Universal Access To Sexual And Reproductive Health—Key To Gender Equality, Says UNFPA

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08/03/2017

Statement of UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin on International Women’s Day, 8 March 2017

Gender equality is a human right. Women are entitled to live in dignity and in freedom from want and fear, without discrimination. Gender equality is also vital to sustainable development, peace and security. It’s not just a women’s issue. It’s an issue for all of humanity.

Sadly, despite some progress, the world still has a long way to go to achieve full gender equality.

Take, for instance, the fact that every year tens of thousands of girls are forced into child marriage —nearly one third of these before the age of 15. Or that one woman in three experiences gender-based violence in her lifetime. Some 200 million women and girls have endured female genital mutilation. And there are 225 million women who want modern family planning but are not getting it, and therefore are unable to choose whether or when to have children.

The global community has an obligation to advance the new agenda for sustainable development, which enshrines gender equality as one of its goals. The ability of women and girls to exercise their basic human rights, including their right to sexual and reproductive health, is a prerequisite for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Studies have demonstrated clearly that family planning is the best investment countries can make for human development.

Ensuring universal access to voluntary family planning means putting the poorest, most marginalized and excluded women and girls at the forefront of our efforts—particularly those in conflict and fragile settings.

Women and girls who can make choices and control their reproductive lives are better able to get quality education, find decent work, and make free and informed decisions in all spheres of life.

Their families and societies are better off financially. Their children, if they choose to have them, are healthier and better educated, helping break the spiral of poverty that traps billions and triggering a cycle of prosperity that carries over into future generations.

UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is fully committed to ensuring the rights of women and girls to sexual and reproductive health services, including family planning. On this International Women’s Day, we urge the global community to join us. Together, we can make a giant leap forward that saves lives, empowers women and girls, advances gender equality and ensures a more prosperous and sustainable future for all of us

Nigeria Flights Diversion: Kaduna Hosts The World

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08/03/2017

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By Amos Tauna

For the next six weeks, starting Wednesday, Kaduna International Airport in northwest Nigeria will play host to dignitaries from all walks of lives, flying in and outside the country. This is as a result of the approval of the Nigerian government temporary closure of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to rehabilitate its runway.

Kaduna Airport was designated as an option for its proximity to Abuja, while the repairs last. A committee has already been constituted to oversee the progress of the project to meet the stipulated time of six weeks for the International Airport to resume operation at Nigeria’s Capital, Abuja.

Industry sources said the work at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja-Nigeria has already been advertised with bids for the job coming from Gilmore, Julius Berger and PW. The runway has been in a bad state due to over-utilisation. Restructuring, therefore, which is part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s plan is imminent in the aviation industry.

According to the minister of state for aviation, Hadi Sirika, other key programmes of the present administration in the aviation industry include safety and security, infrastructural and airport concession, establishment of a national carrier, Maintenance Repair and Overhaul, MRO, facility, establishment of Agro-Allied cargo infrastructure and establishment of aircraft leasing company.

Preparatory to the commencement of the international flights to Kaduna Airport, it has led to more infrastructural upgrade. The Abuja-Kaduna Express way and other roads link to the Kaduna Airport have undergone major repairs to ensure hitch free flow of traffic and safety of passengers during the six weeks duration.

It is believe that more passengers would use the Abuja train to Kaduna for easy link to Kaduna Airport (already Nigerian Government has approved free ride to flight passengers heading to Abuja from Kaduna), while other passengers are believe to use the period to boost their economic activities thereby ensuring more revenue is accrued to the Nigeria Railway Corporation and also boost business activities in Kaduna.

The repair of Abuja-Kaduna deplorable road has been completed just as the Kaduna’s potholes riddled Bye-pass way has been fixed. The Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, while on tour of the Kaduna Airport and other logistics in Kaduna State North West of Nigeria before the commencement of the official take off of flights in Kaduna described the ongoing repair work as commendable insisting that appreciable progress is being recorded. He noted that not all foreign airlines that declined to use Kaduna Airport, stressing that some airlines were willing to come to Kaduna Airport such as Ethiopia aitline, among others. He said that the foreign airlines need to know that it is a temporary arrangement.

Experts noted that the take-off of foreign and local flights in Kaduna even in this temporal arrangement will revamp the economy of the state. It is also believe that big and small businesses will come back to life. The temporal arrangement of using Kaduna Airport has resulted in the ancient city of Kaduna wearing a new looks, a turning point that would bring the lost glory of the state.

Abuja-Kaduna road will experience tight security, the chairman of Ministerial Security Subcommittee on the movement of Abuja International Airport operations to Kaduna Airport, Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, Operations, Alkali Baba Usman, said 24 hours security surveillance would be mounted around the Kaduna Airport and environs.

The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Idris Usman, while on tour of Kaduna Airport, revealed that aerial surveillance helicopters and anti-bomb experts have been deployed to handle security in every nook and cranny of Kaduna State ahead of the take-off of flights diversion from Abuja to Kaduna. He assured foreign travelers and other road users of adequate security of life and property to and from Abuja, adding that facilities like train and vehicles to convey passengers are ready.

Anglophone Cameroon Marks 50 Days Without Internet

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08/03/2017

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By Lontong Ibrahim

Cameroonian authorities have for the past 50 days imposed an internet blackout on English-speaking regions in the majority French-speaking nation.

Deutsche Welle reports that hundreds of youths shouted ‘Bring back our internet! Bring back our internet!’ on the streets of the western city of Bamenda as the convoy of Cameroonian Prime Minister Philemon Yang passed.

He was dispatched to the city by President Paul Biya in an attempt to negotiate a peaceful resumption of classes and business activities in the English-speaking northwest and southwest regions of Cameroon.

“Fear cannot build a country. Fear cannot create confidence. We must all refuse to spread fear to innocent children, to innocent parents, to innocent businessmen and to innocent business women,” Yang said during a recent meeting with local stakeholders.

James Akaba recently returned from the capital Yaounde where he had relocated since the internet blackout. He works for the NGO Open Dreams which works to connect children from poor African families with opportunities and scholarships in developed countries.

“The internet to us is like oxygen and the oxygen has been taken from us,” he said, adding that he and his colleagues are not able to do their jobs without access to the internet. Many activists have been protesting the blackout on social media using the hashtag #BringBackOurInternet.

“As an NGO, we have funding partners who support us financially so we need to report to them all the time,” he said. “We are unable to respond to emails promptly so it is a setback for us.”

The internet blackout has paralyzed all online transactions and is affecting businesses and individuals across the region.

Many researchers and businesspeople are traveling from the English-speaking parts of the country to French-speaking regions in search of internet services.

Student Muhamadou Awal won a scholarship with the Mastercard Foundation to study in Cana. He was forced to move to Yaounde to be able to communicate with his funding partners. He said that not all his peers are as lucky as he is.

“It is crippling them because they cannot apply for scholarships. It was after I had applied for [my scholarship] that the internet was cut,” he said.

Researcher Bruno Zoua is developing an application to track stolen cars. He said that he has also relocated to a French-speaking area so that he can have internet access.

“We were, like, 90 percent finished and then there was the internet outage,” said Zoua. “We just wanted to build what was already on the market, but we wanted to make it cheaper.”

Last February, Internet Sans Frontieres (ISF), an organization that promotes the use of the internet and freedom of expression on the internet, disclosed that the blackout was crippling the regional economy because online payments, money transfers and other transactions could not be completed.

Access Now, an online advocacy group recently reported that the shutdown has already cost the Cameroonian economy more than $1.39 million (1.31 million euros).

“However, this conservative estimate does not take into account the long-term effects of factors such as the disruption of supply chains and of the significant amount of remittances that Cameroonians living abroad send to these regions,” stated the group in an open letter to local telecommunications.

Asongwe Etienne, a cyber cafe owner, addressed the stakeholders’ meeting with the prime minister. He said that until the internet is restored and the arrested people freed, schools will not resume and businesses will remain closed.

“Those who are guilty are detained. Those who are not guilty are detained,” he said. “Even here people won’t talk because they are afraid that maybe they will be followed after this meeting and will be arrested and transferred to Yaounde.”

Teachers and lawyers have been on strike in the English-speaking regions since November and have been joined by activists calling for secession. Some demonstrations have turned violent and dozens of people have been arrested.

Despite the call made by the Prime Minster Philemon Yang in Bamenda on Monday 6th March 2017, classes are yet to resume in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon.

Reports say that, 7th march 2017, the supposedly reopening day, teachers were present in schools but not a single student was seen around.

This scenario has again casted a dark cloud on the path of Philemon Yang considering that this is not his first attemp

Int’l Women’s Day: Nigeria First Lady Reaffirms Commitment In Pursuing Cause Of Women

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08/03/2017

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By Lontong Ibrahim

Wife of Nigeria’s President, Aisha Buhari, has reaffirmed her commitment towards pursuing the cause of women in the country in order to make their lives more meaningful.

According to her, despite the challenges caused as a result of social-economic factor, women must not be deterred as they are the fountain of wisdom and endurance.

Mrs. Buhari made this known in a statement issued by the Director of information, office of the wife of President Buhari, Suleiman Haruna, to commemorate the international women’s day.

She said, “Today is a historic day in the struggle for the upliftment of Women across the continents. I recall with happiness the series of steps taken at different levels to drive attention to the plight of women in the areas of health, education and opportunities in the scheme of things.

“Today has provided yet another opportunity to reflect on the condition of women both at the global arena and national level with a view to providing a way forward for the betterment of the Nigerian women.

“This year’s theme, “Be Bold for Change,” encourages taking groundbreaking action that drives the greatest change for women; accelerating gender parity and helping women advance and unleash their limitless potential.

“Let me use this opportunity to reaffirm my commitment towards the cause of women through my initiative, ‘Future Assured’ from which thousands of women and children have benefitted.

“It is imperative to appeal to all stakeholders particularly governments at all levels to rise to the global challenge of ensuring the achievement of gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls in line with the objective of sustainable development goals.

“Educating a woman it is said is educating a nation or generation.” It is my wish therefore to felicitate with fellow Nigerian women and women all over the world on this very memorable and important day.”

Nigerian Communication Commission Demands Better Service From Telecommunications Operators

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07/03/2017

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By Winifred Bulus

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has declared a state of emergency on the inferior Quality Of Service (QOS) provided by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and other service providers in the country.

This was done as way of improving the frequent inaccessibility to foreign exchange by operators.

Executive Vice Chairman, EVC, of NCC, Umar Danbatta, told the operators that the Commission had written to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Godwin Emefiele, who is willing to address the Forex needs of the operators.

He said this during an interactive session on Quatlity of Service delivery which management had with operators.

Danbatta urged the NCC to provide better service to consumers since 2017 is the year of consumer, saying, “the consumer shold be treated with dignity.”

The vice chairman said the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, should monitor service providers and interrelate with government at different levels to do this

NCC Director, Technical Standards and Network Integrity, DTSNI, Dr. Fidelis Ona,
expressed willingness to help the Commision solve some of its challenges such as, difficulty in acquiring new cell sites, multiple taxation and regulation, vandalism, power supply among others.

“We are engaging stakeholders, including Industry Working Group on Quality of Service, special committee on Counter Harmonization to address this.”

He says the Chief Technical Officer, CTO, at MTN Nigeria, Mr. Hassan Jamil, who was also at the meeting listed some of the issues face by the such as Community related challenges and Scarcity of diesel to power base stations.

Representatives of Globacom Limited, Airtel Nigeria Etisalat, American Towers Company, ATC, IHS Limited, among others were also part of the meeting and expressed similar challenges.

Nigeria: King Sunny Ade Appointed’ Change Begins With Me’ Ambassador

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07/03/2017

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By Lontong Ibrahim

Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has appointed King Sunny Ade as an Ambassador of the National Re-Orientation Programme, ‘Change Begins With Me.’

A statement by the Special Assistant to the Minister, Segun Adeyemi, noted that King Sunny Ade was described by the Minister as an icon and a trail blazer, who has reigned in the music industry for over 50 years without blemish.

Announcing the appointment in Abuja on Monday when he received the Juju Maestro on a courtesy visit to his office, the Minister said, “We are looking for people like you, King Sunny Ade, that the younger ones can look up to.

“It’s not just that you have been around for fifty years but you have been around for fifty years without any single stain on your part and that is very hard.

“Most people like you would have had one issue or the other that today their integrity would be at stake. Your integrity is as strong if not stronger than when you started. So it would be a pleasure if you can accept to be our Ambassador of the “Change Begins with Me.

”I want the younger ones to look at you and see that you can actually get to the top without cutting corners. That is exactly what you have done. You have never cut corners and you have gotten to the top.”

Lai Mohammed said after performing music for fifty years, the energy, dexterity and the passion exuded by King Sunny Ade have remained amazing and a source of inspiration for the younger artists.

While commending Ade for promoting the juju music genre to an enviable height, the minister reiterated the commitment of the current administration to the development of the entertainment industry because of its vast potential in generating employment and creating wealth.

While accepting the offer to serve as an Ambassador of the “Change Begins With Me” Campaign, Ade pledged to partner with the federal ministry of Information and Culture to move the nation forward.

He thanked the Minister for the uncommon passion he has shown to the entertainment industry, especially in organizing the artists to achieve their potentials and contribute to nation-building.

“You don’t need to say much. This is what I love to do and it has been in me. We are ready to do that officially throughout the whole world,” he said.

EU Funding Large-Scale Solar Projects In Benin, Niger, Nigeria, Chad

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07/03/2017

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The European Union’s Africa Renewable Energy Initiative recently announced 14 new renewable energy projects across the continent, representing 1.7GW, with a total potential investment of almost €4 billion (US$4.2 billion).

Making the announcement in Conakry, Guinea, Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, said, “With these 14 new projects, potentially worth up to €4 billion of investments, the EU is delivering on its promises.

“We are turning our pledges into real projects with true impact on the ground. The EU hereby reaffirms its leading role in supporting the African continent in the promotion of renewable energies for the improvement of energy access for African citizens.”

PVTECH reported that, Ségolène Royal, President of COP 21 and France’s Minister of Environment, Energy and the Sea, said, invitations to tender for the projects will be issued in the coming weeks. These projects are to be mobilized in record time under the €256 million in grants from the European Commission.

Among projects that include rural electrification, geothermal and grid upgrades, Royal revealed many large-scale solar projects are to be implemented.

This includes a 25MW solar plant planned for Benin, a 13MW and a 30MW solar power station in Niger, the 30MW Djermaya solar power station in Chad and a 100MW solar power plant in Nigeria known as the Bauchi solar project.

These solar projects and the other renewable energy ventures under the investment will contribute to the EC’s aim to give 30 million more people access to sustainable energy and help generate 5GW of new clean energy in Africa by 2020.

This represents half of the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative‘s overall target, as one of the initiative’s key objectives is to generate 10GW of new renewable energy in Africa by 2020, and to unlock Africa’s potential to generate as much as 300GW from renewable energy by 2030.

The EU’s development funding towards sustainable energy in Sub-Saharan Africa for the period 2014-2020 amounts to approximately €2.7 billion.

Ghana At 60 Appreciates Good Ties With Nigeria

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07/03/2017

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By Winifred Bulus

Ghana has appreciated Nigeria’s good relationship and its role in Ghana’s attainment of independence.

Ghana’s high commissioner, William Awinador-Kanyirige, made the remarks during the celebration of Ghana’s 60th independence in Nigeria’s federal capital city, Abuja.

He said, “The struggle of Ghana’s independence was a struggle not just by Ghanaians but by all Africans that were in that territorial region.

“When we talk of the heroes of Ghana’s independence, we are also talking of the Nigerians that assisted us in that struggle although we don’t hear of them often.

“Our independence is intertwined and when you dig into history, you realise that many Nigerians helped in enforcing the freedom of Ghana.

“Take for instance the Ghana military, which has Hausa songs used to motivate the soldiers, was gotten from the interrelationship between the two countries.

“Colonialists created the Officer Corp Training in Accra and the Police Training School in Kumasi where the great Nnamdi Azikiwe enrolled in before his mother took him out prior to his graduation day.

“The history of our countries have been intertwined for decades and it’s not just the relationship between the military and the government but it is mainly in the relationship between the people of Ghana and Nigeria.

“We hope this relationship gets stronger as we grow together.”

Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, who was represented by Peter Iyambo, admonished Nigeria to keep supporting Ghana so as to improve bilateral trade and economic integration.

“Like Nigeria, Ghana is currently carrying out reforms targeted at rebuilding the psyche of the people on issues of transparency and good governance.

“I want to appeal to all Ghanaians present here to support the Ghanaian president, Nana Akufo-Addo, in his efforts to transform Ghana.

“Nigeria and Ghana have both enjoyed economic and international relations as our two countries have signed a number of agreements aimed at fostering economic integration.

“Nigeria remained determined in its resolved to implement bilateral agreements in order to ensure our people receive the full benefits.

“The relationship between Ghana and Nigeria remains very promising and full of potentials, we should collectively build on existing political and economic cooperation that has been the hallmark of our partnership,” he said.

Rita Orji, Chairman House Committee on Nigerians in the Diaspora, said: “I must confess that Ghana is one of the countries that we have the best relationship with.

“They know how to maturely handle and deal with issues that may bring about controversies or problems.

“Ghana is three years older than Nigeria and the fight for our sovereignty involved similar people like Kwame Nkrumah, Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe and other prominent people.

“There are many Nigerians who migrated from Nigeria and helped develop Ghana, therefore we see Ghanaians as our brothers.

“Nigerians have come to celebrate Ghana’s 60th independence anniversary because Ghana has been a good friend and ally to Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, during the celebration of Ghana’s independence in Ghana’s capital city, Accra, the President Nana Akufo-Addo said the country has no justification to be inadequate after sixty years of independence.

“After sixty years, we have run out of excuses, and it is time to set Ghana to rights and get our country to where it should be. The challenge before us is to build our economy and generate a prosperous, progressive and dignified life for the mass of our people.

“Hard work, enterprise, creativity, discipline and a consistent and effective fight against corruption in public life would bring the transformation we seek.” he says.

The president also added that called on Ghana to join hands in building a better society,

“Let us mobilize for the happy and prosperous Ghana of tomorrow, in which all of us, including our youth, our women and the vulnerable in our society, will have equal opportunities to realise their potential, and build lives of dignity.”

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