The Nation Newspaper

Tag: UNDP

  • Stakeholders seek climate change commission

    Stakeholders in the environment have called for the establishment of a coordinating commission to oversee climate change and other activities. They said commission or appropriate institution dedicated to handling climate change would revitalise the weak funding mechanism and institutional framework.

    At a two-day workshop to strengthen stakeholders’ capacity towards “Mainstreaming climate change into sustainable national development in Nigeria” organised by the Federal Ministry of the Environment and the National Planning Commission, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and facilitated by the Economic Policy Analysis Centre (EPAC) Ibadan, participants noted that there was a weak political will to drive climate change issues, especially adaptation and mitigation processes.

    Civil society groups had promoted the formation of a National Climate Change Commission. The bill on the commission was passed by the National Assembly, but got stalled at the Presidency, which has not signed the bill into law.

    The event provided practical guidance to policy makers, the three tiers of government and non-state actors on how climate change adaptation can be mainstreamed into development plans and strategies as part of overeaching measures to deal with its impending threats.

    Other issues observed at the workshop was the paucity of data for enabling mainstreaming of climate change in development issues. Participants harped on the need to identify and develop key performance indicators for effective monitoring and evaluation. hey said Nigeria wascontributing significantly to climate change through gas flaring and encouraged the setting of emission target for the country.

    They asked for legal framework to support mainstreaming of climate change into national development plans and strategies to be strengthened. Government, they said, should embark on human and infrastructure capacity building for all aspects of mainstreaming climate change into national development and appropriate methods should be deployed for development of functional and sustainable database.

    In the report after the workshop, they said Partnership should be strengthened with development partners; organised private sector and Non – Governmental Organisations (NGOs), promote activities that will support green economy; increasing industrialisation and reducing pollution and GHG emissions, appropriate technologies should be developed for sound management of non-biodegradable and biodegradable wastes from ‘’cradle  to grave’.

  • 30 farm trainees graduate in Benue

    Having graduated from a training programme, no fewer than 30 youths in Benue State are well on their way to earning a good living as farmers.

    The intensive exercise lasted one month after which the prospective farmers were given certificates of paricipation.

    They were trained at Zukutiv Farms in Makurdi, the state capital.

    Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of Zukutiv Farms, Mr. Myke Gbe, said that the curriculum covered crop production, animal husbandry, flexible and smart management as well as use of social media to boost farming and marketing activities.

    He explained that the training, which was sponsored by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Benue State government, revolved around the concept of SMART farming, an acronym for Small-Holding Management of Accessible and Adaptable Rural Technology.

    Gbe expressed appreciation to the sponsors for their belief in the human spirit and provision of incentives as well as a conducive environment for the programme.

    “Facilitators, participants and even our collaborating institutions deserve to be commended for the success of the event,” he stated.

    Gbe maintained that the Benue farmer is equipped to engage in all forms of farming, which include aqua culture, animal husbandry and crop production.

    The state Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Donald Gbugho described Zukutiv Farms as a source of pride to the state, as it has transferred the technology in Songhai Farms, in Port-Novo, Benin Republic, to Benue State.

    Gbugho who was represented by the Director of Administration and Finance in the ministry, Mrs. Cecilia Jebe, said the farm has thrown a challenge to the ministry as well as the entire business community in the state.

    He enjoined the participants to put what they learned into practice, adding that the ministry expected the establishment of more than 20 farms from them.

    Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Chris Abah, represented by Mr. Ngutor Anyam, urged organisers to select only those who were enthusiastic about the training and donated N100,000 towards the training of the next set.

    UNDP focal person, Mr. Sam Agwa, said that the programme has the potential of alleviating poverty, integrating youths as well as being a platform for the deployment of information and communication technology to advance agri-business.

    While calling for the establishment of SMART farms in all the council wards in the state, he urged that the programme be sustained.

    Mrs. Mr. Gloria Atoji, a graduate of Food Science and Technology from the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, who stated that she benefited from the training, said it has motivated her to start snail farming on a small-scale and grow from there.

    Another beneficiary, Mercy Atinu who holds a National Diploma in Animal Production said she has received knowledge that will enable her start poultry and later move into integrated farming.

    Mr. Dominic Kwaghngu who also graduated from the programme, said he learnt how to convert waste into wealth and become self sufficient saying he had the intention of starting with quails even as he urged youths to adopt the right attitude which would sustain Benue’s status as the food basket.

  • 20 graft assessors for Warri, Calabar, Onne terminals

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has deployed over 20 Corruption Risk Assessors (CRA) in Lagos, Onne, Calabar, Warri ports to curb graft.

    The officers, sources said, would be at the ports till the end of June to avoid revenue loss by the government.

    The Commission, it was learnt, is working in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to reduce corruption in the seaports.

    Speaking with The Nation after a meeting organised by ICPC  in Lagos, Alhaji Ozi Salami, who represented the ICPC Chairman, Mr Ekpo Nta, said maritime was one of the highest revenue generating sectors in the country, adding that it must be guarded to avoid losses and ensure efficient running of the port.

    The meeting was attended by the officials of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms (TUGAR) and international partners.

    CRA, he said, is a corruption prevention tool, which works with an organisation’s management to identify areas prone to corruption, proffer recommendations, and develop integrity plans that would strengthen accountability and transparency.

    “We are not here to apportion blame, but to carry out a systems study. Since it is much better and wiser to prevent the occurrence of corruption than to expend huge resources in investigations and prosecution after the damage had been done, the Commission places much stock on the CRA process,” he said.

    Leader of the UNDP team Prof. Sam Egwu said the corruption risk assessment process being driven primarily by ICPC, TUGAR and BPP, began in 2011 with the development of a corruption risk assessment methodology.

    The methodology, he said, led to the development of a comprehensive training module that has been used to train over 60 CRAs drawn from the ministries, departments and agencies at both federal and state levels; civil society groups and the anti-corruption agencies.

    Egwu said it was from the pool of trained assessors that the 20-man team was constituted to work with experts on this pilot scheme.

     

  • UNDP laments disabled rate

    UNDP laments disabled rate

    The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) yesterday said 15 percent of the world’s population are disabled.

    The UNDP Democratic Governance for Development Project Coordinator, Dr Mourtada Deme, said this at the International Day of Persons with Disability celebration.

    He said there is need to eliminate discrimination and create an inclusive and accessible society for them.

    Deme said since the 1970s, there has been increasing international concern about the need to advance the rights of persons with disabilities.

    “To strengthen and monitor the protection of the human rights of persons with disabilities, the United Nations passed the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities in order to protect their rights,”he said

    The Minister of Women’s Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Zainab Maina, said the aim of celebration is to improve the lot of the disabled.

    “We need to rally support from all to ensure that the needs of persons with disabilities in Nigeria are met,” she said.

     

  • FG, UNDP partnership kicks off with 37 beneficiaries

    FG, UNDP partnership kicks off with 37 beneficiaries

    The Federal Government and the United Nations Development Programme has signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will see 37 Nigerians engaged in Junior Professional Officers Programme (JPOP) spread across the UN system.

    The programme is expected to kick off next month. Nigeria will be the first African country and the 20th contributor to the JNOP.

    Nigeria is the fifth contributor to the UN peacekeeping mission with about 6,000 Nigerians currently on peacekeeping missions in various parts of the world.

    The successful candidates, whose salaries will be borne by the Nigerian government, will be exposed to development assistance training opportunities that will cover different areas of human endeavors.

    The Secretary to the Government of Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, who signed on behalf of the government, said the JPOP is another significant milestone in actualizing President Goodluck Jonathan’s major aspect of the transformation agenda.

    He said JPOP initiative will no doubt enhance and indeed galvanize the objective of the present administration to further empower the Nigerian youths by exposing them to critical international platform that will showcase their enormous talents, deep intellectual capacity and knowledge.

     

  • African leaders for economic confab November

    African leaders for economic confab November

    ALL is set for the 7th edition of the African Economic Conference slated for Kigali, Rwanda, from October 30 to November 2.

    Leaders and scholars from Africa and around the world will gather in Kigali, to debate the continent’s prospects for sustainable and inclusive growth in the context of the international economic crisis, Organised each year by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the 7th edition of the African Economic Conference will be held in Kigali under the theme “Inclusive and Sustainable Development in an Age of Economic Uncertainty.”

    Africa has grown strongly over the last decade. Having weathered the economic crisis, the continent’s average growth is expected to rebound to 4.8 percent in 2013.

    The conference will examine the possibility of pursuing these objectives in the face of a worsening international economic environment, volatile food and fuel markets, and falling levels of exports, remittances and official aid.

    “African policy-makers are by and large continuing to realise their quest for growth and improved well-being in their countries,” said Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank.

    “However, in a difficult international environment, the question is how to meet the investment requirements to continue to forge ahead.”

    Participants will examine the key drivers of growth in Africa. With 50 out of 55 countries in the region producing or exploring for oil, the conference will look at the possibility of using profits from extractive industries to spur economic diversification and investments in social capital and human development.

    “African leaders should seize the opportunity to use the continent’s immense natural wealth for the benefit of their people,” said Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme.

    “Inclusive growth starts with economic transformation. It means opening up the economy so that people can be in the driver’s seat.”

    The conference will be opened by HE Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, UNDP Administrator Helen Clark, Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank, and Carlos Lopes, Executive Secretary of CA.

  • Schneider, ECN, UNDP to implement energy project

    As part of measures by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Global Environment Facility (GEF) to promote energy efficiency in Nigeria, Schneider Electric has been selected to implement a renewable energy project at the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN’s) Headquarters building in Abuja.

    The project which is aimed at showcasing the Energy Commission of Nigeria’s building as a model for public lighting using renewable energy, would include the replacement of all non compliant lighting fixtures in the building with Schneider Electric’s energy efficient LED lamps ‘In-Diya.’

    It will also include the installation of Schneider Electric’s off grid energy solution ‘Villasol’ as well as an upgrade of the building’s electrical distribution network to include metering so that the energy consumption of the building can be measured henceforth.

    Speaking at the event in Abuja, the Country President of Schneider Electric, Mr. Marcel Hochet described the project as a landmark development in the sensitization of the general public on the feasibility and benefits of energy efficient lamps.

    He said, as the global specialist in energy management, Schneider Electric is committed to bringing to the project, its enormous wealth of experience and knowhow to ensure timely completion and delivery.

    He therefore, stated that Schneider Electric is strongly committed to helping people make the most of their energy.This involves making the energy safe, reliable, efficient, productive and most of all, green. “Our fully functional renewable energy project in Asore, Ogun state is a testimony to Schneider Electric’s involvement in renewables industry in Nigeria.”

    Also speaking at the event, the national coordinator of the UNDP-GEF programme, Mr Etiosa Uyigue disclosed that the project’s target was to reduce the buildings’ consumption by up to 50 percent thereby creating an energy efficiency best practice for others to follow.

    The Director-General of the Energy commission of Nigeria, Prof. Sambo who gave a presentation during the event, highlighted that the key barriers to successful energy efficiency practice in Nigeria include a lack of relevant policy, cost versus market ratios, a lack of information as well as wrong human behaviour. He further reiterated that projects that help save energy, eventually save the environment as well as the economy.

    In May 2011, UNDP-Global Environment Facility (GEF) in Nigeria launched an energy efficiency project to promote appliances in the residential and public sector, which had earlier been boosted by a $3 million grant in 2009.

    The four-year’s project is being implemented by the UNDP, while the Federal Ministry of Environment and Energy Commission of Nigeria are among the executing partners of the project that is being funded by GEF. Similar projects have recorded success stories in countries like Ghana, Cuba and Bangladesh.