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UK to Assist Over 4 million Farmers in Nigeria

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UK donates £15 million to tackle food insecurity and malnutrition in North-East Nigeria

UK to Assist Over 4 million Farmers in Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

United Kingdom (UK) has pledged support to make Nigeria’s agriculture sector more resilient to climate change, promising to assist more than four million people develop better farming practices and reduce harmful carbon emissions.

A statement on Tuesday signed by Senior Communications & Public Diplomacy Officer. Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office | British High Commission, Atinuke Akande-Alegbe read:
“Foreign Secretary pledges support to make Nigeria’s agriculture sector more resilient to climate change on a visit to Nigeria.”

The statement added that funding from UK will help more than four million people develop better farming practices and reduce harmful carbon emissions.

According to the statement, James Cleverly’s trip to Nigeria comes on a three-country visit to Africa where he is prioritising future-focussed, mutually-beneficial partnerships.

The statement added that: “The Foreign Secretary will announce a new package of support to make Nigeria’s agriculture sector more climate resilient, as he arrives in the country today, continuing his four-day African visit.

“More than two thirds of Nigeria’s population depend on agriculture for employment. This new funding will help boost the Nigerian agricultural sector’s productivity and resilience to the impacts of climate change, transforming Nigerian critical agriculture and food systems for the benefit of people, climate and nature. UK support will help to develop heat and flood tolerant crops and increase soil fertility. New support will help grow the UK’s economy by alleviating some of the agricultural trade barriers to UK imports.

“It comes on the second leg of the Foreign Secretary’s three-country visit to Africa, where he is prioritising future-focussed, mutually-beneficial relationships.

“In Lagos today, he will announce a £10 million UK-backed facility in Nigeria, in partnership with finance company InfraCredit that will unlock funding for sustainable and climate-friendly infrastructure development projects – such as providing renewable energy services to homes in urban areas, as well as green housing.

“Tomorrow, in Abuja he will announce a £55 million Propcom+ contract, a UK International Climate Finance programme which aims to support the transformation of Nigeria’s rural economy, and a £2.89 million grant, will support more than four million people across Nigeria to adopt and scale up sustainable agricultural practices. This includes improving the health of animals, making crops more resilient, and introducing cleaner cooking practices. This in turn will help increase productivity, capacity and resilience among small-scale farmers and rural communities across Nigeria while reducing carbon emissions and protecting natural ecosystems.”

The Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly was quoted in the statement to have said: “Nigeria has a booming population and the largest economy in Africa – there is huge potential for an even closer partnership between UK-and Nigerian businesses which will be of mutual benefit to both countries.

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“Together we are focussing on the future putting in place green, clean measures, both in agriculture and infrastructure development, to create climate-resilient solutions for the global challenges we all face today and will increasingly face in the years to come. ”

The statement said that on his first visit to Nigeria, the Foreign Secretary will also visit a UN Humanitarian Air Service centre in Nigeria’s capital Abuja where he will hear how over £38 million of UK funding has helped vulnerable communities in the North-East of Nigeria.

Over four million people are facing food insecurity, and two million children under five are acutely malnourished in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States. This funding is helping to protect people, build their resilience to the ongoing food shortage crisis, and prevent famine. 

The Foreign Secretary will also meet Nigerian president Bola Ahmed Tinubu and National Security Advisor Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to discuss the UK-Nigeria partnership and key common priorities, including how to increase bilateral trade and investment, economic development, regional issues, and strengthened security cooperation.

UK to Assist Over 4 million Farmers in Nigeria

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Tinubu Says Resources Need to be Mobilized to Achieve Nation’s Climate Goals

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Tinubu Says Resources Need to be Mobilized to Achieve Nation’s Climate Goals

By: Michael Mike

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday called for collaborate efforts from all stakeholders and insist that there is need to accelerate and mobilize the necessary resources to achieve the nation’s climate goals.

The President stated this at a Climate Security Summit in Abuja organized by the National Council on Climate Change Secretariat in collaboration with stakeholders and development partners.

Represented by the Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, the president noted that climate poses threats to the world including Nigeria.

He listed some of the efforts towards addressing climate change to include Nigeria’s Paris Agreement pledge which is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2030.

He lamented that: “The climate crisis is no longer looming threat but a present and undeniable danger inflicting devastation upon our nation.”

The President added that “it’s merciless actio. Is evidence nationwide from the relentless surge of the sea level threatening our coastal communities to creeping drought that ignores farmers/herders crisis that has brought insecurity upon Nigeria.

“The frequent and extreme weather effect such as flood and heatwave and harsh weather effect that have ravaged our economy and displaced vulnerable populace and destroyed infrastructure.”

He said: “Climate crisis are existential threat to our nation, continent and indeed the entire world. It is a threat that increase problems in our development plan,” stating that “with urgency, we must act now to address this very crisis.”

He however noted that: “Recognizing this urgent challenge, Nigeria has demonstrated its commitments to climate action through various initiatives most notably our promise through Paris Agreement.”

Also speaking the Director General, National Council on Climate Change, and the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Change, Dr Nkiruka Maduekwe noted that the law provides for the establishment of climate change fund to enable Nigeria to strengthen her resilient and safeguard the people from the impact of climate change, but Nigeria is yet to operationalize the fund.

She noted that one of the reasons for the meeting was to bring together stakeholders to plan useful strategies that would ensure Nigeria is able to benefit from the fund.

She equally noted that the meeting would device Nigeria’s strategies at the upcoming COP 29, insisting that Nigeria should expect positive outcomes from the global meeting.

Maduekwe said already in place a trained negotiators which would be on attendance at the COP 29 for Nigeria so that the nation can come out from the meeting with goodies.

Tinubu Says Resources Need to be Mobilized to Achieve Nation’s Climate Goals

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Tinubu’s Daughter Appointed Ambassador for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education

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Tinubu’s Daughter Appointed Ambassador for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education

By: Our Reporter

The first daughter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Chief Dr. Mujidat Folasade Tinubu-Ojo has been appointed Ambassador of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education (NCAOOSCE).

This announcement was made by the Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr. Muhammad Sani Idriss Elbulaturee during a courtesy visit to the Iyaloja-General’s palace in Lagos.

Dr. Idris cited Chief Tinubu Ojo’s passion for supporting disadvantaged communities, particularly almajiri and out-of-school children, as the reason for her appointment.

He praised her efforts in promoting trade and commerce, ensuring market women’s access to resources and opportunities.

Chief Tinubu-Ojo expressed excitement and gratitude for the honour, pledging to alleviate the plight of these vulnerable Nigerians.

She emphasized her father’s commitment to education as a lasting legacy for Nigerian children, evident in his own children’s lives.

She commended the Executive Secretary for his service to Nigeria and prayed for him to succeed in the task ahead.

As Ambassador, Chief Tinubu Ojo is expected leverage her position to expand services to almajiri and out-of-school children, aligning with the commission’s goals.

Tinubu’s Daughter Appointed Ambassador for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education

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Kebbi Gov. signs N75,000 minimum wage, gives 72 hours implementation directive

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Kebbi Gov. signs N75,000 minimum wage, gives 72 hours implementation directive

By: Our Reporter

The Kebbi State Governor, His Excellency, Comrade Dr Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu has signed into law a new minimum wage of N75,000.

The governor also directed the State Accountant General, Ministry of Finance and Ministry for Local Government to ensure implementation of the new wage within 72 hours.

The new minimum wage was signed into law before the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and his executive members who were in Kebbi State for a meeting.

Speaking shortly after signing the wage at Government House, Birnin Kebbi, Gov. Idris said all categories of workers would benefit from the new minimum wage and “it must start from this month of October.”

The governor recalled that right from the onset, he promised not to disappoint labour, saying that the labour have now started harvesting what they have planted.

“I want to use this medium to thank the NLC president and the labour for supporting me to win my election.

“The national leadership was here in Kebbi State in support of my election and by their support, I won my election and at the same time, I won my cases in different court of law.

“I promised you that I will never fail you and I promised that I will not fail Kebbi workers also. I reiterate my commitment and sincerity to using the Kebbi resources judiciously, with fear of God and I will not fail you, and will not fail Kebbi workers.

“In my administration I don’t owe salaries, I don’t owe pension, I don’t owe gratuity, I don’t owe death benefit and I pay leave grant up to 2023,” he confirmed.

The governor said he was supposed to be the first governor in Nigeria to implement minimum wage but there was no template to lay hand on.

He explained that the new wage was the outcome of a joint committee comprising representatives of both labour and the state, who arrived at three different wages of N70,000, N72,00.

Kebbi Gov. signs N75,000 minimum wage, gives 72 hours implementation directive

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