Nigeria ranks bottom 10 on child flourishing - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet: 

In a landmark report released by a Commission convened by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and The Lancet, Nigeria ranked in the bottom 10 for performance on child flourishing.

The ranking is based on factors including measures of child survival and well-being such as health, education, nutrition, equity and income gaps.

The report, A Future for the World’s Children?, includes a new global index of 180 countries, comparing performance on child flourishing.  Nigeria ranks 174 out of 180 countries, below Afghanistan, Sierra Leone and South Sudan.

[Top & Bottom 10 countries; Interactive Index, Full Global Index on pp. 35-38] [1].

The report finds that the health and future of every child and adolescent worldwide is under immediate threat from ecological degradation, climate change and exploitative marketing practices that push heavily processed fast food, sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco at children. According to the report, no single country is adequately protecting children’s health, their environment and their futures.

“This demonstrates how far we still need to go in Nigeria to ensure children can live healthy lives in an environment where they can thrive. We know that investing in the future of our children, giving them an education and making sure they are healthy and receive the right nutrition, works to provide a better future for everyone.  We all have a responsibility to do everything we can to protect the health and future of every Nigerian child,” said Claes Johansson, UNICEF Nigeria Representative a.i.

According to the report, while the poorest countries need to do more to support their children’s ability to live healthy lives, excessive carbon emissions – disproportionately from wealthier countries – threaten the future of all children. If global warming exceeds 4°C by the year 2100 in line with current projections, this would lead to devastating health consequences for children, due to rising ocean levels, heatwaves, proliferation of diseases like malaria and dengue, and malnutrition.

The index shows that children in Norway, the Republic of Korea, and the Netherlands have the best chance at survival and well-being, while children in Central African Republic, Chad, Somalia, Niger and Mali face the worst odds.

“More than 2 billion people live in countries where development is hampered by humanitarian crises, conflicts, and natural disasters, problems increasingly linked with climate change,” said Minister Awa Coll-Seck from Senegal, Co-Chair of the Commission. “While some of the poorest countries have among the lowest CO₂ emissions, many are exposed to the harshest impacts of a rapidly changing climate. Promoting better conditions today for children to survive and thrive nationally does not have to come at the cost of eroding children’s futures globally.”   

A manifesto for immediate action on child and adolescent health

To protect children, the independent Commission’s authors called for a new global movement driven by and for children. Specific recommendations include:

1. Stop CO₂ emissions with the utmost urgency, to ensure children have a future on this planet
2. Place children and adolescents at the centre of efforts to achieve sustainable development
3. New policies and investment in all sectors to work towards child health and rights
4. Incorporate children’s voices into policy decisions
5. Tighten national regulation of harmful commercial marketing, supported by a new Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Dr. Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief of The Lancet family of journals, said: “The opportunity is great. The evidence is available. The tools are at hand. From heads-of-state to local government, from UN leaders to children themselves, this Commission calls for the birth of a new era for child and adolescent health. It will take courage and commitment to deliver. It is the supreme test of our generation.”

“From the climate crisis to obesity and harmful commercial marketing, children around the world are having to contend with threats that were unimaginable just a few generations ago,” said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director. “It is time for a rethink on child health, one which places children at the top of every government’s development agenda and puts their well-being above all considerations.”

“This report shows that the world’s decision makers are, too often, failing today’s children and youth: failing to protect their health, failing to protect their rights, and failing to protect their planet,” Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization said. “This must be a wakeup call for countries to invest in child health and development, ensure their voices are heard, protect their rights, and build a future that is fit for children.”

Isaac Oyimah/Editor

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Kano to partner FG on Pfizer-inspired diagnosis centre - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

The Kano State government, would be partnering the Federal Government to bring back to live, the abandoned Pfizer-sponsored diagnosis centre in Kwanar Dawaki, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The centre, a multi-billion Naira establishment, NaijaAgroNet gathered, was funded by Pfizer for over 10 years, due to alleged gaps between the state and the company, which later in 2012 was given to the then Northwest University, Kano (now Yusuf Maitama Sule University), as Teaching Hospital, then, would be resuscitated to become fully functional.

This was disclosed by the governor of Kano State Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje when he paid inspection visit to the Centre with the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Emmanuel Enahire, who was in Kano, for 2020 Kano Primary Health Care Summit.

He said with the support of the federal government, on the facility his administration would do a great work there, adding that, "The real issue is that, the facility was built by Pfizer and then disagreement erupted between Pfizer and the then state government."

The governor made it clear that "We will try our best to see that we contact Pfizer and discuss with them, so as to see what are the gaps that need our attention. We will try and fill in those gaps, because it will be for the benefit of our people."

"We will also look at other areas like consumables to dialogue with the Pfizer. Even then management of the facility would be discussed with them, to have good landing for the facility to bounce back to good use. We will definitely dialogue with them. Because we cannot afford to waste the costly machines that are put in place," he assured.

Impressed by the types of machines he saw at the facility, the Health Minister, Dr Enahire, said he was moved by what he saw, some installed and some not installed, hinting that, "This facility will go a long way in further developing quality research for scholars and students."

"There is still opportunity for collaboration between this facility and similar ones across the country. For example there is a similar facility in Lagos. And in other similar places," said the Minister.

Being under the Yusuf Maitama Sule University, students of Anatomy, Physiology and Medical Biochemistry use the facility under Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences.

Some of the Laboratories visited by the governor and the Minister during the visit included Histopathology Lab, Immunology Lab, Chemical Pathology Lab and  Hematology Lab, among others.

The visitors were briefed that at Hematology Lab, the machines that were installed are Genotype Machine, Molecular and DNA Analysis Machine. At the Lab a Special Refrigerator that has Minus 50°C temperature, that has the capacity to keep samples for over 50 years.

At Chemical Pathology Lab, visitors were briefed that the Machines for Kidney and Liver test are superb and could take all tests under clinical research, sometimes at a time.

It was also revealed that, some of the Machines that came with consumables, the consumables were expired. While those Machines that were installed, needed trained staff to run them, those that were not installed, needed both installations and training of staff.

Another machine at Microbiology Lab, Microbacterial Growth Indicator Machine can take 7 days for diagnosis unlike the traditional 40 days, as obtained by other similar machines. This according to the explanation, could help to drastically reduce TB cases.

The Centre, as a Research Centre, as at now, attracts many scholars and students, PhD students particularly, even from far away Calabar city. Generally, it was observed and advised that, what was needed for the immediate utilisation of all machines, was largely installation and training, that was referred to going back to drawing board.

Isaac Oyimah/Editor

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Sao Tome & Principe partners IFAD to improve nutrition - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet: 

The International Fund for Agricultural Development of the United Nations (IFAD) is supporting a new project to increase incomes, improve food and nutrition security and build the resilience of at least 34,800 rural farmers of Sao Tome and Principe, an island country highly affected by climate change, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Rising sea levels and climate disturbances put the poor rural people of the country at risk, impacting its agriculture and fisheries.

Micronutrient deficiency rates in Sao Tome and Principe are also alarming, with 96 per cent of preschool children and 18 per cent of girls and pregnant women suffering from vitamin A deficiencies. The malnutrition rate for children under five is more than 17 per cent.

To address these issues, the financing agreement for the Commercialization, Agricultural Production Nutrition Project (COMPRAN) was signed today by Donal Brown, Associate Vice-President of IFAD, Programme Management Department and Osvaldo Tavares dos Santos Vaz, Minister of Finance of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe.

With 69 per cent of the young people in Sao Tome and Principe unemployed, this €19.2 million programme will target young people, aiming for at least 50 per cent. It will contribute to livelihood development, improved nutrition and resilience, all of which are critical areas for the country to achieve food security, as well as meeting several Sustainable Development Goals, including no poverty, zero hunger, gender equality and climate action (SDGs 1, 2, 5 and 13).

Funding includes an €0.9 million loan and €3.8 million grant from IFAD. In addition, the Government of Sao Tome and Principe is providing €0.4 million, with a further €0.5 million contributed by beneficiaries themselves and significant cofinancing from other development partners.

“COMPRAN is an innovative project that will also strengthen capacities of key rural public and private institutions in the country to catalyse and well manage investments and strengthen public-private and producer partnerships, at both central and decentralized levels. This will ensure the continuity and the sustainability of the gains of the former Smallholder Commercial Agriculture Project that registered huge achievements and impact on the livelihoods of rural populations through increased incomes,” said Emime Ndihokubwayo, Country Director for Sao Tome and Principe.

Isaac Oyimah/Editor

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Power to Nigerians: Lumos to the rescue - NaijaAgroNet

Feature@NaijaAgroNet:

Clamour for affordable clean energy for all is the Sustainable Development Goal 7, REMMY NWEKE in this piece, examines how Lumos 'Yellow Box' is coming to the rescue of Nigerians for renewable energy solutions.

Never Expect Power Always (NEPA) for most Nigerians mean different things. For a child that alerts family on return of public power supply with resounding ‘Up NEPA!’ to a mother who simply declares, ‘Thank God for NEPA’ and father who laments the inability of National Electric Power Authority (NEPA); a public utility for the supply of electricity to the entire citizen, reputed for lack of service but forceful payment of NEPA bills, otherwise the little shared power supply may be disconnected.

And when disconnected, the following-up exercise with NEPA officials to reconnect you after payment and arming yourself with receipt, may not still give you power without tips to the field electricians and area marketers, could take a whole day, which requires you abandons every other thing to queue after the ‘tin god’ field officers.

On the other hand, due to shared electricity of one-day on, one-day off, you were able to save and buy a generating set, at least, the one called ‘I better pass my neighbour’ only to discover that you provide more power time for yourself than NEPA. This forced some industry watchers to describe ownership of any generating set as an individual independent power supplier and overhead maintenance cost and attendant misperformance, courtesy of unwary mechanics.

These are synopsis of some key reasons most Nigerians do not expect public power supply always.

Average temperature in Nigeria:

In the midst of this, Nigeria is known as a tropical nation that could be very steamy and dry. According to online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, “there are a total of four climate types which affect the weather in the region. Those are the equatorial monsoon or tropical rainforest climate, tropical Savannah climate, tropical dry climate and Alpine climate.

To sum up if Nigeria is hot or cold, the ClimatesToTravel experts noted that in the northern Nigeria, winter is warm and dry; it could get uncomfortably hot during the day, up to 40 °C (104 °F), but it's usually cool at night, and even get cold in the northern hilly areas, where cold records are around freezing (0 °C or 32 °F).

For instance, an average temperature for Lagos, the commercial centre of the nation, is between 73 and 92 Centigrades or Celsius unit of temperature, all year round, in line with Climate-zone. Succinctly put, 0°C is the freezing point of water and 100°C is the boiling point of water. Centigrade is an old fashioned name for Celsius, which could be shortened to °C.

So, for possible alternative options in a Nigerian like environment, solar power sounds more reasonable, because as a reliable and resilient energy source, when installed, generates clean, renewable energy round the year.

Although cold weather reportedly prevents solar panels from heating up, but a solar panel will still do its job so long there is sunlight and cold temperature will not impact electricity production. Factually, hot climates could cause solar panel overheat. Thus, solar panels actually produce electricity more efficiently in cold weather. In winter months, solar panels will brighten user’s day and home.

Energy Efficiency by 2020:

The 2013 Power Sector Reform targets renewable energy technologies to contribute to the overall goal to achieve 18 per cent of electricity generation from renewables by 2025 and 20 per cent by 2030 across the small-hydro: 2,000MW (600MW in 2015); solar photovoltaics: 500MW; biomass-based power plants: 400MW (50MW in 2015); wind: 40MW and electrification level of 75 per cent in 2025 (60 per cent in 2015);

While the National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy developed by the Federal Ministry of Power as at 2014 and was approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2015, consolidated previous policies, with main aim at developing power generation through renewables and energy efficiency capacity by 2020.

Additionally, NaijaAgroNet gathered that the Rural Electrification Strategy and Implementation Plan is a follow-up to the primary objective to expand access to electricity as rapidly as possible in a cost-effective manner via grid and off-grid approaches from renewable and thermal sources in rural areas.

Noteworthy is that Nigeria is a signatory to the Kyoto protocol and has in place a National Policy on Climate Change and Response Strategy for implementing climate change activities in the country.

How affordable is clean energy:

As global population continues to grow, so also will demands for cheap energy, thus investing in solar, wind and thermal power to improve energy productivity, and ensuring energy for all is vital if we are to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 by 2030.

According to the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, António Guterres, whose office is leading a Sustainable Energy for All initiative to ensure universal access to modern energy services, improve efficiency and increase use of renewable sources, “Expanding infrastructure and upgrading technology to provide clean and more efficient energy in all countries will encourage growth and help the environment.”

UN facts and figures available to NaijaAgroNet showed that energy is the main contributor to climate change; to the tune of about 60 per cent of greenhouse gases. Just as one in seven persons still lacks electricity, and most of them live in rural areas of developing countries. Pointing out that more efficient energy standards could reduce building and industry electricity consumption by 14 percent.

Special Report on Goal 7:

Presenting the 2019 special edition “Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals Report” the Secretary-General, Mr. Guterres, at a high-level political forum on sustainable development, convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council, noted that Goal 7, which is to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all; that access to electricity in the poorest countries has begun to accelerate, energy efficiency continues to improve and renewable energy is making gains in electricity sector.

He underscored the fact that despite this progress, some 800 million people remain without electricity while access to clean cooking fuels and technologies needs dedicated attention. In addition, if SDG 7, 13 and related goals are to be met, much higher levels of ambition are required with regard to renewable energy, including transportation and heating.

Global electrification rate, he said, rose to 87 per cent in 2015, with increased acceleration to 89 per cent in 2017. But, some 840m people around the world are still without access to electricity. While global share of the population with access to clean cooking fuels and technologies reached 61 per cent in 2017, stressing that despite this progress, close to 3 billion people still rely primarily on inefficient and polluting cooking systems.

He said, “The renewable energy share of total final energy consumption gradually increased from 16.6 per cent in 2010 to 17.5 per cent in 2016, though much faster change is required to meet climate goals. Even though the absolute level of renewable energy consumption has grown by more than 18 per cent since 2010, only since 2012 has the growth of renewables outpaced the growth of total energy consumption.

"Global primary energy intensity per ratio of energy used per unit of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) improved from 5.9 in 2010 to 5.1 in 2016, a rate of improvement of 2.3 per cent, which is still short of the 2.7 per cent annual rate needed to reach target 3 of Sustainable Development Goal 7.

"International financial flows to developing countries in support of clean and renewable energy reached $18.6 billion in 2016, almost doubling from $9.9 billion in 2010."

Lumos to the rescue:

For a graphic artist, Mr Bayo, not having sufficient lights during the Christmas and New Year seasons to make designs for as many as possible, hence he began search for possible options and by the time he finished analyzing various cost implications, resolved to try the Lumos Mobile Electricity powered by MTN Nigeria Communications, equally called MTN Yellow Box; following series of messages he received before Christmas day, as to install and get on month and when recharged one month, he would get another month free. Thus attractive and affordable to acquire with about N25,000, which is less than $ 68.633 USD.

Similarly, NaijaAgroNet gathered that the MTN Yellow box afforded Bayo access to electricity whenever needs arise, which, stood it out because no need to start the generating sets and when you compared even if its only N1000 every two days used in fueling the genset, its better imagined the saves he made, outside the comfort he gained without disturbing his neighbours with gen-sounds and emissions as every day presents a little sunshine, he literarily must have electricity for hours.

Bayo explained that his Lumos lights up his sitting room which serves as current workshop plus kitchen, and charges his two mobile phones and power appliances including two rechargeable fans, LED TVs, and two laptops.

Bayo told NaijaAgroNet sagely he can afford power now from both Direct Current (DC) from the solar, which is compatible with appliances and Alternative Current (AC) compatible appliances with this Lumos Mobile Electricity system, namely with DC having up to 100 Wax (accumulative) and 12 Voltage.

By using the AC component, he said, appliances of up to 60W and 220 Volts, stressing, MTN maintained the box cannot support air conditioners, deep freezers, refrigerators, electric cookers, washing machines, AC ceiling fans among others.

But for anyone to join this service, he said, must first obtain an MTN Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card which is linked with the service to enable customers recharge with airtimes, which is another plus.

This, NaijaAgroNet also gathered entails a certified and authorized installer coming to the location to complete the process, via customer’s mobile phone.

Summary:
One of the key lessons learnt, according to Bayo in using Lumos Mobile Electricity for a while now is that when the ‘yellow’ display button is ‘on’ it means the power is switched off and when the ‘off’ is displayed, the light will be on for use and any connection will be supplied light.

Whereas the advantages of solar power like Lumos, NaijaAgroNet reports, is that pollution reduce drastically as no greenhouse gases to be emitted after installation; dependence on fuel for generating set and fossil fuels. Renewable clean power that is available every day of the year, even cloudy day produces some power to sustain a small business like Bayos.

And for growing Nigerian, desirous of electricity without much ado, moreso a small business entrepreneur like Bayo, if we must and is ready to reduce unemployment, especially among the youth and innovative minds, who want to change the electricity narrative in Nigeria to always not only to expect power but constantly use to improve the socio-economic activities, definitely, Lumos comes to the rescue.

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Nigerian govt must scale-up nutrition says CS-SUNN – NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet: 

The Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) has called on governments at all levels to scale-up nutrition provision of basic package of nutrition services, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Making this call in Lagos, Wednesday at the end of a one-day media roundtable on Micro-Nutrient Deficiency Control in collaboration with the Federal Ministries of Health and Agriculture, the Executive Secretary, CS-SUNN, Mrs. Beatrice Eluaka, said the government must scale-up nutrition across the Primary Health Care Centres in the country.

She also said that there is need for massive sensitization, education and awareness creation to provoke behavioural changes that will promote adequate Infant and Young Child Feeding practices in the country.

According to her, early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six (6) months of life and adequate complementary feeding are key behavioural traits required for scaling up nutrition.

In addition, she said, provision of routine services in Primary Health Care centers will promote distribution of Micronutrient powder, Iron/Folic Acid supplements and Zinc including Vitamin A supplementation for Pregnant Women and Children respectively.

“We call on state governments to scale-up not only the provision and distribution of these supplements to hard- to- reach areas and across health facilities during the MNCH week but also counselling to ensure compliance. We urge Nigerians to diversify their diet and to ensure adequate nutrition by consuming a wide range of foods, including vegetables, proteins and fruits to improve their nutritional status,” she said.

CS-SUNN, Mrs Eluaka said, had supported some State Committees on Food and Nutrition including the Lagos State Committee on Food and Nutrition to develop and cost their plans. Low funding for nutrition has been one of the major setbacks to implementation of nutrition interventions.

“We again urge states without budget lines for nutrition to create such and ensure releases with specific funds allotted to interventions around micronutrient powder, biofortification, iron folate supplementation and Vitamin A supplementation among others. We also underscore the need to strengthen multisectoral coordination across institutional structures documented in the National Policy for Food and Nutrition to address the causes of MNDC and the need for promotion of the production of bio-fortified crops among Nigerian farmers, to ensure availability for consumption among Nigerians.

“Some of these measures, if in place will reduce the incidence of micro nutrient deficiencies and contribute to improving nutrition outcomes in Nigeria,” she said.

Isaac Oyimah/Editor

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Pix: Lagos State Coordinator Dr Mrs Modupe Akinyinka, Executive Sec. Mrs Beatrice Eluaka, SUN Nigeria Ambassador Mrs Lola Alonge and representative of Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), Mr Uruakpa John at the one day media roundtable in Lagos.

How Agrikore boosts diversification of Nigeria’s economy

NaijaAgroNet:

When he assumed office in 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari made a passionate appeal to youth to engage in agriculture as a means of job and wealth creation as well as economic diversification.

His administration then introduced various initiatives to achieve this objective. They include the backward integration drive that birthed the directive to dairy companies to source local raw materials for their milk products, and the Central Bank of Nigeria’s agriculture intervention/collaboration schemes. An excellent example of the partnerships is the 10,000 hectares oil-palm plantation in Kogi State between the CBN and Agro-based Non-Governmental Organisation, Stocks and Minas Agricultural Advocacy Network Africa (SMAANA).

However, the initiatives have only impacted food production and wealth creation in trickles, no thanks to the inefficient Agric value-chain.

Issues including poor storage, transportation and distribution have steadily retarded the sector’s growth and stopped it from achieving its potential as a foreign exchange earner. Though inputs including fertilisers, tractors, seeds and even loans have been made available to farmers, the nation’s dream to feed itself and export the rest is yet to be actualised.

How then can we reduce inefficiency and wastages in the Agric value-chain for the benefit of all stakeholders and Nigerians?

Innovation via technological advancement holds the key to unlocking the potentials of the agricultural sector.

To this end, leading pan-African technology company, Cellulant Corporation, operating in Nigeria and 19 other African countries, introduced and deployed a solution called Agrikore.

Agrikore is a blockchain-based smart-contracting, payments and marketplace system-based platform. It is an ingenious digital platform that ensures everyone in the agricultural eco-system; farmers, community aggregators, food processors, financial institutions, insurance companies, governments, development companies, and logistics companies, relate truthfully with each other.

Blockchain refers to a data structure that makes it possible to create a digital ledger of data and share it among a network of independent parties.

Cellulant, through Agrikore, provides the platform which farmers, logistics companies, wholesalers, community aggregators and others come aboard and carry out end to end transactions from the farmers to the consumers. It enables aggregators to organise cereal/grain farmers to focus on farming while the community aggregators ensure logistics companies can pick up the produce. They also ensure they are transported conveniently and that farmers receive fair value for their crops.

This helps make everyone in the Agric value chain to focus and perform their task optimally, ensuring value is created.

Cellulant recently held a partners’ summit attended by players across the Agric sector. Participants had nothing but praise for the company as they confirmed they have been reaping profits from signing up on the Agrikore platform.

The platform currently caters to cereal/ grain farmers, with plans to extend to other crops soonest.

Fittingly, Cellulant’s strides are being recognised by development partners and financial institutions. At the partners meeting, Wema Bank signed an agreement to provide N2 billion in loans via Agrikore to prospective farmers, thus improving the economic diversification drive.



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Moyamed Bin Zayed solar lifts West African PV complex - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

The African Energy Chamber (https://EnergyChamber.org/) addresses its heartfelt congratulations to the Republic of Togo for breaking ground on its 50MW Mohamed Bin Zayed Photovoltaic Solar Power Complex today in Blitta. The project was launched in presence of H.E. Faure E. Gnassingbe, President of the Republic of Togo, and Hussain Al Nowais, Chairman of AMEA Power, the company in charge of designing, financing, building, launching, operating and maintaining the facility.

The Moyamed Bin Zayed Solar PV Complex is West Africa’s largest ongoing solar PV project, and supports Togo’s ambitions to increase its rural electrification rate to 50% by 2022, and 100% by 2030.

“AMEA Power is a foreign investor who understands Africa and has demonstrated a commitment to supporting local content wherever it operates,” declared Nj Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber and CEO of the Centurion Law Group. “As public and private sector interest for Africa grows in the Middle East, such players are most welcomed. Their work in and with Africa contributes to the development of a sustainable and prosperous future.”

The project further confirms the growing presence of AMEA Power in the continent. The UAE-based company has become a serious investor in Africa’s energy sector and represents the growing appetite of private players and investors from the Middle East to invest in Africa. At the end of 2019, Saudi Arabia-based ACWA Power signed two long-term power purchase agreements for 250MW of solar PV projects in Ethiopia, while state-owned ADNOC is reportedly looking at several investments into the African upstream oil & gas sector.

Isaac Oyimah/Editor

Pix: Pöllö - Own work, CC BY 3.0, 

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EU lifts Jigawa, Kano States with water, sanitation facilities - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet: 

Estimated one million people in six Local Government Areas (LGA) of Jigawa and Kano States will benefit from improved access to safe water and sanitation facilities following the completion of several water and sanitation facilities in the six LGAs, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Built with support from the European Union (EU), the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities will go a long way towards ensuring that people in Nigeria have access to safe WASH services.

Data from the WASH National Outcome Routine Mapping (WASH NORM) show that 47 million Nigerians practice open defecation, only 11 percent of Nigerians have access to complete basic water, sanitation and hygiene services and only 13 percent of schools have access to basic water and sanitation services.

The lack of WASH facilities in schools are of serious concern as children who do not have access to water, are most likely to lose interest in pursuing learning opportunities because they are forced to spend more time in search for water during school hours or stay out of school to recover from illness caused by frequent episodes of diarrhea. More than 100,000 children under five years of age die each year due to water borne diseases like diarrhea, of which 90 percent is directly attributed to unsafe water and sanitation.

Access to clean drinking water is a human right - just like the right to food and the right to live without torture and racial discrimination. And ending open defecation and making water, sanitation, and hygiene services available to all Nigerians is one of the biggest challenges as construction and management of facilities requires sustained investments and more partnerships, especially with the private sector. The Nigeria Government should invest 3 times more in the water sector making sure that every Nigeria has access to clean water and a toilet as the lack of access to water is impacting the wellbeing specially of the most vulnerable.

The EU, through UNICEF, is supporting the Government of Nigeria to achieve the objectives of the national campaign on an open defecation free Nigeria launched last year and the state of emergency declared on the WASH sector by the President in 2018.

The EU-funded programmes support WASH projects in urban and rural areas through the provision of water schemes, technical assistance and capacity development to sector institutions and agencies responsible, and improved access to safe water, adequate sanitation and hygiene services in communities. The European Union has invested more than 250 million Euros in the Nigerian water sector, aimed at improving the WASH conditions of more than 10 million people in 14 States across the country.

Isaac Oyimah/Editor

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Ekiti gears up for total zero oil diversification - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

The Ekiti state government has disclosed plans to domesticate the Federal Government’s zero oil strategy for total diversification of the economy in its drive to reposition the state’s finances, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Femi Ajayi, disclosed this during the presentation of the detailed analysis of the 2020 budget to stakeholders in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday.

Ajayi said the size of the 2020 budget of N124,724,869,355.95 made up of N53,538,093.59 and N71,186,775,549.36 capital and recurrent expenditures respectively was within the ambit of the requirements for the fiscally sustainable plan of the Federal Government

He explained that the budget was in line with fiscal policy of having a purposeful and all-inclusive budget that will serve as a tool for the implementation of socio-economic policy and prudent management of available resources.

The Commissioner said the 2020 budget preparation took into cognizance the interests of all towns, communities and interests groups, adding that the budget was woven round the five cardinal programmes of the administration to deliver on its electioneering promises to the people of the state.”

According to him, “The 2020 budget represents a reduction of N5,199,602,779.06 or (4%) from the 2019 budget size of N129,924,472,135.01. the operational dynamics of the 2020 budget was to reduce the budget performance variance in the 2020 fiscal year to ensure compliance with the requirement of the state fiscal transparency, accountability and sustainability programmes for results which allows only 20 per cent variance in implementation.”

Ajayi added that the reduction was also informed by the need to have a more realistic budget, considering the dwindling allocation from the federation account.

Analysing the 2019 budget of restoration upon which the 2020 budget of deliverables was hinged, the Budget commissioner said 2019 budget was prepared to restore the core values of Ekiti people and revamp the state economy which was designed to widen the scope of revenue generation by widening the tax net and blocking all leakages in the revenue accrued to government.

He explained further that the budget was financed principally from revenue from federal allocation, internally generated revenue, value-added tax, funds from international donor agencies, grants from the federal government and other sources.

The commissioner also explained that the focus of the 2020 budget, christened “Budget of Deliverables” was to establish a fiscal framework that would transform the socio-economic activities of the state and situate Ekiti in the right perspective in the committee of states in Nigeria. He added that the budget was to drive Ekiti towards agricultural, industrial and knowledge base of the Nigerian economy through completion of all ongoing capital projects across the state and commencing other legacy projects.

He highlighted the objectives of the budget to include consolidation of the achievements recorded in core values of the state; establishing a fiscal framework that will positively translate the present economic realities to a major viable agricultural and industrial base of the Nigerian economy; to pursue aggressive revenue generation drive within the ambit of the law and reduce the dependence of the state on allocation from the federal government; to invest in human capital and strengthen the human resources base through strategic investments in qualitative education and health care delivery to all as well as improve ease of doing business and provide enabling socio-economic environment required for the success of government reforms.

While seeking the continued support of the people for Governor Kayode Fayemi administration to bring its lofty ideas and programmes into reality, the commissioner noted that the implementation of the budget will further improve the lives of the people and stimulate economic activities in the state.

Isaac Oyimah/Editor
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Gov. Ortom escapes herdsmen attack in his farm - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet: 

The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has recounted how he was attacked by suspected herdsmen while at his farm located along Makurdi-Naka road in Makurdi, Benue State capital, last weekend, reports NaijaAgroNet.

While speaking during an interview with newsmen in Makurdi, the governor said;

“Just last week, I was on my farm that is situated in the outskirts of Makurdi town when armed herdsmen came there and shot at me. They also shot at the vehicle of our Livestock Guards who came there and shattered it. We had to call the joint military security team, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), who came and saved the situation,” Ortom lamented.

The governor vowed never to bow to any attempt to intimidate him for speaking up for his people. He also repeated his call for arrest and prosecution of Miyetti Allah leaders for allegedly instigating violence against farmers in Benue state.

Benue state has recorded one of the highest numbers of farmers/herdsmen attacks.

Isaac Oyimah/Editor

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NLNG signs sale, purchase agreement with Eni - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) and Eni have signed a LNG Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) for some of the remarketed volumes from NLNG’s Trains 1, 2 and 3, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The agreement, according to the General Manager, External Relations, Eyono Fatayi-Williams, is for the supply of 1.5mtpa for a 10 year term on a Delivered Ex-ship (DES) and Free on Board (FOB) basis.

The agreement, Fatayi-Williams told NaijaAgroNet, signified customers’ confidence in NLNG as a trusted, safe and reliable LNG supplier in the world.

The company added that it is primed for taking up a position in the ranks of top LNG companies with plans to grow its market share. The SPA with Eni advances the ongoing plans by NLNG to remarket volumes from the three trains.

NLNG is an incorporated Joint-Venture owned by four Shareholders, namely, the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (49 per cent), Shell Gas B.V. (25.6 per cent), Total Gaz Electricite Holdings France (15%), and Eni International N.A. N. V. S.àr.l (10.4 per cent).

Isaac Oyimah/Editor

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ASH commends Adams on smoking cessation report - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

The Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Jerome Adams, has been commended for the release of “Smoking Cessation: A Report of the Surgeon General," reports NaijaAgroNet.

The Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) gave this applause, Thursday in a press statement endorsed by Megan Arendt and made available to NaijaAgroNet, saying that Surgeon General deserves commendation for once again leading the fight against tobacco addiction, disease and death.

ASH noted in particular, Dr. Jerome Adams and his staff should be commended for making it clear that access to treatment greatly improves success in quitting and that providing access is a critical component in the fight to end the tobacco epidemic.

"For too long, cessation has been the ugly step child of the tobacco control movement and the nation’s public health priorities. There are several reasons for this: confidence that the epidemic can be ended by preventing youth uptake, a misunderstanding that cessation treatment is costly, and a thinly-veiled belief that adult smokers brought it upon themselves," Arendt said.

Pointing that "We have made great strides in reducing youth tobacco use (although the vaping crisis threatens to undermine that success). But victory over big tobacco requires fighting on all fronts, as outlined in the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). We cannot expect to win without large numbers of adult smokers quitting, and many can’t quit without therapy."

Emphasising that even where access to cessation is available, it is inexplicably limited. Many health plans that cover nicotine replacement therapy impose strict time limits, even though it is in their own financial interest to help smokers quit.

"Most smokers want to quit, but many are highly addicted to the nicotine and can’t do so cold turkey or on their first try. As the Report highlights, several quit attempts are often required," Arendt maintained.

ASH equally said that while the benefit of cessation for smokers is obvious, society as a whole profits from smokers becoming non-smokers. Smoking costs the country over $300 billion annually, and much of that cost is borne by governments, meaning taxpayers. As Dr. Adams shared today, every American pays roughly $1,000 every year to cover the national cost of smoking.

The group insisted on the imperative to stop seeing smokers as the perpetrators of the tobacco epidemic. As the Report notes, nearly all started in adolescence, and became hooked on a product that was engineered to be as addictive as possible.

"Children cannot sign contracts, vote, or rent a car; legal authority comes at the age of 18 for a reason. Certainly, a middle schooler cannot consent to become a nicotine addict. The blame for the tobacco epidemic rests squarely on the tobacco industry, but governments bear some responsibility for allowing a product that is addictive and kills when used as intended to be sold in nearly every corner store," the group said.

The human right to health – which is well recognized in international law – says that every human has the right to the highest attainable standard of health. In a rich society like the U.S., access to smoking cessation treatment is certainly attainable.

"We also have a duty under human rights to seek equity in human development, especially for vulnerable populations. Racial minorities and the LGBT community have been particularly targeted by tobacco industry marketing, and consequently suffer disproportionately from the tobacco epidemic," ASH submitted.

Isaac Oyimah/Editor

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Marathon Oil meets President Mbasogo, commits to support Gas Mega Hub - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet: 

The Marathon Oil Corp, one of the biggest energy investors in Equatorial Guinea, has met with the country's president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, committing to increase its investment in the required infrastructure to support the Government’s vision for the Gas Mega Hub, reports NaijaAgroNet.

In company of H.E. Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons, President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo met this week with Marathon Oil Chairman, President and CEO Lee Tillman and Executive Vice President Mitch Little to discuss Marathon Oil’s short and long-term future plans in the country.

Marathon Oil reiterated its commitment to Equatorial Guinea and towards the development of the country’s Gas Mega Hub, including unlocking funding to promote the delivery of gas from neighboring countries and cross-border fields to maximize existing facilities and possibly consider a second LNG train. Marathon Oil also declared support for the Ministry’s efforts to construct a modular refinery in Punta Europa by undertaking a conceptual study on the Ministry’s behalf.

“Marathon’s disciplined and consistent performance is going to ensure that Equatorial Guinea can continue to count on a partner that is tried, true and tested when it comes to running world-class gas projects. I have no doubt that under Chairman, President and CEO Lee Tillman, Marathon will continue to be a strong, resilient, and well positioned partner for the future of Equatorial Guinea,” stated H.E. Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons

Marathon Oil continues to prioritize the ongoing Alen backfill project currently under implementation with Noble Energy, Glencore, Atlas and Gunvor. Efforts are underway to accelerate gas for delivery by year end 2020, while currently scheduled for first quarter 2021. The project is an important step towards replacing declining output from the Alba field.

Furthermore, both parties agreed to immediately commence feasibility studies related to methanol to gasoline and other methanol derivatives, in coordination with the Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons. “President Obiang expects and demands of my Ministry and Marathon, today and for the foreseeable future, to work on creating an integrated set of solutions that are required — ranging from producing hydrocarbons in Equatorial Guinea efficiently to developing policies that encourage long-term investments that create jobs and opportunities for our citizens,” added H.E. Minister Obiang Lima.

Many foreign investors are planning to increase their investment in Equatorial Guinea this year, or enter the market to tap into several opportunities across the hydrocarbons and mining value chains under the Year of Investment initiative.

Details of the program are available at www.investineg.com and interested investors are encouraged to contact the Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons to discuss investment opportunities and projects.

Isaac Oyimah/Editor

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Putin reappoints Novak energy Minister - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

The Russian President, Vladimir Putin has reappointed Alexander Novak as the country's energy minister, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Reacting to the appointment, the African Energy Chamber welcomes the reappointment of Minister Novak who has always supported the establishment of new alliances with Africa and believes this move signals the potential for further cooperation for Russia and Africa.

“Minister Novak has ensured that African companies have a seat at the table, built partnerships and pushed President Putin’s mission to broaden and strengthen relationships with Africa,” said Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, NJ Ayuk. “The African Energy Chamber has always enjoyed a good relationship with him and the Russian energy sector and, we look forward to furthering our collaboration,” he said.

Having maintained his seat as energy minister since 2012, Novak’s reappointment is received as the Kremlin’s commitment to the continuation of the OPEC+ strategy which has already seen Russian companies benefit from bilateral cooperation with OPEC member states and boosted oil prices.

"Alexander Novak has emerged as the reliable and dependable bridge between OPEC and non-OPEC in the Declaration of Cooperation. He has earned the respect and admiration of all participating countries in the OPEC+ group," said H.E. Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, Secretary General of OPEC. Adding that, “His reappointment as Russia’s Energy Minister at this crucial juncture will further strengthen the collaboration with OPEC in our noble course to maintain oil market stability in the interest of producers, consumers and the global economy.”

Isaac Oyimah/Editor

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Pix: Novak

Sylva earns DEMS’ passmark with digitization in oil & gas - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet: 

The leadership of Digital Economy Media Support Volunteers’ (DEMS Volunteers’), an NGO tracking all development activities in the nation’s public and private sector on digital economy, has assessed activities of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva since his appointment and gave him a pass mark.

A report released weekend in Lagos on the reforms adopted so far by the ministry in the last couple of months, have shown marked departure from the way and manner the operations of the nation’s oil and gas sector had been.

The Director General of the NGO, Prince Stan Okenwa noted that “Starting from the downstream sector, the 2019 December can be rated as yuletide season in Nigeria that never experienced any form of fuel scarcity due to new ideas and digital tracking systems put in place by the ministry.”

The DG in a statement signed by the Director of Communications, Mr Peter Oluka, said “There had been steady supplies and uniform price of petroleum products especially petrol across the federation and this has continued both off and on yuletide season.

“The relentless efforts of the Minister in coordinating the planning of Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Train 7 Final Investment Decision (FID) earlier this month, remains a game changer in Nigeria’s drive to lead the continent in gas revolution.

“Further investigations made DEMS Volunteers’ revealed that various transformation processes are currently ongoing in NNPC which include but not limited to digital installations, growing from Business Unit Focus Areas (12 BUFAs), Transparency, Accountability and Performance Excellence (TAPE). We are aware that the Ministry is considering the Incorporation of NNPC and its existing Joint Venture Companies as government is currently working on the modalities.

“Still on the downstream, DEMS Volunteers’ is aware of a special consideration by the ministry to introduce two new regulators; one for the Upstream (the Commission) and another for the Midstream & Downstream (the Authority) to open enormous opportunities to local investors and consequently create massive job opportunities in the country.

“To us as an NGO, the move will deepen investments in pipeline engineering design, procurement &construction, terminal operations, pipe mills, fabrication of pressure vessels, storage facilities, pipe transportation and laying equipments, Refineries, Central Processing Facilities and also investment in Gas-based industries (Fertilizer, Methanol, Petrochemicals, LPG and CNG) etc. Besides, open access for oil and gas transportation will be fully enhanced.

“On the upstream sub-sector, DEMS Volunteers is convinced that the ministry is coming up with more robust fiscal provision, acreage management, drilling-or-drop programme, and will not only retain investors, but more players will join the leagues of high-value operators.

“We are further thrilled by the planned use of technology for pro-active leak detection in the Niger Delta to end instances of oil pollution.  

“We are also convinced on the way and manner the Ministry under Chief Timipre Sylva, is driving the Nigeria Gas Flare Commercialization Program (NGFCP).

DEMS Volunteers’ is also pleased with the tenacity with which the Technical Adviser to the Minister on Gas Business, who doubles as the Program Manager of NGFCP, Mr Justice Derefaka is driving the scheme, designed as the strategy to implement policy objective of the government for the elimination of gas flares with potentially enormous multiplier and development outcomes for Nigeria in terms of job creation and ending gas flaring.

“We are aware that the key objective of the NGFCP is to eliminate gas flaring through technically and commercially sustainable gas utilisation projects developed by competent third party investors who will be invited to participate in a competitive and transparent bid process. 

DEMS Volunteers’, however encouraged the Minister to hasten the ongoing harmonization of existing versions of PIBs so that a more reliable document would be transmitted to the waiting National Assembly for legislative surgery in the interest of the nation.

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2bn mosquito nets delivered globally since 2004

NaijaAgroNet:

The RBM Partnership to End Malaria has revealed thagt some 2 billion insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) were delivered globally since 2004, reports NaijaAgroNet.

This development and scale up of nets, RBM said were responsible for 68 per cent of the malaria cases prevented in Africa since 2000, contributing to global efforts that saved over 7 million lives and prevented another 1 billion malaria cases.

A new video highlights the global collaboration it took to boost funding, pioneer, produce, and deliver the insecticide-treated mosquito nets to millions of families around the world living at risk of malaria, a preventable disease that kills a child every 2 minutes.

The film follows the journey of one of the life-saving mosquito nets passed among representatives from the global malaria community including advocates, a scientist, global leaders and malaria-endemic country health workers to reach a family in Nampula, Mozambique, one of 5 countries with the highest burden of malaria. It also features a classroom of young women in Nyanza Province, Kenya, including Clementina Akinyi. Ms Akinyi, now in her last year of high school, grew up sleeping under insecticide-treated mosquito nets, and was photographed as a young child under a mosquito net – an image which became iconic for the fight against malaria.

According to the latest World Malaria Report, between 2010 and 2018, the number of pregnant women and children under 5 in sub-Saharan Africa who slept under an insecticide-treated net more than doubled, up from 26% to 61%. Each net is typically effective for up to 3 years and 20 washes and, on average, protects two people simultaneously.

Some key initiatives driving this progress include The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), which purchased and worked with malaria-endemic countries and partners to distribute 1.13 billion and 400 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets, respectively. Many other governments, notably the UK, and organisations, including UNICEF, International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the World Bank, the UN Foundation’s Nothing But Nets initiative and Against Malaria Foundation, also made significant contributions to the 2 billion net milestone.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, World Health Organization (WHO), said “Insecticide-treated nets have saved lives, prevented suffering and brought us 2 billion steps closer to our vision of a malaria-free world. With country leadership and global partnership, they will continue to play a vital role in fulfilling that vision.”

Also, Dr Abdourahmane Diallo, CEO, RBM Partnership to End Malaria, said “The milestone of delivering 2 billion life-saving nets is a hallmark example of effective global partnership and sustained commitment over the past two decades. As we enter a new decade, we must now step up action to meet the ambitious global targets of further reducing malaria deaths and cases significantly by 2030. Political commitment and engagement from all levels of society will be crucial to ensure we reach those most vulnerable – pregnant women and children under 5 in sub-Saharan Africa – who still suffer from malaria with life-saving mosquito nets. Equally, we need to continue investing in developing, testing and scaling up nets with new insecticides and active ingredients to stay ahead of the evolving mosquito.”

Dr Marijke Winroks, Chief Staff, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and RBM Partnership to End Malaria board member noted that this is a great milestone. 

"With increased domestic and international investment, we can help close the gap and make sure everyone at risk for malaria has an insecticide-treated net – breaking the transmission cycle and helping more countries on the path to elimination,” Winroks said.

Clementina Akinyi, Kenyan schoolgirl featured in the film, explains that she does not fall sick due to her use of the nets.

“I don’t fall sick because I’m using the nets. Me and my sister are now champions for mosquito nets, and we are now advising people at school to use the nets. I advise everyone to use nets to prevent malaria, because malaria is a deadly disease.”

While current evidence suggests that nets treated with pyrethroid insecticides continue to be effective against the mosquito, resistance to pyrethroids – the only insecticide class currently used in ITNs – is widespread and highest in the WHO African Region.

To combat insecticide resistance, partners are developing, testing and scaling up nets with new insecticides and harnessing data to better target where to distribute current and new nets. Some of the new nets, which include combinations of insecticides and other active ingredients, have been approved by WHO while others are being piloted to build the epidemiological evidence needed for their public health value to inform WHO policy recommendations and to assess the cost-effectiveness of the nets under pilot conditions.

The Innovative Vector Control Consortium (IVCC) leads implementation of the pilot New Nets Project which began in 2019 in Burkina Faso and will expand in 2020 to Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria and Rwanda. The pilot project is funded by the Global Fund and Unitaid. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and U.S. Agency for International Development are providing supplementary funding. Funding for PMI in 2020 includes an additional US$15 million to invest in the use of mosquito nets treated with new types of insecticides. And, in October 2019, MedAccess and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced an agreement with a mosquito net manufacturer to accelerate the availability of 35 million new nets, which is expected to help lower prices and further increase the use of these tools.

Between 2006 and 2017, the mosquito net market increased fivefold with prices falling from approximately $4.50 to $2, greatly increasing value for money and significantly expanding net coverage from 5.5 million in 2004 to almost 200 million in 2018.

Isaac Oyimah/Editor

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Foresight Africa: Top priorities and agenda 2030 - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

The new year 2020 Report marked the beginning of a promising decade for Africa. Through at least the first half of the decade, economic growth across Africa will continue to outperform that of other regions, with the continent continuing to be home to seven of the world’s 10 fastest-growing economies. Collective action among African and global policymakers to improve the livelihoods of all under the blueprint of the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 is representative of the shared energy and excitement around Africa’s potential.

With business environments improving, regional integration centered around the African Continental Free Trade Agreement progressing, and the transformational technologies of Fourth Industrial Revolution spreading, never before has the region been better primed for trade, investment, and mutually beneficial partnerships.

The recent, unprecedented interest of an increasingly diversified group of external partners for engagement with Africa highlights this potential. Despite the continent’s promise, though, obstacles to success linger, as job creation still has not caught up with the growing youth labor force, gaps in good and inclusive governance remain, and climate change as well as state fragility threaten to reverse the hard-fought-for gains of recent decades.

This special edition of Foresight Africa highlights the triumphs of past years as well as strategies from our experts to tackle forthcoming, but surmountable, obstacles to a prosperous continent by 2030.

Read more:

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GBV elimination: Centre LSD commences project on male engagement - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

Concerned over the lack of male engagement in reducing Gender-Based Violence (GBV), the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), has kicked-off the implementation of a male engagement project on Sexual, Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), as well as Harmful Traditional Practices in Nigeria, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The programme, NaijaAgroNet gathered is an initiative of the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) under the Spotlight Initiative, envisioned a Nigeria where all women and girls, particularly the most vulnerable, live a life free from violence and harmful practices, by addressing the linkages between sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices with related aspects of sexual and reproductive health and rights as a cross-cutting theme.

The project lead, Mr. Vincent Dania, Centre LSD, told NaijaAgroNet the focus will be on prevention efforts particularly addressing the root causes of gender-based violence and harmful practices (child marriage and Female Genital Mutilation) against women and girls; and ensuring access to inclusive, timely, and quality services for victims and survivors with a vibrant CSOs and women movement.

“The Centre will work with other implementing partners to achieve the goal of the Spotlight Initiative in Nigeria,” he said.

The Centre’s role in the project, he said, would include “Mobilizing men and setting up platforms of men against Sexual & Gender-Based Violence at the community level; strengthening the capacities of identified traditional, religious leaders and media.  It will also identify and train male advocates and champions at different levels (community, state and national) to continuously speak up against Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG); engaging male opinion leaders to secure support for VAWG, gender equality and the empowerment of women; and train women and girls’ rights defenders in relevant skills to better engage with religious leaders to end VAWG and HP.”

Further, NaijaAgroNet gathered the Centre LSD will be implementing the project in two states, namely Lagos and Cross River.

Isaac Oyimah/Editor

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