Participants at an event to mark the 2023 International Day for Street Children

By Okon Okon
An Abuja-based NGO, The Young Ambassador Against Drug Abuse Initiative (YAADA) is to enroll one million out-of-school children.
Mr Saifullahi Usman, Chief Executive Officer of the YAADA, represented by Miss Esther Nwankwo, made this known at an event to mark the 2023 International Day for Street Children.
The event jointly organised by YAADA, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (MHADMSD), Street Children’s Parliament, is an awareness campaign in Nigeria to commemorate the day.
The day was set aside by the United Nations to amplify the voices of millions of children on the street abandoned in their vulnerabilities whose rights is being violated.
He said it had always been the desire of the group to give positive direction to children and youths in Nigeria, having witnessed high level of juvenile issues capable of destroying their future and the image of the country.
“It is in view of the above that we wish to embark on campaign to take one million children and youths off the streets by empowering them to go back to school, acquire skills, engage in sports and psychosocial support for survivors of drug abuse” She said.
“We intend to achieve this by partnering with the ministry and ensure vulnerable children identified benefit from the alternate school program. “
According to him, one million children is just five per cent of the 20 million out-of-school children in Nigeria.
“YAADA and other partners are committed for social change and sustainable development in education, economic empowerment, sports, medical rehabilitation, advocacy and other relevant community social services for the abandoned children on the streets.
“This laudable initiative is achievable with the support of government, private organisations, relevant stakeholders, well-meaning Nigerians and donor agencies by making positive contributions to the realisation of this noble objective.
“The likely impact of their contributions would be made manifest when our streets are emptied of helpless children begging to be fed, clothed, educated and constantly used as agents of destruction and not as agents of change,” he said.
Speaking earlier, Mrs Nadia Muhammed, Head of Special Duties in the humanitarian ministry said it was sad to see millions of children in the world and Nigeria in particular living on streets, public spaces, abandoned building, sleeping in parks and others.
Muhammed said street children, just like all children have the rights for protection as enshrined in ‘The Child Rights Convention’, as acknowledged and documented by the UN, hence the need for Nigeria to protect them.
“In light of the above and for social inclusivity of leaving no one behind, the ministry, under the leadership of Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouk has started a programme called the Alternate School Programme (ASP) to cater for street children and Out-of-School Children”.
She said the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme of President Muhammadu Buhari domiciled in the ministry as part of the National Social Investment Programme NSIP.
She added that the programme had imptoved pupils enrolment in schools by lifting the street children and increased literacy level in Nigeria.
Master Peter James, a 16-year-old pupil of the Junior Secondary School Wuse, expressed delight to be part of the programme which was educative.
James, who explained that most children were becoming frustrated with the life due to the abandonment by some parents and called on government to put more efforts to remedy the trend.
“Many things happening in our country today are children-related crimes which are avoidable if some of them are groomed by their parents.
“So, our government has to continue sensitising the society on the importance of bringing children up under the tutelage of their parents for a better and Prosperous nation.
Highlights of the event were a road walk by the school children who carried different placards with inscriptions such as; say no street hawking, say no to child abuse, say no to street begging, say no to sex for shelter among others.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
===========
Edited by Auwalu Birnin Kudu/Sadiya Hamza

China has notified the World Health Organisation (WHO), that a woman infected with the H3N8 bird flu died in March.

The case, which is only the third known human case ever and the first to result in death from the strain, the two previous cases were reported in China last April and May, the WHO said.

In the latest incident, a 56-year-old woman from south-eastern Guangdong province died on March 16 after falling ill in February and being hospitalised for severe pneumonia.

“The patient had multiple underlying conditions. She had a history of exposure to live poultry before the onset of the disease, and a history of wild bird presence around her home,’’ the UN health body said, citing information from China’s National Health Commission.

None of her close contacts have developed an infection or symptoms of illness.

The WHO said a poultry market near her residence could have been the source of her infection.

Samples collected from the market were positive for influenza A(H3) subtype.

In the two previous cases, one patient developed a critical illness and the older had mild symptoms. The WHO said direct or indirect exposure to infected poultry was the likely origin.

The WHO said the risk to humans remained low.

“The available epidemiological and virological information suggests that avian influenza A(H3N8) viruses does not have the capacity for sustained transmission among humans.

Therefore, the current assessment is that the likelihood of human-to-human spread is low. (dpa/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

=============
Edited by Halima Sheji/Sadiya Hamza

Some of the Nigerian irregular migrants evacuated from Libya to Nigeria by FG/IOM on Tuesday 

By Lizzy Okoji

The Federal Government  in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), has evacuated 152 Nigerians, who are stranded and lived as illegal immigrants in Libya, to Nigeria.

The evacuated Nigerians whose return was facilitated under the FG-IOM Voluntary Repatriation Exercise, arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, on Tuesday evening.

Amb. Kabiru Musa, Charge D’affiares en titre of the Nigerian Mission in Libya, made this known in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

The Envoy noted that this was the third exercise the Federal Government and IOM had carried out in 2023, with a successful evacuation of nearly 500 Nigerians stranded in Libya to Nigeria already.

​“Today, we have successfully evacuated another 152 Nigerians stranded in Libya to Nigeria.

“Libya is a transit country for irregular migrants to the Western and other parts of the world. Whenever these irregular migrants can no longer continue their journey to expected destinations, they become stranded here.

“Because of their status as undocumented immigrants, they become vulnerable to exploitation and degrading treatment, including forced labour and prostitution.

“The Federal Government is determined to protect the rights of these migrants and will continue to facilitate their safe and voluntary return home.

“This is the third exercise we have conducted this year. We evacuated almost 4,000 stranded Nigerians from Libya in 2022 and we hope to surpass that number this year,” Musa said.

Musa appreciated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and IOM for facilitating the exercise.

He also thanked the Libyan authority for their support and cooperation. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

==================
Edited by Chidinma Agu/Vincent Obi

By Ikenna Osuoha

The National Population Commission (NPC) has postponed indefinitely, the training for Enumerators and Supervisors earlier slated for April 13.

Dr Ipalibo Harry, Chairman Census Committee told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

Harry assured that the postponement would not affect the conduct of the Population and Housing Census scheduled to hold from May 3 to May 7.

He said that the commission was ready to conduct a credible census, adding that they had already concluded the training of Quality Data Managers and others.

The census committee chairman said a new date for the training of the enumerators and supervisors would be communicated as soon as possible. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

By Ephraims Sheyin

The Tapshin community in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State has conferred the title of “Jagaban Tapshin” on Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, former Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

The honour, according to its traditional ruler, Dauda Godit, is in recognition of his efforts toward national and community development.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bogoro was decorated with the regalia and title during the area’s 2023 cultural festival held at the Community Secondary School, Tapshin on Tuesday.

Godit eulogised Bogoro for impacting on the lives of the community in the past 20 years.

According to the traditional ruler, the former TETFund boss assisted the community with educational facilities as well as bursaries to its students.

“He also initiated other developmental projects even before he was appointed to lead TETFund in 2014,” he said.

Godit commended Bogoro for the landmark achievements recorded when he served at TETFund, saying that he lifted tertiary education in Nigeria to its desired position.

The Chief said that almost all public tertiary institutions in the country benefitted from infrastructural developments and capacity building programmes when Bogoro led the agency.

The traditional ruler praised the innovative policies initiated by Bogoro in research and development as a way of contributing to national development.

On social relationships, Godit eulogised Bogoro’s efforts in bringing together people across tribes and religious divide in Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency.

“His focus is always on development and progress. He has done so well,” Godit said.

Responding, the recipient noted that it was his deliberate policy to ensure that all ethnic nationalities and religions lived in harmony.

“My policy is that if you eat in your house, you should also assist your neighbours to eat because if they are hungry, it means you are also hungry,” he said.

Bogoro, who noted that his assistance to Tapshin Community dated back to when he was a senior lecturer at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, promised to do even more.

He urged guests invited for the event which featured fund raising for water projects, to assist the community achieve its goals.

The former TETFund boss commended Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State for the construction of the Bogoro-Lusa-Mallar and Boi-Tapshin roads, saying that the projects had opened up the communities around the area.

Bogoro urged the people of the state to continue to support the Governor in his efforts to provide development to the state.

The cultural festival, which is tagged “Kang Khishi Masur 2023”, was graced by a huge crowd that included Prof. Sylvester Shikyil (SAN) of the Law Faculty University of Jos, Dr Justina Deshi, among others.

The event also featured traditional dancers across towns and villages in Tapshin communities as well as Zaar Cultural dancers. (NAN) (nannewsngr.com)

Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

By Peter Uwumarogie

The National Population Commission (NPC) has assured that the 2023 National Population and Housing Census will be the best ever conducted in the history of the country.

NPC’s Federal Commissioner in Gombe State, Mr Abubakar Danburam stated this in Gombe on Tuesday during the inauguration of a 16- member Advocacy and Logistics Committee for the 2023 Population and Housing Census in the state.

Danburam said with the efforts so far made by the commission as well as the digitalisation of the exercise, the 2023 census would be better than any one conducted in the nation’s history of conducting census.

He said with the commission leveraging technology and modern approach to conducting census, there was no doubt that the 2023 exercise would be an improvement on the ones conducted in the past by the commission.

He said the priority of NPC in conducting accurate, reliable and acceptable census was as a result of the importance of census for development planning and other interventions that would help improve citizens’ wellbeing.

According to him, the 2023 census will address the irregularities associated with previous exercises.

“I can remember very well the 1963 census, there were lots of irregularities due to lack of development. The 1973 census, there was little improvement compared to that of 1963.

“Subsequent censuses came up with a lot of improvements. The current census to be conducted, from the level of demarcation, is digital.

“It is so because we are now matured enough to use the satellite image. The satellite image was used for the demarcation and the demarcation is called the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD),” he said.

He explained that the EAD was the foundation of the current census: “This demarcation was done meticulously and neatly. Every part of this country has been demarcated, no leftover, no overlap.

“This is giving us all the assurance that the census to be conducted will be digital and hopefully the best census conducted so far in this country.”

While inaugurating the 16-man Committee, Manassah Jatau, the Deputy Governor of Gombe State who doubles as the chairman of the committee, said the 2023 census would provide vital information about the socio-economic variables of the nation’s population.

Jatau advised the commission to take proactive measures to curb the threat of manipulation during the exercise as the NPC was working to conduct a credible census that would meet best global practice.

“The digital census is most likely to eliminate previous bottlenecks such as political, religious and cultural sentiments associated with accurate census in the country over the years.

“However, we should note that it is human beings that control and sometimes manipulate these machines that were meant for ease of carrying out tasks, jobs more accurately, with great precision,” he said.

To his committee members, the chairman said their duty was to enlighten, sensitise and get the support of residents of Gombe State towards the successful conduct of the exercise in May. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Salif Atojoko

By EricJames Ochigbo

No fewer than 1,500 Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) were on Monday empowered by Sir David Osunde Foundation.

The foundation said at its 31st annual Special Easter Monday Celebration in Abuja that the beneficiaries were drawn from across the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that items distributed included wheel chairs, crutches, white canes, clothes, foodstuffs and educational grants, among others.

In his speech, the Archbishop of Abuja Archdiocese, His Grace, Ignatius Kaigama, noted that the foundation has been consistent in it’s support of PWDs irrespective of tribe or religion.

He admonished Nigerians that instead of fighting over religion, tribe or politics, they should channel their energies into building a society where PWDs will feel at home and loved.

Kaigama, who celebrated mass at the event, said instead of thanking God, a lot of able bodied people engaged in crimes like kidnapping and killings of even Internally Displaced Persons.

“This is a duty that needs to be done; we sometimes waste so much time on things that do not matter; this foundation is calling our attention today.

“We are so concerned about very big projects that are of national and international value, but when it comes to the people who matter, people who just need basic things to survive, we are lacking.

“We are invited to a work of love and charity; helping the sick, works of mercy; I am calling on everyone to get engaged,” he said.

Kaigama said there are over 1.3 billion PWDs in the world, as such a lot of work needed to be done to support them to be self reliant.

Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, commended the foundation for helping the less privileged for more than 30 years.

“We must do all we can to share what God has given us with the disadvantaged, and to touch lives,” Tallen said.

Dr Anthony Osunde said apart from the items donated, some of the PWDs were trained on liquid soap production and business logo design, among others.

Osunde called for the setting up of a ministry to cater for people with disabilities in all the states and FCT. (NAN)

=====================

Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Maharazu Ahmed

By Kazeem Akande

The Oluwa Chieftaincy  Family of Lagos and Apapa has announced the appointment of Madam Iyabo Odedairo (Nee Oluwa) of  Idewu Ruling House as the Olori Ebi (Head of the Family), pending the appointment of a new Chief Oluwa.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the appointment was concluded at a meeting organised by  Alhaji Ganiyu Durojaiye, a prominent member of the Asalu  Ruling House, held in Agege on Sunday.

The meeting was to deliberate on the vacuum created by the demise of the former family head, Late Chief Mukaila Oluwa (ODOFIN).

Durojaiye  said that the family of  Oluwa of Lagos and Apapa had in attendance representatives of four of the five Ruling Houses in the family.

According to him, the principal members of the Adogia (Amore) Ruling House were not in attendance.

“We have appointed Madam Iyabo Alake Odedairo (nee Oluwa) of Idewu Ruling House as the Olori Ebi of the family,” Durojaiye said.

Durojaiye added that it was pointed out that in the absence of a Chief Oluwa, the Olori Ebi (in consultation with the principal members of the family) manages family property and assets pending the appointment of a new Chief Oluwa.

He said that by operation law, the eldest family member amongst the five heads of the Ruling houses becomes the  Olori Ebi, and that except on account of ill health and fitness for service,  the family may appoint a person other than the eldest as the Olori Ebi of the family.

He said that the family, therefore,  presented for consideration the three eldest members of the family; namely: Alhaji Samsideen Oluwa, 92 years, in absentia; Alhaja Modina Ibrahim Oluwa (Asalu), 89, and Madam Iyabo Alake Odedairo (nee Oluwa), 87-year-old.

Durojaiye said  that having considered the criteria for the appointment of the family head as stated in the rules, Odedairo was unanimously agreed upon as the head of the Oluwa chieftaincy family in Lagos and Apapa.

NAN reports that there are five Ruling Houses in the family namely: Odofin, Idewu,  Asalu, Faro and Adogia (Amore). (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Vivian Ihechu