The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said of the 7,600 new HIV infections that happened in young people in 2021, 6,800 were girls.

The Health Manager/AYP National Team Lead, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Nigeria, Dr Victoria Isiramen said this during a youth dialogue in Abuja in commemoration of the 2022 World AIDS Day.

At the event, stakeholders in the health sector called on the government at all levels to prioritise investment in adolescents and young people to reduce infection of HIV/AIDS.

Speaking at the event, Dr Isiramen noted that looking at the national HIV/AIDS response in Nigeria, there was a need to prioritise the response to address key issues affecting young people in the age group of 10-24 years.

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Isiramen called for meaningful engagement and participation of young people, adding that no one is too young to engage.

According to her, Nigeria as a nation should invest more in adolescent and young people’s response.

She said: “We have about 70 million of this group of Nigerians, and that is a huge population. They have a peculiar character, they are young, they are growing, they need to be empowered, and this is their formative years.

“So if we want a generation and a future that is secure, we need to invest in these people, it has to be multi-sectoral. Yes, we are talking HIV, but HIV is a multi-sectoral issue, when you put girls in school, it reduces their vulnerability to HIV and other sexual reproductive health risks.

“Nigeria has a strategic HIV plan, and in that plan there are two big strategic thrusts. One is to reduce or ensure zero new infections, zero stigma and discrimination, and the group of people that should be focused more on are young people, because if you reduce the infections in young people, especially the girls, because our data is showing us that of the 7,600 new infections that happened in young people in 2021, 6,800 of them are girls.

“If we invest more in girls, we secure the girl’s future, you secure the future of the partner, you secure the future of the child she is going to deliver. We have good plans, now we need to implement them. We need to put our money, energy and commitment where our mouth is. We have developed the plans, let’s move to implement and sustain it. The earlier the better.

“When young people engage, it empowers them, and when they are empowered then they can engage better at a higher and strategic level. Through participation they can do many things like plan, support monitoring, they can also design and ensure activities and interventions are addressing their needs. Young Nigerians need to be given the space.”

Country Director, AHF Nigeria, Dr Echie Ijezie said the global theme for 2022 was to ensure equal access, with a view to ensuring that there was access for everyone for treatment and prevention.

He said: “AHF is lending its voice to that, by saying that it is not yet over. We want to ensure that there is equal access, inequalities and barriers are eradicated and everyone can access treatment services. We want to remind everyone that HIV is still there with us. A lot of successes have been made. I want to thank all relevant stakeholders for their role in ensuring a significant downward trend.

“So today AHF with partners are organizing a youth dialogue to know what the particular challenges are because the youths are also affected, especially the females. So I hope that at the end of the day there is going to be a communique where we can identify what they are going through and how we can reprogram our efforts towards addressing those challenges.”

Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari yesterday said the Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is the better choice for Nigerians compared to other presidential candidates.

He said the other contestants have no record of achievements and plans for a better Nigeria compared to Tinubu.

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Masari during an exclusive interview with The Nation in Katsina described Tinubu as a national asset that will continue to benefit Nigerians of all tribes when he becomes the president.

He said: ’’Tinubu’s record while in office when he employed people of all races, also a former Senator, philanthropist, pro-democracy activist and benefactor, was there for all to see. ’He is not known for practising discrimination, tribalism or religious extremism, while It is difficult to identify monumental achievements recorded by his political opponents, except their travel tourism and the patronage of sycophants.’’

Governor Masari appealed to Nigerians to consider electing Asiwaju Tinubu in 2023 as a necessity for a stable and progressive country while ignoring the antics of those with lesser plans and aspirations

The Senate yesterday passed the sum of N607,952,023,580 as the budget for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for the 2022 fiscal year.

The passage followed the presentation and consideration of the harmonised report of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on FCT presented by the Chairman, Senator Smart Adeyemi, during the plenary.

Adeyemi said the proposed N607,952,023,580 comprised of total recurrent expenditure (personnel and overhead) of N214,769,755,967 and a capital component of N393,182,267,614.

He said the proposal for the commencement of the new Maitama II District was included in the budget.

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“Already, the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) has issued a Certificate of No Objection. An indigenous company has been recommended to commence the construction of Maitama II. For the first time in recent times, indigenous companies will be more involved in the construction of projects that are within their powers to do so that we can keep our economy moving. We propose that this budget should run concurrently with the 2023 budget when passed till June 2023. This is to ensure that the money is expended on the projects that have been approved by the two Chambers because of the global economic recession. There is a need to inject funds into the economy so that companies do not retrench,” he said.

Senate Minority Leader, Senator Philip Aduda, who also represents the FCT Senatorial District, earlier said “if we can pass the national budget, I don’t see any reason why the FCT budget should not be brought early for passage and for the people of the FCT to benefit from it. The whole shade of Nigeria is represented in the FCT and everybody is interested in what happens in FCT. So I urge my colleagues to ensure the passage of this budget.”

Senator Matthew Urhoghide decried that there were too many projects in the FCT that were moribund.

“The Apo-Asokoro road has been under construction for over three years. This should be given adequate attention now that the capital budget of the FCT has been increased,” he said.

Senate Minority Whip, Chukwuka Utazi, called for the development of satellite towns to decongest the city.

President Muhammadu Buhari has extended his condolences to Senator Aliyu Wamakko over the death of his wife, Hajiya Atika.

President Buhari in a condolence message by his media aide, Malam Garba Shehu, said: “It’s with a heavy heart that I received the news of your wife’s demise. The loss of a woman who was a significant part of your life, being the mother of your children, is particularly a deep pain to handle.

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“As you mourn the death of your dear wife, I send you my heartfelt sympathy over this irreparable loss. May Allah forgive her shortcomings and reward her good deeds with Al-Jannah.

“May Allah comfort you and members of your family and grant you the emotional strength to overcome this great loss.”

Yiaga Africa and the Not Too Young To Run movement are hosting the fourth edition of The Convergence for young candidates from different political parties in the North.

The Convergence 4.0, which started yesterday will end today.

A statement by the Executive Director, Yiaga Africa and Convener, the Not Too Young To Run Movement, Samson Itodo, said the conference was aimed at empowering and preparing the youth to run successfully in the next general election.

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It reads: “The Convergence 4.0 is a space for emerging political leaders who are committed to transformational public leadership to reflect, engage, and build generational solidarity in their quest to run for elective office. The conference is designed to equip young people with the knowledge, skills, and networks for running effective issues-based campaigns and winning elections. With the inspiration, knowledge, and solidarity The Convergence series provides, these young candidates will be able to navigate the challenges of campaigning, mobilising finances, securing stakeholder support, and managing electoral operations.

“The Convergence 4.0 is aimed at preparing young candidates in Northern Nigeria running for elective offices in 2023 through keynote speeches, master classes, plenary sessions, political fairs, and clinics. It will feature experts drawn from academia, civil society, professional bodies, relevant tiers of government, political parties, and the diplomatic corps. There will also be conversation-styled sessions and master classes/clinics on Ideologically-driven leadership; Campaign structuring and money politics; Election law and adjudication; Electoral operations and dirty politics.

“The 2023 elections will be the second election cycle since the Not Too Young To Run Bill was passed into law, and expanded the space for youth political participation in Nigeria as candidates for elective offices. The landmark law not only made it possible for young people to contest for offices they hitherto could not on account of their ages, but it also injected vigour and competition into the 2019 elections with the increase in youth aspirants and candidates. Importantly, it put youth candidacy and the need for more young people in governance and decision-making as a central issue in that election cycle.”

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has promised to establish a marble company in Ugya, Toto Local Government Area of the state.

He said it is aimed at creating job opportunities as well as the overall development of the area.

Sule made the pledge yesterday at the palace of Alhaji Usman Abdullahi, the Ohimege Opanda, Umaisha, Toto Local Government Area.

He said that the marble company if established, would also boost the revenue and improve the standard of living of the people of the area.

The governor commended the monarch for decorating him with a turban as ‘Sarki Yaki (Warrior of Opanda Kingdom), and assured of his administration’s determination to prioritise security at all times.

“I am here to seek your royal blessings ahead of my second term bid and I have gotten the blessing of Sarki Yaki today, I appreciate you, Zaki. God has helped us to bring peace to Toto by dismantling Darul-Salam and other criminal elements away from Toto,” Sule said.

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The governor appreciated the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Alhaji Ibrahim  Abdullahi, and other stakeholders for giving his administration maximum support to succeed.

He called for loyalty and respect to the constituted authorities for development to thrive

The monarch hailed Governor Sule for reviving rural electrification projects abandoned in the area since 1996.

He said the provision of electricity to communities in the area would boost the socio-economic activities and improve the standard of living of the people.

“His Excellency, you have recently provided relief materials to flood victims in this area. You have started the construction of Toto/ Umaisha road. You have dismantled Darul-Salam and other criminal elements in Toto as such we are enjoying peace in Toto now. “Whether you come or not, we are with you at all times because of your peace efforts and other developmental strides,” he said.

The Speaker, Alhaji Abdullahi also lauded Sule for his developmental strides.

The speaker called on the people of the area and the state to support Sule to succeed beyond 2023.

Senator Abubakar Sodat also drummed support for Sule and other APC candidates.

Sodangi said Governor Sule would continue to provide the much-needed dividends of democracy to the people if re-elected in 2023.

President Muhammadu Buhari said he is committed to renewable energy in tackling the effect of climate change.

The president spoke yesterday at the official inauguration of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto 2.0MWp Solar Hybrid project.

The project is funded by the federal government and implemented by Rural Electrification Agency (REA) under the Energising Education Programme anchored by the Green Bond.

The project, he said, would provide clean, safe and affordable electricity on campuses, teaching hospitals and communities.

Buhari represented by the Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi explained that it was the 6th of its kind under Phase I across universities and teaching hospitals.

He said: “It is in fulfilment of our strategic drive using modern technology to address the issue of climate change to reduce by 20 per cent the carbon emissions in order to limit the harmful effect of same to the environment and society.

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“This will enable a safe and conducive learning environment on our universities campuses, security as well support the drive for the girl child education and improve quality of healthcare services.”

The president said it will further brace and strengthen significant pointers towards sustainable economic growth in the country.

Minister of Power Abubakar Aliyu said the programme was conceived through an innovative financing mechanism to fund the implementation of the climate change project.

“Our ministry conceived the programme idea being implemented by the REA to provide clean, safe, sustainable and affordable electricity to the APC university environment,” he said.

Aliyu described the strides as a demonstration of government commitment to the implementation of the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) goals and the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

“It is basically aimed at reducing Green House Gases (GHGs) by 20 per cent (conditionally) and 47 per cent (unconditionally) in accordance with Paris Accord on Climate Change”, he added.

Hitherto, the Minister enumerated a series of similar projects executed by the federal government and commissioned by various ministers to include the latest at UDUS.

He said: “They are: 60kWp Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Mini-grid at Kuchi Community in Lapai, Niger State; the 150kWp Off-Grid/On-Grid Renewable Energy (Solar) Micro Utility at Tella Community in Gassol, Taraba State; the Rural electrification Grid Extension at Emekutu, Ikebe and Ojagbo communities in Ankpa, Kogi; the Rural Electrification Grid Extension at Isanlu, Ayetoro Gbede, Augu-Kura, Araromi and Olujumo, communities in Kogi and the 100kWp Solar PV Hybrid Mini-Grid in Atekombo, Ushongo in Benue State.

The Centre for Gender Studies of the Bayero University Kano (BUK), in collaboration with Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, yesterday held a round table discussion on how to improve the welfare and well-being of domestic workers.

During the discussion on the ‘Situation of Domestic Workers in Nigeria’ at the varsity, experts and stakeholders urged the federal government to make “strong legal frameworks” to help mitigate abuses targeted towards domestic workers.

The discussants noted that the lack of legal framework and weak institutions for the implementation of scattered legislation on domestic work are contributing factors to the abuses against domestic workers in Nigeria.

Head of Department (HOD) of Public Law, Dr. Muhammad Nuruddeen, observed that since poverty and illiteracy are major factors pushing more people, particularly women and children into domestic servitude, there is a need for a visible and proactive institutional mechanism to ensure the implementation of the laws as well as capacity building for domestic workers to let them know their rights.

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According to him, over 83 million people are in the domestic work sector worldwide with women and children as the majority.

“Yet, there is no specific legislation at the national level regulating domestic work. What we have are scattered laws that are not in a single document. But despite some of these provisions in different legislations, the rights of domestic workers are denied,” Nurudeen said.

Also speaking, Prof. Sani Lawal Malumfashi of the Department of Sociology said the ministry of education at the federal and state levels must ensure that all school-age children in the society are enrolled in schools while the Ministry of Labour and Productivity should have a directorate on informal sector employment for proper regularisation and documentation of informal works in the urban sector.

Prof. Malumfashi said: “Domestic service is undocumented and not covered by any insurance. To social and economic circumstances, they are subject to abuse. It is economically exploitative, socially degrading, discriminatory, dehumanisation manifesting into lack of rest, food and sleep deprivation, sex exploitation and physical molestation.”

BUK Vice Chancellor Prof. Sagir Adamu Abbas said the varsity was concerned with the welfare and well-being of humanity and that is why the university created gender studies and economic centres to take care of humanity issues.

Director of the Centre for Gender Studies, Dr. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, noted that despite their importance, domestic workers face a lot of challenges, including low wages, extra work, long working hours, lack of holidays and sometimes sexual exploitation, physical abuse, ill-treatment and lack of welfare, and BUK is concerned with the welfare and wellbeing of all humanity, especially the vulnerable.