By Hamza Suleiman
The  United Nations Office of Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) on Friday, pledged its support to peacebuilding, security and stability in Borno.

The UNODC Country Representative, Dr Oliver Stolpe, made the pledge in Maiduguri, when he visited the Commissioner of Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, in his office .

Stolpe expressed confidence in the  State Government’s efforts in restoring stability under the Borno Model for Managing Mass Defections.

He said that UNODC was  committed toward supporting aspects of the Borno model, especially transitional justice, human capacity building, technology and technical support to strengthen the model.

He also expressed UNODC’s willingness to support the improvement of the screening process for the returnees and addressing drug abuse and urban crime.

Responding, the commissioner    assured Stolpe that the ministry was ready to partner with the agency to improve peace, security and development in the state. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sam Oditah

By Justina Auta

The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs has collaborated a Chinese company, Lima Machinery Company, on improved mechanised farming to empower women, improve agriculture and boost national revenue.

The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye,  said this while receiving some members of staff of the company in Abuja on Friday.

Kennedy-Ohanenye said the collaboration would empower women with skills to boost agricultural productivity and generate revenue for the farmers and nation.

“This will not only keep them busy, but away from criminal act, make money because communities will come together to do this work as brothers and sisters.

“They will give us modernised and mechanised farming tools to make it easy for Nigerians to do these work, which will help them to make more proceeds without overworking themselves.

“So, that we will multiply what we used to get before, sell cheaper and Nigerians will get more food.

“This will make a better future impact than what we have been doing with advocacies, meetings, lavishing the whole money, while the major people the money is meant for are suffering,’’ she said.

Kennedy-Ohanenye, stressed that the collaboration would be on rice milling project and provision of mechanized farming tools for sustainable empowerment of women in Nigeria.

The minister said that a portal would be brought up to enable the farmers get access to buyers, distributors, sellers, advertisers, marketers both at the local and international levels.

She explained further that there would be hubs to sell off excess produce that will yield huge profits for the farmers.

“There will be hubs, like a warehouse in each local government, where if you can not sell all, you notify the hub operators.

“So that the villages will have access to these hubs to show what they have and are placed on the portal alerting the buyers, who will make their demands.

“We are also planning for them to have a butchering locations in each of those hubs, so that they can go there butcher with packaging machines and freeze to be distributed across the nation, which will bring down the cost of food and enable the farmers get more money,” she said.

She added that a Fish Grilling Machines locally fabricated to grill 500 fishes every two hours powered with gas,  biogas and charcoal will be distributed as part of its sustainable empowerment programs for women in Nigeria.

Responding, Mr Gatsby Kang, Sales Manager of Lima Machinery Company, China said the collaboration will further strengthen the existing relationship between the two countries.

“We want to use our equipment to help the local people using machines, because technology can bring huge yield in production and make meaningful difference in their lives,’’ he said.

He said that the feeds that would be produced were healthy and contains locally sourced food in right proportions to boost the growth and development of the animals that will be feeding on them.

In another development, the minister announced that the ministry had taken legal action in Enugu court against a mother and stepfather over negligence, sexual molestation and infecting diseases on a nine-year-old girl.

According to her, court procedures has commenced against Mrs Christabel Ewuru and her husband Mr Ifeanyi Ewuru to ensure they are prosecuted and the survivor gets justice.

She said that the owner of Peace Mass Transit, Dr Sam Onyishi,  has promised to take up tuition for the girl’s education from primary to university level.

Similarly, the minister also disclosed that the first court sitting Nov. 21, against some staff on duty and management at the Maitama General Hospital over alleged negligence and refusal to treat Miss Greatness Olorunfemi, victim of “one chance’’ before her death at the hospital.

According to her, taking legal action against those found guilty will serve as deterrent to others and ensure people are held accountable for their action and inaction. (NAN)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Justina Auta

Abuja, Nov. 17, 2023 (NAN) Mercy Corps and partners, on Friday in Abuja, trained women mediators on strategies to strengthen gender inclusion in peace and security in the North West and North Central regions.

The training is under the USAID-funded Community Initiatives to Promote Peace (CIPP) programme

Sani Suleiman, the Interim Chief of Party, CIPP, highlighted the importance of strengthening local capacities, structures and networks wwhichhe said must be driven by communities and states.

Sulaiman urged participants to reflect on progress made and create linkage with the federal and state ministry of women affairs, security agencies, and relevant stakeholders as CIPP approaches close out in April 2024.

Amina Bello, Deputy Chief of Party-CIPP, Mercy Corps, said the training would facilitate linkages between grassroots women mediators, national network of women mediators in Nigeria and formal alternative dispute resolution bodies.

Bello added that the platform is designed to promote experience sharing and enable the adoption of best practices in addressing gender dynamics that perpetuate conflict and limit women’s meaningful participation in mediation.

Dr Bridget Osakwe, the National Coordinator, West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), decried low participation of women in mediation processes, which she attributed to biases, culture, patriarchal logic and systems.

Osakwe added that women inclusion in mediation processes would improve peace making processes, dispute management and prevention of violent conflict.

She said “we should harness the perspective from both gender. It is a minus for the society when the perspectives of women are neglected.

“In every situation, in a traditional or conflict resolution setting, women must be included in the processes. If included from the beginning, their capacity will be optimised.

“We have women who are trained mediators that are available to contribute to peace making in their communities, why don’t we make use of their services?.

“Women have traditional skills in mediation, we should harness and strengthen those skills to be able to make meaningful contributions.

“When we appreciate the quality that the other person brings, it helps to enrich processes especially mediation, whether in a traditional, political, social or economic setting women must be represented.’’

Mr Lloyd Duru, the Registrar, Mediation Training Institute (MTI), said “women suffer most in conflict areas, as the popular saying goes he who wears the shoes know where it hurts.

“In our clime, patriarchy holds sway and this affects the rate of women in peacebuilding, as men are given the pride of place, yet women are better placed for peacebuilding.’’

Similarly, Ms Grace Awodu, the Head of Gender, Peace and Security, Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), said “we have to be strategic in getting it right. We have to mainstream gender deliberately but cautiously as it cannot be forced on the society.

“We need to partner the gatekeepers  who direct the behaviour of the people; once we can get their bye-in, it will be easier where we have a lot of conflict because at that point where alternatives are stretched, it becomes a welcome relief for even the men.

“In the area of mediation, you have to understand the personality traits of different actors, be able to identify shadow actors, spoilers, observe and have the right timing. You don’t just bring people together, otherwise, the worst might happen.’’

In a communique, Hajiya Lantana Abdullahi, the National Coordinator, Network of Women Mediators, stated that 65 women mediators participated in the exercise.

Abdullahi called for increased advocacy on implementation of the WPS agenda at all levels, sensitisation on available policy frameworks, engaging traditional and religious institutions to harness women’s capacities, especially in mediation. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

By Jacinta Nwachukwu

The National Mathematical Centre (NMC) has successfully trained 20 postgraduate students and researchers in “Dynamical Systems” during a two-week foundation postgraduate course in Abuja.

Prof. James Ajie, the Coordinator of the Mathematics Programme at the Centre, highlighted the program’s goal to equip postgraduate students, lecturers, and researchers with essential knowledge and skills for effective research.

“Dynamical systems,” an integral area of mathematics dealing with change, holds significant relevance for mathematicians, making the program a valuable contribution to fostering expertise in crucial mathematical domains.

Prof. Ajie emphasised the program’s utility in addressing the shortage of experts in certain mathematical areas and promoting collaborative research among participants from various tertiary institutions.

While acknowledging the Centre’s potential to produce mathematical experts, Ajie expressed the limitation caused by inadequate funding.

“There are some aspects of mathematics in Nigeria that today in the whole country you may not get up to five persons that major in those areas.

”What will five persons do in a situation where you have over 100 universities and some of these courses are very crucial in the study of mathematics.

“So you see some universities graduating students without them doing some courses that are very important in the field of mathematics,” Ajie explained.

He underscored the importance of consistent funding to ensure continuous training activities, suggesting that enhancing mathematical education is crucial for national development.

The Director/Chief Executive of NMC, Promise Mebine, encouraged participants to apply the gained knowledge in dynamical systems to solve environmental challenges for the betterment of the country.

Mebine emphasised the foundational role of mathematics in sciences and technology, envisioning an improved Nigeria through the effective deployment of mathematics.

Dr Ignatius Ako, speaking on behalf of the participants, expressed gratitude to the NMC for the opportunity and pledged to utilise the acquired skills, knowledge, and experiences in their future research projects.

The participants aim to contribute to the growth and development of mathematics in Nigeria and globally, leveraging their enhanced expertise. (NAN)(www.nannews.com.ng)

Edited by Razak Owolabi

By Celine-Damilola Oyewole

The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, arrived in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on Thursday to join her counterpart, Fatima Jannie-Bio, to mark this year’s UN Day Against Rape and Girl-Child Exploitation.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that she was received on arrival by Mrs Jannie-Bio, with the duo taking a boat ride into Freetown, where they were welcomed by Nigerian and Sierra Leonian cultural troupes.

A programme of the activities showed that the day would be marked on Nov. 18 with activities that would centre on gender-based violence, girl-child exploitation and rape in Africa.

The activities will focus on building a coalition against the challenges across the African continent.

In the course of the activities, Sen. Oluremi and her counterparts from Angola, Ana Dias Lourenco, and Mrs Jannie-Bio, are expected to sign a commitment to lend their voices to the struggle against the vices while seeking succour for the victims.

“The event will mark a new era for Africans, especially women, against challenges confronting them,” she told NAN in Freetown on arrival.

She applauded her Sierra Leonian counterpart for the effort toward a better life for women.

“I am proud of what she has done for women here; the impact is massive.

“One may not really know what she has done now, but posterity will be kind to her. The people would remember her as someone who did much for them,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

By Itohan Abara-Laserian

Dr Chichi Aniagolu, Regional Director, Ford Foundation West Africa, has charged local philanthropists and governments to fill emerging gaps and play vital role in fostering lasting, sustainable change in the economy.

Aniagolu said this in a statement by the foundation and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

According to Aniagolu, it is relatively obvious that the economy is not doing well and government and the private sector has always been the ones called upon to improve the economy.

She said: “But the reality is that without an active civil society and without local philanthropists taking the risks that the government and the private sector are not willing to take, the development we want to see may not be feasible in a very long time.

“I can give you an example: we are a giving people, because we do not have a social security programme in this country, many people have to support the less privileged in their families but the reality is that while that type of giving is extremely important; it is not sustainable.

“It is also not what will make the type of difference that we want to see. So, what we are advocating for at the Ford Foundation is that people who give at the grassroot level should be thinking about it in a sustainable manner.

“Imagine that you live in the diaspora and you send money home but the village your parents live in has no healthcare system; your relatives are going to schools that are completely dilapidated. To what extent will what you send them make a difference?

“If your parents fall ill, they won’t be able to survive it because there is no way they will be able to get the kind of treatment they need in that local village they live in.”

According to Aniagolu, this is why people have to think about how to support local communities to be able to provide the services that are necessary for the existence of people.

She also noted that local businesses were struggling with government policies and a lot of those businesses do not understand the policies because government doesn’t always consult them.

Aniagolu added that looking at HIV, education, agriculture, water and sanitation, many of them were done with the support of civil societies and with funding from development partners.

“We are saying that businesses can also benefit from this; if they will support local NGOs, civil society organisations that are very good and working with government to develop policies, they will be in the position to develop the kind of policies they will like to see with the government, especially in dealing with the challenges around taxation.

“In England, the philanthropy sector brings in £11 billion every year and the United Kingdom is a developed country. The reality is that there are many innovations that neither the government nor the private sector can do.

“There are innovations that are expensive and risky that the private sector will not be able to fund and that the government is not interested in. Most times we talk about agriculture having huge potentials but have we ever wondered why it never takes off?

“We have over 200 million people who need food, that a viable place for people to come in and invest in agriculture, the reason it does not happen is because agriculture is extremely under-developed and the private sector is not going to take the risks that are required to be able to develop the sector,” she noted.

Aniagolu highlighted the benefits philanthropists should enjoy from government saying there should be incentives for giving.

“Philanthropists should get tax breaks, like the conservative government in England has a White Paper for giving, a whole policy around giving.

“No matter how much you give in Nigeria, it doesn’t come out of your tax; there is nothing you get from giving yet there are many people who are supporting family members. Giving needs to be incentivised for small companies and other people who want to give.

“More importantly, just as the government has recognised that it is not good at doing business, it must recognise that it is not good at providing social services either. It needs to be looking at a government-civil society-private sector partnership,” she said. (NAN)

Edited by Folasade Adeniran

By Olatunde Ajayi

The Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAEng) has unveiled inaugural Innovation Competition to encourage and reward innovative works in Nigeria.

Its President, Prof. Peter Onwualu, while speaking during a hybrid press conference on Thursday said the competition would identify and support innovative works in science, engineering and technology that address and solve societal problems in Nigeria.

Onwualu said the winning innovations would be further assisted to scale up their innovations by promoting them to investors.

According to him, the competition is open to all Nigerian engineers, scientists, technologists, technicians and craftsmen, and other professionals involved with engineering creativity.

“The call for submission of innovative works is open to individuals or groups in any discipline or aspect of engineering, including but not limited to ICT/ Telecommunications, agriculture and food processing, renewables, health and waste management among others.

“Prizes will include cash, public recognition, promotion of winning concepts to investors, certificates and plaques,” he said.

Onwualu added that the participants at the first stage of the competition would submit “Concept Note” to briefly describe the innovation and the particular problem(s) that it addresses.

According to him, participants who are shortlisted from stage one will be given three months to further develop their innovations for stage two of the competition.

“Prospective participants have six weeks from Oct. 23 to Nov. 27 to submit concept notes of their innovations.

“It should include societal and economic benefits of the innovation and brief description of the engineering processes that it covers.

“Degree of development of the prototype, sketches, photographs, drawings and other illustrations that can aid the understanding of the innovation should also be included in the submission.

“Submissions for stage one will be screened to assess the degree and level of innovation, engineering content, originality, and impact on our national development.

“Participants who are shortlisted from stage one will be given three months to further develop their innovations for stage two of the competition, this stage will run from Jan. to March 2024.

“The public announcement of winner(s) of the competition shall be made in June 2024,” he said.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Innovation Competition Committee, Dr Keluo Chukwuogo, said the economies grow mainly by activities of science, engineering and technology.

Chukwuogo noted that there must be a deliberate effort to move the country from a consumption economy to a production oriented economy.

“The pressure on Naira today is due to the fact that Nigeria produce little. The innovation competition is Academy’s initiative towards making Nigeria a productive economy.

“We know many Nigerians both in formal and informal sectors have ideas and concepts that are needed to be taken to next level.

“The Academy through the competition would support good ideas to commercialisation level to make them contribute towards efforts to make Nigeria a productive economy, “he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that entries for stage one could be submitted by email to info@nae.ng not later than Nov. 27, while more details on the competition could be found on the Academy website: www.nae.ng .(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma