700,000 South Sudanese Hit By Worst Floods In Decades – UN Agency

October 20, 2021

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) on Tuesday said it was alarmed by the humanitarian impact of the worst flooding in decades in South Sudan, as it affected more than 700,000 people across the country.

Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, disclosed this at a news conference at the UN headquarters in New York, saying that the UNHCR is working to help the victims of the floods.

Dujarric said the UN humanitarian agency is working with the government and partners to help the most affected people – by providing food, emergency shelter, hygiene items and solar lanterns.

“In Upper Nile state alone, UNHCR teams met around 1,000 people who had walked for seven days to reach Malakal town,’’ he said.

The spokesman said some of these people had not eaten in days, noting that women were deeply worried about the health of their children, with the increased risk of infections from deadly water-borne diseases.

“UNHCR said that while the effects of the climate emergency are being felt on every continent and in every region, its impacts are profoundly felt in East Africa.

“Communities, which are already struggling, are facing unprecedented floods and storms, unpredictable rainfall, and distress under hotter and drier conditions as their basic needs and rights to water, food, livelihoods, land, and a healthy environment are hit hard,’’ he said.

On Ethiopia, Dujarric said the humanitarian colleagues reported that the situation in Mekelle, in Tigray as at Tuesday was calm, but tense.

He said local health workers had reported that three children were killed and one person injured in an airstrike on the outskirts of Mekelle on Monday.

“A second airstrike in Mekelle town later in the day reportedly injured nine people and damaged houses and a nearby hotel.

“Our humanitarian colleagues are alarmed at the intensification of the conflict and once again remind all parties to the conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.

“We also call for unrestricted and sustained humanitarian access to all people in need.’’

Giving an update on COVID-19, Dujarric said a UN team led by acting Resident Coordinator Dirk Wagener, had continued to help authorities respond to the pandemic in Papau New Guinea.

“Our team has provided health supplies and supported the vaccination campaign, following a recent rise in the number of cases. The number of new cases this week has doubled compared to last week.

“Around 10 per cent of the target population has received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while just 5.7 per cent of the target population is fully vaccinated.

“The World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF are working closely with the government to increase the number of people who are vaccinated. They are also working to combat misinformation surrounding the vaccine.”

Source: NAN.

Nigeria Is Now Global player In Agriculture, Minister Shehuri Claims

Greenbarge Reporters

October 20, 2021

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mustapha Shehuri, has declared that Nigeria is now a global player in agriculture.

According to him, Nigeria ranks second as world producer of Sorghum, just after the United States of America, fifth as a global producer of Palm oil and Cocoa, while the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contribution by the agricultural sector in Nigeria skyrocketed.

A statement today, October 19 in Abuja by the Chief Information Officer in the ministry of Agriculture, Ezreaja Ikemefuna, quoted the minister as saying at a virtual high-level panel discussion on Friday, to round off activities to celebrate the 2021 World Food Day that in 2019, Nigeria recorded successes as follows: Sesame Seeds oil: N77.04 billion, Cocoa: N66.73 billion, Cashew Nuts: N45.6 billion, Frozen Shrimps and Prawns: N7.46 billion, Ginger: N3.34 billion, Processed & Semi Processed Agro Food: N1.84 billion and Cotton: N609.33 million.

“The potential in this strategic sector is enormous and there is enthusiasm and political will to return the agricultural sector as the highest contributor to the National Gross Domestic Product by the year 2025.”

Shehuri stressed that the ministry is strongly committed to meeting domestic food requirements, exporting at qualitative levels and creating a favorable business environment that would make agribusiness thrive.

”There is a deliberate strategic approach to job creation, conserving foreign exchange and attaining national food security,” he said.

The minister pointed out that the seed sub-sector supply chain was being repositioned to ensure that farmers had access to quality seeds to improve yields.

“The National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), under my watch, has been directed to interface with key seed industry stakeholders to ensure that Early Generation Seeds (EGS) are structured, to ensure uninterrupted supply of certified seeds.

”There is also an on-going awareness campaign by the Council on the importance of using improved seeds to boost production,” he said.

The minister added that the administrative bottlenecks that had previously hindered farmers’ easy access to fertilizer had been addressed, while the partnership with the Government of Brazil to pilot the establishment of 117 mechanisation centers across the country was on- going.

”When these centers are completed and made operational, farmers will be able to buy mechanisation services for a fee, with relative ease, and without the need to own expensive equipment for farm operations,” he said.

‘’Nigeria’s agriculture has done well under this administration in areas such as, being the world leading producer of yams with 18.3 million MT, world leader in the production of Cassava that has steadily risen to 70 million MT.”

Source: NAN.

160 Indigent Women In Niger Get FG, Agency’s Livelihood Support

Greenbarge Reporters

October 20, 2021

The Federal Government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development Programme (IFAD) assisted Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) have jointly distributed livelihood support to 160 indigent women in Niger State.

Dr. Mathew Ahmed, the State Programme Coordinator (SPC) IFAD-VCDP, made this known while inaugurating the exercise in Mokwa Local Government Area of the state.

Dr. Ahmed said that the programme, under the VCDP Additional Financing (AF), would ensure balanced diets for the families of the vulnerable women, thereby uplifting their living standard.

“The IFAD-VCDP called for AF to be able to reduce malnutrition among children by 15 per cent.

“The VCDP AF is to support the vulnerable among women, such as widows, the physically challenged and the financially handicapped, to be able to provide balanced diets to their families, thereby uplifting their living standard.

“This year we are supporting 20 women from each of the benefiting eight Local Government Areas of Bida, Borgu, Katcha, Kontagora, Mokwa, Shiroro and Wushishi, making a total of 160 beneficiaries,” he said.

He explained that ten out of every benefiting 20 would get one local cock, one local hen and N10,000 to multiply the birds.

While the other ten would be given horticultural crops including two suckers of plantains, two suckers of bananas, five seedlings of moringa plants, five seeds of fluted pumpkin seeds, two seedlings of citrus and N5,400 to improve the farm.

The Coordinator said that the project had committed N2 million to support the women, adding that the VCDP had also developed a monitoring mechanism, with its extension agents, to check and advise the beneficiaries on weekly basis.

He said that when the project’s finances improves in 2022, it would target a different set of 50 vulnerable women from each of the eight local government areas, to also benefit from the livelihood support.

Also speaking, Alhaji Yahaya Sheti, the local government council Chairman urged the beneficiaries to utilise the livelihood support items for the successful implementation of the programme.

Sheti, who assured of the council’s support for the programme, lauded the VCDP for the gesture.

Similarly, Mr Ndagi Isah, Director of Agriculture in the Council, said that the programme was a platform for the women to venture into agri-business to support their families.

Mrs Moses Grace, one of the beneficiaries, who expressed happiness for the support, assured that the items would be utilised to ensure continuity of the intervention programme.

Earlier, Mr Lawal Mohammed, Agricultural Production Officer, VCDP, in the state, encouraged the beneficiaries to always seek the assistance of the extension staff, when necessary, in order to succeed.

Source: NAN.

Don Lists 8 Benefits For Nigeria To Subscribe To Zero Hunger Initiative

Greenbarge Reporters

October 20, 2021

President of the National Complementary and Alternative Medical Association (NACAMA), Professor Peter Katchy, has listed eight reasons why Nigerian government should subscribe to the World Food Programme’s (WFP) zero hunger initiative.

Professor Katchy, in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu today, October 19, said that one of the reasons is that subscribing to zero hunger initiative could save the lives of 3.1 million children every year, especially children in sub-Sahara Africa, which Nigeria falls into.

“Second: well-nourished and well-fed mothers have healthier babies with stronger immune systems as they totally commit to exclusive breastfeeding of their babies.

“Third, adopting zero hunger initiative will certainly end child malnutrition and increase a developing country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), such as Nigeria, by 16.5 per cent.

“Fourth, a dollar invested in hunger prevention, through the zero hunger initiative, could return between $15 and $139 in benefits.

“Fifth, proper nutrition and availability of a balanced diet early in life could mean 46 per cent more in lifetime earnings.

“Sixth, eliminating iron deficiency in a population could boost work place productivity by 20 per cent.

“Seventh, eliminating nutrition-related child mortality, through the zero hunger initiative, could increase a work force by 9.4 per cent.

“Eighth, zero hunger can help build a safer and more prosperous world for everyone.”

Prof. Katchy lamented the dwindling investments in agriculture in developing countries, especially those in sub-Sahara Africa, including Nigeria.

He also decried the negative impact of climate change on food production and other agricultural practices worldwide.

The don challenged scientists and international organizations on inventing climate resistant crops and climate-smart agricultural practices that could mitigate against climate change worldwide.

“The costs of hunger and malnutrition fall heavily on the most vulnerable as 60 per cent of the hungry in the world are women, while four in every 10 children in poor countries are malnourished, damaging their bodies and brains as well as retarding their growth.”

The Zero Hunger Initiative is embedded in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, which emphasises end to hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture, all priorities for the WFP.

Source: NAN.

It’s Dangerous To Link Your NIN To Another Person’s SIM, NCC Warns

Editorial staff

October 19, 2021

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has strongly warned telecoms consumers to beware of the danger in linking or sharing their National Identification Number (NIN) to, or link with another person’s Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards, no matter how close the person is to them.

The Commission gave the warning during its third run Telecom Consumer Town Hall on Radio (TCTHR) programme, broadcast live on Human Rights Radio, 101.1 FM in Abuja recently. The event was hosted on the platform of ‘NCC Digital Signature on Radio’.

The NCC Digital Signature on Radio is the flagship radio programme of the Commission created to educate the general public on the mandates of the Commission and for sharing salient, consumer-centric and up-to-date information on how NCC is delivering on its mandates.

Speaking during the radio programme focused on ‘the Benefits of NIN-SIM Integration’, NCC’s Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Efosa Idehen, said “On no account should a telecom consumer, however circumstanced, allow another person to register a SIM with another person’s NIN.”

Idehen said compliance with this advice will protect the true owner of the NIN from any liabilities or negative consequences arising from the use of other person’s SIM.

“If the person, whose SIM is linked to your line use his own SIM to commit crimes or any form of atrocities, it is easy to be traced to you and then, you will be dealt with because the SIM is linked to your NIN,” he said.

During the phone-in segment of the radio programme, which lasted two hours, consumers within Nigeria and in the diaspora, especially from the United Kingdom (UK), Russia and neighbouring countries like Ghana, among others, were able to call and get clarifications on concerns they had regarding the ongoing NIN-SIM integration in Nigeria.

Discussions largely focused on educating consumers on NIN and its purpose, process of obtaining NIN, why consumers are being asked to submit their NIN to their Mobile Network Service Providers, the benefits of NIN-SIM linkage, relationship between NIN and Bank Verification Number (BVN) registration, the step-by-step approach to linking NIN to SIM, and the role and uses of Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) *346# in the NIN-SIM integration activities.

Efosa was joined in the studio by NCC’s Director, Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, who was represented by an Assistant Director in the department, Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan; and a Deputy Director, Projects Department of NCC, Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, who jointly educated consumers on the various aspects of NIN-SIM integration exercise.

Other panelists include NCC’s Head, Consumer Information and Education, Mistura Aruna; Head, Corporate Communication, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Kayode Adegoke, as well as representatives of mobile operators, including MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9Mobile.

During the radio programme, telecoms consumers were reminded repeatedly of the October 31, 2021 deadline for NIN-SIM integration. The Federal Government had extended the deadline earlier giving for the completion of the NIN-SIM linkage to 31st October 2021.

The two-hour discussion programme, which was also livestreamed on the social media, recorded broader participation than its forerunners due to a combination of the regular radio listenership with viewership on Human Rights Radio’s social media assets. Thus, it achieved NCC’s objective of using a mass medium to expand its reach to telecom consumers to enhance their protection through information sharing, and education in order to improve the quality of consumer experience with telecom services in Nigeria.

New Attah Igala Emerges, He’s Mathew Opaluwa Oguche

Greenbarge Reporters

October 19, 2021

A new Attah Igala (King of Igala kingdom) has been named by the Kogi State Government. He is Matthew Opaluwa Oguche.

He succeeds Dr. Michael Ameh Oboni II who passed on in August last year.

The Kogi State Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barrister Salami Ozigi, announced the appointment of the new Attag Igalah at the end of the State Executive Council meeting, presided over by the State Governor, Yahaya Bello, yesterday, October 18.

The appointment of Opaluwa, according to Ozigi, followed due process.

Opaluwa was born into the family of the late Chief Opaluwa Oguche Akpa.

The prince is the ninth of 16 surviving children and the fourth of the six males of the late Chief Opaluwa Oguche of the Aju Ameacho ruling dynasty of Igala kingdom.

The new Attah Igala-designate started his early education at St Boniface Primary School, Idah and proceeded to St Peter’s College, Idah where he obtained his West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1980.

He attended School of Basic Studies, Ugbokolo, in Benue state, in 1981 and proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in the same year where he obtained Bachelors of Science (B. Sc.) Degree in Business Administration in 1986.

He returned to the same school for his Masters (MBA) degree in Business Administration in 1997.

Before his appointment, he had worked at Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 1988 as administrative officer and rose through the ranks to become Deputy Director.

He had served in many Local Government Areas of Kogi, Kaduna and Federal Capital Territory as Electoral Officer and in Katsina state, he was in charge of the Research and Documentation Unit of the Electoral body.

Don’t Solicit For Donations For My Medical Treatment, Igboho Warns

Editorial staff

October 18, 2021

Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho has warned against soliciting funds for his treatment.

Sunday Igboho, who is in detention in Benin Republic, was reported to have been rushed to a hospital over alleged liver disease.

His aide, Olayomi Koiki in a statement today, October 18, said that Igboho did not solicit funds for his treatment.

“I have just received a message from Chief Adeyemo’s lawyer that I should inform the public that he (Igboho) has not asked anyone to demand money towards his medical treatment in Benin Republic.

“Information has it that some individuals have been collecting money for Igboho’s medical bill.”

Koiki said that Igboho had appealed to the government of Benin Republic to allow him travel to Germany to seek proper medical attention.

For The First Time, We’ll Transmit Anambra Election Electronically – INEC

Editorial staff

October 18, 2021

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has announced that for the first time in the history of election in Nigeria, it will transmit the forthcoming Anambra State election electronically.

“With all facilities in place and with the electronic transmission of results, I tell you that Anambra election will be embarrassingly transparent. This will build confidence in our electoral system.”

The assurance was given by the INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Dr. Nwachukwu Orji, at the weekend in Awka, the state capital during a voter education and sensitisation forum for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) and Women groups.

The programme was organised in collaboration with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening.

Dr. Orji who was represented by INEC’s Head of Voter Education and Publicity, Samuel Nimem, said that the Commission has put facilities in place to achieve an all inclusive electoral process, during the November 6, election.

According to him, Anambra election will debunk all the ideas and beliefs that INEC rigs elections or commits electoral fraud.

“INEC is ready on every stage for the election. The electoral materials that got burnt recently in an attack have been replaced, non-sensitive materials have been distributed to all local government areas and training of officials and ad-hoc staff is ongoing as I speak to you.

“We have pasted and presented voters’ register to the political parties fielding candidates, we have published the final list of candidates and we have been engaging stakeholders to ensure security at polling units.

“We have increased polling units to 5,720 to increase access to all voters and we are carrying out aggressive voter education and sensitisation, appealing to residents to exercise their civic responsibilities.”

Dr. Orji called on the People With Disability (PWD) to actively participate in all aspects of the electoral process as the Commission had made adequate provisions in terms of voting aids.

“PWDs are very important citizens, so we give them special attention by creating an inclusive environment.

“You need to participate fully in the electoral process because you are all citizens of Nigeria and have the right to vote and be voted for. I assure you that we are doing all we can to ensure your safety.”

Orji called on the residents not to feel unconcerned about election matters, saying that it is an opportunity to vote in the candidate of their choice.

Also speaking, Mrs. Amina Yahaya, from IFES, said the organisation is committed to any course that would advance the development of PWDs and women.

“We are supporting this programme because we want the vulnerable groups to be actively involved in the electoral process because they have the right to vote the leader of their choice.”

In her presentation, Mrs. Dorothy Bello, Deputy Director, Civil Society Organisation, said that women and PWDs were critical stakeholders that should not be ignored during elections.

“INEC has the mandate to organise a free, fair, credible and inclusive election; and PWDs and women need to exercise their rights to vote and be voted for, without discrimination.

“This forum is to tell you that INEC is creating an enabling environment for all, irrespective of your status. This programme is to educate you on how to exercise your voting rights without any barriers.”

Appreciating INEC for its efforts so far, Ugochukwu Okeke, Chairman, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Anambra State chapter, promised to mobilise PWDs to participate in the election.

Dangote Group Beats MTN, Globacom, Others For “Most Valuable Brand”

Editorial staff

October 18, 2021

For the fourth time in a row, Dangote Group, a fully integrated Conglomerate and proudly Nigeria brand has emerged as the most Valuable brand in Nigeria with the MTN Nigeria trailing as the Most Popular brand in the new Top of the Mind (TOM) survey conducted among corporate executives in the country.

A statement today, October 18 by the spokesman of the group, Timilehin Oyedare said that in rating the brands, seven metrics were deployed, and they include Brand Popularity; Quality Element; Market leadership; Innovation; national Spread; CSR-Environmental friendliness and Online Engagements.

He said that out of the seven metrics, Dangote brand came atop in five, beating MTN to a distant second, adding that he ratings were made public, over the weekend, at the annual top corporate brand evaluation report by TOP 50 BRANDS NIGERIA.

According to Oyedare, the annual top brands league table which has become like a report card with which top corporate brands have a feel of their ranking in the market, is done with a special purpose model, the Brand Strength Measurement (BSM Index), a model that tests a brand’s ability deliver on its promise to its consumers from the consumer’s points of view.

“It is a qualitative, non-financial evaluation of top corporate brands in the country which is done annually.

He quoted Taiwo Oluboyede, the Brand Consulting firm’s CEO as saying that the subject of brand and branding has become central in every corporate setting.

He said that regardless of the sounds of the time, the brand drives and determines corporate placement, particularly at an unprecedented time like these.

“We are glad once again that a Nigerian brand emerged as the Most Valuable for the year. This says a lot about our tenacity and resilience as a people and our businesses, regardless of the situations around us. Even though overall, we have more multinationals, the homegrown brands gave an impressive performance.

“For example, 6 of the top 10 in the league table are Nigerian, most of which have also spread to other countries across Africa and other continents of the world.”

In the survey, Globacom emerged in the third place, followed closely by Coca-cola Nigeria which enjoys a lot of its global brand appeal.

Others in the top 10 in this annual ranking are GTBank, Airtel, Access Bank, Zenith Bank, First Bank, and Dufil Prima Foods in that order.

Six brands among the top 10 have maintained top 10 positions for 6 years consecutively-they are Dangote, MTN, Globacom, FirstBank, GTBank, and Coca-Cola. The Banking and Financial Services category had the highest number of entries among the top 10 with 4 brands. This is followed by the telecoms with 3 brands.

Commenting on the top brands ranking, Femi Awoyemi, Founder and Chairman of Proshare Nigeria Limited (Nigeria’s foremost financial information hub), said: “With the thorough evaluation process and degree of attention to detail evident in the report, the list indeed provides a true and fair representation of top brands by strength, popularity and potentials in Nigeria…

This edition of BRANDNIGERIA’s Top50 Brands in Nigeria highlighted brands that have demonstrated strong resilience and adaptive capacity to the new normal in growing or maintaining their brands. These brands have been able to maintain consumers’ confidence and market shares as observed by professionals and analysts. A few things stand out.

First, it is commendable to see that in the evaluation process used in ranking the brands, professionals such as Chief Marketing Officers and Head of Corporate Communications and Reputation Managers. Second, the acknowledgment of Financial Technology (FinTech) as evidenced in the top 10 brands to watch in 2021 where FinTech accounted for about 50%.

Third is the continued domination of the list of the top 50 brands in 2021 by multinationals, banks, and NGX quoted brands. Dangote came 1st in 5 of the 7 metrics used in the ranking report.

Seven companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) made the list of top 10 brands in Nigeria. This implies that about 70% of the top brands are listed on NGX, which draws attention to the correlation between brands and markets.

For Facebook, Twitter, Others To Remain In Nigeria, They’ll Be Treated Same – Lai

Editorial staff

October 18, 2021

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has made it clear that for Facebook, Instagram and other social media to remain in business in Nigeria, they will be made to face the same conditions that will eventually be handed out to the suspended Twitter for it to return to business.

The Minister, who spoke today, October 18 in an interview with TVC, said that the engagements with Twitter had been positive and fruitful.

“All I can say is that the recommendations we are going to make will not only be applicable to Twitter but they will be applicable to all OTTs and other social media platforms in Nigeria.

“Today, we are dealing with Twitter, we don’t want a situation where we will be dealing with Facebook tomorrow and Instagram the next day. Our recommendations will be very comprehensive.”

When asked about the likely date the Twitter ban will be lifted, the minister said: “last night, the ministerial team met under my chairmanship and we reviewed the position of things.

“I want everyone to wait for the committee to officially give its reports to the president but things are looking very positive and rosy.”

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