IRENA, SADC enter deal, boost energy transformation - NaijaAgroNet: ... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

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The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to work together on accelerating the deployment renewable energy solutions, including decentralised technologies, in Southern African countries. 

Wirldlife Conservation: Creative collaborations boost powerful partnerships - NaijaAgroNet: ... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

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“As an expert in the field of visual imagery, Canon Central and North Africa is cognisant of the deep impact powerful pictures and videos have in visual storytelling – and how successful these stories are in raising awareness and gaining support for various conservation projects,” notes Amine Djouahra, Sales and Marketing Director at Canon Central and North Africa. 

“For this reason we have embarked on several initiatives – such as the Miraisha Programme (http://bit.ly/3oF9akP) and our Ambassadors Programme (https://bit.ly/3axmTp0) - to advance and promote job opportunities and future livelihoods in Africa by sharing skillsets and knowledge for photographers, videographers and filmmakers,” he adds.

The Twendeni Porini na Canon campaign takes this even further, by enlisting 5 local wildlife photography Influencers to create authentic social media stories about conservation efforts across Kenya.   

“More than just rewarding Canon customers and raising awareness of our prized national parks, this initiative proved Canon’s support of local conservation efforts in building the awareness together with Kenya’s wildlife conservation team with an emphasis on interactions between influencers and community awareness.

Speaking during the award ceremony, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Director General Brigadier (Rtd) John Waweru said, “We are grateful to Canon for this partnership that has seen us raise awareness on the importance of wildlife conservation as an ongoing effort. KWS has a mandate to protect and preserve wildlife, but it is the collective effort of our communities that makes us successful in this calling. We have benefited greatly from the authentic stories that Canon has told about our parks, wildlife and rangers. We are extremely grateful for the renewed interest in wildlife conservation thanks to the extended boost on digital space, which successfully raised the profile of Kenya as a leader in wildlife conservation.”

Influencing a shared conservation narrative

The influencers – Anthony Ochieng, Clement Kiragu, Larry Asego, Usha Harish and Alissa Thakker – were accommodated at notable National Parks across the country. Each one produced compelling visual imagery and engaging content that stimulated serious engagement on social media – proving that captivating photography and videography play an essential role in creating change and driving awareness.

“This campaign underscored how partnerships and collaboration help build awareness of just how important conservation is to the continent, and how we can ensure that future generations enjoy and appreciate this rich, colourful, breath-taking and unique continent with all its wildlife and wild lands,” adds Djouahra.

The influencers’ riveting stories can be viewed on the influencers’ Instagram pages, as follows:

Clement Kiragu is a Canon ambassador and award-winning wildlife and commercial photographer whose incredible series of nature images were enhanced by a new love he developed while staying at Amboseli National Park: that of capturing birds in flight. www.Instagram.com/clement.wild/

Anthony Ochieng is a conservation photographer who produced a short film, Rhino Lover & Hero (https://bit.ly/36xyZxa), featuring an insightful interview with a Rhino Sanctuary ranger Kosgeyi, to highlight the work done at the sanctuary. www.Instagram.com/tonywild_ke/

Usha Harish proved her adeptness at capturing emotions of animals and in action: www.Instagram.com/usha.harish.photography/

Larry Asego took his assignment further, by hosting an interactive wildlife photography training session, streaming his experience and answering questions from amateur photographers. www.Instagram.com/larryasego/

Alissa Thakker combined photography and videography to document her journey at Nairobi National Park, while highlighting the features on her Canon R5 that made capturing these magnificent creatures. www.Instagram.com/alissatphotos/

Four Nigerian fishermen get justice @Netherlands - NaijaAgroNet: ... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

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After some 13 years legal battle, four Nigerian fishermen got justice at the Netherlands, in the case instituted by the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, reports NaijaAgroNet.

In 2008, NaijaAgroNet recalls that four Nigerian farmers from Ikot Ada Udo, Oruma and Goi in the Niger Delta supported by the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria and sister organization, Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth Netherlands, sued Shell because of oil pollution in the three Nigerian villages.

COVID-19: Makinde inaugurates committee on economic stimulus - NaijaAgroNet: ... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

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The Governor ‘Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Thursday, inaugurated the state Steering Committee on COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme (CARES), reports NaijaAgroNet.

CARES, is the state initiative targeted at mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the state.

Lagos CS-SUNN holds 2021 first quarterly meeting, capacity building tops agenda – NaijaAgroNet: ... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

NaijaAgroNet: 

The Lagos State chapter of the Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) has held its first quarterly meeting for the year 2021, with capacity building of members topping agenda, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The meeting which held at Hello Lagos Hall at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Ikeja on Tuesday saw a good number of its membership in attendance.

500 Anambra women access family planning yearly in Fegge - NaijaAgroNet: ... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

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Estimated 500 women of reproductive age, are confirmed to have accessed family planning annually at St. Monica Healthcare Centre, Fegge, Onitsha South Local Government Area (LGA), reports NaijaAgroNet.

“No fewer than 40 women usually respond to the family planning programmes at the healthcare facility on a monthly basis.

Climate change: Help small-scale farmers adapt or face hunger warns IFAD President - NaijaAgroNet: ... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

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The President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Mr. Gilbert F. Houngbo, has warned countries of the world to help rural small-scale farmers adapt to climate change in order to avert hunger and migration, reports NaijaAgroNet.

This follows a recent United Nations’ announcement that 2020 was one of the warmest years on record, with catastrophic temperature rises expected this century.

“It is unacceptable that small-scale farmers who grow much of the world’s food are left at the mercy of unpredictable weather patterns, with such low investment to help them to adapt,” said Houngbo.

COVID-19: Innovation key to feeding the world says FAO DG - NaijaAgroNet: ... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

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The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Director-General QU Dongyu has said that innovation is the key to feeding the world, especially in time of pandemic and climate change, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Addressing the Agriculture Ministers' Conference in Berlin Dongyu underscored the importance, in the wake of COVID-19, of continued global cooperation to find new ways to strengthen the sustainability of agri-food systems, and outlined FAO and its partners' role in this.

FAO joins forces to eliminate child labour - NaijaAgroNet: ... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

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The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, today pledged to intensify efforts towards addressing child labour in agriculture through a dedicated work programme within FAO's Strategic Framework.

‘'This year, we will step-up our efforts to strengthen the capacities of a wide range of agricultural actors to include child labour prevention and youth employment in their work,'' the Director-General stressed during the virtual event launch of the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour 2021 organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

"Policies, programmes, and investments related to agri-food systems need to address the root causes of child labour, including household poverty," he added, as the global COVID-19 pandemic also places more pressure on poor and vulnerable families. The Director-General highlighted that "we need a breakthrough in agriculture where child labour is frequently found".

This year, FAO will organize a series of regional consultations, and a global event on Child Labour in Agriculture will be held in November to increase awareness and promote good practices, the Director-General said, while noting the outcomes from that event would make a significant contribution to the Fifth Global Conference on Child Labour in 2022.

Qu also emphasized that FAO would continue to play a central role in the International Partnership for Cooperation on Child Labour in Agriculture, which was established by FAO and the ILO with other organizations in 2007.

The Director-General of the ILO, Guy Ryder, opened today's event noting there were 100 million fewer children in labour now than at the turn of the century while calling for greater commitments to wipe out child labour which he said often occurred in situations of conflict and fragility.

UNICEF's Executive Director, Henrietta Fore, indicated child labour had been exacerbated by rising poverty, weak protection laws and cultural practices in some countries even before the COVID-19 pandemic worsened the plight of vulnerable families.

Representatives of governments, worker and employer organizations, international organizations and civil society outlined how they intended to eradicate child labour by 2025.

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Kailash Satyarthi, and Amar Lal, a human rights lawyer and child labour survivor, also addressed the launch event.

2021: Year of healthcare worker - NaijaAgroNet: ... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

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Frontline health workers, who are to be honoured during the World Health Organization’s international Year of the Healthcare Worker in 2021, must be better supported in their vital role to beat back the global COVID-19 pandemic on community level, according to global health technology experts, BroadReach Group.

Frontline health workers, and in particular Community Health Workers (CHWs) help educate communities, collect grassroots data and provide vital firstline health interventions in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.