The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) says its 30th Annual Meetings will take place in Accra, Ghana, to mark  the high point of the Bank’s year-long 30th anniversary celebrations.

The event will take place from June 18 to June 21, 2023, under the theme “Delivering the Vision. Building Prosperity for Africans”.

The meetings will include the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders and an extensive seminar programme, featuring plenaries and side events, a statement from the bank said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra-and extra-African trade.

The 30th Afreximbank Annual Meetings and 30th Anniversary celebrations will bring together on one platform thousands of people, including African and Caribbean leaders and senior government officials, African, Caribbean and other policymakers, corporate leaders, bankers, academia and other thought leaders.

Professor Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, thanked His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his Government for graciously accepting to host Afreximbank’s 30th Annual Meetings.

“ Thirty years ago, the founding fathers of Afreximbank launched a bold initiative for Africans.

“The hard work of the past three decades, in pursuit of that vision, has shaped what Afreximbank has become today.

“Member States, clients, customers and partners, the business and international trade community, all those in Africa and the diaspora who strive for the prosperity of African people are invited to join us in Accra to celebrate the Bank’s achievements.

“And reflect on its future in an increasingly turbulent world,’’ he said.

NAN also reports that Afreximbank Annual Meetings are open to all those interested and/or active in promoting African trade and supporting the socio-economic development of African economies.

In 2022, Afreximbank  Annual Meetings took place in Cairo, Egypt in June.

Ghana’s Finance Minister, Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta, said: “It is only fitting that the commemoration of this milestone for Africa’s key Trade Finance institution is co-organised by the host of AFCFTA Secretariat, the Government, and people of Ghana.

“…who are determined torch bearers for Africa’s quest for trade expansion and integration.

“This is another opportunity to deepen cooperation and seek African solutions to Africa’s challenges.” (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

By Aminu Garko

The National Population Commission (NPC) has clarified that the Census questionnaire has no column for religion and ethnicity.

The commission made the clarification on Friday in Kano when the National Publicity Committee on the 2023 Population and Housing Census paid an advocacy visit to Nigerian Television Authority, Kano.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the visit was led by Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Chairman of the committee and Minister of Information and Culture, represented by the Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Dr Garba Abari.

Speaking on the speculations that Nigerians would be asked questions on their faith and ethnic affiliation, a member of the committee, Dr Isiaka Yahaya, said the commission was not interested in such data.

Yahaya, who is also the commission’s Director of Public Affairs, maintained that issues of religion and ethnicity being peddled on social media were mere distractions and without foundation.

“Since 1991 when the National Population Commission has been conducting census, we have never asked questions on ethnicity and religion.

“We didn’t do it in 1991, we didn’t do it in 2006 and we won’t do it now.

“The reason is obvious. The two issues are very sensitive and have the capacity to divert attention from the main issue of the census,” he said.

Similarly, the Director General of Voice of Nigeria, Mr Osita Okechukwu, urged Nigerians not to see the census as a contest among ethnic groups.

He said the census was only for planning purposes and not to confer advantage on any group.

“For planning purposes, President Muhammadu Buhari said before he leaves office, he wants to deploy digital technology to conduct a headcount.

“The incoming president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed, in planning with our resources, will know exactly how many Nigerians he is planning for,” Okechukwu said.

Abari on his part commended the authorities of NTA for playing a critical role in the sensitisation campaign for the headcount.

He reiterated that the headcount was solely to obtain data for national development purposes and urged the media to help tackle the twin scourge of fake news and misinformation.

The General Manager of NTA Kano, Sani Yusuf, expressed the readiness of NTA to support the sensitisation campaign on census.

He gave an assurance that the media house would produce jingles to aid the campaign as well as provide coverage on the exercise.

NAN reports that the committee also visited Pyramid FM, Kano, Radio Kano and Triumph newspapers. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Mufutau Ojo

By Cecilia Ijuo

The Nigeria off Grid Market Acceleration Programme(NoMAP) says there is the need to bridge electricity gap to accelerate economic activities in Nigeria, particularly in the rural areas.

Mr Adedotun Eyinade, the Programme Director, NoMAP said this at a stakeholders meeting organised by NoMAP, a market building institution on Thursday in Abuja.

The theme of the event was, “Productive Use of Energy: Beyond Mini-Grid Viability”.

The event was organised in partnership with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) with funding from Shell Foundation, UKAid and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Oice (FCDO).

Eyinade said in view of the electricity gap in Nigeria, the institution had been working on ensuring access to energy.

He said this would help address barriers around access to finance, data and helping unbanked customers pay for solar.

He said the meeting was organised to find out how best to finance productive use assets,

According to him, productive use assets are appliances that consume electricity and also help improve livelihood.

The programme director said, “in communities that are newly electrified, you have already existing businesses like shops,  saw mills, and agro processing mills among others.

“So, the question is, how do you provide access to financing for people who want to buy new assets like refrigerators to sell drinks, irrigation pumps to water their farms and the likes.

“The idea is to bring all stakeholders, commercial banks, investors, mini grid developers, appliance distributors to reduce barriers to financing.”

Eyinade said people do not only use electricity to power their homes but to power economic activities that would increase their income.

“We are particularly interested in conversations around gender, internally displaced people and all of that.

“So, we are happy that for the first time, some people are accessing financing and it has potential for jobs to be created,” he said.

According to him, NoMAP is carrying out a pilot programme in three states, Oyo, Delta and Nasarawa to assist customers have access to finance for appliances.

He said the pilot was being undertaken in 21 communities in the three states.

Mr Ahmad Salihijo, the Managing Director, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), commended efforts made by NoMAP and other stakeholders in helping to bridge electricity gap in Nigeria.

He said NoMAP had impacted lives by investing resources  in the productive aspect of energy access.

The managing director, who, delivered the keynote address, said the agency on its part had explored projects that would have direct impact on end users.

“Under the Nigeria Electrification project, we have successfully inaugurared full roll out of our productive use equipment component.

“Under this project, we offer up to 60 per cent grant for cost of equipment.

“We have projected potential disbursement of 2.4 million dollars in the first round of application to four shortlisted firms.

“This will impact the lives of end users across eight existing mini grid sights,” he said.

Salihijo said the agency would continue to support stakeholders to accelerate off grid electricity, particularly in rural areas.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that various stakeholders in their goodwill messages said they would continue to support access to renewable energy to meet growing demand.

Mr Wim JonkerKlunne, Household Solar Funders’ Group Coordinator, Shell Foundation, and Mr Akachukwu Okafor, UK PACT Senior Climate Change Officer, UK FCDO, said the meeting was apt.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ese Eniola Williams

By Ismaila Chafe

 President Muhammadu Buhari has successfully performed Umrah rituals, amid tight security, upon his arrival at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the president along side members of his entourage were led by a delegation from the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Nigerian Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami in performing the rituals.

The Nigerian leader had earlier visited some historic religious places in Madinah on Tuesday and Wednesday before he proceeded to Makkah for the Umrah.

President Buhari had also visited and prayed at the Prophet’s Mosque.

He arrived in the Kingdom on an eight-day official visit on Tuesday. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Salif Atojoko

By Isaac Aregbesola

The Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) has arrested 11 suspected internet fraudsters in Jere and Maiduguri Local Government Areas of Borno.

Its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said the suspects who were arrested on Wednesday included Olatunji Sherif, Bright Felix, Jude Magaji, Jonah Jondi, Ojobaro Abdullahi, Jerry Zizighi and Micah Joseph.

Others are: Mari Ayuba, Ibrahim Abdullahi, Adam Abiodun and Victor Chinonso Okolieaboh.

Uwujaren said they were arrested in a sting operation following credible intelligence on their alleged criminal activities.

“Items recovered at their residence included one Mercedes Benz GLK 350, a Toyota Corolla saloon car, smartphones, MTN 4G Wi-Fi and power banks.

“The suspects will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded,” he said. (NAN) (www. nannews.ng)

Edited by Salif Atojoko

By Justina Auta

Baobab for Women’s Human Rights (BAOBAB), an NGO, has called for the promotion of the human rights of women in Anglophone West-African (AWA) countries.

BAOBAB’s Executive Director, Ms Bunmi Dipo-Salami, made the call during a virtual regional convening of state and non-state actors in AWA with the theme, “Changing the course of women’s rights in West Africa with the Maputo Protocol”.

Dipo-Salami noted that the Maputo Protocol (MP) recognised all human rights as women’s rights including the right to life, dignity, integrity, security, health and reproductive rights, access to justice, women’s political participation rights, among others.

“The Protocol is against all forms of gender-based violence such as limited access to properties and Child marriage.

“It also helps in access to education and health care for women in Africa.

“The protocol has done much since it came into force. However, there is still much to be done to ensure that women’s rights are fully protected and realised in practice,” she said.

She added that to achieve the ultimate goal of the protocol “which is that women and girls in Africa can fully enjoy their rights”, it should be incorporated in domestic laws to enable its full implementation in the region.

Similarly, Ms Olamide Falana, Special Adviser to Ondo State Governor on Gender, attributed some of the challenges in acceptance and implementation of the protocol to issues around cultural divides.

Falana, while referring to Article 14 of the protocol on the rights of women’s health, said that the discussion around safe abortion in Nigeria stemmed from cultural and religious perspectives where women did not have full autonomy over their bodies.

She said: “It is one thing to have the protocol accepted, it is another for it to be a tool that everyone is willing to work with and use across cultural divides within a nation.

“As such, women still require consent from a man over issues pertaining to their bodies.

“Though the protocol also speaks to the right of access to medical care, several factors affect a woman’s access to medical care.

“You can only demand medical care when it is available within your community. When it is not available, your right is limited,” she said.

Also, Mrs Olubunmi Adelugba, Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, recalled that the MP was introduced to Nigeria by the African Union (AU) as an attempt to protect and promote women’s rights in West Africa.

Adelugba stressed the importance of political will in domestication and implementation of laws that improved the lives of women and girls.

She noted that Ekiti had established some forms of laws for the protection of women as contained in the provisions of the MP.

“These laws are always active but the only problem they face is lack of reporting by the victims of injustices who are mainly women and girls.

“And this happens due to religious and cultural beliefs stigma. It is only when a case is reported that such laws will be in effect,” she said.

Ms Hanna Forster, Executive Director, African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) from Gambia, said lack of technical knowledge and expertise on reporting was a challenge that “persists across the five AWA countries.”

Forster, therefore, urged CSOs to sharpen their skills and become conversant with the guidelines developed by the African Commission for shadow reporting.

She also stressed the need to simplify and translate the protocol, as well as litigate and bring cases to the African Court of Justice and Human Rights or the ECOWAS Court of Justice if member states fell short of their commitments.

Also, Ms Lilian Ibeh, Programme Officer, Alliances for Africa (AFA) Nigeria, harped on the need for more strategies that would help the domestication of the protocol leveraging data, the media, and partnerships to address the issues.

NAN reports that the meeting was organised by Baobab with support from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) through Equality Now and the Solidarity for African Women’s Rights (SOAWR).

The project is being implemented by the Initiative for Gender Equality and Development in Africa (IGED-Africa), Ghana; Young Liberian Women Organisation for Improvement (WOFIM), Liberia.

Others are Alliances for Africa (AfA), BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights and Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), in Nigeria.

The virtual conference was part of a Joint Cluster Advocacy Campaign by the AWA member organisations of SOAWR, a coalition of over 80 civil society organisations working across 33 countries in Africa.

The regional convening had in attendance 50 participants from the five AWA countries – The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Vivian Ihechu