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EU, Nigeria sign €18m agreement on local vaccine production and medical technologies
EU, Nigeria sign €18m agreement on local vaccine production and medical technologies
By: Michael Mike
The European Union and Nigeria have signed a cooperation agreement on an €18 million EU support to enhance research and development capacities for implementing Nigeria’s national plan for the pharmaceutical industry and local production of vaccines and medical technologies.
The European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Ms Jutta Urpilainen, and the Permanent Secretary of Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Education, Ms Didi Esther Walson-Jack, jointly signed the agreement at the EU Global Gateway High-Level Event on Education held in Brussels on Thursday.
The new collaboration underlines the EU’s strong commitment to education and health equity.
Urpilainen said: “Economic growth is dependent on an educated, skilled workforce and healthy societies, and investing in strengthening education and health systems worldwide is an integral part of the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy. Our investments in quality education, research and training seek to empower future generations by equipping them with the knowledge, skills and competencies they need in a changing world to tackle global challenges and build prosperity.”
The European funding signed on Thursday under the Team Europe Initiative on Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines and Health Technologies in Africa (MAV+) will support the wider enabling environment around Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector, notably by promoting: skills development through education and training; research and development (e.g. research in artificial intelligence and nanotechnology); the digitalisation of essential dimensions of the ecosystem; a centralised system for forecasting, procurement and distribution of quality medical products; trade, investment and customs facilitation, intellectual property rights frameworks and conditions, and an enabling environment for preferential trade and investment.
Urpilainen also signed 15 Intra-Africa Mobility Scheme projects funded by the EU with €27 million under the flagship Youth Mobility for Africa. The projects will provide learning mobility opportunities for students, trainees and staff across the continent to boost high-level green and digital skills.
Nigeria will benefit from six projects: CB4EE – Capacity Building for Engineering Education Practice and Research (€1.8 million of EU funding in total, with the participation of the University of Lagos-Unilag); CREATE-Green Africa – Climate Research and Education to Advancing Green Development in Africa (€1.8 million of EU funding in total, with the participation of the University of Port-Harcourt); GENES II – Mobility for Plant Genomics Scholars to Accelerate Climate-Smart Adaptation Options and Food Security in Africa II (€1.8 million of EU funding in total, coordinated by the Ebonyi State University); GREEN STEM – Green, Resilient and Entrepreneurial Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics for Africa (€1.8 million of EU funding in total, with the participation of the University of Lagos-Unilag); HCE Solutions – Promoting Inclusive Homegrown Clean Energy Solutions for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in Africa (€1.8 million of EU funding in total, coordinated by the Federal University of Technology and with the participation of the University of Nigeria); ORPHAN – Mobility for High Skilled Scientists and Entrepreneurs on Orphan Crops in Higher Education for Accelerated Climate Change Solutions in Africa (€1.8 million of EU funding in total, with the participation of the Ebonyi State University).
Urpilainen also launched a key initiative of the Youth Action Plan in EU external relations, the Africa-Europe Youth Academy, which will provide opportunities for formal and informal learning and exchanges to young people looking to improve their leadership skills and create networks between Africa and Europe.
According to a statement, Nigeria can also benefit from the regional Team Europe Initiative on Opportunity-driven Skills and Vocational Education and Training in Africa, launched, which will orient country-level vocational training initiatives towards concrete employment opportunities created by Global Gateway investments.
The Team Europe Initiative on Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines and Health Technologies in Africa (MAV+) works with African partners to strengthen their pharmaceutical systems and manufacturing capacity to improve access to quality, safe, effective and affordable health products. It offers a 360-degree approach through the supply side, the demand side, and the enabling environment, and six work streams: industrial development, supply chains and private sector; market shaping, demand and trade facilitation; regulatory strengthening; technology transfer and intellectual property management; access to finance; R&D, higher education and skills.
The statement emphasized that education is a powerful mechanism to address inequality and poverty, boosting human potential, opening doors for girls, youth and marginalised groups, and providing a springboard for human connections, debate and democratic values. It also creates an enabling environment for investments in digital and green transformations to succeed, and forms an integral part of the EU’s Global Gateway offer to partner countries.
The European Union remains the leading investor in education worldwide. The EU institutions and Member States provide more than 50% of all official development aid to education worldwide. The EU is committed to dedicating at least 10% of its international partnerships budget for the period 2021–2027 to education, and in the period 2021–2023, its commitments have amounted to around €3 billion, approximately 13% of the budget.
EU, Nigeria sign €18m agreement on local vaccine production and medical technologies
Emir of Kano prays the peace and stability of Nigeria, West Africa
By: Michael Mike
The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero has prayed for peace and stability in Nigeria and the entire West African region..
The Emir offered the prayer when the Deputy President of the Senate, who is also the Acting Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Barau Jibrin, led the delegation from ECOWAS Parliament who are in Kano for the Second Extraordinary Session of the regional legislative arm to his Palace on a courtesy.
The Emir thanked the parliamentarians for the visit and prayed for the successful conduct of the extraordinary session of the parliament.
The Emir, while commending the Deputy President of the Senate for facilitating the hosting of the session in Kano, urged the parliamentarians to explore business opportunities in the state.
Speaking during the visit, Senator Jibrin explained that Kano was selected for the second extraordinary session to bring the ECOWAS Parliament closer to the people.
He said: “This will bring the ECOWAS Parliament closer to the people at the grassroots. It will also create an avenue for interactions and business relations. The dream of our founding fathers is to unite us through ECOWAS.
“The emir is the custodian of our tradition and religion. We are here to seek for his blessings and register our respect for the emirate and the emir. Your Royal Highness, we also want to seek for your prayers for the event to be successful,” he said..
The extraordinary session is convened to consider and adopt the rule of procedure and strategic plan for the sixth legislature as well as the 2024 work programme.
Parliamentarians from 12 countries including Nigeria, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote D’ Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Republic of Togo, are participating in the second extraordinary session of the parliament.
Emir of Kano prays the peace and stability of Nigeria, West Africa
Innovation Interventions to be Adopted at NESREA- Barikor
By: Michael Mike
The Director General of NESREA, Dr. Innocent Bariate Barikor had said he would be adopting innovative interventions in addressing the environmental problems bedeviling the country.
Dr. Barikor made the promise on Monday while addressing management and staff of the agency on assumption of office in Abuja.
He said, “We will deepen the mandate of this Agency, and explore the full potentials of the NESREA Establishment Act 2007 (as amended) and ensure we provide more innovate approaches, such that we use the opportunity given to us to do the right thing, not just for ourselves, but for the nation and posterity.”
“We will increase the capacity for public orientation, boost our revenue generation for the government, and also work with our external partners to achieve the mandate of the Agency,” he said.
Barikor thanked the President and Commander – in- Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) for the confidence reposed in him, and assured that under his administration, the Agency, will exceed expectations of Nigerians in terms of safeguarding the environment.
The NESREA boss also called on the management and staff of the Agency to work with him to actualize the vision of a clean and healthy environment for all Nigerians in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s administration.
While handing over to Dr. Barikor, the Director, Inspection and Enforcement, Mr. Abdusalam Isa pledged the support of the Management and Staff for the new Director General.
Dr. Innocent Bariate Barikor was appointed the 4th Director General of NESREA by the President and before his appointment, he was a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Rivers State.
Innovation Interventions to be Adopted at NESREA- Barikor
Marwa Advises on Discipline, Hardwork, Patriotism
By: Michael Mike
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) has charged the Nigerian Military School (NMS) boys to always make discipline, hardwork, loyalty, and patriotism their watchwords in all they do throughout the duration of their study in the school and afterwards.
Marwa, who gave the charge in his remarks as the special guest of honour and reviewing officer of the 70th Foundation Day parade of the military school, urged the boys to see the quality of education received in the school as a solid springboard for their future endeavours, even as he warned them against indulging in substance abuse.
He noted that the school has made historic contributions in remolding boys to cater to the manpower needs of the Nigerian Army and other fields of human endeavours of the nation at large.
Addressing the Class 6 Boys, Marwa said “the quality of education and solid foundation you have acquired in this prestigious institution is enough to serve as a springboard for your future endeavours. Therefore, discipline, hardwork, loyalty, and patriotism should always be your watchwords and should also guide your actions. I wish you all the best in your ongoing external examinations.”
He told the other grade boys that “you must continue to strive to maintain the level of discipline that NMS is known for. I am aware that your commandant is resolute and has maintained his resolve not to condone or spare any act of indiscipline in the school.”
He urged them to make a good choice of their future by abstaining from substance abuse.
“Studies and living experiences have also shown that drug abuse cannot solve any problem. Rather, it creates new complex challenges. The good news is that there is the other side of drug abuse for young people, which is intentionally embracing a drug free life, by choosing positive and healthy habits. With the world at your feet and God by your side, you have the power to take decisions on the kind of life you want to live, from now on and to set valuable goals and take actions that will lead you to a safe and productive destination. As students of this esteemed learning institution, you bear the burden of living and staying true to the ideals and spirit which we have all carried proudly over the years”, the NDLEA boss stated.
He said as an ex-boy and an alumnus of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), “the time has come for us to begin consideration for automatic admission of graduating NMS boys into NDA.”
While expressing appreciation to the school management for inviting him as the reviewing officer of the 70th Foundation Day parade, Marwa recalled his own experience in the school. “On this very parade ground, I marched as a boy from 1966 to 1970. Indeed, I was one of the two stick orderlies on the foundation day parade of 20th May 1966 in my form one where then Lt Col Hassan Usman Katsina, then Military Governor of Northern region was the reviewing officer for that parade. It is therefore a great honour and privilege for me to stand before you today as the reviewing officer for the 70th Foundation Day parade of the Nigerian Military School (NMS), fifty-four years after my graduation”, he stated.
He commended the school established in 1954 and saddled with the responsibility of training proficient young Nigerians to provide leadership at the junior level in the Armed Forces, adding that the NMS has since its establishment 70 years ago made tremendous contributions to national development both within and outside the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Marwa Advises on Discipline, Hardwork, Patriotism
Emir of Kano prays the peace and stability of Nigeria, West Africa
Innovation Interventions to be Adopted at NESREA- Barikor
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