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SDGs office, NYSC partner to train SDGs development facilitators

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SDGs office, NYSC partner to train SDGs development facilitators

SDGs office, NYSC partner to train SDGs development facilitators

The Office of the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs) has  partnered with   the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to train trainers for SDGs development facilitators.

The training which is the second edition is a three -day event holding in Abuja is aimed at training corps members who will in turn train others for the effective implementation of the SDGs, especially at the grassroots.

The workshop  is tagged Train-The-Trainer Workshop for Facilitators  and Schedule Officers  of the NYSC-SDGs Champions.

In her keynote address, the SSAP-SDG, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, said  the implementation of the SDGs was centred on capacity building, technology, adequate financing, and multi-stakeholder partnerships.

According to her, trainings on youth engagement, particularly at the local communities cannot be overemphasized as the local government is pivotal to the achievement of the SDGs in Nigeria.

“It is the closest tier to the people and as such, the only tier of government that can feasibly understand, monitor and react to the millions of activities that will collectively add up to the achievement of the SDGs in Nigeria.

“Youth engagement at the grassroots has been identified as a critical success strategy to the effective implementation of the SDGs implementation.

“The youths can develop and focus on innovative community engagement mechanisms to ensure that citizens are actively participating in the SDGs through Programme design, implementation, evaluation and reporting among others.

“Essentially, we must train and equip our young Champions who are key partners in the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development,” Adefulire said.

She added that the NYSC-SDGs Champions must seize the  opportunities provided to them and utilize them optimally by taking deliberate actions that translate to productive employment for their financial security and sustainable economic growth and development.

Brig.-Gen.Mohammed Fadah, Director-General, NYSC, pledged his support for the programme in line with policy thrust of the NYSC.

“Management under my administration would promote the NYSC-SDGs and other viable programmes that that will support the government and Non-governmental Organisations in addressing various challenges confronting the nation’s developmental efforts.

“In doing this we shall harness the talents of our corps members to galvanise the populace  into becoming informed participants in the process of attaining inclusive and sustainable national development.

“In essence, our corps members shall be the vehicle which drives the process of bridging the information gap between policies and programmes implementation.,” Fadah said.

He, therefore, urged the corps members to take the training seriously to update their knowledge in development issues especially SDG projects.

He was represented by Director, CDS NYSC, Alhaji Abdulrazak Salawu,

In his remarks, Mr Ahmad Kawu, the Secretary of Programmes, (SOP) SDGs said it was commitment of the OSSAP  to localise the SDGs in Nigeria, that brought about the training.

“The Training of the Trainer (ToT) is an imperative tool in strengthening capacities for SDGs implementation at the grassroots in Nigeria.

“COVID-19 Pandemic has affected all spheres of our lives. As we are  gradually recovery from its socio-economic impact, there is no better time than now to strengthen multi-stakeholders’ engagement to enable us reclaim lost grounds and explore new ways of accelerating action on the SDGs.

“Specifically, this workshop is aimed at building the capacity of the NYSC Schedule Officers and SDGs Development Knowledge Facilitators to enable them to train and recruit the NYSC-SDGs Champions in driving the process of localising the SDGs.

“By translating them into concrete actions through advocacy and meaningful engagement in the 774 local government areas of the country catalyse development initiatives at the community level through stakeholders ‘buy-in, ownership and active participation in our local communities.

“Develop innovative and sustainable strategies in mobilizing partnerships and local financing for the SDGs among other objectives,” Kawu said.

Still speaking on the objectives of the training, Mrs Uforma Dick, Deputy Director, NYSC said the expectations of the workshop include to explore new ways of accelerating action on the 17 goals to increase effectiveness and efficiency of action.

“By targeting multiple SDGs for proper tracing of progress and reporting of the SDGs, as well as building synergies among State and NonState actors.

“To get updates on how to localise the SDGs using advocacy and awareness creation to secure the wellbeing of people, economies, societies and our planet.

”To understand implementation strategies for realization of the decade of action using Innovation and digital skills.

“Proffer practical solutions to challenges limiting the realization of the SDGs. Refresh the minds of the participants on the existing solutions and emerging issues.

“Build consensus and understanding among team leaders on the training packages and contents for uniformity,
develop realistic strategies for effective and sustained service delivery during orientation seminar.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme  ‘NYSC-SDGs Champions’ was launched on Feb. 13, 2017 by the OSSAP-SDGs in collaboration with the NYSC as a continuation of the NYSC-MDGs project.

NAN also reports that 43 Development Knowledge Facilitators (DKFs); 37 NYSC Schedules Officers from the 36 States and the FCT; and selected Officers from the NYSC Directorate Headquarters and the Policy and Strategy Unit (PSU) of OSSA-SDGs are the resource persons for the training.

SDGs office, NYSC partner to train SDGs development facilitators

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NBMA Debunks Allegations of Negligence, Compromise Against It

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NBMA Debunks Allegations of Negligence, Compromise Against It

By: Michael Mike

The Director General and Chief Executive Officer (DG/CEO) of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Dr. Yemisi Asagbra debunked some allegations level against the agency by some non governmental organisations (NGOs) concerning negligence and compromise.

Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, Asagbra said: “The negative statements circulating are misleading and lack credible scientific backing. The agency asks these organisations to present verifiable scientific evidence for their claims and we relies on sound scientific research and internationally recognized protocols to make informed decisions. It is part of the Cartagena Protocol with over 180 parties, our mandate is to protect the health of Nigerians and the environment. It will not compromise on this as it is an agency of integrity.

She added that: “The agency is transparent and accountable in its operations. It invites review of its processes and rigorous evaluations of GMO products. We are confident in our procedures that it’s meet global standards and it is a leader in effective regulation in Africa”.

On the source of the allegations, she said “over the years they have been advocating to have their presence in the board where all these products coming will be thoroughly Investigated, but it hasn’t been given. Most times we rely on the information given by Nigeria Custom Service to furnish them with needed information, which most time is not always easy if they have other things doing.

The Head planning, research and statistics National Biosafety Management Agency Mrs. Bello Scholastica said the agency is concerned with safety to our health and safety to our environment.

She further reiterated that what NBMA stands for is to establish first regulation from identification of the gene of interest, “of what you are interested in, from then till commercialization, and even after commercialization, they still follow suit to make sure that the approvals they gave hasn’t caused any harm, or those that were given approval to that they stay put to what they were asked to do”.

She further explained that the agency has put in effort to promote environmental conservation and biosafety in Nigeria.

NBMA Debunks Allegations of Negligence, Compromise Against It

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House of Reps Assures on Passage of Human Rights Defenders Bill

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House of Reps Assures on Passage of Human Rights Defenders Bill

By: Michael Mike

The House of Representatives has revealed that it is interested in the passage of the Human Rights Defenders Bill into law, saying that the bill has already passed the first reading and will soon be subjected to second reading.

The House also promised to take the necessary steps to ensure an improvement in the 2025 budget of the NHRC, pointing out that the N5 billion approved for it in the 2024 budget is inadequate considering the myriad of human rights violations in the country.

The Chairman House Committee on Human Rights, Hon. Abiola Makinde made this disclosure during the oversight visit of Committee to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The Chairman, who was represented at the occasion by his Deputy, Hon. Mudashiru Lukeman assured the NHRC that the Committee would continue to advance the course of human rights in Nigeria by ensuring that the House of Representatives passes critical bills on human rights issues as well as makes adequate budgetary provisions to ease the work of the Commission.

Makinde also stated that in a bid to improve some aspects of Civil and Political Rights, the House of Representatives had ensured the establishment of human rights desks in all police formations and Headquarters across the 36 States of the Federation.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu who received the lawmakers with his management staff told the Human Rights Committee that the Commission relies heavily on them for the enactment of human rights friendly laws and enhanced budgetary provisions to discharge it broad mandate of promotion, protection and enforcement of human rights in the country.

He used the opportunity to commend the legislators for their role in the amendment of the NHRC Act 2010 as well as the support of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila in the payment of compensation to victims of human rights violations by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigeria Police Force.

He equally informed the legislators who were on oversight visit about the recent report released by the Commission following the findings of the Special Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations in Counter-Insurgency Operations in the North East Nigeria , which he noted has saved the country from possible invitation by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

He noted that the aforementioned wide spread allegations of human rights infractions against some government institutions could result in the ICC extending invitations to some of the leaders to respond to the allegations, but the Commission has done the needful in compliance with the international principles of omplementarity.

He thanked the Committee for promising to improve the budgetary allocation of the Commission in the 2025 fiscal year.

House of Reps Assures on Passage of Human Rights Defenders Bill

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FG Confirms Arrest of Simon Ekpa

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FG Confirms Arrest of Simon Ekpa

By: Michael Mike

The arrest of Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa in Finland has been confirmed by the federal government.

A statement on Friday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Nigerian-Finnish citizen and prominent leader of the proscribed Indigenous People
of Biafra (IPOB), was arrested by Finnish authorities on Thursday.

According to the statement, Ekpa was
charged with inciting terrorism and promoting violence.

The Finnish District Court of
Päijät-Häme ruled to detain him on probable cause for publicly inciting crimes with terrorist intent.

The Finnish authorities alleged that Mr. Ekpa used social media platforms to spread
separatist propaganda, incite violence and encourage illegal actions, which had caused
significant disruptions in the South-East of Nigeria. Finnish investigators had also linked
him to incidents of violence in Nigeria, which were believed to had been fueled by his
online activities.

The statement said “the arrest of Mr. Simon Njoku Ekpa follows sustained diplomatic
pressure by the Nigerian government on Finland, to take action against his activities,
which were linked to violence and instability in the South-East of Nigeria. The request
for action featured during high level engagements between countries.”

The Ministry stated that the arrest of Ekpa, is a significant development in addressing the activities of IPOB, and also neutralizing the influence of transnational actors and “their impact on our national security.”

The Ministry promised to continue to monitor the legal proceedings and provide further updates as the case progresses.

FG Confirms Arrest of Simon Ekpa

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