By Nefishetu Yakubu

A University Don, Prof. Steve Iyayi has urged African leaders to prioritise the welfare of their citizens to avoid repeated military interventions as recently witnessed in the continent.

Iyayi is a Professor of Public Administration and Dean of Social and Management Sciences, WellSpring University, Benin.

He stated this while delivery the 2nd Inaugural Lecture of the WellSpring University, Benin, with the topic: “Imperative of Human Centric Governance In Sustaining Democracy in Africa: AN Insight in Niger Republic”.

Iyayi said that several decades after gaining independence, African countries were still grappling with problems of true democratic practice beyond its mere claim.

According to him, indicators of democracy like the rule of law,  free and fair elections and people’s participation in state affairs are hardly present in most African countries, adding the relevant institutions that supported impactful governance were also weak, and failed to raise the people’s standard of living.

“This has significantly added to the explanations for the rather unending military interventions in most African democracies,” he said.

On the average, he said, African ranked among the top regions of the world that had experienced military coups and overthrow of constitutionally elected governments.

“Out of 54 countries in African continent, 45 have had at least one coup attempt since 1950. The total number of coups by the year 2011 was 214, with 106 of the coups being successful.

“Since then, there have been additional seven coups, all successful thereby bringing the total to 221 coups,” he said.

According to Iyayi, democratic governance remains generally unstable in African occasioned by mask of welfare for the people.

He noted that the current situation in Niger Republic was a reflection of the happenings in other countries in the continent with minor variations where they exist at all.

The don said that democratic governance had, therefore, not really addressed the needs of the society and the people in African region.

Iyayi stressed that the welfare of the people should be prioritised and necessary environment created for them to participate in the affairs of their country.

He said that there was an urgent need to reduce the cost of governance in Africa because the costs were adversely affecting the welfare of the people, adding that, “African leaders should evolve workable strategies to fight and reduce poverty in all forms to a tolerable level”.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Isaac Ajayi commended Iyayi for the robust lecture which provided insight into Africa’s problems and proffered solutions to them.

Ajayi urged him not to relent in his research efforts and academic pursuit because the education sector would always need researchers like him. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joe Idika

By Ibukun Emiola

Some stakeholders have called for improvement in the nation’s electioneering processes to ensure credible, free and fair elections in 2027.

They stated this on Thursday at a town hall meeting m in Ibadan to review the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that SOS Children’s Village Nigeria organised the meeting with community stakeholders in Akinyẹle and Ibadan North Local Government Areas.

The Assistant Secretary, Joint Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Musa Akinsawe, emphasised the need to increase access for persons with disabilities and involve them in planning during electioneering processes.

He also stressed constant reorientation for electoral officers and continuous voter education.

“Part of what we are clamouring for is accessibility to electoral venues and convenience in voting.

“Elections for people living with disabilities must be easily accessible; the ballot box must be where PWDs can vote without being assisted by anyone,’’ Akinsawe said.

Also, the Assistant Secretary, National Council for Women Societies, Chief Isimiola Olowoyo, identified the need for increased community engagement to restore eroded cultural values.

Olowoyo said such engagements came up toward the 2023 general elections and that her association would sustain them.

She said this would ensure that the right values were imbibed to translate later to good governance in Nigeria.

According to her, lapses recorded in the last elections, such as inadequate security personnel, should be worked on.

“They should empower more security officers so that there will be no violence and there were places where electoral materials were not available on time; this should be worked on,” Olowoyo said.

Representatives of religious bodies and traditional rulers from the two local government areas called for continuous voter registration and increased awareness from the basic education level.

The Programme Officer, SOS Children’s Village Nigeria, Grace Sambo, said communities should learn from past elections and choose their representatives based on competency.

Sambo said ethnicity, tribalism and religion should not be the criteria to elect leaders, adding that sentiments must be thrown away.

Calling for social reengineering, Sambo identified the benefits of peaceful elections and existence to include family stability which would impact children positively.

Also, the state Coordinator, SOS Children’s Village Nigeria, Mr Gabriel Adajie, urged participants to rejuvenate cultural norms that promote value systems in communities.

According to him, poverty and other factors have been weaponised to divide Nigerians, hence the need to change the narrative come 2027.

He noted that the electorates were, in a way, encouraging the political class to continue with the norm in the country.

“For us to change what is on the ground, we have to make sacrifices. We need to endure hunger so as not to continue to make the same mistakes,” Adajie said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo and Moses Solanke

By Sarafina Christopher

De Norsemen Kclub International (DNKI), a humanitarian organisation, has urged Nigerians to donate blood in order to save lives.

The Chairman, DNKI, Abuja Chapter, Mr Kolawole Otepola, made this call on Friday at the Wuse District Hospital, Abuja, during the organisation’s visit to hospitals to commemorate 2024 World Blood Donor Day.

According to Otepola, blood is God given; hence the need to reach out to others who do not have; who cannot pay and donate freely from what God has freely given.

He said that blood donation was what the organisation did on a yearly basis.

“This time, we chose Wuse hospital because we looked around; we have been to Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Jabi, Abuja six times; we have been to Maitama and Gwarinpa.

“So, we decided to go somewhere new this time; we decided to go to where our impacts will be further felt; where we have not gone before,” he said.

He advised that Nigerians should make use of the opportunity to turn out and donate blood to save lives and help humanity.

In his response, Dr Oluseyi Asaolu, Medical Director, Wuse District Hospital, said that blood was life and the act of donating it reduced the rate of death.

“Blood is very crucial to human life; everybody needs blood; when you make that intervention to donate blood, it becomes a saving moment for someone in need.

“It is a beautiful initiative when the world does a blood donation day; we are happy that this has been sustained even up till now.

“There is a need to donate blood; there is nothing you are doing with the blood just storing it there and the good thing is that if you donate blood, the body has a way of replenishing it, so it is a win-win for everybody.

“We really want to appreciate DNKI that considered Wuse District Hospital, for bringing people to donate and support what we are doing here,’’ he said.

Asaolu said that Wuse District Hospital had one of the best blood donation and blood transfusion services.

He said that the hospital maintained the services and screened blood properly before administering to the patient.

Mr Ogbobe Mathew, a member DNKI, said rendering humanitarian services to people in need was the organisation’s culture and what it did every year.

“When the organisation came up with the blood donation thing, we discussed it knowing that giving our blood will save lives

“You never can tell whose life the blood is going to be safe.

“We tend to render humanitarian service like helping people in need in order to make the society a better place,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.com.ng)

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Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

By Rukayat Adeyemi

The Abdul Samad Rabiu Initiative for Africa (ASR Africa), in commemoration of the 2024 International Widows’ Day, donated N10 million grant to the International Women’s Society (IWS) on Tuesday in Lagos.

ASR Africa is a brainchild of African industrialist, philanthropist, and Chairman of BUA Group, Mr Abdul Samad Rabiu.

The initiative, established in 2021, aims to provide sustainable, impact-based, homegrown solutions to developmental issues affecting health, education, and social development within Africa.

Dr Ubon Udoh, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ASR Africa, announced the donation at the Widows Feast and Empowerment Programme organised by IWS in Lagos.

According to Udoh, the grant is part of ASR Africa’s ongoing efforts to invest in social development, one of its primary focus areas.

He noted that the grant also reflected the commitment of the chairman of ASR Africa and BUA Group to improving the livelihoods and welfare of Nigerians.

He said that the grant, distributed to widows in partnership with IWS, aimed to bring relief to the beneficiaries while ensuring its relevance and sustainability.

Udoh appreciated the significant work done by IWS since its establishment in 1957.

Commenting on the donation, Mrs Adeola Adebanke, the Chairperson of the Widows’ Trust Fund of IWS, expressed joy and satisfaction.

She stated that not less than 250 widows benefited from the empowerment programme.

Adebanke explained that the programme, organised yearly through the IWS WTF, is held to feast with and empower the widows.

She further explained that the IWS WTF plays a vital role in supporting widows by providing them with the resources, skills, and connections needed to build a bright future.

Adebanke prayed that the ASR Africa/BUA Group chairman continues to make significant strides and break new boundaries.

The widows unanimously expressed their gratitude to ASR Africa and BUA Foods Plc for the timely palliative care packs received.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 250 widows received palliative care packs from BUA Foods Plc, which comprised rice, pasta, edible oil, and semolina.(NAN)

Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa

By Sylvester Thompson

Residents of Nyanya community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have commended the Hajiya Hadiza Foundation for giving them food items, clothes and cash, for the Eid El–kabir celebration.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Comfort Ibiang, a widow, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, said she was surprised at the gifts she received from the foundation.

“I am surprised for a woman to do what she is doing. You can see we are all happy.

“We are widows and less privileged and for her to come to our aid, through the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, I am so grateful,” Ibiang said.

Ibiang, who appreciated the efforts of the founder of the foundation, called on the government and stakeholders to also assist them.

Mr Iyke Vincent, another beneficiary, said he was highly impressed and excited by the opportunity the occasion offered him and other less privileged people of the community.

“I never knew something like this can come up at a time like this considering the economic challenges of the nation and the situation of things.

“People are really hungry and for somebody to come at a time like this and alleviate our burden, no matter how little, is commendable.

“People in the Nyanya community are truly happy and we are celebrating her from the depths of our hearts,” Vincent said.

Earlier, Amb. Hajiya Hadiza Umar, the founder of the NGO, told NAN that giving back to the society was what gave her joy.

“Today is one of my happiest days because it’s what I love to do to put smiles on people’s faces,” she said.

She explained that her foundation was non-profit, committed to making a positive impact and to inspire hope for all Nigeria widows, orphans, less privileged and vulnerable people.

She said her vision was to create a society where women were empowered, children educated and persons with disabilities valued and everyone having equal opportunities to thrive.

Hadiza said that the funding of her project was purely from her purse as a business woman, with no international sponsorship or donations.

On his part, Mr James Thomas, Chairman of Karu Local Government Area, said he was proud to offer support to the foundation with laudable objectives.

He said the foundation did well considering the reality of things, where people found it difficult to feed.

“The beneficiaries today shall never forget how the foundation has impacted their lives,” he said.

The Chairman said he was happy that the people expressed joy and delight. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Abiemwense Moru