By Ruth Oketunde

Mr Christopher Maikalangu, Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has felicitated with Muslim faithful as they mark the Eid-el-Maulud celebration.

In a message on Wednesday in Abuja, Maikalangu said that it was important to reinforce the values of peaceful coexistence which had been the hallmark of ‘AMAC’s citizens’.

He urged that all the Muslim faithful and other residents of the council should use the occasion to deeply reflect on the role they can play individually and collectively to build a nation they can be proud of.

Maikalangu said: “We must love people no matter our political, religious and tribal differences and we should in no way resort to violence or promotion of anarchy in settling our differences.

“Therefore, there is the need for us to imbibe the true meaning and virtues of sacrifice, patience, tolerance and fellowship in our relationships and dealings with fellow residents and all Nigerians.

“Always embrace dialogue in settling differences and reject attempts by unpatriotic individuals or groups to incite unrest which is always counter-productive.

“The Federal Capital Territory was built on a foundation of unity and tolerance for all Nigerians, therefore residents are obliged to imbibe and practice these principles._

The council boss also restated the commitment of his administration to provide adequate security during the celebration and beyond.

He called on the residents to always cooperate with the security agencies by providing credible  information that would assist them in the discharge of their responsibilities.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Ruth Oketunde

The Mastercard Foundation, in collaboration with its Impact Partner Organisations (IPOs), has trained 11 young Nigerians on monitoring and evaluation practices to enhance positive growth in the sector.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the IPOs included Preston Associates for International Development (PAID), Cloneshouse, ITAD, and Global Integrity.

Dr Nkemdilim Ene, Chief Executive Officer, Preston Associates for International Development (PAID), said this at the graduation ceremony for the Youth Impact Associates Cohort 1, in Abuja.

She explained that the foundation and its implementing partners saw the need to build the capacities of young people in the country hence the training.

She said that using a multidimensional approach to the various aspects of monitoring and evaluation, the effects of various policies on Nigerians would be known.

“The young graduates have been clear as to where they are going; they are focused on what the immediate future holds, and the alumni platform, which will be launched today, is another platform to make their contributions more cohesively noticed,” she said.

She added that the beneficiaries had in the last twelve months been prepared on how to engage with Nigeria and the continent on how to look at evidence differently.

According to her, Nigerians are always talking about policies, but interpreting those policies into evidence has continued to be a significant struggle in this country.

“We want to see those beautifully crafted policies become real strategies that will unfold in the communities that the government is serving,” she said.

Similarly, the Country Director, Mastercard Foundation Nigeria, Rosy Fynn, said the event wasn’t just a graduation but a testament to the power of young minds to shaping the future.

“Through dedication, learning, and collaboration, these young men and women have embraced the challenge of improving monitoring, evaluation, and learning practices in Nigeria and together with other young impact associates in different countries across Africa.

“They have harnessed fresh knowledge and transformed it into actionable solutions, lighting the way for a brighter continent,” she said.

In the same vein, Mr Oludotun Babayemi, Chief Executive Officer, Cloneshouse, said that the project focused on providing technical knowledge on monitoring and evaluation for young people between the ages of 25 and 35.

He said that the project aimed at creating opportunities to access decent jobs for young people and set them up for leadership positions in the field of evaluation.

“The field of monitoring and evaluation is relatively new and growing in Nigeria, therefore, what it means is that there is need for more people to be able to drive change within the evaluation community,” he said.

He lauded the new legal framework for monitoring and evaluation in the country, adding that it would help strengthen policies at several levels.

“These young people will be the drivers of Nigeria’s evaluation and monitoring policy because once we can monitor, then we can evaluate the programmes, policies, and projects better,” he added.

One of the graduates, Mr Emeka Nwankwo, appreciated the IPOs for the privilege, adding that the exercise had increased his confidence in the monitoring and evaluation space.

“We understand the need in Africa’s evaluation space, and we want to carry this knowledge into society to promote indigenous ways of monitoring and evaluation,” Nwankwo said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Deborah Coker/Sadiya Hamza

By Victor Nwachukwu

The Rescue Nigeria Global Network (RNGN) has urged the Federal Government to release Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to boost development and end criminality in the South-East.

Dr Michael Chukwujekwu, Global Coordinator, RNGN, said the Federal Government should consider releasing Kanu to stop criminal groups from using the detention as an excuse to perpetuate crime and insecurity in the zone.

Chukwujekwu said in a statement made available to NAN from United Kingdom, that it had become pertinent for the Federal Government to urgently intervene for the benefit of the nation’s economy.

He expressed displeasure over the inability of government to release the IPOB leader, saying that many lives and property have been lost due to his continued detention.

“Pathetically, the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has ended, yet Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not released not withstanding the court’s ruling.

“If the executive made her claims and passed the responsibility of releasing Nnamdi Kanu to the Judiciary and judiciary had played their role by granting judgement for his release, should the Legislators at the NASS also need to play their own role too?

“Nigeria is at the point where rule of law should not to be ignored; the country needs to proactively release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

“Inaction could seem enabling the sit-at-home, obviously, a sabotage to the business, education, industry, economy and development of the South-East and Nigeria.

“Could the way forward for Nigerian, South-East (Ndigbo) be to tackle this main issue about sit-at-home that leads to destruction of life and properties, as well as business, and end it?

“In doing the needful, could we be avoiding the chance for another person rising even if Simon Ekpa is silenced,” Chukwujekwu said.

He said that allowing insecurity to fester anywhere in the country would not augur well with the country’s economy.

Chukwujekwu added that the clamour for arrest and extradition of Simon Ekpa, for instigating the sit-at-home may not end the trouble the country and people in South-East found themselves in.

“The question is, if Simon Ekpo is arrested or extradited will it solve the problem?

“Will the killings and destruction of properties in the South-East due to sit-at-home stop or will another person assume such leadership of Simon Ekpa?

“What actually is the main prayer of the perpetrators of the sit-at-home that is leading to the destruction of lives and properties in the South-East of Nigeria?

“There is an urgent need for Nigeria and Ndigbo to look into the cause of the sit-at-home critically and deal with it,” he asked. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Emmanuel Afonne