Agenda - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Philip Daniel Yatai
Jun, Wed, 2025

Minister urges youth to remain hopeful for better Nigeria

96 total views today

By Patricia Amogu

Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite has urged Nigerian youth to remain hopeful for a better Nigeria in view of the federal government’s commitment to implementing its Renewed Hope Agenda.

Uzoka-Anite said that with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to reviving the economy, the impact of the efforts being made would be felt across all the regions in the country.

The minister said this in Abuja on Wednesday when she received in her office, Mr Kevin Timothy, the National President of Tinubu Young Generation Forum.

She reassured the NGO of President Tinubu’s commitment to creating the environment conducive for young people to excel economically and for the nation to be recognised as a country with the best innovative youth on the global stage.

“The necessary reforms of President Tinubu are reviving the economy and in a short time the reforms will yield results across all regions.

“The President is committed to empowering young people and is working on policies that embrace youth inclusion and engagement in every space and sector.

“He has created a conducive youth-friendly environment and has been supporting programmes that maximise the potentials of every Nigerian youth, giving them the opportunity to thrive economically.” she said.

Speaking earlier, Kevin praised the minister for encouraging the youth.

“As a respected leader and mentor whose expertise and dedication to public service are truly inspiring, you have readily demonstrated strong mentorship and passion for passionate young people.

“We look up to you for strength and support and we know that young people are learning from your wealth of experience and gaining valuable insights for development and growth

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting provided an opportunity for insightful discussions on nation-building.

The Tinubu Young Generation Forum is an organisation aimed at driving capacity building for young leaders, mentorship and empowerment of potentially ambitious leaders in the society under President Bola Tinubu’s guidance. (NAN)

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

Group seeks empowerment of children to achieve AU Agenda 2063

Philip Daniel Yatai
May, Wed, 2025

General News

Group seeks empowerment of children to achieve AU Agenda 2063

191 total views today

By Angela Atabo

African Union (AU) Agenda 2063 Ambassadorial Assembly, an NGO, says there is a need to prioritise the empowerment of children as a fundamental strategy for realising the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

Dr Elizabeth Emeka-Onwucheka, Chairperson, Education and Mass Literacy Committee, AU Agenda 2063 Ambassadorial Assembly, made the call at the 2025 Children’s Day Celebration organised by the group.

According to Emeka-Onwucheka, the event, with the theme “From the Streets to the Classroom“ echoes the aspirations of Agenda 2063, a prosperous Africa where every child has access to education and dignity.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Agenda 2063 outlines Africa’s strategic framework for the socio-economic transformation into the global powerhouse of the future over a 50-year period.

The chairperson said that the call aligned with the AU’s vision of an inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous Africa.

She emphasised the critical role of children in the continent’s development trajectory.

“The AU Agenda 2063 is big on creating the Africa we want.

“It is the children that we need to build the Africa we want, because they are the future of Africa.

“That is one of the things that we are doing today, educating the African child, taking the African child off the street to the classroom where they ought to be,” she said.

She expressed passion about building the dream Africa by equipping the children of today to take up that task.

“This is because they are the ones that will be here to run through the 50 years agenda of the AU Agenda 2063,”she said

Emeka-Onwucheka said that the Assembly collaborated with Premiere Academy and Cradle2Harvard International Schools (C2HIS) to carry out the project.

She said that the aim was to ensure that children already in the classrooms became the ambassadors for out-of-school children.

According to her, the objective is to make them ambassadors of the AU agenda while carrying their mates on the streets along to build the African dream.

The Principal of Premiere Academy Lugbe, Christopher Akinsowon, said that there were millions of African children on the streets who were out-of-school rather than in the classroom.

According to Akinsowon, African children are calling for help.

“They are full of potential; they are full of so many things they want to express themselves but due to certain imitations, they can not.

“They face limitations like school fees, inability to develop their immediate environment, and so many things that make them unable to give to the world what is expected of them.

“I think first and foremost, government legislation is very important.

“The role of government is key in addressing these challenges and then the individual effort,” she said.

Some students who participated in the event expressed readiness to grow into championing the AU Agenda 2063 and stressed the need to assist out-of-school children to get back to the classroom.

Ms Chikaima Ogunema, a student of Premiere Academy, commended the organisers of the event.

Ogunema said that the programme was impactful and it empowered her on what to do to contribute to Africa.

Deborah Ogaji from Government Secondary School, Wuye, Abuja, said that she had been empowered to be a change agent.6

“Today I learnt about the African child and that I can be anything I want to be, so I will help other children to realise their worth as Africans,”she said.

Another student, Mr Ebere Bassit, said that the programme was a good way to celebrate children’s day and also the African child, especially the homeless, orphans and marginalised ones. (NAN)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman

River basin authorities pledge stronger partnerships for food security

Tosin Kolade
May, Sun, 2025

Agriculture , Food Security

River basin authorities pledge stronger partnerships for food security

498 total views today

By Akpan Glory

The River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) have pledged to boost the Federal Government’s food security efforts by forming stronger partnerships and adopting modern agricultural technologies.

Alhaji Abubakar Malam, who spoke on behalf of the RBDA Boards and Management teams at the close of a two-day retreat in Abuja on Saturday, acknowledged the numerous challenges facing the authorities.

He noted the persistent issues of ageing infrastructure, extreme weather conditions, and insecurity that continue to hinder optimal productivity across their zones.

Malam, who is also the Managing Director of the Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority, noted the dilapidated state of facilities and outdated equipment that limit the full potential of the river basin authorities.

“Our facilities are obsolete, and climate change is exacerbating the situation with flooding, erosion, and erratic weather patterns.

“Yet, we remain undeterred. We are committed to innovating, adopting modern irrigation technologies, and shifting the narrative of the River Basins to a more sustainable and productive future”.

Malam emphasised that these objectives cannot be achieved in isolation and stressed the importance of collaboration.

He stated, “We are committed to building strong partnerships, particularly with state governments, to ensure that local actions are aligned with national priorities.

“Collaboration is key to enhancing extension services, addressing community needs, and improving project outcomes”.

The Managing Directors also assured stakeholders that the river basin authorities will continue to maintain open-door policies under the federal government’s partial commercialisation framework, which aims to encourage private sector investment.

This framework is seen as an essential step in reviving Nigeria’s agricultural sector by providing opportunities for agribusiness development, rural economy revitalisation, and sustainable irrigation practices.

“In alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goals 2 (Zero Hunger), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and 13 (Climate Action), the RBDAs are focusing on expanding irrigated farmlands, equipping farmers with modern agricultural techniques.

“Others are enhancing value chains to reduce food waste, boost production, and improve market access.

“These efforts are designed to increase food availability and contribute to the goal of achieving food security for the nation by 2027,” he added.

The Joint Appointees Forum further called on development partners, private sector players, and other stakeholders to seize the emerging opportunities in Nigeria’s agriculture sector.

The forum highlighted the potential for collaboration in revitalising rural economies through sustainable irrigation and agribusiness development, which will ultimately support the government’s food security agenda.

The retreat, which brought together the leadership of all twelve RBDAs, concluded with a renewed commitment to achieving tangible, measurable results. (NAN)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

AU appoints Kabir, former Surveyors Council Registrar, Ambassador for 2063 Agenda

Philip Daniel Yatai
Mar, Tue, 2025

Foreign

AU appoints Kabir, former Surveyors Council Registrar, Ambassador for 2063 Agenda

421 total views today

By Olawunmi Ashafa

The African Union (AU) has nominated Malam Mohammed Kabir, immediate past Registrar of the Surveyors Council of Nigeria, as Ambassador to promote the AU Agenda 2063.

The nomination was conveyed in a letter signed by Amb. Amara Thecla Orakwe, Chairperson, Nomination and Screening Committee of the AU.

“This nomination acknowledges and celebrates your exceptional leadership qualities, diplomatic acumen, and unwavering commitment to advancing the goals set forth to achieve the AU Agenda 2063.

“The AU Agenda 2063 Ambassadorial Assembly holds a position of profound significance as a diplomatic platform where individuals of substantial influence and impact are carefully selected, endorsed, and entrusted with the duty of representing Africa on a global scale,” the letter said.

It explained that as appointed representative of Agenda 2063, Ambassadors are tasked with advocating for policies and initiatives that propel the Agenda’s overarching objectives, both within the African Continent and on the international arena.

Through their collective expertise and astuteness, they contribute towards crafting strategies and frameworks that address the continent’s most pressing challenges while harnessing its abundant opportunities.

“In your role as Ambassador, you will assume a pivotal position in fostering cross-border collaboration, driving economic growth, and championing the interests of the African continent on the world stage.

“Your wealth of experience and specialised knowledge will, undoubtedly, prove instrumental in propelling progress towards realising the visionary ideals encapsulated within the AU Agenda 2063 Framework,” the letter further said.

Introduced in 2013, Agenda 2063 stands as Africa’s blueprint for economic and human development, encompassing seven Aspirations that collectively embody “The Africa We Want.”

Positioned prominently at the second aspiration is the vision of “An integrated continent, politically united and founded upon the principles of Pan Africanism and Africa’s Renaissance”.

That sentiment, the letter said, “resonates deeply with the convictions of Africa’s founding fathers in 1963 and remains as pertinent today as ever”.

It said that realising the transformative potential of Agenda 2063 necessitated the active engagement of all stakeholders across the continent.

“To actualise the AU’s vision of ‘an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and acting as a dynamic force in the global arena,’ concerted action is imperative on various fronts.

“In the light of the aforementioned, and as part of our ongoing endeavours to advance the AU Agenda 2063 within Africa, it is with immense pleasure that we acknowledge your fulfillment of the rigorous criteria established by the Assembly to receive the esteemed title of Ambassador from the aforementioned organisation.

“This nomination serves as a testament to your remarkable contributions and achievements, and we extend our heartfelt congratulations on this meritorious recognition.

We anticipate collaborating closely with you to realise our shared objectives and pave the way for a prosperous and harmonious future guided by the tenets of the AU Agenda 2063,” the letter added.

It urged him to expedite the essential logistics and administrative preparations for the conferment and investiture of the honour that would induct him into the Ambassadorial Assembly team.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), reports that Kabir, a former Surveyor-General of Katsina State, is currently the Chairperson of International Federation of Surveyors-Africa Regional Network.

He is also Co-Chairman, African Land Surveyors Forum and the African representative in China-Africa Geospatial Information Cooperation with Headquarters in Deqing, China.

The nominee is a registered surveyor, a fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, a fellow of the Chartered Institute for Local Government and Public Administration of Nigeria, and member of the Institute of Directors.

Kabir was also chairman of Forum of States Surveyors–General of Nigeria and, for more than a decade, had remained an active and renowned professional in the fields of surveying.

He has also been involved in geoinformatics and land administration, and in leadership, policy and inclusive development.

From 2015-2016, Kabir represented the West African subregion in the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management for Africa Taskforce on Review of Africa Action Plan.

In 2018, he represented Africa at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe/ Technical Chamber of Greece 1st International Interdisciplinary Conference at Athens, Greece.

In 2023, he was among the five persons selected to launch the African Union Land Governance Strategy, at the African Union Commission, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

In 2024, he presented the African SDG Vision during the 1st United Nations Global Geospatial Information Knowledge and Innovation Conference, at Deqing Geospatial City, China and among others.

In Nigeria, Kabir remains versatile on issues related to Nigeria’s land policy and reforms.

He served in the National Economic Council (NEC) subcommittee for the review of the Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reform (PTCLR) Land Use Act Draft Regulations 2015- 2017.

He is credited with piloting the UN-Habitat-Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) pilot project on development and implementation of fit-for-purpose land administration in Nigeria.

For many years he has been making significant contributions in the National Council on Land, Housing and Urban Development and other national land conferences across the country.

In 2024, he was the convener of the 1ST African Women Land Professional Associations Conference at Dar -es- Salaam, Tanzania

Also, in 2023, he convened the first High-level Forum Meeting of Presidents of land professional associations in Africa at the AU Commission Headquarters, Addis Ababa.

NAN further reports that Kabir was a resource person at the 2019 World Bank Land and Poverty Conference Masterclass on Fit-for- Purpose Cadastre, World Bank Headquarters, Washington DC.

The nominee was also a panellist at the 1st United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress, Africa side event, Deqing, China in 2018.

Kabir attended the Senior Executive Course 44 at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru where he obtained the membership of the national institute, mni. (NAN)

Edited by Folasade Adeniran

Ismail Abdulaziz
Jan, Sat, 2025

Features

Assessing AU PAPS’s role in Agenda 2063

490 total views today

By Ekemini Ladejobi, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

The African Union Commission’s (AUC) Department of Political Affairs, Peace, and Security (PAPS) has been advancing a transformative agenda for peace, security, and governance across Africa.

Under the leadership of Amb. Bankole Adeoye, the current AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, the department has reinforced the AU’s role as a proactive, unified force in addressing continental challenges.

PAPS is one of six portfolios rationalised and established during the Eleventh Extraordinary Session held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Nov. 17-18, 2018.

The department was created as a merger of the Political Affairs, and Peace and Security departments, which used to be two separate entities.

The AU said the new department focuses on one of the four key priorities of the continental body: political affairs, peace and security, economic integration, and Africa’s global representation and voice.

AU also said PAPS’ mandate was developed from its larger Pan-African vision as defined in the aspirations of Agenda 2063, especially Aspirations 3 and 4.

While Aspiration 3 envisions “an Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law”, Aspiration 4 envisions “a peaceful and secure Africa”.

Some of the core functions of PAPS include continuous monitoring of Africa’s political, peace and security trends; and timely assessment, analysis and reporting on political, peace and security trends through early warning systems.

It supports conflict prevention through the development and dissemination of legal and policy frameworks on governance, political, peace, and security issues.

It also supports conflict management efforts, including peace-support operations as well as mediation and dialogue interventions; and supports post-conflict reconstruction and development policy and strategy development.

Some stakeholders say that although challenges persist, Adeoye’s vision since his election in 2021 has helped equip PAPS for success.

Mr Brian Kwayedza, a Zimbabwean lawyer and international affairs analyst, said Adeoye’s vision emphasises accelerating the implementation of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA).

He said the same vision has also helped to fast-track the African Governance Architecture (AGA), which he said is guided by shared values of peace and development.

“Over the past three going to four years, the PAPS has made significant strides. Peace enforcement has been prioritised as a strategic tool to combat violent extremism and terrorism.

“The department facilitated the peace process that led to the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement between Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front in Pretoria on November 2, 2022.

“In addition, PAPS provided strategic and operational support to the Peace and Security Council (PSC), enhancing early warning systems and informed decision-making through regular consultations,” he said.

Others credit the commissioner for an improved early warning mechanism, as well as conflict prevention, mediation and management.

They cite the Ethiopia-Tigray peace process, which culminated in the landmark 2022 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, as being facilitated by Adeoye and his team.

“He launched the AU Inter-Regional Knowledge Exchange on Early Warning and Conflict Prevention (I-RECKE), which has helped in fostering collaboration among regional and international stakeholders.

“Improved early warning capabilities has led to increased intelligence-sharing among bodies such as the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services and the AU Mechanism for Police Cooperation,” an analyst said.

However, critics say the AU has barely done enough in terms of conflict prevention, entrenching good governance, and preventing/countering violent extremism on the continent.

“Africa has recently experienced unprecedented unconstitutional regime changes, increased activities of violent extremists, and higher trans-border terrorism and terrorism funding.

“It appears that the AU is stuck on a weak conflict management system, which makes many refer to it as a toothless bulldog.

“For instance, what concrete measures has it taken against the juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Gabon and Chad?” an analyst asked.

They said those responsibilities solely or partly fall within the purview of PAPS.

In 2024, Nigeria hosted a two-day high-level African counter-terrorism summit in the capital, Abuja, which aimed to bolster regional cooperation and institutional capacity.

With the theme “Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Institution Building to Address the Evolving Threat of Terrorism”, the meeting proffered “African-led and African-owned” solutions to the threats of terrorism and violent extremism that have made the continent a hotbed.

One of the issues that came up for deliberation at the summit was the operationalisation of the African Standby Force to enhance the continent’s capacity for rapid response to conflicts.

If he happens to be reelected in March, some stakeholders said Adeoye should collaborate more in the area of strengthening the institutional capacity of the AUC, especially specialised agencies of the commission.

Some of the agencies include the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT), the AU Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL) and the AU Centre for Post-conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD).

The AUC also needs global support in strengthening existing counter-terrorism structures such as the Regional Intelligence Fusion Unit (RIFU), the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT), and the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA).

In May 2022, at the Declaration of the 16th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union Assembly, the continent’s leaders agreed to establish the African Union Ministerial Committee on Counter-Terrorism.

It said the committee was to serve as a high-level coordination, monitoring, evaluation and follow-up mechanism for the implementation of the commitments made in its Malabo Declaration.

Analysts want PAPS under Adeoye to explore better cooperation and synergy in these areas.

Those who want to see the commissioner reelected in March say he has mobilised resources for the MNJTF and advanced the Lake Chad Basin

Stabilisation Strategy by attracting development partners for post-conflict reconstruction.

They also say he has adopted a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the AU’s Master Roadmap on Silencing the Guns by 2030, thereby driving accountability and progress.

However, PAPS faces critical challenges, some of which Adeoye himself alluded to, including a limited budget for peace and security, and a ⁠lack of human resources and capacity in the department.

They also listed the exponential spread of terrorism and violent extremism; external interference in African conflicts; and ⁠resumed acute geopolitical competition on the continent as some of the challenges facing PAPS.

Nevertheless, stakeholders want the department to continue to champion pan-African ideals for effective governance, peace and stability in line with AU’s Agenda 2063 – The Africa We Want. (NANFeatures)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria