National News
UK, Brighter Futures roll out campaigns to tackle cybercrime, cultism in Nigeria
UK, Brighter Futures roll out campaigns to tackle cybercrime, cultism in Nigeria
By: Michael Mike
The war against cyber crimes in the country gets a boost as the Brighter Futures programme, an initiative supported by the United Kingdom government has launched the Thrive Online campaign.
The initiative, apart from the launch of efforts to curb the rising tide of cyber-related crimes in Nigeria, also launched the Cancel Cultist campaign aimed at reducing cultism and other forms of serious organized crime in Nigeria.
According to a statement on Friday, the Thrive Online campaign aims to reach vulnerable youths and educate them on the dangers of cybercrime while providing alternative pathways to building sustainable livelihoods.
The statement read that while speaking about the campaign during a radio programme in Lagos State, Mr. Oladokun Olajde, a mentorship coach on the campaign stated that Thrive Online is a sustainable development campaign that addresses legitimate ways for youths to be financially independent, and the dangers of serious and organized crimes to themselves, their families, community and the image of the Country.
“We enlighten youths on their roles and responsibilities as citizens in making Nigeria a better place to thrive – both online and globally”, he was quoted saying in a statement issued by the management team of the campaign on Friday.
Over the past decades, serious organized crime (SOC), particularly cybercrime, has caused significant damage to individuals, families, and businesses in Nigeria. The impact of cybercrime can be seen in the data that reveals the devastating consequences it has caused.
According to the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), Nigerian banks lost N3.5 billion between July and September 2020 to fraud-related incidents, representing a 534-percent increase from the same period in 2019, when it was N552 million.
As part of efforts to reduce SOC activities, the Nigerian government and several organizations have implemented various measures, including the Brighter Futures campaign, to mitigate the tide of cyber-related crimes in the digital space. The Thrive Online campaign aims to complement these efforts by reaching vulnerable youths through a series of awareness events, radio talk shows, school mentorship programs, and community-based and social media influencers.
The primary aim of the Thrive Online campaign is to educate youths on the fact that hardly anyone makes a decent living through cybercrime. Most people waste their time and get nothing in return. Involvement in cybercrime is a criminal offense that can have severe consequences, including imprisonment. Additionally, involvement in cybercrimes can destroy the lives of people affected, including their family members, loved ones, and friends.
The campaign also seeks to highlight the positive ways youths can build a livelihood using online platforms, such as online businesses, learning new skills, and legitimate online-based jobs in tech.
The Brighter Futures campaign management says it is working with the Nigerian government and other civil society organizations to create a safer and more prosperous future for Nigeria.
In the same vein, noted that the Cancel Cults campaign launched in Bayelsa State would primarily focus on vulnerable youths and educate them on the dangers of cultism and provide alternative pathways to build sustainable livelihoods.
It noted that cultism and other forms of serious organized crime have been a significant challenge in Nigeria.
No fewer than 10,000 people have been killed in cult-related violence within and outside school campuses between 1996 and 2019, according to Exams Ethic Marshall International (EEMI).
The Cancel Cults campaign is adopting various strategies to reach vulnerable youths in Bayelsa State, including radio talk shows, awareness events, engagements in schools and communities, and social media influencers, the management stated.
The campaign will also introduce school mentorship programs and sports to sensitize vulnerable youths to the dangers of cybercrime to their communities.
Speaking about the campaign in Bayelsa State, Mr. Emmanuel Diala, a community-awareness facilitator on the Cancel Cults campaign stated, “The Cancel Cults campaign is designed to create an environment where youths can thrive through legitimate means.
“We believe that by educating young people on the dangers of cultism and other serious organized crimes (SOCs) and putting them on the right track in building sustainable livelihoods, we can reduce their involvement in cultism.”
The campaign is working with the government and other Civil Society Organizations to create an environment where youths can thrive through legitimate means. It encourages young people to take advantage of the many opportunities available to them and avoid the trap of cultism and other criminal activities.
Speaking about the impact of the campaign in Edo State, Mr. Odili Adams, a member from one of the target communities of the Cancel Cults campaign stated, “For too long, we have feared that one day our children and young adults would fall victim to the lies of cultists and end up wasting their lives, after all, there is a limit to how much we parents can monitor our children, however, this campaign will augment the efforts made to protect our youths from cultist’s narratives and build their resilience to become valuable members of the community.”
The management team reiterated that the launch of the Cancel Cults campaign in Edo State is a step in the right direction towards curbing cultism and other forms of serious organized crime in Nigeria, saying it will enlighten young people in Edo and Bayelsa State to build a brighter future for themselves and their communities through legitimate means.
UK, Brighter Futures roll out campaigns to tackle cybercrime, cultism in Nigeria
SGBV Centre to be Established in All Wards in Kuje LGA
By: Michael Mike
Kuje local council of the Federal Capital Territory is set to establish Sexual and Gender Based Violence Centre in all its ten political wards to clampdown on the growing menace.
Delivering a speech at a one-day community advocacy/dialogue on issues of SGBV organised by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for stakeholders in Kuje, the Council Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Sabo who noted that: “Violence against women and girls in any form is the manifestation of profound lack of respect and a failure by men to recognize the inherent equality and dignity of women,” said that the council would set up response centres across the 10 political wards in Kuje Area Council to support the fight against SGBV.
The Chairman who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Abdullahi Sabo (Snr), said: “The time for complacency has long gone, it is time for action, we can no longer watch over 70 per cent of women in our communities face physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.
” Therefore, for an effective response to this menace, the need for different sectors in the society to collaborate and work together cannot be overemphasised.
“We indeed pledge to do better for survivors of SGBV. As an institution, we need to do more to support victims and hold the perpetrators accountable.
“We have to do more to respond to the cry for justice for women and children who have suffered violence.”
On her part, the NAPTIP Director-General, Prof Fatima Waziri-Azi, said that the aim of the dialogue was to discuss the unique roles of all community stakeholders towards reducing SGBV in the FCT.
She said that it was also aim at empowering community members to recognize early signs of abuse, intervene effectively create a culture that does not tolerate violence.
“We must collectively continue to create a supportive environment where victims feel empowered to report cases of SGBV, this lies in the hands of the communities.
She said that parents are been complacent by failing to protect their children in abusive and exploitative situations.
The DG encouraged Nigerians to report cases of SGBV to NAPTIP, while also stressing the need to preserve evidence especially in cases of rape.
SGBV Centre to be Established in All Wards in Kuje LGA
President Tinubu flags off inaugural airlift of 2024 Hajj in Kebbi
By: Our Reporter
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (CFR) has flagged-off the inaugural airlift of 2024 Hajji exercise from Nigeria to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The grand ceremony took place at Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday with distinguished personalities in attendance.
The President, who was represented by the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, urged the intending pilgrims to pray for peace, unity and progress of the country.
He charged the intending pilgrims to abide by all rules and regulations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and urged them to avoid any illicit act capable of affecting the integrity of their Hajj.
“Mr president has been committed to this year’s Hajji due to the economic situation, he has also contributed the sum of N90 billion Naira to subsidise this year’s Hajj exercise in order to have a smooth and successful exercise.
”You may recall that this year, we had a major challenge in announcing the final hajj fare for the 2024 Muslim pilgrimage due to fluctuation in foreign exchange rates.
”President Bola Tinubu also work round the clock to control the downwards spiral of our local currency to bring relief to our pilgrims and other Nigerians.
”A moved that eventually succeeded in lowering the fare. The President approved the released of N90 billion to subsidized the cost of pilgrimage for this year’s hajj.”
He said that the government of Renewed Hope led by Tinubu attaches immense importance to religious pilgrimage due to the role its plays in transforming behavioral and social vices of the believers beyond performing the pilgrimage.
Delivering his speech, the Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Dr Nasir Idris said this year’s Hajji signifies a sacred journey for thousands of devoted pilgrims who embarked on a spiritual voyage to the Holy land.
He explained further that Hajj is a time to honoured tradition that holds great significance for Muslims around the world.
“It is a journey of faith, devotion and unity where believers come together to fufill one of the five pillars of Islam, the pilgrimage to Mecca is a profound experience that fosters a sense of community, humility and spiritual renewal,” he said
The Governor urged the people that they should remember the significance of this sacred ritual, adding that Hajji remained a testament to the unity of Muslim Ummah, transcending geographical boundaries and cultural differences.
“It is a time for reflection, prayer and seeking forgiveness, as well as an opportunity for personal growth and self discovery,” he added.
He commended the Federal Government, National Hajji Commission and those that were involved for there commitments toward the successful exercise.
Gov. Idris noted with satisfaction that Kebbi was the first state to remit 2024 Hajj fare in Nigeria, adding the intending pilgrims from Kebbi were given special treatment by the present administration to confort them toward a successful Hajj exercise.
The governor said his administration had spent N900 for infrastrutural development of the Hajj Camp in Birnin Kebbi to make it more conducive for the intending pilgrims
In his remarks, the National Chairman, National Hajji Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Jalai Ahmad Arabi thanked the President and Kebbi State Governor for their support and cooperation towards the success of this year’s Hajji exercise.
He described this year’s Hajji as the most innovative and special one, saying, “honestly, I am well over warm the way and manner the Kebbi State Goqqvernor committed all the resources for them to achieve.
President Tinubu flags off inaugural airlift of 2024 Hajj in Kebbi
National News
Nigeria Calls for Collaboration Among ECOWAS States to Develop Tourism Sector in West Africa
Nigeria Calls for Collaboration Among ECOWAS States to Develop Tourism Sector in West Africa
By: Michael Mike
Nigeria government has called for the collaboration among the counties of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to develop the tourism potential of the subregion and place West Africa in prime position to compete with other regions.
The Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Folorunsho Coker, also called for the streamlining of policies on tourism in countries in the subregion while delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of the meeting of experts and stakeholders of the private tourism industry on the monitoring and evaluation mechanism of ECOTOUR 19-29 and the ECOWAS Tourism Accommodation regulator in Abuja on Tuesday.
Coker said: “It’s the season to collaborate not to compete,” adding that: “It’s in the spirit of collaboration that we will grow pan-African tourism.”
He said: “I want to encourage the localisation of policies”, insisting that policies would only be successful when localised.
Coker said all the regulations in the region be streamlined into one that will guide activities in the tourism sector across the 15 ECOWAS member states, urging for the training of tourism operators in the region as well as the introduction of technology in tourism.
He said: “We must embrace technology or it will leave us behind.”
The Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture of the ECOWAS Commission, Massandjé Toure-Liste said the meeting drew aspiration from the ECOTOUR 19-29 action plan, adopted by the Authority of Heads of State and Government which was designed to serve as a roadmap for promoting responsible tourism.
She said: “To this end, our technical meeting today centres around drafting the operational modalities for two critical tools: the ECOTOUR 19-29 monitoring and evaluation mechanism and the ETAR – ECOWAS Tourism Accommodation Regulator.
“The ECOTOUR 19-29 Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanism will involve developing operational guidelines and appointing dedicated members or focal points to oversee its implementation.
“Simultaneously, for the ECOWAS Tourist Accommodation Regulator (ETAR) we will define the composition and operational modalities in alignment with Regulation C.REG.2/07/23.
“Our focus on Private Sector Collaboration includes; facilitating dialogue among representatives from the private tourism sector and encouraging strategic alignment and collaboration at the regional level.
Massandjé, who was represented by the ECOWAS Commission’s Director of Private sector, Dr Anthony Elumelu, said: “Additionally, we aim to support private sector players in finalising the process of creating a regional confederation.”
The meeting is expected to end on Friday 17th May, 2024.
Nigeria Calls for Collaboration Among ECOWAS States to Develop Tourism Sector in West Africa
Troops barbecued 6 Boko Haram elements, recover weapons in Sambisa
North-West Governors Seek UN Support for Troubled Region
Bola Aganaba @60: A Legacy of Impact, Faith, and Generosity
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
EYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
Army University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
News2 months agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
News2 months agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Columns3 months agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
ACADEMICS3 months agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Opinions2 years agoTHE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
Opinions3 months agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
-
Opinions2 months agoUMTH:…and the testimonies of patients and patient relations
-
National News3 months agoFraud and Mismanagement Rock INGO’s IDP Cash Assistance Effort in Bama
