

“I need not to say that of all the codes that are being developed, the one for the not for profit organisations is probably the most contentious.

“We are aware of the previous attempt that was made in 2016 and the fact that some of the issues raised then was an issue of inadequate consultation of the key stakeholders

“I am, therefore, particularly pleased at the broad range of interest that has been nominated to be part of this technical working group.

“And the fact that the expectation is that we are working together from the beginning to develop the code jointly rather than one person developing it and then consulting others about it.

`’I sense that perhaps it is one of the most contentious in quote because the public sector is used to taking directions from government, so is the private sector,’’ he said.

Abah said that there were debates as to how much oversight and regulation non-profit organisations should get from government.

“But at the same time there is the responsibility of government to ensure that people that occupy positions of trust and positions of interest behave in an ethical and appropriate way.

“So, the task for us as technical working group is to find the right kind of balance where government and the people are able to have comfort that this no profit organisations are operating the way that they are.

“And the non-profit organisations at the same time do not feel that government has come to take over their space.

“That is what we have to work toward and I am very pleased with the level of experience around the table.

“And I have no doubt that we will produce good work for the ministry and the council to consider presenting more widely to Nigerians,’’ Abah said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

General News

Group encourages women to embrace creative arts

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By Aderogba George

A group of ladies on a platform tagged “A Woman With A Story (AWWAS), has begun efforts to encourage their fellow women to tell their life experiences/stories through creative arts.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the whole idea is about imbibing “creative expression and creative therapy” on women who have been abused and are dealing with emotional trauma.

The ladies, during their visit to Ushafa Pottery Centre, FCT, Abuja, where indigenous women are known for making local pots, stated that the idea was an initiative of Dankauna Foundation.

Miss Haye Okoh, the Project Coordinator for AWWAS, stated that the association intended to achieve an Africa where there would be no hiding place for any form of victimisation of women.

She said that AWWAS encouraged women to use different forms of creative expression like illustrative dance, photography, writing and other forms of creative arts to tell their emotional stories.

“So this year we are focusing on pottery as our creative arts because we know that pottery itself is a history marker.

“A lot of tribes and culture have used potteries to tell stories about their tribes, about their cultures, about different things that happened in their lives.

“So there are different tribes that have events that can be recounted on pieces of pot or ceramics; so we come here to Ushafa today to appreciate their craft.

“Ushafa women are known for pottery, their women are known to be potters, so we have come to do sort of fusion or a union between what we do as ours and what they do as potters.

“We are here to tell them that it is not just about making pots beautiful, but they must apply the techniques of story telling to their pots, to their creative arts.

“Expression of story on the pots whether good or bad gives the pots more value and makes it more long lasting,” she stressed.

She said that AWWAS was currently having discussion with some relevant organisations who were into dealing with domestic abuse against women, so that it could reach out to its targeted audience.

Mrs Tracy Isaac, the founder of Business Academy Africa, a partner with AWWAS, encouraged the women to continue the good work and make it more skillful and lively for the generation unborn.

Isaac who is also the initiator of “Sheboss”, a project meant to encourage women businesswise, appreciated the pottery women for possessing a unique and unusual skill.

According to her, the women have unusual and unique way of expressing their culture and heritage through the pot making.

She said it was important they kept pushing and showing the world the version of themselves.

She said that the pot making was a sort of expression, unlike the other crafts, adding that local pots was still one of the crafts that still had some history and story behind its production.

She disclosed that local pots production had been a craft passed down from one generation to another, adding that the craft must be kept and made more lively.

“The current reality of the world now is that the world is evolving, your customers don’t really come to you anymore, you have to go to your customers.

“This women have unusual and unique way of expressing their culture and heritage, so it is important that they keep pushing, and showing the world the version of themselves.

“Business Academic Africa, we are partnering with AWWAS; we come here on a needs assessment base; we have seen the women and we have understood their pains/points.

“Now we will go back and seat with other team members and create a programme that will allow them to create solid businesses; Sheboss is helping female community entrepreneurs to solve problems In their community.

“One of the ways that we can help them is by giving them the means to be seen globally so that their arts can be shared by people here and people outside, and if they are able to make that, they will make more money,” she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

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