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UN Set to Host Peace Building Programme to Tackle Insecurity

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UN Set to Host Peace Building Programme to Tackle Insecurity

By: Michael Mike

The United Nations (UN) in Nigeria on Wednesday said its maiden peace-building programme tagged: “Summit of the future-new agenda for peace” is aimed at advancing measures at tackling security related issues.

UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall disclosed this during national stakeholders consultation in Abuja to map out strategies for the upcoming summit scheduled to hold from Sept.22 to 23, 2024 in New York.

The event organised by the UN in collaboration with Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) seeks to promote the use of dialogue as tool in tackling security challenges.

Fall said although Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation, it has role to play as regional power in shaping regional and global agenda on peace and security.

He said: “There are a number of idioms that notes how crucial Nigeria is to the subcontinent and the world, the most notable is the following “when Nigeria sneezes, the whole continent fall sick”.

He noted that the promotion of peace and security is central to the UN and enshrined in the organisation’s Charter to save generations from the scourge of conflict.

According to him, dialogue has become important toward supporting Nigeria capture and articulate efforts in tackling peace and security challenges.

He added that: “The new agenda for peace is a fresh look at the changing security landscape and a call to reinvigorate collective security system based on principles of trust, solidarity and universality.

“The agenda stresses importance of preventive diplomacy to tackle poverty, inequalities, climate change and closing development gaps that lead to conflict in the first place.

“This would strengthen both the regional peace architecture and the global framework for addressing contemporary threats to peace and security across Africa.

“By assertively participating in these high-level deliberations, Nigerian stakeholders can amplify their nation’s voice and advocate tailored solutions that better reflects realities on the ground,” Fall said.

On his part, the Director-General of IPCR, Dr Joseph Ochogwu, underscored the need for stronger international cooperation among institutions and relevant stakeholders to tackle spate of violent conflicts.

According to him, it has become imperative to tackle root causes of conflict, prevent crises before they escalate and build equitable world for all.

“As we reflect on the profound challenges that confront us, we must recognise the critical role of solidarity in fostering sense of shared responsibility and mutual support.

“As we embark on new agenda for peace, let us heed the call for unity, compassion and collective action, the challenges we face may be daunting but they are not insurmountable.

“Only by embracing this paradigm shift where peacebuilding is viewed as everybody’s business, can we truly create the conditions for lasting peace and security.

“The time to act is now before these threats escalate and engulf us, let us rise to the occasion and fulfill our responsibility as stewards of peace and security for all,”

UN Set to Host Peace Building Programme to Tackle Insecurity

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Nigeria Partners UNICEF To Train 20m Youth In Digital Skills By 2030

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Nigeria Partners UNICEF To Train 20m Youth In Digital Skills By 2030

** As VP Shettima chairs Generation Unlimited board

By: Our Reporter

The Federal Government of Nigeria has renewed its strategic partnership with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to train and empower 20 million young Nigerians with digital skills by 2030.

This is just as Vice President Kashim Shettima has accepted to chair the board of Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA), a public-private-youth partnership platform constituted to help young Nigerians between the ages of 10 and 24 transition from learning to earning through digital connectivity.

Speaking during a meeting with the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall; UNICEF Deputy Representative, Dr. Rownak Khan, and Chief of the UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere, at the President Villa, Abuja on Monday, Senator Shettima warned that Nigeria’s rapidly growing population, currently estimated at over 230 million with an average age of 17, presents both a challenge and an opportunity.

“It is an honour for me to serve as the Chairman of Generation Unlimited (GenU 9JA). This platform provides a vista of opportunities for our young people. Beyond rhetoric, if we want to survive and thrive, we must empower our youth through digital means. That’s the only way forward,” the Vice President said.

The GenU 9JA initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises inclusive development, digital innovation, and youth empowerment as tools for national transformation.

VP Shettima stressed that Nigeria is not seeking handouts but sustainable, equitable partnerships.

“We are not looking for charity. We want a mutually beneficial relationship—one based on respect and shared interests. This is why I’m very passionate about the digital initiative. Beyond leadership in our enlightened self-interest, if we want to live in this part of the world, we have to involve them, we have to empower them,” he said.

The VP described the initiative as a beautiful programme that would enable the Nigerian youths trade their skills in the global market, saying “from earning to learning is a beautiful initiative and more than any other platform, the digital space gives us the easiest window to get the youth engaged effortlessly.

“They can trade their skills in the global market. I know of a lot of young Nigerians who are working for global firms from the comfort of their homes,” he added.

Earlier, UN Resident Coordinator, Fall, praised Nigeria’s leadership under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that the GenU platform is central to addressing youth unemployment, educational inequality, and digital exclusion.

“Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, youth-focused initiatives—skills, digital access, and employment—are critical. And GenU is helping to drive those priorities,” Fall said.

Also, UNICEF Deputy Representative, Dr. Khan, added that GenU 9JA is one of UNICEF’s most successful global youth empowerment programmes, with Nigeria showcased as a model.

“We’ve seen incredible results from Nigeria. Few countries globally have recorded the level of youth impact that GenU 9JA has achieved,” she said.

According to Khan, the programme is built on three pillars: digital connectivity, pathways from learning to earning, and youth engagement and empowerment—all designed to prepare Nigerian youth for today’s job market.

On her part, UNICEF Lagos Chief, Celine Lafoucriere, noted that since its launch in 2022, GenU 9JA has impacted over 10 million young people, with 1,500 job linkages already secured.

“To reach our target of 20 million youth by 2030, we must now strengthen coordination among partners and align even more closely with national policy,” Lafoucriere said.
End

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OAU RETREAT: STAKEHOLDERS RESOLVED TO COME TOGETHER FOR THE INSTITUTION’S DEVELOPMENT

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OAU RETREAT: STAKEHOLDERS RESOLVED TO COME TOGETHER FOR THE INSTITUTION’S DEVELOPMENT

By: Michael Mike

Stakeholders at the just concluded four-day strategic Obafemi Awolowo University Council Management Retreat have resolved to work together and use their respective expertise towards the development of the institution.

Rising from the retreat held from May 28 to May 31, 2025 at Ede, Osun state, the Stakeholders used the opportunity to restrategise on challenges and opportunities confronting the 63 years old institution.

The retreat tagged: “Towards A Better Working Relationship Between Council and Management” had Prof. Abel Idowu Olayinka, former Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan as the keynote speaker.

Other stakeholders in attendance include Prof. Siyan Oyeweso, Pro-Chancellor of the Institution, Prof. Simeon Adebayo Bamire, OAU Vice Chancellor, his DVC Administration, Prof. O.M.A. Daramola and newly elected Great Ife Alumni Association President, Barrister Leye Bunmi Falode.

Others in attendance were Prof. M. Olubola Babalola, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Akanni Akinyemi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Development and all other principal officers of the University which include the Registrar, Librarian and the Bursar.

All the registered unions like ASUU, CONUA, Students Union Government among other stakeholders at the institution were equally in attendance during the retreat.

In his goodwill message, Barrister Falode used the opportunity to unveil the Alumni 14-point agenda which include giving priority to the needs of the University as the Federal Government allocation alone cannot sustain it.

He also said that working together with all stakeholders in a rancour-free atmosphere is what they need to achieve all the set goals of the Alumni for the university.

Falode, who was sworn in as Global President on Saturday May 24, however, urged all stakeholders to work in harmony with the management and Council of the Institutions towards making it a true centre of academic excellence.

OAU RETREAT: STAKEHOLDERS RESOLVED TO COME TOGETHER FOR THE INSTITUTION’S DEVELOPMENT

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ECOWAS Court President Calls for Strategic Renewal and Institutional Realignment

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ECOWAS Court President Calls for Strategic Renewal and Institutional Realignment

By: Michael Mike

The President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Hon. Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves on Monday emphasised the critical need for transparent financial management and strategic institutional reform as the Court navigates a defining moment in its administrative evolution.
 
Speaking at the 17th Administration and Budget Retreat of the Court, the President said the retreat was not merely a routine institutional exercise, but one that requires renewed commitment, clear vision, and adaptive leadership.
 
“This is not just another meeting,” he said. “It is a decisive moment that will shape the future of the Court. The complex administrative and financial environment we are operating in, demands not only compliance but also innovation, resilience, and courage.”
 
Gonçalves stressed the importance of building a more efficient and accountable institutional framework. He called for a renewed sense of purpose among departments, urging managers and staff to embrace transparency and creativity in tackling challenges.
 
“The Court must reflect a strong strategic direction and realign its priorities to match regional realities. We cannot afford to be passive. We must act decisively to redefine our priorities, streamline our procedures, and reinforce our core mission”.
 
Highlighting the economic challenges facing the West African region, the President underscored the need for efficient use of financial resources and ensure that all initiatives, are results-oriented, impactful, and aligned with the Court’s long-term vision.
 
He emphasised that the Court must serve as a model of integrity, foresight, and adaptability: “We are not only managing numbers; we are shaping the future of regional justice. Our financial and administrative actions must match the responsibility we carry as custodian of community law.
 
The President called for the consolidation of strategic plans into concrete, measurable reforms and encouraged collaboration across departments to foster a professional and inclusive working environment, one that motivates, empowers, and attracts talent.
 
The Director of Administration and Finance of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Chief Dr. William Deiyan Towah who made a presentation on the «Objectives and Expectations of the Retreat,” emphasised the importance of strategic reflection, data-driven planning, and institutional renewal. He urged participants to go beyond routine planning and embrace a future-ready approach that prioritises impact, sustainability, and risk management.
 
“This is not just about doing our best,” he stated. “It is about ensuring our efforts are effective, sustainable, and align with the Court’s evolving realities.”

Participants at the retreat include directors, heads of divisions and units, administrative and finance staff and other key staff of the Court.

ECOWAS Court President Calls for Strategic Renewal and Institutional Realignment

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