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Drug War: Abuja to Host 54 African countries, 15 Others at HONLAF
Drug War: Abuja to Host 54 African countries, 15 Others at HONLAF
By: Michael Mike
Abuja, the Nation’s capital is set to host delegates from 54 African countries and 15 observer nations next week for the meeting Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, Africa, (HONLAF) to discuss new trends and partnerships to curb the global drug scourge.
converge on Abuja for the 31st meeting of
Top on the agenda of the meeting, which is the 31st Edition, include discussions and collaborations on alternative development to cannabis cultivation, assets forfeiture, cryptocurrency and money laundering by drug cartels, among others.
This was disclosed on Tuesday at a joint press briefing in Abuja by Secretary to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Shadrach Haruna who represented the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) and the Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Oliver Stolpe.
Haruna said the 31st meeting of HONLAF, a subsidiary body of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (UNCND) is to enable heads of drug law enforcement agencies in Africa to discuss and develop strategies to combat drug trafficking and abuse in the region.
He noted that: “The HONLAF meeting is an annual event. The last one was held in Nairobi, Kenya, where Nigeria was unanimously elected as the host of the 31st edition, which will take place from Tuesday, September 26 to Friday, September 29, 2023 in Abuja.”
Haruna said: “This annual HONLAF meeting features a line-up of activities that include technical meetings, paper presentations, deliberations on reports and trends, workshops, and bilateral talks among member nations. It is a platform for brokering collaborations in the areas of shared intelligence, joint training, and joint operations against international drug cartels in the African region.
“This year, Nigeria has the honour of being the chair and host of the meeting. So, it means delegates from 53 other African countries will converge on the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Monday, and for the rest of the week, they will be guests of NDLEA and the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“Aside from delegates from African countries, there will be representatives from observer bodies and other non-African countries who will be attending to watch the proceedings.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to deliver the keynote address and also declare the conference open as the special guest of honour, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and some invited ministers as well as heads of relevant parastatals and agencies will be at the opening ceremony.
The conference, which holds between Tuesday 26th and Friday 29th September will also provide opportunities for bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the main agenda.
Haruna said: “Among other positive outlooks, Nigeria hosting the 31st HONLAF is an indication of the trust in the leadership quality of NDLEA among its peers on the continent. At the last HONLAF meeting in Nairobi, Nigeria seized the momentum to broker bilateral cooperation with a number of countries with the intention of forming a strong regional defence against transnational illicit drug organisations trying to establish bases in our countries. Such bilateral relationships have been crucial to NDLEA’s interdiction exercises in the past year.”
In his remarks at the briefing, Dr. Oliver Stolpe said the HONLAF meeting will also focus on “regional and national cooperation to reduce illicit production and cultivation of illicit drugs, something that has been observed, thanks to the operational success of NDLEA over the years in Nigeria not only for the destruction of cannabis farms but also the manufacturing of other drugs like methamphetamine.”
He added that: “There will also be discussion on alternative development, an approach promoted by many countries; financial investigation in drug trafficking cases and the role of cryptocurrency in drug trafficking cases, and money laundering. It’s safe to say NDLEA has made great strides to confiscate the money and proceeds of drug crime. We’ll also look at how to follow the money and seize the immense riches accumulated in the drug trade.”
Stolpe disclosed that the opening ceremony of the HONLAF meeting, will equally afford UNODC and the National Institute of Security Studies to present a report on organized crime trends that constitute threat to Nigeria.
Drug War: Abuja to Host 54 African countries, 15 Others at HONLAF
News
Period poverty: NEEM Foundation distributes sanitary pads to over 300 student in Abuja
Period poverty: NEEM Foundation distributes sanitary pads to over 300 student in Abuja
By: Michael Mike
NEEM Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) has distributed sanitary towels to over 300 students in Abuja as part of its commitment to end period poverty among young school girls,
The foundation carried out the empowerment scheme in collaboration with the Regent Schools Abuja, at the Junior Secondary School, JSS, Jabi 1, Abuja.
Head legal, Neem Foundation, Nancy Oyibo
said conversations around menstrual health and hygiene should be normalised, noting that access to menstrual hygiene products is crucial to healthy living, well being and dignity of all women and girls in the society.
She said empowering women to take charge of their menstrual health is not just essential but transformative.
Oyibo said: “We discovered some issues of health as some young girls cannot afford sanitary towels during their period. We thought it was imperative, following the rate of inflation to help the young ladies, the future of our country.”
She disclosed that “this is our second distribution in Abuja, we have also done few distributions in Maiduguri.”
She noted that the target goal is to create a pad bank in schools, as according to research carried out by the organisation revealed that female students sometimes miss school during the period of their menstrual flow.
She said: “This is just a step to many activities to be carried out in this light. We are going to take this all the way to where it needs to get to and to pass on this message so people can understand the effect this has on the education system for young girls.
“We do not want to have girls in situations where they are vulnerable and not proud of something that comes naturally. We want them to come confidently knowing they have nothing to worry about as they can compete with their male counterpart in school and ensure that they get the best out of it.
“For now, we are engaging mostly the girls as we realized that, most of them are shy to discuss topics related to menstrual hygiene, so this stage is to have an interaction with them, to make them comfortable. This factor made us ensure we have male personnel among us to talk about these issues as a gradual process, then subsequently, we include the boys in the discuss.
“This whole situations stems from the home as some homes do not seem it right to discuss issues of menstrual hygiene publicly. This is how some people grew up and we are trying to change that narrative with a focus on spreading the word to everyone.
During an interactive section with the student, Legal Assistant Neem, Aliyyah Abdulkadir disclosed that the organisation saw it necessary to provide sanitary towels from the opinion that, you girls should not stay out of school, or have to choose between school and menstrual care.
She charged the students to be agent of change, in making concerted efforts to educate others in a bid to break the culture of silence.
For her part, the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director, Aisha Muniru Mai, speaking on the up coming 16 days activism on Violence Against Women, said: “We are keying into the issues with specific interest to access to education.
“One of the things we overlook is the period poverty. As if you do not have access to menstrual hygiene products, it will be difficult to go to school and learn. As such we are highlighting period poverty, teaching the children the signs and things they need to be aware of to identify violence and report to appropriate quarters.
The Director/Principal, JSS, Jabi 1, Dr. Grace Ifeyinwa Onyeanusi expressed profound gratitude to NEEM Foundation for the kind gesture as it will go a long way in helping the students maintain hygiene during menstruation.
One of the beneficiaries, A JSS 3 student Tega Praise Ogaga, expressed her appreciation to NEEM Foundation, disclosing how sometimes she is scared to approach her parents to purchase sanitary towels during menstruation and will have to use a single pad for a long period.
She said, “Sometimes I resolve to using rags or more than one pant, which is very discomforting, but with the sanitary towels from NEEM Foundation, I will not have to make any demands from my parents in a while.
Neem Foundation is a leading crisis response organisation committed to promoting the protection and wellbeing of populations and communities living in contexts affected by conflict, violence, and fragility.
Period poverty: NEEM Foundation distributes sanitary pads to over 300 student in Abuja
News
Flame Initiatives, RCCG empowers widows in FCT
Flame Initiatives, RCCG empowers widows in FCT
By: Michael Mike
As part of its commitment to foster empowerment in marginalised communities, Flame Initiatives, a Non-Governmental Organisation under the CINTA Widows Empowerment Programme, has donated food items, funds, and other materials to widows in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The outreach carried out in Abuja, was in collaboration with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), The Lord’s Place.
Speaking, the Lead Pastor of the RCCG, the Lord’s Place, Pastor Ola Omosebi, charged the Federal government to make concerted efforts to enhance the current economic situation facing the country, deploying urgent solutions without altering long-term policies.
Pastor Omosebi said the church is emulating how Christ fed 5,000 persons during famine while asking the government to act fast to ameliorate the suffering of the people.
“The major direction of this event is to have at least one day a year where widows are brought together and empowered with soft skills, business skills, enterprise skills and encouragement. One of the things this program offers is hope. “
He urged the government to support widows through sustainable initiatives. Providing a dedicated secretariat advocating for women, particularly widows, with government representatives.
“People are struggling to make ends meet, and the prolonged hardship is leading to depression, despair, and even death. The government must prioritize quick-fix solutions alongside long-term plans to restore hope and confidence in the economy.”
Also speaking, the Mandate Secretary, Women Affairs Secretariat of the FCT Administration (FCTA), Dr Adedayo Benjamin-Laniyi, expressed empathy for the resilient widows, noting that one cannot understand what it means to be in their shoes.
Laniyi, represented by her Personal Assistant, Mrs. Kemi Samuel, noted the fundamental role a husband/father plays, stating that loss can change lives and test the core of beings.
She celebrated the widows for their resilience and strength while acknowledging the challenges amidst the hardship and grief come the capacity to adapt.
She said, “We are here to support one another. Let today be a reminder to encourage and uplift one another.
“It’s an honour to celebrate strength, resilience, and community.
She noted that the event is a testament to the extraordinary courage and unwavering determination of everyone who has navigated the challenges of widows.
Also, the President of Widows Organisation International FCT Chapter, Aisha Baba Ringo, advised widows to persevere and be hardworking.
According to her, “Being a widow doesn’t mean all hope is lost, it’s also not a stigma”.
A beneficiary of the programme, Ms Oyeyemi Obende, said the programme has been educative, innovative and supportive. She advised widows not to give up even if the world looked down on them.
Flame Initiatives was established to provide the disadvantaged and mainly rural population with relief materials, motivation, and empowerment to improve their physical and social well-being. Their main objective is to drive social change in communities by facilitating development in the public and private sectors.
Flame Initiatives, RCCG empowers widows in FCT
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COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION RECEIVES MD NELFUND IN MAIDUGURI; INTERFACES WITH STUDENTS AND ERADICATORS
COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION RECEIVES MD NELFUND IN MAIDUGURI; INTERFACES WITH STUDENTS AND ERADICATORS
By: Our Reporter
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, has visited Borno State to engage with students, educators, and government officials, highlighting the benefits of the NELFUND initiative.
NELFUND, an initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aims to provide all higher institution students with access to financial resources, enabling them to pursue their educational goals and aspirations at ease.
The Managing Director NELFUND Akintunde Sawyerr emphasized his commitment to revitalizing education in the country, stating that the loan programme is designed to also reduce unproductivity and unhappiness amongst Nigerians students, which often lead to broader societal issues.
Sawyerr explained The loan’s modalities, which include creating an online profile as a prerequisite for application, clarifying that the loan is interest-free and does not require a fixed repayment period, making it accessible and flexible for students.
Borno State Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Lawan Abba Wakilbe, reiterated the state government’s commitment to facilitating student access to the loan, hence announced the establishment of a dedicated desk officer for NELFUND in the state Ali Sherriff to work in collaboration with the Special Adviser to governor Zulum on Higher Education and other educators.
This initiative, Wakilbe added will guide students throughout the application process and ensure they fully understand THE benefits of the loan, which he described as a low-risk grant and encouraged all eligible students to take advantage of the programme.
During the session, questions were raised seeking further clarification, where the Managing Director provided detailed responses, shedding more light on the programme and its benefits.
COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION RECEIVES MD NELFUND IN MAIDUGURI; INTERFACES WITH STUDENTS AND ERADICATORS
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