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Tag: Actionaid

  • ActionAid, others enhance national skills development

    ActionAid, others enhance national skills development

    In a significant move to strengthen Nigeria’s human capital and build a resilient, sustainable economy, ActionAid Nigeria and a coalition of partner organisations have intensified efforts to enhance national skills development across key sectors.

    The initiative aims to equip returning migrants and vulnerable populations with practical, market-ready skills that support innovation, reduce unemployment, and promote long-term economic sustainability.

    According to ActionAid Nigeria, the training forms part of its Reintegration and Empowerment for Connecting and Nurturing Opportunities of Vulnerable Populations and Returning Migrants, known as the Reconnect Project.

    The Country Director ,of ActionAid Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Mamedu, disclosed that the organisation has trained 450 returned migrants in Edo, Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) across various trades.

    Mamedu, who spoke through the Director, People and Culture, Dr. Funmi Olukeye, made the disclosure during the graduation ceremony of 130 beneficiaries under the Reconnect Project, implemented in collaboration with GIZ in Lagos. He listed the skills acquisition programmes to include fashion and design, catering services, hairdressing and other vocational trades.

    “Our goal is not just to teach a skill, but to create a pathway out of poverty and towards self-reliance,” he said. He noted that the training was essential for returning migrants to acquire the competencies required to make a living in highly competitive industries and to produce high-quality goods that meet rising consumer demands.

    The organisation’s Project Coordinator, Abraham Aba, explained that the initiative was designed to support the reintegration and empowerment of returnees who had endured harrowing experiences in the countries where they were trafficked before being brought back home. He revealed that the Reconnect Project had trained 400 beneficiaries drawn from the FCT, Edo and Lagos States, empowering them with starter packs such as industrial sewing machines, gas cookers, hair dryers and clippers to help them begin their chosen trades.

    The Assistant Comptroller General , Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Zone A, Lagos, Mr. Echefulam Anugwa, reaffirmed the NIS’s commitment to the welfare and reintegration of returning migrants and other vulnerable groups. Represented by Assistant Controller Chris Ejunka, Anugwa emphasised the service’s vital role in supporting both state and non-state actors.

    “I pay attention to the issue of reintegration. When it has to do with migration and reintegration, the Nigeria Immigration Service plays a very vital role in supporting the states and non-state actors in giving the necessary support and assistance to persons of concern,” he said. He clarified that “persons of concern” include refugees, asylum seekers, state-displaced persons and internally displaced persons.

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    Anugwa described the practical support the NIS provides to stranded travellers abroad. “Sometimes, when travellers are stuck over there, we try to see how we can help them. Some of them don’t even have the required travel document to come back home. We give them this assistance and see how we can bring them back home,” he stated. “Upon their return, the NIS acts as the primary receiving agent at the nation’s airports. We will receive them at the airport. Sometimes, we hand them over to IOM. Sometimes, we hand them over to the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons.”

    He praised the Reconnect Project, describing it as “highly commendable,” and urged prospective migrants to adhere strictly to due process. “My advice for them is that they should always follow the rule of law. At our own level, what we are doing is to create the necessary awareness on why you need to post-migrate. You have to follow a laid-down procedure and not migrate without following it,” he cautioned.

    Graduates of the programme will receive comprehensive start-up kits, including essential tools, marketing materials and safety gear to support business launch and growth. They will also be integrated into existing cooperatives to promote collaboration, resource sharing and mentorship, ultimately strengthening sustainable enterprise development within their communities.

  • ActionAid criticises new tropical forest fund

    ActionAid criticises new tropical forest fund

    As the world prepares for COP30, the launch of a new international fund, the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF), aimed at conserving tropical forests has drawn criticism from ActionAid International, which described the initiative as “a gamble with people’s lives.”

    Responding to the announcement, ActionAid’s Global Lead on Climate Justice, Teresa Anderson, said the fund’s design risks prioritising financial speculation over the real needs of forest-dependent communities.

    “Public finance is scarce and needs to go directly to forest communities rather than to complex financial instruments that aren’t guaranteed to raise money or benefit people on the ground.”

    “This fund is a gamble in the casino of financial markets,” Anderson said.

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    She warned that the initiative could worsen the financial strain on developing nations already struggling with debt and climate-related crises.

    “Sadly, this initiative is based on increasing the burden on countries that are already in debt distress and constantly battling climate-induced disasters. This is a contradiction to the principles of fair climate finance,” she added.

    Anderson further emphasised that genuine climate solutions must focus on justice, equity, and the empowerment of those most affected by environmental degradation.

    “There are no shortcuts to tackling the runaway climate crisis. The needs and rights of frontline communities must be centred in all decision-making.”

  • Climate: ActionAid decries poor global funding for ‘just transition’ projects

    Climate: ActionAid decries poor global funding for ‘just transition’ projects

    ActionAid International has said less than three per cent of global climate finance supports “just transition” initiatives that prioritise workers, women, and communities most affected by the climate crisis.

    The new report: “Climate Finance for Just Transition: How the Finance Flows,” found that only 2.8 per cent of climate funding is channelled to just transition projects, while a mere one in 50 climate initiatives (1.96 per cent) involve or support local communities.

    This means only one United States dollar in every 35 spent on climate action goes to efforts ensuring equitable and inclusive transitions to green economies.

    According to the report, just transition frameworks involve empowering communities to take part in local planning, providing training for green jobs, and supporting incomes during the shift away from polluting industries.

    ActionAid, a global organisation supporting communities impacted by climate change, said the findings expose a gap in international efforts to move away from fossil fuels and industrial agriculture towards renewable energy and sustainable food systems without leaving vulnerable people behind.

    Read Also: ActionAid lists gains, bows out after 16-yr rights programme in Delta 

    Secretary General, Arthur Larok, noted that the world needs action to prevent climate breakdown.

    He said: “Our new report shows just transition approaches are underfunded, and people’s needs are at the bottom of the priority list. Something’s got to give. If just transition continues to be overlooked, then there’s a real risk that inequalities will deepen.”

    Global Lead on Climate Justice and author of the report, Teresa Anderson, warned that neglecting just transition could undermine climate action.

    “No one should have to choose between a secure job and a safe planet. Just transition approaches make sure climate action prioritises people’s daily needs and doesn’t accidentally push people deeper into poverty. Without them, climate action risks unintended harm, backlash, and ever-more delay.’’

    “This is a critical opportunity for global climate action to evolve for the better.COP30 needs to deliver a global plan for just transition to support those on the frontlines and unleash the action our planet so urgently needs.”

    The report also documented harmful practices in the Global South, particularly by industrial agriculture and fossil fuel corporations. In Brazil’s Maranhão region, communities who depend on babassu coconuts have faced land-grabbing, deforestation, and pesticide attacks as industrial agriculture expands.

    Climate Justice Specialist at ActionAid Brazil, Jessica Siviero, linked these struggles to the broader crisis facing the Amazon and Cerrado regions.

    “The Amazon acts as the lungs of the planet, while the Cerrado serves as its veins. COP30 puts the spotlight on industrial agriculture’s role in driving their destruction. It’s time to move towards agroecological approaches that feed people and cool the planet. Just transition must be applied to agriculture as well.”

  • ActionAid lists gains, bows out after 16-yr rights programme in Delta 

    ActionAid lists gains, bows out after 16-yr rights programme in Delta 

    A non-governmental organisation, ActionAid Nigeria has wrapped up its 16-year Local Rights Programme in 13 Delta communities, hailing significant achievements in poverty reduction, women empowerment, and grassroots development. 

    The organisation will now extend its work to Isoko North and South Local Government Areas.

    Speaking during a celebration in Ughelli to mark the end of the programme, ActionAid’s Country Director, Andrew Memedu, represented by his Deputy, Suwaiba Muhammad Dankabo, said the intervention was launched despite Delta’s high GDP, after realising that “poverty thrived in the midst of plenty” and many rural communities were cut off from the dividends of democracy.

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    She said the programme, implemented through local partner Environmental and Rural Mediation Centre (ENVIRUMEDIC), bridged the gap between government and underserved communities, particularly in Ughelli South, Ndokwa West, and Ndokwa East LGAs.

    “We realised that the level of wealth did not translate in the lives of the communities, so Actionaid wanted to demonstrate the reality of poverty in the midst of plenty.

  • ActionAid Nigeria calls for govt action over World Bank forecast

    ActionAid Nigeria calls for govt action over World Bank forecast

    ActionAid Nigeria has called for government action over the recent World Bank’s April 2025 forecast of a 3.6 percentage point increase in Nigeria’s poverty rate by 2027.

    The World Bank report classifies Nigeria as a resource-rich but fragile state, where poverty is expected to worsen due to structural and institutional weaknesses.

    The country is home to over 106 million people surviving on less than $2.15 a day, accounting for nearly 15% of the world’s extremely poor.

    ActionAid in a statement said the warning is not just a statistic; “it is a national shame. It is a slap in the face of a country that has every resource to provide a life of dignity for all its people but instead continues to serve the interests of a few.

    ActionAid Nigeria’s Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, noted that: “Governance remains Nigeria’s greatest obstacle. The World Bank has clearly highlighted the country’s poor performance on governance indicators such as government effectiveness, accountability, and political stability, which remain among the weakest in Africa.

    Mamedu called on all Nigerians to rise and hold the government at various levels accountable, saying  “The time to be silent has passed. While the government may claim economic progress, the reality is that the rich are getting richer, benefiting from policies like those in the banking sector where profits have soared to 3.41 trillion, while the poor are getting poorer. This is not inclusive growth. Reforms must ensure that the most vulnerable benefit.”

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    ActionAid Nigeria urged the Federal Government to stop playing politics with people’s lives and fully strengthen and expand social protection, including universal cash transfers and food support for the most vulnerable.

    AA also called on the government to subsidise and protect smallholder farmers by tackling insecurity and ensuring access to markets, inputs, and tools to boost local food production.

    He also urged the government to scrap all non-essential public spending, particularly the outrageous allocations to government officials’ lifestyles and channel funds to education, healthcare and job creation.

    Mamedu also called on the government to stabilise the economy through transparent and people-centred fiscal and monetary policies that protect the purchasing power of citizens.

    The AA Country Director also called for an end to what he termed government assault on civic space, calling on the government to truly listen to Nigerians.

    Mamedu further urged the government to ensure that education is safe and accessible for all, especially in rural and conflict-affected areas.

    He also urged the government to invest in infrastructure and industries that promote inclusive, sustainable employment.

  • ActionAid Nigeria urges greater investment in women for gender equality

    ActionAid Nigeria urges greater investment in women for gender equality

    ActionAid Nigeria has called for urgent investment in women to accelerate progress toward gender equality, emphasizing that this is essential for sustainable development, justice, and equity.

    In a statement marking 2025 International Women’s Day, themed “Investing in Women, Accelerating Progress,” the organization stressed that women are the backbone of the economy, democracy, and communities.

    “Women lead, innovate, and build. Yet, in Nigeria, we continue to see systemic efforts to stifle their participation, especially in male-dominated spaces. From governance to corporate leadership and civil society, women who challenge the status quo often face intimidation, harassment, and exclusion,” the statement read.

    The organization cited recent incidents, including the resignation of Mojisola Meranda from the Lagos State House of Assembly and sexual harassment allegations raised by Senator Natasha Akpoti, as stark reminders of the challenges women face in leadership.

    “These incidents raise urgent questions: Where is the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)? What role is the Code of Conduct Bureau playing in ensuring accountability and justice? If we are serious about accelerating progress, institutions must work effectively to protect women in leadership from intimidation and harassment. 

    “At ActionAid Nigeria, we have seen firsthand the impact of investing in women. Through initiatives such as the Women’s Voice and Leadership Project, we have supported local women’s rights organizations to drive meaningful change. We are tackling harmful social norms through the Multistakeholder Action on the Prevention of Gender Based Violence (MAP-GBV) Project while empowering young girls as researchers and change agents through the Girl-led Research and Action initiative. These investments do more than uplift women, they create stronger families, healthier communities, and a more inclusive society,” it further stated. 

     ActionAid Nigeria’s Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, who personally signed the statement stressed: “Prioritising women’s rights and empowerment is not just a moral obligation but an economic and social imperative. All tiers of government; federal, state, and local must take decisive action by implementing policies and programs that create real and lasting impact for women and girls. Increased investments in gender-responsive public services are essential to ensuring women have equitable access to land ownership, financial inclusion, and decent work opportunities.

     “The federal and state governments must strengthen and enforce laws that protect women from gender-based violence, ensure swift and fair judicial processes for survivors, and eliminate barriers that hinder access to justice. Leadership structures must be comprehensively overhauled to enable women’s full and active participation in governance, policymaking, and economic development.” 

    Mamedu also highlighted the urgent need for institutional reforms to address sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse, adding, “All investigations, especially high-profile cases brought to public attention, must include independent oversight bodies to guarantee fair and transparent investigations. Public observation mechanisms should be incorporated to enhance accountability in cases of national interest, ensuring that justice is not only served but seen to be served.”

    Additionally, he stressed, “Workplace and institutional safeguarding policies must be strengthened to create environments where women feel safe, valued, and protected. A zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment and discrimination must be effectively implemented across all sectors, with clear mechanisms for reporting and redress to prevent further violations.” 

    He called on the presidency to show stronger commitment through concrete action, stating, “The body language of the presidency must align with the urgent need for gender equality. This includes publicly condemning acts of gender-based violence, holding perpetrators accountable, and ensuring women’s rights are prioritised in national policies and governance. 

    “Prioritising women’s rights and empowerment is not just a moral obligation but an economic and social imperative.  

    “To the women and girls of Nigeria: Your voices matter. Your contributions shape the nation. Let us continue to break barriers, challenge discrimination, and demand a future where gender equality is not just an aspiration but a reality.”

  • Global emission: ActionAid calls for debt cancellation for Nigeria, developing nations 

    Global emission: ActionAid calls for debt cancellation for Nigeria, developing nations 

    ActionAid Nigeria has called for cancellation of the country’s foreign debt as well as other African countries as part of payment for global emission.

    Andrew Mamedu, Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria at the weekend called for conversation around compensation for global emission. 

    Mamedu also expressed concern about the disparity in the interest rate charges on loans between the low income earners and developed countries. 

    He said the amount agreed to be paid by developed countries for global emission should be redistributed to disadvantaged countries. 

    He stressed that the global north is indebted to the developing countries and should be made to pay. 

    Mamedu argued that climate change is real and we should be pushing for  climate justice, which is that the global people responsible should be made to pay for it. 

    He said: “So with the global emission conversation, there’s an agreement that for global emission, there’s a specific amount that each country should pay, and this amount that is being paid should be redistributed to countries that are disadvantaged. 

    “And surprise you to note that the Global North contributes over 97% of global emission. So with that calculation, with what, for instance, I’ll pick a country like the United States.

    Read Also: Citizens must demand accountability for Nigeria’s development – ActionAid

    “What the United States is currently doing in terms of global emission, the United States has up to 80 trillion dollars that it owes for global emission. But if you project it between now and 2050, so between 1960 to 2050, the United States alone has about 80 trillion dollars. And with that projection, countries like Nigeria, if Nigeria is projected to what Nigeria would get, Nigeria would get 9.9 trillion dollars as payback. 

    “So look at the calculation, Nigeria is owing about 50 billion dollars, right? But for our climate emission, Nigeria is supposed to then get paid 9.9 trillion dollars between 1960 and now. So the question is, who is owing who? I think we need to sit down on the roundtable and renegotiate this.

     “It is unacceptable that, particularly the Global North, the high-income countries, they also are indebted because of the level of risk.”

    On the disparity issue of interest rate charged between the developed and developing countries, Mamedu said: “So a country like Germany pays an interest rate of 0.8 percent. Why is a country like Nigeria charged 2 to 3 percent? “You see the difference for their own same loan that we have taken. And what that means is, it is affecting the money’s amount available for our social sector, from education to health, to water, and housing. 

    “So the social sector is affected. Women, agriculture, young persons are affected. We are not able to have adequate resources to run this. 

    “So we need to come back to the negotiation table and look at these loans that Nigeria and African countries, not just Nigeria, particularly African countries, how do we come to a point where those loans are cancelled? Or secondly, the issue of the rates that are paid in servicing those loans. Are they fair to the countries? And thirdly, the issue of global emission, the amount that is owed by these countries, the developed countries, the countries that are emitting more, like the United States is top on that list.”

    He, therefore, concluded that“So by the time you see the full reports, there’s a whole report, huge analysis around this, that shows that we are not the ones in debt. Actually, it’s those countries that are indebted to us and we are happy to sit on the table to start discussing this. Enough of this whole neocolonialism mentality, enough of this new agenda. 

    “So climate change is real. Climate justice for us is what we are pushing for. And part of climate justice is that the global emission that people are responsible for should be paid for. 

    “And if they are being paid for, those countries that are suffering from it, which are those in the global South, like us, we should be benefiting. And we can then categorically say that they owe us, 9.9 trillion dollars. And we should start thinking of how they will pay that amount between now and 2050. “

  • Citizens must demand accountability for Nigeria’s development – ActionAid

    Citizens must demand accountability for Nigeria’s development – ActionAid

    The country director of ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu, has urged Nigerians to actively demand accountability from political leaders as a critical step toward the nation’s development.

    Speaking at the opening of a two-day Regional People Power Forum in Abuja, themed: “Exploring Challenges and Prospects of Organizing for Social Transformation in the Midst of Rising Misery and Intensifying Strife,” Mamedu emphasized that citizens, not military interventions, hold the power to drive meaningful change.

    “Africa must set the agenda for its own development, and this can only happen when social movements pressure the political class to fulfill critical promises that accelerate development from cities to grassroots,” he stated.

    Mamedu called for the strengthening of “people power” and encouraged citizens to demand accountability as enshrined in the constitution. 

    He further stressed the importance of social movements creating “beautiful trouble” to spark transformative change.

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    Highlighting ActionAid Nigeria’s contributions, Mamedu said the organization’s new Country Strategy Paper (CSP), “Citizens Action to End Poverty and Injustice,” focuses on organizing, acting, shifting, and thriving (OAST) to counter oppressive governments and policies. 

    The CSP aligns with global efforts through its Strategic Implementation Framework (SIF 3), which prioritizes collaboration with social movements worldwide.

    Mamedu noted that ActionAid recently facilitated the creation of the Movement for Transformation of Nigeria (MOTiON), a coalition of over 30 million Nigerians aimed at addressing critical social issues. 

    ActionAid Nigeria also serves as a hub for social movement collaboration across West Africa, providing support for initiatives promoting justice, equality, and poverty eradication.

    He concluded: “ActionAid envisions a just, fair, and sustainable world where everyone enjoys dignity and freedom from poverty and oppression. Through organizing and mobilizing, we aim to achieve social justice and gender equality.”

  • ActionAid decries shortfalls in Enugu council polls

    ActionAid decries shortfalls in Enugu council polls

    Actionaid Nigeria, a civil society organization, has decried the shortfalls which characterized the just-concluded local government elections in Enugu State.

    A statement by the Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, described the shortfalls as capable of slowing down the wheel of progress.

    According to the statement, shortfalls observed during the election included the late arrival of electoral officials, and the late opening of polling units, among others.

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    The statement reads: “Late arrival of electoral officials translated to the opening of the polls late and this discouraged some voters from voting. The accreditation and voting process started late and only happened in 60 percent of the polling units across the 17 local government areas observed. In 51 percent of the polling units, voters were not required to present their Permanent Voter Card (PVC) before casting their votes, raising questions about the integrity of the voting process.

    “Also, there were insufficient voting materials, inadequate result sheets, and poor conduct of party agents.

    “Security presence was noted in only 70 percent of polling units observed, while polling units like Umuozzi II and Afor Ofufe, reported no security officers, thereby exposing voters to violence.

    “Party agents also conducted themselves poorly. In 79 percent of the polling units observed, we noticed attempts of political party agents to interfere with the process.

    “Vote buying was another anomaly noted in the election. Some party agents were reportedly seen giving money to ENSIEC officials and voters. This was noticed in about 12 percent of the polling units in the 17 councils observed, including the CPS Amankwo Ndiagu-001 polling unit in Ezeagu council. This manifested in the form of material and financial inducement.”

  • ActionAid Nigeria gets new board executives

    ActionAid Nigeria gets new board executives

    ActionAid Nigeria has announced Rabi Isma as the new Chairperson of its Board of Directors. She succeeds Dr. Jummai Umar-Ajijola, who has held the position since 2018.

    Others are Dr. Macjohn Nwaobiala (Vice Chairman) and Oladele Afolabi (Treasurer).

    They are expected to bring new insights and strengthen the governance of ActionAid Nigeria as it continues its vital work in ending poverty and advocating for social justice.

    Outgoing chair Dr. Umar-Ajijola, at the General Assembly meeting in Abuja, said: “Today, I pass the baton to the next chair with confidence. I know that the values and principles that have guided us will continue to be the bedrock of ActionAid.”

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    Rabi Isma is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in management, public administration, marketing, corporate governance, finance, and project management. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Economics from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, OSun State, a Post-graduate Diploma from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State, and Master’s degrees from the University of Wales and the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom. Rabi is also an alumnus of Harvard Business School.

    Isma is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (UK), and a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (Nigeria), the Society for Human Resource Management (USA), and the Institute of Directors.

    Her professional journey includes senior roles at AIKI Consulting Limited, Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services (Etisalat Nigeria), the British Council, and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc. Rabi also served as a Special Adviser to the Governor of Kano State.