NHRC builds capacity of Gombe MDAs on human rights protection

By Elizabeth Ogunjobi

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), in collaboration with Viva Atlantic Limited, has organised a two-day workshop for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in Gombe State to strengthen human rights protection.

Dr Tony Ojukwu, Executive Secretary of NHRC, said at the event in Gombe on Thursday that the training aimed to enlighten MDA officials on their roles in promoting human rights effectively.

The theme of the training was: “Implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in Nigeria 2024-2028,” focusing on institutional responsibility across government agencies.

Ojukwu, represented by Dr Joseph Wanshe, the Gombe State coordinator, said participation by MDAs remained key to the successful implementation of the NAP and promotion of human rights across government.

He described the NAP as a national framework whose implementation should not be reserved for NHRC, but should be a collective responsibility involving all relevant stakeholders across government and society.

He said the training was also designed to ensure that a human rights-based approach became part of government planning, policy formulation, budgeting, regulation, programme implementation, service delivery, monitoring and evaluation processes.

“The 2024-2028 NAP provides us with the opportunity to move from commitment to implementation, from policies to measurable results, from the institutional responsibility to institutional accountability.

“Your participation is significant because the successful implementation of this NAP depends to a very large extent on the ownership and commitment of MDAs in government.

“The question before us is no longer simply whether we support human rights. The question is what each MDA is doing to advance and protect human rights within its mandate.

“The success of the NAP must be measured by the difference that Nigerians experience in their everyday lives.

“Behind every policy, behind every person, behind every government programme is a citizen whose rights may be affected by the decision that we make.

“Our collective responsibility, therefore, is to ensure that Nigerians within our jurisdiction as MDAs can enjoy their rights without discrimination and with effective access to justice and remedies,” he said.

Ojukwu urged participants to remain committed to NAP implementation, so that “we can transform the NAP from a policy document into a living instrument of governance for the promotion and protection of human rights in Nigeria.”

Some participants who spoke to newsmen pledged commitment to mainstreaming human rights into their institutional processes and working with the commission to entrench a culture of human rights in the state.

Mrs Rebecca Bature, Manager, News, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Gombe, and Mr Daniel Salihu, Assistant Director and Head of Civic Values and Democracy Education, National Orientation Agency, commended NHRC for training.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 35 officials drawn from different MDAs in Gombe State participated in the two-day training on human rights and NAP implementation.

NHRC builds capacity of Gombe MDAs on human rights protection

VP Shettima Meets Nigerians in Diaspora in New York, Seeks Support for Renewed Hope Agenda

By: Our Reporter

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima has called on Nigerians in the diaspora, particularly those living in the United States of America to support the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in transforming the economic fortunes of the country.

He said the administration was doing its best to reposition the economy particularly in the areas of education, health, science and technology, agriculture and would leverage the intellect of the diaspora community which according to him, is “the greatest resource of the future”.

“Citizens of our country have the capacity and intellect to harness our nation’s potentials and take it to greater heights,” the VP added.

Senator Shettima stated this on Wednesday at the Nigeria House in New York during an interactive session with the Nigerian diaspora community in the United States.

Speaking on some of the reforms undertaken by the current administration, the Vice President said President Tinubu has been courageous from the onset, which culminated in bold decisions has continued to reposition the economy.

His words: “When President Tinubu assumed office, he did not resort to trading blames and accusing his predecessor for the state of affairs of our nation. Rather, he took decisions that only a leader of courage and conviction would take.”

He however stated that the gains of the reforms undertaken were already yielding tangible results as evident in the increase in the country’s foreign reserves from 3.9 billion dollars to over 55 billion dollars and the 4.45 percent growth in the last quarter.

He added that the improvements recorded in the exchange rate and foreign reserves on account of the refroms, would guarantee the safety of diaspora remittances, stability of the exchange rate and investments made by Nigerians in the diaspora.

The Vice President stated that the administration of President Tinubu was determined to redefine the meaning of modern governance because the trajectory of global growth was facing Africa and that Nigeria has a big role to play in the emerging era.

According to the VP, “We are working day and night to reposition the Nigerian nation as investment confidence is returning to Nigeria, and the Dangote Refinery success story is a true manifestation in recent times.

“Be rest assured that beyond the negative stories that you hear and see in the social media, Nigeria is open for business. We have crossed the rubicon, and we are on the path of sustained growth.”

Senator Shettima also spoke about the introduction of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, where over 1.29 million Nigerian students in tertiary institutions have had access to N125 billion since the inception of the programme.

On security challenges, the Vice President said though it is not peculiar to Nigeria alone, the administration was deploying all the means at its disposal to contain emerging challenges.

He also urged concerned citizens to strive for a united and prosperous nation, noting that Nigerians must unite for the progress of their country, stating that “whatever binds us together supercedes whatever divides us as a people”.

Also present at the event were Governors Babagana Zulum of Borno State; Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara; Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers; Dauda Lawal of Zamfara; Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, and spouses of the Governors of Kwara, Katsina, Abia and Osun states.

Others included, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Science, Innovation and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh; Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro; Education, Dr Tunji Alausa; Solid Minerals Development, Chief Dele Alake; Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite; Minister of State, FCT, Dr Mariya Bunkure, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Amb. Jimoh Ibrahim; Nigeria’s Ambassador to Washington, Amb. Kayode Are, and heads of government agencies as well as top officials of the Nigerian mission in the US, among others.

VP Shettima Meets Nigerians in Diaspora in New York, Seeks Support for Renewed Hope Agenda

Works Commissioner calls on APC stakeholder in Nangere to unite and work for party victory in Yobe

By: Yahaya Wakili

Yobe State Commissioner for Works, Hon. Engr. Umaru Wakil Duddaye, has tasked all members of the APC and government appointees from the Nangere local government area to unite and work together to ensure victory for the party in the 2027 general elections.

Engr. Duddaye made the announcement today in Sabon Garin Nangere at a meeting of executives and all political appointees from the local government.

“Work together and reach every nook and cranny of the Nangere local government area to ensure the victory for the APC from top to bottom.” Engr. Duddaye said.

He expressed his profound gratitude to His Excellency, Governor, Hon. Dr. Mai Mala Buni CON, COMN, for the numerous developmental projects executed in the Nangere local government area. 

The meeting was presided over by the Commissioner, comprising all special advisers, porcal persons, senior special advisers, special assistants, and others.

Works Commissioner calls on APC stakeholder in Nangere to unite and work for party victory in Yobe