By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) has partnered with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation Read and Earn Federation (UNESCO REF) to boost capacity of its members on food security

POWA President, Mrs Elizabeth Egbetokun, said this on Monday at a One-Day Sensitisation Workshop in Abuja.

Egbetokun said that the workshop would build capacity of POWA members on its PET project towards attaining the United Nation’s goals 2 aimed at achieving ‘ZERO HUNGER’.

She said that the partnership would be achieved through the President Bola Tinubu’s mandate to address food shortage and insecurity

She urged members of POWA to support and align with President Bola Tinubu’s mandate to fight food insecurity in the country.

Egbetokun, who also the wife of the Inspector General of Police, thanked the UNESCO REF for its support in addressing the pressing issue of food shortage in Nigeria.

”I believe your ultimate support would be necessary to align with today’s administration to fight food insecurity declared by President Bola Tinubu, as a state of emergency.

“The workshop will address the pressing issue of food shortage in Nigeria and most importantly steps towards a progressive and successful implementation of our goals to making our women more relevant in today’s society,” she said.

In his remarks, President of UNESCO REF, Prince Abdulsalami Ladigbolu said building the capacity of POWA members on effective engagement and implementation of action plan would go a long way in addressing food shortage in the country.

According to him, the workshop, being a non-kinetic approach will strengthen national security through agriculture.

” The purpose of the workshop is geared towards addressing food shortage in the country as well as enhancing national security.

” We believe that any society without research and development is dead. President Tinubu has told us his plans about enhancing food security through the cultivation of 500,000 tonnes of lands.

”’Food security affects everyone of us because an hungry man is an angry man,” Ladigbolu said.

According to him there is the need to prepare something ahead so that we don’t have food crisis. We are talking about the next line of action.

”One of the causes of food insecurity is climate change.

“When we don’t have food, we encroach into land meant for farming and the ones available we keep planting until the nutrients are no longer there and then we depend on fertilizer to boost the crops,” he said

He added that the executives of POWA had been identified to lead the process of addressing food shortage through the project.

According to him, the project is enhance agricultural value chain, forex reserved through economy diversification and bespoke agricultural produce and boost sustainable food production in the country.

”UNESCO REF has the mandate to address issues that are aligned with nation’s priorities and aspirations. So what we are doing is to align with the problems.

”We must ensure we are proactive to the priorities of Nigeria such as health, education and agriculture.

”If there is no education, we have hoodlums and this will lead to insecurity. So, everyone has to be involved in the project,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deji Abdulwahab

By Tosin Kolade

Oluwafunke Adeoye, Nigerian human rights lawyer and two Kenyan citizens have won the 2023 Waislitz Global Citizen Awards.

The award is aimed at inspiring people working within their communities to overcome challenges like air and water pollution, period poverty, unstable infrastructure and gender disparities in education.

It is also to drive the mission to end extreme poverty and improve the living conditions of people globally.

Adeoye founded the Hope Behind Bars Africa, after some personal encounters with the justice system including that of her father’s arrest and detention for a crime he reportedly did not commit. 

The organisation closes the justice gap by providing free legal services and direct support to low-income incarcerated individuals while promoting criminal justice reforms through research, evidence-based advocacy, and technology. 

Over 7,000 incarcerated individuals have benefitted from their interventions.

With the award, Adeoye plans to fully launch Justicepadi, a tech platform that will revolutionise legal aid in West Africa and also expand her work for climate justice.

“It is crucial for people to understand that behind the labels of “convicts” or “prisoners”, there are human beings with stories, hopes, and dreams.

“By offering legal aid, we strive to ensure that every person, regardless of their circumstances, has access to fair representation and a chance to rebuild their lives”, Adeoye said.

The others are; Peter Njeri and Esther Kimani, both Kenya citizens, were named as the 2023 Waislitz Global Citizen Award winner and the Waislitz Global Citizen Disruptor Award winner.

The Waislitz Global Citizen Awards are annual cash prizes totaling $250,000 that recognise the excellence of individuals in their work to end extreme poverty and its systemic causes.

The grand prize is $100,000, with two additional prizes of $75,000 each.

“When we first conceived these awards almost 10 years ago, we wanted to shine a light on those heroes working at grassroots levels to end global poverty. We also wanted to encourage others to do the same.

“The awards have grown in stature and participation rates every year and I am proud that we’ve been able to assist so many outstanding and inspirational young champions from around the world to advance their efforts in the fight against global poverty.

“This year’s winners are no exception and I wholeheartedly congratulate them all”, Alex Waislitz, Chairman and Founder of the Waislitz Foundation said.

Peter Njeri, who grew up in Soweto, Nairobi, and saw his family suffer first-hand from the effects of indoor air pollution, set out to solve this problem. 

He produced a technology that turns plastic waste into clean energy and co-founded Mega Gas Alternative Energy— a clean-tech startup on a mission to provide access to clean and affordable cooking energy for low-income families all while protecting the environment. 

Today, over 10,050 families in Kenya use his technology. The Waislitz Global Citizen Award will enable him to serve an extra 5,400 families each month. 

Esther Kimani is the 27-year-old CEO of FarmerLine, a climate agritech trailblazer disrupting Africa’s agricultural sector. 

With delayed detection of crop pests and disease destroying over 47 per cent crop yield every farming season, Kimani developed the first-ever solar-powered AI-based crop pests and diseases detection device.

Its vision is to end hunger and extreme poverty for a million marginalised smallholder farmers. 

Her inspiration comes from experiencing farm losses from pests and diseases firsthand as she grew up farming on the slopes of the Aberdare mountains in Kenya. 

Kimani’s technology has so far impacted over 60,000 farmers in Kenya. (NAN)

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the IBB International Golf and Country Club,  Ibrahim  Haruna has called on parents to enroll their children for the Children Golf Development Clinic of the club.

Ibrahim made the called at the prize giving ceremony of the 2023 Children Golf Development Clinic, at the IBB International Golf and Country Club on Tuesday in Abuja.

The event was organised by the Lady Section of the IBB International Golf and Country Club, with support from CG Century Group, The ULesson Group and Bauhaus Global Investment Ltd.

Ibrahim, who thanked parents that brought their children to the even, called on more parents across the country to enroll more of their children in the development clinic.

According to him, playing golf from a young age will produce world champions from this part of the world.

He appreciated the Lady Section of the Club led by the Captain, Chairlady and Vice Lady Captain.

“I thank the ladies for sustaining this training opportunity for the  golf future champions of both ladies and young boys. I pray that you sustain this programme every year.

“This is because, until we sustain it for years, they are not likely to raise the kind of golf champions who would look back and say, I started my golf at IBB International Golf Country Club.

“I also thank parents for allowing their children to come for this programme. Children should also thank their parents, because the times are hard, but they still brought them here,’’ Haruna said.

Also speaking, the Lady Captain of the Club, Folashade Olateju said it has been six days of rigorous golf training, excitement and fun.

“I believe that the children really enjoyed themselves and for that we are happy that they will be with us in 2024. I also thank all the parents of the participants.’’

In a remark, the Vice Lady Captain of the Club, Dame Julie Okah-Donli congratulated the winners, adding that it has been days of excitement and fun.

“The children are all winners. They did well, but some people have to go home with prizes. Some children distinguished themselves very well in written examination,“he said.

The overall winner in  the male category, Sughter Terkaa-Akper attributed commitment, dedication and hard work to his success.

“During training, when my mates leave, I stay back on the range and try some shots to improve my game.  I also adhered to the techniques and rules of the game.

“I was also patient in relating with my TF, but my defining moment was on Hole 12 which was a part 3 hole.

“Though I had several bad holes like hike 14; I ended up striking for eight. I need to make it for my first 3 holes.

“However, I look forward to representing IBB International Golf and Country Club at the Nigerian Junior Open and I have hope of bringing the cup back home to IBB Golf Club in Abuja,’’ Terkaa-Akper said.

In the same vein, the overall winner in the lady’s category, Rukayat Aliyu Mohammed said the last time she played Golf was in 2018.

“So I felt new when I came back, but after the first few days, I picked up and felt normal. My defining moment was when I realised that I was playing well.

“I have expectations and hope to participate in the Junior Open. We are going to have training towards the Junior Open. Hopefully, we will represent Abuja well,’’ she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that children were drawn from different public schools in the Federal Capital Territory.

NAN also reports that winners in other categories also went home with different prizes in the six-day event with the theme “Swinging into Greatness.”(NAN)

(Edited by Joseph Edeh)

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

Retired Maj.-Gen. Barry Ndiomu, the interim Administrator of Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), says the programme has nothing to hide, faulting calls for a probe by anti-graft agencies.

Ndiomu said this in a statement signed by his Media Aide, Mr Freston Akpor and made available to News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja.

“The PAP heard of one Friday Iko urging anti-graft and related agencies to investigate the PAP over alleged corruption and imputing fraud in the disbursement of funds to the PAP cooperative.

“He had among other issues alleged that `some members of staff in the office are receiving huge amounts for welfare ranging between 15 to 10 million Naira’ for monthly running cost.

“The monies mentioned are clearly a figment of the imagination of the newsmaker who intends to use the media to achieve malicious ends only known to him.

“The allegations are not only false but also baseless and a calculated attempt to commence another round of a smear campaign against the Interim Administrator and his dedicated management team,’’ Akpor said

He said that the PAP conducted a background check on the purported newsmaker and found out that there was no person of note with that name or identity.

Akpor advised the media to be circumspect of personalities bearing pseudonyms to use their platforms to broadcast or publish such mischief as such media houses could be in the cross hair of possible litigations.

“As a national security programme, the PAP under Ndiomu has been ethical and above board in discharging its mandate of ensuring peace and stability in the Niger Delta region.

“The PAP therefore wishes to call on the security agencies to arrest those spreading falsehood to undermine the peace in the region.

“The PAP will also not hesitate to bring charges against those who employ such falsehood in order to defame the chief executive and hardworking staff of the Programme,’’ Akpor said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ali baba-Inuwa

By Naomi Sharang

The Senate has confirmed 45 ministerial nominees out of the 48 nominees forwarded to it by President Bola Tinubu.

The confirmation followed the consideration and approval of the nominees during Monday’s plenary.

The nominees include Sen. Abubakar Kyari (Borno ); Abubakar Momoh (Edo), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Prof. Joseph Utsev (Benue), Sen. John Enoh (Cross River).

Others are Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo (Ondo), Dr Betta Edu (Cross River) Imaan Sulaiman (Nasarawa), Ahmed Dangiwa (Katsina), and Uche Nnaji (Enugu),

The nominees include Bello Muhammad (Sokoto), Mohammed Badaru (Jigawa), Yusuf Tuggar (Bauchi), Uju-Ken Ohaneye (Anambra).

Abdullahi Gwarzo (Kano), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), Tunji Alausa (Lagos),  Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun) and Uba Ahmadu (Taraba).

“Lola John (Lagos), Dr Isiak Salako (Ogun), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa), Dr Yusuf Sununu (Kebbi), Prof. Tahir Mamman  (Adamawa), Zaphaniah Jisalo (FCT), Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe), Dr Bosun Tijjani (Ogun) are on the list.

“Shuaibu Abubakar Audu (Kogi), Sen. Sabi Abdullahi (Niger), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Sen. Alkali Ahmed  (Gombe), Dr Mariya Bunkure (Kano), Festus Keyamo (Delta) and Hannatu Musawa.

“Dr Dorris Uzoka (Imo), David Umahi , Ekperipe Ekpo (Akwa-Ibom), Nkiru Onyeojiocha (Abia), Dele Alake (Ekiti), Lateef Fagbemi (Kwara), Muhammad Idris (), Olawale Edun (Ondo) Adebayo Adelabu (Oyo) and Prof. Ali Pate (Bauchi).

In his remarks, President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio thanked the lawmakers for their doggedness throughout the exercise.

He said that the Senate had so far confirmed 45 nominees out of the 48 sent by the President.

NAN reports that former governor of Kaduna Nasir El-Rufai, Sen. Abubakar Danladi (Taraba) and Executive Director (Business Development) of Nigerian Export and Import Bank (NEXIM), Stella Okotete are awaiting clearance to be confirmed. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

By Esther Mamudu/ Veronica Dariya

Some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called on the Federal Government to intervene in the rising cost of goods and services in the country.

The residents who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja said that it was no longer easy for families to provide three meals a day.

Mr Yohanna Bulus, a civil servant, said that the high cost of living has made it difficult for an average Nigerians to feed and also attend to other needs of their families.

He urged government at all levels to bring necessary succour to especially food production and supply in the country.

Bulus said: “Government has to find a way to ease the current hardship. The people have tried to adjust in all ramifications but to no avail.

” We are appealing that government should do everything possible to make costs of food and other means of living less expensive. It is no longer funny.

” I have seven children, four are in a government-owned secondary school, while three are in primary level in private school but both schools had increased their fees and none is manageable.

” We only feed from hand to mouth now, sometimes twice a day and we have been forced to reduce the portion of food items because everything had gone up.

” It is not endurable anymore, we need help.”

Similarly, Mrs Aina Philip, a Teacher in Bwari said her husband had threatened to remove their five children from the private school they attend to an LEA Model Primary School close to their residence.

She said that the family resolved to make the change in order to adjust to the current economic situation and also make use of the meagre resources at hand to attend to other needs.

She said: ” My salary and that of my husband can no longer cater for the family needs. Now, food takes the bulk of the money and it is still not enough.

” Then you have rent, electricity bill, school fees, transportation and a lot more to attend to and every business person had added money on his or her goods and services.

” We all have no choice than to make adjustments that may not be smooth at all.

” We need government to intervene in some of these sectors to lower the costs of produce and services on behalf of the citizens so that we can truly breath,”he said.

Philip also urged Nigerians to be fervent in prayers for a divine intervention in the situation.

Mr Savior Udoh, a welder in Kubwa said that he was left to cater for his seven children with a not-so-productive business, lamenting that the constant harassment by area council tax collectors makes matters worse.

Udoh said that his family now relied on his wife’s striving food retail business for their needs.

He said: “Most times, we are forced to take food from my wife’s shop to eat and you know such things crumbles business, especially when you keep taking and can’t refund.

” Things are hard for us, there’s no time for eating, it can be anytime of the day and it can be once, not to talk of eating a balanced diet or with proteins such as meat.

” We can only do our best and leave the rest to God, ” he said.

Udoh urged government at all levels to assist in every way possible to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians.

Mrs Rachel Ejiro, a resident in Area one and a mother of three said that food was paramount in her home, adding she has no enough resources to buy clothes for her children.

Ejiro said that she had to cut down on excesses which include clothing, shoes and other accessories.

She added that her five children would have to make do with what they have and use it judiciously to pass down to their younger ones.

Ejiro said: “So that I will not have to worry on that aspect but on school fees and other necessities.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

==============
Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Bashir Rabe Mani

By Stephen Adeleye

Two Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Helpline Foundation for the Needy and Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu (RTA) Foundation, on Monday disbursed N20,000 each as non-profit revolving loan to some market women in two communities in Kogi.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme was inaugurated and coordinated by Ms Rekiyat Fache, at Ebira Community Secondary School in Nagazi axis of Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi.

Fache said that the beneficiaries, made up of petty traders and artisans from Okunchi and Idanuwha communities, were divided into two clusters of 20 participants each.

The coordinator stated that the measure was part of efforts of the two organisations to reduce the impact of fuel subsidy removal on the beneficiaries.

Fache explained that the money was a non-profit revolving loan scheme sponsored by the two foundations as start-up capital for the needy and vulnerable women in the society.

“We believe that our little palliatives will ultimately promote their businesses and cushion the effects of subsidy removal on their families.

“It’s our hope that the beneficiaries will make judicious use of the money for the purpose, which they are meant for.

According to Fache, the beneficiaries are divided into two clusters of 20 participants for easy circulation of the funds.

She said that the NGOs planned to increase the number of participants, if they could form more cluster groups to manage the non-profit revolving loan among them.

While praying for its profitability, she also cautioned them against using the money for luxurious things that would not benefit them.

Responding, the representatives and cluster leaders of Okunchi and Idanuwha communities, Mrs Bose Isah and Madam Musili Obobauja, thanked the sponsors of the empowerment scheme, Dr Jumai Ahmadu and Dr Ramatu Aliyu, for their gesture.

They promised to make judicious use of the loan and gave assurance that their team would never disappoint the foundations.

NAN reports that highpoint of the programme was a courtesy visit to the palace of His Royal Majesty, Dr Ado Ibrahim, the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland.

The traditional ruler, while receiving the entourage, prayed for continued elevation of Dr Ahmadu and Dr Aliyu, for the kind gesture. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Thompson Yamput /Isaac Aregbesola