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Re-echoing dangers of Holocaust to prevent reoccurrence

Re-echoing dangers of Holocaust to prevent reoccurrence
Re-echoing dangers of Holocaust to prevent reoccurrence
By Fortune Abang
The 1933-1945 Holocaust era during the Nazi regime in World War II may have come and gone, but the international community, diplomats and academics believe such antisemitism still abounds.
Holocaust is the ideological-driven persecution and murder of six million Jews across Europe by the then Nazi Germany and other racist states.
The stakeholders alluded that such ideology was built on pre-existing prejudices against Jews and Roma that entails systematic mass murder and persecution of Jews by Nazis and their collaborators.
The world makes progress in the Holocaust era, stakeholder re-echoe the need to prevent a reoccurrence of that ugly part of human history.
At the 80th anniversary of the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust, stakeholders advocated multilateral efforts toward ending all forms of racism, prejudice, and religious bigotry.
The event which had as its theme: “Holocaust Remembrance for Dignity and Human Rights” was organised by the UN Information Centre in collaboration with UNESCO, the German and Israeli embassies.
It was used to brief students on lessons of the Holocaust and fight against discrimination, religious intolerance, harassment, mass violence, and hate speech.
Experts say that all forms of such ideology can be fueled by the same lies and loathing that nurtured the Nazi genocide.
They pointed at the October 7, terror attacks by Hamas on Israel and Israel’s reaction, Russia and Ukraine war, Sudan conflict situation among others to have been based on anti-Semitism.
These conflicts and many more have resulte to loss of lives and property, including in Europe, Australia, Canada, the U.S. and elsewhere, particularly with Jewish communities facing increasing hostility and violence.
Also worthy to note is the Rwandan genocide, known as the genocide against the Tutsi that occurred from April 7 to July 19, 1994 during the Rwandan Civil war, resulting in not less than 800 000 people been slaughtered in Rwanda by ethnic Hutu extremists.
It is estimated that no the death of thousands of Rwandans while fewer than 2, 000, 000 Rwandans reportedly fled the country during or after the genocide.
The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, called on all citizens of the world to speak up and stand up against hate.
Guterres said: “To allow the Holocaust to fade from our memory would dishonour the past and betray the future; remembrance is a moral act and a call to action.
“To know the history of the Holocaust is to know the depths to which humanity can sink; to understand how the Nazis committed their heinous crimes with the complicity of others.
“We must hold fast to our common humanity. We must condemn all forms of racism, prejudice and religious bigotry, and renew our resolve to defend the dignity and human rights of all.”
The Israeli Deputy Ambassador to Nigeria, Inbar Garden, recounted the Jewish men, women, and children were murdered in the holocaust, alongside millions of others who suffered under the Nazi regime.
She said through collective efforts such occurrences would be prevented.
According to her, it has become necessary to honour their memory not only to mourn the loss of 6-million Jewish men, women, and children alongside millions of others, also to reaffirm commitment to ensuring such atrocities never happen again.
“The Holocaust is not just a chapter of Jewish history; it is a universal reminder of the devastating consequences of hatred, discrimination, and indifference.
“It compels us to reflect on our shared responsibility to fight antisemitism, racism, and all forms of intolerance wherever they may arise,” Garden said.
In the same vein, Mr Mathias Dold, First Secretary of German Embassy, decried the 1933 to 1945 holocaust which he said marked the darkest period across Europe under Nazi Germany and other racist states.
“This is without a doubt Germany’s darkest hour and worst crime ever committed by the then national socialist Nazi government, since the history of the world.
“Beside Jews, other minors were murdered including half a million Roma and Sinti, Persons With Disabilities (PWD), communists, prisoners of war, political enemies and all those the Nazis considered unworthy,” Dold said.
Mr Mendy Albert, Officer -in-charge of UNESCO Country Office in Nigeria, urged people to reflect more on the consequences of hatred, discrimination and intolerance and embrace collective responsibility through peaceful co-existence and education.
He said that UNESCO, as the lead agency for education within the UN system, believes that education can the most powerful tool for re-echoing the dangers of Holocaust and building a just and peaceful world.
“Education for peace is not just about imparting knowledge; it is shaping attitudes, values and behaviours that promote dialogue, understanding and cooperation among individuals and societies,” Albert said.
Analysts agree that a multilateral approach toward raising awareness about ending racism, religious bigotry and all forms of hate is vital in bolstering lasting global peace.
They also believe that if Holocaust should serve as a powerful reminder that hatred, no matter how small it may seem, could grow into unimaginable consequences if left unchecked.
Hatred, often starts with seemingly minor acts of intolerance, hurtful words, exclusion, discrimination, and can quickly escalate into widespread harm and devastation.
Fortune Abang, is an Abuja-based journalist
Re-echoing dangers of Holocaust to prevent reoccurrence
News
Flood: Over 1,200 Houses Affected in Damboa and Chibok

Flood: Over 1,200 Houses Affected in Damboa and Chibok
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has carried out rapid assessment in communities affected by the recent flood disaster in Damboa and Chibok local government areas with 1,209 houses affected in 4 different communities.
Borno State governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has earlier directed the Agency to immediately carry out assessment and intervention in communities affected by flood and windstorm disasters.

The affected areas include Gumsuri, Garjang and Wovi in Damboa as well as Mboa, Whuntaku and Yarchida villages of Chibok local government.
Governor Zulum had, on Tuesday, sympathised with residents of the affected communities and families of those that lost their loved ones in Chibok, Damboa and Askira

“I received with profound sorrow the sad news of the devastating flood disaster in Gumsuri, Wovi and Garjang in Damboa as well as the people of Mboa, Whuntaku and Yarchida villages of Chibok local government which claimed lives and displaced many families. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families and all those affected by these disasters,” Governor Zulum stated.
During the on-the-spot assessment, the Acting Director General of SEMA, Ali Abdullahi Isa, said his visit was at the instance of the governor, assuring to deliver relief items to victims of the disaster.
“As directed by his Excellency, the Executive Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, we have carried out on-the-spot assessment of all the areas affected by the flash flood in the two local governments,” Ali stated.

“A total of 1,103 houses in Gumsuri, Wovi and Garjang in Damboa LGA have been severely affected while 106 houses in Mboa, Whuntaku and Yarchida villages of Chibok local government were also affected,” he added.
The DG prayed Almighty Allah to prevent future occurrences.
Meanwhile, the Acting Director General of SEMA has provided relief items to families affected by the windstorm disaster in Rumirgo town of Askira Uba local government.
The DG alongside district coordinator of the Agency were received by the Vice Chairman and the District Head of the area.
Flood: Over 1,200 Houses Affected in Damboa and Chibok
News
Troops neutralise terrorists, recover arms in Pulka-Kirawa axis

Troops neutralise terrorists, recover arms in Pulka-Kirawa axis
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised two terrorists and recovered weapons and logistics items during a fierce encounter along the Pulka–Kirawa road in Borno State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama on Thursday that the encounter occurred as troops engaged a group of terrorists attempting to cross toward the Dar-Jamal area around the Miyanti axis.

The confrontation, which resulted in a sustained firefight, led to the elimination of two terrorists, while others fled with gunshot wounds.
Items recovered from the scene include AK-47 rifles with loaded magazines, motorcycles, Baofeng radios, cell phones, hard drugs, medical drips, and mini solar panels, believed to be used by the terrorists for field operations.
The troops have continued to pursue the fleeing insurgents as part of the ongoing offensive operations in the general area.
Troops neutralise terrorists, recover arms in Pulka-Kirawa axis
News
VP Shettima Inaugurates NCGC Board, Says Firm Will Unlock MSME Financing In Nigeria

VP Shettima Inaugurates NCGC Board, Says Firm Will Unlock MSME Financing In Nigeria
By: Our Reporter
Vice President Kashim Shettima has inaugurated the Board of Directors of the National Credit Guarantee Company Limited (NCGC Ltd), charging members to deepen financial inclusion and stimulate Nigeria’s grassroots economy.
The new institution is designed to serve as a financial backbone for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) struggling with access to affordable credit.
Speaking on Thursday during the inauguration ceremony at the Presidential Villa, Vice President Shettima said the establishment of NCGC represents the government’s commitment to bridging the financing gap that has long plagued MSMEs across the country.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had on May 29, 2025, announced the establishment of the company, just as he also approved the appointment of its board and management team.
The President also appointed former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, as Chairman of the NCGC Board, while Mr. Bonaventure Okhaimo was appointed the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.
While inaugurating the board, the Vice President said, “This is our response to a stubborn challenge that has stifled our economic potential for decades—access to finance. These entrepreneurs do not ask for handouts; they ask for the credibility of their ideas to be matched by the confidence of our financial institutions.”
Describing the NCGC as “a critical engine in our pursuit of economic inclusion and sustainable growth,” VP Shettima explained that the company will serve as a vital bridge between entrepreneurs and financial institutions, providing the trust needed for small businesses to secure loans.
He cited instances of farmers, traders, artisans, and tech entrepreneurs across the country who, despite being productive, are often stranded due to a lack of collateral or guarantees.
“NCGC is that bridge. It is the assurance that when a farmer in Ibadan needs a loan to expand her cocoa farm, when a tech start-up in Abuja needs working capital to scale, when a leather artisan in Kano seeks to mechanise his craft, and when a trader in Onitsha needs capital to expand, the system will no longer fail them. It is a promise that productive Nigerians will not be stranded for want of guarantees,” the Vice President said.
To the newly inaugurated board, chaired by former Speaker Dogara, VP Shettima urged its members to combine “prudence with courage, accountability with ambition,” as they translate national policy into impact.
“This is a call to deploy your diverse expertise not only as overseers but as enablers of transformation,” he charged, adding that the new board’s leadership is important in unlocking capital for Nigeria’s most enterprising but underserved sectors.
“On behalf of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GFCR, and the Federal Government of Nigeria, I hereby declare the Board of Directors of the National Credit Guarantee Company Limited duly inaugurated,” he stated.
Earlier, the new board’s Chairman, Rt. Hon. Dogara thanked President Tinubu for the bold and courageous leadership he is providing for the country.
“The establishment of NCGC is an attempt to give vent to our democracy to deliver on its promise. As it is said, the promise of democracy is life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
“You can be alive and may enjoy all the rights, but if you don’t have the means with which to pursue happiness, you are excluded from the promise of democracy. Our democracy must deliver not just political and individual rights but economic opportunities,” he said.
In his remarks, the Managing Director (MD) of the Bank of Industry (BOI) and member of the board, Dr. Olasupo Olusi, said that the establishment of the NCGC reflects the administration’s unwavering commitment to removing structural barriers that long constrained access to finance for MSMEs, manufacturers, consumers and other segments of the economy.
“This milestone is a result of dedicated hard work by a coalition of partners like BOI, Ministry of Finance Incorporated, Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority and the World Bank, who have all worked closely together under the direction of the Presidential Committee,” he said.
Other members of the board include Mrs. Tinoula Aigwedo, Executive Director of Strategy and Operations; Dr. Ezekiel Oseni, Executive Director, Risk Management; and Ms. Yeside Kazeem, Independent Non-Executive Director.
Representatives from key financial institutions serving as Non-Executive Board Members of the company include Mr. Aminu Sadiq-Umar (MD, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority), Dr. Olasupo Olusi (MD/CEO, Bank of Industry), Mr. Uzoma Nwagba (MD, Nigeria Consumer Credit Corporation), and Mrs. Oluwakemi Owonubi (representative of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated).
VP Shettima Inaugurates NCGC Board, Says Firm Will Unlock MSME Financing In Nigeria
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