NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
General News

Foundation launches peace, unity initiative

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By Rita Iliya

The Global Peace Foundation Nigeria (GPFN) has launched a peace and unity initiative

in Agaie Local Government Area of Niger.

 

The initiative, aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence among diverse communities, was launched at the palace of the Etsu Agaie, Alhaji Yusuf Nuhu.

 

The Country Director of GPFN, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, emphasised the importance of unity and peace in building a harmonious society.

 

He said that the foundation’s intervention in Agaie was aimed at promoting inclusive development, peaceful coexistence and social cohesion among

the diverse communities in the area.

 

Joseph-Hayab stressed that the holy books of Jews, Christians and Muslims affirmed that all human beings are from the family of Adam and Eve.

 

The country director emphasisd the interconnection of humanity as one family under God.

 

He highlighted GPFN’s approach to peacebuilding, emphasising early interventions before crises arise.

 

He added that “we are here to seek the blessings and approval of the emir of Agaie to start our peacebuilding interventions in this local government.”

 

He underscored the importance of engaging traditional leaders and gatekeepers in peacebuilding efforts.

 

Sheikh Abdullahi Maraya, the Northern Coordinator of GPFN, commended the emir of Agaie for fostering peaceful coexistence among communities in the area.

 

He said “GPFN believes that all human beings are one family under God. Islam teaches respect for others’ beliefs”, and encouraged all to always verify

rumors and avoid making general statements.

 

In his response, the emir appreciated GPFN for choosing Agaie local government for its next intervention in promoting peaceful coexistence among the people.

 

Represented by Alhaji Usman Garkuwa, the Garkuwan of Agaie, the emir reiterated commitment to include everyone into the affairs of the area, irrespective of tribe

or religious affiliation.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the GPFN’s visit to Agaie followed its successful 18-month intervention in neighbouring Lapai Local Government

Area of the state.

 

The event featured cultural displays from various groups such as Fulani, Yoruba, Tiv, Igbo, and Nupe communities, as well as performances by students from

Malam Muhammadu Uba Day Secondary School and the Model Secondary School, Agaie.

 

GPFN is an international non-profit organisation with a mission to promote an innovative, values-based approach to peacebuilding, guided by the vision

of “One Family Under God.”(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Health

Foundation plans free fistula repair surgery

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By Rita Iliya

A Minna based NGO, the Raised Foundation has announced plans to carry out a medical outreach on free Fistula Repair Surgery on Jan. 27.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the outreach would be conducted at the Dr Amina Women Health Centre, Kontagora, Niger.

 

The Communication Officer of the Foundation, Ruth Mamman-Jiya, disclosed this in an interview with NAN in Minna on Wednesday.

 

She said the aim of the outreach was to provide free obstetric fistula repair for women.

 

“We intended to carry out 200 surgeries within one year, starting from July 2024 to June 2025. So far, we have done 121 surgeries, and this outreach is a continuation of that effort,” she said.

 

Mamman-Jiya explained that patients were expected to start arriving at the centre on Jan. 27.

 

She added that the foundation had mobilised patients through community mobilisers, health centres, and radio awareness campaigns.

 

According to her, the foundation has a good working relationship with most health centres within the state, saying  they also refer patients to its centre.

 

She disclosed that the foundation had carried out over 800 surgeries since its inception in 2017.

 

She said before building the centre, the foundation conducted its outreaches in general hospitals across the state, until 2020 when the centre was completed.

 

“Since 2020, all surgeries have been carried out at the Dr Amina Women Health Centre, Kontagora,” she said.

 

Mamman-Jiya explained that the centre provided a free comprehensive package, including surgery, feeding, and accommodation.

 

“We don’t just treat them and leave them, we empower them with skills and start-up packs to reintegrate them into the society,” she said.

 

The communication officer  said the centre’s vision was to create a Nigeria where no woman dies from pregnancy-related causes, and obstetric fistula was eradicated.

 

“We try to restore hope and dignity to women living with fistula, and our goal is to reduce the negative indices of Fistula in Nigeria,” she added.

 

Mamman-Jiya noted that the foundation’s efforts was geared toward reducing the number of women living with fistula.

 

She said no woman should have to bear the pains and troubles that come with obstetric fistula while trying to give birth.

 

She said the centre has a capacity for a full-fledged hospital, with wards, hostels, and offices.

 

She said the centre also has an empowerment programme involved in training women in various skills and also provide with start-up packs.

 

“We keep them for eight weeks, and during this time, we empower them with skills and knowledge to start a new life,” she said.

 

She added that the foundation’s efforts were  geared towards restoring dignity and hope to women living with fistula.(NAN)

Edited by Mohammed Baba Busu/Gabriel Yough

Environment

U-Save foundation donates solar borehole to FCT community

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By Akpan Glory

U-Save Foundation, an NGO has unveiled a solar-powered borehole to improve Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services in Area E community Nyanya, a satellite town in the Federal Capital Territory.

Speaking at the commissioning on Saturday, the Executive Director of the foundation, Uju Rochas-Anwuka said the project aims to provide residents with access to clean water.

She also emphasised the importance of educating the community on basic hygiene and sanitation, stressing that these are vital for fostering healthier lives and stronger communities.

Rochas-Anwuka further noted that the community was chosen for the intervention following rigorous evaluations, meeting the criteria to qualify for the initiative.

Olu-Daniels Ibiyemi, Director IV of Water Quality Control and Sanitation at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, commended the foundation for its commitment to sustainable development.

He highlighted the organisation’s role in advancing the national water strategy by employing renewable energy to enhance water access.

Ibiyemi assured that the Ministry would continue to collaborate with stakeholders, including non-governmental organisations, to develop solutions that ensure all Nigerians have access to safe and clean water.

He described the project as an important step towards building a more resilient and water-secure future for the country.

Paul Akawu, Youth Leader of Pyape and representative of the District Head of Nyanya, expressed appreciation for the borehole, urging the community to take responsibility for its maintenance.

He encouraged residents to contribute a token towards its upkeep to ensure its sustainable use.

Similarly, Asabe Sani, a community leader in Area E, Nyanya, thanked the foundation for providing access to safe and clean water.

She said that the intervention had significantly reduced their struggles, as they previously had to walk several kilometres to fetch clean water.

Sani expressed hope for continued support from the foundation to address other pressing needs in the community.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the foundation is dedicated to creating a healthy and resilient society transformed by sustainable WASH practices, alongside climate change adaptation measures.

According to the World Health Organisation, approximately 2.2 billion people lack safe drinking water, while 4.2 billion lack adequate sanitation, leaving one in three people without these basic human rights. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Tosin Kolade

General News

Foundation empowers SERVICOM staff with skills for better service delivery

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By Angela Atabo

An NGO, Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, has empowered SERVICOM staff members with advanced skills for better public service delivery.

National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer of SERVICOM, Mrs Nnenna Akajemeli, made this known at a four-day monitoring and evaluation (M&E) training programme, organised for the organisation’s officials on Monday in Abuja.

Akajemeli said that the initiative represented an important step toward promoting transparency, accountability and efficiency in public service delivery.

“Following the partnership agreement signed with SERVICOM in July 2024, SERVICOM, which stands for Service Compact, ensures Nigerian citizens receive quality services from ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

“To support SERVICOM’s important role in public service, the foundation assessed the skills of its staff to identify any gap that might impact their work.

“The assessment showed that improving monitoring and evaluation skills could help staff develop and oversee standard operating procedures across public institutions, leading to better services for Nigerians,” she said.

Akajemeli said that the training programme, delivered by Workforce Group, equipped SERVICOM staff members with important skills in data collection and analysis, modern software tools and effective evaluation methods.

She said that participants learned how to create standard operating procedures (SOPs) to improve operations and service delivery as well as to monitor their application across MDAs.

The national coordinator further stated that the training enabled the participants to assess the services provided by MDAs and ensure that they were up to standard, resulting in better outcomes for citizens.

“The training, supported by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and delivered under our partnership with the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, improves on our existing capabilities.

“It empowers SERVICOM to fulfill its mission of ensuring quality public service delivery.

“We are excited about the impacts this programme will have on Nigeria’s public service landscape,” she said.

Also speaking, Head of Operations at SERVICOM and participant, Mrs Ngozi Akinbodewa, said that the training had helped in broadening her knowledge in many ways.

“I learned how to create standard operating procedures during the training.

“Developing these procedures will improve our operations by clearly defining roles and responsibilities,” she said.

Executive Vice-Chair of the foundation, Mrs Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, said that the training represented a key step toward improving the experiences of Nigerians who relied on public services.

Aig-Imoukhuede said that it would also boost the skills of SERVICOM staffers, improve accountability and transparency across MDAs and set a standard for lasting improvements in public services delivery to citizens.

She said that through the programme, SERVICOM staffers were better prepared to implement effective monitoring and evaluation practices that would improve public service delivery across MDAs.

“They can use data-driven insights to identify service gaps, improve public satisfaction and ensure that MDAs meet their commitments to Nigerian citizens,” she said. (NAN)

Edited by Benson Ezugwu and ‘Wale Sadeeq

Science & Tech

ASRIC urges African scientists to lay foundations for new scientific era

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By Tolu Aiyegbusi

The Chairman of the African Scientific Research and Innovation Council (ASRIC), Prof.  Sammy Chumbow, has urged African scientists to lay foundations for a new science and technology era using innovation and research.

Chumbow made the call on Friday in his closing remarks at the 7th ASRIC Congress in Zanzibar, Tanzania.

He said the transition into a scientific era as Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA) 2024 has ended and Africa was set to adopt the policy strategy of STISA 2024.

Chumbow said, “The strategy aims to guide the continent’s STI development over the next decade.

“Therefore, African scientists should harness the power of science, technology, and innovation to drive economic growth, sustainable development, and global competitiveness.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that STISA-2024 is the first of the ten-year incremental phasing strategies to respond to demands for STI in different sectors.

They include:  Agriculture, energy, environment, health and security, among others.

STISA-2034 will build on the successes of its predecessor, STISA-2024, and address emerging challenges and opportunities in Africa’s STI landscape.

STISA-2034 was validated by the African stakeholders in STI in November 2024 and will be endorsed at the AU Summit in February 2025.

The chairman stated that this development marked a significant milestone in Africa’s quest to harness the power of science which should be tapped into by African scientists.

Chumbow added that the strategy would reflect the diverse needs and aspirations of African countries, which should foster a united approach by African scientists to STI development on the continent.

He also called on the council’s Bureau to study the objectives and mandates of ASRIC guidelines so as to sharpen their focus on initiatives that produce continental and regional STI development.

Chumbow urged the bureau’s members not to lose touch with research institutions and university officials and to adopt the principles of focal point so as to make a difference in their fields.

The Executive Director, African Union Scientific and Technical Research Commission (AUSTRC) and ASRIC, Dr Ahmed Hamdy, in his closing remarks, said entering another transition period marks a major shift in innovations.

“Coming forward from where we are where the changes are so obvious, entering a period of major transition globally. We are facing several challenges spanning from climate change, emerging diseases among others.

“Let us as scientists look at each of these challenges separately to have a better understanding of how best we can tackle them using STI,’’ he said.

Hamdy said that the challenges of global change required a transition not only in society but also in the scientific community which scientists should rise up to.

“Global change poses unprecedented challenges to scientific and policy communities, a kind that cannot be tackled using existing conceptual frameworks and methods.

“They are likely to change how we live and relate with each other and scientists should rise to the occasion,’’ he said. (NAN)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Defence/Security

Foundation mobilises 500 FCT students to fight drug abuse

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By Philip Yatai

Al Masaareef Foundation, working to address gaps in education, healthcare and sustainable development, has mobilised 500 secondary school students to fight drug abuse among youths in Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The foundation’s initiator and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Hauwa Wambai, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday at its Rise Above Conference with the theme, “United for a Drug-Free Life”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference was organised in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Wambai explained that each of the 500 students, drawn from 62 wards across the six area councils of the FCT, would be expected to train five other persons.

She added that each of the five would also train at least one person; a strategy expected to reach at least 2,500 youths with key messages against drug abuse.

Describing drug abuse as a menace to society, the founder says it also robs drug abusers of their integrity and self-respect.

According to her, drug and substance abuse leaves parents traumatised and devastated, while the youths, who indulge in the practice, are usually affected educationally, economically and socially.

“This is why today’s message is ‘Rise Above: United for a Drug-Free Society’.

“This means that the drug fight is not only for the NDLEA, who have the mandate to fight drugs in Nigeria.

“It is a societal issue that concerns parents, traditional rulers, religious rulers, the students themselves, and non-governmental organisations among others.

“So, united we stand at the community level, at the national level and the individual level.

“We all have to join our hands together to fight drug abuse and totally eradicate it in our society,” she said.

The NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, said the prevalence of drug and substance abuse was higher among people between the ages of 25 and 39 years.

“This is the productive age group of any country. So, we are in a big mess with drug abuse in Nigeria.

“We need to start doing something as soon as possible,” said Marwa, who was represented by Mrs Chizoba Etuka, the agency’s Assistant Director, NGO and Liaison.

The NDLEA boss said efforts were ongoing to prevent, educate and treat drug abusers.

He identified prevention as the key to winning the war against drug abuse, adding that prevention should, however, begin early enough by catching the youths at younger ages.

“We are going to schools to educate students because we want to catch them young; we don’t want to wait until it becomes a big problem.

“We are being proactive,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mrs Josie Mudashiru, founder, JAM Intervention for Vulnerable Children and Climate Change Initiative, identified partnership as critical to reducing the prevalence of drug abuse among Nigerian youths.

Expressing concern over the rate of drug use among youths, Mudashiru says it is not enough to keep saying the children or the youths are the future of Nigeria.

“If we don’t do anything about it now, then we will not have who to hand over Nigeria’s future to.

“We want to try to catch them young so that they will know the effects of drug abuse and stay away from it,” she said. (NAN)

Edited by Moses Solanke

Business , Defence/Security

Drug abuse destroying Nigeria’s future leaders – Etsu Kwali

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By Philip Yatai

Mr Luka Nizassan, Etsu of Kwali, Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says Nigeria’s future is at stake following the high rate of drug abuse among the youths.

Nizassan expressed the concern in Abuja on Tuesday, at a one-day Rise Above Conference, with the theme, “United for a Drug-free Life.”

The conference was organised by Al Masaareef Foundation, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), targeting more than 500 secondary school students.

He pointed out that Nigeria was losing potential future leaders who were addicted to drug and substance abuse.

He said that the prevalence of drug and substance abuse was alarming, not only among the youths, but even adults, particularly parents.

“Unfortunately, even some of the mentors and educators ate into drugs and it has become conventional that nobody sees anything wrong with it.

“The songs that we listen to today are promoting drugs.

“Drug abuse is prevalent everywhere, in the market, it’s in mosques, it’s in churches, in villages and in the government; it is everywhere.

“Until we decide to be concerted in our efforts towards dealing with drug related issues, our nation will not have the leaders that will take over this country tomorrow,” he said.

He said that the key stimulant to insecurity in the country was drug abuse, adding that a lot of persons were making money out of it, “yet, it is destroying the fabrics of this nation.”

The royal father advised students to be among persons that would rise above drug abuse, responsible for 40 per cent of Nigeria’s problems, particularly insecurity.

Nizassan said that insecurity had continued to stall development in the country because the problem of drug abuse, its key stimulant, had not been addressed.

According to him, stakeholders must stop paying lip service to drug abuse and be deliberate about addressing the menace.

“First, we need to crack down all the channels where these drugs are made available.

“As stakeholders, we need to wake up to our responsibilities and tackle the challenge, from where the drugs are produced to where the end users are.

“We all have roles to play at various stages of the supply chain, and when we wake up to our roles, we will be able to address the issue of drugs squarely.

“Until stakeholders wake up to their responsibilities, Nigeria will not be able to address the problem of drug abuse that is already affecting the future of children in the country.”

At community level, the royal father said that community leaders have a role to play in changing the narrative through concerted advocacies against drug abuse.

“We will continue to speak to our people, speak to our women, to our children, and our religious leaders,” he said.

Earlier, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Al Masaareef Foundation, Dr Hauwa Wambai, said that the 500 secondary school students were being mobilised to fight drug abuse among youth in the FCT.

Wambai explained that each of the 500 students, drawn from 62 wards across the six area councils of the FCT, would be expected to train five persons.

She added that each of the five persons would also train at least one person, adding that the strategy was expected to reach at least 2,500 youths with key messages against drug abuse. (NAN)

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Environment

World Toilet Day: NNPC Foundation advocates better sanitation policies, infrastructure

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By Emmanuella Anokam

The NNPC Foundation Limited has reiterated its commitment to promote global awareness and advocacy for better policies to mitigate sanitation crisis.

Mrs Emmanuella Arukwe, Managing Director NNPC Foundation Ltd., made this known on Tuesday while commemorating the 2024 World Toilet Day (WTD) at the Junior Secondary School, Peyi, Bwari Area Council, Abuja.

Arukwe underscored the need to invest in sanitation infrastructure to ensure cleaner water, healthier communities and sustainable ecosystems.

“NNPC Foundation is deeply committed to contributing to this global effort,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that World Toilet Day is celebrated annually on Nov. 19, to raise awareness on the lack of access to safe toilets and sanitation for billions of people worldwide.

The campaign inspires action to tackle the global sanitation crisis and achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-6, “Water and Sanitation for all by 2030”.

This year’s campaign with the theme “Toilet, a Place for Peace”, emphasises the role of safe toilets as a space for protection and progress.

Worldwide, 4.2 billion people live without safely managed sanitation and around 673 million people practise open defecation.

Arukwe, represented by Dr David Bala, Executive Director, Programme Development, NNPC Foundation Ltd., said by aligning its actions with SDG-6, it would ensure that it created a world where no one would be left behind.

“Our initiative focuses on raising awareness, advocating for better sanitation policies and supporting installation of clean and safe toilets in underprivileged areas.

“Today, 3.5 billion people lack access to safely managed sanitation, a statistics that highlights the scale of the global sanitation crisis (UN-Water, 2024).

“According to UNICEF, approximately 48 million Nigerians practise open defecation and only 10 per cent of the population have access to combined basic water, sanitation and hygiene services.

“This lack of access contributes significantly to the spread of diseases such as diarrhoea which claims the lives of over 70,000 Nigerian children under the age of five annually,” she said.

Arukwe added that sanitation was a pressing concern in the country, and that the absence of proper sanitation facilities continued to disproportionately affect women and girls.

This, she said, put them at risk of harassment and violence in public spaces.

She explained that inadequate sanitation could lead to learning disruptions at school for many girls, as they were often forced to stay home during menstruation due to the absence of hygienic facilities in schools.

“According to a report by UNICEF in 2023, improving sanitation access could boost attendance rates for adolescent girls by 11 per cent in low-income countries.

“Statistics from the World Health Organisation in 2023 says that 80 per cent of the wastewater from human activities flows back into the ecosystem untreated, thereby causing widespread environmental harm.

“As students and future leaders, your role in this movement is to share the knowledge you gain here today with your families and communities.

“Advocate for improved sanitation in your schools and public spaces and be part of the conversations that normalise discussions about toilets and hygiene, which aims to break down taboos and drive meaningful change.

“Remember, every small action counts. Let us work together to flush away the global sanitation crisis,” Arukwe added.

Earlier, the school Principal, Mr Bako Kumbam, commended the foundation for the programme, noting that it would sustain the campaign and promote understanding of the role of sanitation in disease prevention and health improvement.

Speaking on the programme, Miss Cynthia Otanwo, Head Girl of the school, while expressing satisfaction with the programme, thanked the NNPC Foundation for the enlightenment and exposure to sanitary etiquettes on toilet usage.

Master Moses Ifeanyichukwu, Head Boy of the school, said that ‘cleanliness is next to godliness’.

He urged the Federal Government to build more public toilets to prevent open defecation to avert diseases. (NAN)

Edited by Emmanuel Afonne

General News

Global peace foundation trains traditional, religious leaders on conflict resolution

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By Amen Gajira

A Non-Governmental Organisation, Global Peace Foundation (GBF), has trained traditional and religious leaders in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

Rev. John Hayab, Country Director of GBF, at the training in Kaduna, emphasised the importance of building the capacity of community leaders to become active instruments for resolving conflicts.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training, conducted in partnership with S.H.Makeri Consult, aims to empower community leaders with the capacity to resolve disputes amicably.

According to Hayab, humanity cannot be separated from differences, and sometimes managing those differences may result in conflict.

He noted that it was crucial for grassroots leaders to exhaust all available avenues to resolve disputes that often lead to violent conflicts in communities.

In his remarks, Sheikh Halliru Maraya, GBF’s Northern Co-ordinator, underscored the pivotal role of community leaders in shaping the destiny of their communities.

Mr Stephen Makeri, former Customary Court of Appeal President, Kaduna State, highlighted the benefits of adopting ADR practices in reducing the number of cases in courts.

On her part, Ms Dorcas Daniel, Director at the Multi-Door Courthouse, Kaduna High Court, emphasised the importance of ADR in resolving disputes, citing its time-saving, cost-effective, and relationship-building benefits.

She said that the training covered ADR mechanisms, types of mediation, and the Multi-Door Courthouse system.

Also, Usman Idris, a legal practitioner, presented a paper on the role of Sulhu (Arabic term for reconciliation) in contemporary dispute resolution.

The Agwom Kachia, Zamani Dogonyaro, commended the organisers of the training and pledged to step down the training in communities within his domain. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

General News

Broadcasters want policy to guide ethical, responsible broadcasting

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By Emmanuel Mogbede

The Society of Nigerian Broadcasters (SNB) on Monday in Abuja emphasised the need for a National Information Policy as a foundation to guide ethical and responsible broadcasting across the country.

Mr Ismail Sani, Vice-President (North-Central Zone), of the SNB, in a statement, said that such policy would ensure consistent and fair dissemination of accurate information to the public.

He said it would also ensure equal access to reliable information across regions of Nigeria, including rural areas.

“It will also promote media independence balanced with accountability to support the industry’s role in national development,” he said.

Sani said that the SNB, at its recent National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Lafia, resolved to collaborate with government bodies, regulatory authorities and private sector partners.

He said the essence was to advocate for priorities to create a broadcasting environment that would serve public interest, support national development goals and uphold the integrity of the Nigerian media on local and international platforms.

“While recognising the risks associated with the profession, the SNB called for stronger security measures to protect broadcasters, including physical security, for those working in challenging or high-risk environments.

“The SNG also called for cyber-security measures to protect data and infrastructure from digital threats, safeguarding the integrity of information,” he said.

He reiterated SNB’s commitment to welfare and continuous professional training programmes to equip broadcasters with skills in emerging technologies, ethical journalism and industry best practices.

Sani assured Nigerians that the society would pursue welfare initiatives aimed at supporting broadcasters’ well-being, enhanced job security and improved working conditions to promote motivation and long-term dedication to the profession.

He appealed to government at all levels to provide appropriate incentives to media houses to ameliorate the cost of energy that had forced some broadcasting stations to reduce hours of transmission.(NAN)

Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

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