An organization, Mold Academy meant to develop, and use Government Integrated Financial Management Information System, GIFMIS, to conduct training has been commissioned in Kaduna.
The first of its kind Academy Hostel in Africa, equipped with state-of-the-art technology has commenced operation.
The 80-room facility is located in the central business district of Kaduna City, off Independence Way.
Speaking to newsmen after the commissioning, Chief Executive Officer of Mold Treasury Academy, Mr. Emmanuel Onyekwere, explained that the modern facility was a product of 20 years of hard work and research.
He explained that the structure would further enhance budgeting in the country in view of the training that would be received from the academy.
Speaking earlier before the commissioning, he said governments at all levels had wasted resources in acquiring foreign technology not compatible with Nigeria.
“Governments at all levels in Nigeria have spent enormous resources in the acquisition of foreign technology products not suited to our environment to implement public sector financial management reforms with little or no impact in the provision of comprehensive and timely budget implementation performance reports,” he added.
The CEO further reeled out a worrisome statistic that shows that Nigeria has lost N1.5 trillion in the last 20 years with technology products and training that add no value to economic management in Nigeria.
“In order to bridge this gap and save Nigeria this colossal losses, improve local content and ownership, Mold Treasury Academy was established with the latest technology tailored to the needs of the federal, states and local government areas in Nigeria,” he explained.
Candidates for this year Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, examination in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria Friday, protested over their inability to write their examination in the various centers earmarked for them.
The candidates marched to the JAMB office expressing their dismay over the manner this year JAMB registrtion was conducted.
The candidates also blocked JAMB’s office located along Tafawa Balewa Way as they also took their complaints to the head office.
The protesters also went ahead to block the entrance of the gate preventing vehicles from going in and out of the head office as they chanted various slogans, “We no go gree ooo, we no go gree, JAMB resheduled our exams.”
Also the candidates claimed they were unable to process their registration at the Computer Based Test centres (CBTs), due to insufficient facilities, lack of network and power supply.
They explained the hard time they went through in Kaduna just to write their examination and urged the federal government to revert to the old system of registration.
Speaking to newsmen, Paul Adoyi, a JAMB candidate from Benue State said he was disappointed in the manner JAMB conducted this year exercise.
“I came all the way from Benue State since on Friday last week with the intention to write my exams on saturday to my surprise, till date, l am yet to write,” he said.
According to him it was better JAMB revert to the old method as Nigeria is not ripe for the present system.
All efforts to get JAMB official to speak on the issue prove abortive as none of them was around to comment.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Kingdom of Swaziland have signed a five-year $19 million Country Programming Framework (CPF).
The document defines the following priorities for collaboration and the outcomes to be achieved between 2016 and 2020.
Food and nutrition security; market–led agricultural production and processing; and sustainable use of natural resources and climate change adaptation are the main priority.
The Minister of Agriculture of the Kingdom of Swaziland, Moses Nsizwa Vilakati, who was at the signing ceremony in Mbabane 9the country’s capital) said, “The CPF represents the commitment of FAO to assisting the Government in its efforts to achieve national development objectives and to achieve food and nutrition security for the population.”
The CPF is in tune with Kingdom of Swaziland’s national development objectives that are articulated in the National Development Strategy, the National Agricultural Investment Program (SNAIP), the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme CAADP, the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and FAO’s global, regional and sub- regional objectives.
The programme is to be carried out by the government of the country and FAO with backing from broader range of stakeholders within the private sector, semi government institutions and civil society.
Agriculture is the backbone of the economy of the Kingdom of Swaziland, and a major source of employment for more than 70 percent of the population. However, the sector has been obstructed by the incidence of weather-induced crop failures, pests and diseases and limited access by especially smallholder farmers to financing instruments and technology.
Over 640 000 people – more than half the population who became food insecure as a result of the El Nino – induced drought in 2015/16 are yet to recover from the effects of the disaster.
Moses Vilakati said the execution of CPF would lead to an increased productivity and food security as well as growth in employment creation for socio-economic development.
The Framework will promote the establishment of food and nutrition gardens, sustainable food production techniques as well as facilitate improved nutritional standards and regulations. It will also focus on the development of agricultural value chains and programmes that are expected to attract smallholder farmers to adopt business approach towards agriculture.
The Framework also focuses on building the capacity of farmers in handling future challenges in agricultural sector and enjoy the benefits associated with agriculture.
David Phiri, the FAO Rep0resentative for the Kingdom of Swaziland and Sub-regional Coordinator for Southern Africa said, “FAO is already implementing a Climate-Smart Agriculture programme in the country, with the aim of sustainably increasing agricultural productivity and incomes, adapting and building resilience to climate change and reducing and/or removing greenhouse gas emissions, where possible.
“$4 million out of USD19 million already mobilized and FAO has already sourced $4 million, out of $19 million that is required to implement the programmes and projects that are proposed in the Framework.
“We will continue working with the Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland to mobilize the remaining $15.3 million though FAO’s Technical Corporation Programme (TCP), Trust Funds from development partners as well as from Government’s budgetary allocations.”
Sweden’s director of public prosecutions has decided to drop the rape investigation into Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.
Marianne Ny said his arrest warrant was being revoked as it was impossible to serve him notice of his alleged crimes.
Mr Assange, 45, has lived in the Ecuadorean embassy in London since 2012, fearing extradition to Sweden would lead to extradition to the US.
Police in London said they would still be obliged to arrest him if he left.
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) said Mr Assange still faced the lesser charge of failing to surrender to a court, an offence punishable by up to a year in prison or a fine.
But the UK has not commented on whether it has received an extradition request from the US, where Mr Assange could face trial over the leaking of hundreds of thousands of secret US military and diplomatic documents.
Mr Assange’s Swedish lawyer, Per Samuelson, said the prosecutor’s decision on Friday represented “a total victory” for his client.
The plaintiff in the rape case was “shocked” by the decision, her lawyer said, and maintained her accusations against Mr Assange, Agence France-Presse reported.
Why has the case been dropped?
At a press briefing on Friday, Ms Ny said that by remaining in the embassy in London Mr Assange had evaded the exercise of the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) that would have seen him extradited to Sweden.
She said that under Swedish law a criminal investigation needed to be conducted “as quickly as possible”.
Sweden did not expect Ecuador’s co-operation in formally notifying Mr Assange of the allegations against him, a necessary step in proceeding with the case, she added.
But she said: “If he were to return to Sweden before the statute of limitation on this case expires in August 2020, the preliminary investigation could be resumed.”
She said it was “regrettable we have not been able to carry out the investigation”, and added: “We are not making any pronouncement about guilt.”
What does Ecuador say?
A source at the Ecuadorean foreign ministry told the Press Association that Ecuador had “fully co-operated with the Swedish justice system”.
The source criticised the Swedish prosecutor for “unnecessary delays” in the case but welcomed the latest decision.
The source added: “Ecuador will now be intensifying its diplomatic efforts with the UK so that Julian Assange can gain safe passage in order to enjoy his asylum in Ecuador.”
How did Mr Assange end up where he is?
The rape allegation followed a Wikileaks conference in Stockholm in 2010. Mr Assange always denied the allegations against him, saying sex was consensual.
He also said the case was politically motivated, as it followed massive Wikileaks dumps of secret US military reports that year.
Media captionAssange speaks to the BBC’s John Simpson in 2014
Later that year he was arrested in London after Sweden issued an international arrest warrant against him.
Then, in June 2012, after exhausting legal avenues to prevent his extradition, Mr Assange sought refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy, where he remains to this day.
What will happen to Mr Assange now?
After the news was announced on Friday, Wikileaks tweeted that the “focus now moves to the UK”, but Mr Assange’s fate still seems unclear.
The MPS issued a statement saying that its actions had been based on a response to a “European Arrest Warrant for an extremely serious offence”.
It went on: “Now that the situation has changed and the Swedish authorities have discontinued their investigation into that matter, Mr Assange remains wanted for a much less serious offence. The MPS will provide a level of resourcing which is proportionate to that offence.”
The MPS said it would “not comment further on the operational plan”.
Last month, Mr Samuelson filed a new motion calling for his client’s arrest warrant to be lifted.
He cited a comment by new US Attorney General Jeff Sessions that the arrest of Mr Assange would be “a priority”.
Mr Samuelson told Agence France-Presse: “This implies that we can now demonstrate that the US has a will to take action… this is why we ask for the arrest warrant to be cancelled.”
Incumbent, Ifeyinwa Omowole with 410 votes has retained her position as the President of the National Association of Women Journalists, (NAWOJ), beating her opponent Biliqisu Oladimeji who polled 270 votes.
This election was part of activities of the Triennial National Delegates Conference of NAWOJ which went on till early hours of Friday in Benin City, Edo State capital.
For Deputy President, Maryam Atto Mohammed emerged unopposed.
The most keenly contested position was for the post of National Secretary, where Ladi Bala with 253 votes beat Daharatu Ahmed Aliyu who polled 203 votes.
For Assistant Secretary, Helen John Udofa 445 to Dorathy Abellegah 218 votes, Treasurer Ifeoma Obi 367 to Tosin Odusola 308 votes, Auditor Amina 301 votes to Shola 367 votes.
In a welcome address by chairperson, NAWOJ Edo State Chapter, Mrs Flora Bossey, she said the association was committed to catering for and championing the cause of women journalists in Nigeria. Floral said NAWOJ is known for advancing the career of women journalists by means of training and skills acquisition.
She noted that female journalists from the 36 States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja were in attendance.
She expressed appreciation to Edo State Government and other corporate organisations and individuals who supported in hosting the conference.
Over 1,000 delegates (female journalists) attended the conference. 826 female journalists were expected to vote.
After the business section, the voting started at about 9 p.m. through out the night the voting continued.
The atmosphere of the election was peaceful, it was a secret ballot voting.
As at 6a.m the votes were still being counted while the contestants and supporters were waiting to hear the outcome.
Nigeria’s Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has expressed gratitude to the United Kingdom Government for sustaining its support to the country, even as he lauded the implementation of the Justice For All (J4A) programme, saying that it has shaped the Justice Sector reforms of Nigeria.
Osinbajo, who stated this while delivering a Keynote speech at a Close-out and Valedictory Programme of the Justice For All, held in Abuja Thursday, also described the programme as well thought-out and impactful.
The Acting President who spoke through his Chief of Staff, Ade Ipaye, urged the United Kingdom government’s Department for International Development (DFID) not to relent in its support to good governance and justice sector reforms in Nigeria.
“The J4a programme is well-thought out. Its effects are being felt. What we are working on now is to ensure that the initiatives of the programme are institutionalized in our systems. The J4a model is what we are following in our Police reforms today. The Case Management and Information Communication Technology (ICT) in use today in the Justice sector is a J4a initiative. We need to ensure that it is adopted in every part of the country. J4a supported the Police Complaint Response Unit and today, they are achieving results.”
Speaking on sustainability, the Vice President stressed: “I hope the closure of the J4a will not be the end of support to the laudable initiatives.”
He commended the J4a team, led by Dr. Bob Arnot for what he described as their outstanding performance, urging them not to relent in their service to the nation.
Adding his voice, Executive Secretary, Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption (PACAC), Professor Bolaji Owasanoye was full of praises for the J4A programme, describing it as exemplary.
“It supported a whole range of measures in the area of economic justice, notably the improvement of service delivery in commercial courts. Starting with a baseline survey on the progress of cases in commercial courts, needs assessment of those courts, capacity building for judges who preside over the courts, infrastructure support to improve service delivery such as the furnishing of the Fast Track Court Registry and the monthly progress monitoring, Lagos Judiciary improved incrementally from one level to another.”
“To ensure this worked seamlessly and is sustainable, the judiciary created a separate registry for fast track cases with the encouragement and financial support of J4A.”
Continuing, he gave credit of the early achievements recorded by the PACAC Committee to the support it got from the J4a Project.
“J4A recognized the importance of co-ordination and co-operation amongst justice sector institutions. It thus supported the creation of a platform through which regular engagement and interaction could talk place. This initiative in my view is a major legacy. I can say this now because PACAC borrowed from this model by recommending to government a high level inter agency platform for conversation on the anti-corruption issue. J4A, without doubt, has been of immense benefit to Nigeria in all of the thematic areas of focus.”
In his presentation on: J4a: The Journey, Achievements, Experiences, Lessons and Legacy, Portfolio Lead for Justice Security and Conflict in Sub Saharan Africa for the British Council, Dr. Bob Arnot explained that the programme was organized around four components: Policing and Security; Justice, Anti-Corruption and Cross-Sector Coordination.
Speaking on the scope and methodology of the project, Arnot explained: “the programme worked at federal level plus five focal states (Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Enugu, Jigawa) & FCT. Models based upon best practice were to be replicated, disseminated and sustained; working in the formal and informal sectors.”
He further explained that the ultimate aim of the programme was to create: “a more capable, accountable, responsive and integrated justice sector that is fair, equitable and accessible with sustainable reform momentum creating growing user confidence and respect amongst Nigerians.”
On successes recorded by the Policing component, Arnot, a former National Programme Manager of the J4a, enumerated them to include: “Work in 7 states affected 44.8 million people by introducing Community-based Policing (CBP) in Model Police Stations (MPS); introduced 12 modern police stations with 177 interventions and 645 replications; engaged with more than 100 police divisions and trained over 5000 Police officers.”
“J4A states citizen’s satisfaction with police up from 40% in 2011 to 59% in 2012; a total of 776 VPS leaders trained in leadership skills and over 1000 operatives have been trained in conflict management skills”
In the Justice component, Arnot explains: J4A worked with 26 pilot Magistrates, Sharia and Customary Courts in 3 states (disposal time reduced by 30%) equal to saving over 900,000 days in court.Since 2012, nearly 1,400 Traditional Rulers in two states have been trained on human rights, dispute resolution and record keeping. It is estimated that over 400,000 citizens will have benefited from the traditional rulers’ enhanced skills.”
Speaking on achievements by the anti-corruption component, he says: “The EFCC, ICPC and CCB now have strategic plans being implemented to direct their longer term work; J4A supported the EFCC and ICPC to investigate, prosecute and recover the assets of corrupt persons. By March 2016, assets worth over 210 Billion Naira had been recovered. Over 700 anti-corruption agency operatives have been trained in investigative and prosecutorial skills. J4A training modules now delivered by anti-corruption agencies (ACA) Trainers and key anti-corruption legislation developed.”
Continuing, he stressed that: “Reformed Anti-Corruption Transparency Units (ACTUs) are now in 427 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs); Inter-agency cooperation and exchange of intelligence have been improved. Civil society groups and coalitions have been supported to increase oversight of the anti-corruption agencies and the government’s work on anti-corruption, as well as increased advocacy on stalled high profile corruption cases by Media/Civil Society actors through the Reporting Until Something Happens (RUSH) initiative.
Also speaking, J4a National Programme Manager, Danladi Plang outlined the programme’s achievements in providing justice for victims of sexual violence in the country.
“What we have tried to do is to provide justice for victims of sexual violence and their families. We did three major things in this regard. One is to provide facilities where victims can go and be treated; either by providing medication or counselling. The treatment is free of charge. Second, we increased the level of awareness of people on sexual violence. Next is in the area of training and capacity development for all stakeholders.”
The Programme’s anti-corruption Manager, Emmanuel Uche also expressed satisfaction with the achievements of the programme, describing them as remarkable.
“I am happy that the programme is a huge success. We have made the anti-corruption agencies more responsive and capable. Their level of engagement is back to the early days of their existence. We have supported government by strengthening institutional mechanisms of the anti-corruption agencies. We also strengthened the voice of the citizens. The J4a approach is holistic and has left a mark in the sands of history.”
The J4a Close-out event was attended by stakeholders from public institutions, Civil Society organisations and the media.
Kaduna State Police Command in Nothern Nigeria, Thursday paraded 36 suspects for various offences.
The suspects are alleged to have involved in rape, arm robbery, cattle rustling and members of criminal gang terrorising the people of the state.
The State Commissioner of Police, Agyole Abeh, while parading the suspects before newsmen at the state command’s headquarters explained that 420 cows were also recovered from rustlers and handed over to appropriate authority.
The CP hinted that some criminals have deviced new method of dressing and disguising as respected members of the society in order to gain access into unsuspecting premises and perpetrate their nefarious activities, stressing that some also disguise as passengers in vehicle.
The commissioner noted that in his bid to mop out the deadly gang group, Sara-suka activities in the state, the purported leader of the gang, has been arrested by special square from the command.
He reiterated the determination of the command to embarking on aggressive mop up programme to secure lives and property of people residents in the state to create a conducive environment for economic growth and development.
Speaking on the Southern Kaduna unrest, CP Agyole said, “The crisis in Southern Kaduna is currently under control, as continuous dialogue amongst the troubled communities is yielding positive results, peace is already resurfacing.”
Items recovered from the suspect includes 7 locally made revolver guns, fake Ak 47 riffles, pistol, matcehet and cutlasses.
United nations HIV and AIDS, UNAIDS, and Chinese digital television provider, StarTimes, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to fight against stigmatization of victims of HIV and AIDS across Africa.
According to the agreement, signed in Beijing, the broadcast television would educate people on HIV and AIDS by broadcasting the epidemic on Star Times.
UNAIDS director, Michel Sidibe, expressed hopefulness in combatting HIV and AIDS, saying, “With all the success being made against the virus, there’s need to double efforts in order to reach zero affection, zero death and zero stigmatization and discrimination.”
R also revealed some obstacles that stand in the way of eradicating the epidemic as well as the areas of success.
“The major challenge for us is testing, because we have people who are HIV positive and do not know.
If we continue at the same pace and accelerate, we will be able to put more people on treatment and reduce the transmission at 95% from person to persons. Over 12 million people in Africa are on treatment,” Sidibe said.
UNAIDS has a 90-90-90objective, targeted in putting over 30 million people on treatment and ensuring that 90% of HIV and AIDS infected persons know their status and are on antiretroviral. It also wants to suppress the epidemic by 2020.
StarTimes Group President, Pang Xinxing said there was need to put in more effort to totally eradicate the epidemic. He also stated that the media can make meaningful contribution in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
“If more hands are joined together, zero deaths, zero infection, and zero discrimination can be achieved. StarTimes has decided to work with UNAIDS because we have the capacity and we have our own social responsibility and that is why we joined hands together,” he explained.
Prsident of STarTimes also says its firm started HIV/AIDS awareness on its network back in 2016 and was even engaged with Ebola messages in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Guinea during the virus outbreak in West Africa between 2014 and 2015.
An organization, Mold Academy meant to develop, and use Government Integrated Financial Management Information System, GIFMIS, to conduct training has been commissioned in Kaduna.
