The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NGO

  • Group urges Buhari not to assent to NGO Bill

    President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to refuse assent to the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) Control Bill should the National Assembly pass it and send it to the President for endorsement.

    The group – Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants (CURE-Nigeria) – claimed that the Bill was intended by its sponsors to cripple the activities of civil society organisations and undermine the various ideals they uphold.

    CURE-Nigeria’s Executive Director, Sylvester Uhaa, who identified some laudable projects executed in the country by his group, argued that it is the country that needs the NGOS and not the other way round.

    Uhaa said it was surprising that the legislators, who feed and clothe on tax payers sweat, but have refused to be accountable to them, now seeks to subject the NGOs to an excruciating and painful level of accountability.

    Describing the Bill as an exercise in futility, Uhaa argued that the effort devoted to it by  the legislators and those behind the Bill ought to have been directed at activities that would benefit the people.

    Uhaa said: “No civil society can survive under the stringent and suffocating provisions of the bill. It is meant to eliminate civil society in Nigeria so that elected officials can have their way out without anyone holding them to account.

    “Even in jurisdictions like the US, where millions of dollars are given to NGO’s to support their work, such excruciating laws do not exist.

    “The Nigerian government, as far as I know, does not give money to NGO’s. So, what is the basis for trying to exercise total control over them?

  • NGO to sensitise students on environment

    A Non-Governmental Organisation, Nature Protection and Environmental Improvement Initiative (NAPEIIN) will begin its 9jakidsgogreen project, which is aimed at addressing environmental challenges.

    This was disclosed at a technical summit organised by the NGO in Lagos.

    The project will be sponsored by the Aspire Coronation Trust (ACT) Foundation, an NGO that focuses on financing NGOs in Health, Entrepreneurship, Environment and Leadership. It is expected to begin  this weekend

    Lagos State, which has a population of over 21 million, is believed to be plagued by serious environmental challenges like non-renewable resource consumption, depletion of the environment, land degradation and waste disposal failures.

    Amid rapid population growth and urbanisation, which began with the oil boom of the 1970s, the state also suffers water, air and soil pollution, which has a negative impact on school children.

    NAPEIIN President Mr. Olusola Adekoya said: “The NGO has reached out to over 150 schools in the state, sensitising them on the importance of environmental sustainability and promoting tree planting by donating trees to schools.”

    Adekoya sought the support of stakeholders in pushing the message of environmental sustainability to schools, communities and the state at Large.

    Project Manager, 9jaKidsGoGreen, Dika Odum, said the project aims at getting Nigerian children involved in environment sustainability and climate change activities at an early age.

    “Our primary targets are children aged between 11 and 15 years  in government owned secondary schools in the state,” he said.

    Representing the Deputy Governor, Director-General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Ronke Soyombo, assured of the state full support.

    She said:“It is high time that we actually completely went green and something I really want to take up from NAPEIIN is the  fact they are starting with the children because if you want to make changes, it’s hard to make those changes with adults.”

    A representative of the Ministry of the Environment, Mrs. Anna Kolawole, commended the project as laudable and assured the ministry’s support to NAPEIIN.

  • NGO empowers young entrepreneurs

    NGO empowers young entrepreneurs

    Ten young entrepreneurs have been empowered with N100,000 each to fund their businesses and enterprises, courtesy of the Joan Agha foundation.

    The presentation was held at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos during the fourth annual lecture of the foundation. It brought together captains of industries.

    Joan Agha Foundation is a non-governmental organisation, which aims at long-term developmental programmes by addressing the needs of the indigent persons in the society through educational scholarships, woman and youth empowerment.

    “God has given each of us talents but we need to look inward. When people sit down and say they don’t know what to do, they have not taken that little step of listening to their inner self. Young people need to go away from all the noise and meditate. It is through meditation that they can get inspired on what to do with their hands that will fetch them money”, Mrs Joan Agha admonished.

    Twenty-year-old Success Ndu, a student of the University of Benin, was one of the 10 entrepreneurs who benefited from the grant after   after an intense screening process.

    He told The Nation: “I never wanted to work for anybody and this prompted me to start businesses at 19. I am a fish farmer and I also farm water melon and cassava. I am always looking for opportunities to take my business to the next level and I am grateful to the Joe Agha Foundation for the opportunity to receive funding.”

    In 2014, the foundation began training on entrepreneurship for youths. Consequent upon the success, the foundation made it a yearly event.

    Last year, the foundation expanded the initiative by giving start-up grant award to four start-up entrepreneurs. This year  the number increased from four to 10 entrepreneurs.

  • IDPs in Maiduguri demand return to Bama

    IDPs in Maiduguri demand return to Bama

    The Bama Initiative for Human Development, an NGO, on Sunday in Maiduguri staged a peaceful demonstration demanding the return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their respective communities in Bama.

    The group’s Chairman, Alhaji Muhammad Hassan, said that the IDPs would want to return and continue their normal activities in view of the prevailing peace in the state.

    Hassan noted that about 70 per cent of the reconstruction and rehabilitation projects had been completed in the area, saying that they were tired of living as displaced persons.

    “We are in Maiduguri for more than three years without meaningful means of livelihoods. The condition of our people is pathetic.

    “The elongation in the process of returning displaced persons to their homes is moving at a snail pace and exposed them to unbearable conditions.

    “We could no longer send our children to school; many have died of hunger and starvation. Most of us live in host communities and no one is supporting us,” Hassan stated.

    He said that most of them were traumatised, coupled with serious neglect and poor living condition, adding that they are ready to trek back to Bama.

    The Police, however, stopped the demonstrators from embarking on the trek and urged them to drop the idea because of safety.

    Mr Damian Chukwu, the Police Commissioner in the state, said that the group had not notified the command over their planned return to Bama.

    He advised the IDPs to dialogue with the state government and other stakeholders over their demand so that adequate preparations would be made.

    “The police have a duty to protect you and we will not allow you to gather people and expose them to danger in the name of home return.

    “Also, there is massive reconstruction and rehabilitation works going on in the town, executed by the Federal and State Government under the Bama Initiative.

    “We will not allow you to go because of your safety, you better go back and wait for the time when government will permit your return to the town,” he said.

    In his reaction, Gov. Kashim Shettima urged the IDPs to cooperate with government to fast-track the completion of rehabilitation projects in the town.

    Malam Isa Gusau, the Special Adviser to the governor, Communication and Media Strategy made this known in a statement issued in Maiduguri.

    “It is to the government’s advantage if IDPs return home because their return will lessen economic burden of supporting them as displaced persons.

    “The greatest wish of the governor is the safe and dignified return of all IDPs to their communities. Much as he wants the IDPs to return, he is also concerned about their safety.

    “Gov. Shettima is consistently committed to the ongoing rebuilding of private homes, police stations, hospitals, schools, water facilities, markets, council secretariats and other essential services in communities across 15 local government areas of the state,’’ he said.

    Gusau explained that government had constructed 20,000 housing units in Bama and provided modern health facilities, schools and police stations in the area.

    He added that the Federal Government was currently training a special Anti-Terrorism Squad and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) to be deployed to the town under the Bama Initiative.

    The spokesman added that the special squad and the agro-rangers, specifically trained to secure farmers in their farmlands would replace the military.

    “We have to ensure that there is full return of civil security before IDPs can return.

    “The governor encourages safe and dignified return only after putting the right things in place,” Gusau said.

    According to him, the state government had re-built houses and re-settled displaced persons in parts of Kaga, Konduga and Gwoza Local Government Areas of the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that thousands of persons were forced to flee their homes when the Boko Haram insurgents sacked Bama town in 2014.

    Hundreds of people were killed, maimed or abducted while the entire structures in the town were razed by the insurgents.

  • World Peace Day: NGO, Religious leaders calls for peaceful society

    World Peace Day: NGO, Religious leaders calls for peaceful society

    As the world celebrate the International Day of Peace, a Non-governmental organisation, African Democratic Development Initiative, religious leaders and stakeholders in Ikorodu Lagos State have advocated for a society that is all inconclusive and violence free.

    The celebration was held, today Friday at the Ikorodu Local Government Secretariat. Reading the message of United Nation Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, on the 2017 international day of peace Olusesan Olukoya, Executive Director of AFRIDEVI, said the obligation of the international community is to ensure that everyone forced to flee their homes receives protection.

    He said, “the international of peace, observed every year on 21 September, embodies our shared aspiration to end the needless suffering caused by armed conflict. It offers a moment for the people of the world to acknowledge the ties that bind them together, irrespective of their ceasefire, with the hope that one day of peace can lead ultimately to a stilling of the fund”.

    “focusing in the plight of refugees and migrants throughout the world. Our obligation as an international community is to ensure that everyone forced to flee their homes receives the protection to which they are entitled under international law. Our duty as a human family is to replace fear with kindness”. The chief Imam of Ikorodu Central mosque, Alhaji Yahaya Oshoala, said the country must always strive for peace.

    “What bothers me about the unavailability of peace in the world, is the effect it has on the innocent young children among us that concern me. The legacy we are laying for children is uncalled for” he said. “There is no love, no security and confidence in anyone. What baffles me is that those who are expected to be in custody and of peace, the religious leaders in this country are part of the ills happening in this country, those in the custody of justice, the judges and lawyers are creating havoc in the society, than what we expect”.

    “Those in government, that they claim are there for us, are really not respecting us they are self-centered, they claimed to be there for us, but really for their pockets. How do we expect peace when millions are downtrodden and someone is collecting millions of naira and we are expecting peace, that’s impossible”. “Look at some buying cars for N17million each when we have bad roads in country and we expect peace, when those who steal and are caught, and taken to court by the EFCC, they then get free.

    Even the president that is trying to make things better is being backslide by people and some in his party. What we don’t have is justice, which is mother of love and love is the mother of peace. You can’t get peace without love, love without justice, what do you mean by justice, it is by giving everyone it dues. The Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria, Ikorodu chapter, Dr. Emmanuel Adegoke, Shepherd in charge of Celestial Church of Christ, urge religious leaders to always be at the forefront of preaching peace. “no one can see God without having peace in his life.

    The Bible also said we should seek peace and pursue it. The condition of people or nation would never change unless they change what is in their mind. How do you peace when you step on people’s life, how can peace come to rein when we make ourselves god over others” he said. “The king, ministers, governors, legislatures, chairmen, imam everyone of us are being drawn into this menace so the ultimate will of Almighty God to mankind is peace. Every church, denomination is suppose to be an ambassador of peace where ever they are”.

    The Vice Chairman, Ikorodu West Local Government, Princess Folashade Olabanji said achieving peace is a collective effort. According to her, “we must know that peace must be be sort by everyone. It is priceless, it is only when we have peace, that everything else will follow, so for us here, we are saying peace, which we all must imbibe, relate with attitude that everything we do, we must try to dialogue and understand each other, think of others” she said.

    “There is hope and future, which we all must always work to a achieve peace in our society. Here in Ikorodu, we have done peace rally and parley with enforcement agencies, community leaders and everyone involved to identify to understand the cause of this and let people know that we are accountable to one another”.

  • Deaths of migrants under-reported, says IOM

    The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Monday the real number of migrant deaths were far higher than the numbers reported.

    The UN Migration Agency in a new report on migrant deaths and disappearances worldwide through its Berlin-based Global Migration Data Analysis Centre said many migrants deaths were never recorded.

    “Since 2014, more than 23,000 migrant deaths and disappearances have been recorded globally by the IOM. The real number is likely to be much higher as many deaths are never recorded,” IOM said.

    The report is the third volume in IOM’s Fatal Journeys series, which focuses on how to improve data on missing migrants in order to prevent further deaths, and to enable the families left behind to learn more about the fate of their relatives.

    “Many families continue to spend years living in limbo, not knowing whether a loved one is alive or dead as so few bodies of missing migrants are identified,” the UN migration agency said.

    Fatal Journeys Volume 3: Improving Data on Missing Migrants is published in two parts with part one of the report released on Monday, examining the challenges of collecting data on missing migrants.

    Part two of the report to be released in November, provides in-depth regional analysis of the data currently available, IOM said.

    The first chapter of Fatal Journeys Volume 3 – Part 1 provided an update of data on global migrant fatalities since 2014, and highlighted the risks faced by migrant women and children.

    Data collected by IOM’s ‘Missing Migrants Project’, the only existing database on migrant deaths at the global level, are used to present the known number and profile of dead and missing migrants in different regions of the world.

    The report said that much more could be done to gather data to increase identification rates such as developing intraregional mechanisms to share data more effectively.

    One approach highlighted in the report was the work of forensic teams in Latin America, which had been working together with NGOs and governments to promote the sharing of data to facilitate the identification of missing migrants.

    The report underlined that the problems in communicating data could also be observed in global media coverage of migrant deaths and disappearances.

    “Current standards of media coverage vary widely, and the tone of the content ranges from humanitarian concern to reproduction of negative narratives about migration,” the UN migration agency said.

    It said the inclusion of migration in the United Nations’ 2030 Global Agenda for Sustainable Development and the commitment of States to promote safe, orderly and regular migration, required improved data on indicators of “unsafe migration”.

    Improving information and reporting on who the missing migrants were, where they came from, and above all, when they were most at risk was crucial to building a holistic response to reduce the number of migrant deaths, IOM said.

  • NGO Regulation Bill ‘is a threat to democracy’ 

    Leading figures from the Nigerian and global academia, media, civil society, law and multi-national organisations from Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America yesterday called for the withdrawal of the NGO Regulatory Commission Bill before the National Assembly.

    In a statement, the 54 signatories point out that the Bill ”is clearly intended to encourage the excesses of bad government”. They argue that the Bill endangers constitutional guarantees of freedom of association, assembly, speech and even of freedom of conscience and religion and ”will license unconstitutional discrimination.”

    The statement said: “NGOs have been integral to Nigeria’s democratisation”, noting that “because of the sacrifices and leadership of NGOs in confronting years of military misrule, members of the National Assembly can have the benefits and powers they enjoy today.”

    The signatories conclude that the NGO Regulation Bill is ”a distraction, a threat to Nigeria’s hard-won democracy and a dis-incentive to investment at a time that the country need it. It is both insensitive and unconscionable.”

    To National Assembly, they offer the suggestion that “this is the time for the Nigerian National Assembly to prioritise the serious business of the people by helping the country get out of its current difficulties. If it chooses this path, it will find willing and enthusiastic partners in Nigeria’s vibrant civil society and NGO community.”

  • Germany to partner NGO on waste to wealth

    Germany to partner NGO on waste to wealth

    The German government has pledged its technical and financial support for a non-governmental organisation, Vicfold Recyclers to convert waste to wealth.

    Vicfold Recyclers, an Ilorin, Kwara State environment-based NGO, specialises in collecting waste, especially plastic bottles from households with a fee being paid in return.

    The German support is in the area of providing machines to Vicfold Recyclers to crush the plastic bottles collected and turn them to useable materials.

    German Ambassador to Nigeria, Bernhard Schlagheck made the pledge in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, during the presentation of the winner of ‘You for G20 Competition’ to Vicfold Recyclers.

    Represented by Press and Diplomacy Officer, German Embassy, Abuja, Nigeria, Ludwig Jung, Mr. Schlagheck said, “Over 200 budget proposals and applications were submitted and after a rigorous selection process Vicfold Recyclers came on top. We are here today to hand over the certificate of ‘You for G20 Competition’ to the NGO and also to pledge support for the project.

    “The German government will support Vicfold Recyclers with equipment and machines for the processing of all the waste to useful materials.

    It has submitted proposals for the upscaling of the NGO and we will support that. We will support the project not only symbolically but financially.”

    Founder of VicFold Recyclers, Victor Amusa hailed the decision of the German government to assist his fledging NGO.

    Amusa said, “It is surprising that this event is holding today. It actually goes to show that little effort counts. Right actions taken towards sustainability someday get rewarded, because when we saw the contest for ‘you for G20 competition,’ it all happened in the confines of our room. It dawned on us on how else we need to put what we do out.. We had 19,368 votes. The internet community was wonderful. To us at our local corner here in Ilorin, there is this belief by the internet community.

    “The passion is there, but the support was no longer there. Most times I used the car for our logistics to convey waste here, then we would get back to car wash for cleaning up. It got to a time we stopped washing it. The ‘You for G20 competition’ winning came to us as a

    moral booster.  There is no way we can right the history of Vicfold Recyclers without remembering the German mission. They have been very wonderful.

    “Let me also add that the problem of plastic waste is that of portability. We looked a situation when we are taking waste from you you get an alert immediately. It is has been wonderful. Each time we reward our subscribers, you see the joy, happiness and inner fulfilment from them.

    “We are going to make the German mission proud of its decision to select our project out of the over 200 applicants. When we make them proud it will open opportunities for the teaming young population we have. It is going to get our hands busy and make the economy of our state gets buoyant. It is also put food on the table of the unemployed women. We are so particular about the women because when you feed a woman you will feed a nation.”

  • NGO seeks improvement on nation’s environment

    The Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Initiative (CCMAI) yesterday urged the Federal Government and stakeholders to improve and sustain the nation’s climate and environment.

    Mr Richard Inyamkume, senior Programme officer, CCMAI, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that stakeholders needed to tackle climate change to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    According to him, evidence shows climate change is likely to have a negative impact on the global effort to achieve United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    “In particular, climate change will obstruct efforts to reduce existing poverty experienced by some of the world’s population.

    “Climate change is also likely to lead to changes in the ecosystem, which will contribute to degradation and reduce availability of water and food, globally.

    “It is, therefore, more likely to become the world’s major driver of increased human conflict.’’

    Inyamkume, who described climate change as the most disturbing global environmental challenge, said it referred to the rise in the earth’s surface temperatures globally due to anthropogenic or human activities.

    According to him, the activities include burning of fossils, improper waste disposal, bush burning and deforestation.

    “Climate change also known as global warming actually begins with the greenhouse effect caused by the interaction between the earth’s atmosphere and incoming radiation from the sun.

    “Its effect is increased through anthropogenic activities. What this means is that the atmospheric gases are primarily responsible for the greenhouse effect known as greenhouse gases.

    “When water vapour, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) are released in large amounts into the atmosphere through human activities, it increases the natural greenhouse effect, which results into rising temperatures globally.’’

    Inyamkume urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to reduce the impact of climate change despite national policies to address the problem.

    “The President Muhammadu Buhari administration  recognises threats posed by climate change on the environment and economy.

    “To this end, an array of national policies have been put in place to ensure that appropriate mitigation and adaptation actions are engaged at different levels to reduce the impact of climate change.

    “It is worthy to note here that Nigeria is a signatory to international treaties on environment and climate change.’’

    According to him, Nigeria is signatory to the Kyoto Protocol and is party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the Paris Agreement, ratified in 2015.

    Inyamkume said Nigeria would participate in the UNFCCC COP23 in Bonn, Germany, in November.

    “Nigeria has approved Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and other Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMA) to commit the nation to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

    “In addition, government has created the Department of Climate Change in the Federal Ministry of Environment to coordinate and oversee activities relating to climate change.’’

    Inyamkume said an inter-ministerial Coordinating Committee on Climate Change was also set up by government.

    He explained that in 2010, the National Assembly passed a bill to create a National Climate Change Commission to facilitate, coordinate and support multi-level and cross-sectoral adaptation responses.

  • NGO lifts visually-impaired musician

    A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Dele Ologun Foundation (DOF), in Ondo State, has, through its founder, Otunba Dele Ologun,  donated money to support a visually-impaired singer, Alade Emmanuel, in Akure, the state capital.

    Ologun, a philanthropist and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has assisted many under-privileged, students and others through his NGO.

    He made the donation during the launch of an album tagged Alaanu (The Merciful) by the musician.

    Ologun said: “I am highly impressed by the talent, zeal, ability and the determination of the singer, who, despite being challenged by his sight, can still produce this soul-inspiring song”.

    He noted that everyone at one time suffered from one problem or the other such as financial, emotional, mental and physical disability, urging well-meaning individuals to be their brothers’ keepers.

    Ologun stated that the launching of the album will be a stepping stone to greater things that will come up for the musician, praying that he would become a great singer

    The singer who lost his sight from childhood expressed appreciation to the Chief Launcher for his immense support to his project.

    The event, held at NUJ Press Centre, Akure, was attended by  a representative of wife of the late former governor and President of HANDEF (Handicapped Foundation) Mrs. Olufunke Agagu, religious leaders and others.