MoFPED is ‘Home of Agricultural Finance in Uganda’

NaijaAgroNet:

The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) offices in Kampala, has been named the home of agricultural finance in Uganda, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The Secretary to the Treasury Mr. Keith Muhakanizi told correspondents that as the ‘Home’ for Agricultural Finance, the Ministry will among other things strengthen its coordination role at government level, hence relevant to agricultural finance development in Uganda.

In a joint statement the trio of NEPAD Agency’s Mwanja Ng’anjo, Making Finance Work for Africa Partnership’s Hugues Kamewe-Tsafack and Uganda Agribusiness Alliance’s Edward Katende, Mr. Muhakanizi was quoted as saying constituting a Taskforce to be chaired by the National Planning Authority, to among other things, guide the Treasury office in developing an institutional framework in MoFPED, for agricultural financing and the appropriate mechanisms to support this framework.

NaijaAgroNet gathered, the Taskforce will also design a work plan for the next year or so, which will inter-alia lead to the development of an agricultural finance policy and strategy for Uganda.

Members of this Taskforce include MoFPED, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries & Fisheries, Ministry of Trade, Industry & Cooperatives, Bank of Uganda, Uganda Agribusiness Alliance (UAA) etcetera.

Responding, Erick Sile, the Agricultural Finance Advisor at NEPAD Agency, said “Designating a “Home” for agricultural finance is a commendable and outstanding achievement in Uganda, as coordination of agricultural financing issues would ultimately contribute to formulation of policies and strategies that create a conducive environment for private sector entities, which in turn will have the right incentives, to increase their participation in the transformation of agriculture in Uganda.” 

Moreover, coordination of the public sector actions in agricultural finance will contribute to the strengthening of coherent, sustainable and socially responsible agricultural finance policies and supportive underlying legal and regulatory systems.

 
+Naija AgroNet  +Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) 
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Lagos collaborate UNICEF, development partners to end violence against children

NaijaAgroNet:

The Lagos State government in collaboration with the United States (US) Mission in Nigeria, United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), and other development partners, has launched a campaign to end violence against children, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Performing the launch, Wednesday, Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode said they have a clear moral, legal and economic imperative to end violence against children, adding that “We cannot allow the findings or the priority actions to remain on paper.”

NaijaAgroNet notes that millions of children suffer violence every year in Nigeria, approximately six out of every 10 children experience some form of physical, emotional and sexual violence before the age of 18 years, according to the Nigeria Violence against Children Survey, carried out by the National Population Commission, with support from UNICEF and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The survey, NaijaAgroNet further reports was presented to the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General on Violence against Children, Ms Marta Santos Pais at the Lagos State launch by the Chairman of the National Population Commission Eze Duruiheoma (SAN), revealed that: one in two children experience physical violence; one in four girls and one in ten boys experience sexual violence; and one in six girls and one in five boys experience emotional violence. 

The majority of children do not tell anyone what has happened to them and fewer than five per cent receive the help they need to recover.

“The study is a remarkable example of how research can bring to light the hidden face of violence against children” said Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General on Violence against Children, Ms Marta Santos Pais. “Making the true extent of violence visible is critical to mobilize public support and generate steady action towards its elimination.”

At the launch of the campaign, Lagos State announced the Priority Actions to be taken by state and non-state actors in short-term and long-term to effectively prevent and respond to violence against children. These priority responses were developed by a multi sectoral Technical Working Group from the State Ministries for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Education, health, Social Welfare, Justice, Information and the National Orientation Agency, Prison Service, Police, Civil Society, Non-Governmental Organizations, Community Based Organizations and Faith Based Organizations.

“While national level commitments are important, how these commitments are translated into action at state, local government area and ward level is critical” says Ms. Jean Gough, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria. “UNICEF congratulates Lagos on setting an example for the rest of Nigeria. We hope that where Lagos has led the way, other States will follow.”

“We have made progress in this fight but much still remains to be done” added U.S. Embassy Chargé d'Affaires, ad interim, Maria E. Brewer. “All children must be protected from abuse, violence, exploitation, and neglect. Violence against children is never justified. Violence is preventable.”

 
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Pic:  (R -L) Hon Sanni Eshinlokun - Deputy Speaker  Lagos State House of Assembly (representing Governor Akinwunmi Ambode), Dr. Howard Kress - US Centers for Disease Control, Mrs. Lola Akande – Commissioner Lagos state Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Ms. Marta Santos Pais – Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General on Violence against Children, Eze Duruiheoma (SAN) – Chairman National Population Commission, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode – Wife of the Executive Governor of Lagos state.

 

Abuja goes personal with Share A Coke II

NaijaAgroNet:

 

The residents of Diamond Park, Market Road, Kubwa in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja woke up to a delightful surprise over the weekend as Coca-Cola stormed the prestigious community with the Share-a-Coke activation, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Thousands of residents could not believe their luck as they filled the activation venue to get their own personalized Coca-Cola cans and be a part of the fun event.

The residential community is one of the numerous consumer groups in Abuja to savour the Share-a-Coke campaign, which has continued to spread excitement across the country since the launch of its second edition in December.

Savouring a PET bottle of iced cold Coca-Cola given freely to all consumers during the activation, Ibrahim Mogaji, an Engineer who customized 15 cans for his friends and loved ones, expressed joy and applauded Coca-Cola for re-introducing the novel campaign to the Nigerian Market two years in a row.

Mogaji said that, “I am so excited that Coca-Cola has re-introduced this campaign to Nigerians. Last year, I was not fortunate to have my name on a Coca-Cola bottle. Now, not only has Coca-Cola re-introduced the campaign, it has also brought it right to my door-step. My wife and I are even more excited about having our favourite phrases on Coca-Cola cans, along with our names.

‘’It is like playing romance in a new way. Using all internet things, the emoticons to personalize my Coca-Cola cans at the same time is really interesting. I must confess that this indeed is a great experience to have, such a big international brand work tirelessly to connect with all of its customers in Nigeria.”

Speaking on behalf of the brand, Marketing Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Patricia Jemibewon disclosed that Coca-Cola recognizes Nigerians’ ever-growing love for indigenous names and smileys with its Share-a-Coke campaign.

 

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Take action to unleash community-based forestry, FAO tells govts

NaijaAgroNet:

Governments across the world have been urged to take action to unleash community-based forestry, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Eva Müller, Director of FAO's Forestry Policy and Resources Division, Ms Eva Muller made this call and said that Community-based forestry has shown itself to be a potent vehicle for promoting sustainable forest management, reducing poverty and generating jobs and income for rural communities.

She said that unlocking its true potential will require greater support by governments through policy reforms and other measures.

Many community-based forestry regimes, she said, are showing great promise as engines for sustainable development but are still performing below their potential, a new FAO report released today at the start of Asia-Pacific Forestry Week says.

Under the approach, local communities partner with governments to play a lead role in making land-use decisions and managing the forestry resources they depend on for their livelihoods.

"Forty years of community based forestry: A review of extent and effectiveness", she said, adding that almost one-third of the world's forest area is now estimated to be under some form of community-based management.

Yet in many cases, while in practice policies may exist for the decentralization and devolution of rights and responsibilities to communities, the right conditions may not yet be in place for them to fully exercise their rights. 

  
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