The Nation Newspaper

Category: Special Report

  • Calls to end poverty, cycle of women’s abuse heighten

    Calls to end poverty, cycle of women’s abuse heighten

    • Stakeholders demand financial architecture and digital tech reforms to drive gender equality

    After two weeks of high-level deliberations on issues affecting women’s socio-economic emancipation and the recurring violence against women and girls at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU reports that the 68th session of the Commission on the Status (CSW68) ended with delegates’ consensus on reforming financial architecture, digital technology and strengthening institutions to end women’s and girls’ poverty

    The background

    Over 50 edicts that suppress the rights of women and girls have been issued by the Taliban in Afghanistan. In Sudan, scores of women have reportedly been subjected to rape and other forms of sexual violence in the ongoing conflict. There are also horrific accounts in the report by the United Nations Special Representative to Israel, Pramila Patten of sexual violence against women and girls and indications of sexualised torture during the terror attacks launched by Hamas and other armed groups on October 7; as well as shocking testimonies of sexual violence against Palestinian women in detention settings, house raids and checkpoints in the occupied territory. It also indicated that more than two-thirds of the tens of thousands of people killed and injured during Israel’s military operations in Gaza were reportedly women and children.

    In Nigeria, at least 1,400 students (mostly girls) have been kidnapped from schools since the 2014 incident involving 276 Chibok schoolgirls by Boko Haram Terrorists. Women and girls have continued to bear the brunt of armed violence with horrendous tales of rape and sexual exploitation of victims filling public spaces daily.

    The world over, conflict and crisis are increasing; with a devastating impact on women and girls. Despite evidence that women’s full participation makes peacebuilding more effective, the number of women in decision-making roles has continued to plummet.

    It is against this backdrop that how to end the poverty of women and girls, stop all forms of violence and discrimination against them and also restructure financial systems, digital technology algorithms and the renewable energy sector was the crux of the United Nations (UN) 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68th) held in New York, USA.

    The two-week high-level deliberations which brought together two Heads of State, three vice presidents, over 100 ministers and 4,800 Civil Society Organisation (CSO) representatives described as worrisome the rising cases of discrimination against women and girls in many parts of the world.

    With approximately 270 side events organised by member states, inter-governmental organisations and UN entities; as well as over 760 parallel events held by civil society and youth-led organisations, this year’s CSW, recorded as the second highest attendance since its establishment in February 1947, agreed that women and girls were the worst hit in the turbulence the world is currently going through.

    The issues

    Setting the pace for the discussions, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, at the opening ceremony, revealed that the latest statistics showed 10.3 per cent of women were living in multi-dimensional poverty; calling for intentional reforms and investments in women and girls.

    “Our world is going through turbulent times, and women and girls are being hit hard.  In conflict zones around the globe, women and girls are suffering most from wars waged by men…

    “The facts are clear: women lead to peace.  Budgets and policies must follow with ambitious targets for women’s participation and urgent investments in women’s peacebuilding.

    Many women and girls are also facing a war on their fundamental rights at home and in their communities. Hard-fought progress is being reversed. Women’s rights are fundamentally a question of power, and I see two deeply worrying trends.

    “Despite the enormous progress which all of you have helped to realise, patriarchy is far from vanquished.  It is regaining ground.  Autocrats and populists are attacking women’s freedoms and their sexual and reproductive rights.  They promote what they call “traditional” values.

    And patriarchy is, indeed, an age-old tradition.

    “Discrimination against women goes back millennia. We don’t want to bring it back,” Guterres said.

    According to him, it was time for governments; civil society and the Silicon Valley of the world to join a massive effort to bridge the digital gender divide and ensure women have decision-making roles in digital technology at all levels.

    “This is one of the main goals of the Global Digital Compact that will be central to the Summit of the Future in September.

    “Your gathering this year is focused on tackling poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective are critical to accelerating gender equality.

    “The reason is simple: Globally, poverty has a female face.  Women have less access to land, natural resources and financial assets.  They suffer the impacts of climate change more than men, and they are more likely to be food insecure,” he said.

    The UN boss noted that the world was failing to invest in women and girls, adding that the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, mounting debt, climate-related disasters and an ongoing cost-of-living crisis were shrinking the pie even more.

    Read Also: Why we did not recover $69.4 million electricity debt, by NBET

    “We will not solve today’s challenges by relying on a global financial system that helps perpetuate inequality.

    I am therefore calling for an SDG Stimulus that would provide $500 billion annually in affordable long-term finance for developing countries. The proposal includes a debt lifeline to create breathing space for countries facing impossible repayment schedules.

    “Leaders endorsed the Stimulus at last year’s SDG Summit.  I urge all countries to support these efforts to increase the investments that will achieve SDG 5 on gender equality and turbocharge progress across the entire 2030 agenda.

    “At the national level, governments are responsible for investing in ending poverty and achieving inclusive, sustainable development for all. That takes budgets and taxes that address the specific needs of impoverished women and girls.

    “Governments must recognise the key economic role of unpaid care work, with policies that support both mothers and fathers to take paid work outside the home.  They should ensure that their climate policies, including a just and equitable transition to renewable energy, boost employment opportunities for women and improve access to goods and services for women and girls.

    “They must do more to prevent the global scourge of violence against women and girls and end the abomination of female genital mutilation. Equal rights for women and girls depend on ending violence and abuse against them.

    “The Commission on the Status of Women catalyses the transformation we need.  At this difficult and divided moment, let’s work together to end poverty in all its dimensions. Let’s do it by investing in women and girls, betting on women and girls and pushing for peace and dignity for women and girls everywhere,” he said.

    Gender equality is a fundamental human right

    In her keynote presentation at the Africana Women Working Group event whose theme was “Accelerating the achievement for gender equality and empowerment of women by women: implication on poverty and strengthening institutions,” held at the UN Delegates’ Dining room, The First Lady of Bahamas, Anne Marie Davis, emphasised her country’s dedication to gender equality and her role as a champion for the empowerment and protection of women, girls, and vulnerable communities.

    Recognising gender equality as a fundamental human right, Davis stressed the urgent need for collective responsibility to address inequalities, calling for shared responsibility to tackle the matter.

    She highlighted how women’s empowerment could trigger social and economic development, noting that   societies were yet to tap into their potential

    “We find ourselves at a pivotal moment in history where recognising gender equality as a fundamental right is more than a moral obligation. It is a strategic need. Women’s empowerment is a catalyst for social and economic achievement, and we must use it to move all our nations ahead.

    “Empowering women involves not only empowering individuals, but families, communities and even nations, as we heard here this morning. Women are fundamental to every pocket of our societies, but our potential remains largely untouched. There are still too many areas that we need improvement in,” she said.

    Davis also stressed the need for institution strengthening by removing gender-based discrimination, supporting equal pay, and promoting women-led enterprises. She reiterated the importance of investing in women’s skill development and education to ensure their active involvement in the workplace and economy.

    She identified political empowerment as a ‘critical driver’ of institutional strength while advocating for greater representation of women in decision-making bodies at all levels of government.

    “When women engage in decision-making at all levels of government, policies represent a wide range of viewpoints, needs and goals of everyone, an entire cross-section, not just of a certain few. But we recognise that there is so much work to be done locally and globally. Davis emphasised the role of the UN in encouraging dialogue, sharing best practices, and mobilising resources to support initiatives that empower women and girls economically, socially, and politically.

    She said: “So, while we work together on gender equality at a national level in our respective countries, it is critical to know the value of international cooperation. The difficulties we face are global and so the answers must be collaborating.

    “The United Nations plays an important role in encouraging dialogue, sharing best practices, and mobilising resources to accelerate progress towards gender equality. And as I said earlier in my speech, provincial resources are critical for enacting gender-responsive policies and services…”

    No more rhetoric

     UN Coordinator, Africana Women Working Group, Prof. Adaeze Menakaya, stressed the need to prioritise interest rather than the continuous rhetoric.

    “What do we want? If women stand up today with one voice, that is our priority. Look at what happened in Liberia, women came together and the war came to an end. So we are talking about the priority to stop this cankerworm that is happening with women.

    “Till today, women are dying; widows’ rights are being taken away. The children and women are suffering. Women in the office cannot be promoted; you cannot go further because you are a woman.

    “Gender inequalities, gender balances and imbalances, gender emotions, gender character…these are all-inclusive and we are talking about the 2030 development agenda with six years to go into the end of the 2030 agenda.

    “So, we need to stand up to our priorities. Prioritise our issues, put an end to these global cankerworms and let women be dignified just like how God created us. We are fearfully and wonderfully made and nothing fashioned against us shall prosper. We stand out on the ground to say enough is enough. Our priorities stand right now,” she said.

    The First Female African-American Archbishop in the U.S., Her Eminence Mary Floyd Palmer, chronicled the challenges women had overcome, from gaining the right to vote to facing poverty and inequalities.

    Palmer expressed concerns about the lack of wisdom and unity in the current generation, emphasising the need for women to support and uplift each other.

    “In many countries around the world, we may not even be considered a part of the population of what matters…Now we have a whole generation that doesn’t seem to know what they’re doing. Our children are no less than 15 years younger than us. Our grandchildren are 30 years younger than us and our great-grandmas are sexier than our youngest grandchild.

    “We don’t seem to have wisdom. We don’t want to hear nothing from anybody with just a little bit of gray hair,” she said.

    The Mandate Secretary, Women Affairs and Children of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mrs Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi reminded the women it was time to take actions that would leave lasting legacies for the future.

    Using the Renewed Hope initiative of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu as an example, Benjamins-Laniyi explained how they were turning the lives of rural and low-income women in the FCT around.

    “It’s about positioning women first to impact their communities. So you don’t need to do it with a speech, but you need to do it with a lifestyle impacting every other lifestyle.

    “Today, every woman must recognise that in closing gaps, you are dealing with the gaps. You need the courage to confront whatever the gap is around you.  It may not end with you, but begin it. Step into it and raise with you a community of gap closures.

    “You and I must make that representation affordable, available, accessible, sustainable, and scalable and you know what? Make it clean.

    “You are the only weapon that we can use either against ourselves or to go far in life.

    And this weapon is our love. “Love the other woman, love another woman. But best of all, be that woman that other women can love,” she said at the Women Development in Urban and Rural Communities side event organised by Betneely Charity Foundation.

     Women’s access to clean energy

    The President of Women in Energy Network, Mrs. Eyono Fatayi Williams, who also spoke at the Betneely Charity Foundation’s event said developing women through SDG7 (affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all) meant a more inclusive and sustainable bundle of developmental opportunities for ready and willing women.

    “Women are disproportionately affected by energy poverty with the lack of access to clean and affordable energy and this impact will withhold education and economic opportunities,” she said.

    Mrs Williams argued that inclusive policy changes were required to cater to the peculiar needs of women in urban and rural areas.

    She called for policies that are gender-sensitive, and gender-inclusive and that address the challenges and blockers which make it difficult for women to access the opportunities for development in the energy sector.

    “Energy access is crucial for women’s development in urban and rural areas. Interventions can be on a national, sub-national or local council level while NGOs and other development partners also have a role to play, individuals have a role to play; you can sponsor a community or a cluster of women.

    Making a virtual contribution to the discussions, the Mandate Secretary for Health and Environmental Services of the FCT, Dr Dolapo Fasawe said: “Women in developing countries have been known to be the ones responsible for getting water for the family. With their certification, they have to go far and wide looking for resources to keep the family going.”

    A voice for rural women and girls

    The Founder of Betneely Charity Foundation, Dr Betty Olutunde emphasised the need for equal access to justice and the elimination of all forms of violence against women in rural areas who she said faced even more challenges than those in urban areas.

    In rural areas, this can be achieved through initiatives like promoting education and electricity for girls and providing sanitation, improving access to healthcare, said Olutunde.

    “Peace, justice and strong institutions are keys to promoting the development of women in Africa, in many African countries, women face discrimination and inequality in both urban and rural areas.

    “Weak institutions often make it difficult to implement policies that would improve women’s lives,” she said.

    The President of Defence and Police Officers’ Wives’ Association, (DEPOWA), Mrs Oghogho Musa highlighted some of the interventions the organisation had embarked upon.

    She said: “DEPOWA under my leadership has conducted cervical cancer screening for over 500 women.

    To help improve our women’s personal effectiveness and productivity, DEPOWA organised a two-day personal visioning and planning workshop to help participants create a clear and specific vision for their future.

    “The goal was to help them gain clarity about what they want to achieve and how they can make their vision a reality. One hundred women participated in that workshop…”

     Agreed outcomes

    To meet the 2030 deadline to end women and girls’ poverty, stakeholders agreed that there was need to work 26 times faster.

    The Commission recognised that women and girls living in poverty become ‘shock absorbers’ in times of crisis and that further efforts were needed to increase resources to address their poverty.

    Acknowledging that the international financial architecture was not fit for a crisis-prone world, the Commission called for reforms to enable countries to mobilise and invest resources in gender equality. These measures include debt relief and progressive taxation and ensuring that public resources were allocated to address the needs and rights of women and girls.

    Also recommended were the mobilisation of financial resources from public and private sources; strengthening the international financial architecture; ensuring a gender lens in national budgeting processes, and preventing regressive taxation that disproportionately impacts women and girls with low or no income.

    The outcome document also noted that official development assistance must be increased to address women’s and girls’ poverty.

    The Commission called for the implementation of gender-responsive economic and social policies, including increased women’s representation, leadership and participation in economic institutions, enforcing core labour standards to ensure equal pay for work of equal value, and implementing policies to support women-owned businesses.

    It recommended the engagement and financing of women’s organisations, adding that robust, flexible and multi-year financing for locally-led feminist movements and women’s rights organisations was critical to addressing poverty, as proven by existing mechanisms such as the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women and the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund.

    The need to strengthen national capacities to collect and use disaggregated data on multidimensional poverty, and to adopt new development strategies towards sustainable economies was also brought to the fore.

    These include strengthening inclusive and gender-responsive social protection systems and scaling up investment in the care economy to reduce women’s time and income poverty and expand their employment opportunities.

  • Sustaining path to successful women-led businesses

    Sustaining path to successful women-led businesses

    Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) play critical role in achieving sustainable growth. But for SMEs to thrive, funding and capacity building are critical. The Women’s Day edition of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Business Series in Lagos presented an opportunity to equip the bank’s customers, especially the women with the strategies to help build successful businesses, writes Assistant Business Editor, COLLINS NWEZE.

    The economies of great nations thrive on the strength and output of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), widely seen as engine of growth.

    The benefits of providing capacity building and funding for SMEs are huge. Banks with foresight are, therefore, taking steps to invest and support SMEs in the interest of the economy.

    United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc is one of the banks that is investing and supporting SMEs.The bank used the opportunity provided by the Women’s Day edition of the UBA Business Series tagged ‘Her Story’ and meant to celebrate the 2024 International Women’s Day (IWD) to demonstrate its commitment to SMEs, especially women-led businesses.

    During the event, held at the bank’s headquarters in Lagos, successful female business entrepreneurs used the event to advise SME operators and would-be business owners to focus on meeting specific needs of customers and also promoting tier own self-development.

    These, the speakers said, would create a path towards building prosperous brands in the short and long-term.

    During the hybrid event, entrepreneurs emphasised the need for SMEs to invest in themselves and have a proper working business structure as tips that will help build and grow their businesses.

    The co-founder and CEO of Good Hair Limited, Chioma Ikokwu; Founder of African Naturalistas, Atilola Moronfolu; founder of Hello Perfect, a leading skin aesthetics and laser clinic in Nigeria, Onyeka Michael-Ugwu and actress/founder and Chief Executive Officer, NOUA Skin, a luxury boutique skin studio based in Lagos, Oshuwa Tunde-Imoyo, were panellists at the special women’s edition of last quarter’s UBA Business series who spoke on the theme: “Her story”.

    Ojukwu, who emphasised the need for meaningful partnerships and collaborations in business, said: “It is important to start by solving a problem, you have to separate your lifestyle from your business and ensure that you are intentional about what you put out there. Also, get straight to the point about what you are offering your customers, no need beating about the bush.’’

    Buttressing Chioma’s point, Onyeka told business owners and would-be entrepreneurs to surround themselves with the right people as these are the people that will help tend to the growth of the business. “I always tell people, build a team that can give their best to your business. When you treat your team right, they will put their all into growing your business,” she said.

    Atilola who was all about the advantage of a proper business structure to one’s business, said, “Get your structure right, you need to have a standard operating procedure that works whether you are physically present or not. Also, it is very important to separate your personal finances from your business finances, that way, your business learns to thrive on its own,” she explained.

    On her part, Oshuwa spoke about education and investing in one’self, as she added that business owners need to hone their skills, and should not be afraid to ask for help when they need it. “I agree with Atilola and Onyeka about collaborations and I also subscribe to learning new things by investing in educating yourself, this will translate into better business decisions,” she said.

    UBA’s Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Alero Ladipo, who commended the panelists for taking time off their busy schedules to share their knowledge, said UBA organises these business series frequently as they go a long way towards equipping customers, especially the women with the strategies to help build successful businesses.

    Read Also: Why we did not recover $69.4 million electricity debt, by NBET

    “We believe that SMEs, especially those run by the females, are the engine of growth in any economy, and so, at UBA, we invest in educating our customers and Small business owners on tips that will help them run successful businesses that can impact the world,” Ladipo said.

    UBA is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the  continent, with 25,000 employees’ group wide and serving over 35 million customers globally. Operating in 20 African countries and in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting-edge technology.

    More initiatives to support SMEs

    The UBA recently instituted $100 million new loans to SMEs and other businesses across Africa that are focused on green finance projects.

    UBA’s Group Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba, broke the news during the partnership signing agreement between the bank and the African Guarantee Fund (AGF) at the UBA Head Office in Lagos. He said the move aligned with the bank’s commitment to fostering economic development and reducing poverty.

    “The facility aligns with our objective to power businesses. Through this, we will lend to women-led SMEs at cheaper rates. It will demonstrate our commitment to gender equality. We will actively engage governments to create loans. It is a transformative initiative for fostering economic development,” Alawuba said.

    The AGF will under the agreement provide $50 million Portfolio Guarantee for the SMEs and green finance projects that will benefit from the facility.

    The AGF will further facilitate extensive capacity building for the borrowers, with special focus women-led businesses and green finance projects across the 20 countries where UBA operates in Africa

    Alawuba reiterated the bank’s commitment towards supporting SMEs in Africa, especially to women-founded and managed businesses.

    He said the bank’s robust network, which is spread across the 20 countries in Africa and major global financial capitals remain big advantage.

    He said: “This guarantee will serve as a catalyst for the bank’s intervention for SME business, women-led and environment friendly businesses, enabling us to further extend our reach and impact. Additionally, the extensive capacity development initiatives planned for our SME customers across 20 African countries align with our vision to empower businesses, drive innovation, and foster sustainable growth.

     “I am particularly excited about our focus on advancing the AfCFTA initiative, reaffirming UBA’s $6 billion commitment to SMEs across Africa. This initiative, announced in September last year, demonstrates our dedication to supporting the economic integration of our continent,” he further said.

    “Moreover, our commitment to promoting gender equality in our business is reflected in our collaboration with the Affirmative Finance Action for Women(AFAWA) protocol. Through this we will provide loans to women-owned SMEs at more concessional rates, with customer friendly collateral terms, aiming to bridge the significant financing gap faced by women in Africa, amounting to $42 billion,” Alawuba noted.

    In the same vein, capacity development platforms are to be extended for free or at highly discounted rates while the partners will engage with governments across Africa to create and activate business environments that are more women friendly. It will also expand the bank’s Green Finance propositions across Africa.

    Also, the Group CEO of African Guarantee Fund, Jules Ngankam, said the partnership between two pan-African institutions who are both at the forefront of catalysing growth and development of SMEs will significantly drive economic growth across the continent.

    “Small and medium enterprises despite being the backbone of all African economies – they account for 90 per cent of the private sector and 60 per cent of all jobs – are perceived as risky and therefore have limited access to financing. Through this guarantee facility and the technical capacity development grant support, we will de-risk SMEs with a priority on those that are owned or led by women and those that are within the green sector.

    This partnership is sequel to the announcement made by UBA, and Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat in September 2024, which will help the bank drive its $6 billion commitment to SMEs across Africa under the AfCFTA initiative.

    Support for Intra-Africa trade 

    Intra-African trade is also a key area of strength for the UBA. The bank’s  presence in 20 African countries is mainly to drive intra-African trade. Its partnership with AfCFTA is also to drive inter-African trade.

    Also, the UBA is at th forefront of the partnership involving Afreximbank’s  Pan-African Payment & Settlement System (PAPSS), a payment system for settlement of business transactions across Africa.

    So, intra-African trade is important and Africa needs to trade more with each other and that will further improve our economic development across the continent.

    Alawuba recently disclosed that UBA is a bank focused on African development. A lot has been happening in Africa and we recently met with development partners to discuss agenda for Africa’s development.

    He said: “Some of our customers also share the same development agenda for Africa. And I believe that this is our time, this is the time for UBA, to work with other development partners and corporate organisations across Africa to develop the resources and opportunities that are available in Africa.

    “We are present in 20 African countries and four other countries outside Africa. We believe that Africa has tremendous opportunities and we need to have partners, institutions that will be able to harness these opportunities for the people. So, UBA is well-positioned to facilitate business within Africa and the rest of the world”.

    He said the most important thing  is for Africa to drive financial inclusion, adding that a lot of Africans that are left out of the banking industry and that is where UBA comes in.

    “UBA is in the forefront of using digital technology to drive financial inclusion. And we think that we need to build strong African institutions that will be able to support infrastructure development, support SMEs and the development of our continents.

    “Our goal is to work with several development partners who share the same vision, the vision that Africa needs to move and improve development in the continent. And this development has to be done by Africans working with like minds who believe that Africa must move forward,” he said.

    Funding support for economy

    The UBA also recently received a $175 million facility from the Africa Development Bank (AfDB) Group.

    The fund will be channeled towards enhancing its support to the private sector and financing of infrastructure development in Nigeria.

    This facility comprises a $100 million in long-term senior debt, $50 million of trade finance medium-term senior debt and a $25 million risk participation programme. The announcement was made following AfDB’s Board of Directors nod for the facility.

    The long-term senior debt will enhance UBA’s capacity to finance projects in Nigeria in the key sectors of infrastructure, agriculture and related value chains, as well as manufacturing, energy, and SMEs.

  • Harnessing solid minerals sector: The Nasarawa template

    Harnessing solid minerals sector: The Nasarawa template

    Determined to achieve economic diversification and the expansion of its revenue streams, Nasarawa State has embarked on a repositioning drive in its solid minerals sector. In this special report, LINUS OOTA takes a look at the challenges and prospects so far in the state’s effort to establish a sustainable alternative to traditional oil revenue.

    In a bold move to redefine Nasarawa State’s economic landscape, Governor Abdullahi Sule has embarked on a mission to harness the untapped potential of the state’s solid minerals sector. With a resolute vision for sustainable growth and development, the state has prioritised economic diversification through solid minerals as a cornerstone of its development agenda. Recognising the limitations of relying solely on crude oil, the government has embraced the solid minerals sector as a robust alternative, poised to liberate the state from dependency on volatile commodity markets.

    By harnessing these resources, the state government aims to bolster its revenue base and drive socio-economic transformation. It firmly believes in the transformative power of the mineral sector to attract significant investment, create employment opportunities, and propel Nasarawa State into a new era of prosperity. This strategic focus on solid minerals not only aligns with global trends towards sustainable development but also capitalises on the state’s inherent strengths and natural endowments. Through bold initiatives and forward-thinking policies, many residents believe that Governor Sule’s administration is laying the groundwork for a thriving solid minerals industry that will catalyse inclusive growth and uplift communities across Nasarawa State. With a commitment to unlocking the full potential of its mineral resources, the state is poised to emerge as a beacon of economic resilience and dynamism in the Nigerian landscape.

    Highlighting the immense opportunities awaiting exploration, Governor Sule asserted recently that “the golden era of Nigeria’s solid minerals is upon us.” With Nasarawa State boasting abundant deposits of various minerals across its thirteen local government areas, including barytes, salt, gypsum, marble and even crude oil and lithium, the potential for growth and prosperity is boundless. With a strategic focus on sustainable development and inclusive growth, many believe Nasarawa State is poised to emerge as a shining example of the transformative power of harnessing the riches beneath its soil.

    By prioritising the development of the solid mineral sector, analysts are of the opinion that the state is laying the foundation for a brighter future, where the state’s natural wealth becomes a catalyst for socio-economic advancement and sustainable development. While the state has only been recognised in name as the Home of Solid Minerals, until recently, there are no tangible efforts to harness the abundant potentials laying beneath the soil. What has been the case all through the years was mostly artisanal mining mostly undertaken illegally, with the products of such activities squirreled out of the state – with absolutely nothing coming to the government in terms of revenue except for some few individuals who usually connive with these miners to shortchange both government and host communities.

    On assumption of office, Governor Sule made deliberate steps to sanitise the sector, particularly by curtailing the activities of illegal miners, as well as ensuring that mining communities remain secure and peaceful. He embarked on familiarity visits to critical ministries and agencies relevant to his vision to transform the mining sector, where he agitated for further collaboration and partnership between the Federal Government, states and mining communities. Though the Nigeria Minerals and Mining Act 2007 gives ownership of all mineral resources in Nigeria and in the exclusive economic zone to the Federal Government, Governor Sule has continued to canvass for more participation by sub nationals in the effort to ensure the state maximally benefits from its God-given mineral endowments.

    As a way forward, the state government constituted the Committee on Solid Minerals Development, chaired by the Emir of Azara, HRH Dr. Kabiru Musa Ibrahim, saddled with the responsibility of reviewing activities of both formal and informal miners in the state, as well as proffer suggestions on the way forward, among other terms of reference. At the conclusion of its assignment, the committee discovered that 338 mining titles were issued in Nasarawa State, out of which only 64 are active, and that out of the 64 active licenses, only 35 have organised community development agreements, 10 have environmental impact assessment, while only 17 companies are paying royalties, which explains why the state is the least on the 13 per cent derivation from the Minerals Development Fund.

    The committee’s recommendations encompass several key initiatives aimed at revitalising the mining sector in the state. These include a thorough review of the legislation governing mining within the state, the facilitation of a comprehensive stakeholders’ forum to foster collaboration between formal and informal miners, and the establishment of a dedicated Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to oversee mining operations on behalf of the state. The state government took a decisive action by enacting Executive Order No. 2 in 2022. This directive was crafted to prohibit mining host communities from transferring land rights to entities seeking to conduct mining activities. Its primary objectives are to safeguard these communities from security threats and criminal activities while also providing vital institutional support to artisanal miners.

    Furthermore, Executive Order No. 02, 2022 mandates mining enterprises operating within the state to fulfill their financial obligations promptly. This includes the timely payment of all mining-related taxes, levies, and fees into the central billing system managed by the Nasarawa State Internal Revenue Service. Moreover, holders of mining leases or licenses are constrained to operate strictly within the legal frameworks outlined in the Minerals and Mining Act 2007 and the Land Use Act 1978. They are also compelled to undertake the crucial task of restoring and rehabilitating degraded lands and environments, as stipulated by these Acts. Additionally, all mining entities must obtain official approval from the Nasarawa State Urban Development Authority in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources before embarking on any physical development projects.

    However, the most significant aspect of this executive order lies in its transformative approach to the mining sector. By mandating mining companies to incorporate value addition processes into their operations, the state aims to unlock the full potential of its mineral resources and foster sustainable economic growth through the entire value chain. By requiring mining companies to establish processing factories within the state before exporting minerals, the government aims to not only generate employment opportunities for the youth but also cultivate essential technical skills among the locals, fostering a sustainable mining industry. This move also ensures that the value of the mined products is realised within Nasarawa State itself, contrasting with previous practices where minerals were processed elsewhere, contributing to the state’s low ranking in minerals derivation.

    This multi-faceted strategy has ushered in a new era of solid minerals development in Nasarawa State, with remarkable achievements already evident. The influx of foreign investors, particularly in the lithium sector, exemplifies the success of this approach. Nasarawa State is now recognised as having the largest lithium deposits in the country, attracting significant investment interest. Governor Sule’s collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has further diversified the state’s mineral portfolio. The discovery and ongoing drilling of oil wells, coupled with the significant oil reserves found, position Nasarawa State as a key player in the Northern region’s oil industry. In the realm of lithium mining, the establishment of processing factories by foreign companies underscores the state’s potential to become a major player in the global lithium market. With three prominent companies already setting up operations, the state is poised for substantial economic growth driven by the lithium boom.

    The administration’s commitment to value addition is evident in initiatives such as the Premium Marble and Granite Factory, which contributes significantly to the local economy and positions Nasarawa State as a major player in the marble industry nationally. In light of the surge in global lithium prices, the state’s strategic focus on solid minerals promises to transform its economic landscape, reducing reliance on federal allocations and establishing the state as a hub of solid mineral exploitation and value addition. Under the leadership of Governor Sule, Nasarawa State is experiencing a remarkable transformation in its solid minerals sector, propelling it towards sustainable development. The administration’s proactive approach focuses on adding value to the state’s abundant mineral resources, instead of merely exporting them for processing elsewhere, which historically led to revenue loss.

    Read Also: 2027: Obi, Obidients are not our concern now, we are busy with governing Nigeria – Onanuga

    Since its inception in 1996, Nasarawa State has been renowned for its rich solid mineral deposits. Despite possessing significant potential in minerals like barite, lead, gold, lithium, marble, and cooking coal, the state has yet to fully exploit these resources and emerge as a frontrunner in the solid minerals industry. The state government recognises the importance of maximising its mineral wealth for economic growth. Despite the Nigeria Mineral and Mining Act of 2007 designating the federal government as the custodian of all mineral resources in Nigeria, Governor Sule’s government advocates for greater involvement of sub-national entities like Nasarawa State. This advocacy aims to ensure that the state can harness the full benefits of its natural resources. By attracting investors to participate in the state’s mineral sector and promoting value addition through local processing, the state government is reshaping the state’s solid minerals landscape. This strategic approach not only enhances revenue generation but also fosters job creation, skills development, and overall economic prosperity for the state’s residents. Through these initiatives, Nasarawa State is poised to unlock its true potential as a leading destination for solid minerals, contributing significantly to Nigeria’s sustainable development journey. The Governor’s vision and commitment to harnessing the state’s natural resources for the benefit of its people mark a significant step towards achieving long-term prosperity and sustainability.

    Leveraging his extensive background in the private sector, Governor Sule embarked on a mission to transform the sector upon assuming office. One of his early actions was to advocate for the liberalisation of the mining sector, emphasising the importance of state participation. Recognising Nasarawa State’s status as the “home of solid minerals,” he underscored the immense potential within the sector. However, he also highlighted the urgent need for reforms to address challenges such as illegal mining and security concerns. His advocacy efforts were not confined to closed-door meetings but extended to various forums and engagements with stakeholders. Through these platforms, he consistently championed the cause of state involvement in mining management, advocating for reforms aimed at maximizing the state’s benefits while ensuring sustainability and security. By drawing on his private sector experience and engaging with stakeholders, stakeholders believe Governor Sule has demonstrated a commitment to driving positive change in Nasarawa State’s solid minerals sector. His leadership has set the stage for meaningful reforms and strategic initiatives that aim to unlock the state’s vast mineral potential while addressing critical issues such as illegal mining and security.

    “This is one area of our economy with great potentials but will require urgent reforms so ass to minimize illegal mining and to improve on insecurity in the country. It’s important to speak about security whenever solid minerals development is mentioned, because in Nigeria, they got together,” he said

  • Couple who lost older son to NDLEA officials’ bullets battle to save second baby’s sight

    Couple who lost older son to NDLEA officials’ bullets battle to save second baby’s sight

    For the family of Fidelis Omhonria, July 13, 2023 is a date that would live in the memory for life. It was the day that bullets shot from the guns of  officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) killed their older son and shattered an eye of the second. Eight months after, the family is not only battling with the irreversible damage that was done to their psyche, they are also saddled with the burden of paying the enormous hospital bills that come with treating the second child, who doctors insist must be flown abroad to save his sight. In spite of the urgency that the trip requires, the family regrets that little or nothing is being done to expedite action, INNOCENT DURU reports.

    • US hospital bill jumps from N60m to N150m  

    • Delta govt reneges on promise to reimburse family  

    • NDLEA, Delta govt deny allegations

    Eromonsele, a less than two years old toddler, faces the risk of losing his sight unless urgent steps are taken to fly him abroad for necessary medical attention.

    Much as his parents have tried to put behind them the ugly experience of their eldest son’s death from bullets fired by some yet to be identified NDLEA officials, Eromonsele’s painful cries every night evokes an ugly reminder of the tragic incident.

    “At times when he cries, you see blood coming out from that particular eye,” said Eromosele’s distraught father, Fidelis, as he fought back tears. “The way they programmed the use of my son’s eye drop is somehow. We must do it every two hours to avoid infection and we must apply it without failing,” he added.

    The sleepless nights and huge sums spent on Eromonsele would have mattered less to the distraught parents if they are certain that the solution lies in them. But the solution, according to medical experts, lies in flying him abroad, the US to be precise, for advanced medical care.

    “After trying their best, doctors at Federal Medical Centre, Asaba where the two kids were initially rushed to said they would have to refer him to Lagos because the situation of the eye was not one they could handle.

    Fidelis said: “We came to Eye Foundation in Lagos and were there for more than one week. The consultant later said because he (Eromosele) is a little child, they did not have the machine to see through the cornea of the affected eye because the damage was much.

    “He advised that it would be better for us to take him out of the country. We had to come back to Asaba where another ophthalmologist also said the best thing for us is to fly him out of the country.”

    Fidelis recalled that while they were in Lagos, NDLEA officials kept calling, “and I told them we were in Lagos trying to stabilise the boy, because at that point, he was not talking.  I said I would get in touch with them when I got back to Asaba.

    “On getting back to Asaba, I called the number that was calling me but it was not reachable. The controller that was there before had been transferred. After that period, they abandoned me.

    “When I came back to Asaba, I also tried to communicate it to them that we were back and that Eye Foundation said they could not do it; that the child needed medical attention in the US. But the NDLEA started telling me that they would come today, they would come tomorrow.

    “They were doing all that because it is not any of their sons. This is my son. I have to do anything I can at this level to see that I save my little boy.”

    Personal efforts to fly child abroad

    Seeing that the NDLEA was not forthcoming, one of Fidelis’ friends stepped in and helped him to do USA visa applications for his family.

    He said: “We processed the passports and all that on our own since NDLEA was not responding. I communicated with them to let them know what I was doing and they said they would get back to me.

    “The legal officer later said they did not have money. The bill given to me for the treatment in the US was between N60 million and N70 million.

    “We contacted a doctor over there who promised to assist. She said the surgery would not be done in her hospital but that she would help us coordinate the system for my son to be taken to a teaching hospital there.

    “She said the most important thing was to bring my son there. But the only thing she would not assure me was that she would give me a visa. The NDLEA, at least, can write and stand and help us to coordinate everything in the US.

    “I made everything known to the NDLEA and the chairman later called me to condole with me. He said he was currently not in the country but whatever the case, he was coming to Asaba.

    “He said he wanted to send me some money but I said on what account are you sending me money? He said no, it was not from NDLEA; that he was sending me the money in his own personal capacity because he saw my son as his own grandson.”

    After that period, Fidelis said, there was a break in communication.

    Delta State governor, SSG step in

    Fidelis recalled that when the incident occurred, the Delta State governor and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) came and said they were going to settle all the bills of which he had paid about 80 per cent.

    “Since the governor said he was going to settle all the bills, I stopped going to the NDLEA because I was not hearing from them again.

    “At a point, one of the PAs in the governor’s office said I should stop calling because it was NDLEA’s responsibility.

    “One of my friends escalated the issue on social media, quoting the governor. After that, the SSG called, saying that he thought we had long been sorted with the money that the governor promised.

    Read Also: Five Nigerian meals for Easter vacation

    “He said I should go and bring evidence of all the expenses I had made and the ones we were expecting to make. I went and gave everything to him and he said he was very sorry he never knew that the whole incident had not been sorted.

    “He said that the governor actually had intention of giving me money to sort out things but because they were very busy, they didn’t know that it had not been sorted. This was between the end of October and early November 2023.”

    Continuing, Fidelis said: “He said the governor would need to approve some money for me, including the one I was going to spend overseas and everything concerning the boy; that he was going to take over the responsibility.

    “He said they would write a letter to the US Embassy so that they could at least grant us a visa. The SSG wrote a letter, added all the applications I had done so far and sent it to the Abuja embassy of the US.

    “He tried his best and also helped me to connect to a doctor in the US to help me out and make the necessary arrangements in  the US concerning my son’s condition.

    In the process of doing that, he said, “the NDLEA Chairman, Bubba Marwa, came on the 2nd of November to pay a condolence visit to me in my house in Asaba.

    “Before then, our lawyer, because we had waited for NDLEA for a very long time, had  already sent a petition through the senator representing this constituency, Senator Ned Nwoko, to the Senate.

    Before Marwa came, we had to go to court for the civil suit. The government was handling the criminal case.

    “When Marwa came, he told me that there was no need for court; that I should tell my family to see how we could take care of my little child so that we would send him to the United States for proper care.

    “The NDLEA chairman went on air to say that he would fast track everything that I had been doing so that my son would be taken to the US for proper treatment.

    “After he left, I went to meet my family member an told him what he said and the efforts of the SSG, and that we should withdraw the case.

    “Later, the SSG told me that since the NDLEA had come into the matter, we should let everybody work together so that the state and the federal governments would not be working at cross purposes.”

    NDLEA takes over

    Going forward, the embattled father said NDLEA attached a protocol officer to him to start giving them all the necessary information on the document they needed to fly the child and the parents abroad.

    “All the documents they needed from both here and Lagos Eye Foundation  I  submitted to them to expedite action, because we had already got a date.

    “When you apply for US visa, they would give you a far date, but because it is a critical case, the government needs to come in to help us expedite it so that we can have a close date.

    “Thereafter, the protocol officer asked me to resend all that had I sent before. I was wondering because we already got a date and only needed them to expedite it.

    “From November till December ending, nothing was done.  I went and buried my son that was killed, hoping on what Marwa had said.

    “I informed NDLEA about the burial and begged them to assist so that the other boy could see. They said okay, that they would do their best. 

    “I have kept begging the (NDLEA) chairman and everybody around him for help so that my son does not go totally blind. I have lost one already.”

    When NDLEA was foot dragging with expediting the date given for the interview, Fidelis said: “My uncle helped us get a date, which was February 2nd 2024, for the visa interview. I told him the NDLEA was already working on it so that they could stand that they were sponsoring the trip. I so much believed Marwa’s words.

    “To my greatest surprise, on the first of February, the NDLEA protocol officer called and said that there was a visa interview date for me. I said I hope it was not the date that one of my uncles had already got for me.  Why are they capitalising on this?

    “The protocol officer called me at about 8:30 pm when I was already sleeping. He said there was a date for me; that they saw it in their system. I told them that the date was more or less for the application I personally submitted and not theirs.

    “Their legal officer said we should go to the embassy; that they would see how they could do a letter to them.  Before then, NDLEA said I should change the location to Lagos because that was where they could do it with ease.

    “I did so, but to my greatest surprise, it was the date that my uncle got that they told me about, and it was Abuja and not Lagos they asked me to change to.

    “That very night, I called my agent and he booked a flight for my entire family. When it was our turn to be interviewed, they looked at the medical report and everything and said there was no NDLEA involvement in the process and so they would not be able to give us  visa.

    “They said we should go and do the needful and reapply. I thereafter messaged Marwa and he apologised. He reimbursed the money I spent on the flight from Asaba to Abuja.”

    Within 48 hours, Fidelis said, “I submitted another application. I paid half a million from my pocket.   The protocol officer then called, asking me to send my documents. I did all that.

    “She said I should accept any date that they give me in the application so that they could expedite it. Since I did that till now, it has been still story upon story and my son’s condition is getting worse on a daily basis.

    “I have been begging, I have been crying for them to save my son from losing his sight. They gave us 2025 for the second application I submitted.  It is now left to the NDLEA to expedite it so that I can take my son out for treatment.

    “Now the medical bill has been reviewed because of the exchange rate. It is now N150 million against the N67 million given to me.”

    The genesis

    Recalling how the problem began, Fidelis said: “On July 13, at about 4.20 pm, I went to  get my children from school and took them to their mother’s shop on Opanam Road.

    “Less than five minutes after I drove away from the shop, my wife started calling that I should come. She was shouting bullet! bullet! She didn’t know where the bullets came from because they were inside the shop.

    “I turned back immediately. Coming back, I sighted about three NDLEA vans . I stopped. But before I could get to the shop, I had sighted NDLEA officials. They were just shooting, and people were running around.

    “Before I could get to the shop, I saw my wife and my children. People were shouting, trying to help my wife to take my children to the hospital, and I told them that they should go.” 

    He continued: “The NDLEA men parked in front of my wife’s shop.  I now went to go and meet them. I said, ah, the bullet you people fired just now injured my child. The man did not even look at me.  He just faced the other side.

    “I brought out my phone and snapped them, snapped the vehicle and snapped the guy inside the vehicle. 

    “Before I knew it, they rushed at me,  asking why I was snapping them?  They said I should bring the phone.

    “Before I knew it, they just entered their vehicle and zoomed off. That was when I followed them. I was crying, shouting and videoing them.

    “At a point, they stopped and asked why was I videoing them. I took time to tell them what they did. He said is that so? That they didn’t know.

    “They called one of their persons in their office, which is the commander, who spoke to me and asked me to come to their office. I followed them to their office just to know the place.

    “Thereafter, I went back to meet my kids at the hospital. I was told that my older son, two years and five months old, and the younger one, who was one year and a few weeks old, were in the theatre.

    “The medical doctor said I could not see them and that I should hold on because they were working on them.

    “They told me that bullets pierced through my son, Ivan’s chest, and came out from the back. The other one, they said the bullet pierced through the glass and entered his eyes. The eye was bleeding and all that.

    “At about 11 am or thereabouts, the older one, Ivan died.

    “The second child was not closing his eyes, so they were trying to see how they could bring him back to life.

    “Along the line, we went to keep the deceased one in a mortuary to  see  how the other one would survive.

    NDLEA, Delta govt deny allegations

    The NDLEA has denied the allegations by Fidelis.

    Speaking on a telephone interview with our correspondent, the spokesman of the agency Femi Babafemi said: “We sympathise with the parents and we stand on our promise to support the family. Nothing has changed from the promise made by the Chief Executive of the agency because he is a parent, he is compassionate and he feels for them. Let me put in on record that  we provided all the necessary documents that we required  to provide to assist the family. We wrote a letter to the US Embassy , confirming that we are the ones sponsoring their trip and listed all their names. And that we are also responsible for the  medical bills. All of that was stated in our letter to the US embassy. Besides that, even their coming  to Abuja, all their expenses both travels and accommodation, we paid for that.

    “How can that translate to abandoning them?  That is not tantamount to abandoning them.  Unfortunately, we cannot dictate  to the Embassy when they will issue the visa. That is certainly not within our control. I have been in touch with the parents  and even after they were denied visa the first time. I encouraged them to reapply.  The chairman of the agency himself has been in touch  with the officials of the US Embassy on this issue. We have always shown the urgency on that.  We are also in touch with the state government to ensure that everything  works well and they get to travel for the treatment.  Certainly we have not in any way  deviated from our promise  to support and assist them. All that we have done cannot be interpreted to mean  that we have abandoned them.”

    Asked if the agency has been responsible for the boy’s hospital bills, Babafemi said: “We have a full directorate  of medical services. If they need us to handle all of that, we will do. We do within what we know. We pay what we know.  We take responsibility for what we know but not what  is done behind us that we don’t know.  There are no expenses locally that we know of that we have not assisted.”

    The Secretary to the Delta State government, Dr Kingsley Emu also denied that the state has been supporting the family and hasn’t reneged on its promise.

    He said: “The state is very sympathetic to what happened to the family. It is a big loss that nobody can sweep under the carpet.  We have demonstrated as a state significant physical, financial  and moral sympathy in this direction. The state picked up the whole bills at the hospital here and that can be verified at the FMC.  Every bill on this matter as at the time we visited, we picked up. We also understand that the NDLEA picked up some bills when he went to Lagos.  I think Eye Foundation  did some refund.  I have been having discussions with him as a friend and as a rep of the state. What he wanted is to take the child abroad with the family which is okay. The governor directed me and he announced that on the television  to issue a letter of recommendation to the embassy  which is the maximum we can do in this matter.  Like you know, a visa is a privilege. We did that.

    “NDLEA came several times and  has done similar things. NDLEA has a bilateral relationship with the United States on drugs related issues and they have made a lot of entreaties with them.  I don’t want to talk about small small cash gifts  in between.  But to turn around and say  that we have abandoned him  is not correct. Until last week, he sent me a text and showed me the heaps of eye drops that the family had expended on the boy’s eyes.  If he gets a visa, NDLEA has undertaken to write off all  the bills abroad. That was what the chairman told me.  The NDLEA chairman was here in Asaba to see him.  Ask him if he has sent any bill,  one document. Ask him to show evidence of any document  he has shown and the expenditure that he did and we didn’t support him.”

    Continuing, he said: “Even as he waits for the visa to come, which is his preference and which I also support for first class medical attention, there is no bill. Ask him to show you one a  who he communicated with.  Who did he discuss with? Where is the bill communicated formally to the state?

    “The state is still pushing for him to go.  If he tells us today that we should look for an alternative solution in any hospital, we would be able to help him. If he has made up his mind to treat the problem locally and he has a bill, let him bring it.”

  • Residents of Lagos community in survival battle amid rising cost of drinking water

    Residents of Lagos community in survival battle amid rising cost of drinking water

    By Damilare Adeleye

    It is everyday struggle for Jaiyeola Confidence, a 300-level student of Political Science in Lagos State University (LASU) to get potable water in her hostel area. With her condition as a person with disability, it is usually a battle for Confidence, who walks on crutches, to get water for her domestic needs.

    Her hostel, situated at Shittu Close in PPL, a popular residential community in Ojo-Alaba, has only a pale green coloured well that serves as the source of water for her and more than a hundred other occupants of the compound.

    Similarly, Adeniji Azeez, a 200-level student of LASU had to battle with facial sunburn and body itch for weeks after bathing with the water from a shallow and untreated well in his hostel.

    It is the same reality for many other residents of PPL Okokomaiko community in Ojo-Alaba area of Lagos State where the prevalence of anti-social vices like insecurity, unstable electricity and lack of proper source of water system are a daily challenge.

    Economically, as a fast-growing mega city in Africa, Lagos is the economic capital of Nigeria with huge commercial activities that attract people from different walks of life. Although the Centre of Excellence is surrounded by wet lands, lagoons and the sea, many of its residents continue to grapple with lack of access to safe and reliable water, especially in PPL Okokomaiko. 

    PPL, a popular residential community in Ojoo-Alaba, shares land border with LASU’s main campus. With its proximity to the university campus, students readily find PPL a handy alternative residential area due to the shortage of hostel accommodation within the main campus.

    But rather than being a blessing, the anti-social vices in PPL makes life miserable for many of its inhabitants, especially the students who confront different hurdles during their stay in the community.

    Common in the community are shallow and repulsive wells where many of its inhabitants source water to meet their daily needs.

    Because many of the wells are in bad conditions as they are left without coverings, the water sourced from them are naturally unhygienic for human consumption.

    Narrating her predicament with regard to potable water, Confidence said using the available well water in her compound is not only stressful, but the water itself is a threat to good health.

    She said: “It is well water that we use, but we don’t drink it. We would rather buy pure (sachet) water. My roommates also go for borehole water.

    “There is a borehole somewhere in the next street at Suya Junction where they go to fetch water.

    “For the well water, we bathe with it, wash  the plates and cook with it, but we are always careful. We boil it before we use it to cook.

    “I am always conscious of the water,  because most times, there are particles and earthworms in it.

    “Using the well water is a bit stressful for me. I just fetch the little I can carry, not the full bucket, to make things easy for myself.

    “My roommate, who fetches water for cooking, usually takes bike. We pay N200 to fetch a 25-litre keg.”

    Asked what would make water more accessible for her, she said: “I would appeal for maybe a well constructed borehole to be able to easily get water. That would be preferable.”

    Read Also; FULL LIST: African presidents, Heads of State below 50 years of age

    High cost of sachet water: Financial obstacle for many residents

    Due to the unhygienic nature of the well water, many PPL residents have resorted to purchasing sachet water for drinking. However, the rise in the price of sachet water, also known as pure water, is reducing the purchasing power of many residents who are now seeking affordable alternatives.

    Akintola Michael, another student of Lagos State University, who lives at Bello Tapa in PPL, described the situation as tough for many students.

    He said: “Two major challenges confronting students in this area are electricity and good water. To be factual, the major source of water is the well. And while using the well is not convenient for most students, some do not even have well water in their hostel compounds.

    “And for students who have these wells, the water is not actually safe in the sense that the wells do not have covers and the water is not by any means treated before use.

    “It is unarguable that the water is not drinkable because it is exposed to particles that could have contaminated it. To use it for cooking, it has to be well boiled.

    “Students have however made provision for pure water to drink. But, the current economic situation has affected a lot of things.

    “The price of pure water has gone up. When I came to the area in 2022, a bag of water sold for N200 per bag. Now it sells for between N400 and N450 for a bag.

    “So, buying pure water for drinking is getting difficult for many students who are already battling with other expenses at home and inbschool.”

    The Well And Its Health Hazard

    Corroborating the distasteful water situation in PPL, Adeniji Azeez, another LASU student who stays at Omobalufun Street, recalled how the water from the well in his hostel harmed his face after using it for bathing.

    Azeez said: “Essentially, for cooking related stuff, I use the tap water of the bakery close to my house. But for bathing and clothing stuff, I use the well water in our compound, which is so bad that it caused my face sunburn.

    “Initially, I thought that mine was caused by the sun, but within weeks, I noticed that my cheeks were dry. I did not notice it early due to the fact that I had no mirror in my hostel.

    “The scratching part began and it hurts a lot, especially when I walk in the sun. So I had to Google how to cure small sunburn, since I’m not someone who uses bleaching cream.”

    He continued: “I use an antiseptic cream to massage my cheeks in the morning after which I place ice in my cheeks. I also always make sure to use sunscreen before I go out and in a week, my face is as good as new.

    “There was a day I saw a child drinking from the water. The next day, the child had a very bad stomach pain; so bad that they had to carry him to the hospital.

    “When they got to the hospital, the nurses asked the parents what the child consumed  in form of water and food. That incident made me know that the water can be too dangerous for drinking.

    “Most times, because of my health, I buy pure water. But my roommate fetches his drinking water from Aiyepe Junction, close to FSS gate. He told me the water is good.”

    Uchenwa Henry, a PPL resident in Suya Junction street, who has been in the area for more than 26 years, said though the water from the well is used for other domestic works, drinking is out of it for many people.

    His words: “I grew up here and our major challenges are security and water. Our well water is not drinkable.

    “Naturally, we use the water for cooking, washing and other stuffs. But for drinking, it is a no-go area. The reason it is not drinkable is that most times it has tastes whereas water is supposed to be tasteless. That is why many of us don’t drink it.

    “Although it is odourless, it has a different taste compared to pure water. We get our drinking water from borehole and we pay to get that.

    “Some go for pure water, but we don’t usually buy it because we are many in my household. The price of pure water is unaffordable for a family of six members. We have to go for borehole water which has been treated. 

    Another resident, who identified himself as Pastor Peter Yemi, also lamented the situation as he called on government to come for firsthand assessment of the community to know the plight of the people and observe the critical need for potable water.

    He said: “Well water is like a part of the community because most people use it to meet their water needs. Personally, I don’t see well water as very hygienic.

    “Well system in this area is not really okay. Borehole water would be far better here, but few people here have access to it.

    “If you take a step further, you would see that people buy drinking water from somewhere else in 5  or 10 litre kegs. If you go further, you we see that some go for pure water.

    “Even for me, I take bottled water to keep safe because I don’t see pure (sachet) water as very hygienic.

    “The government has the responsibility to change the narrative here by providing better alternatives through the already established federal and state Water Corporation.

    “If they come here for assessment, they will discover that this community has a peculiar problem of having wells that are not good enough for drinking.

    “Some drink from their borehole while some go for pure water or bottled water.”

    Alfa Musa Abdulrauf, an Islamic cleric in the area, also decried the situation, noting that it is capable of leading to epidemic among the people.

    He said: “In Okoko and PPL, there is hardly tap water. What we do here is to excavate the land to construct well or buy water.

    “This has been so since the onset of the community. We mainly depend on wells, preserved or not. That is why we sometimes have epidemic disease.

    “Those who can afford pure water or bottled one go for it. But in terms of washing the clothes and plates or bathing and other domestic works that requiring water, we rely on the wells.

    “When it comes to drinking, we drink pure water or bottled water for those who can afford it. But for those who cannot afford it, they buy water from those  who have boreholes.

    “For drinking, majority of Okoko-PPL  inhabitants depend on boreholes.”

    Many hurdles, no leadership

    Many residents attributed bad state of the community to absence of solid leadership structure. Efforts to reach out to any recognizable community leader proved futile as there was no existing leader recognized in the community.

    The Islamic cleric confirmed the foregoing, saying: “No CDA chairman. No king. But they have peer groups and everyone has their leaders. On having a unilateral leader, I have not come across it.”

    Meanwhile, one of the youth leaders known as Baba Ibeji on Yaro Street blamed government for not keeping its promises on providing adequate access to clean water in the community and the country at large.

    He said: “All the problem is attributed to government not giving us water. If they have provided us water we would not be anxious to dig wells in our compounds because there will be regularly running water for use.

    “Just like we all know, government has been promising us water for a very long time,yet such does not happen. That resulted in people digging wells.

    “It is only people who are privileged to afford boreholes that can go for boreholes which they have to treat to make it drinkable because the well is not drinkable.

     “We need clean water in PPL. Since we were young, there has been this agitation on this situation.

    “Government has only been making promises on providing potable water, but none of the promises has been fulfilled.

    “All over the country, what people clamour for most times is good water, health care, electricity, proper education and so on.

    “We need water. They should provide a better system of water because we all need to drink water every day.”

    Though Sustainable Development Goal 6 on water and sanitation targets universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all people by 2030, the United Nations report in 2023 indicated that over 133 million persons were without access to potable water across Nigeria. This signals the need for government at all levels to assiduously work to improve the water situation in the country.

    • This Report Is facilitated by Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) under its Collaborative Media Engagement for Development, Inclusivity and Accountability (CMEDIA) Project .

  • Hajj 2024: Intending pilgrims lament high airfare

    Hajj 2024: Intending pilgrims lament high airfare

    • Subsidy announcement sparks controversy in Kano

    Intending pilgrims for this year’s hajj to Saudi Arabia are not having the best of times as the air fare has hit the roof. Any Muslim who would be part of this year’s pilgrimage must now cough out more than N6 million following the decision of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to raise the fare from the initial N4.7 million by a whopping N1.9 million.

    The development had prompted the Kano State Government to subsidise the addition to the air fare by N500,000 for each intending pilgrim from the state, but that in itself has sparked a controversy as some people consider the gesture a waste of state’s resources.

    In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), many intending pilgrims are struggling to find the additional money while some have asked the FCT Pilgrims Welfare Board to refund their initial deposits as they were not happy with the increase in the hajj fare.

    Alhaji Aliu Mairaga, who spoke with our correspondent, said: “It would be difficult to raise additional money after being told that they had finally paid for the journey. I am sponsoring my elder sister and my wife. It is very sad and unfortunate.

    “The increment was so sudden and we are all disappointed by the decision of the federal and state governments. After paying a huge amount of money, many people cannot afford the increase.

    Read Also: Five Nigerian meals for Easter vacation

    “For me, I am even confused as to where to get the money from. But I have started running up and down to borrow money because I have already made a commitment to sponsor them.

    “My sister nearly fainted when the news broke that there would be additional money to be paid. The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) should emulate the Kano State Government that wants to offer N500,000 to assist each pilgrim.

    “It would be good if the Federal Government and FCTA can replicate this act. The amount is huge. I call on the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, to intervene.”

    An intending pilgrim, Ibrahim Musa, disappointed at the development, is demanding a refund.

    He said: “We are not happy with the increment. We woke up and heard that the hajj fare has been increased to N6.8 million.

    “We were asked to pay a certain amount of money which we have paid. Why are they telling us another story? I don’t have money to complete it. I want my money back.”

    Aisha Abdullahi said on her part: “I am not happy with the increment. The decision is not a welcomed one. It is sad that this is happening now that I am about to embark on this holy journey.

    “This is an annual spiritual practice. The FCTA should emulate the Kano State Government and do the needful to assist us. The money is much.

    “I have been finding other means to add to the money. May God almighty Allah make it easy for me and everyone going on the holy trip.

    “The Kano State Government has really tried, but the N500,000 is small. To get N1.4 million to complete the money is not easy. Even with the N500,000 some people will still not be able to meet up.”

    Another pilgrim, Hajia Aminat Sodiq, said: “The first time I heard about the increment, I was not happy. Some of us could not sleep or eat the day we heard about it.

    “Even when people were asked to pay N4.6 million, many could not afford it. Now we are being asked to pay an additional N1.9 million. The increase will prevent many of us from going for the Hajj.”

    Kano governor criticised for giving each hajj pilgrim N.5m

    Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano state has come under heavy criticism for giving out N500,000 as hajj fare subsidy to all intending pilgrims who will perform this year’s Hajj under the umbrella of the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board.

    Yusuf said he took the decision with regards to the recent increase of the Hajj fares by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) which was attributed to the instability of the exchange rate of the naira to the dollar.

    NAHCON had announced an increase in Hajj fares by N1,918,032.91 to make the total Hajj fare per individual N6,617,032.91.

    “Following the sudden increase of N1.9 million Hajj fare by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, I have approved a subsidy of N500,000 each for intending pilgrims from Kano embarking on the 2024 pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

    “With this, intending pilgrims who have registered and paid the initial total deposit of N4.7 million and N4.5 million with the State Pilgrims Board will now deposit N1.4 million out of the N1. 9 million increase,” the governor stated on his official twitter page.

    However, instead of applause, the governor has been severely criticised for the gesture, which his critics described as misplaced priority and a waste of tax payers’ money. Some even said the money should have been channeled towards infrastructural development, healthcare, education, agriculture and other critical sectors, or even used to feed the poor who are languishing in hunger because of the current economic hardship.

    For Yaya Abba, a follower of the governor on twitter, “Nobody needed this subsidy, to be honest. Anyone that can pay for hajj at this moment does not need your N500k. This is just a waste of tax payers’ money.”

     “It’s absolutely wrong for a government to be subsidising Hajj fare in a country where the citizens are languishing in abject poverty and hardship,” one Isah Mohammed told the governor.

    Another respondent, Ali Jita, said: “Respectfully Your Excellency, while supporting religious endeavours is important, it’s crucial to prioritise funding for pressing societal needs. Redirecting resources towards education, healthcare, or infrastructure could be of more benefit to people across Kano State.”

    Maliq said: “Certainly, subsidising Hajj is wrong at this time. The government isn’t obligated to provide subsidies for Hajj, as affordability is a condition of undertaking the pilgrimage.

    “Instead of spending millions on subsidies, the allocated funds could be utilised for the state’s development. Religious pilgrimages shouldn’t be prioritised.”

    “Misplaced priority, this money can help pull out a complete family from poverty. Rather than give to those who can afford 4 million plus for Hajj, it’s best to give it to a family who can barely feed.

    “Hajj is not compulsory. Even Allah said it’s for those who can afford it,” said another follower of the governor.

    Suleiman Tajudeen observed that the money would have been used to increase workers’ salaries. He said: “I think the money these governors are getting is too much! Better to increase your workers’ salaries and make impactful infrastructural changes.”

    Azeez Oluwasheun also queried: “Waste of resources. Even in the Qur’an, it was stated, go hajj when you’re capable to go, it’s not mandatory, people are suffering in the land and you’re packing tax payers money to park people to attend Hajj. @Kyusufabba, is it a must they attend?”

     “LOOOOL, your mates are setting up food banks and subsidising markets for food for their people; you are subsidising the rich and wealthy going on religious tourism,” -Tosin Adeda.

    Abubakar: “You promised to give scholarships to federal universities since last month but you didn’t, because it’s not going with the trend right? Keep chasing clout AKY. You will always get it wrong if you would not do the needful.”

    “The whole Kano has no stable water supply and you’re busy enriching millionaires that were able to pay N4.5m for Hajj. Misplaced priority. Now from tomorrow other northern governors will start copying this madness… @elrufai and @ProfZulum will never do such mispriority.” -Malam.

    Muneer Shehu -“With due respect, subsidising the basic needs such as food, health care services and education would be more beneficial to the teeming populace of the state in this trying time. As for hajj, only those with the means are obliged to perform it religiously, let’s prioritise the needful.”

    “Money wasted on two pilgrims can build a borehole in a rural community…. Misplaced priorities.” -Obi.

    Demand for Hajj fare subsidy rises

    However, beneficiaries are happy. And more people want to take advantage of the subsidy and travel to Saudi Arabia.

    Director General of the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Laminu Rabi’u Danbappa, has asked the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to extend the deadline for hajj balance payments by at least two weeks.

    “This appeal comes amidst a surge of interest from individuals seeking to benefit from the recent subsidy initiative introduced by the Kano State Government under able leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

    “The subsidy has sparked significant enthusiasm among prospective hajj participants, as many are eager to seize this opportunity,” Danbappa said.

    Expressing vehement need for extension of deadline, he cited the overwhelming response and the complexity of processing the subsidy adjustments within the current timeframe.

    “The existing four-day window for hajj balance payments fall short of accommodating the volume of inquiries and transactions pouring into the department,” he said.

    Danbappa emphasised importance of meticulous documentation and record-keeping by departmental staff to ensure transparency and efficiency in the subsidy disbursement process.

  • Anxiety over Ekiti monarch’s three-year absence from community

    Anxiety over Ekiti monarch’s three-year absence from community

    There is growing tension and confusion in Ikole-Ekiti, headquarters of Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State over the absence of Oba Adewumi  Fasiku from the ancient community since 2021, RASAQ IBRAHIM reports

    When will Elekole of Ikole, Oba Adewumi Fasiku return to his palace? This is one question that continues to pop up as the monarch’s whereabouts remain unknown, igniting apprehension at the palace, the community and the entire Egbeoba Kingdom.

    Since August 2021, Oba Fasiku is yet to appear in the ancient community, with his continued absence creating palpable tension among the monarch’s cabinet members and concerned indigenes of the town.

    It was reliably gathered that the royal father has been under the weather in the past two years. An impeccable palace source told The Nation in confidence that Oba Fasiku had been battling with a certain ailment since February 2020 and had to undergo treatment at one of the private hospitals in the country.

    He was said to have travelled abroad for treatment in 2022 and actually seemed to have recovered only for the sickness to relapse following complications from the surgery he underwent. At the moment, his health was said to have deteriorated and had to be returned abroad for further treatment.

    While a source claimed that Oba Fasiku was hospitalised in a private hospital outside Nigeria, another said that the monarch had been transferred to a secret location outside the state.

    The royal father, who ascended the throne on June 24, 2011, has since left the community for his chiefs to administer. The last time Ikole people can claim to have seen the face of their monarch was sometime in 2021. Since then, Oba Fasiku’s radiant face has vanished from public glare.

    But to where? That remains the big question nobody seems to know, at least among general populace. The result has been a harvest of rumours, counter-rumours and conjectures.

    Read Also; FULL LIST: African presidents, Heads of State below 50 years of age

    His whereabouts has become a source of worries not only to his chiefs but also to the entire community. The news of his illness has sparked widespread concern and triggered a sense of anxiety within the town. And this emotional reaction is fueling potential instability, as citizens question the prolonged absence of the traditional ruler from the community.

    An inside source said: “The paramount ruler of Egbeoba Kingdom, Oba Fasiku, has been ill for a few years and has not been staying in Ikole.

    “He is currently receiving medical treatment outside the state and has not been in Ikole since then.

    “He lost his wife previously to a sudden ill health and felt nobody could take care of him without his wife.

    “He also had a problem with his eyes, and because of his poor sight, he does not trust anybody in the palace and fears being poisoned.

    “We also learnt that he has issues with some of his chiefs and deposed one of the Iyalojas in the town. So, a king that has issues with his close subordinates may feel unsafe to live within the palace while he has poor eye sight.

    “It is when you can see clearly that you can administer the town.

    “Also, a few years ago, there was a place where past Elekoles were being buried. The place was opened up and Kabiyesi planned to erect a modern town hall in that environment.

    “People felt it was sacrilegious to have opened up the sacred groove where ancient monarchs were being buried.

    “All this could be responsible for his ill health and forced him to have left the community,” the source added.

    The non-appearance of Oba Fasiku has set Ikole-Ekiti on the edge in the past three years, leaving a sour taste in the mouths of the indigenes of the ancient community. His continued absence has become the most discussed issue in the town.

    The monarch’s illness has been taking huge tolls not only on the community’s development but also the entire Egbeoba Kingdom’s security, social and economic landscape as his absence has left the community without leadership or direction.

    One word that succinctly captures the mood of most indigenes and residents when our reporter visited Ikole-Ekiti is anxiety. Both the traditional chiefs and indigenes were seen lamenting the development at a time the community is at the mercy of gunmen who have made it unsafe.

    It was learnt that the chiefs hardly meet these days because Oba Fasiku is not around. They are also divided and thus do not come for the Elekole-in-Council’s meeting.

    Some indigenes claimed the absence of Oba Fasiku had denied the town a lot of benefits and detracted from the dignity of Ikole-Ekiti being the headquarters of Ikole Local Government Area. They also claimed that his absence is ridiculing the Ikole throne in the comity of traditional institutions in the state.

    Apparently miffed by the hoopla arising from the monarch’s continued absence, a group of concerned Ikole sons under the banner of Save Ikole Group sought the help of Governor Bioudun Oyebanji on the matter.

    In a letter addressed to the governor, the group expressed concern over the development in the community, urging him to urgently do something about it and ensure that the leadership stool of the community is not vacant.

    The group claimed that Oba Fasiku has been incapacitated with illness for about 32 months, adding that his absence from the community has become a source of concern among the subjects.

    The letter was co-signed by Chief Alaba Olanipekun, Hon. Segun Adelugba, Laisi Oguntuase, Benjamin Fatoye, Mathew Makinde, Funso Oguntuase, Prince Taiwo Olominu, Ademola Ogunjobi and Tope Ogunmoroti.

    The group lamented that Oba Fasiku left Ikole-Ekiti in August 17, 2021 without any official communication from the Elekole-in-Council about his whereabouts.

    The group said: “The Royal father has not been seen in public since August 2021, and it has been confirmed that he is no longer capable of defending, protecting and preserving the community.

    “His immediate family has not made any information about him available, thereby leaving the entire community without leadership, direction and control for over two years.

    “Due to the royal father’s absence, there has been no development or growth of any kind in the recent past.

    “There has been no coordinated effort to harness individual moves aimed at improving the lot of the people to the detriment of the entire community,” it added.

    The group claimed that its intervention and members’ advice prevented some youths in the town from attacking the chiefs of the community for their silence over the monarchs’ state and whereabouts.

    But the Second-in-Command to Elekole and Olotin of Ikole-Ekiti, Chief Oluwasayo Okunola, said the  people of Ikole-Ekiti are aware of Oba Fasiku’s whereabouts.

    Chief Okunola who confirmed that the monarch was suffering ill health and is currently receiving medical treatment abroad, assured that Oba Fasiku would return to the ancient community soon.

    Debunking the insinuation that the king’s health status was shrouded in secrecy, he said Oba Fasiku sought and obtained necessary permissions from the state government before traveling on medical vacation.

    “The people in Ikole Ekiti are aware of the king’s whereabouts. He is indisposed like any other human being can be, and he is receiving treatment abroad.

    “The good thing is that the Elekole is recuperating and that was apparent when he addressed the chiefs and a large number of the town people on January 20, 2024, via virtual means. Where they (the group) got it from that the king is incommunicado is what we do not know.

    “When the king was travelling, he took all necessary steps and procedures by seeking approval from the state government, which is the constitutional requirement, and he duly informed members of Elekole-in-council and other chiefs.

    “It is laughable how the Save Ikole Group claimed they prevented the youth from protesting and beating up the chiefs. How on earth would Ikole youths resort to these unknown persons for advice?

    “We have challenged them, and we are doing so for the umpteenth time to mention the names of the youths they met with, but they have been unable. The only youth body in Ikole-Ekiti, the Ikole Youth Forum, has denied ever planning a protest, let alone meeting with them.

    “For us, the good sons and daughters of Ikole are still full of joy over the state specialist hospital in the town that has just been upgraded to a Federal Medical Centre and other developments happening in the town in spite the absence of the king.”

  • Saving 25m girls from forced marriage

    Saving 25m girls from forced marriage

    Stakeholders at a one-day national dialogue on “Ending Child Marriage” hosted by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), have noted that child marriage is not only a grave threat to the right of young girls to be in school, it also stops their early childhood aspirations and rips them off their innocence. FRANK IKPEFAN reports that the call to end the practice was re-echoed as they called for action to end child marriage by 2030.

    Nafisatu is a 15-year-old girl in Kano State and one of the millions of victims of child marriage.

    She is currently a mother, potentially out-of-school and preoccupied with adult responsibilities which her society has enforced on her.

    Nafisatu, who was interviewed by Human Rights Watch, a global civic organisation, in its January 2022 report, recounted: “I was forced into marriage at the age of 12 to a 27-year-old man. My family had no money to provide for my basic needs and education after my father died. Instead, they decided I should leave school and marry a man they chose.”

    She said that when she told her “husband” that she wasn’t interested in marriage, “he went back to my family members, and they told him to forget about my decision, it’s not that important if he loved me and wanted to marry me.

    “It’s like a culture here in Nigeria,” she added. “If you love a girl, you ask her family’s consent. So, if they give their approval, even if the girl didn’t give her consent, there is no problem, you may proceed with the marriage. It’s an ‘I don’t care’ attitude of most Nigerians,” she concluded.

    She was pregnant at the age of 14 and had her first child at 15.

    She cannot return to school, due to her household responsibilities.

    Nafisatu is one of several girls who admitted that they have tried to escape their forced marriages.

    One girl married at 14 had run away six times in three years but family members returned her to her husband each time.

    In Nigeria, the future of little girls, who want to acquire a good education to be useful to themselves and society, is being distorted through child marriage.

    Despite a slight reduction in figures, the practice has become a persistent issue.

    Child marriage remains a critical issue affecting the development and well-being of adolescent girls globally, with Nigeria ranking third in the prevalence of child brides.

    It is said that about 44 per cent of girls are married before the age of 18, totalling over 24 million child brides.

    Although recent data suggests a decline in national prevalence from 44 per cent to 30 per cent, progress has been slow and uneven, particularly affecting the poorest households, rural areas and girls with little or no education.

    Child marriage is recognised as a harmful practice under international human rights law. It is often associated with severe forms of violence against women and girls, including intimate partner violence. Not only is it a grave human rights violation, it also undermines human dignity, well-being and sustainable development.

    While it affects both genders, girls bear a disproportionate burden of this horrid trend.

    In Jigawa and Katsina states, for example, young girls who are of school age are married off even before their 18th birthday.

    In Nigeria, misconceptions about traditional practices, poverty and, in some cases, ignorance, have continued to give impetus to the practice.

    Read Also: Power sector worse off 12 years after privatisation – NLC

    At a one-day National Dialogue on “Ending Child Marriage” hosted by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), stakeholders expressed the view that child marriage is not only a grave threat to the right of young girls to be in school, it also stops their early childhood aspirations and rips them of their innocence.

    At the event, the call to end the practice was re-echoed as stakeholders called for unequivocal action to end child marriage by 2030.

    Northern girls shoulder the burden

    According to UNICEF, there are nearly 25 million brides, with alarming prevalence rates in Bauchi with 74 per cent of child brides, Jigawa has 72 per cent of its children getting married before the age of 18, Katsina has 69 per cent and Zamfara with 67 per cent.

    The UN organisation said that children in Jigawa are married off before their 18th birthday while children in Zamfara are married off much younger.

    “The consequences of child marriage ripple through the society, impacting not only the lives of child brides but the entire fabric of our country,” Country Representative of UNICEF, Cristian Munduate said.

    Continuing, she said: “Despite some slight decreases in prevalence and the nationwide adoption of the Child Rights Act, insufficient enforcement and misconceptions about traditional practices perpetuate this negative social norm. Child marriage denies girls their sexual and reproductive health rights, autonomy and education; contributes to maternal mortality, lowers family planning uptake and interrupts schooling. Indigenous and minority women are particularly vulnerable, especially in conflict settings where families view marriage as a means of protection.”

    Economic implications of child marriage

    A study by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and UNICEF estimates that Nigeria loses $10 billion annually as an economic burden of child marriage.

    “Child marriage not only violates human rights but hinders Nigeria’s social and economic development. A recent study by the Federal Ministry of Women’s Affairs and UNICEF estimates an annual cost of $10 billion as the economic burden of child marriage to the country.

    “The study also projects a potential Gross Domestic Product (GDP) boost of nearly 2.5 per cent upon its eradication,” the UNICEF representative, Munduate said.

    She added: “Through a decrease in educational attainment, child marriage reduces women’s earnings in adulthood by an average of 12 per cent in Nigeria. These findings from the study underscore the detrimental individual and national economic effects of child marriage and demonstrate the potential impact that investing in the prevention of child marriage could have on the health of the country if girls are enabled to achieve their full potential to help drive the country’s economy and growth.

    What needs to be done?

    While the government’s efforts have resulted in some improvements, challenges persist. These include inadequate awareness, legal harmonisation, monitoring mechanisms and financial commitments; necessitating a renewed commitment and investment to end child marriage.

    To end child marriage, Munduate called for investments in education for all children- boys and girls-and the strengthening of legal frameworks to protect those who fall victim to the practice.

    She also called for community engagement and awareness campaigns to shift attitudes and dismantle harmful traditions.

    “Ending child marriage is not just an ambition but also a moral imperative and a strategic investment in the collective futures of our children. Together, we can break the chains that bind our children and forge a country where every child’s potential thrives,” Munduate added.

    UNFPA Resident Representative, Dr Gifty Addico said: “Child marriage violates the fundamental rights and freedoms of young girls. The collective action and unwavering commitment of government officials, community and religious leaders, civil society organisations and every Nigerian is required to end this harmful practice.”

    Also, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Uju Kennedy- Ohanenye said traditional rulers have a crucial role to play to put a “permanent end to this problem.”

    She said: “We have been having this conversation for decades. What have we achieved from it? It is a waste of money as far as I am concerned, because there are ways we can still attack this (practice). “Some children of ours will not go through this practice because we are comfortable. What about those who are not comfortable, are they here in this conversation? Are they here to learn? We can’t fold our hands and wait till 2030 to solve a problem such as this.

    “We have to focus on what we need to do and tell our royal fathers to tell their people how it is now. If you do it this is the punishment because it is part of violence against women and there is a law to that effect which most states have signed.”

    The wife of Kwara State Governor and Chairperson of Nigerian Governors’ Spouses’ Forum, Olufolake Abdulrazaq said to end child marriage in Nigeria, the country must tackle the problem from “its root.”

    She said: “Ending child marriage in Nigeria requires terminating the problem at its root. It involves harmonising the instrument of the law, community efforts and good standing of leaders of socio-cultural and religious institutions and development partners to assert the concerns posed by child marriage as well as getting rid of endemic dysfunctional aspects of the various cultures and traditions in the country which harbour and encourage gender discriminatory norms.”

    Also, Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman said the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project was designed specifically to address the problem of child marriage.

    He said: “In fact, one of the major eligibility criteria for state governments to participate in the project is the domestication of the Child Rights Acts (CRA) which makes child marriage illegal. While AGILE is glad that all our 18 implementing states have domesticated the CRA, we will continue to keep an eye on proper implementation.

    “AGILE is making concerted efforts to retain girl children in school to avoid child marriage. We are constructing separate and functional toilets for girls in all our secondary schools in the implementing states to make girl children comfortable in school.

    “AGILE recognises the nexus between poverty and child marriage, especially in rural communities where some poor families marry off their underage daughters to older men to raise money for family upkeep, thereby depriving them of a chance at education and a good life.

    “We have designed a Financial Incentive (FI) system for the poorest households to help our adolescent girls enrol, retain and complete secondary education in all our implementing states. At the last count, we have over 200,000 girls on our scholarship programme.”

    Continuing, the minister said: “AGILE, with the help of traditional and religious leaders, is carrying out behavioural change campaigns to help eradicate some harmful social norms that expose children to child marriage. Our continuous engagements in all the implementing states are already achieving positive results.”

  • Using poetry as a tool for national development

    Using poetry as a tool for national development

    As the world celebrates World Poetry Day (WPD) today, CHINAKA OKORO writes that the country should take advantage of the celebration to encourage Nigerians to embrace poetry as a tool to fight societal contradictions. The government should also evolve policies and programmes that will enhance the intellectual, socio-economic and political potential of the people through poetry as a form of art.

    Today, humanity stands in celebration of World Poetry Day; a day humankind commemorates what has been described as “a bridge and an immediate path to becoming better.”

    Some of the characteristics that make poetry unique are emotional expression and aesthetic qualities. These “make it a distinctive and captivating form of literary art.”.”

    Again, “poetry serves as a means of inter-generational communication by articulating the intricacies of existence, the human condition and its representation through language, adeptly encapsulating the multifaceted dimensions of each.”

    Poetry defined

    In A Dictionary of Literature, Emeaba Onuma Emeaba described poetry as “the art or craft of rhythmic composition; spoken or written expression…The term applies to the many forms in which people have given rhythmic expression to their most imaginative and intense perceptions of the world…”

    In the Preface to the Lyrical Ballads, William Wordsworth, one of the greatest English poets, described poetry as “the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings. It takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquillity…”

    In classical terms, “poetry is a type of literature based on the interplay of words and rhythm. It often employs rhyme and meter (a set of rules governing the number and arrangement of syllables in each line).”

    In Literature, Structure, Sound and Sense, Laurence Perrine postulated that “poetry is as universal as language and almost as ancient…Poetry in all ages has been regarded as important…It has been regarded as something central to each man’s existence, something unique to the fully realised life, something that he is better off for having and spiritually impoverished without…”

    In poetry, words are strung together to form sounds, images and ideas that might be too complex or abstract to describe directly.

    These are perfect pointers to the fact that poetry is language expressed in different “elevated” forms.

    Realising the centrality of poetry in man’s existence, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) during its 30th session in Paris in 1999, proclaimed March 21 every year as World Poetry Day.

    Read Also: Soldiers killing: No one left in community, says governor

    The theme of the event and its significance

    Mindful of the contributions of classical and contemporary literary writers and giants to the growth and development of literature and being sources of inspiration to budding literary talents, UNESCO chose “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants” as the theme of this year’s World Poetry Day to commemorate “iconic writers of the past whose trailblazing works enlarged poetry’s footprint across cultures.”

    According to the framers of this theme, the phrase “standing on the shoulders of giants” is a metaphor that translates to “using the understanding gained by major thinkers who have gone before to make intellectual progress.

    “It is a metaphor of dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants and expresses the meaning of “discovering truth by building on previous discoveries.”

    As gleaned from Wikipedia, this metaphorical deployment of the phrase illustrates the blind giant Orion in Greek mythology who carried his servant Cedalion on his shoulders to see for him.

    Further explication of what shoulders represent metaphorically or spiritually, it indicates that “they are often regarded as a symbol of strength and support. They represent the ability to carry the weight of life’s challenges and responsibilities. In this context, strong shoulders symbolise resilience and the capacity to withstand adversity.

    Objectives of the day

     One of the objectives of the day, according to UNESCO, is to sustain the growth of linguistic diversity through poetic expression. It also offers and encourages endangered languages on the platforms upon which they can be heard within their communities.

    World Poetry Day is also regarded as an occasion to “honour poets, revive oral traditions of poetry recitals, promote the reading, writing and teaching of poetry, foster the convergence between poetry and other arts such as theatre, dance, music and painting and raise the visibility of poetry in the media.”

    As explained on its website (www.unesco.org), the organisation places great importance on poetry as a means of creative expression; a way for the human mind to be laid bare and presented in ways many people can understand.”

    In her message on this year’s event, the Director-General of UNESCO, Ms Audrey Azoulay said: “Poetry,  whether in prose or verse,  has a unique propensity to make us perceive the world around us differently. On this World Poetry Day, UNESCO is celebrating the power to question certainties to remain open to others, to welcome the world in all its diversity–all essential foundations for building peaceful societies.

    “That is why our  Organisation stands by poets,  especially the younger generation,  to enable them to take full advantage of this literary form, and to support the publication of their works…

    “Poetry is a powerfully living art,  but it has also,  through the centuries and continents,  been the key medium societies have used to write their history and preserve the memory of their culture, as well as to record ancestral knowledge.

    “The poet is that in-between figure who stands at the crossroads of a bygone past and a future yet to be built. This is why UNESCO is helping to preserve some of the most emblematic poetic texts of their time.

    “World Poetry Day is thus an opportunity for every one of us to move into the living heart of ourselves and of the world…”

    Role of Poetry in Nigeria

    To underscore the relevance of poetry in shaping society and putting leaders in check, former United States President, John F. Kennedy said: “When power leads man to arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the area of man’s concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of his existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.”

    With the above in mind, Nigerian poets have played major roles in shaping society. This is so because, Nigerian literature in English is written as a distillation of life as it affects the Nigerian despite his ethnic or cultural background. Their poems give expression to the peculiar Nigerian experience and the aspects of life as it affects Nigeria and Nigerians.

    A piece of literary work always reflects the true image of society with all its virtues and vices to make society realise its mistakes and make amends. It also projects the virtues or good values in society for people to emulate.

    Writing in “Poetry as a Vehicle for Promoting National Consciousness and Development: The Example of Four Nigerian Poets,”      published in African Literature Today, Issue 16, Elimimian Isaac Irabor stated that “the Nigerian poets have succeeded in creating a general consciousness that foreign influence has a deleterious effect on traditional culture and national progress; by expressing the needs and aspirations of a people in quest of political independence and by extolling the beauty and essence of the African past and by decrying the forces of division within Nigerian society…”

    In Kingsley and Kate Tufts’s Poetry Blog, the roles poetry could play in shaping society were well articulated.

    They said: “While poetry can be an effective means for bringing our attention towards and better conceptualising injustices, it can also play a dual role in helping us cope with such injustices.

    “Unfortunately, a good number of social justice issues are not able to be solved overnight…In this way, the cathartic role of poetry is even more important than that of a social commentary.”

    The use of poetry to express contemporary issues is an effective way to explore the complexities of our current social, political and cultural landscape.

    Poetry is said to have the potential to serve as a call to arms, inspiring people to take action and work toward social change. Poems that address issues such as racism, inequality and injustice can be a rallying cry for those who feel disempowered, reminding them of their strength and resilience.

    Authorities note that “poetry allows poets to delve into issues such as race, gender and politics, in a nuanced and powerful way. It can serve as a form of protest and a call to action, as well as a way to raise awareness and promote social change.”

     Poetry and social justice

    Poets use poetry to comment on some societal contradictions because poetry and social justice are closely intertwined. Poetry often serves as a powerful tool for raising awareness and promoting social change.

    Juxtaposing contemporary issues and poetry, it has been realised how poetry can be used to express and explore issues such as racism, sexism and poverty and to call for systemic change.

    Poetry can be a powerful platform for marginalised community members to express their experiences, struggles and aspirations. It gives voice to those who may not have had the opportunity to be heard, thereby promoting inclusivity and social change.

    Socio-political impacts of poetry

    Just as the generic term protest literature, there is also protest poetry that can expediently be referred to as political poetry that can impact readers. This is because both politics and poetry express views.

    Specifically, political poetry is often defined as “a specific political situation rooted in an identifiable political philosophy; addressing a particular political actor; written in language that can be understood and appreciated by its intended audience; and finally, offered in a public forum where it can have maximum persuasive effect.”

    David Orr in The Politics of Poetry said: “Poetry and politics connect through expression and feeling, although both of them are matters of persuasion.”

     Poets such as the late Christopher Okigbo, the late Gabriel Okara, the late Chinua Achebe, Prof. Wole Soyinka, the late Prof. John Bekederemo Clark, Odia Ofeimun and Lenrie Peters, among others, have deployed poetry as a means of social commentary aimed at moving the society forward.

    Reviving declining interest in poetry

     As World Poetry Day is marked today, government at all levels should show great commitment to ensuring that Nigerians, especially students, demonstrate love for poetry as a means of contributing to the intellectual, economic and political development of the country.

    The government should support Nigerians to embrace poetry as a tool to fight societal contradictions.

    Private individuals and organisations should also support and promote the creativity of poetry writing.

  • Providing young female engineers with funds

    Providing young female engineers with funds

    Young Nigerian women can now access funding for engineering start-ups. GRACE OBIKE writes about the DELT-HER programme which the government is deploying to encourage more female engineers.

    Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is an umbrella term used to group the distinct but related technical disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The term is typically used in the context of education policy or curriculum choices in schools.

    STEM is an approach to learning and development that integrates the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Through STEM, students develop key skills including problem-solving, creativity and critical analysis.

    Experts in the knowledge industry are of the view that “at universities, there are only 25 per cent of graduates in STEM subjects who are women and 52 per cent are males.

    “The main reason as to why there is such a gap between the two is down to a pipeline issue. Fewer girls are picking STEM subjects at school due to it being seen as a male-dominated subject.”

    On why this is so, some stakeholders say: “The reasons range from peer pressure to a lack of role models and support from parents as well as teachers, to a general misperception of what STEM careers look like in the real world.

    This may have informed why few girls love Mathematics compared to boys. In most universities, engineering departments are more populated with male students than their female counterparts who are believed to prefer arts or social science courses. However, the Federal Government is poised to change the narrative.

    The government said women make up half of the population of Nigeria, which ideally should mean women should make up half of all professional spaces in the country. Unfortunately, this is far from being the reality.

    The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), in celebrating this year’s International Women’s Day said it seeks to close the gender gap in engineering, inspire the next generation, provide financing support for new ideas and projects, and ultimately strengthen the entire engineering ecosystem.

    It said the global average for female representation in engineering is 28 per cent which is only a little above one in four, and in Nigeria, it is only five per cent, which means one in 20 Nigerian engineers is a woman.

    The Executive Vice-Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NASENI, Khalil Halilu said the Federal Government, through NASENI, is determined to bridge the gap by funding young female engineers.

    Thus funding is through the Developing Engineering Leaders through HER,” an initiative also known as DELT-HER which aims at addressing the gender gap in Nigeria’s engineering sector. The DELT-HER initiative is an “opportunity platform,” through which girls and young women can pitch and present their exciting and groundbreaking engineering ideas, for funding by NASENI, through the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer (PICTT).

    The Chairman of PICTT, Mohammed Dahiru revealed that PICTT, in the quest to fulfil the bilateral agreement between the Federal Government and the Czech Republic has, in the past two years been sponsoring Research and Development (R&D) projects nationwide under the Delta-2 programme.

    He said: “In taking a further step forward on the Delta-2 programme, the Committee is throwing the weight of its support behind women, through the DELT-Her project. The project is focused on encouraging more female participation in Nigeria’s engineering sector.

    Recent statistics reveal the dire need for deliberate actions to be targeted at the existing gender imbalance in this sector, to inspire inclusion while also expanding contribution channels to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    “The Committee, through the continuous support of NASENI is determined to fund innovative and commercially viable ideas in engineering and technology, proposed by women. The call for proposals from young women marks the beginning of a chain of events which are expected to lead to engineering start-up companies owned and run by women.

    “To support the actualisation of the birth of multiple start-up companies from ideas selected under this project, each successful applicant will be matched with female mentors who are industry giants both in engineering and business. It is believed that the shoulders of these giants will provide the supportive environment that is required for success.

    “The submission portal for proposals opened on March 9 2024, and proposals will be accepted till May 20 when submission closes. This will be followed by a period of evaluation and selection of qualified innovations for sponsorship.”

    Dahiru said the success stories from the collaborative effort will be effectively projected to inspire young females all over the country about the choice of a career in engineering.

    He further expained that DELT-HER seeks to correct the imbalance of women in the sector by focusing attention and funding on young women, and very importantly, creating and cultivating public awareness around the need to train and mentor more women into the engineering professions.

    Read Also: We will ban issuance of mining licenses to investors without requisite plans – Alake

    He said:  “This awareness component of the work is one that we will take very seriously, working through schools, and storytelling campaigns. We intend to, through DELT-HER, double the number of female engineers in Nigeria over the next five years. This will mean working extensively at the level of secondary education, which is where young girls make vital decisions regarding their choice of professional field.

    “It may also be possible to inspire more women to consider studying engineering as a second degree, like we see more commonly in the legal and medical fields. We hope that through our support, we can make the much-needed difference.

    “Very importantly, we want to contribute to the economic growth and development of Nigeria. DELT-HER will create jobs and help develop technical skills and capabilities. And we hope that every additional woman engineer that is emerging can become a role model for another set of women.”

    In a keynote address, the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Margaret Oguntala said that women remain significantly under-represented in the engineering workforce, facing barriers and cha llenges that hinder their full participation and advancement in the field.

    She said it is important to recognise that diversity is not just a moral imperative but also a strategic one. Research has consistently shown that diverse teams are more innovative, creative, and effective in solving complex problems.

    The President said by harnessing the diverse perspectives, talents and experiences of women engineers, Nigeria can drive greater innovation, competitiveness and sustainable development.

    Oguntala also said the DELT-HER initiative seeks to address these challenges and unlock the full potential of women in engineering through targeted interventions and mentorship programmes, among others.