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Nigeria, UNICEF collaborate to address poverty issues
Nigeria, UNICEF collaborate to address poverty issues
By: Our Reporter
The government of Nigeria, in collaboration with UNICEF and partners, emphasized the critical need for a strengthened social protection system to address the pressing issues of poverty.
This was one of the one of the key issues discussed at the 3rd edition of the Social Protection Cross-Learning Summit yesterday in Abuja.
Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, faces significant challenges in human capital development and deprivations in health, education, nutrition, water, hygiene, sanitation, and child protection. This situation underscores the urgency for comprehensive and effective social protection strategies.
In response to these challenges, the Government of Nigeria introduced a cash transfer program, providing 25,000 Naira over a three-month period to poor and vulnerable households. This initiative aims to alleviate immediate economic pressures and mitigate the socio-economic impact of recent economic reforms.
“Our goal is to create a comprehensive support network that addresses the multifaceted needs of children and families, ultimately leading to improved outcomes in health, education, and overall well-being. We must work together to bridge gaps and strengthen coordination,” said Mr. Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy, emphasizing the importance of integrated social protection systems.
Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, stated on behalf of the Social Protection Development Partners Group, “Social protection is crucial in realizing the rights of every child. Child-sensitive social protection is key to ensuring that every child reaches their full potential. We commend the government for its significant strides in the development of several programs and a single registry. However, there is a need to ensure stronger linkages between social protection and essential social services with a focus on health, education, and nutrition.”
A statement from UNICEF said that despite advancements, social protection coverage remains low, with only 7 percent of children covered. Coordination mechanisms are weak, leading to fragmentation and inefficiency.
Therefore, the summit aims to generate actionable insights and foster collaboration among key players to enhance coverage, coordination, and financing of social protection interventions.
In specific, the objectives of the summit include:
Raise Awareness: Highlight how social protection can mitigate poverty, enhance economic stability, and promote inclusive growth through social assistance (cash transfers), social security (health insurance), and labor market regulation.
Improve Delivery and Coordination: Propose measures to improve delivery and coordination mechanisms for effective coverage and impact of social protection programs.
Commitment to Financing: Elicit commitments from government bodies, international organizations, and private sector stakeholders on financing social protection initiatives through innovative financing mechanisms.
The Government of Nigeria, UNICEF, and partners reaffirmed their commitment to advancing social protection aligned with essential services for comprehensive support. A communiqué was signed to introduce the Universal Child Benefit and increase public spending on social protection by 2 percent, aiming to reduce multidimensional poverty and promote equitable development.
Nigeria, UNICEF collaborate to address poverty issues
Ambassador Mamman hails Buratai’s legacy, urges youth mentorship
By: Zagazola Makama
Ambassador Yusuf Mamman, former Nigerian envoy, has lauded the leadership and reforms of retired Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, former Chief of Army Staff, describing him as a “soldier’s soldier” whose tenure transformed the Nigerian Army’s doctrine, structure, and innovation.
Mamman, who chaired the public presentation of the book Life Principles for Greatness from the Life of Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, said he accepted the role without hesitation because the work offered lessons for Nigeria’s youth.
He recalled that Buratai rose from a cadet in the Nigerian Defence Academy to become Chief of Army Staff at a time the country faced the existential threat of Boko Haram insurgency.
“He came at a very challenging and difficult time in our national history, when Boko Haram posed the biggest existential threat to Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity since the civil war,” Mamman said.
According to him, Buratai spearheaded deep and profound changes that reshaped military doctrine, operations, and troop welfare, laying the foundation for the ongoing modernisation of the Nigerian Army.
“He never sought to take credit, but his works were very evident and clear. The master plan for the Army’s modernisation we are following today was driven by his vision,” he added.
Mamman also linked Buratai’s example to the need for youth empowerment, noting that Nigeria’s young people are making significant contributions in technology, media, and the creative industry.
“We must give them the enabling environment to harness their creativity for national greatness. Our future relies on the resilience, creativity, and scholarship of our youth,” he said.
The event, held in Abuja Intercontinental Hotel attracted dignitaries including Senior Military Officers, both serving and retired, Sen. Abdulaziz Yar’adua, Chairman Senate Committee on Army, and other prominent Nigerians.
Ambassador Mamman hails Buratai’s legacy, urges youth mentorship
Kachalla Alti kills rival bandit kingpin, Dankarami Usaini in Zamfara community
By: Zagazola Makama
A feared bandit kingpin, Kachalla Alti, has killed a fellow gang leader in Matsuki village, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, in what residents described as a deadly supremacy battle.
Zagazola gathered from sources that the incident, which occurred at about 4:45 p.m. on Monday, has left the community tense and largely deserted.
Witnesses said the slain bandit, identified as Dankarami Usaini, 40, a Hausa native of Matsuki, had long operated from the Dangajeru forest, allegedly extorting residents and attacking those who resisted.
According to locals, Dankarami was in the village to collect levies on behalf of Kachalla Alti, the younger brother of notorious armed gang leader, Adamu Alero.
However, discontent had been brewing among residents over the “excessive harassment” by Dankarami. They reportedly reached out to Kachalla Alti to intervene. Kachalla Alti stormed the village with his men and shot Dankarami dead on the spot.
Following the killing, many residents fled to nearby villages, fearing retaliatory attacks from Dankarami’s loyalists.
Local sources said tension remains high, with sporadic gunfire heard in nearby forest routes.
Kachalla Alti kills rival bandit kingpin, Dankarami Usaini in Zamfara community
Police, hunters search for kidnapped septuagenarian in Gombe
By: Zagazola Makama
Police in Gombe State, in collaboration with local hunters, have launched a search for a 60-year-old man abducted by gunmen in Funakaye Local Government Area.
Sources said the incident occurred on Tuesday at about 12:30 a.m., when about seven armed men stormed the Ganti area of Abuku village via Ribadu Bajoga and kidnapped one Muhammadu Lawal to an unknown location.
Upon receiving the report from the village head of Bage, a joint team of police operatives and hunters mobilised to comb nearby communities in an effort to rescue the victim unhurt.
The sources said no arrests had been made as of the time of filing this report.
Police, hunters search for kidnapped septuagenarian in Gombe
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Ambassador Mamman hails Buratai’s legacy, urges youth mentorship
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