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FG Says Drought Has Severely Impacted 40 million Nigerians
FG Says Drought Has Severely Impacted 40 million Nigerians
By: Michael Mike
The Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako has said drought has seriously impacted about 40 million Nigerians negatively and has led to loss of livelihood and thrown many into adversed poverty especially around the Lake Chad region.
The Minister would was represented by a senior staff in the ministry, Alhaji Abdullahi Usman at the celebration of World Environment Day by the United Nations in Nigeria, in collaboration with Greenhub Africa Foundation and Renewable Energy Efficiency Association, said Nigeria has undertaken several far reaching actions to reduce the impact of drought on the citizenry but it is no longer enough to prevent further damage to the land as it is necessary to act decisively to reverse and recover what has been lost.
He noted that: “Land degradation is a global sustainable development concern which threatens the primary productivity of soil, food production system, biodiversity, water availability, energy, peace security and sustainable livelihood. To farmers, herdsmen and agro foresters in Nigeria, land degradation means a constant battle to grow crops, feed livestock and maintain ecosystem stability.”
He added that: “Globally, a large proportion of people living in poverty and directly affected by land degradation and here in Nigeria the poorest depend on the land for sustenance and there is a direct connection between land degradation and poverty.”
He said: “It is an incontrovertible fact that a healthy land in vital to the existence and persistence of all human societies from food, fodder, water and materials such as timber and fibre, pest, disease control and cultural identity. As land becomes degraded, the availability of arable land for agriculture decreases, thereby compounding food insecurity and forcing communities to migrate in search of better living, this invariably leads to conflicts.”
He noted that: “The theme of this year’s World Environment Day “Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience” is very apt, considering the significant damage caused by human activities arising from urbanization, unsustainable agriculture and deforestation, uncontrolled mining activities, and other circumstances in our production ecosystem, which cannot be repaired without intervention.”
He stressed that: “Land restoration and management provide sustainable solutions to global challenges, the necessity to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 inspires a greater sense of responsibility and care for our land.”
Other speakers, including the Chaiman Greenhub Africa, Professor Obas Ebohon, the Country Director International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, Dede Ekoue, the Country Representative, Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, Dominique Koffy, and the President Governing Council Alliance, Professor Magnus Onuoha among others, called for development of policies that would tackle the multidimensional risks associated with climate change, to save the environment.
Speaker after speaker proffered solutions to checking the menace of desertification and drought and their impact on the citizenry.
The meeting which had stakeholders drawn from UN led and Civil Society Organisations on environment, was an opportunity for them to brainstorm and come up with far reaching solutions if Nigeria will achieve the voluntary Land Degradation Neutrality targets by the year 2030.
but in Nigeria it means a constant battle to grow crops, feed livestock and maintain ecosystem stability for farmers, herdsmen and agro foresters.
FG Says Drought Has Severely Impacted 40 million Nigerians
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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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STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE: NARC AND KING’S COLLEGE LONDON PARTNER TO ENHANCE HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT
STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE: NARC AND KING’S COLLEGE LONDON PARTNER TO ENHANCE HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT
By: Our Reporter
The Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), Abuja, marked yet another significant milestone, as participants of the Strategic Leadership Programme Phase 11/2024 successfully graduated in a brief but colourful ceremony at Hall C, TY Buratai Block of the Centre.
The graduation ceremony followed an intensive five-day executive education course programme, conducted in collaboration with King’s College London, an initiative designed to enhance human resource capacity and deepen participants’ understanding of leadership in an evolving global environment.
The course brought together senior officers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, government officials, retired senior military officers and professionals from the private sector, equipping them with critical insights into the contemporary complex and dynamic challenges and how to navigate through.
The Special Guest of Honour, Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General OO Oluyede GSS mni was represented by the Chief of Training (Army), Major General SG Mohammed, who presented certificates to the participants, thus underscoring the programme’s importance in fostering strategic thinking and professional growth.
The event was further enriched by the esteemed presence of the Director General of NARC, Major General GA Wahab (Rtd), PhD, alongside some management staff the centre and consultants, distinguished members of academia from King’s College London, directors, resource persons, and senior officers, both serving and retired.
The ceremony, further highlighted the enduring partnership between NARC and King’s College London in advancing leadership excellence and human capital development in Nigeria.
STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE: NARC AND KING’S COLLEGE LONDON PARTNER TO ENHANCE HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT
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