The Nation Newspaper

Tag: DFID

  • DFID opens new office in Enugu

    DFID opens new office in Enugu

    THe Enugu, expressing its willingness to continue partnering with the federal and state governments in the task of nation building.

    The office is located at Garden Avenue, GRA, Enugu.

    The head of the organisation in Nigeria, Mr Ben Mellor explained at the inauguration of the office that DFID in Nigeria is in partnership with some state governments on development and good governance.

    In an address, Olachi Chuks Ronne, the DFID Regional Coordinator for Southeast-Southsouth zones, said the organisation has been working closely with the various state governments since 2001, especially in Anambra and Enugu states.

    The areas of focus include poverty reduction and health.

    Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who was represented at the occasion by his deputy, Mrs Cecelia Ezeilo, praised the DFID for its contributions in the sustenance of democratic process in the state as well as welfare of the people.

    Ugwuanyi mentioned DFID has recently conducted an induction seminar for elected officials in the state on how to stir good governance, likewise refurbished the state high court through one of its development agencies, ‘Justice for All’.

    Likewise, Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano, who sent a representative, the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu, expressed gratitude to the contributions of DFID, in achieving the development goals of the various administrations in Anambra state, since 2001 and expressed happiness that the organization has rolled out partnership projects that keyed into the development agenda of the current administration in Anambra state, under governor Willie Obiano.

     

  • Nigeria may miss $400b global fund, says DFID

    Nigeria may miss $400b global fund, says DFID

    Nigeria risks losing a $400 billion global fund support, the Southwest Coordinator of the Department for International Development (DFID), Dr. Adesina Fagbenro, has said.

    He spoke at a meeting with the Oyo State House of Assembly members on gender-based violence prohibition bill, which was organised by the New Initiative for Social Development (NISD), with support from the National Endowment for Democracy at the Ibadan Business School, Ibadan, yesterday.

    According to him, the fund was set aside following the global development goals. He said  Nigeria could lose out of the fund if the government failed to understand the technical issues associated with accessing the fund.

    “The $400billion is a commitment that is set aside by international finance agencies such as the World Bank, Asia Bank, Africa Development Bank and so on, after the global goals have been agreed upon. The fund is meant to assist countries in meeting the global development goals. To access it, you need to familiarise yourself with the goals. A number of the goals have to do with gender protection, global partnership and others. We may not pursue all the goals but we must identify the ones that concern us as a nation,” Fagbenro said.

    He said in Oyo and many states it was difficult to access data from ministries and other agencies. He said without data evidence, it would be difficult to present a planning proposal to the international agencies in order to access the fund.

    The DFID boss stated: “We have to track the indicators and measure our performance on such issues. Lagos is now enjoying the status of being able to receive budget support. It is only when progress is noticed that international financing agencies will come around to support you. If you don’t get it right, you cannot get the needed support.

    “We also have the non-governmental organisations and huge private sector-owned foundations as the Bill Gates and Dangote, Elumelu, Mike Adenuga foundations, which put money aside for development. The idea is to seize the opportunity to engage with them.  We can get technical support from some of these agencies if we position ourselves to receive international development support.”

    Executive Director of NISD Abiodun Oyeleye said the event was staged to address domestic violence in Oyo State, adding that the state had more domestic violence cases than armed robbery.

    House of Assembly Speaker Michael Adeyemo, who was represented by her deputy, Abdulwasi Musah, assured the gathering that the assembly would support gender-friendly related issues.

     

     

     

     

  • DFID, KACCIMA to promote local rice

    The retailsector project of Growth and Employment in States (GEMS), a Department for International Development (DFID) funded  project in Nigeria, in collaboration with Kano Chamber of Commerce Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA) , has organised the first Kano made- in- Nigeria Rice Fair.

    Rice fair, aimed at creating a link between rice producers and rice marketers, is to discourage the importation of foreign rice to the country the Federal Government.  It is to also encourage promoting locally produced rice, creating market for it and also raising the awareness of the public on Nigerian rice brand.

    Addressing participants at the fair, the Head, GEMS4 Wholesale Retail Sector Project, Mr. Tunde Oyerinde, said the project is a market development initiative and that the project has the mandate to stimulate market system changes that encourages growth and access to funds which  will in turn result into the creation of 10,000 new jobs as well as  increasing the income level of 500,000 people, especially the poor, rural  dwellers and women.

    According to him, it is disheartening to note that despite the increase in the consumption of rice, integrated commercial mills are not producing at full capacity. Oyerinde noted that it is also good to hear that the mills have started processing local rice rather than processing imported rice. “We would like to see new relationships developed and also wish to see supply chain deals signed between commercial rice mills, major distributors and the banks,” he said.

    Earlier in his welcome address KACCIMA president Farouk Rabi’u Dansulaika stated that the initiative will strengthen the chamber’s support to local rice market with the zeal of making it a center for export as against importation of rice.

  • DFID, Southwest states, urge stronger action against sexual violence

    THE United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) and states in the Southwest have called for a stronger action against sexual violence in conflict and emergency situations.

    The department, representatives of the six states in the region, civil society groups and other stakeholders made this call at a one-day workshop in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    The DFID, which organised the workshop, said conflict situations are increasing in the country and on the continent of Africa, with sexual violence, particularly against women, as one of the major consequences.

    The Regional Coordinator of the department, Dr. Adesina Fagbebro-Byron, said the agency was determined to build on the success of its efforts to raise awareness about the menace in the Nigerian society, which he noted, has continued to put young girls and women at great risk in conflict situations.

    According to him, the success of the agency’s efforts in the past few years has seen states in the Southwest pass laws that guarantee the rights of the girl-child and women at large, while also stipulating stiffer punishment for rapists.

    Besides, Fagbebro-Byron said the states have also taken more pro-active measures against sexual violence by offering assistance to potential and actual victims.

    He therefore called for a synergy among relevant government agencies, civil society groups, and legal and media practitioners to step up action against sexual violence in Nigeria.

     

  • ‘Power sector needs $5b yearly for infrastructure devt’

    ‘Power sector needs $5b yearly for infrastructure devt’

    The power sector needs about $5billion (N900billion) yearly to expand infrastructure and increase electricity generation from its current 3,700 megawatts (Mw) to 20,000 Mw, Prof. Chinedu Nebo has said.

    Nebo who spoke through his Special Adviser on Investments, Finance and Donor, Olajuwon Olaleye, at the 4th edition of the WorldStage National Electricity Power Conference (WNEPC) in Lagos, said the sector needs to spend $5 billion annually for the next five years  to produce 20,000Mw of electricity.

    He said the money will be invested across the value chain to foster the growth of the sector.  He said three core areas, which include generation; distribution and transmission need to be well funded in view of their critical roles in the sector.

    He said: “For the sector to grow its capacity to 20,000Mw, it needs to invest about $5billion annually on key infrastructural facilities. The generation, distribution and transmission need value additions in order to move the industry forward. The only way to do this is to improve on their existing infrastructure.

    “We are working towards making the sector effective  and vibrant such that investors would get good yields.  If you are bringing investors into the sector, such investors can only attend to you if they know that they would get good yields on their investments. A lot of supports  have come to the sector through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Department for International Development (DFID), African Finance Corporation(AFC), World Bank, and other development agencies,”

    He said maintenance and development of energy infrastructure is ongoing to tackle the problems facing the sector. He said inadequate gas supply and pipeline vandalism are problems in the sector but noted that the government is making efforts to address them.

    He said the government has introduced Infrastructure Security Surveillance through which it is monitoring the activities of people that vandalise gas pipelines, adding that it has employed members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for that purpose.

    Nebo  said the Ministry of Power and Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other relevant stakeholders, have discussed how to make gas available to the power firms.

    He said the government has set up Market Discipline Resolution Panel (MDRP), automated the system of paying for power, and introduced a concept called ‘Shadow Training’ through which it simulates activities in the sector, among other initiatives.

    He said: “Just as activities are simulated on the floors of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in order to determine the movement or growth of stocks, the same way the government is simulating activities in the power sector through an initiative called Shadow Training.”

    The idea helps us to know how power is transmitted into the grid, among other things.  The second cycle of Shadow Training has started to enable us fast-track the growth of the industry.

    He said lawyers, accountants, arbitrators, among others, are members of the MDRP, stressing that they have been mandated to discharge their responsibilities in a professional manner.

    He said the government has mandated the power distribution companies (DISCOs) to open arbitration offices for settlement of cases arising from poor treatment of consumers.

    “There is a penalty if a company does not supply power for 15 days. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) will sanction any company that violates the law.  The major goal of the panel is to ensure amicable resolution of disputes among stakeholders in the sector.  The panel has the right to punish offenders in line with the laws guiding the operation of the sector,” he said.

  • Firms sign MoU

    Firms sign MoU

    Afirm Primlaks has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GEMS 4 and Fortis Microfinance Bank to create wealth for some indigent women in eight states.

    The deal is expected to impact the lives of 63,000 women entrepreneurs at the grassroots in Kubwa, Maraba, Kuje, Kabusa, Gwagwalada and Abaji, all in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The Executive Consulting Adviser to Primlaks Group, Piyush Nair, said the partnership would create more women entrepreneurs who would reshape their circumstances by leveraging available opportunities.

    “Our partnership will create an avenue to wealth for indigent business women, especially because it provides direct manufacturer-distributor interface as well as distributor-financier alignment,” he said, adding that the cooperative scheme would enable women at the grassroots to access Primlaks’ products.

    To start the scheme, Nair said the women will be offered the company’s solar lanterns, which comes in three models.

    “In practical terms, this translates to better pricing, instalment payments, access to soft loans, pooling of resources through a cooperative system and training on sales techniques,” he said, stressing, he said.

     

     

     

    “The partnership will provide a platform for women, especially at the grassroots, to enjoy a better life and contribute towards building their homes and families.”

    Also at the event, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Primlaks, Mr. Ravi Hemnani said, “The participation of Primlaks in this women empowerment project is in line with our social objective of a positive return to society.

    “We are focused on Food, Shelter and Light; essentials for better living and see many opportunities to partner with Fortis, FMTI, DFID- GEMS 4 to educate, train and create jobs for women across Nigeria.”

    The Chief Executive Officer, Fortis Micro Finance Bank, Mr. KunleOketikun, said the Bank’s micro credit scheme was established because research had shown that the capacity of women to succeed economically was constrained by inadequate access to funds.

    “We are here today because of our belief in the need to increase the access of our women to finance,” he said.

    Leader of the Economic Growth Team in the Department for International Development (DFID), Mr Simeon Kenny, said: “There is need to invest more in women and that is why government and private corporations need to work together to this effect”

    Team Leader of GEMS 4, Mr. Christopher Shyers reiterated the project’s continuing support of small and medium enterprises, saying: “GEMS 4 seeks to improve income and employment opportunities within Nigeria’s wholesale and retail sector, particularly for the poorest and most vulnerable.”

    The signing of the MoU was part of activities to mark the Fortis MFB Women Fair, tagged “Celebrating the Entrepreneurial Spirit of the Nigerian Woman.”

  • UK to equip 10 hospitals in Jigawa

    UK to equip 10 hospitals in Jigawa

    THE Department for International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom has promised to equip 10 hospitals in Jigawa State.

    DFID would also offer some free drugs and medical services to people of the state.

    These were disclosed by the DFID National Project Manager in Nigeria, Mr. Mike Egbon, over the weekend while speaking at Ringim Emir’s palace.

    The occasion was a Mega Community Mobilization and Engagement on Safe Motherhood and Immunization Participation in the state. Egbon said the DFID is impressed with the state government commitment on health delivery where about 15 percent of the state2013 budget had been allocated to the health sector.

    He noted that Ringim local government had been chosen to serve as a model where accessibility to health facilities, drugs and qualified medical staff won’t be a problem in future.

     

  • ‘DFID committed to Lagos health sector reforms’

    ‘DFID committed to Lagos health sector reforms’

    The United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) through one of its implementing partners in the country, Partnership for Transforming Health Systems II (PATHS2), has restated its commitment towards fast tracking development in the Lagos state health sector.

    Giving this assurance recently was Akaoma Onyemelukwe, at a one-day workshop facilitated by PATHS2 in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health.

    Tagged: ‘Health Sector Partners’ Development Forum’, it drew participants from the academia, business community, government functionaries, civil societies as well as different programme implementing partners including the Society for Family Health, Japanese International Centre for Aids, among others.

    In her presentation entitled: ‘CSO Mapping Report Findings’, Onyemelukwe said the interface and discussion session with development partners was aimed at building a synergy of cooperation that is required for development and key sectors.

    According to her, there is need for more cooperation among various partners, because it was disheartening to note that many CSOs are located where they can get low hanging fruits instead of areas where there are necessities.

    “The CSO mapping discovered that NGOs working in the maternal, new born and child health are few. This is a yawning gap which must be covered as quickly as possible because the consequences are very dire.”

    She, however, stressed the need to strengthen regulation and support to CSO, even as she urged the state government to facilitate the process of coordination, self-regulation and knowledge-sharing amongst the CSOs working on projects in the health sector in order to sustain a credible and legitimate citizens’ feedback mechanism in the medium to long-term.

    Speaking with newsmen, Dr. Olufemi Olugbile, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, who represented the Commissioner for Health, said the ministry was indeed happy to partner with the various organisations whose commitment to the health sector in the state has been a major boost.

    After a hotly debated session at the workshop, participants rose in unison asking stakeholders in the health sector to redouble their efforts towards safeguarding the lives of women and children in the country, especially for citizens in the hard-to-reach-communities.

    Others at workshop include Dr. Moyosore Adeyanju, Director, Lagos State Pharmaceutical Boards, Dr. Toyin Ogunbanjo, Nigeria Academy of Science.

  • PATHS2 partners TLC Media on MDG

    PARTNERSHIP for Transforming Health Systems (PATHS2), a UK-Department for International Development (DFID)-funded initiative in Nigeria has signed a cooperation agreement with TLC Media, as part of efforts to attain key Millennium Development Goals (MDG) targets of reduction in maternal and child mortality, education, poverty reduction, among others.

    This was disclosed at a press conference in Lagos recently.

    Justifying the need for the cooperative agreement, Ijeoma Inen, who is the Community Mobilisation Officer/Behavioural Change Communication coordinator in PATHS2,informed that the partnership was in line with PATHS2’s core value of strengthening health systems as well as improving lives among the rural poor.

    PATHS2, she further informed, would be providing technical assistance for the Gbogbo Eko project for an initial six months period covering June-December 2013.

    Echoing similar sentiments, Mr. Lanre Alabi, Knowledge Management Officer, PATHS2, who cited a recent World Health Organisation (WHO), report which ranked Nigeria as the second worst place to be born on earth out of 169 countries surveyed, said, there was need for concerted efforts to ensure drastic reduction in maternal and child mortality, a major target of the MDG.

    Speaking earlier, Mr. Jide Ojo, Director, TLC Media, said his organisation decided to collaborate with PATHS2 and BlackNights Entertainment, UK, on the Gbogbo Eko project in order to ensure that the less privileged in the society can also enjoy improved quality of life, health-wise.

    Ojo, who has being involved in the production of several public service announcements and campaigns, geared towards community mobilisation, said a number of activities including a tour, dance/drama competition, free health services, awards, among others, have been lined up in aid of the project.

    Corroborating Ojo, Loretta Egueze, Artist Manager/Events Coordinator TLC Media, said her organisation intends to deploy multimedia to drive the Gbogbo Eko, hence, it was partnering with both popular and upcoming artistes to provide the required entertainment value for the project.

  • UK agency lifts construction with £3.5m

    UK agency lifts construction with £3.5m

    Construction Ideas Fund, a United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) project, has opened its second funding round for the construction and real estate sector in Nigeria under an agency, Growth & Employment in States (GEMS 2).

    The funding is aimed at promoting economic growth within the sector, and also support changes by encouraging innovative ways that businesses can work with and for the poor.

    The Team leader, Paul Wejiers, told The Nation that CIF is a funding mechanism, which shares the financial risk of innovative projects within the construction and real estate.

    He said the Fund welcomes innovative ideas for projects which meet its core objective of increasing employment and incomes in the construction and real estate sector.

    “If a Nigerian business or organisation has an idea that not only improves her business, but can also be shown to have a lasting positive impact on the sector, particularly in terms of increased income and employment opportunities for low-income groups, then such business or organisation can access the fund upon satisfying the eligibility criteria”, he said.

    According to him, a company or business is deemed eligible if it is commercially-oriented and has its operations in the FCT, Lagos, Kaduna or Kano State, adding that other non-commercial oriented (not for profits) organisations can partner with their commercial counterparts to be eligible.

    “Ideas that can be co-financed by the fund may be a wide range of areas in the construction and real estate sector, such as production of input supplies based on local content.

    Others are skills training for artisans, strengthening business and trade associations, empowering women in construction, improving systems for labour recruitment”, he said.

    Wejiers said application to the fund could be made through its five funding windows, which focus on empowering more women economically and encouraging relevant training and skills acquisition.

    Application, he added, could also focus on establishing sustainable channels of recruitment; improving the services offered by Business Membership Organisations (BMOs) and trade associations, and improving the quality of input supplies and construction materials.

    He disclosed that the grants available range from £25,000 to £250,000 while an applicant is expected to make 25-50 per cent equity contribution.

    “CIF is one of many DFID motivated funds that are globally applied to inspire innovation in key sectors in developing economies. Popular business concepts across Africa are aided by such funds,” he said.

    He cited the MPESA mobile money concept in Kenya, an idea that was born through similar funding opportunity, as one of the Fund’s many interventions.

    These funds, he explained, are managed by different international development programmes or projects and are known in different names and parlances. “In the construction sector in Nigeria, it is known as the CIF”, he said.

    He listed some of the roles of the fund as stimulating and encouraging business innovation, and providing access to low cost funds for investment in innovative projects.

    Others are providing an opportunity for private sector participation in sector development, promoting sustainable business projects with pro poor objectives, and stimulating the provision of services/products which otherwise would have been neglected by the private sector.