By Hussaina Yakubu

Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State has restated his administration’s commitment to supporting vulnerable people in the state to realise their full potentials in life.

El-Rufai made the commitment on Wednesday in Kaduna when he received UNFPA Country Representative, Ulla Mueller, who was at the Government House for a joint programme to mark the International Women’s Day.

He explained that his administration believes that disabilities and other circumstances should not be a hurdle to such persons in reaching their full potentials.

“We believe in giving equal opportunities to all and to do that, government needs to identify with those that are not able to assist themselves.

“The main purpose of government is to ensure that those who cannot help themselves are helped by to achieve their full potentials,” he stressed.

El-Rufai disclosed that 63 per cent of the state budget
in the first four years of his administration was invested in education, healthcare and assisting the poorest and vulnerable persons.

“We have invested in primary health care, we have introduced contributory health Insurance to give a pathway to universal health coverage and also the social protection policy,” he said.

He told the UNFPA officials that the government was in the process of establishing a social protection agency, to target the poorest and ensure that they did not go uncared.

He also expressed the belief that women deserve every support and encouragement for any society to grow.

According to him, women as the foundation of humanity, should be promoted in every way possible.

He thanked the UNFPA for its unique approach of reaching out to women and other works that touched the lives of the people.

Earlier, Mueller said they chose to celebrate the day in Kaduna, because the state has 43 percent women in leadership positions.

“The 43 per cent I notice is more than what is obtained in most developed countries.

“My country has 29 per cent of female in cabinets despite the fact that we have female prime minister and 14 per cent women in leadership position.”

She congratulated the governor for the feat, saying
“when you focus on equality and when you are mindful, deliberate about the decisions you make, you steadily prosper.”

The UNFPA country representative pledged to work with Kaduna state government and find ways to support its efforts to drive sustainable development.

“While we are developing our 2021 programme we will be seeking advice from Kaduna state on how to best proceed,” she added.

“We all have an obligation to continue to commit to sustainable development, because it enshrines gender equality as one of it’s goals.

“We will not be able to reach sustainable development without equality and the ability for women and girls to have their basic human rights, including their right to sexual productive health as a prerogative to achieve sustainable development goals.

“In 2021, no woman should die for a reason we can prevent,” Mueller stressed.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the UNFPA presented awards to Hajiya Saudatu Sani, Emmanuel Bonet and Maimuna Auwal-Safiyanu in recognition of their work on enhancing gender equality and equity.

Gov. El-Rufai was also presented with an award in recognition of his sustained efforts to ensure gender equality and equity. (NAN)

By Hussaina Yakubu

Gov. Nasir El Rufai on Wednesday received the Kaduna State 2020 Annual Security Report, in which 937 people were said to have been killed by bandits and 1,972 kidnapped within the period.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, presented the report at a ceremony in Kaduna.

According to Aruwan, victims of the kidnapping, banditry and other criminal activities cut across all ethnic and religious groups in the state, contrary to skewed narratives from some quarters.

‘’Victims of criminal acts like banditry and kidnapping are to be found across ethnic, religious or political leanings and persuasions,’’ he pointed out.

The commissioner said the total number of deaths linked to banditry and other forms of violence in 2020 in the state was 937.

‘’Of this number, Igabi LG has the highest figure of 152, followed by Kajuru with a figure of 144.’’

He added that Birnin Gwari, Igabi, Giwa and Chikun local governments in Kaduna Central Senatorial District accounted for 468 of the deaths out of the 937 people that died in 2020, representing over 50% of the fatalities recorded in the state.

‘’The southern senatorial district accounts for 286 deaths, which is about one third of the total, due in large part to sporadic clashes, alongside banditry which triggered attacks and counter-attacks, especially between June and November 2020,’’ he added.

Aruwan further said, ‘’out of 1,972 people kidnapped in the period under review, Kaduna central senatorial district accounts for 1,561, and out of the total, 1,461 were kidnapped within Birnin Gwari, Igabi, Giwa and Chikun local government areas.’’

In his speech after receiving the report, El-Rufai said that state has been using its limited tools to address the security challenges.

The governor paid tribute to the victims of insecurity and reiterated his administration’s resolve to protect the people and stop all criminals.

El Rufai said the government has invested in technology to help secure the state, adding that ‘’a CCTV network is being deployed in Kaduna metropolis while options for consistent operations of its drones are being explored.’’

The governor added that the state had been collaborating with neighboring states to tackle the wave of insecurity.

‘’Together with Niger State and our neighbours in the North-west, we put together resources to fund military operations against bandits in the Kamuku-Kuyambana forest range that straddles the region.”

El Rufai however regretted that this collaboration which was done in 2015, ‘’was not sustained or expanded into a campaign of continuous, simultaneous operations against the bandits across our vast region.’’

‘’Failure to contain and defeat them in one place has emboldened them to develop a national footprint and endanger national cohesion,’’ he noted.

The governor also said that the state has been supporting federal security agencies with vehicles and other logistics since 2015, but added that “the military and police still need modern technology and equipment and more boots on the ground”.

‘’The security of our communities depend on the robust projection of state power, and that can only be done with sufficient security numbers to overawe and deter criminals,’’ he maintained.

The governor called for the decentralisation of policing, arguing that  ‘’there are simply not enough police officers in Nigeria and the idea of policing such a vast, federal republic in a unitary manner is not pragmatic.”

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

The Niger Delta Youth Council (NDYC) has elected Mr Collins Achakpekri as its Director for International Relations to coordinate affairs of all youths of the region in abroad to ameliorate the several challenges facing them.

The National Coordinator of NDYC, Mr Jator Abido, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja said the election of a director for International Relations became pertinent following barrage of complaints of poor funding and welfare by youths.

“These youths are undergoing scholarship programmes sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission, Presidential Amnesty Programme and other beneficiary from other multi-national oil companies.

“Achakpekri has been charged with the responsibility of managing the interest of all the youths from all ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta region, and to also liaise with the various High Commissions overseas without undermining the authority of President Muhammadu Buhari

“The International Desk of NDYC is, therefore, set up to address the many complaints and protests from the youths of Niger Delta in Diaspora. Achakpekri will operate from the international desks of the Council in the UK.

“It is our firm belief that the newly elected director will give his best to the elevation of the Niger Delta youths abroad as good Ambassadors and also to attract development programmes to the nation,” Abido said.

Abido also noted that the choice of Achakpekri was a consensus vote via zoom by all executive members of the NYDC.

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, C& I Leasing Plc., Mr Andrew Otike-Odibi, has advised women to rise above  challenges they face in the business landscape.

Otike-Odibi gave the advice at a webinar organised by the company to mark the 2021 International Women’s Day celebration in Lagos.

The managing director, who commended women in the company for brining passion to their jobs, said that women must rise to challenges in today’s dynamic business landscape.

“C & I women are fierce and bold, and they bring these to the table in all that they do, with so much passion.

“As the business landscape transforms rapidly, I charge all the women to continue to step up and take their place in leadership, even amid challenging times as we have seen recently,” he said.

Commenting,  a human development expert and leadership coach, Alero Onosode, remarked that there were misconceptions around the concept of gender equality.

According to Onosode,  while some people believe there are no obvious hindrances to women development, others feel there are certain roles or activities each  gender is better suited for.

She regretted that some people wrongly assumed that investing in women would not pay off, while some others thought that women were too emotional for leadership roles.

Onosode urged women to correct wrong narratives  by achieving full potential.

“Women must take a position to articulate and address misconceptions around gender equality because, sometimes, these come from a place of ignorance. We need to challenge the limitations, mindsets and biases including those that women carry.

“We need to have conversations around the values that we hold on to. We also need to challenge the cultural and societal expectations along with policies and systems,” she said.

Also at the webinar, Ibukun Omololu, a gender parity and women development enthusiast, said that gender inequality had been a barrier to socio-economic development for a long time.

Omololu said that increased women representation in leadership positions would yield better outcomes for organisations and societies.

“Women have unique leadership skills. We are focused, looking at issues from all angles.

“We get better outcomes in any project or business when there is equal representation and a combination of the unique leadership styles of men and women.

“We are clamouring for women to get to the top because they have contributions to make, and they should make those contributions in achieving business objectives,” she said.

Omololu called for women-centric policies in organisations. (NAN)

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday presided over the 37th virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Ministries of Education, Power and Niger Delta Affairs are expected to make presentations at the meeting.

In attendance of the meeting were Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.

Others physically attending the weekly meeting were the National Security Adviser (NSA), rtd Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno and six Ministers.

The affected ministers included those of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr Zainab Ahmed, and Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

Others were that of Power, Mamman Sale, Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio and Minister of State for Education,Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba.

The Head of Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan and other Ministers would be participating in the meeting from their various offices in Abuja online. (NAN)

By Naomi Sharang

A civil society organisation, Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), has called for the passage of the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill, to make for the eradication of all of barriers against women in the country.

CTA Executive Director Faith Nwadishi stated this at an event on Tuesday in Abuja.

She said that the passage of the bill into law by the National Assembly was important to give women equal opportunities to actively participate in politics.

“We strongly call on the National Assembly to expeditiously pass the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill into law.

“This is long overdue. In passing this law, the National Assembly should not see it as a token to women and girls but should ensure that the basic rights of women and girls are protected,“ she said.

Nwadishi called for the full implementation of the Nigerian gender policy and the 35 per cent affirmation.

“Again, this is not a favour to women but a right that is sacrosanct and the right thing to do.

“The lopsided policies trample upon the opportunities to rise to the apex of their professions.

“No woman has ever been appointed a Service Chief or the Inspector-General of Police, or to head the DSS and other paramilitary agencies.

“The extractive industry is another sector where women are so marginalised and, therefore, make less impact as they are systematically shut out of the extractive resources, she said. (NAN)

By Kingsley Okoye

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has denied non remittance of N4.76 trillion to the federation account as claimed by the 2016 report of the Office of Auditor -General of the Federation (OAGF).

Mr Umar Ajiya, NNPC Chief Financial Officer, said this when he appeared before Senate Committee on Public Accounts to defend queries raised by AOGF against the corporation.

Umar said that the issue in question had to do with domestic crude that NNPC lifted to either refine and sell in exchange for refined products imported to the country.

The German sportswear giant, Adidas will announce its financial results on Wednesday, and give more details on the plans to sell its struggling U.S. subsidiary Reebok.

Adidas announced in mid-February that it had decided to begin a formal process aimed at divesting Reebok.

The sporting goods manufacturer said it intended to focus on strengthening the position of the core Adidas brand on the global market.

Over the past month, there has been widespread speculation in the sportswear industry as to who might be interested in buying the Reebok brand, but no buyer yet been announced.

After Adidas reveals how the pandemic has affected its bottom line during the past financial year, it will hold a virtual event for investors and the media to present a planned strategic overhaul for the next five years. (dpa/NAN)