The Nation Newspaper

Tag: poverty

  • Migration: Fleeing from hunger to poverty

    SIR: The increasing surge of migrants who cross the Mediterranean Sea from Africa and other parts of the world, mainly into Europe, has become a critical issue in not just countries where these migrants emerge, but a global threat that requires urgent global attention. Over the years, hundreds of thousands of migrants have fled their countries seeking asylum as refugees in European countries. About 90% of migrants are usually from countries such as Syria, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Mexico, Iran where there are high security risks, insurgency, humanitarian crisis, war, poverty, human rights abuses, among others.

    Most Nigerians who brave the stormy seas and unfriendly deserts have lost hope in an economic system that is characterized by poor governance, poor income, unemployment, insecurity, corruption, humanitarian crisis, increasing poverty, which has led to a high surge of migration.

    Despite the risk involved, there is high patronage of human traffickers (who charge unimaginable amounts) who lure or assist migrants across borders, promising jobs, education and a better living condition. Many of them, mostly women and children are sold into prostitution, raped, child labor, child marriage and other abuses. Many victims of human trafficking never live to tell their story. They are exposed to harsh terrain, terrible inhuman conditions and denied access to proper life and their fundamental Human Rights.

    The United Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs, has stated that since the past six years, a emigrants and migrants, in and out of Nigeria, has shown that a minimum difference of -60,000 leave the shores of the country yearly. Many of these migrants are sold into prostitution, child labor, and slavery to countries like Libya, Spain, and Italy. In 2016 alone, not less than 162 Nigerians were repatriated in Libya, 41 from USA, and 40 from the UK etc. Data from the EU indicate that an average of 83 Nigerians crossed illegally from Nigeria to Europe, daily, while 22,500 illegally crossed via the Mediterranean in the first nine months of 2016.

    One can safely justify that in Nigeria, there is correlation between poverty, corruption, war and migration on the other hand. To reduce the increasing surge of emigrants out of Nigeria, government must tackle the problems of poverty, unemployment, hunger, corruption, that has threatened the peoples’ rights to existence.

    Government’ determination to guarantee national security, workable policies, at all levels for its citizens will bring about sustainable economic growth and other forms of development. Government should support communities across the country, mostly in areas where irregular migration is rampant, by improving economic opportunities and empowerment initiatives to the youths. We call on all countries to address issues of humanitarian crisis, strengthen the resilience of host communities, consider the vulnerability of migrants, refugees and internally displaced persons, and implement policies that will eradicate human trafficking.

     

    • Charles Iyare,

    ANEEJ, Benin City.

  • ‘Why many Nigerians are living in poverty’

    ‘Why many Nigerians are living in poverty’

    •Foundation empowers 20,800

    Why are many Nigerians living in poverty? They are poor because they live above their means, says Alhaji Mumini Alao, the Group Managing Director of Complete Communication Limited, publishers of Complete Sport.

    He spoke yesterday at the 12th Zakat Distribution Ceremony organised by Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation (ZSF) at the Lagos State Secretariat Mosque Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja.

    At the event, 700 Lagosians went home with empowerment items and cheques. These include tricycles, motorcycles, grinding and sewing machines and refrigerators.

    Alao described poverty as a disease, which must be cured in order to have a sane society.

    According to him, poverty can lead a person to become an unbeliever.

    “If you are very poor and you pray every day and you don’t get out of poverty. You will start questioning the existence of God. But you have to check yourself, what you are getting, how are you managing it? Are you living beyond your means? A lot of our people that claim to be poor, if you check their lifestyle, many of them live above their means. Be contented with what you have and things will improve,” he said.

    He urged the Zakat beneficiaries to make effective use of the fund, adding “Don’t see this fund as a bonus or fall-out or an opportunity to finance projects other than what the fund was meant for. Don’t spend it unwisely. Those who are paying this Zakat take proper care of their investment and that’s why they are able to pay Zakat, hence you should be prudent in spending the fund.

    “The idea is for you all to graduate from the level of recipients to payers of Zakat because giving is absolutely better that taking.”

    ZSF Executive Director Prince Sulayman Olagunju, said no fewer than 20,800 individuals were beneficiaries of the empowerment fund across the country.

    Lagos beneficiaries, Olagunju said, got N68, 771,218, amounting to 77 per cent of the entire N102,251,490 disbursed.

    He noted that the foundation was exerting more energy in the areas of economic empowerment and medical support.

    According to him, a total amount of  N16,713,372 was spent to take care of the medical needs of various applicants, adding that N7,350,000 was disbursed to 20 finalists of the foundation’s youth empowerment scheme tagged “Business Plan Competition.”

    “We have been able to engage many unemployed youth by providing them with tools and cash to set up their businesses while we have equally restored hope to those who have various illnesses,” he said.

    He, however, expressed delight that some beneficiaries of last year’s disbursement have started paying their own Zakat to the foundation.

    “For example, five people among those who collected Zakat last year have started paying their own Zakat and we have some of them who are paying Sadaqat even though it might be small, we just try to continue encouraging them and supporting them.”

    Guest speaker, Imam Abdullah Shuaib also advised the beneficiaries to be sincere with the fund and items received.

    He urged Muslims to pay their Zakat to the right channel, urging Zakat organisations to explore all avenues at ensuring the disbursement of the fund to people who deserve it.

    “Be wary of misapplication of the resources you receiving today.  Don’t’ start acquiring liabilities. Acquiring only assets that will make you grow in your business in order to make yourselves self-reliant,” he said.

  • How the church can fight poverty, by clerics

    How the church can fight poverty, by clerics

    The church must be at the vanguard of poverty alleviation in all the nooks and crannies of the nation through several humanitarian initiatives.

    This was the consensus at the public presentation of Daily Contact With God (DCWG), a devotional by the Prelate and Head of Motailatu Cherubim and Seraphim Church Worldwide (MCCSW), His Eminence Dr Israel Akinadewo, last week in Lagos.

    Speakers after speakers said the church has the responsibility of responding to the rising poverty in the nation.

    The keynote presenter, Superior Apostle Sunday Korode, pointed out that the ministry of Christ was characterised by poverty alleviation schemes.

    He said churches must fall in line and stop seeing members as figures or crowd.

    According to him: “Churches shouldn’t just see the crowd or population but detached individuals with physical, emotional and spiritual needs.

    “We must feel as Jesus felt so that we can do as Jesus did. The church has to be at the vanguard of neglected in the society.”

    He said since Christ went about doing good, the church cannot afford to do anything less.

    “To qualify as the church of Christ, we must be doing good. We cannot continue to send people back home on empty stomachs.”

    Akinadewo, who is also Secretary of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Lagos Chapter, said the body of Christ must respond to rising poverty within their communities.

    “There is hopelessness and want everywhere. People come to church not knowing where their next meals will come from.

    “We can no longer pretend we are just after spiritual needs. We must meet physical needs as well.”

    He said proceeds from the devotional will be handed over to Baba Aladura Motailatu Akinadewo Trust Fund in honour of by the late founder of the church.

    Chairman Lagos CAN, Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, called on churches to do as much as they can to rescue people from poverty.

    “I don’t agree with those who say church is not charity. If you are not for-profit, then you are a charity.

    “As a charitable organisation, we must rescue the poor and give scholarship.

    “Whatever we can do to help people, we must do just as Christ told us.”

  • Pupils told to trump poverty

    Poverty is no excuse for failure in life.  This was one of the important lessons pupils of five public secondary schools in Lagos State learnt during the 2016 Beyond the School programme sponsored by the Nigerian Breweries/Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund and held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The pupils, drawn from Oregun Senior Secondary School, Oregun; Vetland Senior Secondary School, Agege; Government Senior Secondary School, Ikoyi; Baptist Senior High School, Obanikoro and Eric Moore Senior High School, Surulere, heard from Mrs Clementine Vervelde, the brain behind the programme, and others such as Ayeni Adekunle, the CEO of Black House Media; Abisoye Ajia, a Wealth Adviser with Stanbic IBTC; and Mrs Ini Onuk, CEO, ThistlePraxis Consulting Limited, about how to develop themselves beyond the circumstances they find themselves in school or at home.

    They got tips on how to choose careers, defend their choices before their parents, work towards achieving their goals, and manage their finances. They also got opportunity to ask questions.

    To address the challenges of poverty, Mrs Vervelde advised the teenagers to take part-time jobs, study for scholarships, and make creative use of their talents.

    “The world is getting smaller.  The sky is your limit.  This country should not limit you. Poverty is not an excuse to get to where you want.  You can do extra jobs, be creative, get scholarships by studying hard,” she said.

    With their personal stories,  Adekunle and Mrs Onuk proved to the pupils that poverty could not stand in their way.  They shared how they overcame poor economic background to become successful entrepreneurs early in life.

    Adekunle said he was employing 19 people by the time he got into the university; while Mrs Onuk said at 16, she had started supporting her family of six siblings and two parents.  They counselled the pupils to be innovative.

    “What made me escape poverty, what gave me a career, was not what I studied in the classroom but what I did in my free time. Up till now I have never had to show anybody my certificate to get a job.  The most important time of your life is now. Don’t think Nigeria can limit you. Don’t look at how much your parents have; just close your eyes and dream big,” he said.

    On her part, Mrs Onuk, the daughter of a roadside watch repairer, said: “Don’t think your parents have to do everything.  I started putting food on the table at 16.  I paid my way through the University of Calabar.  Nothing is impossible,” she said.

    To make the right career choices, Mrs Vervelde advised the pupils to develop skills and knowledge in their areas of interest and also read widely.

    “Read newspapers. Watching TV is an easy way out.  But when you read, you improve your English, knowledge of what is happening, awareness… you don’t know where you will end up,” she said.

    Nigerian Breweries Corporate Affairs Adviser, Mr. Kufre Ekanem, counselled the pupils to face their studies despite the economic challenges.

    The event featured a Monopoly competition which was won by Godwin Daniel of Eric Moore Senior High School.  He was rewarded with an educational fund of N500, 000 and a cash prize of N100, 000. Pelumi Fabiyi of Oregun Senior Secondary School got N250, 000 as educational grant and N50, 000 as cash prize for coming second; while Uche David of Oregun Senior Secondary School got N50, 000 Stock Mutual Fund and N10,000 cash for coming third.

    The fourth and fifth placed winners got N50,000 and N20,000 each. All pupils present went home with a Lagos edition Monopoly game.

     

  • I will improve our poverty- stricken economy, says Gambia’s President elect

    I will improve our poverty- stricken economy, says Gambia’s President elect

    Gambian President-elect Adama Barrow on Saturday vowed to work for national unity and economic growth after power was peacefully transferred in the small West African nation for the first time in its history.

    The real estate mogul pledged to introduce an independent judiciary, promote media freedom, establish a two-term limit for the presidency and make the civil service transparent and accountable.

    He said that political prisoners would be freed and a truth and reconciliation process to “amend past injustices” launched.

    “The position of president is not an ordinary one.

    “I am seeking it to make a difference and give Gambia a new start so that the potential of the country and its citizens would be developed to the fullest,’’ Barrow, 51, said in a statement.

    Barrow said that he would form a government that represents all seven coalition parties that supported him during his candidacy.

    “The government will improve the poverty-stricken nation’s economy with a focus on agriculture, technology, energy and mining,’’ Barrow said.

    Report says Gambia, one of Africa’s poorest nations, currently heavily relies on peanut exports.

    Incumbent Yahya Jammeh, who had ruled the Islamic Republic of 1.9 million people for 22 years with an iron fist, conceded defeat, in an address to the nation on Friday.

    The former army colonel, who took power in a coup in 1994, vowed a peaceful transfer of power in January 2017.

    Barrow won 28 of 53 constituencies or 263,515 votes in Thursday’s polls, followed by Jammeh with 20 constituencies or 212,009 votes. (dpa/NAN)

  • Foundation puts $5m prize to tackle poverty, others

    A global environmental group, Global Challenges Foundation, has put $5 million prize on the table to identify new models of global cooperation capable of handling the most serious threats to humanity including climate change, weapons of mass destruction and extreme poverty.

    The Global Challenges Prize 2017: A New Shape was launched by the Stockholm-based Global Challenges Foundation, set up in 2012 with the aim of deepening understanding of global risks and galvanising more effective responses to them.

    Its founder, Laszlo Szombatfalvysaid the competition is based on the premise that the current system of global governance that has evolved since World War II is no longer equipped to deal with 21st century risks that transcend national borders and can affect populations anywhere in the world.

    “Today’s risks are so dangerous and so global in their nature they’ve outrun the international system’s ability to deal with them. We’re trying to solve today’s problems with yesterday’s tools. We believe a new shape of collaboration is needed to address the most critical challenges in our globalised world,” Szombatfalvy, an investor, author and philanthropist who built his career in Sweden through the successful analysis of financial risk said.

    The prize will ask entrants to design frameworks for international decision-making equipped to address today’s global challenges with a focus on climate change, major environmental damage, violent conflict (including nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction) and extreme poverty.  Entrants are also asked to consider the implications of a rising world population, forecast by the United Nations to reach 11billion by 2100. The prize is open to anyone – individuals, groups and organisations – anywhere in the world.

    “We believe that the human ingenuity that has allowed us to eradicate diseases, bring down poverty levels and stabilise the hole in the ozone layer, can, if properly channeled, play a role in averting the greatest risks to our survival. If we can tap this creativity and apply it to designing a better decision-making system for the world community, then we will have a chance of preserving our world for future generations,” he added.

    The Global Challenges Foundation is publicising its competition worldwide, partnering with respected institutions on multiple continents in an effort to reach the brightest minds and most visionary thinkers whether they come from academia, policy-making, civil society, business, technology or law. This outreach effort includes collaborating closely with experts and practitioners currently working within existing global governance institutions such as the United Nations.

  • Nigeria gets $92.73m from U.S. to fight poverty

    Nigeria gets $92.73m from U.S. to fight poverty

    The United States (U.S.) through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has announced $92.73 million (about N29.2billion) in additional funding to support the five-year $2.3 billion agreement it signed with the Federal Government last year.

    This brings the total development assistance to help reduce extreme poverty in the country to $474.74 million. It will also stimulate inclusive economic growth, promote a healthier, more-educated population, and strengthen good governance, according to a statement by the agency yesterday.

    “Today we are pleased to contribute additional funding in support of the agreement signed with the Nigerian government in 2015,” USAID, Mission Director Michael Harvey said, adding that “With theleadership, we know this funding will have a significant impact on the wellbeing of Nigerians.”

    In an effort to align Nigeria’s development plans with sector-specific strategies, USAID collaborated with the  Ministry of  Budget and National Planning; Ministries of Health, Agriculture, Power, and Education; and state-level government counterparts to structure the agreement, which is in place till 2020.

    In addition to the developmental funding, the US provides humanitarian assistance to people affected by the ongoing conflict and severe food insecurity in the country and throughout the Lake Chad Basin.

    Since fiscal year 2015, the US has provided more than $366 million in humanitarian assistance and continues to be the single largest bilateral humanitarian donor to the region.

  • ‘156m employed youths living in extreme poverty’

    The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has said an estimated 156 million employed youths in emerging and developing countries are living in extreme poverty.

     It also said about 70 million people, who lost their job due to global recession, are yet to be employed.

    ILO’s Director-General Guy Ryder, in a statement to the International Monetary and Financial Committee and the World Bank Development Committee meeting in Washington, said the potential of the generation to achieve the 2030 sustainable development goal is wasted.

    Ryder said against the backdrop of slow growth, the outlook for labour markets remains troubled and likely to worsen, adding: “Eight years on, the world economy has not fully recovered from the global financial crisis, and there is a high risk that it will remain stuck in a slow growth trap unless urgent coordinated action is taken to boost growth and make it more inclusive.”

    He said there are over 70 million women and men out of jobs, who would have had work if pre-crisis growth had resumed. With the latest downward revisions in growth prospects the jobs gap could rise to over 80 million by 2020.

    “Global real wage growth dropped sharply during the crisis, recovered in 2010 but has since decelerated. If China, where wage growth was faster than elsewhere is not included, wage growth fell to below the one per cent per annum recorded in the crisis years.

    “Increasing decent work opportunities and improving wages are key to breaking out of the slow growth trap and rekindling a virtuous circle of increased investment, rising productivity and sustainable enterprise and wage and consumption growth,” Ryder said.

    The ILO boss maintained that the ILO and the World Bank’s shared objective is to increase the number of countries that can provide universal social protection, supporting countries to design and implement universal and sustainable social protection systems.

    He said: “Universal social protection refers to the integrated set of policies designed to ensure income security and support to all people across the life cycle – paying particular attention to the poor and the vulnerable,” Ryder said.

    He noted the ILO/IFC Better Work programme in eight developing nations targeted on garment supply chains, which he said, is reducing the prevalence of abusive workplace practices, increasing productivity and pay as well as reducing excessive working hours, and creating positive effects outside the factory for workers.

    Ryder argued that considerable shifts in employment driven by openness to international trade and investment “call for strengthened labour market institutions” to ease worker mobility, increase training, promote sustainable wage setting, ensure adequate social protection, improve working conditions and enhance respect for international labour standards.

    “The widely ratified ILO conventions on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work are key benchmarks for international investment and trade governance mechanisms. Their near-universal acceptance, which demonstrates the value of ILO membership, has allowed them to become the globally accepted baseline for fair treatment in the workplace and a starting point for addressing labour conditions and sustainable development,” he said.

    He said surveys in 28 countries showed that a quarter of young people, aged between 15 and 29 years old, are neither employed, nor in education or training (NEET), a status, which carries risks of underemployment, skill deterioration and discouragement.

     

  • Labour minister idetitfies poverty, trade imbalance as bane of AGOA

    Labour minister idetitfies poverty, trade imbalance as bane of AGOA

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, has urged the United States of America to demonstrate stronger commitment to improved economic ties with African nations through balanced trade relations.

    The minister  made the assertion while leading the Nigerian delegation to the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act Ministerial Roundtable taking place at the Department of Labour Building Washington D.C, United States.

    In a statement signed by the Deputy Director, (Press) Samuel Olowookere, Ngige avered that the sudden stoppage of import of the Nigerian crude oil by the United States was antithetical to the flourish of trade and economic cooperation upon which the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act ( AGOA) was founded, adding:  ”That the action contributed to low foreign exchange receipts and consequent technical recession in some of the African countries.”

    Contributing to the theme, “Trade and Worker Rights: Inclusive Economic Growth in Africa Through Trade on the Day One of the Roundtable,” Ngige said: “The capacity of Nigeria to tackle anti-labour practices such as child labour, cheap labour and human trafficking was being hampered by dwindling resources, which the stoppage of the import of the Nigerian crude by the US has accentuated. Poverty at the low income levels make the fight against anti-labour practices at the base difficult.”

    He urged the US to assist African countries in the entire agricultural value food chain of production, processing and preservation as well as give increased educational assistance to farmers.

    “The founding ideal of AGOA is to foster a symbiotic economic cooperation between Africa and the United States. However, the capacity of the African nations such as Nigeria to effectively tap into the full potentials of the body is being checkmated by limited resources. Therefore, there is a need for America to rethink initiatives that once made AGOA attractive to African countries.”

    According to Ngige, “rescinding her decision on Nigerian crude is one of such steps that could be taken to buoy up our economy and regain enough capacity to protect workers’ rights and promote decent work in an inclusive economic growth.

    “The US must do more to assist junior partners by extending some labour projects and technical aide being executed in some African countries such Madagascar, Zambia and Kenya to Nigeria.”

    Speaking further on Nigeria’s initiatives for improving internationally recognized workers right, the minister said that Nigeria has ratified and domesticated eight core conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO) including convention 182 on the worst forums of child labour dealing with child rights and fair labour practices.

    He drew the attention of the international community to the strong backing for fundamental freedoms and labour rights enshrined in the Nigerian constitution, especially in section 40.

    Sen. Ngige added that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has championed and deepened more than any administration, the cause of social dialogue and unabridged rights of workers to unionize, citing the intervention in the banking sector as one.

  • Association seeks end to corruption, poverty

    An international group, Academics Stand against poverty (ASAP) has urged the media to pursue in depth investigation to enthrone transparency and accountability in public and private sectors.

    The group also wants the media to keep record on corruption in the country especially in the oil sector.

    During a conference held at the Afe- Babalola auditorium, University of Lagos, Akoka, the group said media practitioners were in the best position to unravel corrupt practices in the country.

    Former adviser to the British Prime Minister, Mrs Cat Tully emphasized on sustainable development goals to promote a just, peaceful and inclusive society.

    She said: “Provision of access to justice for all and building of effective and accountable institutions at all levels of government will go a long way in the development of a nation. The media is expected to keep reporting corrupt issues in the news..

    Managing Director, Premium Times, Muskilu Mojeed stated the need for consistent reportage of corruption related issues, adding that anti-graft agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) be focused on.

    He said: “Nigerian media need to do more of investigative journalism in order to tackle corrupt practices in both sectors. They need to pressure the government to take actions. They also need to consistently sensitize the citizens on the impact of corruption making them understand the poor suffer most. The media should also pay attention to anti- corruption agencies such as the ICPC, EFCC by doing a follow up on their activities. Also, media organizations as well as the regulating bodies should train and retrain reporters on investigative journalism in order to achieve a transparent government.”

    In his keynote address, Executive Secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, (NEITI) Waziri gave an overview of unremitted fund bills in the oil sector noting that the non remittance of the funds has a striking effect on the poverty level in the country.

    Other Academics at the event were, Professor Ralph Akinfeleye Professor Idowu Shobowale and lecturers from social sciences department.