Connect with us

News

ActionAid Secretary-General Praises Nigerians’ Warmth, Urges Government to Scale Up Community-Based Solutions

Published

on

ActionAid Secretary-General Praises Nigerians’ Warmth, Urges Government to Scale Up Community-Based Solutions

By: Michael Mike

The Secretary-General of ActionAid International has applauded Nigerians for their hospitality and resilience during his maiden visit to the country, describing Nigeria as “an impressive nation whose people embody warmth, courage, and a strong sense of community.”

Speaking during a field visit to a women-led community empowerment programme in Abuja as part of activities marking ActionAid Nigeria’s 25th anniversary, the global head of the development organisation said he arrived with mixed expectations but was quickly won over by the sincerity and openness of ordinary Nigerians.

“I had heard many things about Nigeria before coming, some of them told in jest, like the idea that you haven’t truly visited Africa until you’ve visited Nigeria,” he said. “But over the past three days, I’ve been moved by the kindness of the people and the genuine willingness to help. It has left me with a very strong, positive impression.”

Reflecting on the organization’s two-and-a-half decades in the country, the Secretary-General said the true measure of impact lies not in written reports but in the lived experiences of people who have benefited from the programs.

“Listening to women and young people speak confidently about how trainings and community support have transformed their lives is the clearest sign of impact,” he noted. “When people speak from a position of power and agency, you know development work is reaching the right places.”

He added that ActionAid will deepen its investments over the coming years—especially in women and young people—because these groups play a pivotal role in driving sustainable change at both community and national levels.

The Secretary-General urged the Nigerian government to recognize the vital role civil society organizations play in development and to ensure a supportive environment for their operations.

“When organizations like ActionAid thrive, entire communities thrive with them,” he said. “The government must acknowledge this and create conditions that allow civil society to operate effectively.”

However, he stressed that NGOs alone cannot achieve nationwide transformation.

“Non-governmental organizations can only reach a limited number of communities. Government has the mandate, the resources, and the long-term responsibility to deliver services at scale,” he explained. “Our job is to demonstrate what works. Government’s job is to expand it.”

He also highlighted education as a non-negotiable priority for Nigeria’s development.

“No country can achieve meaningful transformation without investing in education,” he said. “Budget decisions must reflect this reality, and every expenditure should have a direct impact on communities.”

His visit concluded with renewed commitments from ActionAid International to strengthen partnerships, expand grassroots initiatives, and support Nigerian communities in achieving long-term, people-driven development.

On his part, the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Dr. Ahmed Mamedu reiterated the need for urgent government investment in underserved communities across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as well as other parts of the country, particularly those facing severe infrastructural and social service gaps.

He made the appeal during a field visit to Pasepa community, one of several hard-to-reach areas where ActionAid has worked for more than a decade.

Mamedu explained that the visit formed part of the anniversary celebrations, which include showcasing communities where ActionAid has driven long-term development initiatives. He noted that Pasepa, like many others in the FCT, reflects the reality of deep rural poverty often overlooked in discussions about Abuja.

He noted that: “Many people assume Abuja is all about the city’s glamour, but Pasepa is also part of the FCT,” adding that: “Coming here reveals what daily life looks like for people living in real poverty — difficult terrain, limited infrastructure, and minimal access to essential services.”

He said ActionAid has worked in Pasepa for over 12 years, partnering with local stakeholders to build community structures, strengthen accountability, and push for government responsiveness. Despite notable progress, but lamented that the reality on ground remains far from satisfactory.

“Are we impressed with what we are seeing here? The answer is no,” he stated. “We can definitely do better. We want to see more impact, more livelihood opportunities, and improved access to social services.”

He said one of the most striking observations during the visit was the steady stream of political actors entering the community, insisting that this is evidence that leaders are aware of the community’s challenges — and capable of reaching it when seeking support.

“If politicians can find their way here during the political season, then they can also bring infrastructure and amenities,” he said. “We expect that in the next few months and years, returning to this community will reveal concrete improvements.”

He stressed that such development is not only overdue but essential for improving the lives of thousands of residents.

He said the visit was also an opportunity for the Secretary-General of ActionAid International to directly experience the conditions in Nigeria’s marginalized communities.

“This visit allows him to hear the voices of the people firsthand and understand the depth of the work we do,” he added.

ActionAid Nigeria says it will continue supporting rural communities while advocating stronger government accountability and sustained investment in critical social infrastructure.

ActionAid Secretary-General Praises Nigerians’ Warmth, Urges Government to Scale Up Community-Based Solutions

Continue Reading
1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Pingback: The Art of People in Hospitality: Creating Exceptional Guest Experiences in 2026 - The Wheatbaker

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Centre lauds Kaduna Govt over life skills, gender education policies approval

Published

on

Centre lauds Kaduna Govt over life skills, gender education policies approval

By Aisha Gambo

The Centre for Girls’ Education (CGE) has commended the Kaduna State Executive Council for approving the Kaduna State Life Skills Policy and the State Policy on Gender in Education (SPGE 2026–2030).

The Executive Director of the organisation, Habiba Mohammed, made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday in Kaduna.

She said the approval marked a transition from donor-supported, time-bound interventions to a sustainable, government-led framework for delivering life skills education and promoting gender equity in schools.

According to her, the Life Skills Policy will equip young people with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values required to succeed in education, employment and life, while the Gender in Education Policy providzbves a framework to promote equity, inclusion, participation, retention, completion and improved learning outcomes.

“The approval moves life skills and gender equity from the margins of the classroom into the core of Kaduna State’s education system,” she said.

Mohammed said CGE contributed to the development and validation of the policies through its system-strengthening project supported by Co-Impact, OASIS Initiative and the Malala Fund, in collaboration with the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) and the Kaduna State Ministry of Education.

She said the policies built on more than 18 years of the organisation’s Safe Space model, which independent evaluations showed had helped reduce child marriage, increase school enrolment and delay early marriage.

According to her, the AGILE programme in Kaduna has reached more than 127,319 girls and 6,250 boys between the ages of 14 and 18, while over 1,400 female and male teachers have been trained as mentors.

She added that institutionalising the model through public policy would ensure that life skills education became a permanent component of the state’s education system.

Mohammed said the policies would address barriers to school access, retention and completion, particularly for girls and other vulnerable learners.

She added that they would also institutionalise life skills as a co-curricular programme, strengthen evidence-based decision-making across the state’s 23 local government areas and guarantee continuity beyond donor-funded programmes.

The executive director commended Gov. Uba Sani for providing the leadership that made the policy approval possible.

She also appreciated the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Abubakar Sani Sambo, the Kaduna State Ministry of Education, the AGILE State Project Implementation Unit, the World Bank and other stakeholders for their contributions to the process.

Mohammed reaffirmed CGE’s commitment to supporting the Kaduna State Government with technical assistance during the implementation phase, including teacher training, gender-responsive education sector budgeting and monitoring.

She said the ultimate goal was to ensure that every girl and boy in Kaduna State had the opportunity to learn, develop and thrive.

Centre lauds Kaduna Govt over life skills, gender education policies approval

Continue Reading

News

Troops Kill Six ISWAP Fighters, Wound Seven in Failed Attack on Borno Military Base

Published

on

Troops Kill Six ISWAP Fighters, Wound Seven in Failed Attack on Borno Military Base

By: Zagazola Makama

Six fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) were reportedly killed and seven others seriously wounded during a failed attack on a Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Logomani in Borno State, credible intelligence sources have disclosed.

The sources told Zagazola Makama that the terrorists launched the attack on the military position in the early hours of July 7 but suffered significant casualties after troops mounted a fierce resistance.

According to the intelligence assessment, the attackers had assembled at Garal before advancing on the military base.

Following the failed assault, surviving insurgents were reportedly seen regrouping at Chukun Gudu, where they buried six of their fighters killed during the encounter.

Among those reportedly buried was a senior fighter identified as Munzir, also known as Ba Alayi, who was said to be an indigene of Wulgo.

The development comes as troops of Operation HADIN KAI continue sustained clearance operations aimed at dismantling terrorist enclaves and disrupting insurgents’ logistics and mobility across the Lake Chad region.

Troops Kill Six ISWAP Fighters, Wound Seven in Failed Attack on Borno Military Base

Continue Reading

Health

Cholera Outbreak Kills Nine ISWAP Terrorists in Timbuktu Triangle

Published

on

Cholera Outbreak Kills Nine ISWAP Terrorists in Timbuktu Triangle

By: Zagazola Makama

A cholera outbreak has reportedly claimed the lives of nine fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the Timbuktu Triangle, a known terrorist stronghold in Borno State, intelligence sources have disclosed.

The sources told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the outbreak had spread through the group’s enclaves, highlighting deteriorating sanitary conditions and limited access to medical care within the insurgents’ camps.

According to the intelligence, two additional ISWAP fighters infected with the disease were allegedly executed by fellow terrorists after attempts to manage their condition at Kimba village proved unsuccessful.

The sources said the development pointed to the worsening health conditions within the terrorist hideouts, where sustained military pressure has disrupted logistics, including access to medicines and treatment facilities.

The sources added that commanders had also been urged to intensify efforts to intercept medical supplies and pharmaceuticals intended for terrorist camps in order to further degrade ISWAP’s treatment capability and operational resilience.

The reported outbreak comes amid sustained offensives by troops of Operation HADIN KAI, who continue to target terrorist enclaves and logistics networks across the Lake Chad region in a bid to degrade the insurgents’ fighting capacity.

Cholera Outbreak Kills Nine ISWAP Terrorists in Timbuktu Triangle

Continue Reading

Trending

Verified by MonsterInsights