The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Oxfam

  • Oxfam tasks youths on change agenda

    The Deputy Country Director, Oxfam, Constant Tchona, has challenged youths in the nation to become committed to acting as change agents.

    He spoke yesterday at the 18th anniversary of the International Youth Day in Lagos.

    Tchona said the task of changing things in Nigeria rests solely on the shoulders of youths, urging them to be prepared to move the nation to the next level.

    According to him:  ”Oxfam sees you today as powerful change agents. You are powerful agents that can change things for the better.

    “As change agents, what can you do to promote peace across Nigeria, North, South, West and East? We all agree that peace is a precondition for everything.

    ”As change agents, what can you do to promote social inclusion and fight income and social inequalities?

    “As change agents, what can you do to promote happy and healthy relationships between females and males and see both of them as equal before God as all men and women are created equal?”

    He restated the commitment of Oxfam Nigeria to fighting all forms of injustice, inequality and exclusion.

    Tchona revealed Oxfam is working to support about 47 percent of youths between 18-35 years from both the rural and urban areas.

    Popular actress and one of the panelists, Bimbo Akintola, urged youths to believe in themselves to make the job of changing the nation better.

    She said youths should learn not to stop trying and wax stronger until success is attained.

    The founder, BudgIT, Seun Onigbinde, admonished youths to continuously engage in reading activities and jealously guide their character in all ramifications.

     

  • I met only N1,500 in LG account, says Chairman

    I met only N1,500 in LG account, says Chairman

    The Chairman, Mubi North Local Government in Adamawa, Alhaji Musa Bello, said on Monday that he met only N1,500 in the account of the local council when he assumed office.

    Bello told newsmen in Mubi that he also inherited a liability of over N200 million.

    “I met only N1,500 in the council’s account and a liability of over N200 million, while the Internally Generated Revenue of the council, then, was N150,000 weekly,’’ the chairman said.

    According to him, he had to use his experience as a former councillor in the local government to mobilise the business community to pay appropriate taxes, to shore up the council’s internal revenue.

    Bello noted that at the time, the council had faced drastic revenue shortfall which made it difficult to even pay salaries.

    “We set up a committee and were able to boost the local revenue, which we use in executing a lot of projects within the short period we assumed office,” he said.

    According to him, the local council had drilled 13 boreholes and rehabilitated 104 others using internally generated revenue.

    He listed some of the projects executed by his administration to include evacuation of drainage to avert flooding and construction of six feeder roads.

    Bello said that activities were picking up after the insurgency which affected social and economic activities in the local government.

    He said that residents were waiting for government to carry out rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes, as pledged by the Presidential Committee on North East.

    Bello commended the state government for the construction and rehabilitation of 14 roads in Mubi town.

    “I also want to commend the contributions of Non-Governmental Organisations, National Emergency Management Agency, Victims Support Fund, North East Regional Initiative, UNICEF, Red Cross, Rescue, Oxfam and others.

    “I commend foreign countries that have been assisting our people in various areas including health, education, water supply and sanitation,’’ he said.

    The chairman also lauded the contributions of the military and other security agencies which facilitated the return of peace to the area.

    “The council is always in touch with the military and other security agencies to ensure the sustenance of peace, ’’ Bello said.

  • Oxfam, BOI to disburse N580m to farmers

    Oxfam Nigeria has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bank of Industry to disburse N580 million to farmers in three states.

    The funds would be disbursed under Oxfam’s Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLA) scheme to farmers in Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau state.

    Head of Programs, Oxfam, Nigeria, Constant Tchona, said this in a statement issued by the organization on Thursday in Abuja.

    “I’m happy to inform you that as a result of your reports on Oxfam’s Village Saving and Loan Associations scheme, the Bank of Industry approached Oxfam some time ago on how to support the scheme financially.

    “A MoU has now been signed with BOI to provide N580 Million to the farmers in Plateau, Benue and Nassarawa states under the GEEP Scheme,” the statement said.

    Tchona said Oxfam is working with other partners to implement the scheme 25 local governments in five states of Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kebbi and Adamawa.

    He said more than 1000 groups have been formed comprising of more than 22,925 and steadily growing.

    “The project aims to reach at least 160,000 individuals (6500 groups) direct beneficiaries and 1,600,000 indirect beneficiaries by 2020.

    “As a result of the savings they have been able to make, the farmers (who constitute the VSLA members) are now able to access improved farming inputs directly from the suppliers. Cumulatively, the associations have a total equity of about N201 million as of today and this figure is increasing daily,” he added.

    The VS&LAs are self-selected 15 to 25 individuals who meet regularly (usually weekly or fortnightly) to save and, if desired, borrow for short periods, paying monthly interest at a rate set by the group. After approximately 12 months, all savings and earnings are distributed back to group members.

  • Oxfam, BoI partner to reach farmers in three states

    An international non-governmental organisation, Oxfam, has partnered with the Bank of Industry to reach farmers with loans in Plateau, Nasarawa and Benue state under the Village Savings and Loan Scheme (VSLA).

    Head of Program, Oxfam, Constant Tchona, said this at a meeting with representatives of the bank through the Government Enterprise Empowerment Program (GEEP) in Abuja.

    He said farmers have saved $600 million through the VSLA scheme.

    He added that the target is to build a larger movement of farmers across the country.

    According to him, the bank has accepted to follow the VSLA processes to pilot the scheme in the three states.

    He said: “For the past 30 months we have been forming our farmers into groups, proving them various capacity building. Today they can boast of so many assets accumulated.

    “The last time we checked on our database, together, our farmers have accumulated more than half a million dollars. It’s a little bit over $600 dollars in total assets accumulated.

    “The whole idea is to be able to connect theses farmers and cooperatives to government financial and social services. We are targeting at the regional level about 15 million beneficiaries. It is really huge. It is a big ambition and if we are able to do that that will be great.”

    He added that the aim of the scheme is to reach 80, 000 farmers in five states by 2018.

    A member of the GEEP team, Aisha Abdullahi, said the target of the bank is to reach 762 groups under the VSLA scheme pilot scheme.

    She said: “The target is to reach 762 groups in Plateau, Nasarawa and Benue state, after what we will scale up with this pilot phase. GEEP has identified Oxfam’s VSLA as one of the most structured VSLAs around the country.

    “Our intention is to leverage on their structure to reach people in rural areas, bring them into the formal financial system and expand their capacity. As it is today, some of them are unable to access loans up to the amount we are proposing to Oxfam.”

  • Oxfam, BOI partner to reach farmers in three states

    Oxfam, BOI partner to reach farmers in three states

    An international non-governmental organization, Oxfam, has partnered with the Bank of Industry to reach farmers with loans in Plateau, Nasarawa and Benue state under the Village Savings and Loan Scheme (VSLA).

    Head of Program, Oxfam, Constant Tchona, said this at a meeting with representatives of the bank through the Government Enterprise Empowerment Program (GEEP) in Abuja.

    He said farmers have saved $600 million through the VSLA scheme.

    He added that the target is to build a larger movement of farmers across the country.

    According to him, the bank has accepted to follow the VSLA processes to pilot the scheme in the three states.

    He said: “For the past 30 months we have been forming our farmers into groups, proving them various capacity building. Today they can boast of so many assets accumulated.

    “The last time we checked on our database, together, our farmers have accumulated more than half a million dollars. It’s a little bit over $600 dollars in total assets accumulated.

    “The whole idea is to be able to connect theses farmers and cooperatives to government financial and social services. We are targeting at the regional level about 15 million beneficiaries. It is really huge. It is a big ambition and if we are able to do that that will be great.”

    He added that the aim of the scheme is to reach 80, 000 farmers in five states by 2018.

    A member of the GEEP team, Aisha Abdullahi, said the target of the bank is to reach 762 groups under the VSLA scheme pilot scheme.

    She said: “The target is to reach 762 groups in Plateau, Nasarawa and Benue state, after what we will scale up with this pilot phase. GEEP has identified Oxfam’s VSLA as one of the most structured VSLAs around the country.

    “Our intention is to leverage on their structure to reach people in rural areas, bring them into the formal financial system and expand their capacity. As it is today, some of them are unable to access loans up to the amount we are proposing to Oxfam.”

  • Oxfam, EU distribute 10,800 bags of fertiliser to 1,500 farmers in Kebbi, Adamawa

    An international agency, Oxfam in Nigeria with the support of the European Union has distributed dry season farming inputs to farmers in Kebbi and Adamawa States in its bid to improve livelihoods of small holder farmers.

    The organisation distributed 10, 800 bags of fertilisers to 1,500 farmers in the two states.

    It also distributed 800 surface irrigation water pumps to 62 farmers in the states.

    Oxfam Livelihood and Private Sector Manager, William Mafwalal, said the distribution was part of the Pro Resilience Action (PROACT) Project, an EU Support to Food Security and Resilience in Northern Nigeria.

    “Six thousand bags of fertiliser were distributed to 1,500 farmers, as 400 surface irrigation water pumps were also handed over to over 62 farmers groups in Jega and Birnin Kebbi Local Governments of Kebbi States while 4,800 bags of fertilizer and over 400 water pumps were distributed to dry season farmers in Fufure and Guyuk Local Governments of Adamawa State for the 2017 dry season farming activities.

    “In the first phase of support, a total 625 farmers are benefiting from the dry season farming inputs, out of which 350 are women in Adamawa. In Kebbi, of the 1,500 beneficiaries, 590 are women.

    Mafwalal said Oxfam through the project was supporting the state governments in its efforts towards improving agricultural productivity, enhancing food security and reducing poverty, especially among small holder farmers in rural communities.

    Adamawa State Deputy Gvernor, Martins Babale, warned farmers not to sell farm inputs provided to them by the government and development organisations, but to improve their lives.

    He said the support to farmers in the state was a demonstration of commitment in ensuring food security in the state.

    In his remarks, Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Kebbi State, Alhaji Mohammed Dandiga, called on the beneficiaries to use the farm inputs to improve their productivity.

    Programme Manager, Kebbi State Agriculture and Rural Development Authority (KARDA), Mallam Sanusi Illo, on his part, said the distribution of the inputs to the farmers was timely and strategic.

  • Oxfam makes case for women empowerment

    An international non-governmental organization, Oxfam in Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to implement programmes that would touch the lives of women in the country.

    The organization also called on government to strengthen the economic leadership capacity of women by increasing their access to and ownership of productive assets such as land and rural finance.

    Associate Country Director, Oxfam Nigeria, Evelyn Mere, who said this in Abuja, said the organization in collaborations with its partners, had been implementing several projects in Nigeria that had promoted bold advances in women economic development for rural women.

    “Oxfam in Nigeria has been implementing several projects with our local partners that have promoted bold advances in women economic development for our rural women especially. Such projects include the GROW campaign, Female Food Hero, Gender and Equal opportunity law etc that are aimed at mobilizing women and building their leadership capacity to be able to engage in local governance and make demands that favour them.

     

    “Strengthening their economic leadership capacity by increasing their access to and ownership of productive assets such as land and rural finance, e.g village savings and loans association-VSLA.

     

    “Empowering them to challenge negative cultural and religious practices that promote violence against women and girls to enable them live with dignity and respect.

     

    “This year, the Nigerian government has declared a theme which focuses on women in changing world of work, targeting parity in gender engagement by 2030. Oxfam is celebrating with Nigerian women by showcasing the creative and bold initiatives the rural women we work with are pursuing to improve their livelihoods.

     

    “We are providing opportunity to amplify the voices of rural women on land rights, increased public finance for agriculture and climate change, engage decision makers and other relevant stakeholders to build a strong base for support towards advocating for favourable policies that will enhance women’s rights.

    “Raising public awareness on the bold initiatives women are making in rural communities to promote food security to a point where they are making legitimate demands on position holders and duty bearers for their economic advancement,” Mere said.

     

  • ActionAid, Oxfam make case for smallholder farmers

    International agencies, ActionAid Nigeria and Oxfam in Nigeria, have called on government to provide access to land, credit and crop insurance for smallholders’ female farmers.

    The agencies said that 60 per cent of female farmers in Nigeria lacked access to farm credit, inputs, and crop insurance.

    The Deputy Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Ifeoma Charles-Monwuba, during the celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day Celebration and launching of the Kilimanjaro Initiative in Abuja on Thursday, added that women were the most voiceless in influencing agricultural and land policies despite their roles in the agriculture sector.

    She added that around 55 per cent of female-headed households were landless, adding that 29 per cent of them own less than one hectare of land.

    “Women in Nigeria constitute 60 to 80 per cent of the agricultural labour force in the country. However, their access to agricultural related services of credit, inputs, training and advice, technology, crop insurance, etc is much lower than men’s.

    “The current government is also planning a land reform exercise and we all need to engage with this process in collaboration with other partners. This will include articulating a position paper that captures the interest of the smallholder women farmers for presentation to the land reform process and other duty bearers in Nigeria,” she said.

    The Head of Programme, Oxfam in Nigeria, Mr. Constant Tchona also said that despite the contributions of female farmers to agriculture, only 15 per cent owed farmlands.

    Represented by Livelihoods and Private Sector Manager, Dr. William Mafwalal, Tchona, called on government to make women leaders in the transition to sustainable agricultural and food systems.

    He added that the agency would continue to engage the Federal Government and private sector to provide secure access to land for small holder farmers especially for women.

    “There is no argument against the fact that rural women are a powerful drive for agricultural development. However, their potential is still hampered by disparities between men and women farmers.

    “They are the first victims of land and related natural resources grabbing. All these and more together threaten the capacity of communities to meet the challenges of sustainable agricultural and food systems today and tomorrow.

    “Research has shown that if women farmers had the same factors of production and opportunities as their male counterparts in the world, they would be able to increase their crop yields by 20 per cent to 30 per cent, thus helping to prevent millions of people from starving.

    “Women do not only play major roles in cash crops, staple-food production, processing or marketing, but as holders of local and traditional knowledge in farm seed conservation and natural resources management,” he said.

     

  • Guinness partners Oxfam, others on water/sanitation projects

    Guinness Nigeria Plc, a subsidiary of Diageo, is partnering WaterAid, Oxfam and Concern Universal on new Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programmes this year. The aim is to advance rural sanitation and hygiene via access to safe water.

    The partners affirmed their commitment to building relationships that stretched beyond the commercial bottom line to the engagement of communities to make positive impact on their lives.

    At an event in Lagos to seal the agreement, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr Peter Ndegwa said: “At Guinness Nigeria Plc, we have a real commitment to providing safe water to Nigerian communities and have provided over 25 potable water facilities to communities across Nigeria under our Water of Life programme.  The partnerships we are speaking of today are testaments to that commitment. The NGOs we are working with have a proven track record for delivering highly impactful water, sanitation and hygiene programmes in Nigeria, and other countries of the world.

    “Their work has saved millions of lives, and created a brighter future for many. We are, therefore, confident that their expertise will help us improve the viability of our water and sanitation interventions, as well as the impact on beneficiaries.  Furthermore, it is our hope that our partnership with these NGOs inspires other stakeholders to join in our mission to help more Nigerians have access to clean water and improved hygiene.”

    Under terms of the partnership, Guinness Nigeria will provide funding that will enable the three non-governmental organisations (NGOs) deliver WASH programmes in three states across the country. The Guinness-Concern Universal will deliver the WASH programme in Cross River State; while the Guinness-OXFAM collaboration will apply in Benue State, and the Guinness-WaterAIDprogramme in Bauchi State.

    Through these partnerships, Guinness Nigeria will help to provide water to over 35,800 Nigerians.Each of these programmescomprise water facilities (bore holes and other ancillary facilities, while toilets will also be constructed for the WaterAid and Oxfam programmes).

    Concern Universal’s Country Director, Tim Connell, said the second Phase II of the ‘Safe Water and Improved Sanitation and Hygiene’ (SWISH) programme will provide year-round access to safe drinking water for 15 rural communities in three local government areas in Cross River State,while continuing to promote better sanitation and hygiene behaviour.

    He emphasised that supplying water to open defecation free (ODF) communities will have a direct positive impact on their health status. “As a result, SWISH II will seek to close the gap for Nigeria in fulfilling its national targets and to attaining the new sustainable global goals,” he stated.

  • ‘Wealth of richest 1% ‘equal to rest of the world’

    ‘Wealth of richest 1% ‘equal to rest of the world’

    The richest one per cent now has as much wealth as the rest of the world combined, according to Oxfam.

    It used data from Credit Suisse from October for the report, which urged leaders meeting in Davos this week to take action on inequality.

    Oxfam also calculated that the richest 62 people in the world had as much wealth as the poorest half of the global population, the BBC reports.

    It criticised the work of lobbyists and the amount of money kept in tax havens.

    Oxfam predicted that the one per cent would overtake the rest of the world this time last year.

    It takes cash and assets worth $68,800 (£48,300) to get into the top 10 per cent, and $760,000 (£533,000) to be in the one percent. That means that if you own an average house in London without a mortgage, you are probably in the one per cent.

    The figures carry various caveats, for example, information about the wealth of the super-rich is hard to come by, which Credit Suisse said means its estimates of the proportion of wealth held by the 10 per cent and the one per cent is “likely to err on the low side.”

    As a global report, the figures also necessarily include some estimates of levels of wealth in countries from which accurate statistics are not available.

    Oxfam said that the 62 richest people having as much wealth as the poorest 50 per cent of the population is a remarkable concentration of wealth, given that it would have taken 388 individuals to have the same wealth as the bottom 50 per cent in 2010.

    “Instead of an economy that works for the prosperity of all, for future generations, and for the planet, we have instead created an economy for the one per cent,” Oxfam said.