Day: November 9, 2023

Some stakeholders in the poultry industry on Thursday expressed determination to support farmers in the Southwest geo-political zone with modern equipment.

The stakeholders, who spoke at a three- day Nigeria Poultry Show in Abeokuta, said poultry farmers needed support to succeed from both government and private sector.

Mr Femi Adelayo, the Director of Technology and Sales, Facco Walto West Africa Poultry Equipment company, said that the use of well-built poultry equipment was cost effective because of its quality.

“We want to ensure Nigerian farmers have the best quality available in the market in the best affordable price; all this ultimately is for Nigeria to be able to feed itself and to grow in food production.

“Faaco has been in Nigeria for over 40 years; it is one of the leading brand for poultry equipment in Nigeria.

“Primarily, what we do is that we add value to the farmers by providing quality equipment that last many years.

“We constantly continue to work on improving the quality of our products and find solution for farmers to be able to afford quality poultry equipment.’’

He said that the organisation was also into training and education of farmers on modern farm technologies.

“We collaborate with the other players in the industry; we ensure that we improve the quality of services and find solutions that are best for the farmers

“If you have a well-built farm even if things are not going well for sometimes but the equipment will still stand the test of time, unlike low quality equipment which will get spoilt easily if is not used for a while,” he said.

Mr Omotade Okeegbe, the Commercial Director for ADM Animal Nutrition Business, said that having a shared value would help to address some of the problems in the poultry industry.

“Our expertise is to provide support to farmers to come up with best Feed solution that will work for them, supporting feed millers in providing the right kind of feed for animal within the market, and our desire is to see the industry grow.

“In the NPS, we are looking at the frame work on how to really begin to resuscitate and re-energies the poultry Industry.’’

He expressed optimism that the event would present an opportunity not just for advertisement but for stakeholders to brainstorm the way forward in the poultry industry.

“We expect farmers to be part of the event, learn and also find out how we can be of more services and support to the industry which is what we are here for,” Okeegbe said.

The Chairman of the event, Dr Olalekan Odunsi, said 113 exhibitors from various poultry value chain industry were in attendance as against the 80 exhibitors that participated in 2022.

“This year’s event had shown that our expectations would be met, looking at the participation of different agricultural stakeholders from different countries and Nigeria.

“Also, the presence of government officials from the six southwest geo-political zone is a good sign that the poultry industry will in no time met all of its demands,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the participants included the New Hope Agriculture Technology Nigeria Ltd., Top Feed, AmoBying Nigeria Ltd., DSL Pharma, and Retech Farm.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy, and Development (SCDDD), and stakeholders have called on Nigerians to work for the peace, unity, and prosperity of the nation irrespective of their religious, tribal and political differences.

The stakeholders at a Roundtable Engagement on National Cohesion organised by SCDDD and supported by the MacArthur Foundation, said that the call was imperative to ensure security and development in Nigeria.

Amb. Brownson Dede, former Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia and acting Board Chairman, SCDDD, said, “Nigeria is our own and we must make it work.’’

Dede said that before the 2023 General Elections, Nigeria witnessed renewed strains of political-cum-religious violence and intolerance which almost led to political instability.

” This was amidst the banditry, militancy and organized kidnapping in some sub-regions of the country.”

According to Dede, the situation became a concern to the centre and it reconstituted its ‘Council of the Wise’ to utilise their skills, moral position, and convening power to foster peaceful 2023 elections that focused on nation-building.

” Today, the centre and its council are glad that the interventions across the country have yielded the expected result.

“This is by seeing Nigeria remain a united and indivisible nation despite its enormous and not insurmountable challenges before and after the elections.

” Now that the elections are over and a new administration is constituted, we owe it a duty as citizens to continue with critical national conversations.

” This is to promote, quality leadership and effective representation championed by constructive dialogue.”

Dede reiterated SCDDD’s commitment to research, policy analysis, advocacy, and training in the areas of conflict prevention, management, democracy, and sustainable development in Nigeria and Africa.

The Keynote Speaker, Prof. Remi Sonaiya, who spoke on National Security and a Secured Polity, said the roundtable was apt aimed at constructive engagement.

This, according to him, will strengthened national cohesion, ensure good and accountable governance in the Nigerian polity.

” The indices of good governance are undisputable: justice and fairness for all, adherence to the rule of law and inclusivity, all of it leading to a safe, secure and stable state in which people live in relative comfort and dignity.

“In such a state there is a shared sense by citizens that they are included in the project of governance, that they are not marginalised or left behind.”

Abimbola urged Nigerians to do more in holding their elected representatives to account.

He also enjoined citizens to continue to push for devolution of power, adding that the governments at all levels should give listening ears to the people.

Mr Aliyu Ibrahim,a former member of the House of Representatives, stressed the need for Nigeria to define a cohesive and well-articulated consensus-based national identity to tackle the challenges facing the country.

Ibrahim said ,“Unless we have a national identity as a fulcrum ,as a rallying point, nothing else can develop.

” We have to define what it means to be a Nigerian.We have failed in the quest for national identity and as long as we don’t have a national identity, forget about it.

” All the small nation states like Korea, Malaysia, Rwanda, Togo, Ethiopia have this but we don’t ,yet we are bigger than them in population, with more natural resources and manpower.

“So, we have to distil what is common to every ethnic nationality in Nigeria and every religion in Nigeria. Then we begin to build from the grassroots up to the national leve.’’

Mr Sani Yabagi ,National Chairman ,Inter-party Advisory Council(IPAC), said that a system of accountability needed to be put in place to curb impunity .

According to Yabagi , Nigeria is a country that has a lot of potentials.

” And its high time citizens began to unlock those potentials so as to grow the economy and stabilise the polity.

” Every other thing revolves around how we handle the economy and its impact on the average citizen ;the issue of education is key.

“This is because through that, people become self sufficient to begin to hold power to account and to contribute in all spheres of life because they are equipped at that point.

“ So, this workshop is aimed at sensitising Nigeria’s to be aware of their environment, and what should be their own contributions because we have a lot to contribute.

” Its about a collective effort and without you its not complete, so every Nigerian should stand and be counted for an inclusive, progressive nation and sustainable democracy.’’

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Chief Executive of Malaria Consortium, Dr James Tibenderana, says Nigeria has made huge progress in reducing malaria prevalence but a huge number of the population are still at risk of the disease.

Tibenderana said this on Wednesday in Abuja during a media conference to mark the NGO’s 20th anniversary of contributions to global health.

Established in 2003, Malaria Consortium is one of the world’s leading non-profit organisations involved in the prevention, control and treatment

of malaria and other communicable diseases among vulnerable populations.

The chief executive, therefore, said “even though Nigeria has made huge progress in the reduction of malaria prevalence, the nation still

carries a burden which reflects on transmission dynamics.

“Every single state in Nigeria is at risk of malaria; 97 per cent of the population is at risk of malaria; it is important to appreciate that.

“It is also important to appreciate that with the next interventions that are being deployed such as insecticide treated nets, indoor residual

spraying, testing, rapid diagnostic tests and all, we are getting the right treatment.

“However, we are not achieving optimal coverage of these tools.”

Tibenderana said that the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated in its last World Malaria Report that Nigeria accounts for 184,000 malaria deaths per annum.

He added that “it means 22 Nigerians would have died of malaria and about 530 would have fallen sick within one hour. This number was, however, larger 10 years ago, so, there has been some progress.

“But what has happened is that the mosquito and the parasite has had to adapt to the huge coverage that we have achieved in many countries. It is

important that we understand that the mosquito or the parasites do not remain the same. They respond to what is going on in the environment.

“One of the things we need to get better at which we have learnt is that as a global community, we have to adapt to changes taking place in the

mosquito and parasite cycle.

“We must have the next generation of new drugs, the next generation of insecticides and the next generation of nets.

“We also need to add to the pipeline, the next generation of vaccines so that as the mosquitoes and the parasites change, we have new tools to deploy.”

He appealed to Nigerians to make use of the insecticide treated mosquito nets, adding that a large percentage of the population who should be getting

the nets were not getting them, while those who got them were not using.

He said that though the expected malaria vaccine would help to reduce the prevalence, it does not work alone.

The chief executive said “the two vaccines recommended by WHO were on the basis that nets are being used and households have access to treatment whenever they have a fever.

“We don’t yet have a vaccine that works on its own and that type of vaccine is still a long way off. So, none of the tools that we are deploying

works alone, they work in combination.

“Sometimes, they are synergistic. In other words, the combined effect is greater than if you deploy them singly.

“So, for Nigeria to derive the optimal impact of these interventions, coverage needs to be high, use needs to be consistent and we all need to be involved in this struggle to free Nigeria from malaria.”

The group’s Country Director in Nigeria, Dr Kolawole Maxwell, said the organisation had secured 200 million dollars for ongoing malaria projects in

the country from 2020 to 2026.

He added that presently, the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention is ongoing in Abuja, and that every year it happens in 13 states of the nation where its services are carried out.

“We are covering close to 20 million Nigerians; we go from house to house to ensure that children are treated and prevented from having

malaria and of course dying from malaria.

“So, indeed we are celebrating 20 years of good partnership, prevention of Nigerian children from dying, working with government and

partners.”

Maxwell, however, said there is need to bring issues around new tools for malaria prevention and treatment to the fore.

He said “there is also the need to fast-track the elimination of malaria in Nigeria, where there is the highest burden of disease and

to seek continuous collaboration to apply the latest evidence.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Malaria Consortium has a mandate on maternal and child health, using malaria as entry point to bring technical and managerial support to the health system in Asia and Africa.

It started operations in Nigeria in 2008 and has reached vulnerable population of mainly women and children with prevention and treatment of malaria and other communicable diseases in 22 states and the FCT at different times.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Directorate of Technical Aid Corps (DTAC) says in advancing the big brother role to Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP), it is deploying soft-power diplomacy to improve the standard of education

Its Director-General, Dr Yusuf Yakub, made this known while addressing Technical Aid Corps (TAC) Volunteers, Education Minister, University authorities and other stakeholders in Kampala, Uganda.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Nkem Anyata-Lafia, the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the director-general on Thursday from Kampala, Uganda.

According to Anyata-Lafia, Yakub, said TAC remained an instrument of Nigeria’s foreign policy through which President Bola Tinubu’s administration wished to continue to deploy soft-power diplomacy to countries of ACP in line with his ‘4-D Agenda’.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 4-D foreign policy initiatives of the president are; Democracy, Development, Demography and Disspora.

Yakub said enormous advantages were derived from the soft-power diplomacy over coercion in nation-to-nation relations.

He said that strong bilateral ties and relations had existed between Nigeria and Uganda even before the establishment of the Missions in both their capital cities.

Yakub reminded his diverse audience that Nigeria recognised early its immense potential in human and natural resources.

He said, “Therefore, it took an Afro-centric stance to contribute to the development of sister- African countries as well as countries with sizable black populations across other continents in what is generally known as South-South co-operation.”

Yakub added that the provision of manpower to such ACP countries was a deliberate move that was meant to not only bridge the gap in capacities lacking in those nations, but to develop the needed skills among such host nations towards the attainment of self-reliance.

He added, “Uganda and Nigeria have come a long way.I recall that the first Chief Justice of Uganda,Justice Udo Udoma, was an eminent Nigerian jurist from today’s Cross River.

“It is no wonder,therefore,that when the TAC Scheme came on board with the establishment of the DTAC in 1987, Uganda became one of the first countries to receive volunteers and benefit from the scheme in 1988.

“35 years after,I am happy to observe that we have continued to deploy quality volunteers to Uganda.

“These volunteers, from what we have gathered in the course of this visitation and from what University authorities have, specifically, told us are thriving.

“They have continued to discharge their duties with dexterity and knowledge and have been adjudged by all as worthy Ambassadors of the Nigeria, who have exemplified character, conduct and learning wherever they are currently serving, ”

Earlier, during interactions with the volunteers at the Nigerian Mission in Kampala, most of the 75 volunteers ranged from Senior Lecturers,Associate Professors and Professors.

Others are Faculty Deans,Heads of Departments and Directors of Schools in the four Uganda Universities.

They expressed appreciation to TAC scheme for providing them the opportunity to contribute to global development.

Also in attendance were; Vice-Chancellor of Kampala International University,Prof.Mouhamad Mpezamihigo,that of Canvendish University, Prof. John Mogisha as well as Associate Prof. Ismail Gyagenda of Islamic University in Uganda( IUIU).

Others were the representative of the Vice-Chancellor of Kabale University, who is also Dean , Faculty of Engineering in the institution, Prof.Moses N. Twesigye-Omwe, who lauded the commitment of the TAC volunteers to duty and professionalism.

The DTAC delegation was amazed at the level of encomiums poured on the TAC scheme volunteers in the four citadels of higher learning where they were currently serving.

Also, it stated that the authorities of the various schools recommited to receiving more volunteers apart from expressing the wish to retain some of them whose two-year service tenure was nearing completion.

While also visiting the Hon. Minister for Education and Sports, the DTAC delegation was elated to note that the Minister of State for Primary Education,Dr Joyce Kalucha, said she was also trained by the Nigerian TAC volunteers in its earlier years of establishment.

The Ugandan team comprises of the Minister of State, the Commissioner for Higher Education,Timothy Ssejjoba;the Director,Higher Education;Dr Sophia Museene and Mpyangu Andrew and Senior Assistant Secretary, among others, informed the Nigerian delegation of ongoing reforms in the Ugandan education sector.

The team requested support from DTAC in order to bridge the identified gaps in such areas as;Oil and Gas Engineering/Technology, Aviation Engineering/Technology, the Sciences, Artificial Intelligence, among others.

The DTAC delegation comprised of Amb.Mohammed Mohammed,Director of Programmes; Mr Idris Saidu, acting Director, Finance and Accounts, as well as Mrs Rahila Kaura, acting Director, Monitoring and Evaluation.

They also met with the Permanent Secretary, Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs,where commitment was also elicited for more collaboration, co-operation and strengthening of existing ties in areas relevant to the TAC Scheme.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Our Beloved Girl Child Global Foundation, a Non-Governmental Oragnisation (NGO), has commended the efforts of Gov. Hope Uzodinma on women empowerment and promotion of the rights of the Girl-child.

President of the Foundation, Dr Lilian Agbazue, gave the commendation at a media conference on Thursday in Abuja

Agbazue said the first term of Gov. Uzodinma was characterized by initiatives and tangible deliverables that promoted women empowerment and the rights of the girl-child in Imo.

According to her, the Governor of Imo has done well in terms of the requirements of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa.

“This is also known as ‘The Maputo Protocol on Women’s Rights’. The Protocol guarantees extensive rights to women, including the right to take part in the political processes, to social and political equality with men.

“In addition, it has improved autonomy in their reproductive health decisions, and an end to harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation, among others.

“Without empowerment, women, as the largest proportion of our population will be vulnerable and impoverished due to the challenges caused by social, economic, cultural and political marginalisation,’’ she said

According to her, Uzodinma’s appointment of women to serve in different capacities in his administration is a clear demonstration of his desire to foster women’s right in the political processes and decision making processes.

She said Uzodinma’s 3Rs of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Recovery has indeed supported women economic empowerment and the rights of the girl-child in Imo.

“The governor has rehabilitated 305 Health Centres in the 305 electoral wards in the state; most of them equipped and provided with solar generated power.

“He returned peace to the state by tackling insecurity challenges with synergy from security agencies in the State.

“He constructed over 1,000km of roads across the state, including the Orlu/Owerri and Okigwe/Owerri roads and many ongoing constructions of roads in each of the 27 Local government areas of the State.

“Uzodinma has also revived the Ben Uwajumogu College of Education at Ihitte-Uboma and instituted a governing council to ensure its continuous function.

“The governor recruited and training 10,000 Primary school teachers in the State among many other projects,” she said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu is seeking support to boost infrastructure development to make Lagos a working megacity.

Sanwo-Olu said this at the High-level Mayoral Event on “Leveraging Cities and Municipalities for National Development” , at the ongoing 2023 AIF Market Place in Marrakesh, Morocco on Thursday.

According to him, the state already has a conducive environment for businesses to thrive and requires investment to create a destination for Africans.

“We have cleaned up our regulatory environment and opened our doors to ensure all red tapes have been removed.

“We have a one-stop shop in which investors can come in and tick all the boxes on how to settle into the system.

“So, you don’t have to runaround and begin to beat your head on navigating the space.

“Once the regulatory and judicial environment is clear, what it means is for the investment to come.

“We need investments in transport infrastructure and rail; we are building a rail system that can carry millions of people daily.

According to Sanwo-Olu, the rail corridor is meant to move between 5, 000 to 6, 000 passengers .

“The numbers are real and will speak to your return on investment.”

“We need investments on our waterways, building new water ferry terminals that will move people to different parts of the city; we need investment to build another airport.

“We need to build a regional airport that will serve not only the region in the country but the West African region, so the numbers are clear, and we have done all the feasibility to make it work,” he said.

The governor said there were also opportunities in the creative industry, as the state was working on building the biggest film city worth about 400 to 500 million dollars.

He said the state was building institutions for Africa’s creative industry, museums and theatre to keep African art and monuments, encourage Africans and make Africa a destination.

“And we can do this. Let us see Lagos as a small Africa where all of us can come, work, and play.

“You know we already have the biggest refinery and port, so we want all of it to work together

According to Sanwo-Olu, the state is looking for investments domiciled in local currency to de-risk foreign exchange.

“It will deepen our local currency and also help us de-risk foreign currency interest rates and all of it. So, indeed, it is a lot of money,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Farouk Saleh, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Metro Capital Advisory Group, reiterated the need to localise infrastructure ingredients on the continent.

Saleh, while speaking on ways of unlocking the potential of global manufacturing, called for the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on the continent.

According to him, his group is building a city to create jobs for our teaming youths, thus dissuading the “Japa” syndrome.

On challenges being faced by .. manufacturers in Nigeria, he said they were not insurmountable, especially with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

He, however, urged the Nigerian government and other governments on the continent to look into the issues of regulations, power, and forex for African manufacturers.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, says the Armed Forces of Nigeria has attained 27.9 per cent female participation in peace support operations as against the 17 per cent benchmark recommended by the United Nations.

Musa made this known at a one-day gender Mainstremming Conference with the theme: “Building Capacity Through Gender Mainstremming to meet Security Challenges” organised by the Defence Headquarters on Thursday in Abuja.

He said the Nigerian military had received encomium from notable international organisations, such as the UN and the Africa Union for adopting commendable gender mainstreaming policies in all its operations conducted within and outside the shores of Nigeria.

“As available record reveals that Armed Forces of Nigeria have been able to attain 27.9 per cent female participation in peacekeeping operations, surpassing the 17 per cent recommended benchmark by the United Nations.

“These deliberate efforts by the military is in line with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, mandating countries to develop own action plans to identify, evaluate and control efforts to achieve the objectives of Women, Peace and Security.

“The UN Security Council Resolution 1325 was mooted to ensure women and societal security needs are safeguarded through increased emphasis on prevention, protection and participation of women in military operations,” he said.

The CDS said the conference was also tailored at fashioning out the right ambience for the armed forces in designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating operational and administrative doctrines that would promote and enhance their capacity to combat the myriads of security challenges.

He said the asymmetric nature of current security challenges bedeviling the nation brings to bear the need for the military and other security agencies to adopt a more realistic gender mainstreaming strategy to defend and protect women and children during crisis.

He urged the participants and stakeholders to be open minded by engaging in constructive discussions that would further improve the existing gender policies and gender mainstreaming in the military.

Musa reiterated that the armed forces under his command would remain focused in championing gender based doctrinal policies both in its operations and other engagements.

The UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, commended the Federal Government for its continued efforts towards promoting gender mainstreaming in the nation’s armed forces.

Mohammed said the conference was apt in building on the Gender Policies for the Armed Forces of Nigeria launched in 2021, adding that Nigeria, like many other nations, faces many security challenges, both at the national and regional levels.

She said the UN would continue to support the federal government in its efforts to deepen gender inclusiveness and bridge the gender gaps in the armed forces.

She said the challenges had far reaching consequences, particularly for the most vulnerable members of society such as women and children.

According to her, the Nigerian Armed Forces continued to play pivotal roles in both preventing and responding to those security challenges while upholding human rights and safeguarding the national security.

“Gender mainstreaming is crucial to the peace process during and after conflict because it sits at the heart of our Sustainable Development Goals.

“Study after study has demonstrated that when we strengthen women’s resilience and leadership, everyone benefits, including men and boys.

“Women are more likely to foster inclusive modes of governance and coexistence, more likely to build peace and silence against, and more likely to invest in sustainable development and a cornerstone of peaceful, prosperous communities and societies.

“Women’s active participation and leadership at all levels is essential to building an inclusive, responsive, and accountable armed forces that reflects the diversity of the community service and better response to their needs,” she said.

The British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Atkinson, said the role of women in policy making in the defence, insecurity and operational frontline had grown and become steadily more important.

Atkinson said the UK and Nigeria had adopted and domesticated UNSCR 1325, which made the role of women in peace and security fundamental to the future of the nations’ defence and security.

She said that Nigeria had shown its commitment to the resolution in many ways such as in the protection of survivors of sexual violence, supporting the call to action to ensure the rights and wellbeing of children born of sexual violence in conflict.

According to her, inclusive military and security organisations are key to helping them meet the standards set out in these agreements.

“But I think it’s important too that we understand and pay tribute to the women at the grassroots who are working with their communities and upwards through the system to bring peace and security, reconciliation and support both the women and the men in their communities.

“We must make sure that gender considerations are fully integrated into policy, practices and operational environment and the armed forces can lead the way,” she said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria