By Diana Omueza

The Initiative for the Alleviation of Vulnerable Persons from Poverty (IAVPP), a Non-Governmental Organisation, has distributed food items to no fewer than 200 vulnerable households in Ruga Community, a suburb in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event, tagged “Ruga Food Drive”, was organised on Tuesday in Abuja in collaboration with Beacon Consulting, DME Group and Womenovate.

Mrs Juliana Okoro, Executive Director, IAVPP, said the objective of the food drive was to provide essential food items to those in need and to alleviate hunger in the community

Okoro said that the food drive was expected to help cushion the effect of the economic hardship on the lives of members of the beneficiary 200 households.

“In the past, IAVPP has visited four communities around the FCT and distributed over 950 relief materials to aid the underserved.

“Our mission is to keep doing this and empower people and communities with the resources to enable them to live better lives and end extreme poverty.

“By distributing these food items, the beneficiaries will have access to nutritious meals and can meet their basic nutritional requirements.

“This charitable effort not only offers immediate relief but also fosters a sense of community empathy and support, helping to create a stronger, more compassionate society that takes care of its most vulnerable members,” she said.

She called for government intervention, adding that there was an urgent need to take action against hunger and food insecurity in the country.

The IAVPP executive director also said that the food intervention would not only address immediate needs of those suffering from hunger, but also show governments commitment to the broader vision of achieving the global zero hunger mission.

Similarly, Mrs Juliet Odogwu, Chairperson, IAVPP, said that the food would help vulnerable men, women and children regain hope in humanity and boost self-worth.

“The issue of food security and access to nutritious meals remains an escalating concern in many communities in Nigeria.

“With our mission deeply rooted in eradicating hunger, we are commemorating World Food Day in a meaningful way by launching this food drive project in Ruga community.

“I believe it is our collective obligation to contribute to underserved communities around us and ensure that no one goes to bed hungry,” she said.

NAN reports that some of the beneficiaries in the community lauded the group on their intervention and humanitarian support and called for more support from the government and others.

NAN also reports that items donated include rice, spaghetti, noodles, tomato paste, Maggi, salt among others. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Deborah Coker/Vincent Obi

By Ibironke Ariyo

The Yusuf John Suberu Foundation has canvassed  support for Mr Usman Ododo, the All Progressive Congress’ (APC) candidate in the Nov. 11, Kogi governorship election.

The Executive Director of the foundation, Dr Yusuf Suberu, made the  call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

Suberu said that the foundation had also commenced advocacy visits to the Kogi Central Senatorial District for Ododo’s victory at the poll, while calling for vigilance before, during and after the election.

”We, therefore, appeal to the people of the state to increase their support for Ododo in the coming governorship election.

“Ododo’s ambition is anchored on making life more bearable for every residents of the state. Progress is at play here. Kogi will no longer be called a one-way in and one-way out state.

“Like a football club, when the coach has a winning team, they cannot change him.

“So, support him by going out there and vote for our miracle governor, and remember to protect your vote, “he said.

Suberu, who also doubled as the National Coordinator, Road Traffic and Vehicle Inspection Mayors, warned the residents of the state against thuggery, violence and other criminal acts that could affect the voting process.

He however, advised Ododo that if elected as the governor, the interest of the youth and masses should be of paramount interest to him.

He also advised Nigerian youths not to sell their future because of money, urging them not to allow politicians use them as political thugs.

“Ododo has the capacity to pilot the affairs of Kogi State, he will also make the state a progressive one and bring about equity and justice, ” he said.

He further urged the people of the state to get ready for more transformation and the change they desired in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the foundation visited Kogi Central Senatorial District over the weekend to campaign and sensitised the people on voting.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Auwalu Birnin Kudu/Isaac Aregbesola

By Salisu Sani-Idris

President Bola Tinubu on Monday approved additional funding for the training and empowerment of adolescent girls in the country.

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, disclosed this while addressing State House Correspondents on the outcome of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The minister said: “Two things I want to mention and comment on, which are very important parts of the deliberations and resolutions in the council today.

“One, is additional funding for the training and empowerment of adolescent girls in Nigeria. One of the major policies of government is to target the education, training and empowerment of young girls into society.

“Initially from seven participating states, we will now have about 11 additional states participating in this project, which will lead to the empowerment of girls between 10 and 20, right across the participating states.”

Mamman explained that as a major escalation of the programme, it was meant to empower girls, teachers and the provision for additional schools in the country.

He also said that President Tinubu’s administration was working assiduously to reduce the incidents of out-of-school children in the country.

“It is actually quite in line with part of the agenda of this government to ensure that the number of girls and people who are out-of-school is reduced, if not eliminated altogether.

“Today, the council took a very major decision to review policy so that the Public Procurement Act is brought into practice as it were, as to the handling of projects and government activities in Nigeria”.

He said this would enable the Public Procurement Council to exercise its powers under the Act, and then the council would now concentrate on issues of national importance and issues of policy.

On his part, Mr Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, confirmed that FEC approved funding for training and empowerment of adolescent girls.

Edu disclosed that he presented five memos at the FEC meeting, which were gracefully approved.

He said that the memos had to do with concessional and zero-interest financing by the World Bank and the International Development Association, which was the very concessional financing arm.

The minister said that the projects approved for funding were in the power and the renewable energy sectors.

Edu further said there was funding provision for states for resource mobilization programme to help them with their internally-generated revenue efforts.

“There was a project for adolescent girls’ initiative for learning and empowerment, essentially, as it says, it is a programme to support young girls from the age of 11, secondary school age.

It is to ensure that at the end of their schooling, they have one skill or the other that is marketable, as well as the academic laurels.

The minister also disclosed that the FEC approved funds for the financing of women projects as additional ventures.

“The first one was very successful. It was all about empowering women, upscaling their skills level, and of course, giving them some financial inclusion, including in the banking system.

“So those were five loans totaling $3.45 billion. And as you know, the tenure is all around 40 years, moratorium period of around 10 years and interest very low, or in the cases of the loans, zero interest, although some fees would be incurred,” Edu said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Mark Longyen/Idris Abdulrahman

By Salisu Sani-Idris

President Bola Tinubu on Monday appointed Dr Abdullahi Mustapha as the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN).

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, made this known in a statement in Abuja.

According  to Ngelale, President Tinubu expects the new ECN Chief Executive to make a positive impact on his administration’s intensive push to diversify the nation’s energy sources in a synergised fashion across the government towards the ultimate aim of industrialising every part of the country with every citizen emancipated from the shackles of energy poverty.

Until his appointment, Mustapha served in the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) with significant experience in the Energy and Space Technology sectors.

He most recently obtained his Doctorate degree in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Renewable Energy, followed by a Post-Doctoral Fellowship as a Research Associate in the School of Engineering at the prestigious University of Manchester. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Bashir Rabe Mani