SDG: Senator Mustapha pledges support to INSTACON'19 - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

The Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on SDG, Senator Lekan Mustapha has pledged to facilitate quality support of the Senate Committee on SDG and the Office of Senior Special Assistant  to the President on SDG (OSSAP-SDG) towards the success of the forthcoming International Stakeholders Conference on Sustainable Development (INSTACON SDG- 19), reports NaijaAgroNet.

Senator Mustapha gave the pledge at his country home in Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State when he played host to the team of Local Organising Committee of INSTACON SDG 2019 led by the LOC Chairperson, Ms Moji Akinsanya on a courtesy visit.

The LOC team include, former Vice Chancellor of Tai Solarin University of Education, Prof Kayode Oyesiku, former member of Ogun State House of Assembly and Chief of Staff to Wife of Ogun State Governor Hon. Adebowale Ojuri, Chairman Publicity/Media Committee, Mr. Tola Adenekan, Head of INSTACON Secretariat, Mrs Ireti Disu, Representatives of JDPC Mrs. Bunmi Ekundayo and Miss Jenifer.

A press statement made available to NaijaAgroNet, quoted the Senator Mustapha who was presented with SDG Souvenirs and publications as urging the CSCSD to come up with various SDG projects that members of the legislature can adopt as constituency project.

While the team leader, Moji Akinsanya explained the SDG initiatives, the workings of CSCSD and the forthcoming Conference, Professor Oyesiku informed the Senator of the teams successful participation at the High Level Political Forum on SDG in New York which has added an international acceptance of the conference.

Mr Adenekan on his part provided insights into media engagement for the Conference aimed at setting agenda for quality citizens sensitisations on SDG, while Mrs Ireti Disu spoke on Private Sector participation in the Conference.

Hon Ojuri on his part, corroborated the need for the  Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District to sponsor 50 participants to the Conference, 5 each from the 9 Local Governments of Ogun East and five political aides.

Isaac Oyimah/Editor
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FLOOD: ISOPADEC, NEMA to send relief materials to Imo communities - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

The Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, ISOPADEC and the National Emergency Management Agency-NEMA are set to send relief materials to communities affected by flood in Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta Local Government Areas of the state, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Deputy Governor of Imo State, Engr. Gerald Irona disclosed this weekend, while addressing a delegation of Egbema People’s Forum, who paid a courtesy call to him in his Oguta residence.

He however warned that the relief materials must not be diverted, but should be distributed in a transparent manner to the victims of flood.

Deputy Governor Irona who also used the occasion to brief the people of the plans and programmes of the Governor Ihedioha-led administration for the people, urged them to contribute their quota towards resolving the challenge of militancy and insecurity in the area.

“Everyone from Ohaji/Egbema/Oguta appointed so far into a political office is deserving of it. Governor Ihedioha is determined to fulfill his campaign promises to people of the state. Some of our youth are creating a bad image for us. Why must we be known for bad things? We must end thuggery, militancy and every form of crime in our area and you all have roles to play, as security is everyone’s business.”

“Governor Emeka Ihedioha has great plans for our people and he has already started implementing them. Today, ISOPADEC is receiving one hundred percent of its allocation. Local Governments are receiving their allocations in full. ISOPADEC and NEMA will soon deliver relief materials to communities affected by flood. We will soon start training our young people, with a view to enhancing their skills and creating sources of livelihood for them, while providing bursary for those in Institutions of Higher Learning. Our youth will be trained in Oil and Gas, as well as Agricultural-related fields.”

“The State Government is intensifying efforts to restore electricity in all the communities in our area, but, you must take deliberate steps to ensure the protection of electrical installations and indeed, all public assets in your localities.”

The Deputy Governor used the occasion to reiterate that steps have been taken to revive Adapalm Nigeria Limited, even as he challenged the people to partner with the new management of the company in order to help them succeed.

Reacting to an appeal that the abandoned Teachers Training College-TTC, Egbema be converted to a University of Agriculture or made one of the campuses of Imo State University, the Deputy Governor promised to visit the TTC premises soon, with a view to having first-hand information on the state of things, and advise the Governor accordingly.

Irona however used the occasion to reassure the people of the commitment of the present administration to work for the people and take development to their door steps.

Speaking earlier, President of Egbema People’s Forum, Professor Victor Nwugo commended the Governor Emeka Ihedioha- led administration for what he described as early signs of greater things to come, assuring him of total support of people of the area.

Nwugo used the occasion to outline the challenges facing people of the area, urging the state Government to come to their aid.

He lauded the leadership qualities of the Deputy Governor, Engr. Gerald Irona, describing him as an exemplary public servant, whose footsteps are worthy of emulation.

Speaking on behalf of Political appointees from the Area, Imo State Commissioner for Environment and former member of the House of Representative, Hon. Tony Okere assured the Deputy Governor of unalloyed support of people of the area, even as he promised the people that the present administration will not fail the masses.

Adding his voice, former Inspector General of Police and Chairman, Police Service Commission, Sir Mike Okiro reiterated the decision of people of the area to support the present administration in the state. “We thank you for empowering our people. We are solidly behind you.”

In another development, a community leader in Oguta, Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, Mr. Emeka Adizua, weekend hosted the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Engr. Gerald Irona.

Speaking during the event, Mr. Uche Okororie expressed gratitude to God for the emergence of the present administration in the state, reiterating the people’s unalloyed support for her.

“Imo people are already heaving a sigh of relief. We thank God for the mission you have come to accomplish in Imo. God will give you the wisdom to tackle the numerous challenges facing Imo.”

Adding his voice, Ogbuagu Kelvin Uwakwe described the Deputy Governor’s moves to reconcile and bring all stakeholders in the area together as historic, adding that God prepared him for a special assignment in the state.

Uboshe Uboshe/Editor

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Badagry women adopting family planning on the rise - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

Residents of Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State, have shown increase in the number of women adopting family planning the locality, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Some of the women who spoke to NaijaAgroNet during a recent field visit to the Ajara Flagship Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Badagry, under the auspices of Media Advocacy Working Group (MAWG) in partnership with Public Health Sustainable Advocacy Initiative (PHSAI), gave these indications.

Elated Badagry women, told NaijaAgroNet that the opportunity offered by the access to family planning services far outweigh the disadvantages.

They were particular about prevention of unintended pregnancy, and enjoined others to take advantage of the primary health care services.

A 33 year old Mrs Labake Orija, said her husband also understands the importance, hence she has his approval to attend the family planning scheme of the PHC.

As said by her, after four children what is left is to cater for them with quality educational support so that they can be their best out of the 8-year marriage.

Although Labake was attending the family planning session for the first time, she expressed delight in the exercise despite having heard about family planning before then.

“I have the support of my husband. We have decided that the four children we have now are sufficient for us,” she enthused.

She attributed her keenness to family planning to advice given to her from onset by her mother, who pointed out the efficacy of having children you can afford to train with an average size of four children and with both spouse making it six.

Also speaking, a 39-year-old Mrs. Atinuke Oke, told correspondent that having been married for over 14 years with three children, she has her spouse consent to save the family from avoidable medical expenses which encouraged her to commence family planning some 10 years ago with injectable.

According to her, she came for checkup on her last injectable, three months ago and in fact came to  renew her dose, which is every three months.

Isaac Oyimah/Editor

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Shell wins Best Exhibitor Award, others at 2019 SPE conference - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

 

Shell Companies in Nigeria have won the most coveted Best Exhibitor and eight other awards at the 2019 Nigeria annual international conference and exhibition of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) held in Lagos on August 5 -7, coming barely a month after winning the Excellence Award, the highest industry recognition at the Nigeria Oil and Gas annual conference in Abuja recently, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Shell had also won the Best Exhibitor award in the 2016 and 2018 editions of the SPE conference including other industry individual leadership trophies won by staff of the companies.

Shell exhibition combined illustrative and educative posters with learning sessions for young and student engineers and free medical services for conference participants where hundreds of persons received medical checks and drugs.

The SPE International President, Sami Alnuaim and the outgoing Chairman of the Nigeria Council of SPE, Debo Fagbami who made a joint presentation of the award described Shell as a leading light in the oil and gas industry providing direction and support particularly to indigenous companies in the industry.

Country Chair of SCiN and Managing Director, The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, Osagie Okunbor and the Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, Bayo Ojulari received the award on behalf of Shell companies.

Okunbor described the award as a reward for consistent excellence and diligence displayed by the hardworking staff of Shell in Nigeria adding that Shell companies would continue to invest in industry growth, new technologies and professional development and affiliation of its workforce. “We recognise that being an industry leader puts on us enormous responsibility and we have continued to rethink and reshape our strategies in a manner that brings optimal value to Nigeria, our partners and the local service industry.”

According Okunbor, Shell companies are up-to-date on the conference theme of ‘Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and Mobile Technology: Changing the Future of the Energy Industry. “We are leaders in deploying artificial intelligence and are using it in areas ranging from seismic analysis to drilling and predictive maintenance because we know that digitalisation has a big role in delivering all of Shell’s strategic goals.”

A Shell Nigeria team of engineers led by Ogochukwu Benheogor won the Best Technical Paper award at the conference while Elisha Ezekiel-Hart won the technical award for projects, facilities and construction. Other winners were Okenufowo Ojonah (Formation Evaluation) and Erasmus John Nnanna (Regional Production and operations). Stella Egwim Ogbodu won the Regional Director’s Recognition Award while Oghogho Effiom received the Award for Regional Service.

Earlier in the year, Shell companies in Nigeria emerged the international oil company with the most impactful local content initiatives in the upstream category at the 2019 edition of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair organised by the country’s local content regulator, Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board. The companies were also named the Local Content Operator of the Year at the 2019 Annual Oil Industry Achievement Awards by the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN).

Pix: L-R: Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), Bayo Ojulari; International President, Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Sami Alnuaim; Managing Director, The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor; and outgoing Chair, SPE Nigeria Council, Debo Fagbami, at the presentation of Best Exhibitor Award to Shell companies at the 2019 annual conference and exhibition awards night of the SPE held in Lagos.

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US looks at Africa for monitisation of LNG - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

With record-breaking US gas production this year, and the promotion of gas as a “cleaner, cheaper” energy source a continued priority for the current White House, the US Department of Energy is now looking towards Africa to develop opportunities in the exploration, production and monetization of LNG, reports NaijaAgroNet.

In the words of Energy Secretary Rick Perry, “increased amounts of US LNG on the world market benefit the American economy, American workers, and consumers and help make the air cleaner around the globe.”

Appetite for imported gas is growing steadily across the African continent. Just recently, South Africa announced plans to open its first LNG import terminal in 2024. Meanwhile, US gas production is skyrocketing. Currently at 6 billion cubic feet (bcf) per day, production is forecast to grow to 10 bcf by the end of 2020. This confluence of circumstance makes Africa a common-sense partner for the US as it sets out to cement its position as an Energy superpower.

As part of this mission, Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy, Steven Winberg, will join 22 Pan-African ministers at the Africa Oil Week summit in Cape Town this November. He will use the event to share US energy policy points with the continent and outline a vision for deeper US commitment to Africa in the oil, gas and power sectors. This vision looks set to encompass increased two-way trade and investment between the US and Africa, with the US making potential capital available on joint-ventures and to part-finance LNG infrastructure for energy-lacking African countries.

The announcement of Secretary Winberg’s attendance to the summit comes alongside several major US private-sector investments into the African energy sector. ExxonMobil are making progress in Mozambique with their Rovuma LNG project in deepwater Area 4 block which contains more than 85 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. 

Particularly notable though is Anadarko’s recent announcement of its Final Investment Decision (FID) to construct a $20 billion gas liquefaction and export terminal in Mozambique, the largest single LNG project approved in Africa. A representative from ExxonMobil will be covering the Rovuma LNG project in Mozambique at Africa Oil Week and there will be strong presence from ENH and INP at the conference. Africa Oil Week is putting a renewed focus on the place of gas, with 5 dedicated sessions dedicated solely to LNG in the event programme. 

Isaac Oyimah/Editor

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EBF saves lives says Funmi Akinyele, urges Nigerian media for adoption - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

The Chair, SubCommittee on Capacity Building at the Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition Nigeria (CS-SUNN) Dr. Funmi Akinyele, has urged Nigerians, especially the media to join the campaign for Exclusive Breastfeeding because it saves lives, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Speaking at the 2019 media roundtable in Abuja on Exclusive Breast feeding put together by CS-SUNN in commemoration of the annual World Breastfeeding Week at Bon Hotel Elvis, on the theme: Exclusive Breastfeeding in the First 1000 Days: The Critical Window of Opportunity, she said that Nigerians should adopt EBF holistically because it saves.

She told participants at the roundtable with the theme: Changing the Nigerian story, that the EBF saves lives, because the first 1000 days is critical to growth of any child.

“The first 1000 days are the only crucial window to ensure a well-nourished child and reduce the likelihood of non-communicable diseases in adulthood,” she declared.

Akinyele also said that malnutrition is a global issue and is a significant public health issue in Nigeria, just as it encompassed “Undernutrition (Stunting, Wasting, Underweight); Over-nutiriton (Overweight, Obesity; and Hidden Hunger (Micronutrient Deficiency).”

Malnutrition, she said, could be prevented by early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, adequate and appropriate complementary feeding as well as adequate diet in adolescence and adulthood.

She pointed out that maternal nutrition is important pre-conception, during pregnancy, during lactation, and after pregnancy, while intervening at the adolescent stage is key to stopping the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition.

The World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world.

Remmy Nweke/DoP

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UNICEF, WHO call on govt, employers to be family-friendly – NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

Becoming the parent of a new baby is both a life-altering gift and an immense responsibility. This week, as countries around the world celebrate World Breastfeeding Week, United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organisation (WHO) are calling on governments and all employers to adopt family-friendly policies, reports NaijaAgroNet.

In a joint press statement available to NaijaAgroNet by the WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore on the theme of this year’s World Breastfeeding Week is “Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding” they demanded a family-friendly policies that support breastfeeding.

Family-friendly policies – such as paid parental leave – enable breastfeeding and help parents nurture and bond with their children in early life, when it matters most. The evidence is clear that during early childhood, the optimal nutrition provided by breastfeeding, along with nurturing care and stimulation, can strengthen children’s brain development with impacts that endure over a lifetime.

Family-friendly policies are particularly important for working parents. Mothers need time off from work to recover from birth and get breastfeeding off to a successful start. When a breastfeeding mother returns to work, her ability to continue breastfeeding depends on having access to breastfeeding breaks; a safe, private, and hygienic space for expressing and storing breastmilk; and affordable childcare at or near her workplace.

Time off work is also important for fathers: Paid paternity leave allows fathers to bond with their babies and promotes gender-equality, including through the sharing of childrearing and household responsibilities.

Returning to work too soon is a barrier to the early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months and continued breastfeeding until age 2 or longer – practices that can boost children’s immune systems, shield them from disease, and provide protection from noncommunicable diseases later in life. Breastfeeding also protects maternal health -- women who breastfeed reduce their risk of breast and ovarian cancers.

In addition to their impact on children, family-friendly policies support women’s participation in the workforce, improve their physical and mental health, and enhance family well-being. They also advance business objectives and strengthen the economy. Such policies have been shown to increase employee retention, improve job satisfaction, and result in fewer absences. In short, family-friendly policies are good for families, babies and business.

As the world marks World Breastfeeding Week, WHO and UNICEF call on governments and all employers to adopt family-friendly policies – including paid maternity leave for a minimum of 18 weeks, and preferably, for a period of six months – as well as paid paternity leave.

In line with the policy actions advocated by the WHO-UNICEF-led Global Breastfeeding Collective, we also call for greater investments in comprehensive breastfeeding programmes, improved breastfeeding counselling and support for women in health facilities and the community, and an end to the promotion of breast-milk substitutes to enable parents to make informed decisions on the best way to feed their infants.

Together, with the support of governments, employers and communities, we have the power to enable breastfeeding and support families in fostering a nurturing environment where all children thrive.

World Breastfeeding Week 2019. World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world.

Isaac Oyimah/Editor

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EBF: MeCAM established to bridge gap in child nutrition reportage - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

A media advocacy group with focus on curbing children malnutrition in Nigeria, under the auspices of the Media Against Child Malnutrition (MeCAM) has explained why it was established, saying that the goal is to bridge the gap in nutrition coverage, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The National Coordinator, MeCAM, Mr. Remmy Nweke in his intervention at a media roundtable on “Exclusive Breastfeeding: Changing the Nigerian story” in Abuja recently to mark the 2019 World BreastFeeding Week organized by the Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN).

He said that the group was founded by senior media editors to bridge the gap between the media as an institution, practitioners and correctness of story-telling emanating from Nigeria as far as malnutrition is concerned.

MeCAM, he also said its well-positioned to drive this collaboration in the Nigerian media space and across Africa for betterment of our children and curb malnutrition generally from Nigeria, considering the benefits of Exclusive Breastfeeding, for instance.

He also called for more fund at the event held at Bon Hotel Elvis, Abuja, to be made available to advocacy on EBF, noting that every 1USD invested has good return on investment of about 16 USD, currently.

Nweke further recalled that this year’s theme is on “Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding” noting that more is saved when the right and accurate information is passed.

Media, he said, cannot give what it does not have and called for more capacity building for media practitioners, especially MeCAM membership, who already committed to highlight issues on child malnutrition in Nigeria and beyond, for better children growth including exclusive breastfeeding, overweight, stunted growth, undernourishment to name a few.

Founded in August 2015, MeCAM has membership across online, print, broadcast media respectively.

Isaac Oyimah/Editor

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Pix: Remmy Nweke with first lady of Kaduna State HE Aisha Ummi Garba and Hajia Nafisa of Express Radio Kano at media roundtable on EBF.

Hajiya El’Rufai urges Nigerian mothers to key into Exclusive Breast Feeding - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

The first lady of Kaduna State, Her Excellency, Hajiya Aisha Ummi Garba El’Rufai has urged Nigerian mothers to key-into Exclusive Breast Feeding (EBF) due to the advantages therein, reports NaijaAgroNet.

She made this call as the special guest at the Media Roundtable on Exclusive BreastFeeding with the theme “Changing the Nigerian Story” organized by the Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition In Nigeria (CS-SUNN) to mark the 2019 World Breast Feeding Day which commenced since August 1 and conclude on August 7.

She noted that if mothers’ key into Exclusive Breast Feeding, “our babies” would be better nourished with requisite intellectual quotient, among others.

This, she said, makes the future of the country brighter, explaining that God has made breast milk to also have sufficient water and has the capacity to prevent our children from failing ill.

For the media, she said, there should be continues engagement with regards to building the capacity of our media practitioners to ensure the dissemination of the right information, especially on Exclusive Breast Feeding.

Emphasising, she said, this step would pave the way for changing the narrative of exclusive breast feeding Nigeria for good.

Uboshe Uboshe/Editor

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Breastfeeding has return on investment says WHO, UNICEF - NaijaAgroNet

NaijaAgroNet:

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nationsl Children Fund (UNICEF) have said that breastfeeding has return on investment of $35 per dollar invested, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The world breastfeeding week is marked globally from August 1 through 7.

The duo in a Guide to navigate the Global Breastfeeding Scorecard made available to NaijaAgroNet, said that breastfeeding has numerous benefits for both mothers and children.

"It stimulates cognitive development and protects infants against diarrheal infections and pneumonia. It also decreases the risk of obesity and chronic diseases such as type II diabetes. It serves as a protection against ovarian cancer and breast cancer among nursing mothers and assists them with birth spacing."

They also stated in the overview that breastfeeding results in lower healthcare costs, underscoring that countries’ investment towards improving breastfeeding practices would result in US $35 of economic return per dollar invested.

While inadequate breastfeeding rates result in economic losses of about US $302 billion annually, which represents 0.49 per cent of the world’s Gross National Income (GNI).

"Increasing breastfeeding could prevent 823,000 annual deaths in children under five and 20,000 annual deaths from breast cancer," the report indicated.

Governments play a fundamental role in protecting the health of women and children through improving policies and programmes that support and enhance breastfeeding. The Global Breastfeeding Collective (the Collective), led by WHO and UNICEF, has identified seven policy action priorities, each with an indicator and a set target to be achieved by 2030.

The Global Breastfeeding Scorecard was first introduced by the Collective in 2017. It examines these indicators at the national and global levels. The Scorecard is designed to encourage and document progress on the promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding.

Remmy Nweke/DoP

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