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Tag: United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

  • How parallel voter tabulation ’ll work, by UK, US-backed monitor YIAGA

    The Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) Africa on Thursday explained how it would verify the general elections results through the parallel voter tabulation (PVT).

    It expects to receive over 33,000 observer reports containing 500,000 unique pieces of information on the process and results of the election.

    The group said over 94 data clerks as well as a team of data analysts will work throughout Saturday and Sunday to process, analyse and verify the reports at the Watching the Vote (WTV) National Data Center located on Floor 02 of the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja.

    YIAGA Africa has as its technical partners the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the US-based National Democratic Institute.

    At a briefing by WTV Working Group Chair Dr. Hussaini Abdu and YIAGA Africa Executive Director Samson Itodo, the group said the PVT, described as the gold standard observation methodology, has been utilised throughout the world and in previous state elections in Nigeria.

    “Based on reports from its observers in the sampled polling units, YIAGA Africa will also provide an independent projection of voter turnout and will be able to project the vote shares that each party should receive within a narrow range.

    “If the official results fall within YIAGA Africa’s estimated ranges, then the public, political parties and candidates should have confidence in the ballots cast at the polling units.

    “YIAGA Africa undertook the WTV project to provide Nigerian voters, presidential candidates, political parties, civil society and INEC with independent information about whether the official results for the 23 February 2019 presidential election truly reflect the ballots cast at polling units.

    “The WTV project is driven by data – for all Nigerians – Beholden to None! Only INEC, however, has the legal mandate to announce the election results.

    “As soon as INEC announces the official results, YIAGA Africa will follow up with a final press conference to share its own statement on the accuracy of the election results and will publicise these projections,” the group said.

    YIAGA Africa said following the postponement, it deployed observers in the 774 Local Government Areas to monitor the implementation of INEC’s reviewed election logistical plan.

    It found that INEC is retrieving materials from the LGAs to the Central Bank and has been reconfiguring smart card readers.

    The group praised INEC’s openness through the daily briefing by the chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu, urging the commission to maintain the briefing throughout the 2019 elections.

    “However, reports received by YIAGA Africa indicates that some Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) and Electoral Officers (EO) are reluctant to share information with relevant stakeholders on the state of INEC’s preparedness for the elections,” the group said.

    Read Also: 2019: INEC accredits 144 observer groups

    YIAGA Africa warned about the threats of violence, hate speech and misinformation, saying they portend great danger to peace and national security.

    “Electoral stakeholders especially candidates and political party leaders should refrain from heating up the polity as Nigeria is on a fringe of a potential electoral conflict if caution is not exercised.

    “Security agencies should exercise their functions within constitutional limits. The rights of citizens must be respected before, during and after the elections.

    “YIAGA Africa reminds all security agencies involved in election security operations that the 2010 Electoral Act as amended prescribes electoral offences and sanctions.

    “Therefore, it will be unconstitutional and a disregard of the rule of law to invoke sanctions not prescribed by law for electoral offences,” it said.

    YIAGA Africa said its WTV National Data Center will be open to the public and media at all times and will provide timely updates on the conduct of the election based on the near real-time reports from its observers.

    “These will include press conferences at the WTV National Data Center to share a mid-day situational statement on 23 February 2019 and a press conference on the morning after (Sunday February 24) to share preliminary data on the process.

    “At present, all 3,076 PVT observers are sending in practice reports based on an election day scenario, which will be duly processed by the data clerks and data analysis teams.

    “YIAGA Africa stands ready to observe the presidential elections on behalf of all Nigerians and to ensure that the people’s votes are accurately counted.

    “YIAGA Africa calls on the citizens of Nigeria, the parties and candidates, INEC and the forces of law and order to also play their parts to ensure a peaceful, credible and inclusive process.

    “YIAGA Africa calls on every eligible voter to get ready with their permanent voter’s card (PVC) and come out in their number to exercise their civic responsibilities and vote,” the group said.

     

  • Coca-Cola, USAID provide $1m funding for water, sanitation in Abia, Cross River

    The Coca-Cola Foundation and United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership under the Water And Development Alliance (WADA), has provided $1 million for funding of projects aimed at the provision of clean drinking water, sanitation, and other health facilities in Abia and Cross River States in the past two years.

    USAID Mission Director, Stephen M. Haykin, who was represented by Dr. Joachim Ezeji, who disclosed this, said this was targeted at 56,000 people in 58 communities in the two states.

    Speaking when the Coca-Cola Foundation, working in conjunction with USAID, donated a solar-powered borehole, and sanitation facilities to Government Primary School, Ndon Nwong, Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, Haykin said the projects were targeted at ensuring that there was access to clean water, and sanitation to targeted schools, markets and medical clinics in both states.

    “We are not finished yet. With Coca-Cola, we are improving access to clean water with more projects like you see here today. We are improving access to clean water in 12 schools, 4 medical centres and 2 market areas as well as improving sanitation in 23 schools, 8 medical clinics and one market area in each of 4 LGAs in the two states, to benefit of 56,000 people”, Haykins said.

    He said in the last two years, the partnership between Coca-Cola Foundation, USAID, WADA, the government of both states, and the benefiting local government areas have been very successful.

    “Through this partnership, we have already improved and expanded access to safe and reliable water, and sanitation services for nearly 48, 800 people and sanitation for nearly 11,000 people in 58 rural communities,” Haykin said.

    Read Also: Coca-Cola gets SERAS award

    The projects, among them toilet and health facilities, commissioned pursuant to the Rural Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Support Project, is funded through Water and Development Alliance (WADA) mechanism, a global partnership between (USAID) and the Coca-Cola Foundation, (TCCF) Global Environment, Technology Foundation (GETF),and Partners for Development (PTF) as implementing partners in Nigeria.

    The Managing Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Mr. Bhupendra Suri, said besides the fact that the company was giving back to the society as part of its corporate social responsibility, the donation of the bore-hole would in many ways enhance the living standard and condition of the inhabitants of Ndon Nwong.

    Suri who was represented by, Mrs. Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, said the project was implemented in collaboration with WADA

    The Managing Director said the borehole would provide clean drinking water to members of the community, prevent the people from contracting water-borne diseases as well as reduce the effect of poor hygiene in the community.

    Suri urged the people of the community to take ownership of the project so it would serve the purpose for which it was provided.

    Suri said that at the moment, Coca-Cola is working vigorously to address challenges posed by shortage of clean water for human consumption in the African continent, hence the partnership with the USAID, and other development partners, towards providing similar projects within communities in Africa.

    The State Commissioner for Water Resources, Gabe Odu-Oji, commended Coca-Cola for demonstrating its corporate social responsibility, and also thanked USAID for providing the facilities not only in Odukpani, but also in Obubra Local Government Area.

    Responding on behalf of the benefitting community, Mr. Nsa Ekeng Okon said potable water had remained a very serious problem in the community.

    “The result had been an outbreak of water borne disease mostly during the dry season. The general experience was high rate of infant mortality and short life span but with the provision of borehole water in the community and introduction of ventilated inverted pit toilet, those diseases have become things of the past,” he said.

  • University of Maiduguri produces 78 First Class graduates

    The University of Maiduguri on Monday said it produced 78 First Class graduates for the 2015/ 2016 and 2016/2017 academic sessions.

    The Vice Chancellor of the University, Dr Ibrahim Njodi, made the disclosure at a pre-convocation press conference in Maiduguri.

    Njodi said that a total of 17, 895 graduates would be conferred with various degrees and certificates during its 23rd combined convocation ceremony scheduled for Saturday, April 28.

    He explained that 3, 527 students were graduands of the Post Graduate School programmes comprising of 56 Ph.D graduates; 570 Masters Degree graduates and 2, 901 Post Graduate Diploma graduands .

    Njodi added that the statistics of the undergraduates showed that 8, 643 graduands would be awarded degrees, 7, 278 of the number were from the regular programmes, 573 from affiliated colleges and 714 were Distance Learning programmes.

    He disclosed that 5, 725 graduates would received diploma certificates, adding that 106 and 102 graduates would receive awards for the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 academic sessions, respectively.

    The Vice Chancellor disclosed that three lecturers would also be conferred with the title of “Emeritus Professor”, for their outstanding performance and contributions to the development of the university.

    “We remain committed and resilient to excel in our academic pursuit inspite of the challenges posed by the insurgency.

    “The University continued with its services and achieved significant feat in the past nine years,” he said.

    Njodi disclosed that the university with support of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund ( TETFUND ), United States Agency for International Development ( USAID ), corporate organisations and philanthropists executed viable projects in the school.

    He explained that the projects were designed to provide an enabling teaching and learning environment, as well as research, to enhance academic excellence.

    He listed the projects to include Senate Complex Building, Mega House, Veterinary Centre and Instructional Technology Centre.

    Njodi added that the projects were completed and billed for inauguration as part of activities lined up for the convocation ceremony.

    According to him, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ); Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) and a philanthropist,  Alhaji Muhammadu Indimi, pledged to execute various projects in the University.

    Njodi lauded the Borno State Government, stakeholders, security agencies and members of the public for their support to the University.

    NAN

  • USAID partners Sokoto, Bauchi on primary health care

    The United States Agency for International Development ( USAID ) has signed two agreements with Bauchi, Sokoto States and other stakeholders to expand access to quality, affordable health care in the two states.

    A statement by the U.S. Embassy on Monday in Abuja explained that the agreements were aimed at boosting access to quality Primary Health Care services in the two states.

    “USAID Mission Director, Stephen Haykin, joined the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’adu Abubakar, Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, philanthropists Bill Gates and Aliko Dangote, and governors of Bauchi and Sokoto states by video teleconference to sign the two agreements.

    “Under the four-year addenda to improve routine immunisation and expansion of funding for the Primary Health Care.

    “USAID will provide technical assistance to the Bauchi and Sokoto States Primary Health Care Development agencies to help expand access to routine immunisations and primary health care.

    “While UNICEF will partner with the Gates and Dangote foundations to match the states’ investments in the sectors,’’ the US embassy stated.

    The embassy explained that in return, the Bauchi and Sokoto Governments agreed to earmark 1.8 million dollars to invest in routine immunisation and primary health care in 2018.

    “Under the agreements, both states will incrementally raise their funding contributions in these sectors to become self-sufficient by 2022’’.

    Haykin described the agreements as “new stage” in USAID’s partnerships with Bauchi and Sokoto states, which would adapt its health programming to the needs of the states to help extend life-saving treatment to millions across Nigeria.

    “I applaud the governors’ efforts to improve public health care service delivery in their states, and strongly encourage them to continue working towards optimising their state’s capacity to deliver quality, affordable health services to their constituents,” Haykin said.

    After the ceremony, Gates said, “Vaccinations are phenomenal in their impact because a child that has not been vaccinated is twice likely to die. We can prevent millions of deaths through routine immunisation”.

    NAN

  • World Tuberculosis Day: USAID pledges to support Nigeria

    The United States Agency for International Development ( USAID ) has renewed its commitment to assist the Federal Ministry of Health to find and treat thousands of missing tuberculosis cases in Nigeria.

    Ms Minal Amin, Group Lead, Tuberculosis and Resource Mobilisation, USAID Nigeria, made this known in Abuja while briefing newsmen as part of the activities to commemorate the 2018 World Tuberculosis Day.

    Amin said USAID has been supporting the government of Nigeria’s response to tuberculosis since 2003; adding that USAID had a shared goal with government on reducing tuberculosis related deaths and disability.

    She said the agency was committed to support the National TB and Leprosy Control Programme in reaching its ambitious goal of ending tuberculosis in Nigeria.

    She commended the minister of health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, for his giant stride of declaring 2017 as a year accelerated tuberculosis finding.

    According to her, the agency has expended over 100 million dollars to support TB response programme in the past 15 years.

    “We look forward to the continued partnership and relationship with the government of Nigeria in making significant strides on TB control,’’ she said.

    Prof. Dipo Ladipo, Chief Executive Officer, Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH), said tuberculosis detection in Nigeria was running at a level about 17 per cent due to many reasons.

    He said ARFH was a principal recipient of the Global Fund, and the association was working with the National TB and Leprosy Control Programme to improve awareness on TB at national, state and local levels.

    Ladipo added that the association via a funding from Global Fund was also working to improve TB detection rate and refer suspected cases to diagnostic centres for treatment.

    He, therefore, urged the media and other key stakeholders to evangelise tuberculosis and make it more visible public health concern because of the magnitude of the problem and mode of transmission.

    While speaking on the theme of the 2018 world tuberculosis day, Ladipo said religious leaders should play a leadership role to support the government by disseminating information about tuberculosis in mosques and churches.

    He also urged government to increase domestic funding of the tuberculosis response programme and encourage local production of TB drugs, stressing that most of the TB drugs in Nigeria are provided by donor agencies.

    According him, the TB partnership in Nigeria has worked tirelessly to reach the level where we are now; we require additional funding from the government to complement what the donors are doing.

    Dr Adebola Lawanson, National Coordinator, National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, said Nigeria has the highest burden of tuberculosis in Africa and it was ranked seventh in the world.

    Lawanson, represented by Muhammad Ahmad, a Deputy Director, said the federal government in collaboration with partners provided quality patient centred prevention, treatment and support free of charge.

    She said in spite of interventions by government, 2017 WHO Global TB report revealed that Nigeria was among the 10 countries that accounted for 64 per cent of the global gap in TB case finding.

    “Nigeria alone accounted for almost half of the total gap.

    “In 2017, Nigeria notified a total of 104 904 TB cases which is only 26 per cent of the estimated 407,000 cases for the country in 2017,’’ she said.

    The 2018 world tuberculosis day would be observed on March 24, to commemorate the day in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch announced his discovery of the germ that causes TB diseases.

    NAN

  • US to give 600,000 Africans access to power, others – USAID

    US to give 600,000 Africans access to power, others – USAID

    The United States Agency for International Development ( USAID ) has announced that more than 600,000 people would have  access to affordable power and the internet under the U.S. Power Africa Initiative.

    USAID’s Administrator, Mr Mark Green, who disclosed this at the ongoing Fourth Annual Powering Africa Summit in Washington DC, said that the Power Africa project had so far benefited many African communities.

    “Power Africa is helping our private sector partners to set up micro-grids, which will bring reliable and affordable power to these camps for the first time.

    “Once the camps are electrified, USAID’s innovation team and other coalition members will work to connect them to the Internet.

    “We are creating digital tools that tap into residents’ mobile phones to track health records, to provide digital identities, and to enable pay-as-you-go power, school fees, and other digital vouchers for services.

    “In total, we expect to give more than 600,000 people access to affordable power, internet, and these digital tools,’’ he said.

    According to him, Power Africa has so far helped 58 million people across Africa to gain access to electricity using market forces and enterprise principles.

    Green said that to make Power Africa a success, the agency was
    releasing the Administration’s strategy for Power Africa 2.0.

    The USAID Administrator said that the new strategy would ensure that Power Africa could continue to bring innovative ideas and enterprise-driven approaches to bear to help meet Africa’s power needs.

    “Under Power Africa 2.0, we will be expanding beyond our previous targets of increased energy generation and access and looking to make gains in the areas of distribution and transmission.

    “And perhaps most importantly, we will be taking on the enabling environments that allow private enterprise to grow and thoroughly flourish,’’ he said.

    Power Africa is a U.S. Government initiative that addresses one of the most pressing challenges to sustainable economic growth and development in sub-Saharan Africa — access to electrical power.

    NAN

  • Recession exit: USAID applauds FG

    Recession exit: USAID applauds FG

    The United States Agency for International Development ( USAID ) has applauded the Federal Government for exiting the country out of economic recession.

    Mr David Musa, the Team Leader, USAID Bee Keeping Pollination Project, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday, that the report was a welcome development.

    He was reacting to the second quarter report of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) which indicated that Nigeria was out of recession.

    Musa, also the National Technical Expert, Inter-ministerial Committee on Honey Production, Bee Health & Pollination Services, advised the government to create an open market platform especially for bee farmers across the country.

    According to him, this shows that there is more potential for productivity, value addition and integration between the private and public sector is becoming more intimate.

    The leader appealed to the Federal Government to open up and strengthen the ease of doing business to involve more private sector investment to sustain the recession exit.

    “The report by the National Bureau of Statistics has credibility because farmers especially bee farmers are now selling more and making more profit.

    “We are happy for this but the government must strengthen the ease of doing business, public policies, help the private sector to deliver wide impact to sustain the exit,’’ he said.

    NAN recalls that the NBS preliminary results for the second quarter of the year, says that Nigerian economic recovery was driven principally by the performance of four main economic activities comprising oil, agriculture, manufacturing and trade.

    It also showed that agriculture continued its strong and positive growth which it had maintained throughout the recession, growing by 3.01 per cent in second quarter of 2017 from 3.39 per cent in Q1 2017 and 4.53 per cent in Q2 2016.

  • USAID donates 4.5m mosquito bed nets to Oyo government

    USAID donates 4.5m mosquito bed nets to Oyo government

    The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on Friday said it has handed over 4.5 million mosquito bed nets to Oyo State Government.

    Dr Rick Niska, USAID’s representative, said in a statement that the bed nets would be distributed across the 33 local government areas of the state on Oct. 22.

    “The bed nets valued at 13.5 million dollars will be distributed through a mass campaign scheduled to take place tomorrow in the 33 local government areas of the state.

    “The U.S. Government also provided an additional 4.5 million dollars (N1.4 billion) to support the logistics of the campaign, including transportation of the bed nets, community mobilisation, training, and household mobilisation.

    “These nets and the support for the distribution are gifts from U.S. people to the people of Oyo State,’’ Niska said.

    He commended the state government for its initiative to launch and coordinate the distribution of mosquito bed nets.

    Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State said that his government was committed to overcoming the problem of malaria in the state.

    Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia says “mosquito net offers protection against mosquitoes, flies, and other insects, and thus against the diseases they may carry.

    “Examples include malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, and various forms of encephalitis, including the West Nile virus.’’

  • Four arrested for ‘keeping’ stolen mosquito nets

    Four arrested for ‘keeping’ stolen mosquito nets

    Bauchi Police Command on Tuesday said it had arrested four suspects for being in possession of stolen treated mosquito nets.

    DSP Haruna Mohammed, the Spokesman for the command, made this known in a statement in Bauchi.

    Mohammed named one Alhaji Modu, 32, of Lawan Bukar Ward and Ibrahim Ali, 30, of Shehuri North, all in Maiduguri town in Borno State as principal suspects arrested.

    He said the suspects were arrested by a combined detachment of men from Bauchi State Police command and military men from the 33 Artillery Brigade, Bauchi.

    Mohammed said that the suspects were arrested along Azare to Kano road in Bauchi State with 42 bags of treated mosquito nets donated by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

    He said that the nets were meant for distribution to members of the public for roll back malaria campaign in Borno State.

    The spokesman said that preliminary investigations led to the arrest of one Mohammed Abubakar, 44, of Galtimari Ward and Mohammed Isah, 52, all staff of Borno State Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA).

    He said that the case was still under investigations and the suspects would be charged to the court for prosecution.