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Tag: Oxfam

  • Oxfam makes case for women empowerment

    Oxfam makes case for women empowerment

    An international nongovernmental organization, Oxfam in Nigeria, has called for improved livelihood and reduction of poverty in order to improve women’s lives around the world.

    The organization in a statement to mark this year’s International Women’s Day, expressed solidarity with women throughout the world as they #PressforProgress in the fight against inequality.

    According to the statement, the IWD comes at a time of a worldwide conversation on the need for more respect for women in social, cultural and economic spaces.

    Country Director, Oxfam in Nigeria, Iftikhar Nizami, assured that the organization would continue to be a steadfast partner in this progress to women and minority populations around the world.

    Nizami said: “Like people around the world, we at Oxfam have all followed the news from the #MeToo and time’s up movements, with a mix of awe at the strength of the many women who have taken a stand and refused to be silent; frustration at the slowness of change in institutions; and a renewed sense of optimism in the potential for change.

    “Women’s rights are at the very heart of the work we do at Oxfam, and we use this International Women’s Day to reaffirm our commitment to improving livelihoods and reducing poverty in a way that improves women’s lives around the world. Through our efforts and initiatives, like many institutions around the world, we are responding to this #MeToo and Time’s up moments by asking the question: how can we do better?

    “We will #PressforProgress by doubling our efforts in challenging stereotypes and bias that limit women, through our first worldwide ENOUGH Campaign to Ending Violence Against Women and Girls ( EVAWG ) which aims to challenge and change social norms that perpetuate violence against women and girls by replacing harmful norms with positive norms that promote gender equality and non-violence.” 

    “We will also #PressforProgress by committing to extending opportunities to women first, working with them as spokespersons and leaders from among the approximately 48,000 women benefiting from our Female Food Hero and Village Savings Loan Association platforms and connecting their voices to the global audience. 

    “We will #PressforProgress by giving credit to and making visible women’s contributions and achievements in our communities and the country at large. We will continue to push for a responsible investment in agriculture in favour of Female small-scale farmers while striving for rural women empowerment.  We will work with our Goodwill Ambassadors like Lami Phillips to put a spotlight on the #SOAMAZING things millions of women are doing despite numerous challenges they are facing.

    “With regards the need for change, we have seen clearly that Oxfam is not exempt. These past few weeks have been difficult for Oxfam staff around the world, as we have seen the news of condemnable conduct from one of our staff members’ conduct in Haiti and Chad, and the uproar that followed. Amidst this difficulty, we have had a front row seat to how even great institutions that have done great work can do much better in putting in place safeguarding measures that ensure the respect of the communities that we seek to serve through our work.

    “Internally, we are reshaping the culture of Oxfam to shift the power to ensure women’s voices are listened to and respected. Team managers are working with culture change specialists to start to shift the culture of the organization in order to stamp out exploitation, abuse and harassment in whatever form. 

    “In looking inward, Oxfam as an institution is in dialogue with its many countries offices around the world to examine the gaps in our accountability structures that allowed for such behavior by some members of our staff, and how we can work together to close these gaps.”

    Mr. Nizami added that Oxfam had increased the number of its safeguarding experts to ensure that its internal systems in respect of references are rigorous and effective.

     “We are strengthening our protocols, examining how we interact with local communities and committing to working with government authorities to swiftly address any such abuses by any member of Oxfam staff in Nigeria,” Mr. Nizami said. 

  • EU plants 634,132 trees in Katsina

    EU plants 634,132 trees in Katsina

    The European Union ( EU ) says it planted 634,132 variety of trees in Maiadua Local Government Area of Katsina State to prevent desertification and promote the concept of green house in the last five years.

    Dr Chris Udokang, EU Project Manager, announced this in an interview with our reporter in Maiadua on Tuesday.

    Udokang said 538,994 of the trees, representing 87.3 per cent survived.

    He noted that the project was executed under the EU Fuel Wood Balance Programme ( FUWOBA ) and implemented by the Oxfam and the International Centre for Energy, Environment and Development, in collaboration with the National Planning Commission.

    Udokang added that no fewer than 1,000 farmers were provided with agricultural implements which included fertilisers, insecticides and modernised cooking stove free of charge, to promote farming in the area.

    He urged the people to continue to maintain the trees as well as make judicious use of the farming implements for a better environment and a secured future free from desertification and lack of food.

    The EU FUWOBA projects commenced in October 2014 across some seven selected local government areas in Katsina State to promote agriculture and prevent desertification.

    NAN

  • EU plants 736 trees in Daura LG

    EU plants 736 trees in Daura LG

    The International Centre for Energy and Environmental Development ( ICEED )wea2q has planted 736 varieties of trees across the 11 wards in Daura Local Government Area of Katsina State to promote environmental conservation.

    Malam Buhari Fago, the Director of Agriculture in the council, announced this in an interview with our reporter in Daura on Tuesday.

    He said the programme, an European Union ( EU ) sponsored initiative, was facilitated and implemented by the Oxfam, ICEED and the National Planning Commission ( NPC ).

    According to him, the programme is aimed at controlling desertification and promoting green environment.

    Fago said 270 of the trees were planted through the nursery nurturing process, while 466 were through the farmer-managed natural regeneration system.

    He added that 221 villages were covered through the two adopted methods of planting, stressing that the agency would expand the scope of its coverage.

    He said the agency also distributed 1,000 bags of fertilisers, bottles of insecticides and clean cook stove.

    Fago said the beneficiaries went home with the three items.

    He added that the clean cook stove were provided under it’s four-year programme of improving the fuel wood balance (FUWOBA)

    The agency recently planted thousands of trees in Sandamu Local Government Area to promote environmental conservation and prevent desertification.

    NAN

  • Right to food and financing important to tackling inequality – Oxfam

    Right to food and financing important to tackling inequality – Oxfam

    Oxfam, an international non-governmental organization in its enduring commitment to creating a world without poverty where people are capable of building a livelihood, in collaboration with BudgIt Information Technology Network Lagos, on Tuesday held a media chat/conference with relevant stakeholders and members of the press in Lagos to discuss the sundry options and possibilities to tackling inequalities by achieving food for all and financing for development.

    The theme for the program is: Even it up: Tackling inequality in Nigeria through analysis and advocacy, with Right To Food ( R2F ) and Financing for Development ( F4D ) being chief in the discussion. Oxfam, which launched and implemented the strategic partnership programme in 25 countries in 2015 has three basic theories for change: Right to food, conflict and fragility and financing for development.

    According to Mr. Celestine Okwudili Odo, Coordinator of private & public sector transparency & accountability coordinator ( Oxfam ), “the organization has five (5) pathways to change: improved policies of government on tax and budget, improved policies of private sector on tax, wages and corporate social responsibility, increased citizen’s voice, stronger and wider alliances across the country.

    According to him, Oxfam’s strategy includes “research, lobby and advocacy, citizens mobilization and enlightenment, networking and alliance building, capacity building for the civil society and the government.

    “Other local partners include; ActionAid Abuja, Niger Delta Budget Monitoring Group ( NDBUMOG ), BudgIT Information Technology Network Lagos, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre ( CISLAC ), KEBETKACHE Women Development and Resources Centre, HEDA Lagos, Farm and Infrastructure Foundation ( FIF ) and Nigeria Association of Nigeria Traders ( NANTS ).”

    Oxfam’s sundry successes includes: Sponsor and lobby for the Right To Food ( R2F ) Bill that is currently before the National Assembly ( NASS ) and has passed Second Reading in the House of Representatives and now on the table of Constitutional Review Committee of the House, over 40,000 Nigerians mainly youths and small-scale farmers mobilized to campaign for increase funding and investment in the agricultural sector, facilitation and mobilization of small-scale farmers to access loans, continues advocacy for the implementation of new National Tax Policy and the Voluntary Income AND Asset Declaration Scheme – VAIDS, and tax amnesty window for tax defaulters towards stopping illicit financial flows and revenue leakages for the government, amongst other successes.

    Oxfam / BudgIT Media Chat
    L-R: Mr. Gabriel Okeowo ( GM, BudgIT ), Mr. Celestine Okwudili Odo ( Oxfam ) and other stakeholders at Oxfam / BudgIT Media Chat

    According to Mr. Celestine, Data collection and Analysis is important to generating contents for advocacy and implementation.

    Explaining the concept of the Right To Food (R2F) Bill, Mrs. Abiola Bayode from Farm and Infrastructure Foundation ( FIF ) said, “It is a human right bill which protects people from hunger.”

    She further said, “The challenge is that the government sees food as a need and not a human right. We want to see that the right to food is explicitly stated in chapter four (4) of the Nigerian constitution; this will make the government more accountable on food security in Nigeria.

    “It is therefore not about distributing food free of charge to all Nigerians, but a necessity to protect the vulnerable people by creating an enabling environment.”

    In addressing some of the challenges encountered in the implementation of the programmes, Mrs. Emem Okon said, “it has been noticed that community needs most often do not get included in the state and federal government budgets.

    “Therefore, we are training members of communities on how to conduct needs assessment. We also train government agencies, parastatals and ministries on community needs assessment to ensure that the extant or future budgets include the needs of the people.”

    Other representatives of stakeholders present at the conference were: Mr. Gabriel Okeowo ( General Manager, BudgIT ), Mr. Kolawole Banwo ( CISLAC ), Mr. Peter Bayode ( FIF ), Mrs. Emem Okon (KEBETKACHE Women Development and Resources Centre), Mr. Azubuike Nwokoye (ActionAid Abuja ), amonst others.

  • Oxfam urges Fed Govt to block leakages used by powerful individuals to invade tax

    Oxfam urges Fed Govt to block leakages used by powerful individuals to invade tax

    An international nongovernmental organization, Oxfam in Nigeria, has called on the Federal Government to work more to block all the leakages that powerful individuals explore to avoid tax and collect huge returns.

    Acting Country Director, Oxfam in Nigeria, Constant Tchona, made the call at a media roundtable in Abuja on Tuesday.

    According to him, if the leakages are blocked properly, it would add more revenue to government which could be used to provide infrastructure and other essential services to the poor.

    He said the fortunes of the rich are often boosted by tax dodging and evasion, big returns to shareholders and executives.

    Tchona said: “While the rich individuals are avoiding taxes, the poor are burdened with multiple taxations which hinder their businesses to grow. Poorly paid work for the many is supporting extreme wealth for the few. Women are the worse hit, and almost all super-rich are men, that is how the richest 1% accumulated 82% of the wealth created last year.

    “We salute Nigeria Government’s efforts to alleviate poverty in programmes such as, the National Home-Grown School Feeding, N-Power for unemployed graduates, Conditional Cash Transfer, and the Government Empowerment and Enterprise Programme.

    “We also commend the government on the review of the National Tax Policy, which if properly implemented will solve the issues related to tax and revenue leakages. We request Government to do more to implement policy that will close the gap between the rich and the poor.

    “We ask government to work more to block all the leakages that the powerful individuals explore to avoid tax and collect huge returns. If done properly, this will give more revenues to government to provide infrastructure and other essential services to the poor.”

    Tchona said inequality remained a major concern for Oxfam as world leaders are meeting in Davos, Switzerland at the World Economic Forum to deliberate on global economic issues.

    He noted that Nigerians were worried by the widening inequality gap in the country.

    Tchona explained that only the federal government can create a more equal society by prioritizing ordinary workers and small-scale food producers instead of the rich and powerful

  • Oxfam urges FG to block leakages used by powerful individuals to evade tax

    Oxfam urges FG to block leakages used by powerful individuals to evade tax

    An international nongovernmental organization, Oxfam in Nigeria, has called on the Federal Government to work more to block all the leakages that powerful individuals explore to avoid tax and collect huge returns.

    Acting Country Director, Oxfam in Nigeria, Constant Tchona, made the call at a media roundtable in Abuja on Tuesday.

    According to him, if the leakages are blocked properly, it would add more revenue to government which could be used to provide infrastructure and other essential services to the poor.  

    He said the fortunes of the rich are often boosted by tax dodging and evasion, big returns to shareholders and executives.

    Tchona said: “While the rich individuals are avoiding taxes, the poor are burdened with multiple taxations which hinder their businesses to grow. Poorly paid work for the many is supporting extreme wealth for the few. Women are the worse hit, and almost all super-rich are men, that is how the richest 1% accumulated 82% of the wealth created last year.

    “We salute Nigeria Government’s efforts to alleviate poverty in programmes such as, the National Home-Grown School Feeding, N-Power for unemployed graduates, Conditional Cash Transfer, and the Government Empowerment and Enterprise Programme.

    “We also commend the government on the review of the National Tax Policy, which if properly implemented will solve the issues related to tax and revenue leakages. We request Government to do more to implement policy that will close the gap between the rich and the poor.

    “We ask government to work more to block all the leakages that the powerful individuals explore to avoid tax and collect huge returns. If done properly, this will give more revenues to government to provide infrastructure and other essential services to the poor.”

    Tchona said inequality remained a major concern for Oxfam as world leaders are meeting in Davos, Switzerland at the World Economic Forum to deliberate on global economic issues.

    He noted that Nigerians were worried by the widening inequality gap in the country.

    Tchona explained that only the federal government can create a more equal society by prioritizing ordinary workers and small-scale food producers instead of the rich and powerful.

    “It is hard to find a political or business leader these days who is not saying they are worried about inequality. Yet, actions not words, are what counts. Only Governments can create a more equal society by prioritizing ordinary workers and small-scale food producers instead of the rich and powerful.

    “We are therefore calling on the government to: to ensure that all workers whether salaried or not receive a living wage that would enable them to have a decent life; eliminate the gender pay gap and protect the rights of female workers; ensure that the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes through a progressive tax regime and government cracks down on tax avoidance to invest more essential services for the poor,” he added.

  • Zimbabwe: Oxfam expresses hope of the return of democracy

    Zimbabwe: Oxfam expresses hope of the return of democracy

    International charity Oxfam has expressed hope that democracy in Zimbabwe would hold,after the country’s military took over.

    Stewart Muchapera, Oxfam’s media and communications adviser for Southern Africa, told Sputnik: “for now I think everything is calm and there is an air of opportunity. The situation remains calm and our hope is that the tenants of democracy should hold,”

    On Tuesday, media reported that armored vehicles had been moving toward the Zimbabwean capital of Harare.

    Media also said that there were explosions in the city. The country’s military explained that it was mobilising against the criminals.

    Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe is reportedly under heavy guard.

    Muchapera, who is on ground in Harare, said, inspite of a large-scale military presence in Harare, residents have continued with their everyday lives.

    “I think in terms of armored vehicles they are only in strategic points and people are going on with their day-to-day lives and there have not been any shots in the streets.

    “Yes, there is a heavy presence of soldiers in the city but everything is normal,” Muchapera said.

    The ongoing situation is unlikely to affect the charity’s activities in the country, the Oxfam communications adviser added.

    “[Our operations will] not necessarily [be affected]. Our operations are going on and we are continuing our investment into the community.

    “We are here to help the needy in the community,” Muchapera said.

    On Nov. 6, Mugabe fired Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who had been considered the president’s potential successor and had the support of the armed forces.

    On Monday, Constantine Chiwenga, the commander of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces, called on the president to end the purge within the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) party, from which Mnangagwa had been expelled.

    NAN

  • More rice coming from Kebbi

    More rice coming from Kebbi

    Last year, there was some rice relief, thanks to Kebbi State growers. Now, there is hope that things will get better. More rice will be produced, according to the state’s smallholder farmers who are championing the production of the staple.

    Last year, through a partnership between Kebbi and Lagos State government, prices of the grain crashed  from N25,000 to N12,000, fulfilling the desires of many Nigerians to have rice in their homes. The Lake Rice was well received.

    The EU, in collaboration with Oxfam, is implementing a Pro Resilience Action (PROACT) Project to further increase the production capacity of farmers in the state.

    Because of the PROACT project, more farmers have embraced rice farming using modern techniques and improved inputs acquired under the project.

    Already, farmers in the state have received farm inputs under the project to drive dry season farming. No fewer than 6,000 bags of fertilisers have been distributed to 1,500 farmers in the state.

    A member of the village savings and loan scheme (VSLA) in Goriyo-Damana community, Birnin Kebbi, Abubakar Hakimi, told our reporter he had already received 30 bags of fertilisers from Oxfam for dry season farming.

    He said he could barely afford two bags of fertilisers before Oxfam began distributing the item to smallholder farmers in the state.

    Hakimi said he expects to harvest 50 bags of rice as against the 35 he harvested last year.

    “We never knew how to plant rice very well and apply fertiliser to give us high yield,” he said through an interpreter with a broad smile on his face,” he said.

    “The current year is more promising for rice farmers in the village’ –they have not witnessed farming with such huge produce and with less efforts too.

    “But their efforts have paid off because-they are learning new and modern farming techniques to cultivate rice and also have access to farm inputs, hitherto not available to them.

     

  • Agric: WANEP, Oxfam organise workshop for stakeholders

    Agric: WANEP, Oxfam organise workshop for stakeholders

    The West Africa Network For Peace Building (WANEP) in collaboration with (OXFAM) has organised a one-day sensitization workshop for key stakeholders in the Agricultural sector in Kebbi state.

    In his opening remarks while declaring the workshop open the Permanent Secretary kebbi state ministry of Agriculture Alhaji Muhammed Lawal Shau said Agriculture is the only way and avenue in the world that can sustain human resource adding that if Nigerian government depends on crude oil alone it may not be able to pay workers salaries across the country.

    He, however, commended the kebbi state government in the area of Agriculture  particularly the mass production of Rice through the Anchor Borrowers scheme and the Lagos kebbi  MOU on Lake Rice, he said if other state governors can emulate kebbi state  Nigerian will survive and creates more jobs for the youths.

    He then call on government at all level to show sincerity to support small scale farmers, adding that these farmers face numerous challenges yet they produce most of what we eat in Nigeria. Alhaji Shau lamented that farmers do not get the much needed access to land, credit, input and extension support.

    The Permanent Secretary noted that climate change is making the matters worse this in turn leads to crop failure he, therefor, urged the government to walk the talk on Agriculture by increasing the quantity and quality of allocation to agriculture as the 2018 budget is been prepared.

    Meanwhile the kebbi state coordinator OXFAM MR Olumide OJO said the meeting is to sensitise zed stakeholders and focus on how to increased investment into Agric and climate change adaptation for small scale farming, he also  said the workshop will also focus on how to increase the participation and accessibility of women in to agricultural produce in kebbi state.

  • Sound Sultan Launches Creative Mind Competition

    Sound Sultan Launches Creative Mind Competition

    Oxfam in Nigeria Food Security Ambassador and ace musician Sound Sultan has launched a #United4Food campaign in collaboration with The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre). The project is part of a global food security campaign by Oxfam, and Voices for Food Security (VFS) which is the main collaborating network in Nigeria.

    According to the organisers of the competition, it is time for young Nigerians to get involved in agricultural issues and shape the narratives and direction of these conversations.

    Mr Sulaimon Arigbabu, Executive Secretary of HEDA said “This competition is not for everyone. It’s for those who have the capability to see how much farmers contribute to our society and economy at large and feel concerned about the numerous challenges confronting the average small scale farmers in Nigeria. It’s for youths who completely disregard the boxes of conformity and are not afraid to express themselves. Matter of fact, it is for youth who love food enough to care about those who grow the foods.

    There are  3 themes that applicants (students across tertiary institutions in Nigeria) can enter for. Entries are required to speak to at least one of these:

    a. Put your mouth where your Food is: SpeakUp for Farmers

    Ever wondered what would happen if farmers went on an indefinite strike? No jokes. It could happen! The #Beneueflooding wreaked so much havoc on so many farms and so did other flooding across the Country! Farmers need help. But importantly, they need you to #SpeakUp for them. So? turn on your creative swag and speak for them.

    b. Right2Food na Right2LIFE: a Hungry Man na Angry Man

    Where hunger begins, rationality ends!!! So, put on your ogbonge thinking ‘helmet’ and help draw attention to our call that NASS and the Presidency and all States Legislatures and Governors urgently make FOOD a RIGHT in Nigeria.

    c. More Money to Farmers, More FOOD on the TABLE. Lets Walk the Talk.

    The most important restructuring we need in Nigeria is Stomach Restructuring through correct agriculture. Small scale farmers need more money and support to continue to feed us and help grow this economy. But that’s not going to happen by magic is it?  Someone got to shine the light for our government to see the needful. Oya, enter the race, wear your genius lens and show us some creativity.

    You can get more insights into the themes and application processes here

    Your Entries should;

    i. creatively represent atleast one of 3 themes provided

    ii. upload your entries on social media using our #united4Food

    iii. Submit entries on competition platform: u4f.hedang.org (Hint: virality of the creatives is a plus)

    Prizes to be won:

    Winner(s) becomes #United4Food Ambassador, gets a scholarship worth N250, 000 and a laptop.

    1st Runner up gets a scholarship worth N150, 000 and a tablet.

    2nd Runner up gets a scholarship worth N100, 000 and a Smart phone.

    All applications must be submitted on u4f.hedang.org by October 1st.