Africa Security Investigation News

Maryam Aminu

In a significant stride towards youth empowerment, the Federal Government has called for the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to implement the strategic plans of the Ministry of youth development.

The strategic plans are aimed at providing young Nigerians with the necessary skills, mentorship, conducive environment and access to resources that will empower them to become active contributors to the country’s economy.

Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim, the Minister of Youth Development, made this call during a pivotal meeting with the Resident Representative of the UNDP, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, which took place at the Honourable Minister’s conference room in Abuja.

While shedding light on the strategic areas of the ministry’s agenda. Dr. Bio-Ibrahim said, “Our strategic ambition is to transform and reposition the Nigerian youth as catalysts for economic development. Young people must be an integral part of this process. We have other sub-ambitions, the first being a reduction in the youth unemployment rate, followed by an increase in youth possessing skills that are in line with global demand, and an increase in youth participation in social and economic development”

Dr Bio- Ibrahim expressed that the core tactical initiatives are focused on four pillars: Governance, Jobs and Skills Innovation, Culture and Behavioral Change, and Human Capital Development.

“These pillars aim to guide policy advocacy and development, improve coordination across stakeholders, and provide multi-agency youth programs and resources” she added

The Minister emphasized the determination of her ministry to establish communication governance frameworks, implement youth-embedded public and private sector mentorship programs, create multi-sector job off-taker platforms for youth employment, enhance NYSC reforms and establish youth villages and innovation centers.

She also disclosed plans to revitalize the national youth investment fund, launch the Young Leaders Institute, implement social, behavioral, and cultural change programs aimed at tackling youth-related issues such as climate change, gender, mental health, drug, and substance abuse.

The Minister further explained that the initiative includes provision of access to business literacy, financial management, and entrepreneurship training to meet the global market demand.

As part of efforts to actualise these initiatives, she disclosed plans to create more professional departments in the ministry

“We are currently seeking approval to create additional professional departments. However, the one that is particularly important to us is the Youth Well-being Department. It is crucial to create such a department because when young people have good mental health, they are more likely to be productive. Therefore, our goal is to prioritize the well-being of our youth”, she said.

She further said, “We are seeking approval to restart the Nigeria Investment Fund. If approved, it will enable us to employ the cluster approach with a view to enhancing youth development and empowerment. This, in turn, will lead to tangible sustainable impact on a great scale, and benefit our economy”.

Dr. Bio-Ibrahim maintained that one of the Ministry’s main goals is to increase the representation of young people in politics and governance at all levels by seeking the Council’s approval for 30 percent youth quota.

In his welcome remark, Dr. Donuma Umar Ahmed, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, expressed his sincere appreciation for the meeting with UNDP Resident Representative.

He posited that the meeting was aimed to bring about positive change in the lives of young people in Nigeria.

He urged the participants to be proactive in their contribution.

Speaking also, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, the Resident Representative of UNDP, gave the assurance that her organisation would provide support for the initiatives.

Attafuah lamented that the African continent is facing a daunting challenge as young people continue to struggle to find jobs, leading to frustration and the growing trend of going abroad to seek jobs.

She pointed out that it was high time to delve deeper into the root causes of the problem and take a more realistic approach towards youth empowerment and job creation.

“We must create more opportunities and find jobs for our people, as merely providing them with starter packs or training won’t solve it. We need to identify the obstacles that hold us back and tackle them head-on. Let’s work together to eradicate this problem and create a brighter future for our youth and our continent.” She said.

“In the four pillars, we will encourage everyone to think outside the box and explore innovative practices that align with the ever-changing world,” she added.

Ms. Attafuah expressed her eagerness to collaborate with the Ministry in the priority areas outlined by the Minister.

She stressed the importance of ensuring that the design, implementation, and operationalization are done properly

Maryam Aminu

Optiva Capital Partners Ltd has expressed the need to work with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) to boost diaspora investments in the Country

Receiving the delegation, on Thursday 21st March, 2024 in Abuja, the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Informed them that the commission serves as a link between Nigerians living abroad and the country by way of opening them up to investment opportunities in the country.

“NiDCOM serves as the bridge connecting Nigeria and its Diasporans, facilitating mutual growth and development.” She said

At NiDCOM, we are passionate about encouraging the diaspora to invest back in the country as it will go a long way toward contributing to the Gross Domestic Product of the country by generating employment opportunities in many sectors of the economy.

“I am glad and proud that in the past couple of years, we have seen the investment that Nigerians in the diaspora have made back home.

We have them investing in the healthcare, education, agri-business, real estate, and ICT sectors, among others.

The NiDCOM Boss briefed the delegations on the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS) which had been hosted six editions

She assured that the Commission will continue to build that bridge between Nigerians in Diaspora and their home country and build trust which I think is very important

Dabiri- Erewa who expressed willingness of NiDCOM to collaborate with Optiva Capital Partners Ltd set up a committee to work with Optiva for a strong strategic engagement to unlock greater investment in Nigeria,

Earlier speaking, the CEO of Optiva Capital Partners, Dr. Jane Kimemia, who led some members of the management from the company on a visit to the headquarters of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) used the opportunity to brief the Chairman about activities of Optiva Capital Partners Ltd saying our mission is to improve lives by protecting, enhancing and optimizing our clients’ wealth through our rich network of global partners, our experience, and integrity of our process.

Kimemia said the company
Optiva Capital Partners is a wealth management company specializing in investment immigration, investment advisory and insurance services and it provides a wide range of investment solutions across geographies and asset classes

“ this could serve as a platform that would provide the bridge through which diaspora investments would flow to the country using the vast network of international partners it is working with”

She added that Optiva is consistent with its drive to support Nigerians to grow their wealth.

Kimemia further stated that Nigerians, being the most global of Africans, seek global opportunities to meet the need for their children’s education, healthcare, access to more economies and markets to expand their trade and business.

She explained that, through second citizenship, Optiva Capital assists discerning Nigerians to save scarce foreign exchange because they pay a fraction of what non-citizens pay for education, healthcare, property, amongst other social benefits.

She disclosed that Optiva Capital currently has 23 branches across the country in Lagos, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Warri, Kano, Abuja, Onitsha etc

Our clients are global citizens, which we see Nigeria with her population of over 200 million people who can key into it.

“Also Nigeria has a viable market in various sectors of the economy that can thrive and that is where we come in,’’ she said.

“At Optiva we help Nigerians in the Diaspora bridge the gap of trust and dishonest third parties” she added

By Emmanuel Daudu

Environmental security refers to the protection of communities and individuals from potential environmental threats and risks that may arise from both natural and human-induced causes. These threats can arise due to various factors, including lack of knowledge, accidents, improper management, or intentional actions, and can occur within a specific nation or transcend national borders.

These environmental dangers can take many forms, such as natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, or wildfires. They can also include human-induced hazards like industrial accidents, pollution, deforestation, climate change, or the release of harmful substances into the environment. These environmental risks can have significant negative impacts on public safety, health, and wellbeing.

To address environmental security concerns, governments, international organizations, and communities work to develop policies, regulations, and practices focused on preventing and mitigating environmental risks. This may involve implementing measures to reduce pollution, promoting sustainable land and resource management, developing early warning systems for natural disasters, improving emergency response capabilities, and fostering international cooperation to address transboundary environmental challenges.

By prioritizing environmental security, societies aim to ensure the sustainability and resilience of their communities, minimize potential harm, and protect public health. The understanding and management of environmental risks are crucial for maintaining a safe and secure environment for present and future generations.

Environmental security is the relative public safety from environmental dangers caused by natural or human processes due to ignorance, accident, mismanagement or  design and originating within or across national borders.

Environmental security is the state of human–environment dynamics that includes restoration of the environment damaged by military actions, and amelioration of resource scarcities, environmental degradation, and biological threats that could lead to social disorder and conflict.

Environmental security is the proactive minimization of anthropogenic threats to the functional integrity of the biosphere and thus to its interdependent human component.

By ensuring environmental security we mean guarding against environmental degradation in order to preserve or protect human, material, and natural resources at scales ranging from global to local.

The term environmental security refers to a range of concerns that can be organized into three general categories:

1. Concerns about the adverse impact of human activities on the environment.

2. Concerns about the direct and indirect effects of various forms of environmental change (especially scarcity and degradation) which may be natural or human-generated on national and regional security.

3. Concerns about the insecurity individuals and groups (from small communities to humankind) experience due to environmental change such as water scarcity, air pollution, global warming, and so on. Combining these we might conclude that the condition of environmental security is one in which social systems interact with ecological systems in sustainable ways, all individuals have fair and reasonable access to environmental goods, and mechanisms exist to address environmental crises and conflicts.

Environmental security is the maintenance of the physical surroundings of society for its needs without diminishing the natural stock.

Environmental security is protectedness of natural environment and vital interests of citizens, society, the state from internal and external impacts, adverse processes and trends in development that threaten human health, biodiversity and sustainable functioning of ecosystems, and survival of humankind. Environmental security is an integral part of Russia’s national security.

Environmental security is the state of protection of vital interests of the individual, society, natural environment from threats resulting from anthropogenic and natural impacts on the environment

Traditionally, there are two main definitions of security according to the two main points of view:

Environmental security. The major challenge concerns the global environmental change, focusing on the interactions between ecosystems and mankind, the effects of global environmental change on environmental degradation, the effects of increasing social request for resources, ecosystem services, and environmental goods.

Human security. This item addresses different security aspects like social or political security. In this context, values at risk are the survival of human beings and their quality of life.

The relevant objects of environmental security are complex, adaptive systems with two main components – the social, characterized by human intent, and the ecological, rising without intent; these have interacted historically, and society strongly determines the landscape ecological components of such systems.

To introduce environmental security with reference to SESs, it is useful to refer to the definition provided by Arnold Wolfers in 1962, stating “Environmental security, in an objective sense, measures the absence of threats to acquired values, in a subjective sense, the absence of fear that such values will be attacked.”

Basically, it is necessary to consider that

security of SELs must be assessed both objectively and subjectively, because security is meaningless unless there is somebody perceiving it;

security is value laden, and what we consider values is related to our normative systems that nowadays recognize concepts like ecosystem functions and services, ecosystem integrity, and sustainability as fundamental values for the survival and well-being of mankind; and

humans have been historically providing threats to those values from local to global scale, but there are also threats coming from natural hazards and disasters.