By Folasade Akpan

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has reiterated calls by the United Nations

Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, to rescind the evacuation order from northern Gaza, which is making a dire humanitarian situation even worse.

The Fund’s Executive Director, Dr Natalia Kanem, made the call in a statement issued to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

by UNFPA Nigeria’s Media Associate, Hajiya Kori Habib in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to her, UNFPA deplores the loss of lives in Israel and in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and deeply concerned about

the safety and wellbeing of all civilians caught up in the crisis, especially women and girls.

She stated that the evacuation order from Northern Gaza is making a dire humanitarian situation even worse.

She added that “for the thousands of women about to give birth, and those who are sick and critically injured, being forced from

their homes with nowhere safe to go and no food or water, it is extremely dangerous.

“Gaza is home to 50,000 pregnant women who are struggling to access essential health services, as hospitals teeter on the brink of collapse,

with no electricity and few if any vital supplies or medicines.

“UNFPA supports pregnant women and newborns by providing essential medicines and deploying midwives. This can only continue if lifesaving aid can reach them.

“We call for immediate, unimpeded humanitarian access so that food, medicines, water and fuel can reach everyone in need.”

Kanem also called on all parties to abide by international humanitarian law, and for the immediate release of all hostages, adding that

attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure must cease, and healthcare facilities must never be a target.

NAN reports that Isreal started launching attacks on Gaza after a major assault on Isreal by the Palestinian organisation Hamas on

Oct. 7.

Several hospitals in Gaza City, therefore, became refugee centres for hundreds of people, hoping they would be spared the bombardment

after Israel ordered all residents of the city and surrounding areas to evacuate to the southern Gaza Strip.

Thereafter, an Israeli air force bombed the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in the Gaza strip on Tuesday, where at least 500 people were reportedly

killed, the deadliest Israeli airstrike in five wars fought since 2008.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Prof. Rodria Laline, one of TEXEM’s faculties

By Abigael Joshua

TEXEM UK, a United Kingdom-based leadership development organisation, says the unabated exodus of talents from Nigeria to the UK primarily, constitutes a major but surmountable hurdle for the country’s leaders.

In a statement on TEXEM’s website (www.texem.co.uk), its Director of Special Projects, Caroline Lucas, said the challenge affects leaders in the country’s private and public sectors.

Lucas added that currency risks, high inflation, regulatory hurdles, failing business models, and the weighty cost of capital are among other challenges Nigerian leaders face today.

“These hurdles may appear insurmountable, but there is a beacon of hope on the horizon: the Customised Executive Development Programme titled “Leading Transformation for Strategic Outcomes,” organised by TEXEM, UK.

“The programme will be held from November 27 – 30, 2023, at Hilton, London in the United Kingdom.

“This programme, led by an esteemed faculty, promises to deliver actionable solutions and insights to these pressing issues through proven, engaging methodologies that make learning fun, memorable and actionable,” she explained.

According to the Director, the programme is the missing piece of the puzzle that can supercharge organisations and leaders in Nigeria.

Lucas said that in a world marked by swift change, the coming programme empowers leaders to adapt and guide their organisations through transitions.

She said distinguished and eminent thought leaders, including Prof. John Peters, Prof. Rodria Laline, and Prof. Paul Griffith, would lead the programme.

Peters, a former Prisoner of War and, Royal Airforce Fighter Pilot and past Chair of the Association of MBAs, accredits London Business School, Harvard, Wharton, and INSEAD.

He brings invaluable lessons on successful leadership in turbulent times, providing the skills needed to navigate with confidence.

“Attendees will refine their strategy under the guidance of Professor Rodria Laline in “Building Governance for Digital Transformation.”

“Digital transformation is no longer a choice but a necessity. Prof. Laline, an accomplished CEO and founding Director of Harvard Maiximise Your Board Programme, brings an enormous wealth of experience in global research and development.

“She will inspire participants on how to align governance with innovation, fostering a culture of innovation and resilience within their organisations – a crucial strategic advantage in today’s world,” Lucas said.

She said the programme’s itinerary, which includes company visits, group discussions, assessments, and role plays, ensures that participants gain practical, hands-on knowledge.

Lucas added that this translates to an enhanced ability to learn and adapt rapidly, a vital aspect of sustainable success.

She disclosed that the “Change Management and Organisational Culture” session will be delivered by Prof. Paul Griffith, the world’s first Professor of Management to launch a rocket into space fifteen years ago successfully.

Lucas said that Griffith will inspire executives and challenge assumptions about winning strategies that drive lasting transformation.

“Change is constant, and effective change management is an art. 70 percent of change initiatives fail. Hence, leaders must be deliberate and strategic to inspire successful change management.

“A seasoned thought leader, Prof. Griffith, will guide participants on better decision-making for enduring success.

“By attending the “Leading Transformation for Strategic Outcomes” programme, Nigerian leaders can unlock a wealth of benefits for their organisations,” she said.

According to Lucas, the event is not just a programme; it’s an exceptional opportunity to drive organisations towards enduring success.

The director also shared testimonials from previous TEXEM delegates from Nigeria, which she said speaks volumes about the value-added executives will derive from participating in its programmes.

“I’ve enjoyed the orderliness of the organisers. I’ve enjoyed the presentations of the consultants. I’ve enjoyed the practicability of the consultants.

“They bring in life examples in all their presentation, then with that one, the participants could be carried along. It’s not theoretical.

“You know, you can see they also practicalise by bringing in life events, even using themselves as examples. So that really sends the message deep into our hearts. And that’s wonderful…” says Sonya Ogunkuade, Hon. Commissioner and Former Special Assistant to the President.

“The program has been very interesting, exciting, knowledge sharing, and it has actually brought about a greater insight into what leadership is,” Akinwunmi Lawal, MD/CEO of NPF Microfinance Bank PLC. said.

Ifeanyi Ani, CEO of Total Pension CPFA, said, “I regard the These Executive Minds Executive Education programme as the best I have attended in recent times. Not one of them, but the very best as it was humanly perfect.

“My favourite thing about the programme would be…drawing our attention again to… change, which has been a constant in life experiences, you know, change in our lives, change, you know, in businesses…

“The evolution of businesses and the way we do things…discussions, for example, on cyber security and mental health, which is not just equipping us to know what is happening around us.

“Even equipping us personally, our mental health, paying attention to also the ever-evolving cyber security… Those are things I would say that made it very, very interesting”.

Also, Ambassador Mustafa Sam, Non-Executive Director, Jaiz Bank, had this to say, “I found that it’s quite a new approach to workshop than I’m used to because I’ve attended so many workshops organised by other organisations.

“But I found that the approach made by TEXEM is quite different. First of all, when I found that the first day of the programme would be visits to Shakespeare’s birthplace and also to visit a chocolate factory, I was sceptical.

“So I said, I’m in love with Shakespeare, but I just said, what is it to do with business or whatever it is?

“But then after the visit and then to the two places and coming back and then I could see the collaboration between what I’m supposed to know, and I really could understand the issues there.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Razak Owolabi

The Directorate of Technical Aid Corps (DTAC), has deployed two Justices of the Federatiom to The Gambia to assist the West African nation’s quest for effective judicial service delivery.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two officers were formally briefed on their new task at the directorate’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

Dr Yusuf Yakub, the Director-General of the corps, in a brief remark, said that the two Justices – Ruqayat Ayoola and Muhammad Owolabi – were nominated by the Chief Justice of the Federation.

He described the Judges as “some of our best from the Judiciary”.

Yakub reminded the duo that DTAC was established in 1987 to serve as an instrument for soft power diplomacy in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific nations.

“It has, since then, been deploying volunteers to 35 countries.

“We have covered up to 35 countries from inception; currently, we have volunteers in 10 countries and have extended our mandate beyond bilateral relationships.

“We have also gone triangular; we have partnerships with other international organisations and have volunteers with the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) serving in New York.

“Also, as part of our repositioning drive to meet up with the 4-D Foreign Policy initiatives of President Bola Tinubu, we have extended our tentacles to others countries outside Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific,” he added.

He urged the Judges to serve with dignity when they get to Gambia.

Responding, Justice Owolabi thanked the directorate for the opportunity and promised to make Nigeria proud in Gambia. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

ETIM/HS/ETS

By Maureen Okon

The Directorate of Technical Aid Corps (DTAC) said it will train 30 youth corps members, staff of ICT, Media Departments on the use of Social Media Tools in the Workplace.

Dr Yusuf Yakub, the Director-General (DG) of DTAC, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday at the opening ceremony of a three-month training workshop for corps members and staff of the directorate in Abuja.

The DG said that, the training is to align with President Bola Tinubu’s 4-D Renewed Hope Agenda for the country, which is meant to build up their capacity to contribute to the agenda.

“We all know that the president came up with several agendas; which we have the eight point agenda and the 4-D foreign policy initiative, which comprises of, Development, Democracy, Demography, and Diaspora.

“I want to thank God Almighty, for taking us to yet another milestone in our quest to reposition, re-energise and re-organised the directorate so that we will make the 4-D agenda a reality.

“These 4-D initiative is meant to take Nigerian’s foreign policy to the next level, and DTAC, is one of the instruments that will be used to achieve that, so we deem it necessary to utilise all the man power available to us.

“I want to thank members of the managing team of DTAC and all other staffs for putting all hands on deck to make this day a reality,’’ he said.

He also, urged corps members to be serious and dedicated to their service to the nation, adding that it was no more business as usual.

“You must make sure you come to work whenever you are assigned to do, and for our corps member I want to call on you to be more serious and dedicated to your service to the nation, he added.

Speaking earlier, Amb. Shehu Mohamed, the Ag. Director of Admin of DTAC, said that the gathering was first of its kind, because it was the first time they were undergoing such training for their corps members, and this was possible with the initiative of the DG.

He added that the initiative was welcoming and that they would try to derive value from the training.

NAN reports that some of the corps members applauded the DG’s initiatives and promise to be dedicated and serious with the training. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Halima Sheji

No fewer than 2.4 million voters in Liberia are eligible to cast their ballots on Tuesday in a general election in which President George Weah is seeking a second term after the first six years.

Weah, 57, who turned to politics after a successful soccer career, said he needs more time to fulfil his promise to rebuild the West African nation’s broken economy, institutions and infrastructure, pledging to pave more roads if reelected.

Elected in 2017 in the country’s first democratic change of power in over 70 years, Weah is running against 19 other presidential candidates. To avoid a runoff, the winner must secure 50 per cent of votes cast, plus at least one more vote.

Wrapping up his campaign after a parade across the capital Monrovia on Sunday evening, Weah cast his first term as a success despite significant challenges.

The iron-ore-rich West African nation is still struggling to emerge from two devastating civil wars between 1989 and 2003, which killed over 250,000 people, and a 2013-16 Ebola epidemic that killed thousands.

“I’m proud of the record of achievement in a very difficult period. We were able to do much with fewer resources and solve many structural problems,” Weah told cheering supporters.

He has faced criticism from the opposition and Liberia’s international partners for not doing enough to tackle corruption during his first term in office.

In 2022, he fired his chief of staff and two other senior officials after the United States sanctioned them for corruption.

In his final speech, he highlighted other steps taken to address graft including the appointment of independent members to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission.

“In our second term, we plan to increase efforts on our war on corruption,’’ he said.

Weah’s main challenger is former Vice-President Joseph Boakai, 78, whom he defeated in a runoff in 2017.

Boakai has campaigned on what he calls the need to rescue Liberia from alleged mismanagement by Weah’s administration.

Voters will also select members of the 73-seat lower house and half of the 30-member senate.

Although campaigning for the vote has been mostly peaceful, sporadic clashes have broken out between supporters of rival parties, prompting the United Nation’s rights office to express concern about election-related violence after two people were killed in September.

On Sunday as campaigns closed in the capital, several people were wounded when fighting broke out between rival supporters. (www.nannews.ng)(Reuters/NAN)

=================
Edited Hadiza Mohammed/Ekemini Ladejobi

By Maureen Okon

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar said on Monday that repositioning the Directorate of Technical Aid Corps (DTAC) was critical to achieving Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives.

Tuggar stated this in Abuja at the opening ceremony of a retreat organised by DTAC, with the theme: “Repositioning of the Technical Aid Corps Scheme in Achieving the Current Administration’s 4-D Foreign Policy Initiative”.

According to the minister, the current structure of DTAC is no longer in sync with the present realities of Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives and realities because the world is evolving.

”Let’s tell ourselves the truth, the way and manner DTAC has been structured is no longer in sync with the realities on ground.

”The world has changed, so also the priorities have changed, and that’s why we need to reposition the technical aid corps,” he said.

Tuggar, who described the technical aid corps as, ”perhaps the most effective foreign policy instrument,” added that the Tinubu administration’s 4-D initiative was to strengthen Nigeria’s foreign policy.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 4-D Foreign Policy Initiative of the Tinubu administration includes Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora.

While describing the choice of the theme of the retreat as apt, he expressed confidence in the ability of Dr. Yusuf Yakub, DTAC’s Director-General (DG) and former Chairman, House of Reps Committee on Foreign Relations to succeed in the task.

He noted that Yakub had experienced how laws were made in the legislature and how they impacted existing Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, hence his starting with a review on DTAC was timely.

“He has the ability to see how the laws can be reviewed and be improved upon in order to position DTAC in a way that it can perform and deliver for Nigeria, the same way President Bola Tinubu’s administration is determined to deliver for Nigerians.

“Beginning from the eight-point agenda namely: Security; Ending Poverty; Economic Growth and Job Creation; Access to Capital; Improving Security; improving the playing field on which people and particularly companies operate; Rule of Law; and Fighting Corruption,’ the minister said.

Tuggar said in every ”D” of the 4-D agenda of the Tinubu administration’s foreign policy, there is a role for the technical aid corps, adding that DTAC was going to be central to achieving the nation’s foreign policy objectives

The minister also said that strengthening institutions, such as DTAC, would go a long way to strengthen democracy, stressing that ”without democracy, there will be no development.”

”So, when we say democracy we are looking at strengthening democratic institutions, not only in our region West Africa, but Africa as a whole and to support democracy worldwide.

”Because without democracy, there will be no development so, to strengthen these democratic institutions, you need the technical aid corps, so I will love to see the repositioning of DTAC.

”Where a lot of emphasis is laid on support for electoral commission within our region and beyond providing assistance, sharing our experiences through the way we have transformed,’’ he said.

Speaking earlier, DTAC DG, Yakub, said that the repositioning of DTAC was necessary following Mr President’s renewed hope agenda for Nigerians adding that, he hit the ground running to achieve the agenda when he assumed office.

He said that after he assumed office on Aug. 25, he began by setting the agenda for DTAC, which included long, middle and short terms.

NAN reports that the four-day retreat, which was held at DTAC’s headquarters, began on Oct. 9 and will end on Oct. 13. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Mark Longyen/Emmanuel Yashim

By Fortune Abang

Prof. Jonah Onuoha, a don, on Thursday, underscored the need to promote leadership development at the national level to ensure sustainable democracy in Africa.

Onuoha said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

According to him, the thought by people to always rejoice over the coup does not by any means make democracy bad.

“Whoever says the military is better than democracy is telling a lie. The issue is how we bring our leader to follow the tenets of democracy, that is the issue.

“The quality of leaders in Europe and America varies, not minding their institution, because of what they have there, there are leaders here too with a different mindset about leadership.

“Leaders who have three kinds of qualities, these people are fearless, shameless and hopeless; so it is not that democracy has failed, but the actors have failed.

“Therefore, military coups will continue to happen in Africa and people will continue to jubilate until the leaders sit up to generate the dividends of democracy for the people.

“What we want to see are good roads. We want to see our institutions functioning well. We want to see good schools. We want to see people coming back home from abroad,” the don.

According to him, people always rejoice when there is a coup to succeed a government considered bad and still celebrate when elections are held to enthrone a democratic government.

“People rejoice for good reasons; they rejoice for unacceptable reasons as well. They always rejoice when there is a change, whether good or bad.

“When people argue that democracy has failed in Africa, it is not really because democracy itself is bad, but because its operators are not operating democracy the way they ought to.

“Africans have been made to understand that democracy brings development, but if after decades of democratic rule, they do not see the expected development they worry,” he said.

Onuoha decried a situation where Nigerians leave the country in their numbers in search of greener pastures in what has popularly been described as “Japa syndrome”.

He called on Nigerian leaders to take advantage of the possibilities offered by democratic governance to better the lives of Nigerians to prevent brain drain to other countries. (NAN)

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

The Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission and Russia’s Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The parties, which agreed to cooperate in the field of nuclear education and development of the Nigerian nuclear industry, signed the agreement on Tuesday.

According to Sputnik, the Russian news agency, the agreement was signed within the framework of the 67th session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in Vienna.

Sputnik quoted the press service of the university as saying that Vera Verkhoturova, Advisor to the Rector for External Relations and Abdullahi Mati, Director of the Department of Nuclear Power Plants in the commission, signed on behalf of parties.

It said TPU and the commission plan to create joint educational programmes, including dual degree programmes with Nigerian universities, academic exchange of students, distance learning, seminars, training courses and research in the field of nuclear physics and technology.

” TPU has been training in-demand personnel for the nuclear industry for more than 70 years, and its graduates are heads of ministries and departments, heads of companies, engineering and management corps of leading nuclear industry enterprises,” Acting Rector of TPU, Leonid Sukhoy said.

“Thanks to close cooperation with Rosatom State Corporation, whose main university is the TPU, we are developing international nuclear programs.

” The university has already become a reference platform for the development of human resource capacity in the field of nuclear technologies in Indonesia, Bolivia, Egypt, and a number of other Rosatom partner countries.

” And today, Nigeria has officially joined the list of our partner countries.

” TPU will become a reference platform in Russia for training personnel in nuclear and related specialties in the interests of Nigeria.

” We are grateful for the trust, I am sure that fruitful and mutually beneficial cooperation awaits us ahead,” he said.

He added that employees of Nigeria’s energy commission are among the graduates of the TPU international educational nuclear programmes.

The graduates, he said, are now successfully applying the acquired knowledge and competencies for the development of nuclear technologies in Nigeria.

“I believe that this is just the beginning of a long-term cooperation,” he said.

Prof. Yusuf Ahmed, Chairman of the energy commission, who also attended the event, said no fewer than 40 students from Nigeria are already studying for masters and postgraduate programmes in nuclear energy.

He expressed the hope that the number will grow.(NAN)

By Maureen Okon

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Monday pledged its commitment to organise free surgeries for Nigerian citizens under the Nur-Saudi Voluntary Campaign in Nigeria.

Its Ambassador, Mr Faisal Alghamdi, made the commitment at the Kingdom’s 93rd National Day celebration which was held at his residence in Abuja.

He recalled that the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques, King Salman Al Saud (may, Allah protect him), had in 2022 approved the Nur-Saudi Voluntary Campaign in Nigeria.

“The campaign will be executed through King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) and it will be executed in stages.

“The first stage had been executed which targeted combating blindness and its causes, in addition to a large number of open-heart and urology surgeries.

“In this regard, I would like to congratulate the parents of the Nigerian conjoined twins on the successful separation surgery.

“The surgery done will make it the 56th surgery performed by the Kingdom in separating conjoined twins from across the world,” he said.

Speaking on the bilateral relations between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, the Ambassador said that the historic bonds between both countries had been firmly growing since 1961.

Alghamdi said that the extant relations would continue to grow under the government of President Bola Tinubu.

He said: “I wish him, his government and the people of Nigeria good luck and success.

Furthermore, the mutual visits contribute in developing this bilateral relations at all levels.”

Alghamdi also added that, in 2022, about 200,000 Nigerians visited Saudi Arabia, 95,000 of them pilgrims and more than 90,000 on minor pilgrimage.

In the same period, the Kingdom had given 200 scholarships to Nigerian students both males and females while the trade volume between the Kingdom and Nigeria was more than $600 million.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Kingdom’s national day is celebrated every year on Sept. 23rd, but since the day fell on a Saturday, it was celebrated on Sept. 25.

Furthermore, the anniversary was marked due to the unification of all parts of the Kingdom by King Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The celebration was attended by government officials, heads of diplomatic missions and international organisations, notable businessmen and women, amongst others. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani