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ECOWAS Expends Over $26 million on humanitarian activities between 2023-2024- Commissioner

ECOWAS Expends Over $26 million on humanitarian activities between 2023-2024- Commissioner
By: Michael Mike
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said between 2023 and 2024 it splashed over $26 million on humanitarian activities in West Africa.
The regional political cum economic bloc said it also supported sport federations in the region with $100,000 each per year.
Addressing a press conference on Friday in Abuja, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Professor Fatou Sow Sarr said the regional body startups in scientific innovation with the sum of $50,000 in the area of youth innovation.
Sarr said a total of $700,000 was used for the training of 30 young people from the region in Masters and PHD programmes.
She also revealed that countries under sanctions were not excluded from the humanitarian gesture of the regional body.
She stressed that ECOWAS puts significant resources into the humanitarian sector for displaced people, migration, floods and various forms of disaster:
She said, “Guinea under sanctions received nearly 600,000 dollars in January 2024, namely: 100,000 dollars for the fire at the oil depot and 499,390 dollars for the floods.”
For the displaced people within the region, Prof. Sarr said, “In 2023 for floods and nutrition out of a total of 8.5 million people affected, ECOWAS provided support to half of the victims, or 4 million people for an amount of $12.6 million.
“In 2024, ECOWAS has released 9 million dollars for internally displaced people, refugees, asylum seekers, as well as for the communities that welcome them (i.e. all 15 countries).
” ECOWAS has allocated $1 million for stabilization in Nigeria (victims of terrorism, displaced people, injured people, rehabilitation and strengthening community resilience).”
The Commissioner also revealed that “Out of a fund of 25 million dollars intended for the fight against terrorism (Nigeria, Burkina, Mali and Niger), ECOWAS has reserved 4 million dollars for humanitarian actions.”
She explained that ECOWAS places more emphasizes on prevention, adding “We have a disaster reduction strategy and tools such as the observation, monitoring and alert center which allows ECOWAS to monitor displaced populations and floods, to anticipate problems. and better manage crisis situations.”
On the programmes for the youth integration within the region she said that the commission intervention was in the area of Volunteers programs, Sport and Economic Integration
According to her “Since 2014, ECOWAS has posted 217 volunteers in the following countries: Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Nigeria, Burkina, Benin.
“ECOWAS works to promote the spirit of volunteering among young people to give them opportunity for professional development, enhance their civic engagement and foster their conscience for community service.”
ECOWAS, she also said supported sports federation of each member states with $100,000 per year.
Sarr also listed other sporting activities and Union supported to include the Union of deaf sports associations, university sport development organizations. ECOWAS cycling tours Lagos- Accra 2010, Lagos Abidjan 2012.
“The Ecowas Game Event that included 5 to 6 sports disciplines were organized in 2009 and 2011,” she added.
She also said ECOWAS supported the Entrepreneurship project and youth mentoring Business incubation project.
She listed the area of training to include “Training in agrosylvopastoral farming from 2010-2018 at the Shanghai Center for 1,300 young people
“Training in refrigeration and air conditioning, auto mechanics in Burkina between 2014 and 2019 for 500 young people
“Training in building electricity in Mali for 500 young people.”
Prof. Sarr also revealed that ECOWAS initiated cooperation with the People’s Republic of China in 2023 to support young people, “Thus 12 entrepreneurship projects for young people in the sub-region received an awardcompetitors out of a total of 100 worldwide.”
In the area of Science Education, the ECOWAS Commissioner said the programs of the Directorate of Education, Science and Culture focus largely on young people, we can cite
“The academic mobility and professional integration program for young people within ECOWAS institutions, which from 2016 to 2024 enrolled 845 young people.
“The youth integration program in industries and the private sector in ECOWAS countries, which benefitted 180 young people between 2021 and 2022.”
Sarr added that: “Since 2019 ECOWAS has sent 42 young people for master’s degrees in diplomacy and international relations in Spain.
“Support for young people through prizes to the most successful startups in scientific innovation ($50,000).
“With PARI (Research and Innovation Support Program) from 2018 to 2024, it was possible to train more than 30 young people in Masters and PHD through funds donated to research consortia, for a total of $700,000.”
She also said the commission was supported the youths during film and art festivals, ad prizes were awarded to young artists.
For the ECOWAS Gender Center, Sarr said: “1,720 excellence scholarships were distributed from 2010 to 2022 to young girls from disadvantaged families.”
The Commissioner also revealed that there are plans to host ECOWAS Youth Forum in the coming month.
The forum, she said is “to take stock of the current situation, identify the changes and ruptures which have led to the general malaise observed in the sub- region.
“Consultations will be organized in member countries by bringing together young people concerned in their geographic, social and socio-professional diversity.”
The forum which will be extended by webinars to reach a larger number of people, television shows and radio debates, she said “will allow populations in each country to know that ECOWAS is looking into youth problems.
” At the end of the process, the ECOWAS meetings will be organized in a member country, allowing the regional organization to review its policy, strategy and roadmap accordingly.”
ECOWAS Expends Over $26 million on humanitarian activities between 2023-2024- Commissioner
News
Hoodlums amputate man’s hand in Gusau, flee with severed limb

Hoodlums amputate man’s hand in Gusau, flee with severed limb
By: Zagazola Makama
Suspected members of a gang known as Yan Sare-Sare attacked a 28-year-old man in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, amputated his hand and fled with the severed limb, the police said on Wednesday.
Zagazola Makama learnt from sources that the attack occurred at about 11:32 p.m. on Tuesday in Hayin Bugaje area of Gusau Local Government Area.
The victim, identified as Garzali Umar Monde, was said to have been attacked with cutlasses and machetes while the gang was heading into the area.
“Upon receipt of the distress call, patrol teams were immediately deployed to the scene. Blood traces were followed to the residence of one of the suspected attackers,” security sources said.
However, attempts to arrest the suspect were thwarted by his father.
The injured victim was rushed to Ahmed Sani Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, Gusau, where he is currently receiving treatment.
Meanwhile, two suspects have been arrested in connection with the gruesome attack, while others remain at large.
The authorities assured residents that efforts are ongoing to track down the remaining suspects and bring them to justice.
Hoodlums amputate man’s hand in Gusau, flee with severed limb
News
Troops arrest suspected Boko Haram logistics supplier in Maiduguri

Troops arrest suspected Boko Haram logistics supplier in Maiduguri
By: Zagazola Makama
The troops of Operation Hadin Kai in collaboration with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), have arrested a suspected Boko Haram logistics supplier in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Zagazola Makama gathered that the suspect, identified as Mr. Ahmadu Mohammed Dogo, was apprehended at Muna Garage at about 11:50 a.m. on Monday, following credible human intelligence.

According to preliminary investigations, the suspect was intercepted while allegedly attempting to convey Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) concealed in Fearless energy drink plastic bottles and packed in 12 sacks.
The suspect reportedly confessed during interrogation that he was transporting the fuel to Gamboru-Ngala, a border town in Borno State, believed to be a major logistics route for insurgents operating along the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin.

Items recovered from his possession included the PMS-filled plastic bottles, charms, suspected hard drugs, rings, syringes, and several personal effects.
Security sources said the arrest forms part of ongoing counter-terrorism efforts to cut off Boko Haram’s logistics and financial networks in the North East.

The suspect is currently in military custody and undergoing further interrogation.
Troops arrest suspected Boko Haram logistics supplier in Maiduguri
News
Again, FG Disburses ₦250,000 Each To Small Businesses At 7th MSMEs Clinic In Ondo

Again, FG Disburses ₦250,000 Each To Small Businesses At 7th MSMEs Clinic In Ondo
** Enabling environment for MSMEs central to President Tinubu’s economic policy, says VP Shettima
By: Our Reporter
The federal government, on Tuesday, disbursed ₦250,000 unconditional grants each to outstanding business owners in Ondo State as part of ongoing efforts to empower Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across the country.
To this effect, Vice President Kashim Shettima, who announced the disbursement of the grants, said creating an enabling environment for MSMEs in Nigeria is central to the economic policy of the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Speaking during the launch of the 7th Expanded National MSME Clinics in Akure, the Ondo State capital, Senator Shettima described the ₦250,000 grant as a gift from Nigerians, through their government, to the champions of local industry.
“I am also pleased to announce today, in line with President Tinubu’s unwavering support for grassroots enterprises, that every outstanding exhibiting MSME identified during this clinic will receive an unconditional grant of ₦250,000.

“This is not a loan. It is a gift from the Nigerian people, through their government, to the champions of local industry. It is our way of saying: we see you, we value you, and we believe in your journey,” he declared.
The Vice President noted that because MSMEs account for over 90 per cent of businesses in Nigeria, contributing over 45 per cent to the national economy and employing more than 60 million Nigerians, they are not only economic actors but also “the silent architects of survival, the lifelines of households, the pulse of every community”.
Explaining why MSMEs are central to the economic policy of the Tinubu administration, VP Shettima maintained that while they are the true engine of poverty alleviation, no sustainable effort to reduce poverty could be achieved without the jobs and opportunities they create.
Nigeria’s national prosperity, according to the VP, is entwined in the success of MSMEs, and the nation cannot grow its economy without empowering them.

He continued: “This is why the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu places the creation of an enabling environment for MSMEs at the heart of our economic policy. It is not rhetoric. It is a call to action. It is a covenant with the builders of our future.
“This administration is deliberate in walking the talk, and one of the ways we do so is through platforms such as the MSME Clinics, conceived to draw the Federal Government closer to the creators of jobs, the innovators, the dreamers who make things happen in our communities.”
Underscoring the essence of launching the Expanded MSMEs Clinic in Ondo State, the Vice President said they offer small businesses in the state an unprecedented opportunity “to engage directly with regulatory agencies, financial institutions, and business support organisations.”

Senator Shettima also outlined other interventions under the President Tinubu administration to include the creation of a ₦75 billion MSME Intervention Fund being administered by the Bank of Industry (BoI), ₦50 billion Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme to support one million nano businesses across the 774 local government areas of Nigeria with grants of ₦50,000 each, and ₦75 billion Manufacturers Fund for manufacturers to access up to ₦1 billion in funding at a 9 percent interest rate.
He said the idea is to ensure the challenges of small business owners “find answers, not in theories or wishful thinking, but in real-time, face-to-face, problem-solving conversations.”
The VP assured that MSMEs remain the centre of economic vision of the Tinubu administration, urging small business owners “to take full advantage of the opportunities before them by engaging with the agencies present, seeking guidance, asking questions, and seizing every chance to elevate their businesses.
He thanked the government of Ondo State for its partnership on investments in infrastructure, commending the state’s commitment to policies that welcome innovation and enterprise, as well as its support for local industry, which align perfectly with the federal government’s “broader agenda for a prosperous, inclusive economy.”
Earlier, the Governor of Ondo State, Dr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, said the state government is also in alignment with the initiative of the federal government to drive MSME development and is implementing schemes that have enabled small businesses to address challenges inhibiting their growth.
He pointed out that his administration’s 7-point agenda, which prioritises MSME growth and development, has been impactful and has resulted in successes across different sectors of agriculture, manufacturing, and fashion, among others.
Acknowledging the determination of President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima to support growth in the sector, Governor Aiyedatiwa said, “Your presence here today demonstrates your unwavering commitment to the development of our state and key sectors of our nation’s economy.
“Your interest in promoting MSMEs across Nigeria has changed the fortunes and stories of small businesses across our country, and we remain grateful.”
In a goodwill message, Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State appreciated the federal government, particularly the Vice President, for personally driving the initiative of the Clinics.
He acknowledged that the Ekiti edition of the clinics had been impactful and remains invaluable, as businesses have continued to benefit from the network created through the programme.
Governor Oyebanji said the programme is the first attempt by any government in Nigeria to align growth to development through a deliberate and direct interface between facilitators and small business operators across the country.
In his welcome address, the Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSME, Mr Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, said the Clinics have so far been very impactful, given the testimonials from operators in the sector.
He noted that the edition in Ondo State will not be different, as MSMEs were already interacting with regulatory agencies and partners to resolve issues affecting the growth of their businesses.
On his part, the Ooni of Ife, His Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, acknowledged the contributions of the Vice President and Ondo state Governor to the growth of the MSME sector in the state, urging all stakeholders to support and promote made-in-Nigeria products as part of the broad plan to support budding entrepreneurs across the country.
On his part, the Director General of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), Mr Charles Odii, said that through the Clinics, the Tinubu administration’s agenda for small businesses is being actualised as evidenced in the feedback received from participants at the Ondo clinics.
The high point of the occasion was the tour of the products exhibition by small business operators in Ondo and beyond by the Vice President, accompanied by the governors of Ondo and Ekiti, among other dignitaries.
Earlier, while addressing the traditional council at their chamber, Vice President Shettima thanked the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adedeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ojaja II, describing him as a bridge builder who is endeared by the Tinubu Administration.
He told the traditional council that President Tinubu, “being a son of the South West, is a man of courage who means well for traditional institutions.”
VP Shettima noted that President Tinubu is aware of the condition of the people across the country, and has summoned the courage to remove fuel subsidy, stop multiple taxation and open the Lagos-Badagry-Calabar Highway for economic activities along that corridor,” among many other policies of government to mitigate the sufferings of the people.
Earlier, the Chairman of Ondo State Council of Chiefs, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr) Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, commended President Tinubu for removing fuel subsidy, noting that this has enabled the federal government to deploy the subsidy funds to other sectors of the economy for which Ondo State is a beneficiary.
He also commended the federal government for being focused and pledged the support of the traditional council to the success of government policies, both at the national and Ondo state levels.
Again, FG Disburses ₦250,000 Each To Small Businesses At 7th MSMEs Clinic In Ondo
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