Author Archives: daudupress

Maryam Aminu

Across Africa, the lack of good primary healthcare facilities is evident in most communities, especially remote ones. Disease outbreaks, high mortality, and the rise in non-communicable diseases are affecting the booming population of the various societies of the continents.

Declaring it’s commitment to take concrete steps to improve health equity across sectors and geographies and to help build a resilient and inclusive global economy that drives value for all, the Federal Government of Nigeria has expressed it’s commitment to adopt initiatives of 2023 Africa Center for Disease Control Youth pre- conference to achieve practical improvements in public health in the country

The Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio-Ibrahim made this known while delivering her keynote address at the occasion held in Lusaka, capital of Zambia, recently.

In a statement by the Head, Press & Public Relations Unit, Maryam Umar Yusuf, the Minister assured members that resolutions from the conference will be adopted in Nigeria in collaboration with Nigerian Center of Disease Control and the Federal Ministry of Health.

“This is an initiative we also commit to adopt in Nigeria in collaboration with Nigeria CDC and the Federal Ministry of Health.” She said.

The Africa CDC Youth Pre-Conference (YPC 2023), with the theme “Youth Leadership for a safer and healthier Africa,” is actualising this to forge innovative solutions for health security through initiatives

According to the organisers, the overall goal of the Africa CDC Youth Pre-Conference is to advance and institutionalise the
strategic engagement between Africa CDC and young people by providing a space for young people to critically reflect on the current state of public health in Africa, to share perspectives on the role of young people in public health, and exchange prospects and innovative solutions to enhance meaningful youth engagement in this area.

From records, the African continent with at least 65% of the population under the age of 30 has the world’s largest demography of young people.

Africa has an opportunity for the growth of the youth, but only when these new generations are fully empowered to realize their best potential. It is very important that young people are included in decision-making and given appropriate opportunities to work and innovate.
Youth innovation and participation in health systems are vital to building a safer and healthier Africa.

Maryam Aminu

Climate change is one global challenge of the 21st century. The continent is worst affected by the negative impacts of global warming and climate change. There is no doubt that the negative impacts of extreme weather events due to climate change has continued to increase in the African continent

The extent of devastation and destruction of lives and property, as well as loss of livelihoods were unprecedented

In recognition of this, The UN Information Centre for Nigeria and the World Meteorological Organisation on Monday 27th November, 2023 organised a one-day Media sensitization on climate change and COP28 in Abuja.

The workshop aimed to enhance media practitioners’ skills and knowledge on effective reporting of environmental and climate change issues, thereby fostering greater and improved climate change related coverage.
Speaking at the workshop, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Representatives for North, Central and West Africa, Bernard Edward Gomez said Media plays a critical role in communicating weather and climate information. Hence the need to build the capacity of journalists

Gomez added that the impacts of climate change are no longer distant threats.

“The impacts of climate change are no longer distant threats; they are unfolding before our very eyes, affecting every corner of the globe and Nigeria is not an exception. We are witnessing unprecedented heavy rainfall events leading to devastating floods, and rising sea levels threatening coastal communities.”

“These impacts are not just environmental; they are profoundly social, economic, and political, exacerbating existing inequalities and threatening the stability of nations”, said WMO representative.

Restating the role of journalism in addressing climate change, he said: “As the Fourth Estate of the realm, journalists have a critical responsibility to inform the public about the realities of climate change. By shedding light on the complex issues surrounding climate change, journalists empower individuals, communities, and policymakers to make informed decisions and to act.”

Speaking also, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Matthias Schmale said 2023 is on track to be the hottest year on record.

Schmale highlighted the severe impact of climate change in Nigeria, referencing last year’s staggering statistics of flooding-related casualties and destruction.

Schmale emphasized the responsibility of the media to report facts, explain the science, and outline the consequences of climate change for Nigerians.

“As journalists, you will have noticed the continuous stream of headlines about record-breaking temperatures this year. The hottest ever July, August, September, and October were all in 2023.

“In July, for four days in a row, the planet reached its hottest day ever recorded. According to preliminary estimates, another record was set just ten days ago on November 17th when the global average surface temperature was more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels for the first time. 2023 is on track to be the hottest year on record!

“In the North, desertification is causing the loss of arable land in 15 states. In the Middle Belt, gully erosion and flooding are forcing people from their ancestral homes. In the South, seasonal and flash flooding are destroying lives and livelihoods.

On his part the Director General, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu, restated the role of the media in ensurung that people receive accurate, timely, and relevant weather and climate information, which helps communities make climate-informed decisions and take appropriate actions to protect themselves and their property.

Matazu highlighted the vulnerability of third-world countries contributing minimally to global emissions.

He stressed the need for localized solutions based on local evidence of climate change.

By Emmanuel Daudu

     ……Enjoins member states to Address Humanitarian and Poverty Challenges In West Africa Using Newly Adopted Regional Social Protection Framework

Nigeria’s Minister For Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation,  Dr. Betta Edu is the new chairman of the ECOWAS Inter- Ministerial Committee on social Protection in west Africa Sub-region.

According to Rasheed Olanrewaju Zubair (ANIPR), Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, to Honourable Minister, MHAPA, in a press release on Tuesday 28/11/2023, Edu automatically becomes the chairman ,following the approval of the chairman of ECOWAS  Heads of State and Government and Nigeria’s President,Bola Ahmed Tinubu .

She called  For Private sectors and development Partners Involvement in the regional social protection framework, saying time for action is now.

Speaking in Banjul, the Capital of the Republic of Gambia, during the closing session of the hybrid inter-ministerial meeting to adopt the ECOWAS regional social protection framework and operational plan, Dr. Edu told the session that the adoption of the social protection framework by member countries and full implementation was key to overcoming humanitarian and poverty challenges in West Africa.

She  harped on the imperativeness of member countries of the Economic Community of West Africa States,  (ECOWAS) to work towards achieving maximum social protection in the sub-region.

Describing the meeting as crucial and remarkable as it is expected to grow the great initiatives and long-term efforts of the ECOWAS Commission with the support of partners in birthing the social protection instruments in the sub-sub-region, Minister who chaired the event virtually  argued that;

“Social Protection is a fundamental human right and should not be regarded as a privilege. It is a social and economic necessity that has proven to be a stabilizer in times of crises and shock, and it is meant to be provided throughout  life circle”

Dr. Edu pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the yawning gaps in the social protection of the world, particularly in the West African sub-region, which has one of the lowest social protections in the continent.

Records, she disclosed, have shown that the coverage of Social Protection in the ECOWAS region is the lowest in the continent with an average of about 17%  of the population receiving at least one form of social protection benefits and spending is equally low as studies show that as little as 1% of the GDP of member States is spent on social protection benefits apart from health considered a far cry in comparison to international standards which should not be acceptable in West Africa.

Citing Nigeria as an example,  the Minister, however,  acknowledged that member states were making giant strides towards addressing issues of social protection at the national level by developing policies and structures/programs to change the narratives.

She said Nigeria is presently implementing one of the highest social protection interventions that covers 15 million households and, by extension, 61 million individuals through conditional cash transfers. This she said  was the first of its magnitude and coverage in Africa by President Bola Tinubu, who is also the Chairman of ECOWAS, showing leadership in social protection within the region.

“Nigeria has a National Policy on Social Protection developed and other ancillary policies that will facilitate its operationalization, like the Cash and Voucher Assistance policy in Humanitarian context have equally been developed to guide actors in providing cash transfer assistance to the persons of concern in humanitarian setting.

“Also in terms of structures, we have Several Agencies and parastatals dedicated to providing various social protection assistance to different categories of the population of Nigeria to lift millions out of poverty through different Social Investment and intervention programs under the watch of the ministry of humanitarian Affairs and poverty alleviation.

“All interventions including humanitarian interventions are now redesigned through the lenses of the Humanitarian- Development-Peace nexus to ensure sustainable response.

“Most importantly, a  Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund has equally been approved by the Federal Executive Council to ensure the mobilization of resources for social protection interventions,” she said.

Dr. Edu who told the audience that  the time for action is now, stressed that the  Social Protection Framework for West Africa was intended to provide a broad set of guidelines and principles to ECOWAS and the Member States in the design and delivery of social protection interventions.

She was of the view that the effort was driven by the principle that the provision of comprehensive and adequate social protection would contribute to the improvement in the quality of life of the citizenry.

“In the light of the region’s exposure to a wide range of covariate shocks and common cross-border socio-economic challenges, the Framework aims at fostering higher levels of regional collaboration to broaden existing social protection systems and programs through a more coherent and effective approach to poverty reduction (SDG 1) and food and nutrition insecurity eradication (SDG 2) END HUNGER”, Dr. Edu emphasized.

The Framework, according to the Nigerian Minister,  contributes to the achievement of several social protection-related SDG targets, especially SDG target 1.3, which seeks to implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all.

Also, speaking at the Closing Ceremony of the ECOWAS Regional Session,  the Vice President of the Gambia, Muhammad Jallow, commended the commitment of the member states on social protection in the region.

“The framework seeks to address endemic issues such as financing, coverage, climate risk, and informality in our economies amongst others.

“One of the fundamental challenges in our region is that project-based social protection is ad hoc and unpredictable. As a region, we must move to mainstream social protection into our annual budgets.

“The Gambia hosted an international Social Protection conference earlier this month on the theme “Accelerating Financing for social protection to increase coverage and reach. “

“I am particularly pleased to note that the experts have dedicated a similar objective “ Improve fiscal space for comprehensive and inclusive social protection, ” he added.

The Closing Ceremony was attended by  ministers in charge of social protection in eleven countries and the Nigeria Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, who is the Chairman as well as regional heads of UNICEF, IFAO, WFP among others.

By Emmanuel Daudu

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, has requested Nokia Networks to increase its investments in Research and Development (R&D) to support the growth of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Nigeria.

In a press release signed by Reuben Muoka, Director, Public Affairs on November 26, 2023, Maida spoke when a delegation from Nokia Networks of Finland led by the Deputy Minister, Under-Secretary of State for International Trade from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Jarno Syrjala, visited the Commission recently to explore further opportunities for mutually-beneficial relationships.

He told the delegation that the Nigerian government is keenly interested in harnessing Nokia’s capabilities through technology transfer to support Nigerian youths in technical skills.

The Nigerian government is targeting training of three million youths in ICT skills to advance the country’s digital economy.  “We are keen on getting the youths employed, as our Ministry is targeting three million youths for skills acquisition,” the EVC said.

Maida informed the Nokia contingent that the Commission places primacy in R&D as the bedrock of any knowledge economy, and for advancement of innovation.

He, therefore, urged Nokia and other Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), to explore R&D opportunities to deepen local content development in Nigeria.

While congratulating Maida on his appointment by President Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s chief telecom regulator, Syrjala said the purpose of the visit was to explore areas of collaboration to support Nigeria’s digital economy agenda.

Syrjala recalled Nokia’s continued partnership with communications service providers in Nigeria, as well as cable and other operators to deliver critical network systems with high performance, reliability, and security.

He noted that Nokia already has an R&D centre in Nigeria, and would target greater investment in this regard.

By Emmanuel Daudu

On 21 November 2023, troops of Sector 3 Mutinaltional Joint Task Force neutralized 4 Boko Haram terrorists in Walo (Gashigar) and Kudagurgu (South of Malam Fatori) in Northern Borno State, Nigeria.

According to a press release signed by Lieutenant Colonel
Abubakar Abdullahi, Chief of Military Public Information
N’djamena – Chad during the weekend, 24 November 2023, narrated that during an advance to Gashigar to clear remnants of Boko Haram terrorists, troops encountered and neutralized 2 terrorists at Walo (Walada). The operation resulted in the recovery of 2 AK-47 rifles, 3 magazines, and 29 rounds of 7.62-millimeter special ammunition.

Similarly, troops  deployed in Malam Fatori conducted a fighting patrol to Kudagurgu, where 2 other terrorists were neutralized, and a significant cache of items, including IED making materials, one AK-47 rifle, and 3 magazines, were recovered.

These successful operations reflect the commitment and bravery of the Sector 3 MNJTF troops in their effort to totally defeat terrorism and create a peaceful environment in Lake Chad Basin region. The recovery of lethal weapons and other terrorism materials demonstrates the dedication and effectiveness of the troops in ensuring the safety and security of the region. The MNJTF remains resolute in its commitment to achieve its mandate.