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The UN Habitat Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Raymond Edoh has been awarded by the SDGs-Youth Africa on the basis of immense contributions in the implementation of the 17 SDGs across Africa stressing that his commitment in the achievements of the SDGs goals has earned him the continental honour.

The young oil mogul while speaking shortly after receiving the Award of Recognition, Dr. Edoh expressed hopes that the signing of the partnership deal would lead to better coordination and synergy amongst the uniform organisations and make it easier to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals at the grassroot levels.

He further expressed gratitude to the organisers of the event, particularly the SDG-Youth forum for the unique distinction given to him.

“The award means a lot to me because when you are recognised in this manner it means that people are seeing what you are doing and they appreciate you. This award will spur me into greater exploits and community service,”

Also speaking during the launch of the initiative, the Country Representative of SDGs Youth Nigeria, Engr. Ifeanyi Uzoh, expressed optimism that the partnership deal will enhance the ability of youth leaders and youth groups to localize the sustainable development goals in their communities whilst also developing policies and programmes that will enable young people to lead and thrive.

He stated that the five concerned key areas identified and the main focus are People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership. These areas are considered essential for achieving sustainable development, and a strategic partnership with the Uniform Youth Organizations is expected to make them more practicable and attainable, stressing that the SDGs Youth Nigeria are seeking to work with other organizations and stakeholders to promote sustainable development and achieve their goals.

“The essence of today’s event is to sign a partnership agreement between the SDG Youth Office and the National Association of Uniform Voluntary Organization (NAUVO) – that is, The Boys Scout, Girls Guide, Peace Corps of Nigeria, Royal Rangers International, and all the other Voluntary Youth Organisations that put on uniforms in Nigeria.

“This partnership initiative is geared towards executing five important projects that has to do with promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Also, we have been able to set up a Central Planning Committee that will pilot the execution of these projects, starting from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and then, to the 36 states of the Federation.

“The Partnership activities include: Establishment of SDG Clubs in Secondary Schools, SDG YOUTH Sports Festival for Secondary Schools, Miss SDG Youth Nigeria, End Gender Violence now, and the Menstrual Hygiene Project. These projects will help to drive the advocacy aspect of the SDG in Nigeria as well as the evaluation, implementation and monitoring of the projects,” Uzoh explained.

Earlier, while giving a lecture at the event, the UN Habitat Ambassador, Dr. Raymond Edoh has this to say.
“It’s worth joining this history making event that is occasioned to officially engage the Nigerian Uniform volunteers in the execution of the Nigerian SDGs- Youth Projects which holds today 12 May, 2023 At th MKO National Stadium, Abuja-Nigeria.

“The three major concern terms as to why we are here today are SDGs, Uniform, Volunteerism.
To start with SDGs, permit me to take us on a quick history.

“History: The 2030 global United Sustainable Development Goals known as SDGs in acronym, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.

“At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are:
GOAL 1: No Poverty, GOAL 2: Zero Hunger, GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-being, GOAL 4: Quality Education, GOAL 5: Gender Equality, GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, GOAL 10: Reduced Inequality, GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, GOAL 13: Climate Action, GOAL 14: Life Below Water, GOAL 15: Life on Land, GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions, GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal

“All these are an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.
The SDGs build on decades of work by countries and the UN, including the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
• In June 1992, at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, more than 178 countries adopted Agenda 21, a comprehensive plan of action to build a global partnership for sustainable development to improve human lives and protect the environment.
• Member States unanimously adopted the Millennium Declaration at the Millennium Summit in September 2000 at UN Headquarters in New York. The Summit led to the elaboration of eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to reduce extreme poverty by 2015.
• The Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development and the Plan of Implementation, adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in South Africa in 2002, reaffirmed the global community’s commitments to poverty eradication and the environment, and built on Agenda 21 and the Millennium Declaration by including more emphasis on multilateral partnerships.

“The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to transform our world. They are a call to action to end poverty and inequality, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy health, justice and prosperity. It is critical that no one is left behind.

“To achieve these goals, it is necessary that future decision-makers and stakeholders in society consider these goals to be important and that’s why we’re are all gathered here today.

“It was possible to categorize the SDGs into three higher-level factors that reflect the three pillars of sustainability (social, economic, environmental). These three pillars are considered to be of varying importance in different countries. We also correlated the ratings of these higher-level factors with country-specific indicators, such as the Human Development Index. The correlations between the indicators and the higher-level factors revealed that in countries with higher indices, the SDGs are rated as less important compared to in countries with lower indices. These results provide stakeholders with important guidance on how the SDGs should be promoted in their country.

“Coming to uniform volunteerism:
one sector of the social economy in the Nigerian Community that is viable and productive is the voluntary organisations.
Volunteerism is playing an important role in almost every field of our social activity. You contribute to employment creation, active citizenship, democracy, provide a wide range of services, play a major role in sport activities, represent citizens’ interests to various public authorities and play a major part in promoting and safeguarding human rights as well as having a crucial role in development policies.

“Volunteerism, over the years have made an increasing contribution to the development of Nigeria which is something that should be encouraged and to keep motivating the players by giving them more widows to showcase their talents, which is the major reason why we are here, today.
Volunteers however engage in a lot of roles including:
(a) Service delivery or provision to provide to their members or clients services such as social services, health care, training, information, advice or support.
(b) Advocacy: organisations whose purpose is to campaign, lobby, and otherwise argue on behalf of some cause or group with the aim of changing public perception or policy.
(c) Self-help or mutual aid: organisations typically formed by groups of individuals with some common interest or need in order to provide mutual help, information, support and cooperation.
(d) Resource and co-ordination: so-called “intermediary bodies” which co-ordinate the activities of, or provide information and support to, either individual organisations working in a particular field or to the sector in general. Such organisations fulfil the important function of providing an interface between the sector and public authorities.
Given this importance, the nigerian volunteering Community sees time as its most precious resource. So if you are considering volunteering, but wondering if it’s worth your time and effort, it’s important to remember that even though you won’t be earning a wage, the skills you gain are priceless.
Volunteers gain so much out of volunteering: new friends, a sense of purpose, a connection to the community and the satisfaction of helping others. You’ll also pick up plenty of soft skills that you can use to help you land to your dream job. Today, the SDGs Youth-Nigeria wants to engage you all because of the skills acquired over the years through volunteering.
Before we get into the skills gained from volunteering, it’s also worth highlighting the volunteer skills that organizations are looking out for.

“What qualities make a good volunteer?
Some of the key qualities that volunteer organizations look for are: Passion, Compassion, Strong work ethic, Teamwork, Time management, Positive attitude, Willingness to help.
These soft volunteer skills are more important than any technical or special skills for volunteering, as anyone with the right attitude and a willingness to learn can be trained for specific tasks. All of these skills we have seen in you and we want to see congratulations. You can celebrate your selves, please.

“We are engaging you all today because you all have acquired lots of skills ranging from ability for teamwork, problem solving, creativity, persistence, leadership skills, relationship building, confidence, punctuality, organization amongst many others. Please, don’t disappoint us, don’t disappoint SDGs Youth-Nigeria.

“I wouldn’t want to bother you with too much lecture today, but just to say a big congratulations for this little beginning. Assuredly, there would be a mutual benefit in the nearest future”, he added.

The partnership between the SDGs Youth Nigeria Office and the National Association of Uniform Voluntary Organisation (NAUVO) is a positive step towards promoting the involvement of young people in achieving the SDGs. The NAUVO is a group of young people who are committed to promoting volunteerism, community service, and national development.

Through this partnership, the SDGs Youth Nigeria Office and the NAUVO can work together to raise awareness about the SDGs, mobilize young people to take action towards achieving the goals, and monitor progress towards achieving the SDGs in Nigeria. This partnership is an excellent example of how collaboration between different organizations can help to promote sustainable development and improve the lives of people in Nigeria.

The initiative, according to the SDG Youth forum, is aimed at building a robust Public Private Partnership (PPP) with strategic youth organisations and civil society bodies in Nigeria to prioritise and achieve the SDGs.

The one-day event which held on Friday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja also sought to advocate for a more sustainable world by spreading vital information about climate change, supporting alternative energy research and protecting the environment, encouraging sustainable trade and consumption, and promoting more equal and sustainable lifestyles.

Also speaking, the National Coordinator of NAUVO, Amb. Abraham Kwaghfar gave a brief background of the organization. He said the National Association of Uniform Voluntary Organization was established in 2018 to serve as a rallying platform for all Uniform Voluntary Organizations towards greater synergy and national progress.

He noted that the Partnership initiative with the SDG Youth forum, was a timely and welcomed development, adding that the initiative will lead to greater synergy and productivity amongst the uniform organisations.

Amb. Kwaghfar also used the opportunity to call on the Federal Government and President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the Peace Corps Bill. He said the signing of the Bill will provide job opportunities and stem the tides of widespread insecurity across the country.

He said: “We want to use this opportunity to call on the Federal Government, particularly Mr. President, to do all within his power to sign our appeal that is before his table; that is, the Nigeria Peace Corps Bill. We strongly believe that if the Bill is signed, many of our members and sister-organisations will benefit from it. It will reduce crime and create job opportunities

President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR has conferred on the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq with the Commander of the Order of the Niger CON award.

This is contained in  a statement by the Ministry of Special Duties and Inter- Governmental Affairs on Sunday May 28, 2023.

According to a press release signed by Nneka Ikem Anibeze, SA Media, on Sunday stated that
Umar Farouq is among  75 recipients who received the prestigious National honors.

The CON Award is for her resilience and headlong confrontation of humanitarian crises in the country from August 2019 to May 28th, 2023 including poverty, Covid-19 pandemic, flooding, internal displacements, refugee crisis, youth unemployment, statelessness, fire disasters and Out of School Children challenges.

Earlier in his speech to the nation on Sunday, May 28, 2023, President Buhari stated among his achievements, the empowerment of the poor and vulnerable as well as acquisition of skills by young Nigerian graduates and non- graduates which fell under the ministerial portfolio of the Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq.

“ You would all recall the supply chain disruptions and economic downturn that the world witnessed between 2020 and 2022 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The deftness of our response to the pandemic still remains a global best practice.

“Furthermore, we increased the ability of the poor and rural Nigerians to earn a living, provided more food for millions in our villages and gave our women opportunities to earn a living.
Young men and women in urban centres were also supported to put their skills into productive use”.

Similarly on Friday at the Presidential Villa, President Buhari congratulated the Minister during the virtual unveiling of the 1st International Humanitarian Summit, while 
celebrating  the achievements held under the Humanitarian sector.

“I want to commend the Honourable Minister, the management and staff of the Ministry for exhibiting a high sense of leadership and dexterity in handling the affairs of Humanitarian Sector.

“Let me thank our partners, the donor agencies, Non-governmental Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, MDAs and the National Assembly for their support.

“As we bow out, it is my strong belief that that the Humanitarian sector is adequately prepared and equipped for better Service Delivery to Nigeria’s Vulnerable Groups. It is on
record that the empowerment programmes initiated and executed all over the country under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has impacted positively the lives of millions of Nigerians and had lifted millions out of poverty. I congratulate you for a job well done.”.

Sadiya Umar Farouq is the pioneer Minister of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

By Comrade Gambo Jagindi

From the old ancient town of Owoh, Ondo State, precisely on May 18, 1993, a healthy baby girl emerged, Elizabeth Itunnuayo, whose cry was hilariously sweet, echoed and lit up the lives of a Jewish-Nigerian couple,…

30 years down the road, the world has gathered to celebrate this rare Amazon, a delectable beauty queen with matching brains, a kind and ambitious woman, whose goal is to impact humanity by improving the lives of the less privileged, contributing to global social and economic development, and supporting Nigeria’s political growth.

The Harvard graduate, and wife of oil magnate and philanthropist, Tein Jack-Rich, made headlines in April 2020, when she became the first African woman to be featured on the cover of the 2020 World Finance Spring Magazine.

Her vision to add value to humanity remains rekindled with her husband’s unending passion to improve the lives of striving individuals.

This led to the creation of Elizabeth Jack Rich Aid Foundation (EJRAF) IN 2017, a non profit organisation, which has touched many lives and changed them for the better.

This is anchored on her belief often expressed in her husband’s words: “God has blessed me to impact on my generation’’.

It is therefore, not a surprise when prominent Nigerians, including a revered Yoruba Royal Father, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who considers Elizabeth his daughter, have so many intriguing things to say about her.

The paramount Yoruba King, who took to Instagram to share photos of the ex-beauty queen, when she turned 29 last year, described Elizabeth as a jewel, who he is proud to call his own, and grateful to have as a child.

Sharing her photos on social media, the Ooni said: “The greatest joy in life is having a jewel as a child, whom you can call your own in your thoughts, words, and deeds!! I’m eternally grateful for having you as a child, Dr. Elizabeth Itunnuayo Rich-Jack.

“As your birthday comes with incredible hidden stories of challenges and excellence, I celebrate your tenacity, your unrivalled and admirable courage, and most importantly, your selfless dedication to compassion for others.

“It is truly worthy to celebrate you every day as a shining light to many around you, a beacon of hope, and a torchbearer of inspiration with positive energy to others, especially our young women. You are a wonderful mother and wife to your darling husband, Tein Jack-Rich with a supernormal giving heart, and above all, an adorable daughter to me.

“May the Eledumare shower his matchless splendour and grace upon you throughout this treasured day, with immeasurable gifts. Lots of love from me.’’

Extolling the virtues of his wife, Jack-Rich said his wife is being celebrated as an instrument to gather Nigerians in leadership and persons from all walks of life, to share love and break bread.

He said: “I am greatly honoured and privileged to say that it came as an occasion of good tidings to continue to speak to Nigerians at home and abroad, sharing the need for a new dawn in our great Country.

“Your service to humanity shall fetch the needed cohesion for a rebirth, and to achieve public good.’’

And is his usual selflessness and love to humanity and country, Jack-Rich envisions his wife’s birthday celebration as a tool for cohesion, unity and sharing of love.

“As your birthday throws the smiles of a new beginning needed for a prosperous and more sustainable future, under cutting-edge visionary leadership, participants shall leave fulfilled.

“I am sure your birthday celebration shall usher in that hope for secured peace, renewed hope for the less opportune, supplies for the good and advancement of society,’’ he said.

For obvious reasons, many women would wish to be as lucky as she is in life, if not for anything, but the fact that her husband, Tein Jack-Rich, is a billionaire oil baron, and founder of Belema Oil Producing Limited.

But unlike many other women of her status, Dr. Elizabeth Jack-Rich has refused to be a “trophy wife.”

Born to Jewish Nigerian parents, like her husband, Jack Rich, Elizabeth is a philanthropist, an entrepreneur and business mogul.

The mother of two has established organisations that have grown into conglomerates, with footprints across West Africa and the U.S,.

Her investment portfolio touches several facets of the Nigerian society, drawing on its core operating values of integrity, mutual respect, customer service, innovation and safety.

In fact, the couple has been a great inspiration to many youngsters, and are being discussed as a template for a successful and happy marriage. Their union, according to those close to them, continues to inspire many that are hoping to find a lasting union.

Elizabeth on her part, is the Chief Executive Officer of EJRAF, an organisation with the vision to empower youths and women, eradicate poverty, promote education, health and financial inclusion, whilst preventing child and drug abuse in underserved communities of Nigeria.

She is a product of University of Applied Science and Management, Port-Novo, the University of Cambridge, UK, and the Harvard University.

Elizabeth also heads Elin Group Limited, a Lagos based consortium with a branch in the U.S, and with diverse investments in Real Estate development, Power Generation, Agricultural Development, Gas utilisation, Mining Operations, Maritime and Aviation.

Her vision to add value to humanity is therefore, aligned with her husband’s unending passion to improve the lives of striving individuals.

Jack-Rich, a frontline presidential aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), during the 2023 elections, believes that one of the ways to ensure a peaceful, economically and socially viable country is effective engagement of youths, and which is key to tackling insecurity and other social vices, that could hinder the growth and development of any nation.

The philanthropist, who also understands that leadership is strategic and visionary, and entails planning for the future where the young population can be converted into the economic value chain and provide the right solution in dealing with social issues, has introduced so many projects that have impacted positively on the youths.

Comrade Gambo Jagindi, Publisher, CEO of Aluta News, writes from Abuja via jagindi2016@gmail.com

The African Public Relations Association (APRA) recently ended its 34th  Annual Conference in Lusaka, Capital of  Zambia with a clarion call to African Public Relations (PR) Practitioners to leverage on rich African cultural heritage  to promote creative industry in the continent.                           

While delivering his address during  the Conference which  theme  was tagged “Creative Africa: Exploring the PR Potentials of Africa as an Emerging Economic and Reputation Powerhouse”, the immediate past  President of APRA Mr  Yomi Badejo Okusanya,  whose tenure of office expired on 19 May 2023  stated that Africa is endowed  with enormous potentials which have enabled her to  attain economic growth and development, even as the world’s fastest-growing continent.       

In order to consolidate this status quo, Mr Okusanya pointed out that PR Practitioners in the continent must strive to harness the  potentials,  availing themselves  the ample  opportunity  to promote Africa’s growth and development on the world stage.

According to him, in the current  rapidly  changing world, PR  has never been more important ;adding that  the world is undergoing  unprecedented challenges,  climate change, economic uncertainty, social and political upheaval.

In this regard,  Mr Okusanya posited that  effective PR  has a vital role to play in helping individuals, organizations, and governments to communicate effectively, build trust, and navigate complex issues.

He further explained that the creative industry is one of Africa’s fastest-growing sectors, and it makes a significant contribution to the continent’s economy. “The African creative industry is vast and diverse, encompassing music, film, television, fashion, art, and other disciplines”, he said.

Mr Okusanya also  hinted that a report by UNCTAD revealed  that  Africa’s creative industry generated $49 billion in revenue in 2018, with an annual growth rate of 14.2%.                               Continuing, he emphasized that the creative industry employs millions of Africans, with an estimated 2.4 million people working in the industry in South Africa alone. In his words,
“One of the most significant contributors to the African creative industry is the music industry.  African music industry was worth $68 million in 2018 and $83 million in 2022″.                           

This expansion, he said  can be attributed to the growing global popularity of African music, as well as the rise of digital streaming platforms, which have made it easier for artists to distribute their music and reach a wider audience. The former APRA President  gave assurance that as  the industry expands, more job opportunities and economic growth for the continent are expected.      
 
  Mr Okusanya  used the forum to remind African PR  professionals of their   unique opportunity to showcase the many strengths of Africa, from her  dynamic business environment to her  rich cultural heritage. He therefore  thanked         
the Zambian President who represented at the occasion  by the Zambian  Minister of Information and Media, Mr Cushi Kasanda for supporting the hosting of the conference in Zambia. Also,  he commended members of the Association for supporting him throughout his tenure in office and urged them to accord same support to any of the members who eventually emerges as the  elected  incoming APRA President.

Other keynote speakers at the conference included President International Public Relations Association (IPRA), Anne-Gret Hurriaga Abarzua; President Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication, Justin Green; President Zambia Institute of Public Relations and Communication (ZIPRC).

As part of activities mapped out  to commemorate   the Conference,  lectures on topical PR practices, Zambian cultural and fashion displays, award night for distinguished  APRA members and prominent  creative industries in Africa,  a visit to  popular tourists attraction  centre,  ‘Living Stone’ in the suburb of Zambia amongst other events  were organized for the benefit of the participants.                       Delegates from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Cote’ de–voire , South Africa, Tanzania, Gambia, Ireland, Caribbean Island and host country, Zambia  attended the conference. The venue for APRA 35th Conference slated to hold in 2024 is Cote’ de- voire.

Abyei, 21 May 2023 –Pakistani Battalion (PAKBATT) 1 serving with the United Nations Interim Force for Abyei (UNISFA), were today decorated with UN peacekeeping medals in recognition of their meritorious service to the people of Abyei. Addressing the peacekeepers, UNISFA Acting Head of Mission/Force Commander, Major General Benjamin
Olufemi Sawyerr applauded officers and soldiers of the Pakistani Battalion for continually serving with resilience and unwavering mettle in UNISFA despite the vulnerabilities and challenges of climatic conditions in Abyei Box.

General Sawyerr also commended the Pakistani
Contingent Commander, Lt. Col. Abdul Manan and his Battalion for the Professionalism and dedication exhibited in the implementation of UNISFA’s mandate and for bringing peace and stability to their area of responsibility.

The feat could not have been possible without your dynamic leadership qualities coupled
with the resilience and determination of an equally motivated and well-trained troop under your command, he said, adding that even during the time when your battalion was without full complement of its strength and COE, your resourcefulness ensured your troops
performed efficiently and wholeheartedly.

The Ag. Head of Mission commended the Battalion for their ability to pacify and mediate a riotous situation in Diffra oil field, curbing illegal weapons trafficking in the Abyei Box and embarking on creative CIMIC activities
that have helped win the hearts and minds of the locals positively towards UNISFA.

In his remarks, the Pakistani Battalion Commander of UNISFA, Lt Col Abdul Manan Thanks for Ag. Head of Mission/Force Commander for good leadership and for
believing in him by giving him the opportunity to contribute to the mission’s mandate implementation. He presented the Acting Head of Mission and Force Commander with the Battalion’s coveted regimental colour. The Regimental Colour according to Col. Manan, is the best gift he and his entire troops can give
to a senior officer who has led the mission with such leadership qualities and mentorship.
General Sawyer said the colour was a rare and privileged gift which he will forever cherished.
The Medal Parade was attended by the Deputy Force Commander, Brig. Gen Abu Syed Mohammod Bakir Senior Management Leaders of UNISFA, Sector Commanders, Force Headquarters staff officers, Contingent Commanders, Military and Police officers.

Have you been searching for an avenue to exhibit and tell the international Community what your firms/business/organization are into, stop searching, the US Trade Council in partnership with an international Non Governmental Organization, Decency Pan-African Youth Empowerment Initiative, (DPYEI), is organising another series of US-Africa Trade & Investment Global Summit aimed at Promoting International business between Africa & USA.

This would be an avenue to meet GLOBAL investors and high profile business moguls across the world.

The summit with the theme: “Harnessing Strategic U.S-Africa Partnership To Explore Global Market Share”.

The International investment summit would hold between 18 and 21st October, 2023 at the Holiday Inn & Suits Atlanta, GA, USA.

The organisers urged participants, business men/ women, Investors and scholars to register for the 6th edition of US-Africa Trade & Investment Global Summit (Promote International business between Africa & USA) on time.

According to a statement from the summit’s secretariat, Registration fee covers breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the duration of the 3 day conference.

Interested persons should email the organisers @ ella4decency@gmail.com or send information on WhatsApp for inquiry & registration: +2349010665592.

There are also opportunity to advertise your products in official magazine and the website of the event at a fee. Interested business ventures and organizations are to get in touch via the email address already provided.