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Nigeria Can No Longer Afford to Remain A Consuming Nation- Mamora

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Nigeria Can No Longer Afford to Remain A Consuming Nation- Mamora

Nigeria Can No Longer Afford to Remain A Consuming Nation- Mamora

By: Michael Mike

Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Sen. Olorunnimbe Mamora has said the Nigeria with her huge population can no longer afford to be a consuming nation, but a productive one.  

Mamora, gave this verdict on Tuesday at the launch by Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) the Forum for African Research and Innovation (FARI).

He said: “Our dear country is poised to continuously achieve research excellence, attract and retain adequate human resources for science, technology and innovation, foster competitiveness and innovation, and build science and technology capacities in the country. 

“We are calling on all private concern to join us in this endevour.”

The Minister while expressing optimism that the Forum will present an avenue  for exchange of ideas and discussions among scientists, innovators, policy makers, the private sector, technical and financial partners, noted that the globalisation of research and development has increased policy debate and made Africa to be ambitious in providing more critical mass for excellent research.

He added that the Forum will therefore equally provide an opportunity for international science, technology and innovation cooperation and networking within the ECOWAS member states. 

The President of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Omar Touray while noting that the launching of the Forum, is a move to boost scientific research and innovation by member countries, said FARI was initiated to respond  to initiatives on Science and Technology at the global and continental level. 

He said with the launching of FARI, it would be easy to boost the visibility of  scientific research and innovation in West Africa.

He informed that the theme of the first edition of FARI which is “Science, Technology and Innovation for a competitive ECOWAS” has been identified with a view to developing a common vision that can promote the relevance of a common agenda in the field of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) and improve the effective application of research results and innovation for the benefit of sustainable socio-economic development and the competitiveness of the West African region.

Also Read: Nigeria Wants Culture Promoted in Qatar

Touray stressed that from past centuries to the present, sciences have contributed enormously to the change of humanity, and has continued to shape the world through technological innovations and constantly evolving derivative applications that impact all business sectors around the world. 

He said: “FARI is therefore a regional platform for exchanges and discussions between scientists, technologists, innovators, decision-makers, the private sector, technical and financial partners, pupils/students and the populations. It aims to be unifying, innovative but also and above all to carry a mission to promote the products of researchers in the region.”

He noted that: “In addition to bringing added value to scientific and technological integration efforts, the FARI also offers real opportunities for economic and social benefits. It promotes scientific tourism and helps create temporary jobs in the host country and fight against poverty,” he added.

Touray disclosed that the FARI-2022 will take place from 17 to 21 October 2022 in Abuja, and will have in attendance over 60 experts from 15 ECOWAS Member States, African and global organizations and institutions. 

He revealed that the Forum will also have in attendance start-ups from the region who will exhibit their products; 12 Ministers in charge of Science and Technology, Representatives of African and global organisations and institutions; among several others.

Nigeria Can No Longer Afford to Remain A Consuming Nation- Mamora

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ECOWAS Decries Paucity of Electricity in Rural West Africa Says It Stands at 10%

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ECOWAS Decries Paucity of Electricity in Rural West Africa Says It Stands at 10%

By: Michael Mike

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has decried the paucity of electricity in rural West African communities, stating that it stands at paltry 10 per cent as of 2023.

The regional bloc said this was notwithstanding the general increase in electricity from 45 per cent in 2019 to an average of 53 per cent in 2023 in the subregion.

ECOWAS Commissioner of Infrastructure, Energy & Digitalization, Mr Sediko Douka, made the disclosure on Thursday at the weekly press conference of the regional bloc in Abuja.

He said: “The energy sector, which is one of ECOWAS’s main areas of action, has an installed production capacity of 25,421 GW, distributed as follows: 77% thermal, 22% hydro, 1% solar/wind.

“The rate of access to electricity has increased from 45% in 2019 to an average of 53% in 2023.

“Despite this increase, there were significant disparities as the electricity access rate in rural areas is standing at only 10%,” he said.

He lamented that the electric sector also faced a low level of intra-regional electricity exchanges which he put at 9 per cent.

The ECOWAS commissioner said electricity prices in the West African region remain very high (0.24 USD = 150 FCFA/kWh), negatively impacting economic development, especially industrial development.

He said to address these challenges, “ECOWAS set up specialized agencies in the field of energy, namely, the West African Power Pool (WAPP) in Cotonou, Benin, the Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA) in Accra, Ghana, the Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) in Praia, Cape Verde, and the West African Gas Pipeline Authority (WAGPA) in Abuja, Nigeria.”

Douka also disclosed that other measures taken by ECOWAS to address the challenges include the implementation of the WAPP Master Plan for regional power generation and transmission facilities for 2019-2033: 75 regional projects worth USD 36 billion to build 23,000 km of power interconnection lines and generate 16,000 MW.

Other interventions, he said were the launching and operationalization of the Regional Electricity Market in 2018, the promotion of renewable energies, and electricity access programmes for both on-grid and off-grid networks.

ECOWAS Decries Paucity of Electricity in Rural West Africa Says It Stands at 10%

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President Tinubu Passionate About Enhanced Healthcare Delivery – VP Shettima

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President Tinubu Passionate About Enhanced Healthcare Delivery – VP Shettima

  • Says FG will explore private sector partnership on training of health workers

By: Our Reporter

The Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, has identified enhanced healthcare delivery as a top priority in the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu renewed hope administration.

Accordingly, he said that the Federal Government will support the training of personnel in its teaching hospitals and other tertiary health institutions in the country to meet emerging challenges of healthcare delivery.

The Vice President gave the assurance on Wednesday when he received in audience at the Presidential Villa, the management of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) led by its Chief Medical Director, Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo.

Sen. Shettima who commended the current management of the institution for the giant strides recorded over the years said the current administration is committed to supporting human capacity development in hospitals across the country.

He said, “Training is very essential; we will explore all available windows to support UMTH and other teaching hospitals in the country in the training of their personnel. We will see how our partnership with the private sector can be helpful in this regard.”

“I want to commend the CMD and his team for providing quality leadership to the hospital and all of their subordinates. There have been remarkable improvements witnessed at UMTH since his assumption of duty.

“In terms of staff morale, capacity building and the general outlook of the teaching hospital, the improvements have been massive. The expansion of the hospital from a 600-bed to a 1305-bed facility and equipped with modern facilities. The CMD has been proactive and aggressive in all that he does, including sourcing for external funding,” the VP added.

Prof. Ahidjo had earlier in his remarks, said the visit of the team was to thank the Vice President for his support to the institution which spanned over 15 years, and to present the scorecard of the hospital as well as its future plans.

The CMD said with the support of the government and other stakeholders, the hospital has expanded from a 600-bed to a 1,305-bed facility equipped with state-of-the-art machines.

He said that besides building new centres for Trauma, Dialysis, Cancer and Stroke treatment among others, the hospital boasts of over 100 professors in different areas of specialties.

The CMD however requested for more support from the Vice President to enable the institution to actualize its objectives of being an international centre of excellence in healthcare delivery and training of personnel through the construction of an electronic health institute to facilitate its digitalization project.

Other members of the delegation include the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, Prof. Sanusi Ibrahim; Director of Administration, Mallam Idris Omar; Director of Clinical Services, Prof. Modu Kagu; Director of Research and Ethics, Prof. Faruk Buba; Director of Training, Dr. Abubakar Mohammed, and the Director of UMTH Kidney Centre, Prof. Ibrahim Ummate.

President Tinubu Passionate About Enhanced Healthcare Delivery – VP Shettima

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Jakusko commends Buni over campaign promises in Yobe

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Jakusko commends Buni over campaign promises in Yobe

By: Yahaya Wakili

The Chairman, Caretaker Management Committee of Jakusko local government area of Yobe state, Alhaji Umaru Aguwa, has given kudos to the Yobe state governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, Chiroman Gujba, for fulfilling all his campaign promises to the people through the provision of the dividend of democracy.

Gov. Mai Mala Buni

Hon. Umaru Aguwa said giving commendation to the Chiroman Gujba has become imperative because of numerous achievements in improving the living conditions of the masses in Yobe State. He also gave the local government councils in the state their full support for the democratic map to provide the dividend of democracy to the electorates in the state.

A Block of classroom.

Hon. Umaru said all the development projects provided by the council chairmen in their respective local government councils were done with the full support of His Excellency Governor Mai Mala Buni CON. He revealed that Yobe State is blessed with a governor characterized by humility, sympathy, accessibility, and a genius in letting go of what rightfully and lawfully belongs to him for peace to reign in the state.

“Governor Mai Mala Buni CON has sacrificed too much to serve and provided the dividend of democracy to the people of the state, and his developmental projects are physically on the ground. Buni’s administration is full of initiatives. The government has constructed modern markets in major towns across the state, in Damaturu, Potiskum, Gashu’a, Nguru, Geidam, and Buni Yadi.” Umaru Aguwa said. 

According to him, the government also resuscitated three dormant industries in the state. These are the Woven Sack Company Damaturu, Yobe Sahel Aluminum, Flour, and Feed Mill Company in Potiskum, as well as the Trailer Park in Potiskum. Adding to that, the Buni administration also completed the state-owned International Cargo Airport, which was commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari. He said all these achievements were to create a conducive environment for trade and commerce for economic development in the state.

“His Excellency Governor Mai Mala Buni CON, Chiroman Gujba, has made tremendous achievements in many sectors, including health, agriculture, work, empowerment, education, and many others.

Speaking on his achievements in the Jakusko local government area since his inception in office in June 2023, the Chairman said he has been following in the footsteps of His Excellency Governor Mai Mala Buni CON in the provision of portable drinking water for both human and animal consumption in rural and urban areas. He revealed that the council constructed 14 new solar-powered boreholes, drilled six new boreholes, rehabilitated over 50 boreholes, and purchased accessories and repairs for over 51 hand pumps across the local government area.

“The council also constructed three dispensaries at Garin Tsalha, Dan Takunne, and Karage and equipped them with drugs and beds. The council also purchased drugs for the outbreak of diarrhea and the repair of primary healthcare vehicles, as well as drugs worth millions of naira that were distributed to all our primary health centers across the local government and received much support in the health sector.

Hon. Umaru Aguwa said the council constructed 20 cans to ease the problems of transportation by our people during the rainy seasons; the council repaired 4 vehicles for security agencies in the area; purchased over 10,000 empty bags and pilled them with sand to control the flow of water in the town during the rainy seasons; and also organized cultural activities such as wrestling and sports with a view to bringing unity among the people of the local government.

Aguwa also said the council repaired two tractors, conducted construction in Jakusko, purchased animal vaccination drugs, and distributed palliatives to alleviate the suffering of the people as a result of subsidy removal. In order to improve the standard and quality of education, the council constructed two classrooms and an office in Gamajan and also renovated two classrooms and an office in Gamajan. We also purchased thousands of copies of text and exercise books and distributed them to all primary and junior secondary schools across the local government.
End.

Jakusko commends Buni over campaign promises in Yobe

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