Nigeria, Zambia, 3 others selected as AU disease control centers

NaijaAgroNet:

 

Five countries including Nigeria, Zambia Gabon, Kenya and Egypt, have been selected as sub-regional disease control centres by the Africa Union (AU), reports NaijaAgroNet.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the Director, Social Affairs, African Union Commission (AUC), Mr. Olawale Maiyegun, as saying at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, weekend, that these designated centres represent a cluster of regional collaborating centres for AU on disease related control efforts.

He explained that these countries have a coordinating office within the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia based on laid down criteria which was approved last year, 2015 under the Article 26 of the Africa Centre for Disease Control (ACDC) statutes.

“We are in Nigeria and our aim is to determine if the National Centres for Disease Control, which serves as centre for disease control in West Africa, meets the criteria that are contained in the statutes. We are not comparing the countries with each other rather we are evaluating and assessing them to ensure they meet every criteria.”

He stressed AU expectation on its mandate through government commitment, human resources, infrastructure and funding.

Maiyegun further commended efforts of the current Nigerian government toward the CDC concept fulfillment.

Isaac Oyimah with agency report/GEE

 

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PermSecs reiterate commitment to accelerate agriculture in Africa

NaijaAgroNet:

The second retreat for the Permanent Secretaries ended in the city of Accra, Ghana with reiteration to accelerate agricultural transformation across the continent, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The retreat, NaijaAgroNet also reports was aimed at accelerating the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) to transform agriculture in Africa, assembled over 100 participants including Permanent Secretaries and CAADP Focal persons of Ministries of Agriculture, Rural Development, Livestock and Aquaculture and the Regional Economic Communities. 

Declaring open the expert gathering convened by the African Union Commission in collaboration with the NEPAD Agency in Accra, the Ghanaian Minister for Food and Agriculture, Alhaji Mohammed-Munira Limuna noted that even though the agricultural sector is faced with numerous challenges such as low uptake of modern technologies, depleting natural resources especially water and climate change negative impacts, solutions that could be adopted to counter them at national level should be sought and implemented.

In addition, NaijaAgroNet gathered that the retreat provided space for Permanent Secretaries to reflect on several thematic and policy factors, especially on the El Nino and implications on agricultural transformation and food security; Trade and industrialization drive and implications for agriculture; and Land tenure systems and trends and implications for the Malabo commitments.

They also focused on validating the revised Country CAADP Implementation Guidelines.  This includes modalities for monitoring and evaluation, reporting and accountability including operationalisation of the African Union Biennial CAADP Review Cycle.  Country perspectives were also sought on CAADP-Malabo Financing Architecture; technical networks arrangement to mobilise and make accessible expert support arrangements, and; revising the CAADP partnership architecture. 

NEPAD’s Head of Programme Development, Mr. Martin Bwalya told participants that the outcomes of the meeting will clarify the necessary measures needed to achieve the CAADP Malabo Declaration targets for results and impact in agriculture, food security and nutrition.

While the AUC Director for Rural Economy and Agriculture, Dr. Janet Edeme, reiterated one of the critical objectives of meeting as being “The review of progress in implementing CAADP and the guidelines developed to help guide countries in implementation.” 

NaijaAgroNet recalls that permanent secretaries are the primary custodians of government policy and practice.  They are also the overall accounting officers in their government ministries, thus putting their offices and mandates at the centre in driving institutional reforms and overall transformation in national development goals.

  
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Obiano takes vegetable export campaign to churches

NaijaAgroNet:

The Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano last Sunday took the success story of the Anambra vegetable export to the church, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Obiano who was at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Awka, capital of Anambra State with the wife, beckoned on citizens of the State to embrace the new trend by taking agriculture and farming seriously.

He gave this as part of his response after his conferment with Grand Pillar award, while his wife Ebelechukwu, also received the Mother of Charity award from the Justice, Development and Peace Centre (JDPC), at launch of N150 million projects.

Obiano told the congregation as he acknowledged the award that Anambra’s vegetables sell like hot cakes overseas.

He also said that in the next one year, Anambra would export its brand of rice. The state would procure license for farmers who would in turn export the farm produce after it is certified to be of high quality.

“Vegetable is a goldmine waiting to be explored. When I said we would provide jobs for some thousands of youths from the state I did not know I was underestimating the obvious,” he said.

In addition, he encouraged Anambrarians to plant vegetables in their farm lands and backyards because, “Anambra soil is suitable for many crops.

Gov. Obiano further stated that even in his compound in the United States of America, he planted bitter leaf and used to give it to visitors as gifts.

He thanked the JDPC for the award bestowed on him and wife, just as he promised to assist churches where he can.

Ejiofor Ejiofor/GEE

 

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Anambra rice set for formal launch

NaijaAgroNet:

The Anambra State Ministry of Agriculture has unveiled plans to standardize the process for Anambra rice and introduced the Anambra State Rice Brand Seal to the farmers, reports NaijaAgroNet. 

The Anambra State Ministry of Agriculture, NaijaAgroNet reports, this directive was given last weekend by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, as part of the sensitization programme for rice farmers hosted by the state Ministry of Agriculture.
 

The directive, which NaijaAgroNet gathered has Chief Willie Obiano, the Governor of Anambra State consent, showed that for any rice to qualify to bear the Anambra rice seal under the standardization policy, it must be properly par boiled, stone free, long grained, sorted, polished and bagged according to international best standards.

NaijaAgroNet also reports that the farmers commended the Governor for buying their rice and distributing it in the state during the Xmas festivities, stressing that this gesture has increased their liquidity and will encourage them to even farm more land mass in the 2016 farming season.

Isaac Oyimah/GEE
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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.”

 
Nkemdilim Nweke/GEE 
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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.