The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Department for International Development (DFID)

  • 2019: NGO trains 30 female aspirants in Jigawa

    Women in Politics (WIP) a Non-Governmental Organisation ( NGO ), has trained 30 female aspirants in Jigawa, on electoral process ahead of the 2019 election.
    WIP Programme Coordinator in the state, Mr Mustafa Umar, made this known while speaking with the News men in Dutse on Wednesday.
    Musa said the training was organised in collaboration with the National Democratic Institute, adding that it was supported by the Department for International Development ( DFID ).
    He explained that the training was to strengthen the aspirants’ understanding of Nigerian electoral process and how to navigate party nomination processes.
    According to him, the training was geared towards strengthening their skills to develop and run effective political campaigns ahead of the 2019 general election.

    Read Also: Diarrhoea affects children in Plateau IDP camp – NGOs

    “One of the objectives of the training is to expose the participants on different types of resources needed for political campaigns.
    “It is also to strengthen their skills so they can be able to build and sustain influential networks within their political parties as well as lobby key decision makers with a goal of emerging as party candidates.
    “We are grooming them for political struggle as the 2019 is quite approaching,” Umar said.
    He said the NGO had earlier trained 30 female aspirants in other part of the state.
    “We plan to train another set of 30 aspirants in Hadejia or Gumel, as the training will be conducted in each of the three senatorial districts of the state,’’ Umar said.
    Commenting on behalf of the participants, Hajiya Ramatu Sabo a trainee commended the organisation for the training.
    Sabo said the gesture had exposed them to different strategies needed to actualise their political dream as female political aspirants.

  • Media urged to play constitution review advocacy role

    Media urged to play constitution review advocacy role

    Mr Rommy Mom, National Team Leader, Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL), a programme funded by DFID, has urged the media to play an advocacy role in the ongoing constitution review.

    Mom said this at a Civil Society and Media Advocacy Technical Session on Constitutional Review organised by PERL, a UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) programme in Abuja.

    According to him, the role of the media cannot be over emphasised in shaping and guiding public opinion‎.

    ‎“For the ongoing constitutional amendment, the media has a responsibility to guide and shape public opinions.

    “The media can assist in creating awareness on constitutional amendment issues and sustaining public discourse on the constitution that are up for amendment as it affects the citizens’’.

    Mom said that about 21 bills seeking the amendment to different sections of the constitution had been passed and awaiting transmission to the States Houses of Assembly for their approval.

    He explained that for each item/clause to be successfully amended, it required a simple majority in at least 24 out of the 36 state houses of assembly.

    “The state houses of assembly have the constitutional mandate to vote on the amendment.

    “It is expected that they consult with their various constituents before casting their vote in line with the wishes of those they represent. ‎

    “This is where the media and civil societies come in; what is our position and how do we get our states representatives to vote on these issues that will support sustainable service delivery to citizens’’.

    ‎Mr John Mutu, Parliamentary Engagement Adviser and Federal Partnership Facilitator, PERL, said that many Nigerians were in the dark on the ongoing constitutional amendment.

    According to him, citizens should have a say in the constitutional amendment, therefore, they need to be duly informed on the procedures.

    “The role of the media is to sensitise the public and citizens on the constitution review’’.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the submissions emanating from discussions include ‎the need for the media to provide platforms for citizens to inform their legislatures about their preference in the process.

    ‎‎Others are deepening democracy by providing platforms to generate healthy debate around the constitutional amendment and increase space for citizens in policy process and deepening democratic process.
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    ‎Also, there is the need to institutionalise the media engagement to continue to provide platforms for citizens and government in subsequent national discourse.

    NAN reports that PERL is a programme funded by DFID in Nigeria, aimed at bringing together governments and citizens to collectively address governance challenges for improved delivery of public goods and services.

  • South-East Governors’ Forum secretariat inaugurated

    South-East Governors’ Forum secretariat inaugurated

    The South- East Governor’s Forum on Monday in Enugu inaugurated its secretariat and unveiled the Director-General, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, and other directors.

    Speaking at the event, the Ebonyi Governor and Chairman of the Forum, Dave Umahi, said that the secretariat would coordinate activities of the Forum.

    Umahi commended the Department for International Development (DFID) for its role in the screening and recommendation of the officers.

    He praised the directors for scaling through the rigorous selection process to serve the people.

    The governor said that the task before the Forum was enormous, considering the living conditions of the people in the area.

    Umahi said that it had become imperative to rebuild the South-East, adding that though challenging, it would be achieved.

    “This task is challenging especially at a time our people are very badly challenged in every part of the country and beyond.

    “We rely on you to give us the support and direction, ‘’ he said.

    Umahi said that the Forum condemned the incident at St. Philips Catholic Church, Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra, where 13 worshipers were killed and others injured.

    He also condoled with the people and government of Imo over the recent building collapse that claimed the lives of four people.

    Umahi expressed concern over the vilification of Abia, Ebonyi and Enugu governments on their interest in an Islamic Bank loan.

    He said that the banking system had nothing to do with religion, stressing that it had nothing to do with foisting Islam on the people.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other directors of the Forum are: Mr Orlando Nweze, Finance and Administration; Mr Michael Udah, Media and Communication, and Mr Chibuike Amaechi Project Initiation and Execution.

  • Saraki harps on govt, private sector partnership for development

    Saraki harps on govt, private sector partnership for development

    The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has said that nation can only develop if there is co-operation between government and the private sector.

    Saraki stated this during a dialogue session to mark the first anniversary of the National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable (NASSBER) in Abuja.

    Commenting on efforts by the federal legislature towards making impact on development, Saraki said, “For us in the 8th National Assembly lawmaking is not about the number of bills, it is more about impact and we will continue to focus on quality and impact on our people over any other considerations.

    “This is what makes the 8th National Assembly unique as we are determined to only make laws that will have positive impact on our people”.

    He noted that for the first time in the history of the country, the National Assembly, in partnership with the private sector, through the NASSBER, initiated a research study to review the legislative instruments impeding doing business in Nigeria and received a report detailing the necessary legislative action required to begin the process of changing the unsupportive legal structures, weak institutional base and obsolete regulatory frameworks in the nation’s business environment.

    “We want to see that these bills can actually help us create jobs, mobilize private sector investment and promote made in Nigeria goods. We would expect that the breakout sessions will offer us a new set of legislative interventions that will help further to cement the impact the first tranche of our work is having”, Saraki added.

    The Senate President thanked the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), Department for International Development (DFID), ENABLE project, and the Nigerian Bar Association – Section on Business Law (NBA, SBL) for their steadfastness and commitment to the vision and purpose of NASSBER, which is to facilitate constructive engagement and collaboration between the National Assembly and the Private sector.

    Also speaking at the event, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, who was represented by the Deputy Speaker, Yussuf Lasun, noted that the NASSBER initiative was a right step in the right direction towards the enhancement of the economy.

    Dogara said, “A little over a year ago when NASSBER was inaugurated, we were very confident it was the right step to take if we were indeed committed to bringing our economy out of recession, and stimulating long term economic growth that is inclusive and sustainable for the shared prosperity of all Nigerians.

    “For the National Assembly, it was a road not travelled before, but we were willing to embark on this journey, not minding the risks, considering the promises it held. Looking back the last 12 months, NASSBER is but a success story of novel synergy, dialogue and engagement between the legislature, development partner, the private sector, the bench and citizens.

    “The National Assembly will continue to play a central role not only in governance but also ensuring that we deliberate and act on frameworks that will improve Nigeria’s business environment through the review of relevant legislations and provisions of the constitution.

    “As a result of this effort, I am more confident that our economy would attract ‘agile private sector that can innovate and respond to global opportunities’, as contemplated in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of this government”.

     

  •  FG launches 10-year food security, nutrition policy

    The Federal Government on Tuesday in Abuja launched a 10-year Agricultural Sector Food Security and Nutrition Strategy to combat malnutrition and food insecurity in the country.

    Launching the document, Chief Audu Ogbeh, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, expressed regret over the alarmingly poor level of food safety in the country.

    Ogbeh, represented by Prof. Abubakar Hafiz, the Deputy Gov. of Kano State, said the strategy would serve as a driver toward making food safe from production, preparation and storage.

    He said the event co-hosted by the ministry and the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition was apt, adding that it will help tackle malnutrition challenges in country.

    “With this strategy, agriculture and food systems in Nigeria are being deliberately harnesses to boost nutrition.

    “It is expected that the successful implementation of the strategy will translate to a sustainable reduction of malnutrition thus, unlocking the immense potentials of generations for economic growth,’’ he said.

    In his opinion, Hafiz called for the establishment of a National Food and Nutrition Commission to coordinate, collaborate and mobilise resources for the implementation of the document.

    He said that the implementation would require collaborations between the federal, states and local governments.

    Prof. Sandy Thomas, the Director of the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition, said the strategy would help support policy makers in the country to make informed decisions.

    Thomas said that one in three persons in the country were malnourished, noting that the menace would rise if necessary actions were not taken.

    She suggested more investments to scale up nutrition programmes in the country.

    “Meeting the 2015 World Health Assembly target for stunting will add 29,7 billion to Nigeria’s income,’’ she said.

    Dr Philippa Momah, representing a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) known as `Scaling Up Nutrition’, called for collaborations from relevant stakeholders, private and public sectors to implement the strategy.

    The Special Adviser to Ogbeh on Food Security and Nutrition, said the strategy had eight priority areas of enhancing food value chains, diversified food production targeting women and nutrition education among others.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition was established in August 2013 at the Nutrition for Growth Summit in London.

    It was jointly funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the UK

    It is an independent group of experts and leaders who hold or have held high office and are showing strong personal commitment to improving nutrition.

    The Panel aims to provide guidance to decision makers, particularly governments, to inform and promote agricultural and food policies and investment for improved nutrition in low and middle income countries.

     

  • SNP to provide 13m pounds in support of solar power generation

    SNP to provide 13m pounds in support of solar power generation

    Solar Nigeria Programme (SN), a  programme funded by the  Department for International Development (DFID)  says it will provide additional grant of 13 million pounds to help  reputable companies involved in solar energy  in Nigeria.

    Mrs Ifunanya  Nwandu,  Private Sector Coordinator announced  this at a renewable energy forum organised by “Power for ALL“ on Friday  in Abuja.

    Solar Nigeria Programme  began in 2014.

    The programme was designed to end in 2020 with the mandate to provide grants and technical assistance to companies  involved in providing  household solar technologies.

    Nwandu  said that the grant would help strong companies to accelerate their expansion to  provide solar energy for 25 million Nigerians .

    According to her, SN has also  improved energy access for over 1.5 million people  since  it commenced  operation in 2014.

    She said that the organisation had  been  involved in delivering clean, reliable and affordable solar energy to Nigerians.

    She said  this was possible by accelerating the private markets for off-grid solar solutions.

    According to her, by utilising the 38.3 million pounds provided by DFID, Lagos and Kaduna State governments, the programme has delivered

    solar installations in 175 schools and 11 clinics in Lagos and 34 primary health clinics in Kaduna.

    She said that the combined projects  in both states had resulted in the provision of  6MW of solar power.

    According to her, in 2016, more than 166,000 solar systems were acquired on commercial terms by individual consumers from companies who benefited from the grants  provided by SN.

    She said that SN was also helping to demonstrate how solar systems could be  technically viable to drive growth  in the private sector solar market

    Nwandu  said  SN was committed to collaborating with the Federal Government and state governments to improve renewable energy to health and education facilities, particularly in the northern part of Nigeria.

  • ‘Kaduna Govt to roll out policy on skills development’

    ‘Kaduna Govt to roll out policy on skills development’

    The Kaduna State Government said on Thursday that it would soon roll out its policy on skills development, tailored to address unemployment in the state.

    The Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Dr Shehu Adamu stated this in an interview with the news men  in Kaduna.

    Adamu said that the policy was developed with the support of the Department for International Development (DFID), after series of seminars and workshops involving professionals and other stakeholders.

    “When I assumed office as commissioner in this ministry, I realised that there was no existing policy in the state on skill acquisition.

    “I therefore made concerted efforts to ensure that we develop one.

    “We have organised a seminar, a two-day workshop and held an interactive session with stakeholders on the policy, ‘’ he said.

    Adamu added that a draft copy of the policy was ready and would soon be presented to the State Executive Council for approval.

    The commissioner said that after the approval, the policy would be forwarded to the state House of Assembly for enactment.

    He also said that efforts were on to reorganise the programmes of Business Apprenticeship Training Centres (BATCs) in the state, to make them more responsive to present day realities.

    Adamu also said that 10 out of the 24 BATCs in the state would be renovated before the end of the year.

    The commissioner said that already, contracts for the renovation of three of the centres had been awarded, while five more were in the pipeline.

    “The step is to ensure that the BATCs make the desired impact for which they were created.

    “I will soon go round to see how far the contractors have gone,”Adamu said.