The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Donors

  •  African churches must grow without donors from Europe — Fr. Tinka

    A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Benedict Tinka, yesterday said it was high time African Church grew beyond depending on donors from Europe and other funding countries.

    Tinka told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos during the launch of his book titled “Food for Thought’’.

    The book was to raise funds for the formation of SMA students.

    The book is a collection of 98 poems and was being launched to mark his 10th priestly ordination anniversary.

    “Since the older missionaries contributed to my own formation by raising funds from their different countries in Europe and America, it is therefore time for us in Nigeria to generate and contribute to train future priests.

    “African churches must grow in every ramification without necessarily waiting for donors from Europe and America as in the days of old,’’ the priest, a member of the order of Society for African Mission (SMA) in the Catholic Church.

    “Nigeria in particular must be intrinsically Catholic and culturally African; then we must heed the clarion call of Pope Paul VI who said an immense task awaits your pastoral efforts, in particular the work of training those Christians called the apostolate.

    “The book launch is also responding to the Pope who said again that Africans, be your own missionaries; and the African Church must be Catholic because it is built on the foundation of Christ.’’

    On why he compiled the poems, the priest said: “Man is an embodiment of experiences transformed into stories, songs and poems.

    “I have decided to turn my life experiences into poems. A young man who cherishes his missionary vocation, holds in high esteem the African culture and proud to be a Nigerian,’’ the priest said.

    The book reviewer, Dr Christine Omokhaire, described the compilation as mind blowing and that the author poured out himself to readers.

  • Donors pledge $672m for tackling of Boko Haram crisis

    The Oslo Conference on Boko Haram humanitarian crisis realised $672 million in pledges from 14 donors on Friday.

    The spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Stephane Dujarric, disclosed this at a press briefing in the Norwegian capital.

    He said the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, welcomed the donors’ pledges.

    Dujarric explained that the donors pledged $458 million for 2017 and $214 million for 2018.

    He said, “The Secretary-General welcomes donor pledges made today at the conclusion of the Oslo Humanitarian Conference on Nigeria and the Lake Chad Region,” the spokesman said at the briefing.

    “He stresses the need for sustained support to humanitarian, human rights, development and security needs in the region.

    “14 donors pledged $458 million for 2017 and $214 million for 2018 and beyond.

    “The conference also agreed to address longer-term development needs and seek durable solutions to crises.

    NAN

  • ‘Edo records 1,589 free blood donors’

    The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), Southsouth Zonal Centre, Benin City, has said it recorded 1,589 free blood donors from January to December last year.

    Mr. Peter Ezemede, the linkage focal person for the centre, in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin City, attributed low turnout of free blood donors to people patronising  commercial blood donors.

    He said the centre would eliminate commercial blood donors.

    Ezemede said: “We have taken awareness campaign to churches, mosques, schools and markets to educate people on the importance of blood donation and its health benefits.

    “Every blood you donate will save a life and reduce the cost of blood.

    “Those who donate blood regularly will be free from diseases, such as hypertension and cancer. The exercise will stimulate their blood marrow to produce blood cell.”

    He urged people to support the Federal Government in providing logistics that would improve blood transfusion centres.

  • Donors pledge $163 million for victims of Boko Haram

    Donors pledge $163 million for victims of Boko Haram

    Over $160 million is on the way from international donors to save millions of lives of people displaced by Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria, Chad, Cameroun and Niger Republic.

    But the sum is a mere one third of the $542 required for the life saving project for the rest of this year.

    The pledges were made at a high-level conference at the weekend on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly’s annual ministerial meeting in New York.

    The bulk of the donations are coming from Belgium, Italy, Britain and the United States.

    Assistant Secretary-General Toby Lanzer, the humanitarian coordinator for the Sahel, called the Lake Chad Basin crisis one of the most acute emergencies in the world.

    He said: “The situation of many affected communities has deteriorated beyond alarming levels. If we do not act fast, and do more, especially in areas that were previously inaccessible, thousands of people will die.”

    Over nine million people across the Lake Chad basin urgently need humanitarian aid, according to officials.

    About 6.3 million of these are said to be not getting enough to eat.

    U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson called for the immediate release of all those abducted by the terror sect and confirmed that the UN was  ‘actively looking into’ a request by  President Muhammadu Buhari for the world body’s  assistance in negotiating the release of the Chibok girls.

    The U.N. according to him, was sounding out Mohammed Ibn Chambas, who heads the U.N.’s West Africa office, “to advise on how we can be helpful.”

    U.N. humanitarian chief Stephen O’Brien said he is “very encouraged” by the pledges, which will be used “to rapidly scale-up life-saving assistance to the millions of people that urgently need our help.” But the U.N. said $379 million is still needed this year.

  • Wanted: 30,000 bone marrow donors

    As a result of the value of bone marrow in the cure of blood cancers and sickle cell anaemia, a pan-African bone marrow and cord blood donor recruitment group, Ara, has called for 30,000 willing bone marrow donors by the end of 2018.

    Founder of the group, Miss Ronke Babalakin said Nigeria should not wait until someone is in a dire need before donors were recruited.

    Miss Babalakin, who spoke at the inauguration of Ara in Lagos, said less than one per cent of Africans are involved in bone marrow donation.

    “Bone marrow has been found to provide cure for blood cancers and sickle cell anaemia,” she said.

    She cited cultural and religious factors as two major reasons people do not donate bone marrow, stressing the need for awareness on the important issue. She added that it was not a difficult procedure as it poses no threat to life. Adults under 45 years can donate bone marrow.

    “The likelihood of a black person to find a perfect match in bone marrow treatment is slim because of the dearth of donors. Our long-term goal is to provide the logistics and infrastructure to ensure the seamless recruitment of donors in cities all over Africa,” she said.

  • Jonathan’s ex-ministers ask EFCC to go after donors

    The Forum of Former Ministers under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to go after those who donated $115million (N23.29billion) to Jonathan’s Presidential Campaign Organisation instead of arresting ex-ministers.

    It said participation in a presidential campaign is a lawful political process worldwide and it requires huge some of capital to accomplish.

    It said that there was nothing wrong for ex-ministers or campaign coordinators to go to bank and collect funds.

    The forum which made its position known in a statement through its Secretary, Dr. Abubakar O Sulaiman( former Minister of National Planning), asked the EFCC to probe Buhari Presidential Campaign Organisation funds too.

    The statement said: “The above caption and story therein in The  Nation Newspaper that  tends to criminalise ex ministers and other PDP stakeholders that participated legitimately in the Goodluck presidential campaign is not only unfortunate but a calculated attempt by the anti-graft agency to smear most of us of our good names.

    “It must be stated unequivocally that participation in a presidential campaign is a lawful political process worldwide and it requires huge some of capital to accomplish.

    “So if few days to presidential election, coordinators and party leaders took deliveries of funds from Presidential Campaign Organisation from the headquarters in the 36 states of the federation and FCT direct from a bank,almost at the same time,following banking procedure of receipt and in a more transparent manners, what shaddy deal has taken place?What crimes have these Nigerians committed? How have they violated any law of our Land?

    “If the anti graft agency is suspicious of the source of the monies since it couldn’t be traced to arms fund this time around, I think it is better polite for her to go after the so-called donors of the funds than vilifying the innocent people that have served this country in their little way.

    “The continuous media trial of ex-Ministers and PDP stalwarts only attest to the witch-hunt allegation levied against this government.”

    The forum insisted that ex-ministers who went to Fidelity Bank to collect funds had no plan to steal public funds.

    It added: “No reasonable person with the intent to steal and enrich himself with our Commonwealth would go before a bank,sign for a huge sum of money, allow himself to be captured by CCTV and go home and sleep believing he has done a good job. It is logical and commonsensical that money mobilised a day or two to election was indeed meant for election.

    “In case the anti-graft agency believes she needs to be sure the monies were indeed received by the various chapters of the party, there are better avenues and procedure to exploit , more discreet, more civil than creating the impression before Nigerians that we have shared N25 billion among ourselves.

    “ Rather than maligning the integrity of Aminu Wali, Ahamba, Anyanwu, Nurudeen and a host of other names yet to be mentioned, why not judiciously complete your investigation with a view to ascertain the unlawful source of the funds if there is any and bring the culprit to book.

    “The ongoing attempt at assembling all that participated in funds mobilization for party agents and party officials for Jonathan elections across the 36 states is to say the least amount to raw political witch-hunt and persecution.

    “ I believe strongly that lovers of democracy in Nigeria would not watch and allow the disparaging of people’s names to go unquestioned.

    “The EFCC should once again review her method of militancy and unprocedural measures.

    “If this current attempt amounts to auditing the election funds of Jonathan presidency, it is equally fair and apt enough to probe into president Buhari presidential campaign funds too.Let’s be just,fair and Godly in the discharge of our official engagements.”

  • Wanted: 30, 000 bone marrow donors

    As a result of the value of bone marrow in the cure of blood cancers and sickle cell anaemia, a pan-African bone marrow and cord blood donor recruitment group, Ara, has called for 30, 000 willing bone marrow donors by the end of 2018.

    Founder of the group, Miss Ronke Babalakin said Nigeria should not wait until someone is in a dire need before donors were recruited.

    Miss Babalakin, who spoke at the inauguration of Ara in Lagos, said less than one per cent of Africans are currently involved in bone marrow donation.

    “Bone marrow has been found to provide cure for blood cancers and sickle cell anaemia,” she said.

    She cited cultural and religious factors as two major reasons people do not donate bone marrow, stressing the need for awareness on the important issue. She added that it was not a difficult procedure as it poses no threat to life. Adults under 45 years can donate bone marrow.

    “The likelihood of a black person to find a perfect match in bone marrow treatment is slim because of the dearth of donors. Our long-term goal is to provide the logistics and infrastructure to ensure the seamless recruitment of donors in cities all over Africa,” she said.

     

  • NACA, donors accuse Nigeria of abandoning HIV/AIDS programme

    NACA, donors accuse Nigeria of abandoning HIV/AIDS programme

    •Fed Govt: virus increasing among homosexuals 

    THE National Agency for Aids Control (NACA) and international donor agencies have accused the three tiers of government of abandoning the treatment and intervention programmes on Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS).

    NACA Director of Policy and Strategy, Alex Ogundipe and representatives of international agencies like United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAID) and World Health Organisation (WHO) spoke to reporters yesterday at a rally commemorating the World AIDS Day in Abuja.

    They said the country must see HIV/AIDS as a problem of the people of Nigeria and not leave it to donor agencies.

    Three million persons are living with HIV in Nigeria and only 800, 000 are on treatment.

    Ogundipe said: “Nigeria has left HIV treatment and interventions in the hand of donors. It is not right and that is why we are unable to provide the response to everybody that should be on treatment right now.

    “Local governments should see people that are positive as those who can still contribute to this country’s development and provide them the best health care services.”

    He listed measures to be taken by Nigeria to achieve its HIV elimination target by 2030, saying it required family members and communities to stop stigmatising people, who were positive.

    UNAID Country Director Dr. Bilali Camara urged Nigeria to domesticate its fight against HIV.

    “This means investing in the issue and we are calling on the Nigerian government to do more and see how it can match the international resources coming into this country with local response. This will trigger an impactful response which can end the HIV epidemic by 2030.

    “It is not that donor partners are abandoning HIV response in Nigeria, but they are tired and want to see the Nigerian government do more on their own in response to HIV.

    “Somebody who is coming to help you with your own issue, you need to demonstrate to that person that you are also concerned and you are putting resources in it.

    “AIDS really is a good investment because $1 invested today, in five years you will get $70 in returns. It means that this is the time to really do the best,” Camara said.

    WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr. Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti called on Nigeria to fill the gaps in the response to HIV/AIDS.

    She said: “We still have to fill major gaps in the response. Stigma, discrimination and punitive laws are persisting in our region. Children, young people, adolescents and key populations are still being left behind. Only 43 per cent of people needing anti-retroviral treatment have access while only 52 per cent of people living with HIV know status.”

    But a new statistics from the Federal Ministry of Health yesterday revealed that HIV/AIDS was becoming prevalent among homosexuals.

    The statistics showed that there was a decline of HIV/AIDS among sex hawkers.

    It came from a survey conducted by Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance Survey (IBBSS).

    The survey captured “brothel based females, who sell sex, non-brothel females who sell sex, men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, transports workers and officers and men of the Armed Forces and the Police”.

     

    The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, revealed the statistics yesterday in Abuja during World AIDS Day celebration with the theme: “Getting to Zero: Ending HIV/AIDS by 2030”.

    The minister said the trend could be curbed, if poverty and access to information is tackled.

     

     

  • Donors of N21.7bn at PDP’s Fund Raising

    The over N21.7billion raised on Saturday at the PDP Fund Raising Dinner held at the Banquet Hall of the State House Abuja was contributed by State governors, top party members, some sectors and other unnamed individuals and organisations.

    Those who donated included Oil and Gas sector – N5 billion, Jerry Gana’s friends – N5 billion, Real Estate – N4 billion, Tunde Ayeni – N1 billion, Tunde Ayeni’s friends – N2 billion, Transport and Aviation – N1 billion.

    Others include 21 PDP governor who donated N50 million each totalling N1.5 billion, Food and Agriculture – N500 mllion, Construction – N310 million, Road sector- N250 million and beneficiaries of YouWin programme N1m.

    Power sector – N500m, Shelter Development – N250 million, Labaran Maku – N 1 mllion, Volkswagen and others – N450 million.

    Vice President Namadi Sambo thanked all those who donated to the party.

    Chairman of the Fund-Raising committee, Prof.Jerry Gana warned members of the party not to be complacent in the 2015 general elections.

    According to him, the 2015 elections would be very competitive.

  • Youths donate blood to mark Donors’ Day

    Young people have been urged to be active in voluntary blood donation. The State Co-ordinator of the National Blood Transfusion Service (NTBS), Calabar Centre, Dr Wilfred Ndifon, gave the charge during a voluntary blood donation exercise held on Monday to commemorate the World Blood Donors’ Day.

    Dr Ndifon said: “Apart from voluntary blood donation being a noble act, it helps to make blood available and affordable to people who are in need of it. Thus, it plays a very great part in saving life. Those who donate blood also derive some benefits from the exercise.”

    Speaking on the theme: Safe blood for saving mothers, Mr Okanga Ngim, said several people were in dire need of blood every day.

    “There are a lot of people who need blood to survive. Their health depends on you and I because when we donate blood, it becomes available and affordable,” he stated.

    He lamented the low turnout of donors, which according to him, was caused by ignorance.

    Ngim said a donors’ club, Club 25, had been established in higher institutions to create more awareness on voluntary blood donation.

    Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE,  Odey Emmanuel, 300-Level, Library and Information Science, University of Calabar, said curiosity made him become a regular blood donor. Emmanuel who is also the president of Club 25, UNICAL chapter, encouraged other students to join the club and donate blood regularly.