Uncategorized
Nigeria, Namibia Push for Closer Co-operation
Nigeria, Namibia Push for Closer Co-operation
By: Michael Mike
In a bid to deepen bilateral relations between Nigeria and Namibia, the latter has expressed interest in understudying the operations of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps and recommitting to the ideals of the Nigeria-Namibia Joint Commission of Co-operation.
This was the high point of discussions held between the Namibian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Humphrey Geiseb, and the Director General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, during a visit by the Namibian Envoy to the Technical Aid Corps office in Abuja.
While noting that the commendable impacts of the Technical Aid Corps Scheme over the past years in their country have left no one in doubt as to its desirability, Amb. Geiseb said Nigeria remains a big-brother nation that made immense contributions to Namibia’s independence struggles and the development of the country in diverse sectors, including Health, Agriculture, Education, Oil and Gas and the Economy, even before the country gained independence.
He recalled that some of the best crops of Civil and Public Service professionals that grew to become Permanent Secretaries, Directors as well as medical professionals and teachers, whose availability ensured a smooth transition from their colonial masters in a newly independent Namibia, were trained by Nigerians.
He again lauded the TAC Scheme for being the means through which his country has today achieved an abundance of medical professionals and teachers,who are even at present prepared to export their skills to other countries. He added that part of the reasons for his visit was also to learn best practices from the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps with regards to its operations, including seeking ways to, in the foreseeable future, request for some identified capacities that may still be lacking in their country.
Ambassador Geiseb also used the opportunity of the visit to push for greater efforts at the Ministerial level between Nigeria and Namibia to re-energize the noble objectives of the Nigeria-Namibia Joint Commission of Co-operation,while stressing that hosting a new Session of the Joint Commission established in the year 2000 and last met fourteen years ago would make for deeper bilateral ties and advance the identified interests of both countries.
Responding,the TAC DG, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, expressed gratitude to the Namibian Envoy for the visit. He reiterated the commitment of the Tinubu Administration to continue to provide technical assistance to brother nations across Africa,the Caribbean and Pacific countries and lauded the vision of the founding fathers of the TAC Scheme,which he pointed out,had in the past 37 years broken foisted geographic barriers among brothers,ensured transfer of technical skills and midwifed cultural exchanges,among other benefits.
He said, although a lot had changed with changing times between the both countries in the area of receiving the Corps’ Volunteers,TAC, however ,would not hesitate to answer the requests of Namibia in whatever areas of technical need or tutelage whenever such requests came.The TAC boss also assured his visitor that he would in the coming days seek audience with the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar,to communicate Namibia’s interest in convoying a new Session of the Joint Commission.
Among those present at the meeting were the Director of Administration at the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, Amb. Yakubu Abdullahi Ahmed; the Director of Programmes,Amb. Zakari Usman as well as Mrs Meimunat Haruna Mustapha, a Deputy Director and Head of Accounts at the Agency.
Others included Mr Lawal Adekola, Assistant Director in-charge of Internal Audit; Mrs Caroline Osimnobi of the Accounts Department and Mr Lawandy Bala, Special Assistant to the Director General on Protocol Matters,among others.
The Namibian Envoy was accompanied on the visit by Mr Morris Sisinzi, an Under Secretary at the Namibia High Commission in Abuja.
Nigeria, Namibia Push for Closer Co-operation
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA foil bandits’ attack in Katsina
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA, in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and Police Command in Katsina State, have foiled an attempted attack by armed bandits in Malumfashi Local Government Area.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 7:35 p.m. following credible intelligence that armed bandits on motorcycles were heading towards Gora village.
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA and other security operatives, intercepted the bandits and engaged in a fierce gun duel.
The bandits fled in disarray under superior firepower. No casualty was recorded, and calm has since returned to the area,”said sources.
The sources added that aggressive patrols and clearance operations had been intensified to track down the fleeing criminals.
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA foil bandits’ attack in Katsina
Uncategorized
“When nations come together, we can overcome the hardest challenges”- UN Resident Coordinator Insists
“When nations come together, we can overcome the hardest challenges”- UN Resident Coordinator Insists
By: Michael Mike
In advancing its advocacy and sensitisation of critical stakeholders on the ‘Pact for the future’, the United Nations in Nigeria in collaboration with partners, has convened a strategic dialogue on the United Nations at 80 and the Pact.
At the dialogue, convened in collaboration with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), and the Office of Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE), and held at the UN House in Abuja, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, reiterated the importance of international cooperation in solving the world’s most challenging issues.
He said: “Peace is fragile. Inequalities grow. Climate change accelerates. Technology advances faster than governance. Yet one truth remains constant: when nations come together, when people come together, we can overcome even the hardest challenges,” adding: “That is why the Pact for the Future matters.”
Fall further said that the Pact rested on five pillars: Sustainable development, Peace and security, Science and technology, Youth and future generations, and transforming global governance.
He noted that the pillars were not abstract ideas, as they represent the foundation of the world we want. A world of peace, dignity, equality, and sustainability.
“That is why the United Nations is working hand in hand with Nigeria on the Pact for the Future. We are aligning our cooperation with the five pillars of the pact and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as we know that the SDGs are lagging. We are leaving no one behind.” The UN Resident Coordinator added.
Former Head of State and Chairman National Peace Committee, General Abdulsalam Abubakar (Rtd) said in his video message: “Dialogue must now lead to tangible results. Our commitment must be credible, time-bound and deliverable. Anything less can lead to distrust and weaken our democracy.”
To the participants he charged, “Your responsibility is to commit to concrete steps that will align every peacebuilding effort towards real progress. Nigeria’s future will be secured only by our unity of purpose and the sincerity of follow-through.”
The Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. of Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Syndoph Endoni, expressed the Permanent Mission’s appreciation of the dialogue, stating that it was not merely an exchange of views, but a collective effort to advance the effective realization of the Pact for the Future and reinforce Nigeria’s peace building framework.
He disclosed that Nigeria was reviewing existing peacebuilding frameworks and initiatives by identifying key achievements, gaps, and opportunities for reform; prioritising critical areas of focus, including security sector reform, women’s participation in peace and security and youth engagement; and addressing cross-border terrorism, organized crime, and proliferation of small arms and light weapons, as well as climate-related security risks.
Speaking at the event, Director of the United Nations’s Team for Pact Implementation, Themba Kalua, underlined Nigeria’s leadership role in this new era of multilateralism. According to him, Nigeria was an active voice in negotiating the Pact, pushing for progress on poverty eradication, digital cooperation, Security Council reform and climate justice.
The Pact for the Future, he said, “strongly resonates with Africa’s Agenda 2063. Both envision a just, peaceful and prosperous continent, powered by inclusive development and regional solidarity. Aligning the Pact with African priorities and national strategies will be essential to translate words into real change. Nigeria’s experience and leadership at regional and global levels make it a vital partner in this endeavour.”
The Chairman of Savannah Centre and Nigeria’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs Professor Ibrahim Gambari, referenced the New Agenda for Peace, a United Nations policy brief, launched in July 2023 by Secretary-General António Guterres, that outlines a vision for strengthening international cooperation to prevent conflict and build sustainable peace.
Gambari, who was also a former Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations, emphasised that the Agenda remained a living guide to everyone in promoting trust, solidarity, and universality through concrete actions like investing in prevention and peacebuilding, empowering women and youth, reducing strategic risks from new technologies and climate change, and adapting to new forms of violence.
“When nations come together, we can overcome the hardest challenges”- UN Resident Coordinator Insists
Bandits raid villages in Rafi LGA in Niger, rustle cattle
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits have attacked three villages in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, rustling an unspecified number of cattle.,
Sources said that the attack, occurred on Aug. 29,
Zagazola gathered that, the assailants in large numbers invaded Ungwan-Buteri, Ungwan-Bagoma, and Ungwan-Landibo villages, carting away livestock from the homes of Alhaji Dankawo, Alhaji Chukuba, and Alhaji Juli, all of Ungwan-Buteri in Tegina District.
The sources said that security operatives and other security forces had since launched a manhunt for the bandits, with a view to recovering the stolen cattle and restoring normalcy in the area.
Bandits raid villages in Rafi LGA in Niger, rustle cattle
Governor Alia Condoles the NUJ over the demise of Achigbe and Acka
VP Shettima Mourns Borno Attack Victims, Assures Enhanced Military Operations Against Terrorists
Bandits ambush C-Watch operatives in Katsina, kill 8, burn patrol vehicles
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News1 year agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions4 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
Opinions4 years ago
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News1 year agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Columns2 years agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
ACADEMICS2 years agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Opinions2 years agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
-
News5 months agoFAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
