National News
FG, UNICEF, Others Launch Nigeria Learning Passport
FG, UNICEF, Others Launch Nigeria Learning Passport
By: Michael Mike
The Government of Nigeria, UNICEF and other partners have launched on Thursday the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP), an online mobile platform.
The platform which would soon include offline option is aimed at providing continuous education to three million learners in 2022 alone, and a total of 12 million by 2025.
“To ensure continuity of learning for all children and the resilience of education systems to future shocks, we must change and reimagine the education sector,”
Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who was Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba said: “Deploying innovations that rethink the current methodologies, including new approaches to delivering education in ways that defy the digital divide, and ensuring learning continuity in emergencies, has become imperative.”
The Nigerian Learning Passport is designed for pre-primary, primary and secondary school learning. Children, youth, and teachers can access a digitalized curriculum providing learning materials in all core curriculum subjects for Primary One to Six, and all Junior and Senior Secondary School classes.
A learner can register on the platform using any device with a web browser, or through the NLP mobile application, to access a variety of high-quality learning content.
With the launch, Nigeria has joined 20 other countries in the world where the Learning Passport is reaching children with improved learning opportunities.
UNICEF’s Executive Director, Catherine Russell, in a goodwill message at the launch in Abuja, said: “Before COVID-19, about 10.5 million Nigerian children aged between 5 and 14 were not in school. Today in Nigeria, more than 9.7 million children are at risk of never returning to school, their learning left behind. The Learning Passport can help change that,” adding that: “By offering simple, easy, and fun ways to learn, as well as tailor-made training programmes, the Learning Passport will help respond to the needs of every child. With online, offline, and mobile options, it can help us reach the most vulnerable and marginalized learners.”
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Nigeria’s education sector faces many challenges that have contributed to keeping more than 10.5 million children out of school in Africa’s most populous nation.
One of these challenges is access to quality learning, exacerbated in recent times by attacks on learning institutions and abduction of students. Both have made parents fearful of sending their children to school. The disruption to education by school attacks has meant millions of children have significantly missed out on learning they would have acquired if they had been in the classroom.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the digital divide two-thirds of the world’s children face, having no access to internet in their homes. This lack of connectivity affects low-income countries and rural regions in greater proportions and puts children and youth in these areas at greater risk of missing out on education, perpetuating inequalities.
Also speaking, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Peter Hawkins, noted that both the digital divide and COVID-19 have shown us that we must innovate to help Nigerian children fulfil their right to an education.
He added that: “We appreciate the partnership with Microsoft, the Global Partnership for Education, and all partners who collaborated with the Federal Ministry of Education on this project to provide continuous learning access to children in Nigeria.”
The NLP is supported by GenU 9JA (Generation Unlimited in Nigeria), with the aim of delivering connectivity and digital learning to young Nigerians at scale. Partners such as IHS Towers and Airtel are currently connecting schools to the internet and providing zero-rated data to ensure that UNICEF can deploy the NLP in connected schools and reach millions of children with digital learning.
GenU 9JA has an ambitious objective to support 20 million young Nigerians (aged 10 to 24) to transition from learning to earning and delivering data, digital learning, job-related skills, and livelihood opportunities by 2030.
FG, UNICEF, Others Launch Nigeria Learning Passport
EU Provides €5.4 million in Respond to Floods in the Sahel and Lake Chad regions
…Nigeria Gets €1.1 million
By: Michael Mike
The European Union has released €5.4 million in humanitarian aid to help the most affected populations in the aftermath of the devastating floods in Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali and Burkina Faso.
Nigeria, according to a statement on Monday would be getting €1.1 million.
More than 4.4 million people are estimated to be affected in the six countries by floods which led to the destruction of houses, public health facilities, water systems, schools and sanitation facilities as well as roads, infrastructures, and agricultural areas.
There is apprehension that the lack of access to water, hygiene, and sanitation services may increase the risk of spreading of waterborne diseases.
The statement by Europe Union read: “This funding will help our humanitarian partners on the ground to provide immediate aid and respond to the most urgent needs concerning food, shelter, access to clean water and sanitation and other essential services in the hardest-hit areas.
“The amount will be distributed as follows:
Chad €1,000,000; Niger €1,350,000; Nigeria €1,100,000; Mali € 1,000,000; Cameroon €650,000, Burkina Faso €300,000.”
According to the statement, the funding comes in addition to €232 million in humanitarian assistance already allocated to these countries so far this year.
It added that in addition, the EU and its partners had already responded to the immediate consequences of floods in Liberia, Guinea, Chad, Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Mali, through timely adjustments to ongoing actions and/or contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
The EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič said: “Excessive rainfalls have lashed the Sahel and Lake Chad regions with unprecedented impact, displacing millions and causing widespread suffering and damage. We are mobilising all means at our disposal to help the most vulnerable in the flood-stricken countries, so they can receive much needed relief.”
Many areas have been impacted way harder than during previous flooding events. The exceptional precipitations recorded in Mali are the highest since 1967. In Niger, over 1 million people have been affected. The number raises to 1,5 million people in Chad, where more rainfall is expected. In Nigeria, the Northern regions, already impacted by a severe food and nutrition crisis driven by conflict, insecurity and high inflation, are among the hardest hit and the failure of a dam in the Maiduguri area has severely worsened the situation.
Approximately, 641,600 people are now estimated to be displaced and more heavy rainfall is expected according to forecast.
The floods, coupled with the lack of access to water, hygiene, and sanitation services throughout the region, could lead to increased risk of cholera, especially in the cholera endemic areas.
EU Provides €5.4 million in Respond to Floods in the Sahel and Lake Chad regions
National News
79th UNGA: US Chamber Of Commerce Commits $320m To Mortgage Financing, SMEs, Others In Nigeria
79th UNGA: US Chamber Of Commerce Commits $320m To Mortgage Financing, SMEs, Others In Nigeria
*** As VP Shettima assures of President Tinubu’s dedication to investor-friendly nation
By: Our Reporter
Nigeria’s participation at the 79th Session of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly recorded the first success on Monday, as the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s commitment towards mortgage refinancing and women empowerment received the support of the United States Chamber of Commerce with a commitment of about $320 million.
This is just as Vice President Kashim Shettima , who is leading the federal government delegation and representing President Tinubu at this year’s UNGA, has met with other members of Nigeria’s delegation to strategise on Nigeria’s engagements in New York.
At a US-Nigeria Executive Business Roundtable hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce, Nisha Biswal of the American International Development Finance Corporation announced that with a portfolio of $1 billion, it was investing $200 million in mortgage refinancing in Nigeria.
The sum of $100 million has been earmarked for FCMB to finance SMEs in Nigeria, with particular interest in women empowerment.
The US Chamber of Commerce also announced that $20 million has been approved for a firm, Robust International, for processing of cashew nuts in Nigeria.
Biswal said the American Chamber remained committed to working with Nigerians in the development and pursuit of sustainable economic policies.
Appreciating the gesture of the group, Vice President Shettima reiterated President Tinubu’s commitment to investor-friendly policies.
He stated: “I urge you to give Nigeria the benefit of the doubt. The current administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the most investor-friendly administration in the history of Nigeria. When fuel subsidy was an albatross around Nigeria’s neck, President Tinubu, from day one, hit the ground running by withdrawing the fuel subsidy and unifying the multiple opaque foreign exchange markets.”
Earlier on Monday, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, led other members to brief the Vice President on the activities and itinerary lined up for him in New York.
Tuggar outlined the programmes and activities, saying the Vice President is expected to deliver President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s national statement at the General Debate of the UN General Assembly.
Apart from President Tinubu’s national statement delivery, Vice President Kashim Shettima is also expected to meet with the Secretary General of the United Nations.
Aside other heads of states lined up to meet with the Vice President, there are also scheduled meetings with the head of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States; the President of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Director General of the International Atomic Agency, and multinational companies, among others.
Also on the itinerary of the Vice President is a meeting with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and a host of other international partners.
Top Nigerian officials present at the meeting included the Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani; Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye; Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji; Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite.
Others are Minister of Solid Mineral Development, Dele Alake; Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Kunle Salako; Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed, among many others.
79th UNGA: US Chamber Of Commerce Commits $320m To Mortgage Financing, SMEs, Others In Nigeria
National News
Seyi Tinubu donates over N500m to residents affected by flood…assures of 50 medical practitioners to handle health issues
Seyi Tinubu donates over N500m to residents affected by flood…assures of 50 medical practitioners to handle health issues
By: Bodunrin kayode
Son of President Bola Tinubu, Seyi has donated N500m to residents of Maidugiri who were affected by the recent flood which left most of them in a state of shock and ruin.
Added to swelling the appeal funds for the residents, his recent visit to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, he also provided medical succor to hundreds of residents affected by the devastating flood that ravaged the city.
Accompanied by his kid brother Yinka, friends, and associates, Seyi expressed sympathy to Governor Babagana Zulum over the flood disaster and subsequent loss of lives by some residents who were taken unawares when the raging Dam water came knocking their homes in the wee hours of 10th September.
Seyi, known for his philanthropic efforts, especially towards youth empowerment, emphasized that this visit was just the beginning of his commitment to alleviating the suffering of young people impacted by the unfortunate flood.
He praised the resilience of the people of Borno State, who have faced numerous challenges in recent years, and expressed optimism that the state will emerge stronger from this tragedy.
Seyi’s donation included essential items such as food, medications, and household necessities.
Specifically, Seyi provided the following: Food Items: “cartons of spaghetti, tomato paste, groundnut oil, salt, bags of flour, rice, maize, Maggie, thousands of loaves of bread, and other staples
” Medical Supplies: critical prescriptions for almost 50,000 children and adults, including anti-malarials, anti-hypertensives, antiparasitics, anti-diabetics, analgesics, and antibiotics.
“Household Necessities: 10,000 pieces of mosquito nets, blankets, mattresses, kettles, wrappers, buckets, mats, sanitary pads, and wash kits.”
Seyi’s efforts were commended by Chidi, a transport and logistics expert, and Isaac Balami, a renowned aviator, who praised his empathy and commitment to supporting young people.
His visit and donation demonstrates his dedication to helping those in need and promoting unity and strength in the face of adversity.
About 50 doctors have been contributed to assist in health emergency managements.
Seyi Tinubu donates over N500m to residents affected by flood…assures of 50 medical practitioners to handle health issues
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