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EU’s Programme Resolves 14,141 Disputes in Borno

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EU’s Programme Resolves 14,141 Disputes in Borno

By Michael Mike

European Union (EU) said it has resolved a total of 14,141 disputes in Borno State through the traditional institutions.

The resolved disputes were from 18,420 recorded cases and this has encouraged dialogue among disputants and brought peace to their communities in the state which has had Boko Haram crisis for over a decade.

The project was funded by European Union, supported by the British Council and implemented by the Managing Conflict in Nigeria (MCN).

The Technical Lead, Managing Conflict in Nigeria project of the British Council, Dr Ukoha Ukiwo disclosed this during the official closure of the MCN Programme implemented by the British Council and funded by the European Union between 2017-2022 in Borno State.

He said that MCN enhanced the alternative dispute resolution capacity that encourages and facilitates mediated outcomes to disputes before they escalate or turned violent.

Ukiwo said: “This project enabled traditional rulers to understand the limitations of their powers and which cases need to be referred to other authorities. We trained traditional rulers and community groups in Borno State and have resolved 14,141 disputes out of 18,420 cases from the emirates between February 2018 and November 2022.

“The most common types of cases are family related, followed by disputes over land and property. Around 30% of cases are brought by women, more of whom now see the traditional Justice system as fair to everyone, with evidence of the historical patriarchal system.”

He stressed that the projects had strengthened the capacities and security management actors including 951 traditional rulers in the four emirates of Borno, Biu, Dikwa and Gwoza.

Also speaking at the event, the Director of Women Affairs, Borno State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Falimata Umaru Lawan thanked European Union and its partners for laudable programmes and assured them that the Borno state would sustain all the projects.

She also thanked the MCN programme for initiating the two centres that would provide immediate medical and psycho-social support to the victims and survivors of SGBV and capture information and evidence required for forensics medical reports for use in the prosecution of offenders.

EU’s Programme Resolves 14,141 Disputes in Borno

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UN Agency Gives USD 395,000 to 39 Land Restoration Projects Worldwide ‬‭

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UN Agency Gives USD 395,000 to 39 Land Restoration Projects Worldwide ‬

By: Michael Mike

‭ In a decisive step to reverse land degradation, 39 land restoration projects ‬led by grassroots organisations have been awarded ‭USD 395,000  ‬through the inaugural Small Grants Programme of the G20 Global Land Initiative (GLI), a flagship initiative of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

Drawn from 22 countries, the winning projects were selected for their innovation, impact and sustainability. Over 650 organisations from more than 100 countries applied for the award. The winners were selected following three rounds of review by separate UNCCD staff teams, with varied expertise in land management and restoration.

Awardees will receive between ‭US‬$5,000 and ‭US‬$15,000 to fund grassroots efforts that boost local economies, improve food and water security and strengthen ecosystem resilience. 

The announcement was livestreamed‭ ‬at an event showcasing the grant winners. 

The Small Grants Programme is ‭ ‬an ‭ ‬important tool for achieving the ‭G20 GLI’s mission of ‬reducing degraded land by 50 percent by 2040.

‭Speaking during the award ceremony, ‬ Director of the G20 Global Land Initiative,‭Dr. Muralee Thummarukudy‬, said: “We are aware that these big numbers, cannot be achieved by small initiatives alone. Yet, we feel, it is important that tens of thousands of small actors, engaged in land restoration around the world, be ‭supported, promoted and recognized,”‬

Special priority was given to organisations accredited to UNCCD and to projects empowering Indigenous Peoples, youth, women and the elder‭ly‬. 

The ‭ ‬programme ‭ ‬was ‭ ‬set ‭ ‬up ‭ ‬in ‭ ‬2024 ‭ ‬to ‭ ‬support ‭ ‬community-level ‭ ‬non-profit ‭ ‬organisations worldwide. According to a statement, by directly supporting civil society and grassroot actors, these grants will generate measurable progress ‭ ‬across ‭ ‬global ‭aided ‬restoration ‭ ‬priorities, ‭ ‬such ‭ ‬as ‭ ‬soil ‭ ‬fertility ‭ ‬enhancement, ‭ ‬forest regeneration, sustainable agriculture, agroecology and ecosystem-based adaptation. 

The statement added that beyond reclaiming ‭ ‬land, ‭ ‬the ‭ ‬projects ‭ ‬are ‭ ‬enhancing ‭ ‬livelihoods, ‭ ‬strengthening ‭ ‬community climate resilience, and fostering social enterprise and ‭eco‬-preneurship.

“When we do these small grants program, it is not just about the grant. It’s about the ‭network ‬which we create and the visibility it provides ‭—‬ both for those within it and those outside who can benefit from their knowledge and experience‭,”‬ Thummarukudy added. 

Three of the highest-scoring projects were showcased at the UNCCD Conference of the Parties held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in December 2024, to highlight the‭ir‬ potential for scaling and replication across regions. 

The statement also revealed that winners will also be showcased at select high-level events in the future, stating that the G20 GLI is committed to inclusive and continuous engagement, and is exploring future 
collaboration opportunities for the applicants not selected in this round.

Stressing ‭that “this is just the beginning, this will be an annual process, the next cohort is about ‬to start,‭” ‬Dr Thummarukudy invited community organisations doing land restoration to apply to join the network because both “big and small” [efforts] are important.‭ ‬

He noted that the second ‭ ‬call ‭ ‬for ‭ ‬applications ‭ ‬will ‭ ‬open ‭ ‬in ‭ ‬2025 ‭ ‬with ‭ ‬increased ‭ ‬funding ‭ ‬and ‭ ‬expanded 
support for grassroots restoration efforts worldwide. 

Innovative ‭ ‬community-led ‭ ‬restoration ‭ ‬initiatives ‭ ‬are ‭ ‬essential ‭ ‬for ‭ ‬creating ‭ ‬green ‭ ‬jobs, especially for youth and women..The awards provide support that can transform restoration into a catalyst for economic opportunity and sustainable environmental management.

Examples of selected 2024 grantees include‭: ‬ Legacy of War Foundation (Rwanda), ‭which will restore six hectares of degraded soil while ‬empowering ‭ ‬90 ‭ ‬women ‭ ‬as ‭ ‬landowners ‭ ‬of ‭ ‬fully organic cooperative ‭ ‬farms. ‭ ‬By ‭ ‬integrating climate-smart ‭ ‬and ‭ ‬artisanal farming methods, the project aims ‭ ‬to improve soil fertility and agricultural resilience in post-conflict rural communities. 
Up2Green Foundation (India)‭ is restoring mangroves and riverbanks in Tamil Nadu, India. ‬The project is reforesting 60 hectares and planting 15,000 fruit trees, enhancing biodiversity, strengthening coastal resilience ‭ ‬for flood prevention, and training local ‭ ‬communities in sustainable agroforestry practices. 
Sustainability ‭ ‬and ‭ ‬Environmental ‭ ‬Studies ‭ ‬Endeavor ‭ ‬(Nepal)‭ is working to restore ‬
ecological ‭ ‬balance along the mythological ‭ ‬Nagaraj Trail. By ‭ ‬revitalizing ‭ ‬degraded ‭ ‬farms, wetlands and forests using nature-based solutions, the project promotes ‭ ‬nature-inclusive agriculture and convivial conservation approaches. 

The G20 Global Land Initiative was launched in 2020 under the Saudi G20 Presidency. Hosted by the UNCCD, its ambition is to reduce degraded land by 50 percent by 2040. By showcasing 
land restoration, empowering civil society, engaging the private sector and building capacity, G20 GLI is driving restoration to scale and energizing a restoration economy. The Small Grants Programme is a key component of this vision, empowering civil society to restore degraded lands and promote sustainable land management at scale.

UN Agency Gives USD 395,000 to 39 Land Restoration Projects Worldwide ‬

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VP Shettima Mourns Late Alhaji Aminu Dantata, Says Nigeria Has Lost An Irreplaceable Institution

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VP Shettima Mourns Late Alhaji Aminu Dantata, Says Nigeria Has Lost An Irreplaceable Institution

By: Michael Mike

Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed deep grief over the passing of prominent Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, saying the nation has lost an irreplaceable institution.

The late Dantata, an uncle of Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, passed away at the age of 94 in Abu Dhabi in the early hours of Saturday in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to Mustapha Abdullahi Junaid, his Personal Private Secretary (PPS), who confirmed the death.

In a condolence message, Vice President Shettima praised the late businessman for his lifetime of service, describing him as “a living bridge that connected us to our past.

“We have not just lost a leader; we have lost an irreplaceable institution,” Senator Shettima said, describing Dantata as “one of the greatest titans in Nigeria’s philosophical history” whose departure marks the end of a vital chapter in the country’s economic and democratic evolution.

“In African tradition, when such an elderly person transitions, a vital chapter of our history departs with them. He was indeed among the great titans, a living bridge that connected us to our past,” VP Shettima added.

The Vice President extended heartfelt condolences to the Dantata family, expressing hopes that they would “find the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” even as he prayed that Almighty Allah would grant the deceased Jannatul Firdaus.

Born into the legendary Dantata family of Kano, Alhaji Aminu built on his father’s commercial legacy to become one of Nigeria’s most influential business figures. His empire spans construction, manufacturing, banking, agriculture, and the oil and gas sectors.

Beyond business, Dantata was renowned for his extensive philanthropic work, funding schools, mosques, health centres, and supporting widows and the underprivileged across Nigeria.

VP Shettima Mourns Late Alhaji Aminu Dantata, Says Nigeria Has Lost An Irreplaceable Institution

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Nigeria-EU Senior Officials Meet in Abuja to Prepare for Upcoming Nigeria – EU Ministerial Meeting

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Nigeria-EU Senior Officials Meet in Abuja to Prepare for Upcoming Nigeria – EU Ministerial Meeting

By: Michael Mike

The Senior Officials Meeting between Nigeria and the European Union (EU) will be held on Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd July 2025 in Abuja to prepare for the upcoming Nigeria – EU Ministerial Meeting and to explore areas of cooperation.

A statement on Saturday by the Press Officer, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Modestus Chukwulaka, read: “The Delegation of European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS wishes to inform that the Senior Officials Meeting between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the European Union (EU) will be held on Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd July 2025 in Abuja.

“The agenda of the very important meeting is to prepare for the upcoming Nigeria – EU Ministerial Meeting and to explore areas of cooperation.”

According to the statement, the Senior Officials Meeting will be co-chaired by the Regions, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria, Ambassador Janet Olisa, Director, and the Deputy Managing Director for Africa Department, European External Action Service, European Union, Mr Mathieu Briens.

The statement revealed that the agenda of the meeting is expected to entail wide-ranging discussions that would focus on various aspects of the Nigeria – EU partnership, such as: Cooperation on multilateral and regional issues; Peace, Security and Governance; Humanitarian situation; Trade and Investment; Human Development: Health, Education, Social Protection; Science, technology, innovation and digital transition; Migration; Energy, climate change and green economy transition among others.

Nigeria and the European Union share a deep, long-standing partnership inspired by mutual values and interests as well as support for multilateralism and rule-based international order, the statement said.

Nigeria-EU Senior Officials Meet in Abuja to Prepare for Upcoming Nigeria – EU Ministerial Meeting

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