By Dorcas Jonah, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Angel (not her real name) is a native of Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and is the first child in a family of six, whose father is a farmer and mother a petty trader.

Angel loved gymnastics and wished to become a star, leading to her parents enrolling her in a coaching class at age five.

At 10, Angel was already doing well and representing her school in competitions.

But her dream of becoming a full-time gymnast was cut short when her gymnastics coach raped her when she turned 15.

“This is what big girls do. At 15, you should explore other things. Being my lover will make you grow big and strong,” was what her coach told her before she was abused.

Out of fear of stigmatisation her parents forced her into marriage, abruptly ending Angel’s dream of becoming a gymnast.

Angel’s story is the story of many young women who would have excelled in sports but whose dreams and aspirations were truncated simply because of their gender.

The abuse and discrimination women face in sports occur in different forms, such as physical, sexual, emotional and systemic, while they also face exploitation through athlete-trafficking.

For many Nigerian women, participation in sports presents an opportunity to escape poverty and create a better future for themselves, even though it comes with a heavy price for many.

Engaging in sports activities is a lifeline for the willing Nigerian girl-child.

It can provide a safe haven from poverty and crime, while also teaching valuable life skills such as teamwork, discipline and perseverance.

A recent study shows that there are 1.9 million fewer women than men playing sports regularly (at least once per week).

In spite of the importance of sports to women, many factors have continued to hinder their participation.

These include parental influence, discouragement, unavailability of standard facilities and equipment, coping with societal and academic stress, and poor government policies.

The scarcity of opportunities for women in certain sports is another facet of discrimination. Some sports traditionally dominated by men receive more attention, funding, and developmental resources. This creates barriers for women aspiring to excel in these fields, perpetuating gender imbalances and limiting the growth of women’s sports

A former Director of Sports, FCT Sports Council, Mrs Dilichukwu Onyedinma, said over time there has been systemic discrimination and mistreatment of women in sports.

She said that before the present generation, parents almost did not allow their girl-children to participate in sports at all, as they believed that some activities were meant for men.

As time went on and more women engaged in sports, it was difficult for government and other stakeholders to treat women equally as their male counterparts.

“Just as we realised that women can also do certain sports, society is also realising that there’s no difference between a man and a woman during competition.

“So, this is why all these differences in allowances and conditions of camping and the rest should not be there.

“We can’t rule out the fact that discrimination of women in sports has always been there. But, as we are coming up, society is realising that there’s no need for it.

”I think we have come a long way to understand that there shouldn’t be this discrimination and mistreatment of women,” she said.

Speaking of a deliberate policy for women in sports by government, Onyedinma said that there are no particular policies targeted at encouraging women in sports.

The FCT Gymnastics Coach, Rose Verissimo, corroborated Onyedinma, saying government has no policy for women in sports but it is rather busy focusing on male athletes.

“It is mostly the women that will go out and represent the country, win major trophies and bring pride and honour to the country, while the men don’t bring anything.

“But over time the men are the ones who are given special preference, good accommodation, allowances and vehicles.”

Verissimo, who is also the Technical Director of the Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria, said female gymnasts in the FCT have been topping the chart in terms of medals won for years now.

”But the FCT Administration has failed to recognise them as it should be.

“Women in sports in FCT are only considered when the men are okay. The men are enjoying the money more than the women and the women are suffering,” she lamented.

Verissimo’s point is not out of place, considering that the Nigerian women’s basketball and football teams have out-performed their male counterparts in the past two decades.

The same applies to the country’s Olympic contingents over the same period.

As Jide Alaka, a sports enthusiast, pointed out: “Tobi Amusan is Nigeria’s first-ever world champion and record-holder. All 12 gold medals Nigeria gathered at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 were also won by women.

“The World Athletics Championships yielded two medals — one gold, and one bronze. Female athletes won both.”

The President, Association of Former Female Athletes of Nigeria, Dr Toyin Aluko, said one major discrimination women face in sports is lack of encouragement from the men.

Narrating what she went through, Aluko said she first experienced it when she retired as a handball player and decided to go into coaching.

“I decided to go into coaching and I told my national handball coach who was still in service then about my intentions, but he told me to go into sports organising.

“In Nigeria, coaching is a male-dominated profession and, being a young girl taking interest in coaching, my national coach, who I felt should encourage me ended up discouraging me but I didn’t allow that to determine my future.”

She said when she was employed by the then National Sports Commission (now Federal Ministry of Sports Development), it was as a coach in training because the secretary to the National Institute for Sports (NIS) highly recommended her.

“During national and international competitions, the said coach won’t add my name even on the female teams. He will only put his name as the coach,” Aluko said.

She also said that she had studied the situation in Nigeria and that there are very few teams that have female officials, even in female teams.

Aluko also pointed at officiating as another area of sports, where women are having participation problems.

Also, Mrs Gloria Obi, Basketball coach, and head of technical, FCT Basketball Association said in contrast to their male counterparts, women athletes often encounter inadequate support systems.

She said this deficiency extends beyond financial backing to encompass coaching, mentorship, and sports science resources. The absence of comprehensive support hampers the holistic development of women in sports, contributing to a persistent gender gap in performance and achievement.

“The underrepresentation of women in various facets of sports, including leadership roles and decision-making positions, amplifies the mistreatment they face.

“The lack of diverse voices in governing bodies perpetuates outdated policies and practices that disadvantage women. Achieving true equality requires a shift in the structures that govern sports to ensure the inclusion of women at all levels,’’ she said.

Mrs Favor Adamu, a Guidance and Counseling Coach, said though engaging in sporting activities are of immense benefits to children as it develop life skills, discrimination abounds in it.

Adamu, highlighted the immense benefits of sports to children’s growth and development.

She noted that sporting activities have many benefits for children, even more than the physical activity during play.

According to her, it enables them benefits from the social side of working in a team, interacting with people from different backgrounds and environment.

” It helps them to cope well when it comes to success or failure, at times they win or fail, which is very common in any activity or competition and also teaches them how to cope when they fail or win. They learn not to throw tantrums or upset because they failed.

“These are lessons that they learn from engaging in sporting activities and translate it to their adulthood, especially in the workplace.”

According to her, most adults that take failure the hard way when they fail in any venture whether politics, business or relationship, were not exposed to sports at a young age.

The coach, however, added that cultural and social norms had hindered girls from exploiting sporting activities.

” Even girls that have that zeal and passion to excel in sports are discouraged either from their family or society from engaging in it.

” Some are even more qualified and play better than the boys, but they are not been encouraged to thrive in the career,” she lamented.

According to her, considering the benefits inherent in it, there is the need for the government to initiate policies that will encourage girls and women to engage in sporting activities.

After what was widely regarded as “best-ever” league in Abuja, the FCT FA Chairman, Adam Mohammed, said the focus would shift to putting a proper structure for women’s football in the FCT.

According to him, there’s no structure for women’s in the FCT, but we don’t want to adopt the ‘fire-brigade’ approach by rushing into a league.

“Rather we want to start by getting the sport to the girls in the secondary schools and then stage an inter-school girls’ competition that will eventually lead to setting up a proper league.”

However, the crux of the matter is what efforts has the Nigerian government put in place to address the situation?

It is indisputable fact that there are series of promises on the side of government to building a nation devoid of gender discrimination.

Through this, the Nigerian government says it will guarantee equal access to political, social and economic wealth-creation and opportunities for women and men.

It also said it is developing a culture that places a premium on the protection of all, including women and children.

It is however observed that there have not been much concrete evidence on ground on the side of government in fulfilling its promises of commitment.

A way out of this is what the Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in the FCT, Bunmi Haruna, is proffering.

He said sports federations and agencies should provide an enabling environment for the inclusion of more women in sports governance in Nigeria.

Haruna said the contributions of women to the development of sports in Nigeria are well documented.

“This thereby makes it right to call on government, sports federations and parastatals to provide an enabling environment for more women to participate in sports governance in Nigeria.”

No doubt, women are battling so many hurdles just to participate in sports: from sex-testing to sexual harassment, and to wage differences, decision-making and management, the list is endless.

However, there are reasons to be hopeful.

For instance, the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand broke all sorts of records in the women’s game – ticket sales, viewership, sponsorship and participation.

Also, female national team players in the U.S., England, Brazil, Australia, Norway and New Zealand now earn equal pay as their male counterparts.

In Nigeria, one organisation that is facilitating equality and a level-playing field in sports participation is the Fund, Educate, Empower and Develop (FEED) Sports.

FEED Sports is a non-governmental organisation that supports sports and education in Nigeria and has provided support to over 5,000 school children, including girls.

This is by introducing them to the sport of fencing and supporting them through school.

But stakeholders insist there should be more, just like in other aspects of national life.

They say government at all levels should be deliberate about the inclusion and participation of women in sports, as well as the eradication of all forms of abuses and discrimination.

They also suggest a horizontal and vertical collaboration by the government, the private sector and international organisations for Nigeria to come up with a national policy for women in sports.

Also, adequately punishing all forms of gender biases and abuse against women in sports will serve as a deterrent and increase the willingness to participate.

And this is why organisations such as FEED Sports should be supported as a way of promoting sports and encouraging girls to participate in sports in safe, secure and free environments

Mrs Bose Aderogba, coach of FCT Hockey Association  submitted that economic disparities between male and female athletes are stark and pervasive. From pay gaps to sponsorship opportunities, women often find themselves on the less lucrative side of the spectrum.

Aderogba said this financial inequality not only affects the athletes individually but also undermines the perceived value of women’s sports as a whole, perpetuating a cycle of underinvestment and neglect.

She said that the inter-sectionalist of motherhood and sports introduces unique challenges for women athletes. Many face hurdles in terms of maternity leave, contractual obligations, and the fear of career setbacks.

Recognising and addressing these challenges is essential for creating an environment where women can pursue both their athletic and family aspirations without compromise.

Ms Adaora Jack, the Executive Director, Gender Strategy Advancement International (GSAI), said that the government inactions to addressed the mistreatment and discrimination of women in sports have been a great concerned to GSAI over time.

This concern prompted GSAI to organised a two days training for female journalists in Abuja, to raise voices so that government at all levels and organisations would pay more attention to women participation in sports.

The workshop was to urge the media to bring the mistreatment and discrimination against women into limelight and find solutions to these problems.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that GSAI’s mission is centred on five pillars; gender advocacy, accountability, gender justice, gender driven research and partnership, aiming to position women’s rights as a national priority through the powerful tool of media.

Given the slow pace of curbing SGBV there is an urgent need for the government to be intentional and enforce total implementation of policies that will ensure elimination of mistreatment of women in sports in the society.(NANFeatures).

** If used, please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

By Chijioke Okoronkwo, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

By most accounts, food inflation is a global challenge which bites harder in poor and developing countries.

In Nigeria, experts say reason for the worrying level of food inflation is not farfetched-the removal of fuel subsidy and floating of the exchange rate come top even as the government makes efforts to address the situation.

Perceptive analysts have tried to establish the nexus between the twin challenge of food inflation and food insecurity and their mutual inclusivity

According to them, same variables—high cost of fuel, conflicts, drought, climate change, insecurity, inter alia—must be tackled headlong while dry season farming needs to be ramped up.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that food inflation rate in October 2023 was 31.52 per cent on a year-on-year basis, 7.80 per cents points when higher compared to October, 2022 records which stood at 23.72 per cent.

To this end, governments at all levels are exploring the potentialities in dry season farming with a view to reaping bountifully therefrom.

Sen. Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, said the Federal Government was targeting to increase wheat production by over 70, 000 hectares across the nation’s wheat production zones through via dry season farming.

According to Kyari, a yield of 875,000 metric tonnes is expected for the nation’s food reserve.

Kyari listed the ministry’s focal areas which hinges on integration, sustainability, and resilience to its challenges.

He said that these spanned the immediate, short, medium and long term.

“The most pressing actions we are currently handling is preparation for the next dry-season farming beginning from November.

“To this end, some preparatory activities have been carried out and many others are at the advanced stage’’, he said at a while marshaling out the way forward for the nation’s agriculture sector at a news conference.

He further said this included certification of available planting materials for some food security crops in readiness for dry-season farming; aggressive promotion and preparations for dry season farming.

“Also, the implementation of the dry season wheat production starting in November as part of the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP), projects funded by the African Development Bank.

“Under this scheme, the target is to produce wheat over a 70, 000 hectares across the wheat production zone of the country.

“This is with an expected yield of 875,000 metric tonnes for our food reserve; blending of appropriate fertilizers to support this year’s dry season farming.

“While making provisions for next year farming season well in advance; providing Train-the-Trainer for extension agents involved in dry season farming. This will be in collaboration with wheat producing states and other partners such as flour mills’’, he said.

The minister further said that arrangements were also at advanced stage for dry season farming of rice, maize and other horticultural crops.

“The most pressing actions we are currently handling is preparation for the next dry-season farming beginning from November 2023,” he said.

He said that the ministry would hold the National Agriculture and Food Security Summit in November, to bring all stakeholders together for development of National Action Plan for Food Security.

Prof. Joseph Utse, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, said the Federal Government would cultivate 500,000 hectares of irrigable land for dry season farming as part of efforts to boost food security in the country.

Utse called for the cooperation of state governments and communities to make land available to the 12 basin authorities across the federation, to boost food production.

At the sub-national levels, conscious efforts are also underway.

Some state governments have taken up the challenge of boosting food sufficiency through dry season farming.

Consequently, Alhaji Musa Bosso, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development in Niger, said that the state government would mobilise 250,000 farmers to engage in mechanised agriculture during the upcoming dry season.

He said it would be done under the government policy of allocating 10,000 hectares of land to farmers in each of the 25 local government areas of the state for wet and dry season farming.

“This is another way of increasing food production; creating jobs and wealth among our people; which will also ensure food security for the state and the nation,’’ he said.

According to him, the ministry is ready for the upcoming dry season farming, adding that the ministry has been selling improved seeds, pesticides, herbicides and fertiliser to farmers.

Bosso also said the government planned to utilise water from Kainji, Shiroro, Jebba and Zungeru hydro dams for dry season farming.

Dry season farming comes with lots of challenges and same state government says they are working out logistics to address them.

In Borno, Gov. Babagana Zulum has deployed 313 tractors to assist farmers in rural areas across the state alongside 100 trucks of fertiliser, sold at a subsidized rate of 25 per cent discount.

Zulum also announced the procurement of 471 ploughs and harrows to be used by the tractors for all-season farming.

The governor said the 313 tractors deployed under the system – one each to the 313 wards in the state – would be rendering free services to farmers who, however, would contribute in fueling them.

In Yobe, the future even looks more promising.

The state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Ali Mustapha, said the government had provided 3,000 metric tonnes of fertilisers and agro chemicals for irrigation farming.

“We distributed up to 3,000 metric tonnes in Bursari, Bade, Jakusko, Fika, Gulani and Geidam Local Government Areas.

“This is the initiative of Gov. Mai Mala Buni to provide necessary materials for irrigation farming to areas designed for the scheme,” he said.

In Adamawa, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Prof. David Jatau, said the government was committed to irrigation farming, considering the delay in rainfall recorded this rainy season and the latest flood caused by released of excess water from Lagdo Dam which affected farmlands.

“The only option left to us now is to take advantage of the opportunity given by government to support dry-season farmers with inputs, including seeds, fertilizers and agro chemicals at subsidised rates,” he said.

Jatau urged the people to key into dry- season farming, particularly rice, wheat and maize productions.

Deserving no less attention, Mrs Adegbemisola Fayoyin, the Permanent Secretary of Osun Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, said the state would soon commence distribution of seedlings, fertilisers and other inputs ahead of dry season farming.

Fayoyin said the state government had started making preparations for dry season farming and would roll out plans immediately after the rainy season.

“We are waiting for a nod from the state government in the areas of funds and other logistics for the dry season farming.

“We are also waiting for the rainy season to end so that we can commence full preparation for the dry season farming.

“The ministry is also awaiting some support from the state government in the area of funds so we can hit the ground running.

“Our targets are mostly poor women farmers; we want them to get seedlings and other farm inputs for dry season farming,’’ she said.

More so, in Ekiti, Gov. Biodun Oyebanji recently disclosed his government’s plans to improve agricultural productivity through provision of improved seed and seedlings, fertiliser and enhanced extension services to guarantee food security in the state.

Oyebanji said the plans also included expansion of rural and feeder roads to boost the distribution of agricultural produce to both existing and new markets, and to deepen agricultural value-chain.

Mr Abayomi Monilari, President, Ondo State Farmers Congress, said that it had become imperative for all farmers in the state to prepare themselves for the dry season rather than relying on the government.

Stakeholders are of the view that ramping up dry season farming will bridge the gap between food supply and demand; and in multiplier effect, force down the prices of food. (NANFeatures)

By Wandoo Sombo, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Benue, located in the North Central part of the country, is reputed to be the food basket of the federation.

The state produces enough food stuff that can not only feed its estimated states 4,253,641 population, according to 2006 census figures but also `export’ to different parts of the country.

The state was created in 1976 among the seven states created at that time. The state derives its name from the Benue River which is the second largest river in Nigeria after the River Niger.

However, in recent years, this agri-hub of the nation has been literarily bleeding. Herders and farmers clashes have led to the death of thousands of people, forcing many farmers to abandon their farms.

On the political front, observers say the state had also ‘bled’ from what they described as maladministration, leading to  decay infrastructure, non-payment of salaries and pensions of government workers and retirees as at when due.

This has led many to cynically term Benue as ‘the broken state.’’ The challenges in Benue, home to TVs, Idomas, Igedes, Orring, Etulos, Igbos and Jukuns, among others, seem intractable.

However, “Broken things can be fixed and healed. Nothing is too difficult or too dirty to clean, says American writer, Marika McCoola, New York Times bestselling author of Baba Yaga`s Assistant.

This is the mantra on which Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, the second cleric to be elected as governor of Benue, stands to ensure  that Benue will truly live up to its name as the food basket of the nation.’’

“We came in so that we will fix the broken Benue”. Alia said when he played host the members of the Conference of Benue Journalists (CBJ) recently.

Alia, elected on the platform of All Progressives Congress succeeded Mr Samuel Ortom.

The group was in the state to assess the level of progress made in the last five months by the government in delivering on critical projects that have direct impact on the lives of the people.

The group’s President, Emmanuel Anule, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that, as sons and daughters of Benue in the media, it was only apt to visit their home for first-hand information.

“You need to see something before you can accept that it really exists; also we needed to have an interface with the  new leadership under governor Alia to ensure that Benue is in the media for the right reason,’’ Anule said.

It is widely believed that given the poor leadership, which the state had experienced in several years past, Alia on May 29, inherited a state where lives had become difficult, frustrating, and precarious.

Some Benue citizens in the diaspora believe it is a matter of cleaning the Augean stable.

Speaking at a dinner for the group, the governor said that his young government was struggling to settle several debts owed contractors, unpaid salaries and pension arrears, running into billions of naira.

The media delegation, before meeting members of the State Executive Council, visited sites of some ongoing and completed projects in Makurdi metropolis.

Some of the projects visited by CBJ members are the 16 ongoing township roads construction in Makurdi.

On this, Alia said, “work is speedily ongoing on 16 township roads in the state capital and streets in Gboko and other towns like Otukpo and Katsina-Ala will follow very soon.”

All the projects of the government are conceptualised within its development programme, anchored on a seven-point agenda.

This includes security, acceleration of agriculture and rural development, promotion of commerce and industry, human capital and social development and upgrading of infrastructure and environment.

Also in the agenda is advancement of information and communication technology, among others.

“Our hands and legs have been tied because the government has been garnisheed on the Taraku Mills, because over time, the labourers there were never paid, it’s up to two three regimes past.

“ So they took those regimes to court. Now, I have to settle over N2 billion.

“Any major company you know in the state has legal ropes tied on their heads, which is quite sad enough. As I speak, we are trying to settle them,” Alia said.

The governor says without disrupting the existing structures the government is genuinely committed to the transformation of Benue, harnessing its untapped natural resources and vibrant youthful population and talents.

“There’s relative peace now in Benue for investors to come. I am focused in attracting new investments and resuscitating moribund companies,” Alia said.

The governor, however, says this too would not be possible in the absence of peace which would also ensure that all Internally Displaced Persons in the state safely returned home.

The Benue government recently approved a contract for the connection of regular power supply at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital.

The aim is to ensure optimal health care delivery system in the state and similarly, the Muhammadu Buhari, Mother and Child Hospital has been opened and is now operational after several years of being abandoned.

In line with the sixth agenda of the administration’s development blue print of enhancing human capital development, no fewer than 10,000 youths are currently undergoing ICT-related training, powered by Google, under the sponsorship of the government.

CBJ also visited the ICT centre at the Benue State University where they saw no fewer than 320 units of computer systems installed to support computer-based operations in the state.

One other critical sector that has received attention from the government in the last five months as observed by the CBJ was transportation.

A total of 100 new buses have been procured by the government for the state-owned transport company, Benue Links, to ease the transportation across the 23 local government areas in the state.

The Commissioner for Power and Transportation, Mr Omale Omale, says the decision became necessary following the removal of subsidy on petrol and the biting effects of cost of living in the country.

Mrs Mary Ojeka, a civil servant and Makurdi resident, told members of CBJ that the government has ensured the prompt payment of salaries and gratuities to workers.

The development she says was a departure from the past eight years when workers were owed salaries for several months.

Mama Ashiver Angwe, a resident of High Level area of Makurdi, said until the current administration started work on the Iorkyaa Ako Street extension, she never believed that there could be such a road in that area.

She said that prior to the assumption of office of the current administration, the state transport company; Benue Links never plied some routes in the state.

Angwe said she was happy that she could now join people of other Local Government Areas to travel by Benue Links to her local government.

Another resident, Mr Francis Eje, said the security situation in the state is gradually improving because unlike before, people can now stay away from home beyond 8pm.

“It was really scary, especially for we that live in quiet areas  the place is already quiet on its own, so if you are out after 8pm, you will realise that you are the only one on the road.

“Before if you see or hear the sound of a motorcycle or car or even another person approaching from a distance, you begin to say your last prayers for fear that you will be killed or robbed’’, she said.

Eje, however, said that even though there is still fear, within the last five months people are now bolder and a bit more confident to stay out at night.

He urged the current administration to be courageous and not to tow the path of the past administrations in the state which did not provide desired level of dividends of democracy to the citizens.

“With what we are seeing the governor doing in just six months in charge of the state, I think there is hope that Benue will rise again,“ he said.

Mr David Gesa, a retiree, was in agreement that the security situation in the state had improved tremendously under the present administration in Benue.

He said the incessant attacks on farmers by herders had reduced since the inception of Alia administration and urged the government to sustain the tempo.

Analysts say considering the Alia administration is barley six months observers say it had demonstrated some level of desire to fix ‘broken’ Benue.

His ability to unite the people of the state and all stakeholders will determine how far he will go. For now, he seems to be on course. (NANFeatures)

**If used please credit the author and the News Agency of Nigeria.

Nigeria-Saudi Agreement: Strengthening Nigeria’s economic horizon

By Ismail Abdulaziz, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

President Bola Tinubu’s preference for market driven economy has been consistent, and since assumption of office has steered the Nigerian economy towards greater strides with focus on attracting foreign direct investment into the economy.

Under Tinubu, Nigeria has been undertaking its boldest reforms in decades, scrapping the popular petrol subsidy and unifying the country’s multiple exchange rates as part of measures to improve ease of doing business in the country.

The recent Saudi-Africa Summit was an apt platform to push for collaboration and cooperation in various sectors beneficial to the Nigerian economy.

The opportunity was fully exploited by Nigeria to deepen economic relationship with Saudi Arabia which has the largest economy in the Middle East and is the 18th-largest economy in the world.

Saudi Arabia like Nigeria is a member of OPEC, and both have valuable natural resource reserves in petroleum and natural gas. They have also long years of relationship in various fields.

Thus, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for collaboration in the oil and gas sector, was a major step in strengthening the relationship between the two countries.

“One of the primary benefits anticipated from this landmark agreement is the facilitation of technological exchange.

“With Saudi Arabia boasting advanced technologies in oil and gas exploration and production, Nigeria stands to gain significantly from this knowledge transfer.

“It encompasses joint research and development initiatives, knowledge-sharing platforms and capacity-building programmes.

“This holistic approach aims to empower local talents within Nigeria’s energy sector, fostering a self-sustaining environment where indigenous expertise plays pivotal role in shaping the nation’s energy future.

“This, in turn, is expected to stabilise fuel prices and enhance energy security, providing tangible benefits to Nigerian households and businesses alike,’’ a statement from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Oil) disclosed.

President Tinubu used the forum to underscore Nigeria’s commitment to free economy and protection of investments as the country strives to attract more Foreign Direct Investments.

”Nigeria is committed to ensuring the safety of investments based on the sanctity of the rule of law and good returns on investments in the largest economy in Africa”, Tinubu told the Saudi business community.

He said it was important for the two countries to have a business council to drive investment in key economic sectors agreed in the deal.

“In this regard, the benefit attached to the early inauguration of the Nigeria-Saudi Business Council cannot be over-emphasized,” he said.

“Within the past six decades, our bilateral cooperation, which was initially hajj-centric, has witnessed diversification to cover a number of areas of common interest.”

Tinubu said that both Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have been interacting as members of the UN, OPEC, the International Energy Forum, G77, Islamic Development Bank, and Digital Cooperation Organisation among others.

“My administration has undertaken bold economic reforms by removing wasteful subsidies on petroleum and the merging of our foreign exchange market, among other incentives aimed at improving the ease of doing business in Nigeria.”

In response to the assurances, the Saudi investors pledged to provide funding to revamp Nigeria’s refineries and substantially support the Central Bank of Nigeria in its ongoing reforms of the foreign exchange regime.

Mr Muhammad Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, said the Saudi Government would make available a substantial deposit of foreign exchange to boost Nigeria’s forex liquidity.

Similarly, Saudi Crown Prince, Salman, further said Saudi Arabia would invest in Agriculture and Renewable Energy to help Nigeria attain food and energy security.

The Crown Prince said that the investment in Nigeria`s refinery would be led by Saudi Aramco, and the intervention would be completed within two to three years.

The two leaders vowed to work together over the next six months to develop a comprehensive roadmap and blueprint to deliver on the deal.

At the summit, Tinubu said that all impediments to doing business in Nigeria would be removed.

“When I took office, I declared the immediate commencement of bold and fundamental economic reforms. We have executed them, and we’ll sustain the reform process.

“I believe in the full application of free market economics. Your money will flow easily in and easily out.

“The arbitrage around our nation’s old foreign exchange policy regime and the corruption that was associated with it is also gone.

“We took on those bold endeavours from day one in preparation for serious investors like you seated here. The greatest opportunity for any entity to prosper lies in its human capital,” the President told the Saudi business community.

Saudi Arabia’s Trade and Investment Minister, Khalid El-Falih, assured that the business community would respond with new investments across several sectors of the Nigerian economy.

“We know you are ready for business, so we do not want to come to Nigeria for any exploratory discussion. We are coming for implementation. It is an action visit,” Falih said.

“We will prepare well with your team and our investors will align with your officials, beginning now, to develop a concrete work plan of investments in the key sectors for take-off when we meet again.

“We will also use the opportunity to formally inaugurate the Nigeria-Saudi Business Council,” the minister added.

Also, Saudi Commerce Minister, Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi, said they would contribute to the soft infrastructural reforms needed to unlock game-changing foreign direct investment in Nigeria.

“We have signed an agreement with the World Economic Forum on the reform of the services sector in Africa.

“In developed economies, the services sector contributes enormously to GDP, but in the developing world, we tend to focus on goods.

”So, we would like to make Nigeria the pilot country in this agreement with WEF to study Nigeria’s service challenges to make it seamless and make the supply chains across sectors streamlined and raised to international standard to enhance Nigeria’s economic and investment viability over the long-term.”

At the Investor Roundtable, proposals were made for tangible collaboration by Chief Executive Officers from several Saudi conglomerates specialising in construction, finance, energy, healthcare, agriculture, mining, aviation, telecommunication, creative arts, and hospitality.

Tinubu assured them that Nigeria was determined to be their partners.

“Nigeria will reward your faith. Our people are ready, and we will not dissappoint.”

He said, “the prospect of the country is yet to blossom to the level that we require.

“It needs hard work and consistent prayers by each and every one of us. We are committed to use our strength to bring out this potential for the benefit of all Nigerians.”

President Tinubu also advanced negotiations for a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure finance facility from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to fund a multi-sectoral portfolios of infrastructure projects.

After the discussions witn the Vice-President (Country Programmes) of the IDB, Dr Mansur Muhtar, the bank said “we are ready to work with you. We are ready to support big investments in Nigeria. We agree that if Nigeria succeeds, Africa succeeds. And the world needs Africa to succeed.”

The IDB further announced the provision of 50 billion Dollars of new investments for the African continent from the Arab Coordination Group (ACG).

“As the largest market and the largest economy in Africa, Nigeria will certainly receive a significant share. We look forward to supporting Nigeria’s economic transformation,” Mukhtar said.

Faith Nwadishi, the executive director of the Center for Transparency Advocacy in Abuja, welcomes the Saudi deal.

“Considering the success that Saudi Arabia has made with their refineries and the natural resources that they have, one thing this will be able to achieve is to help Nigeria meet its production quota, help Nigeria resolve some of the conflicts around this issue of subsidy and non-operationalisation of the four refineries that we have,” said Nwadishi.

Emmanuel Afimia, founder of Enermics, a Lagos based oil and gas consulting firm, said the administration “is showing a reasonable level of political will to make things happen.”

Tinubu’s Saudi trip has therefore been a huge success and has set the stage for bigger engagements for the benefit of both countries.

When the Nigeria-Saudi Business Council is inaugurated, the expectation is that it will unlock the funding of several sectors of the Nigerian economy, facilitate access to modern technologies, and growth of telecommunications, energy, oil, gas and agriculture sectors.

Experts believe that Nigeria will attract multi-billion-dollar “immediate” investment flows from the Saudi Kingdom.

It is thus, safe to say that Tinubu has so far shown the strength of character and experience in engaging genuine investors across the globe to revive the Nigerian economy.

The deal with the Saudis is indeed a huge step in addressing the country’s economic challenges. (NANFeatures)

**If used please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

An Analysis by Lilian U. Okoro, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

The World Diabetes Day is celebrated on Nov. 14 every year to highlight the prevalence of diabetes and its impact, and to educate people on lifestyle habits that could curb its prevalence.

The World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations day in 2006 after it was established by the International Diabetes Federation in 1991, with the support of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

In Nigeria, WHO estimates cases of diabetes to be 4.3 per cent with its prevalence attributed majorly to lifestyle changes caused by urbanisation.

The disease is also linked to industries that produce unhealthy diets, sugar-sweetened drinks, tobacco use as well as harmful use of alcohol and lack of exercise.

Diabetes is a non-communicable disease associated with increased level of glucose due to inadequate supply of insulin (known as Type 1 diabetes) or inability to use insulin efficiently (known as Type 2 diabetes).

Though the exact cause of Type 1 diabetes is unknown, the probable causes are genetics and environmental factors (such as exposure to viruses). On the other hand, Type 2 diabetes is largely linked to unhealthy lifestyle choices.

Diabetes remained a risk factor for most of the health conditions including cancer, blood pressure, erectile dysfunction and impotency.

In Nigeria, many people are believed to be living with diabetes and the country’s diabetes prevalence rate is one of the highest in Africa.

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is increasing worldwide, and it is projected that by the year 2030 over 500 million adults will be affected by DM.

A Medical Imaging Scientist, Dr Livinus Abonyi, said the increase could be as a result of urbanisation and aging of the population.

He explained that DM increased with advancing age, saying that this could be because aging was often accompanied by decline in lean body mass and increase in body fat, particularly visceral adiposity (overweight), which may contribute to the development of insulin resistance.

Abonyi, who heads the Department of Radiography, University of Lagos, said the prevalence of DM was still lower in rural areas than urban communities due to the sophisticated lifestyle practiced in the urban cities.

Abonyi, who said diabetes could be hereditary in nature, identified corruption, greed and lack of regulation as major contributory factors of the disease burden in Nigeria.

According to him, some few agencies of government responsible for these regulatory functions are crippled by corruption, while individuals involved in the production of such substandard products are driven by greed.

He said producers of substandard products did not have conscience, love or regards for the effect the products might have on their fellow citizens that fell victim to their inordinate quest for wealth.

“No sane nation leaves her citizens to consume all kinds of food and drug products without effective regulation.

“In Nigeria, all kinds of drinks, noodles and food products are in circulation and freely consumed by the citizens without proper quality assurance and approval for consumption.

“Aside the hereditary nature of diabetes, self-medication is another factor that is promoting high incidence of diabetes in Nigeria; there is a wide pervading attitude of self-medication in Nigeria,” he said.

According to him, an average Nigerian prescribes one type of drug or the other to the next neighbour, colleague or relation who complains of any illness, without proper investigation or diagnosis.

“The effect of this attitude applies to even to fetuses, growing children and adults.

“No doubt, this attitude affects major organs of the body which helps the body in carrying out its metabolic functions effectively. These organs begin to fail early in life leading to diabetes,” Abonyi said.

The medical imaging scientist further lamented that many Nigerian citizens were reckless in their eating habit in the bid to demonstrate affluence and class.

According to him, their nutritional habit is based on personal want instead of personal need.

“Many Nigerians eat wrongly. They eat whatever they like in quantity and quality without recourse to the long time health implications.

“People eat as a ‘status symbol.’ This attitude accounts for high incidence of childhood obesity among the children of the rich and middle class in Nigeria,” Abonyi added.

On the remedial measures in curbing the incidence of diabetes among the Nigerian population, Abonyi advised that the Nigerian leadership and the citizens had to do away with corruption.

He said genuine declaration of war against corruption has to be instituted and examplarily demonstrated by government leaders.

This, he said, would go a long way to strengthen regulations, build trust in the system and reduce criminality of production or importation of fake substandard goods.

Abonyi also said efforts should be made by the government agencies, non-governmental bodies, public health experts, health care practitioners, associations and the media in educating citizens on the best nutritional habits and practices.

“Corruption kills citizens if the citizens do not t kill corruption in their system. Citizens should learn to surrender themselves to experts in registered hospitals when sick.

“In order to make this practicable, the current National Health Insurance Act should come into full operation; this act has made health insurance compulsory for everyone,” Abonyi said.

On her part, Dr Bolanle Okunowo, an Endocrinologist with the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), urged Nigerians to cultivate healthy eating habit.

Okunowo, also a consultant physician, said people should reduce the intake of refined diet and increase the intake of diet high in fiber.

According to her, there is also need to reduce high caloric diet which can lead to obesity causing insulin resistance.

The endocrinologist stressed the need for regular medical checkup, saying that if a routine checkup showed prediabetes, it could be reverted to normal glucose with the help of good medical advice and treatment.

“Exercise regularly and avoid sedentary lifestyle. Avoid smoking and reduce or avoid alcohol use including energy drinks,” Okunowo said.

On the role the government could play in reducing the burden of diabetes among the populace, Okunowo suggested that the government should increase tax on high sugar/energy drinks and reduce tax on low or no sugar drinks to discourage intake of high caloric drinks.

She also suggested the need for health education using various social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Podcast, radio and television.

“There should be spacious playing grounds in schools to encourage exercise and adequate physical activity. This would help to reduce the incidence of childhood obesity.

“Similarly, there’s need for availability of affordable health care system to encourage early screening for diabetes mellitus and treatment for those living with DM,” Okunowo said. (NANFeatures) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Dianabasi Effiong/Salif Atojoko

An analysis by Adeyemi Adeleye, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Since the return of democracy in 1999, several elections have been conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), though not without reservations, hues and cries by political actors, analysts and watchers.

Of utmost concern to most Nigerians is the fact that every election since then has been a do-or-die affair, fueling anxiety that the forthcoming off-cycle governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa will follow the same pattern.

To the uninformed, various litigations and court judgements that unseated some governors after being sworn in necessitated off-cycle governorship elections in eight states including Anambra, Edo, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa.

While others had their governorship elections conducted at different times, Nov. 11 has been fixed by INEC for those of Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa.

Not less than 18 candidates cleared by INEC will contest the governorship election in Kogi, 17 in Imo and 16 in Bayelsa.

As usual, the political space in these states is replete with threats, violence and uncertainties about what the elections may turn out to be on Saturday.

Speaking on the build up to the polls, Mr Femi Olaniyi, the Zonal Secretary of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Southwest, said hate speeches and violent attacks could affect the polls if not carefully handled.

Olaniyi, however, said the pre-election violence in Kogi was lower compared with the situation in previous polls.

“If you check previous elections in Kogi, you will agree with me that the current level of violence is mild. I think things are changing. Rome was not built in a day. With time, our election will be completely violence free.

“The level of security deployment for this election has given many people hope that votes will surely count,” Olaniyi, also the Lagos State Chairman of SDP, said.

According to him, many people have not seen the dividends of democracy, especially in Kogi and Imo in the last few years and this is likely to affect the ruling party in those states.

“This might automatically bring a change depending on how candidates are able to sell themselves to the people with their manifestos. This might bring unexpected changes,” he said.

He, however, said the violent attacks, especially in Imo would negatively impact the election.

“Attack by unknown gunmen in Imo, though not political, will affect the polls. It can lead to voter apathy and inconclusive elections.

“We will advise INEC and security agents to beef up security around INEC offices as well as for INEC staff, including Corps members and electoral materials,” he said.

On INEC’s preparations, Olaniyi said if the promises and pledges of the commission’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, were to be believed, there wouldn’t be any hitches and votes would count.

“We have seen that INEC is fully on ground and ready for the election. I don’t see any lapses on the side of INEC,” Olaniyi said.

To achieve credible polls, a political analyst, Dr Adetokunbo Pearse, said there should a total overhaul of the nation’s electoral system.

According to him, since many political actors have no regards for the rule of law and supremacy of democratic principles, the governorship elections in the three states may not be credible.

“In Kogi, we are hoping that the will of the people will overpower all tendencies to rig elections,” Pearse said.

He was emphatic that the ruling APC’s candidate, Usman Ododo had a very little chance of coming second in the poll because some top APC chieftains had turned against the party’s candidate over a battle with outgoing Gov. Yahaya Bello.

He said many political stalwarts in the state were of the view that voting for APC ‘s Ododo would be an extension of Bello’s government.

Pearse said the battle for the soul of Kogi was between PDP’s Sen. Dino Melaye and SDP’s Alhaji Murtala Ajaka.

He said PDP’s chances were boosted by the recent endorsement of Melaye by Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Senator representing Kogi Central in the 10th Senate.

“If we add all of these together, the PDP candidate’s chances are bright,” the analyst said.

However, some analysts insist that if population strength will still count during Saturday’s poll, the SDP candidate, Ajaka, an Igala man, has a better chance against APC’s Ododo, an Ebira man, and PDP’s Melaye, a former senator, of Okun extraction

The entire Kogi has an estimated population of 4.5 million with Igala constituting roughly half of that figure.

Over the years, Igala ethnic group has produced the governor except the outgoing Bello, an Ebira man, who became governor following the demise of Abubakar Audu in 2015.

Dr Jibril Ahmadu, Special Adviser to Bello on Youths and Students Affairs, insists that all permutations favour the APC in the Saturday’s election.

He said in terms of incumbency, political structure and pattern of elections, APC had an upper hand against the other political parties.

Bello’s track record and performance, being used for campaign, according to him, is a strong selling point for the ruling party to retain the state.

Ahmadu predicted APC’s victory because the party had been in power in the last eight years and delivered 100 per cent votes to President Bola Tinubu in the last Presidential Election.

“Tell me, where is the opposition parties’ imagination coming from to win Kogi, it is not possible. APC is unrivalled,” he said.

In Bayelsa, Pearse said being a traditional PDP state, coupled with good performance by incumbent Gov. Douye Diri, the governor was likely to retain his seat.

“Bayelsa has a governor who has evidently performed well and enjoys popularity, and there has not been a lot of violence there. PDP’s candidate appears to be in good stead there,” the analyst said.

Again in Imo, Pearse said peace should be allowed to reign, and that the incumbent, Hope Uzodinma, should talk to his party’s supporters to deescalate the violence pervading the atmosphere for a credible election.

He, however, said with the present situation in the state, it appeared that Uzodinma would over power other contestants.

“We call on election monitors to look closely at Imo and other states for a level playing field,” said Pearse.

Despite several reassurances, political watchers have expressed concerns and fear about the steep road to the Nov. 11 elections, considering the history of elections in the three states.

Campaigns have been characterised by violence in some places, hence INEC and other stakeholders have been calling for calm and violence-free elections.

One of the flash points of electoral violence is Kogi. The state is characteristically volatile when it comes to elections. One cannot easily forget violent attacks that occured in the last governorship election conducted in November 2019.

According to a report released on Nov. 19, 2019 by the Centre for Democracy and Development, (CDD), after Kogi governorship election, the group posited that the state recorded 10 deaths and 79 cases of violence and electoral crimes.

The report, signed by the group’s director, Idayat Hassan, said the untoward incidents included the hijack of electoral materials by thugs, kidnap of INEC ad hoc staff, vote buying, attacks on observers, intimidation of voters, under-aged voting, widespread stuffing of ballot boxes, ballot snatching and multiple voting.

One such case was the gruesome murder of the PDP women leader of the Wada/Aro campaign council, Ochadamu Ward, Acheju Abuh, who was burnt alive in her home by suspected political thugs.

As if no lesson was learnt, several other violent attacks have been recorded in the state in the build up to the Nov. 11 polls.

Barely four days to the polls, a Joint Security Operation on Tuesday reportedly killed three suspected political thugs in their hideout in Anyigba, while operatives recovered two AK47 rifles from the suspected thugs.

In another development on Tuesday, members of the SDP led by the party’s candidate, Ajaka, stormed the Police headquarters in Abuja to protest the killing of three policemen and some members of the party in Anyigba.

Reportedly, trouble started when some thugs allegedly operating under the guise of state Joint Taskforce attacked the residence of the Campaign Director General of SDP, Sheikh Ibrahim, in the early hours of Tuesday, leading to the killing of the police men and abduction of six SDP members.

Also, scores of women activists converged on Abuja on Tuesday, demanding justice for the gruesome murder of Khadijat Yahaya, APC supporter, by suspected political thugs in Kotonkarfe area of the state over a month ago.

The escalating security situation unarguably necessitated the deployment of over 40,000 policemen across the state to ensure a peaceful election.

It will be recalled that on July 24, political thugs burnt down SDP campaign office in Lokoja.

Also, on July 10, it was reported that suspected thugs invaded the SDP campaign office and destroyed billboards, showing the picture of President Bola Tinubu alongside the SDP governorship candidate.

Meanwhile, on June 3, Ajaka escaped assassination by whiskers when his convoy was attacked by gunmen, and a similar occurrence was reported of Gov. Yahaya Bello.

Imo is another hotbed of agitation, where there seems to be no end to killings since the assumption of office by Gov. Hope Uzodinma.

In September, unidentified gunmen attacked and allegedly killed no fewer than eight security operatives including soldiers and police, and also set ablaze two vehicles in Imo.

Also, the recent attack on Mr Joe Ajaero, the president of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), allegedly by political thugs, over a planned protest in Imo was also an indication of the likelihood of violence in the state.

In Bayelsa a PDP-led state, Diri will slug it out with a former governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva of APC.

Tension mounted in the state a few days ago when a court disqualified Sylva, with the subsequent removal of the APC candidate from the list of contestants by INEC.

The CDD report said although there was no record of death in Bayelsa in the 2019 governorship election, observers said over 50 critical incidents, which directly impacted the credibility of the election were observed.

However, in the build up to 2023 general elections, no fewer than three persons were reportedly shot dead in the Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa following a clash involving two rival cult groups.

INEC Chairman, Yakubu, at a meeting with various security agencies in Imo to strategise on security for the Nov. 11governorship election, said Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo were not the easiest states to conduct elections.

Yakubu said the states were faced with prevailing security situations, peculiar topography and behaviour of some of the political actors, which impeded the conduct of free and fair elections.

“Our commitment is to protect the integrity of the process so that whoever the people vote for becomes their governor,” the INEC boss stated.

At a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room on Oct. 31 in Abuja, Sen. Sharafadeen Alli, Chairman, Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, urged security agencies to ensure their personnel remained unbiased during the elections.

“It is only commitment from both security officials and the citizens that can guarantee an improvement in the electoral system.

“The National Assembly has commenced its oversight with the engagement of INEC in connection with the preparedness towards the off-cycle elections in the respective states,” he said.

Alli advised eligible voters not to allow themselves to be used by desperate politicians for electoral manipulations because such manipulations could disrupt the entire electoral process.

Speaking at the INEC quarterly meeting with leaders of political parties, on the governorship election on Oct. 24, IPAC Chairman, Mr Sani Yabagi, urged INEC to use the November governorship election to deal with confidence deficit among the citizenry.

“It is essential for INEC, as the custodian of our democracy, to address this issue comprehensively.

“To reaffirm citizens’ confidence, INEC must continue to demonstrate impartiality, transparency, and a commitment to conducting free, fair, and credible elections.

“This is not only a moral imperative but a necessary step towards preserving the integrity of our democratic system,” he said.

The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Kayode Egbetokun, has warned that the police would not tolerate electoral violence and killing in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa during the governorship elections on Saturday.

Egbetokun reaffirmed this position during a courtesy visit to Diri on Monday in Yenagoa.

He stressed that the police and other security agencies were fully prepared and duty-bound to ensure free and fair polls, adding that troublemakers would have the law to contend with.

“In Bayelsa and in Kogi and Imo elections will take place, I want to say with confidence that the police and other security agencies have taken a position to be neutral.

“However, those with criminal intention to disrupt the election in Bayelsa will meet our men on ground. They will have the whole of us to contend with,” Egbetokun said.

Similarly, the Chief of Defence Satff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, warned those planning to disrupt the governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi to stay off the states.

Speaking with with journalists shortly after the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting on Oct. 28, in Abuja, Musa assured residents of Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi not to entertain any fear.

“The armed forces, the police and other security agencies would be on ground. Every Nigerian, we are sure is tired of elections with violence and this will try to make a different.

“We want at the end of the day, every Nigerian should be proud of, first to be a Nigerian and to understand that elections are now free and fair.

“We want everybody who wins our elections to be happy that he won very well without any intimidation,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Salif Atojoko

…………… If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

By Chijioke Okoronkwo, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Over the years, climate change and its vagaries have featured conspicuously in global discourses.

From CoP1 in Berlin, Germany in 1995 to CoP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, it has been intense advocacy and dialogue on how to mitigate the impact of climate change and achieve a just energy transition vis-à-vis phasing out fossil fuel.

Worthy of note, CoP28 schedule to hold in Dubai in from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12 is imminent and the contemporary climate change issues—energy transition, desertification, drought, floods, heat waves, disruption of food systems among others –will still ricochet.

For Africa, where many economies are struggling with strangulating external debts, energy transition remains a herculean and capital-intensive task.

In Nigeria, relevant authorities say over 410 billion dollars will be spent to deliver its energy transition plan by 2060.

On a bothersome note, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicates that Nigeria’s external debt stood at N33.25 trillion as at Q2 2023.

The huge external debt leaves analysts worried that poor nations are being befuddled by the huge amount required to fund their energy transition plans.

In the light of the aforementioned, perceptive stakeholders are of the view that the Debt –for- Climate (DFC) Swap deal proposed by former Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, should be deliberated at the CoP28 scheduled for Nov. 30 to Dec. 12 in UAE.

Osinbajo, a climate change advocate, had, in 2022, proposed the DFC swap deal in order to ensure a just energy transition for African countries.

He made the proposal in Washington, U.S. while seeking global partnerships and support for Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan (ETP).

The former Vice-President delivered a lecture explaining the DFC concept on a just and equitable energy transition for Africa at the Center for Global Development in Washington D.C, U.S.

According to Osinbajo, DFC is a type of debt swap where bilateral or multilateral debt is forgiven by creditors in exchange for a commitment by the debtor to use the outstanding debt service payments for national climate action programmes.

“Typically, the creditor country or institution agrees to forgive part of a debt, if the debtor country would pay the avoided debt service payment in a local currency into an escrow or any other transparent fund and the funds must then be used for agreed climate projects in the debtor country.

“Increase the fiscal space for climate-related investments and reduce the debt burden for participating developing countries.

“For the creditor the swap can be made to count as a component of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).”

He said there were significant policy actions necessary to make the deal acceptable and sustainable.

Osinbajo also proposed the greater participation of African countries in the Global Carbon Market while exploring financing options for energy transition.

He said there was a need to take a comprehensive approach in working jointly towards common goals, including the market and environmental opportunities presented by the financing of clean energy assets in growing energy markets.

“In addition to conventional capital flows both from public and private sources, it is also essential that Africa can participate more fully in the global carbon finance market.

“Currently, direct carbon pricing systems through carbon taxes have largely been concentrated in high and middle-income countries.’’

Osinbajo encouraged developed countries to support Africa to develop into a global supplier of carbon credits, ranging from bio-diversity to energy-based credits.

The vice president said that the central thinking for most developing countries was the issue of a just transition with two, not one, existential crises–the climate crisis and extreme poverty.

“The clear implication of this reality is that our plans and commitments to carbon neutrality must include clear plans on energy access if we are to confront poverty.

“This includes access to energy for consumptive and productive use and spanning across electricity, heating, cooking, and other end-use sectors,’’ he said.

He cautioned that limiting financing of gas projects for domestic use would pose a severe challenge to economic development, delivery of electricity access, clean cooking solutions, and the scale-up and integration of renewable energy into the energy mix.

Osinbajo said that ETP was designed to tackle the dual crises of energy poverty and climate change and deliver SDG-7 by 2030 and net-zero by 2060 while concentrating on the provision of energy for development, industrialisation, and economic growth.

Weighing in on Osinbajo’s proposal ahead of Cop28 a Professor of Environmental Engineering, University of Abuja, Adullahi Evuti, said it was weighty enough to be art of the agenda of the conference.

He regretted developing countries were bearing the brunt of the actions of developed countries; hence the need for such a deal.

“I support the proposal considering the trans-boundary nature of the effect of climate change.

“The highest polluting nations are the advanced countries like America and China; they emit the largest percentage of greenhouse gases annually and the effect is felt worldwide and Nigeria and other poor nations are not shielded from the effects.

“For instance, in Nigeria now, we are having issues of flooding, unpredictable climate change issues, desertification among others.

“And these could be attributed to some of the effects of the activities of advanced nations.

“So, the call by the former vice president that our debt should be waived based on the consequences of the actions of developed nations on the climate is apt,’’ he said.

Dr Abdullateef Taye, Registrar, African Institute of Waste Management and Environmental Studies, Kaduna, said the proposal could be a valuable tool in achieving sustainable development and mitigating economic imbalances.

According to him, the primary goal of Debt-for-Climate swap is to channel financial resources towards addressing climate change and supporting sustainable development in debtor countries, as opposed to servicing existing debt obligations.

He said that the approach aimed to encourage countries to invest in climate mitigation and adaptation efforts, which were crucial in the fight against climate change.

“Debt-for-Climate swap deal can be seen as a positive step towards addressing both environmental and economic challenges.

“By forgiving debts in exchange for investments in climate action, it can incentivise countries to take more sustainable measures, which is essential for combating climate change.

“However, the effectiveness of such deals depends on the specifics and commitment of the parties involved.’’

On whether the proposal should be further discussed at CoP28, Taye said it depended on various factors.

He listed the factors as the level of interest and support from participating nations, the potential impact of such deals on global climate goals, and the details of the proposal itself.

“CoP meetings serve as forums for discussing and advancing climate-related initiatives; so, it could be a suitable platform for such discussions if there is consensus among nations to do so,’’ he said.

Sharing similar sentiments, Mrs Blessing Ewa, Founder and Director, Young Advocates for a Sustainable and Inclusive Future (YASIF) NIGERIA, said she was fully in support of the proposal given the cost of addressing issues around loss and damage as faced by developing countries.

She said that proposal should be debated at CoP28 with emphasis on polluting countries who would continue polluting while developing countries kept cleaning their messes because they owed them money.

“They need to make conscious effort to stop polluting because climate change is not a business of cards; it is a global crisis and should be seen that way.

“More so, monies given to developing countries as loans to run damages caused by these same developed countries should stop.

“This is one major reason developing countries keep going deep into debts with them; because they lend us these monies to fix the mess they caused and expect us to pay back with high interest,’’ she said.

Deserving no less attention, Mr Steve Abu, Coordinator, Climate and Sustainable Development Network of Nigeria (CSDevNet), said he was favourably disposed to the tender.

“The proposal is perfectly in order; I support that it becomes an agenda at CoP28,’’ he said.

Experts hold that Osinbajo’s Debt-for-Climate swap proposal is noble and a novel idea; hence, it should be given the attention and impetus it deserves at the forthcoming CoP28. (NANFeatures)

By  Vivian Ihechu, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Mrs Aminat Kolawole, an indigene of Batoro community in Ogun state, has been running a small business for eight years in Sagamu, Ogun state.

She sells food and beverages, toiletries, drinks, household consumables among others in her Idera Oluwa stores, to ensure her children go to school and her family well kept.

Mrs Oghenetega Delight Jombo, of Jombo Stores, Port Harcourt, Rivers and Blessing Abayi, a single mother from Bauchi, also run small scale businesses to support their families.

Like the trio, all over Nigeria, women are seen making efforts to keep afloat. If they are not in office ekeing out a living from white collar jobs, they are seen on the streets and markets selling goods and services.

Some are in the farms doing agricultural works that can include farming and fishing, among others.

Equally, some get their daily living by utilising their skills in sewing, hairdressing, weaving and others, all to attain economic and even social empowerment.

However, the women in rural areas are even more vulnerable.

According to the UN Women, investing in women’s economic empowerment sets a direct path toward gender equality, poverty eradication and inclusive economic growth.

It says women make enormous contributions to economies whether in businesses, farms, as entrepreneurs or employees, or by doing unpaid care work at home.

But they also remain disproportionately affected by poverty, discrimination and exploitation.

Identifying these challenges, the World Bank in June 2023 says better economic opportunities for women is essential for addressing gender inequality; guaranteeing better education, health, and nutrition outcomes for families; and building women’s and communities’ resilience to climate change.

By building the assets, women can better respond to family needs and mitigate risks and the effects of climate and other shocks on livelihoods. Gender disparities in earnings hold back the Nigerian economy.

Women Empowerment speaks to the Sustainable Development Goal 5 which aims to “achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”.

The realisation of this United Nations’ SDG5 goal cannot be done alone. It requires a multisectoral approach with governments and private sectors driving it.

It is based on this that Nestlé Nigeria Plc introduced its Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria Project to better the lots of women in the rural areas.

The project aims to help rural women build financial security through training, mentorship, and grants, with programme participants being females in Nestlé’s Nigeria value chain.

The beneficiaries are women within Nestlé Nigeria’s value chain, running small businesses in rural areas across the country.

The project also helps beneficiaries scale up their businesses and sustain the new level of up to three times the size of their existing businesses.

This objective is achieved through business training covering merchandising, bookkeeping and customer service, mentorship and coaching in addition to grants in form of Nestlé products valued at 300 per cent of their monthly sales at the time of joining the programme.

The beneficiaries are subsequently registered in a three-month mentorship programme and each woman is linked to a personal mentor for one-on-one coaching to ensure adoption of the key learnings from the training received to achieve the desired success.

Over 60 per cent of the beneficiaries achieve the 300 per cent target growth within the three-month coaching period.

Kolawole is one of the 332 women across the country, supported by Nestlé Nigeria to scale up their businesses through the Nestlé Rural Women empowerment Programme.

She is excited that her business, Idera Oluwa stores, was selected for the project.

Expressing her delight on behalf of other beneficiaries, Aminat said, “We are greatly pleased at the opportunity to be included in this programme.

“I believe that this opportunity will provide the necessary knowledge and resources to grow my business so I can earn more money to support my family and cater for my children’s education

“We are looking forward to the learning and mentoring sessions which will equip us to run our businesses more effectively.

“ A big thank you to Nestlé for investing in us. Our promise to the company is that we will maximise this opportunity for the benefit of our families and communities.”

For Folasade Ogunjimi of Save Way Stores Sagamu, another beneficiary of the programme:“This is the first time a company is bringing this amazing initiative to retailers in Sagamu in my 25 years of running this business.

“ We sincerely appreciate this well planned and considerate gesture by Nestlé towards supporting and expanding our businesses”.

In Ikorodu area of Lagos State, 32 joined some other 250 beneficiaries of Nestlé Nigeria’s Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria Project through which Nestlé is helping rural women in Nigeria build financial security to improve their standard of living.

Each beneficiary received grants valued at 300 per cent of their monthly sales in form of Nestlé products, business training and a three-month mentorship programme.

Each beneficiary is linked to a mentor for one-on-one coaching over the three months, to ensure their success.

And indeed, the success stories keep coming.

Another beneficiary, Blessing Abayi, a single mother from Bauchi, used to struggle with paying her children’s school fees.

But after three months in the programme, she declared that for the first time, she paid the fees in full and on time, thanks to her growing business.

Mrs Olubunmi Adeoye, also a beneficiary, expressed her gratitude to Nestlé for the opportunity to be part of the project.

“I am so happy that Nestlé chose me to benefit from this programme. It is a wonderful opportunity,” she said.

Another beneficiary, Mrs Bukola Ajala, praised Nestlé for the empowerment and the free goods they provided, saying, “I have not seen any empowerment like this before. I know I am going to the next level.”

Speaking at the inauguration of the seventh batch into the Project in Sagamu, Nestlé Nigeria’s Commercial Manager, Khaled Ramadan, said creating shared value within their communities was core in the company.

“ At Nestlé, we strive to make positive impact on society while ensuring the sustainability of our business.

“The Rural Women Empowerment Programme is not a one-time event but an ongoing process of value creation.

“The stories and testimonials from previous beneficiaries, particularly 100 per cent to 200 per cent business growth within three months of joining the programme, encourages us to do more.

“Onboarding women from Sagamu, one of our host communities, is a significant milestone in our commitment to empowerment and sustainable development and we are proud to have an opportunity to make a tangible difference in their lives”.

Ramadan, who also spoke at the induction in Ikorodu, said: “We are pleased with the success of the 250 beneficiaries of Nestlé Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria and are delighted by the opportunity to include 32 more today.

“With this addition, 282 women across five geopolitical zones of Nigeria now have a unique opportunity to scale up their businesses by 300 per cent.

“We are confident that the new beneficiaries will also transform their businesses, making the best use of the support Nestlé is providing through training, mentorship and grants in form of Nestlé products.”

Mr Phranklin Audu, Lead Facilitator and Head, Strategic Partnerships at FDConsults, implementation partner of Nestlé Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria Project, said: “We have amazing testimonials from previous beneficiaries.

“Through this project, Nestlé continues to help solve the challenge of poverty by empowering rural women across Nigerian communities.

“Lifting them off the poverty spectrum and improving their livelihoods. We are delighted to be project partners for the training and mentoring on this credible initiative”.

Audu said, “As an NGO focused on empowering people to improve their livelihoods, we are thrilled by the impact of this project on rural communities.

“Over 80 per cent of the beneficiaries have seen their incomes grow and can support their families better.

According to Kabiyesi Odofin Soyindo who represented the Akarigbo of Remoland, HRM Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, he commends Nestlé for this sustainable venture and empowerment of Sagamu women.

“This is a noble initiative, and we are glad that our community is benefitting from corporate programs like this from Nestlé.

“To the beneficiaries, I urge you to establish your priorities and judiciously use the grants provided to you for the expansion of your businesses”.

Nestlé Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria Project began in August 2021, with 50 female retailers from the suburbs of Abuja.

The programme has expanded to include more women from the South-East, North-East, South-South, and South-west, including Lagos, to help beneficiaries scale up their businesses.

Currently, 332 women from across the regions are benefitting from the Nestlé Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria Project .

Nestlé Nigeria has helped these 332 women to scale up their businesses by 300 per cent and to sustain the new level through the project, by helping them build financial security to improve their livelihoods.

This is also one of the ways through which Nestlé Nigeria is Creating Shared Value along its value chain.

Over 80 per cent of beneficiaries have reported an increase of 100 per cent to 200 per cent in their business growth within three months of joining the program.

They can support their families better and have built financial security to improve their standard of living.

Attesting to this empowering and  life-changing programme by Nestlé Nigeria , the best performing beneficiary, Mrs  Oghenetega Delight Jombo, of Jombo Stores, Port Harcourt, reached a business growth of 675 per cent within six months of joining the programme.

She has sustained a monthly turnover of over N547,623.67 since.

Nestlé’s Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Victoria Uwadoka, reiterates the company’s commitment to building thriving communities by improving household incomes.

“ Nestlé Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria Project is one of the ways through which Nestlé Nigeria is Creating Shared Value along her value chain.

“We are inspired by her story and others like it,’’ Uwadoka said.

In conclusion, the role women play in their communities has a massive impact on economic development, poverty reduction, and sustainable development, hence empowerment of women through the Nestlé Empowering Rural Women in Nigeria Project, is a sure way to making positive realisations. (NANFeatures)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma