By Ruth Oketunde

Nigeria International NGOs Forum (NIF) has provided 267 humanitarian interventions across 23 states of the federation.

Ms Camilla Corradin,  the Director, NIF, made this known while briefing newsmen on the sidelines of an event tagged “INGOs in Action: Partnership and Collaboration, in Abuja.

She said that the forum which presently has 55 members, remains committed to support humanitarian responses across the country.

She said that the focus of the INGOs which used to be on the North-Eastern part of the country, had of recent, extended its support to North-Western part of the country.

Corradin said that the projects focused on contributing to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals in the country.

Also speaking, Mr Charles Usie, Country Director of PLAN International Nigeria, said International NGOs came together officially around 2014 to provide life-saving assistance to people in need of aid, among others.

He said that since its inception, more than 40 million people across Nigeria had benefitted from its humanitarian projects, which was done in partnership with the state and federal government.

“We work in conjunction with the government to strengthen the government and enable them to do more.

“We don’t work to take over or duplicate what they do, we actually work to amplify the work of government in all the states we work with.

“That is why this meeting is important as we have government officials from almost all the states we work with in the Northern part of the country,” he said.

Mr Suleiman Sani, Deputy Chief of Party of the Mercy Corps Nigeria, said collaboration and partnership with the relevant authorities had contributed to the success of its activities over the years.

He said that the forum had so far carried out several interventions across education, youth empowerment, girl-child, health, humanitarian interventions, among others.

“Collaboration and partnership with the government is key, as we try to provide assistance to the most vulnerable communities across Nigeria.

“This means that we recognize the existing structures of government and we adapt and work through those existing policies and systems to complement what government is primarily there to do for the people.

“In spite working in an environment with all sorts of impediment such as insecurity among others challenges, we had continued to work with the federal, states and local governments to bring solution to the problems,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Fredenburg Dane, Deputy Country Representative, Programmes, Catholic Relief Services, added that localization and community engagement were done to identify the needs of the people and co-create solutions to those needs.

“We work in different ways and with different mandates as International NGOs, but in all, we work with communities to make sure that they own, participate and have a voice in our projects.

“From design of the projects, we sit together with communities and we essentially design interventions that at the end of the day meet their needs.

“We don’t have a project that is written in a vacuum, we have a dialogue and assess what the needs are and in that way, they can fully own it.

“This is to ensure that local actors are increasingly taking up the efforts on these projects,” he said.

For his part, Mr Enkas Chau, Head of Mission, INTERSOS Nigeria, explained that the International NGOs had to align with the communities’ priorities to ensure accountability and transparency in the projects.

“A lot of INGOs are already collecting different surveys to collect the views and issues from the community members.

“An example is the running of the women and girls safe space, where women and girls can freely go there to share what their concerns are, particularly about gender-based violence, about issues that women are mostly affected with among others.

“We then collect their views, we then provide counseling, psycho-social support and livelihood support to them,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that participants deliberated on the pivotal role of partnerships in driving sustainable change for communities affected by crisis across the country. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Fatima Sule Abdullahi/Sadiya Hamza

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Minster of Information and National Orientation, Mr Mohammed Idris, has called for the collaboration of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in restoring the people’s trust in government.

Idris made the call at the NIPR 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday in Abuja.

He urged NIPR members to use the conference to recommit themselves not  only to their clients and organisations, but also to the greater good of the nation.

Idris, with three decades of robust practice in public relations before his appointment as minister, said that communication professionals played key roles in addressing the myriad of challenges facing the country.

“You are aware that the focus of government now is how to restore the confidence of the governed in governments and its institutions.

“This time around the process of restoring popular confidence and trust in government and its policy shall not lie in the domains of propaganda, through tangible and credible policies of government, government aim to directly impact on the lives of our people.

“In other words, the era of relying on propaganda to propagate government programs is now over,’’ he said.

Idris also challenged NIPR to make the profession more relevant and more focused to achieve national expectations and concentrating on the key issues that dominate the national life today.

“As we come together, we are not only a celebrating our sheer dedication to the field of public relations, but also embarking on a journey of reflections of inspiration and of collaboration.

“In this age of information saturation where every click adds to the noise, the role of public relations has never been more vital.

`We are the storytellers, the bridge builders and the custodians of reputation. Our work shapes perceptions, guide decisions, it guide decision s, it foster relationship and extends far beyond the boardroom,’’ he said.

Idris commending the choice of the theme of the conference, “leadership, public relations and value creation’’ urged the participants to engage thoughtfully in issues that affect the nation and shape the future of public relations.

“Beyond the corporate boardrooms and campaign strategies, let us also remember our broader societal role, our craft can be a force for positive change, amplifying voices that otherwise go unheard , driving awareness on social issues and catalysing  meaningful dialogues,’’ he said.

In his remarks, the NIPR President and Chairman of the Council, Mukhtar Sirajo, called on Federal Government to put in place all necessary measures to ameliorate the negative effects of petroleum subsidy removal for Nigerians to heave a sigh of relief.

He said that the removal of the subsidy might be done with good intention but citizens and corporate organisations are struggling to cope with its negative impact, as it has resorted in the rise of prices of other products in the market

“It is therefore our hope that all necessary measures to ameliorate the negative repercussions of the policy be put in place so that people can heave a sigh of relief,’’ he said.

“The recent release of funds and other relief materials by the federal government to provide some palliatives to the citizens is commendable.

“Efforts should equally be made to ensure there is adequate transparency, accountability, fairness and equity in the distribution of these materials,’’ he said.

Sirajo  called for appropriate policies to checkmate inflation and restore stability in the system.

He said that inflation increases the cost of production for the manufacturing sector and the reduction in the purchasing power of most households.

“The foreign exchange market where we have witnessed that appreciation of the Naira in the record low against major currencies should also be streamlined in order to stabilise our currency and restore investors’ confidence,” he said.

He also called for more efforts from the government towards addressing the issue of insecurity in the country.

Also speaking on recent military coups in the West African countries, Sirajo urged ECOWAS to explore more non-violent actions and dialogues in restoring democratic government in Niger Republic.

Sirajo welcomed the appointment of key members into positions of government, including that of Idris, describing is as an indication that the government recognises the important role NIPR members play in national development. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maureen Ojinaka/Julius Toba-Jegede

By Perpetua Onuegbu

The Minister of Works, Mr David Umahi, has assured that the reconstruction work on the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano highway would be completed by the first quarter of 2024.

Umahi made this known while inspecting the project on Thursday  to assess the progress made so far by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, the contractor handling the project.

The minister, however, frowned at the slow pace of work on the project awarded in 2017.

Umahi noted that insecurity and poor funding were the major challenges affecting the timely completion of the road.

”Work on  the 375.9 km dual-carriage  Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road  is in three phases, with phase three (Zaria-Kano) at 100 per cent completion.

”The phase two (Kaduna- Zaria) was at 60 per cent completion and phase one (Abuja-Kaduna) was only  at 20  per cent completion level,” he said.

He said President Bola Tinubu was committed to sort out all impeding factors to ensure that the contractor delivers the project in 2024.

“I am here on the directive of Mr President, who has directed that I must be on site to see most of this ongoing projects before I can put figures together.

“Mr president has asked me to assure Kaduna people and everyone that this road is very important to him as part of his renewed hope agenda for Nigerians.

“He is committed to finishing the road, in 2024 and not 2025 as stated in the contract earlier, and we will match his word with action.

“We are satisfied with the quality of work but we are not satisfied with the pace of work, so we have to find out what are the problems.

“This road is very important, if it is security we will tackle it and  provide security in each section where they are working and we also want to deploy solar lights on the roads,” the minister said.

The minister expressed satisfaction with the quality of work on the road but urged the contractor to  increase the pace of work.

He directed the contractor to deploy more men and equipment to other sections of the road to ensure that work goes on simultaneously.

He also called on the contractor to introduce concrete in parts of the road to deliver a more durable and lasting road to Nigerians.

The minister, therefore, appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the government in its commitment to deliver a durable road  that would stand the test of time. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maureen Ojinaka/Sadiya Hamza

By Sarafina Christopher

Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Office in Nigeria, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy (FMCDE) and Galaxy Backbone (GBB) organized a knowledge exchange programme in Rwanda to promote eGovernment development.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday reports that the collaboration that involves Nigeria, Rwanda, and the Republic of Korea via the South-South and Triangular Cooperation and is designed specifically for the Nigerian Government Service Portal (GSP) team.

According to Mr Kayode Adebisi, Assistant Manager/eGovt Project Manager KOICA, in a statement made available to NAN, said the event held in Kigali, Rwanda.

It featured study visits and discussions related to policies, strategies, and programmes for Rwanda’s digitalization journey.

Adebisi said: “During the study visit, the Nigerian GSP team embarked on a six-day working visit from August 21st to 26th, 2023.

“The study visit was organized as part of an effort to promote the exchange of knowledge and experiences between Nigeria and Rwanda through KOICA, with a specific focus on enhancing eGovernment development.

“The primary emphasis was on the efficient delivery of government digital services through a one-stop portal model.

“The delegation from Nigeria sought insights from Rwanda’s successful Irembo GSP, which serves as a prime example of GSP deployment.

“Notably, the timing of this study visit was well-suited, given that Nigeria’s GSP full deployment is still in its early stages.”

According to him, the study visit forms part of project activities under ‘the Project for Building Foundations Towards Digital Governance in Nigeria (2020 – 2026).’’

Adebisi added: “The project, which is fully funded by the Korean Government through grant aid is expected to enhance capacity for the further execution of key initiatives of the National eGovernment Master Plan, strengthen the deployment of government-wide Enterprise Architecture (EA),

“This study visit was made possible through the facilitation of Rwanda Cooperation in Kigali and Sangmyung University from the Republic of Korea.

“Improve competencies for eGovernment service delivery through capacity building programs, expand the delivery of government digital services.

“This is through the activation of the GSP www.services.gov.ng and create increased access for National Identity Number (NIN) enrolment through the establishment of additional NIN enrolment centres.”

Adebisi also said that during the study visit, the GSP team identified key factors that were crucial for successfully implementing a functional and effective Government Service Portal.

He added: “These factors include having a strong governance structure that enforces policies at the highest level and maintaining continuous engagement with stakeholders, including users (citizens and businesses) and service providers (government agencies).

“Additionally, it’s important to ensure inclusivity for seamless access, a robust digital infrastructure, and the development of necessary skills.

“A significant highlight of the study visit was the collaborative workshop involving the Smart Africa Alliance and the Nigerian GSP team.”

Prof. Muhammed Abubakar, the Managing Director of Nigeria’s Galaxy Backbone, expressed gratitude to Mr Minjae Kang, Deputy Country Director of KOICA, for his contributions to Nigeria’s eGovernment development.

He said that the success of the GSP hinged on hosting it on a national infrastructure to reach underserved areas and ensure system interoperability among various government agencies in Nigeria.

Adebisi added that the insights gained from the study visit in Rwanda would play a pivotal role in strengthening Nigeria’s ongoing digitization efforts, especially as the GSP achieved full functionality.

In his remarks, the Deputy Country Director of KOICA, Rwanda, Mr Kim Kwonho, who represented the Country Director commended it’s efforts in driving a convergence point between Rwanda and Nigeria, in the area of digital governance.

He re-echoed the importance and benefits of cooperative efforts among different countries through knowledge sharing and exchange programs.

NAN also reports that the Nigerian GSP team consisted of representatives from nine government agencies, some of whom will contribute their digital services to the GSP once it becomes operational.

The activation of Nigeria’s Government Service Portal is the central focus of this project and development of the portal is expected to be completed within an 18-month period.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Ismail Abdulaziz

President Bola Tinubu has directed the delegation of Muslim Ulamas mediating in the Niger Republic crisis to return to the junta in order to have a tentative commitment.

After a closed-door with the president, Ustaz Abdullahi Bala-Lau, leader of the delegation, said that Tinubu was desirous of avoiding the use of force at resolving the crisis and restoring constitutional order to Niger.

He said that Tinubu accepted their suggestions to avoid the use of force in settling disputes of any kind, especially concerning neighbours and long time allies.

“’The president was receptive of our suggestions about avoiding the use of force by all means. Just as we have spoken to the leaders in Niger and they accepted to avoid violence, the president also accepted it.

‘’That is why he is sending us back to Niger to continue with the dialogue about restoring constitutional order to the country. He also directed us to remind the military leaders that there is a pending ECOWAS decisions about the takeover,’’ Bala-Lau said.

He said that the intervention of the Ulamas had been positive, adding that it allowed the junta to accept the ECOWAS delegation of the retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and Sultan Abubakar Sa’ad III.

Bala-Lau said that Ulamas would be heading back to Niger in order to continue the dialogue, adding that they also understand that war must be the last option put on the table.

Also speaking, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Prints, said that the meeting by the president with the Ulamas was a sign of the ECOWAS openness to dialogue.

‘’As you know, the ECOWAS leaders were open to all options but still they are continuing with dialogue aggressively. This is a sign that the military action will be the last option. The Ulamas involvement is a way forward.

‘’Definitely, when you are engaged in a dialogue it’s usually a back and forth issue. All sides must be given opportunity to express themselves fully.

“Dialogue and diplomatic trading is not a one off thing and it need to be explored to the fullest. That is what the president is trying to do in this case,’’ Abdulaziz said.

At the 2nd Extraordinary Summit on the socio-political situation in the West African country on Aug. 10 in Abuja, Tinubu reiterated the ECOWAS intention to defend democracy and protect the people of Niger.

‘’We have reaffirmed our commitment to the people of Niger and to the progress of our entire ECOWAS Community.

“We will continue with that. From the Communiqué of this extraordinary summit, no option is taken off the table, including the use of force as the last resort. If we don’t do it, no one else will do it for us.

“We remain steadfast in supporting Niger in the journey toward peace and democratic stability.

“The road ahead will undoubtedly have challenges, but I firmly believe that with our collective resolve, we can navigate these obstacles and chart a path toward peace and prosperity for Nigeriens and citizens of ECOWAS,” Tinubu said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali

By Razak Owolabi

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has expressed support for the establishment of Anti Corruption and Transparency Units (ACTUs), describing it as a laudable initiative of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The commendation was given in Abuja on Thursday by Mr Buki Ponle, the Managing Director of NAN while welcoming the new ACTU Desk Officer for the agency, Mrs Victoria Giwa who came to present her letter of introduction.

Ponle, who was represented by his Special Assistant (Special Duties), Mr Muftau Ojo, said NAN had been in support of such initiative of the ICPC and will continue to do so.

“We are solidly in support of such initiative that promotes transparency and openness. And we will continue to support the ACTU chapter here in NAN to achieve ICPC’s aspirations,” he said.

Ponle expressed NAN’s readiness to continue supporting ICPC through trainings organized yearly to build capacities of ACTU members in the agency.

The managing director assured the desk officer that the management of the agency would assist her in making her work easier especially if she needed clarifications on issues of mutual interest and collaboration.

Ponle asked the desk officer to freely approach the Management directly or through NAN’s ACTU members anytime the need arose.

In her response, Giwa said there were over 500 ACTUs in Ministries, Departments and Agencies all over the country.

She said that ACTUs were established not to witch-hunt anybody in government organizations but to assist management in ensuring transparency in policies and programmes.

“The ACTU cannot do without the support of management and we appreciate you for your assurance in this area. We earnestly look forward to more support from you,” the desk officer added.

Dr Razak Owolabi, Chairman of NAN ACTU and another member of the unit, Mrs Rachael Kopkung were also present at the occasion.

Giwa later presented her letter of introduction to the managing director, through the special assistant. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Razak Owolabi/Bashir Rabe Mani

By Angela Atabo

Search for Common Ground (SFCG), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) says it is working on plans to develop a curriculum for journalists on promoting freedom of religion and belief in Nigeria.

Mr Ogabiela Daniel, the Project Manager, SFCG, said this at a three-day workshop for development of curriculum on common ground journalism in relation to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) in Abuja.

Daniel said the project being supported by the Netherlands Embassy would equip journalists with improved capacities to produce conflict sensitive reporting on inter faith and FoRB related issues.

He said that the curriculum being developed with media practitioners would establish effective Early warning/Early Response and Referral (EWER) mechanisms for addressing FoRB violations in Nigeria.

“The curriculum is going to reduce the insensitive reporting that we are experiencing at the moment,I am very confident of this because of all the inputs the high level media and executives here have done.

“This consciousness will now stay in the sector where everybody will be doing their reporting sensitively bearing in mind that inasmuch as freedom of religion is everybody’s rights, but they will do it responsibly,” he said.

Daniel said the curriculum would help to enhance public understanding of interfaith conflict and have greater access to neutral and conflict-sensitive information related to inter-faith harmony and cohesion.

Interim Country Director, SFCG, Fatima Madaki said that the organisation’s move to develop FoRB curriculum was against the backdrop of the fact that journalists wielded immense influence over public opinion and societal perceptions.

Madaki said it was a responsibility that carried not only the duty to inform but also the profound responsibility to do ethically and sensitively.

She said that the workshops focused on conflict-sensitive reporting within the framework of FoRB acknowledged the complexities that arise when covering issues that could be deeply personal and intertwined with cultural, social and political dynamics.

“We recognise that these issues are not just news stories; they are narratives that shape identities, values and relationships.

“The intersection between FoRB and journalism ca e fraught with challenges; how do we report on matters of faith and belief with sensitivity and respect for the diverse perspectives that exist?

“How can we ensure that our reporting contributes to peaceful coexistence rather than inadvertently fueling division?

“As we engage in these discussions, let us remember that our collective commitment to ethical journalism is a catalyst for positive change,’’she said

Madaki said that understanding the principles of common ground journalism would bridge divides, dispel misinformation and contribute to a world where freedom of religion or belief was celebrated as a cornerstone of diversity and harmony.

Mr Temisan Etietsola, the National Media Specialist, SFCG,said the organisation decided to develop the curriculum against the backdrop of the numerous religious crisis.

“We found out that when the issues of religious conflicts happens in Nigeria, journalists tend to shy away from reporting it, but we are not proactive enough to report these issues on religious freedom of religious belief.

“So we decided to develop this curriculum, in conjunction with other journalists at the top level who know what they and their colleagues want.

“We then use it to train them on how to report conflict sensitive issues around FoRB and we also feel the need for journalists that are coming up even right from the school to know how to report conflicts around FoRB issues,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.com)

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Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa