International

UN, EU take message on SGBV, harmful practices to traditional and religious leaders

Published

2 years ago

December 6, 2022

Ochuwa Ibrahim

UN, EU take message on SGBV, harmful practices to traditional and religious leaders

By Michael Mike

The United Nations (UN) has taken it’s sensitization drive towards elimination of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and harmful practices in the country to traditional and religious institutions by organizing a two-day workshop for both traditional and religious leaders in the country.

A workshop was organized for both traditional and religious leaders by United Nations Women in conjunction with European Union (EU) in Abuja between December 6-7 where selected leaders across the country are sensitized on the harms of SGBV and harmful practices.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the UN Women representative, Ms. Beatrice Eyong who represented the the UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Matthias Schmale told the participants that: “Your presence here is a testament to your commitment to our joint agenda to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. Together, through the EUN-UN joint Spotlight Initiative, we have made great strides.”

She said: “In addressing harmful practices including female genital mutilation, money wife and other harmful practices, we are seeing a shift in attitudes and in some cases, the total abandonment of these practices.

“For example, the abolishment of the practice of “money wife” by the Clan head, council of chiefs and all the village heads in Becheve community in Obanliku LGA. This is highly commendable and shows that where there is a will, change can be made. This is alongside the backdrop of 32 States having passed the Violence Against Person’s Prohibition (VAPP) Act”

She noted that: “Traditional and Religious leaders continue to be the mouthpiece for the movement to eliminate violence. Indeed, in the first phase of the Spotlight Initiative, we observed over 200 religious and traditional leaders engaged in advocacy to increase their own knowledge and that of their communities, on issues of harmful social norms and violence against girls. The statistics remain however that FGM is at 25% prevalence despite the
practice being outlawed by the VAPP Act.”

She lamented that 33% of women and girls have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, insisting that: “One woman is one too many.”

She said: “It is imperative therefore, that we accelerate efforts to address the root causes of gender- based violence (GBV) and harmful practices (HP),” revealing that: “UN Women has invested in landmark research to highlight linkages between customary and formal law.”

She noted that: “The findings of this research have informed the content of this workshop and provide a strong case for elimination of violence whether in the formal or customary court. There is no longer the excuse of ‘culture’ in defense of violence and harmful practices.”

She said: “I wish to commend the Convenor-General, the leadership of the Council of Traditional Leaders of Africa and all members for paving the way for Nigeria and indeed the African continent in this regard,” adding that: “To this end, the United Nations through UN Women and other Spotlight Implementing agencies will continue to advocate for local ownership of the front-line service centers to ensure survivors of FGM and those at risk of this practice receive the protection, access to justice and support that they deserve.

“We are pleased to be in continued partnership with the Council of Traditional and Religious Leaders in Africa (COTLA), to develop an advocacy toolkit that will guide the activities and approaches of these esteemed leaders in eliminating harmful traditional practices including child marriage and harmful widowhood rites.

“Royal Highnesses, Royal Majesties, you are the key to shifting social norms and driving the critical change needed to end gender-based violence and enhance women’s full participation in society. Violence has detrimental impact on survivors as well as their communities, stunting social and economic growth.”

She stressed that: “This critical convening is simultaneously geared towards listening and learning from your reflections on how to tackle the challenge of violence against women and girls. It is my sincere hope that this dialogue will serve to synergize efforts that will accelerate positive actions addressing issues of sexual and gender-based violence in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Agenda as well as the Africa Union’s 2063 Agenda.”
End

International

Nigeria Congratulates Trump on Election as US President

Published

2 days ago

November 6, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Nigeria Congratulates Trump on Election as US President

By: Michael Mike

The Nigerian government has congratulated the Republican candidate in the United States of America presidential election, Donald Trump for his victory at the poll.

The Nigerian government in a statement on Wednesday signed by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Eche Abu-Obe wish the 45th president who has been elected by the reason of the election as the 47th president great success.

The statement read: “Federal Republic of Nigeria wishes to congratulate incoming President Donald Trump on his victory as the next President of the United States of America.

“Nigeria wishes the 47th President of the United States of America great success in steering the affairs of the country and further assures of continued support and cooperation in matters of international peace and security.

“The Federal Republic of Nigeria applauds the Democratic contestant, Kamala Harris, for her efforts and contributions during her tenure as the Vice President of the United States of America.

“In the same vein, Nigeria also applauds outgoing President, Joe Biden, for his leadership and service to the American people.”

International

UK’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary Vessel Visits Nigeria

Published

1 week ago

October 30, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

UK’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary Vessel Visits Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

RFA Lyme Bay, a United Kingdom Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessel, has arrived in Premiere Port (Apapa Quays) Lagos, Nigeria, as part of a Defence Engagement programme across West African partner nations.

The visit is part of the maritime co-operation agreed under the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership in February 2024.

A statement on Wednesday said whilst in Nigeria, Lyme Bay, will conduct a variety of Defence Engagement activities including ship tours and the hosting of national dignitaries. Operationally, the ship will facilitate maritime capability training utilising embarked UK Royal Marines boarding and search teams to conduct drills and interoperability training with their Nigeria Navy counterparts.

On completion of the visit, RFA Lyme Bay will participate in Exercise Grand African Nemo, a multinational maritime security exercise, involving Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian and Nigerian Naval forces off the coast of Nigeria.

Speaking on the Ship’s arrival, the UK Deputy Defence Adviser to Nigeria, Commander Jonathan Howe said: “The UK is committed to improving regional maritime security, as well as increasing Nigeria’s ability to constrain security threats ranging from piracy, violent extremist organisations. This deployment demonstrates our pledge to work with the Nigeria Government to tackle shared international security challenges and help improve maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.”

Lyme Bay’s Commanding Officer, Commander, Capt James Wingrove RFA, said: “It is a great privilege to bring RFA Lyme Bay alongside in Nigeria. The opportunity for my ships’ company and embarked forces to visit the region presents an exciting prospect whilst the ability to train alongside our Nigerian counterparts to hone skills, improve capability and demonstrate our interoperability is extremely valuable”.

UK’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary Vessel Visits Nigeria

International

UK-backed AFEX Celebrates 10 Years of Driving Agricultural Growth and Food Security Across Africa

Published

3 weeks ago

October 15, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

UK-backed AFEX Celebrates 10 Years of Driving Agricultural Growth and Food Security Across Africa

By: Michael Mike

A leading commodities player in Africa, AFEX, with support from the UK Government, has significant achievements across Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, and Côte d’Ivoire, as it commemorates its 10th year reshaping the agriculture value chain in Africa, contributing to building sustainable food systems and creating lasting impact for farmers, agribusinesses, and communities.

Through their operations providing capital and storage infrastructure to farmers, processors and other parts of the value chain, AFEX has remained steadfast in its mission to enhance food security, reduce post-harvest losses, and introduce liquidity into agricultural markets through efficient market structures.

Established in 2014 as the first private commodities exchange in Nigeria, AFEX has directly supported smallholder farmers by providing them with access to finance, high-value market opportunities, and crucial extension services. This has not only improved the livelihoods of these farmers but also enhanced their productivity and overall output. Within the same period, AFEX has also grown its presence across the continent, expanding from Nigeria into Kenya, Uganda, and Côte d’Ivoire, and establishing regional commodity markets that facilitate cross-border trade while strengthening food systems throughout these regions.

In Nigeria, AFEX has expanded its farmer network to over 500,000 and traded over 1 million metric tons of essential crops such as maize, rice, sorghum, and soybeans. This trading volume has made a significant contribution to improving food availability and stability in its operational areas. Furthermore, through its financing platform, AFEX has injected over $250 million into agricultural value chains, ensuring that farmers have access to the capital they need to scale their production.

Since expanding into Kenya and Uganda in 2021 and 2022, AFEX has been bullish in the pursuit of their strategic Pan-African expansion goal to penetrate 8 African countries in the next decade, promoting the efficient trade of commodities in Africa while supporting the AFCFTA’s objectives to boost regional trade integration on the continent. Today, its East African operations have impacted over 30,000 farmers through financing and storage services, traded over 12,000 metric tonne and traded about KSH1,600,000,000. In its newest market, Côte d’Ivoire, announced at the beginning of 2024, AFEX has onboarded over a thousand farmers, and disbursed maize inputs across 155 hectares, boosting productivity and food self-sufficiency.

Commenting on the anniversary, the UK’s Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Mr. Jonny Baxter, said: “The UK is proud to have provided early-stage funding to AFEX 10 years ago, and to see the company grow with such success, enhancing agricultural productivity and bolstering food security in Nigeria. The agricultural sector stands as a vital pillar to Nigeria’s economy, playing a significant role in job creation and investment potential. We look forward to continuing to support Nigeria’s agriculture sector and the opportunities this provides for its economic growth.”

Group CEO, AFEX, Ayodeji Balogun, reflected on the company’s 10-year journey, stating, “These past 10 years have been about creating innovative solutions for African agriculture and developing sustainable ecosystems that empower farmers. As we mark this milestone on World Food Day, we are reminded that our mission is more critical than ever. Our goal is to continue building the infrastructure and platforms that will secure Africa’s food future.”

Speaking about British International Investment’s $26.5 million commitment to AFEX in 2023, Nigeria Coverage Director of the UK’s development finance institution (DFI), Mr. Benson Adenuga said: “We are delighted to partner with AFEX to provide the necessary support to scale into a pan-African champion, driving agribusiness and strengthening food systems in multiple countries across the continent. Our commitment will support AFEX to construct 20 warehouses in strategic locations in Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda, increasing storage capacity for up to 200,000 farmers and underlining our mandate to support ambitious businesses in Africa”.

A key element of AFEX’s impact lies in its investment in infrastructure. Over the past decade, the company has developed a robust network of more than 200 warehouses across Africa, providing secure storage for agricultural produce and reducing post-harvest losses by up to 30% in some regions. By reducing post-harvest losses and improving productivity, AFEX is playing a critical role in enhancing food security, addressing the challenges of climate change and promoting sustainable agricultural practices across Africa. This commitment mirrors the global call to action on World Food Day to ensure that food systems are inclusive, resilient, and capable of feeding future generations.

AFEX is a platform business that enables efficient trade for commodities in Africa. Solutions start at producer level, ensuring improvement in productivity and livelihoods while building up commodity volumes in the right quality and quantity for local and regional trade.

Operating through three business units, AFEX addresses the challenges faced by smallholder farmers, providing better access to inputs, credit facilities, micro-insurance, storage services, training, and markets. Partnership with different key players across the agricultural value chain – including processors, logistics service providers, financial institutions, and regulatory authorities – makes its goal of supporting Africa’s food security possible.

A range of clients and members also trade physical commodities and commodity contracts through AFEX’s technology platforms, as AFEX continuously bridges the gap between the capital market and the commodities market, thus unlocking finance for production, trade, processing and export of commodities.