Centre scores TETFUND high, says Echono has instilled transparency, accountability, others

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) says the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFUND, has overachieved and even surpassed its mandate under executive secretary, Arch Sonny Echono.

CESJECT made this known in an extensive report to appraise the agency’s strategic interventions in the educational sector in the past 10 years.

In the report signed by Ndubisi Nwogu, Programmes Director, CESJET said Echono has infused accountability and transparency in TETFUND while ensuring project execution, capacity building, staff training and improved welfare among others.

“The initiation and signing into law at least 76 new people oriented bills to ease the effects of the depression; the administration can confirm that it is a worthy achievement by TETFUND,” the report said.

“The mandate of mobilizing, planning and channeling education task fund for interventions, projects in the nation’s tertiary institutions. Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFUND, has made far reaching progress in developing the tertiary educational sector is the country.

“Focusing on capacity building and staff development and effective service delivery. Having prioritized that higher institutions in the country are now benefiting specific programmes and boosting the human capacity development components through TETFUND. 

“Managing Education Tax Funds. Towards supporting projects and capacity building for public tertiary institutions, TETFUND under Architect Echono sponsored a research on the newly designed Smart Climate Information Services for Early Warning on Climate Change for farmers with about one thousand five hundred farmers from seventy villages across six states receiving training on the innovation.

“TETFUND agency further saw to the National Library Headquarters Complex, Abuja receive boost with the approval of 16 Billion Naira by TETFUND under Architect Echono as first tranche for the completion of the project.

CESJET, therefore, passed a vote of confidence on Echono’s leadership.

“We have found him worthy and respectable, given that he has uphold a stand in honesty and modest to the people and her citizens, as well as the government, using the position of authority not for his self-aggrandizement, but for dutiful accomplishment,” the centre added.

“He is astute to follow through the implementation and use of the right approach to see every task accomplished as he’s been doing towards every successful notable accomplished tasks.

“As an accomplished technocrat, Arc Echono has brought to the job, a diverse wealth of experience spanning infrastructure, business administration, procurement management, ICT and the education sectors.

“Mr Sonny has further helped the agency to focus more on Its critical areas of intervention which includes, sponsorship of lecturers for postgraduate studies, funding constructions and refurbishment of educational facilities, promoting a creative and innovative approach to learning; promotion of higher education books and funding libraries and provision of learning equipment.”

However, the centre called for improved funding for the agency.

CESJET also lamented some government policies curtailing the scope of operation of the agency.

Flooding: Human rights groups laud NEDC, MD Alkali on provision of interventions

The Coalition of Northern Human Rights Group (CNHRG) has applauded the prompt responses of the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) and its managing director, Mohammed Alkali to the rampaging flooding in the region.

The group made this known in its assessment report on the impact of the natural disaster in the north and efforts of intervention agencies.

According to the report signed by secretary-general, Ibrahim Ahmed, the rights group said NEDC donated relief materials to flood victims to cushion the effect on the affected communities.

CNHRG also commended the National Emergency Management Agency for equally rising up to the occasion.

“The NEDC was proactive in its response to the impact of flooding in affected communities in North East. In such a situation, intervention is expected from the government through the various intervention agencies. This was the case in the flood-ravaged states of Northern Nigeria. To cushion the flood’s effect on the affected communities, the North East Development Commission (NEDC) took measures by donating relief materials to flood victims in Adamawa States,” the report said.

“NEDC also extended this gesture to other affected northern states. It is imperative to note, however, that other intervention agencies, such as NEMA, were also up and doing in donating relief materials to flood-ravaged states in Northern Nigeria to cushion the effect of the flood disaster.

“It must be stated that these interventions by the NEDC proved vital in easing the pains of the victims of the flood disaster. Appreciative of the intervention efforts, it is essential to note that despite these efforts, the people can never be said to have gotten enough as there is still a need to do more.

“Properties worth millions of naira have been lost, farmlands have been eroded, food crops have been damaged, more IDPs have been created, and the environment, at large, has been affected. In some areas, roads have been washed off.

“The NEDC, among others, are highly commended for their intervention efforts. However, because the flood disaster did enough harm to the people and their environment, there is a need, therefore, for more intervention efforts to support the NEDC in ensuring that life returns to normal in affected communities.

*More so, aware of the cause of the flood, there is a need to construct dams that will help absorb water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon when released. This should be treated as a necessity and responsibility as it will help limit the level and effect of subsequent flood disasters in Nigeria.”

China sees more young entrepreneurs

By Yang Junfeng

More and more Chinese youths have embarked on the journey of entrepreneurship to chase their dreams thanks to the supportive policies issued by the government, the country’s increasing investment in education and sci-tech development, the steady rise of people’s income and the continuous optimization of the market environment.

According to a white paper titled “Youth of China in the New Era” issued by the State Council Information Office of China, among the founders of market entities registered since 2014, more than 5 million are college students and new graduates. Besides, in creative industries such as IT services, culture, sports, entertainment and sci-tech, young people account for half or more of the workforce.

In September 2022, China held a national mass entrepreneurship and innovation week. Several robotic arms were displayed at an exhibition zone in Hefei, east China’s Anhui province.

These robotic arms were developed by Dobot, a tech firm based in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong province. They can free laborers from high-precision and repetitive assembly tasks.

Liu Peichao, the founder of the company, joined the first national mass entrepreneurship and innovation week in 2015 with his first-generation robotic arms. Today, his company employs more than 600 people and sells products to countries and regions around the world.

To encourage more young people to join the mass entrepreneurship and innovation, local governments across the country have rolled out a series of preferential policies and measures.

For instance, some offer young entrepreneurs one-off grants, guaranteed loans and interest subsidies. Outstanding projects at provincial level could receive subsidies ranging from 50,000 yuan ($7,018) to 200,000 yuan in some areas. Besides, some local governments subsidize college seniors to join vocational and entrepreneurship training programs.

Liu believes that more and more young people are expected to start their own businesses as the country is seeing an improving environment for entrepreneurship and innovation.

“This will help activate the innovation system of the society, and explore the latest development opportunities and advanced technologies in vertical fields from different dimensions,” Liu noted.

Tang Pingdong, born in the 1990s, runs a chicken farm powered by new technologies in his hometown Taishun county, Wenzhou, east China’s Zhejiang province, with an ambition to lead his fellow villagers to prosperity.

Over the past six years, a total of 1,800 households have seen their per capita income increase by 20,000 yuan under the guidance of Tang’s chicken farm, which has also helped 15 villages expand their collective income by two million yuan. An agricultural entrepreneurship park initiated by Tang is home to 27 startups established by returnees, and its total output reached 200 million yuan last year.

Youngster Yang Fan, out of her passion for geo-science, set up a company of popular science education. The company developed China’s first restoration system for paleontological fossils that possesses independent intellectual property rights. The system is sold to customers around the world.

Sun Geyao from Xuzhou, east China’s Jiangsu province, is a fifth-generation inheritor of the national intangible cultural heritage Xuzhou sachet. The girl has inherited and updated the styles and manufacturing techniques of Xuzhou sachet, and employs livestream marketing to expand sales channels. The sachet manufacturing has directly offered jobs to 200 people and indirectly created more than 3,000 jobs. Frontier technologies freshly out of laboratories are sought after in the market; new ideas are revitalizing traditional industries; new businesses are opening up brighter prospects of development. Chinese young people will shine with their creativity and pioneering spirit in the pursuit of their dreams.

Modern museum system takes shape in China

By Wang Jue, People’s Daily

A modern museum system that involves diverse entities specialized in a wide range of fields and is accessible to all has taken shape in China, as the country continuously pushes forward with the reform of heritage museums and sees a significant rise in the influence of these institutions.

It is a new trend for Chinese people nowadays to visit museums. China is one of the countries with the largest number of museums in the world. Last year, 395 new museums were registered in the country, bringing the total number to 6,183. About 91 percent of all museums in China open free to the public.

The numbers of museums, the exhibitions they held, and the visitors they received in 2021 surged by 60 percent, 144 percent, and 119 percent, respectively, from those in 2012.

China’s museums are specialized in a wide range of fields and hold various activities. Last year, they hosted a total of 36,000 exhibitions and 323,000 educational activities, and received 779 million visits.

Besides, they also launched free tour guide services, cultural lectures, antique authentication services, exhibitions of cultural relics repairing skills, and other splendid activities, to attract more people.

Today, 77 percent of all districts and counties in China have built museums, and the digital information of more than 5 million pieces or sets of collections is shared with the public.

A museum that manufactures and displays traditional Chinese brush pens for better inheritance of the traditional craft and cultural exchanges in Yinping township, Zaozhuang, east China’s Shandong province, has signed agreements with universities, middle schools and primary schools to launch regular cultural activities, as well as Chinese painting and calligraphy exhibitions.

In southeast China’s Fujian province, there is a wood carving museum that displays hundreds of traditional Chinese wood sculptures. Liu Yu, a student visiting the museum from Guangxi University in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, told People’s Daily that the wood sculptures and the stories behind them present the charm of this intangible cultural heritage and the profound tradition ofthe Chinese culture.

Heritage museums shall always be made a public utility accessible to the people, said Gu Yucai, deputy director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA). In this regard, major comprehensive museums shall play a leading role and the medium and small ones shall meet people’s basic demand for culture, he noted.

The country should encourage the establishment of industry museums and guide the development of private museums, Gu added.

Last year, museums across China launched over 3,000 online exhibitions and 10,000 online educational activities, receiving a total of 4.1 billion views.

They have employed new technologies to develop cultural and creative products, innovate the ways of communication and promote wise utilization of cultural relics, in an attempt to make collections more alive.

In recent years, a number of TV shows about cultural relics and archaeology have become sensational, helping educate the public on the history and China’s fine traditional culture..

An NCHA official noted that the country will take multiple measures and fully leverage its research outcomes to diversify cultural supply, thus further enriching the cultural lives of the people.

2023: Arewa Youths Won’t Support Atiku, Kwankwaso- AYCF

*Say’s Nigeria not for North Alone

  • Urges North To Discard Ethnicity, Religion
    *Disagrees with Zangon Daura

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, (AYCF), the leading umbrella youth forum in northern Nigeria said it’ll not support any northern candidate running for president in 2023 general elections.

Recall that northern Nigeria has two presidential hopefuls, former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubukar of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Former Governor of Kano state, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian People’s Party, (NNPP).

The forum’s national president, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, disclosed this in a statement he signed while responding to the choice of a Northern elder statesman, Alhaji Sani Zangon Daura who’s backing a Northern candidate for the presidency seat of power in 2023.

According to him, the forthcoming election is not about ethnicity or religion but would centred on a united Nigeria.

The forum’s national president, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, while responding to the choice of a Northern elder statesman, Alhaji Sani Zangon Daura, backing a Northern candidate for the presidency seat of power in 2023, said the forthcoming election is not about ethnicity nor religion but would centred on a united Nigeria.

While addressing a group of youths Alhaji Zangon Daura, in a viral video, suggested that they should throw their weight behind a fellow Northerner for the presidency in 2023, citing historic and religious instances.
But in the statement yesterday, the AYCF said Daura’s believed has been overtaken by events, citing current realities and the spirit of justice and fairness in the Nigerian project.

According to the forum, Nigeria does not belong to the north alone and because of that the youths are in full support of power shift to the South for the sake of equity, fairness and justice.

He said, “We most respectfully disagree” with a Northern elder statesman Alhaji Sani Zangon Daura that the northern region should support a Northern candidate for the nation’s presidency come 2023.

“The choice of a Southerner for President by the region was clearly in the spirit of justice because Nigeria does not belong to the North alone, or Muslims and Christians of the North”, he stated, insisting that “Even on moral grounds, the most responsible political action by the North was the decision on power shift in 2023, because the Presidency cannot be hereditary and Nigeria is not a Banana Republic”.

The forum’s president further explained that the elder was expressing his personal opinion and not the stand of the North in general, saying that a “little balancing was needed in position of our father Zangon Daura, more so when he admitted that the elders are mere escorts for the younger generation today”.

He also stated that when 13 Northern governors, led by Kaduna State Governor, Mall Nasir Elrufai, endorsed a Southern candidate for the 2023 presidency, they repeatedly cited political justice.

“Though we are not card carrying members of the APC, we shared the view that the decision was in line with being fair to the South in 2023.

“We are aware, as well as our father Zangon Daura, that the North is respected for honoring its promises to the South and this one absolutely undeniable character of all Northerners.
“We are not known to break promises and that explains why our son, President Muhammadu Buhari never objected to the idea of Southern presidential candidate in the ruling party.
“In the North, like our father Zangon Daura knows, promises are sacred and in fact a culture”, AYCF stressed.

Poverty Index: Centre tackles SERAP over call for investigation of intervention programs

The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights (CALSER) has described the call by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) for the probe of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development as mischievous, misplaced and attention seeking.

The centre, therefore, urged President Buhari to disregard SERAP’s letter.

According to a statement signed by its Executive Director, Dr (Mr) Cecilia Ikechukwu, CALSER said the ministry should rather be commended for its transparency and intervention programs that has benefitted millions of Nigerians.

“The Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights (CALSER) is alarmed at the simplistic assessment of Nigeria’s poverty burden by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), which resulted in its call for the probe of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHADMSD). We urge President Muhammadu Buhari to completely disregard SERAP’s letter as mischief targeted at making the president distrust one of his best-performing Ministers,” the statement said.

“CALSER views these calls for the probe of the social intervention programs under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development as misplaced and attention seeking considering the high level of transparency in the activity of the Ministry and the impact of these programs on Nigerians. The Ministry has proven to be one that directly impacts Nigerians through programmes that have improved the quality of life of indigent citizens.

“Instead of ordering a probe into the handling of social intervention programmes as SERAP is demanding, the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq should rather be commended for the giant strides the ministry recorded under her watch, particularly the numerous interventions of the various agencies under the ministry.

“It is apparent that SERAP assessed FMHADMSD as if it is the Ministry of Poverty Reduction/Eradication such that it failed to reckon that part of the ministry’s funding also went into disaster management and the provision of succour to distressed and internally displaced persons (IDPs). An honest assessment of the Ministry’s activity would throw up beneficiaries of the programmes that are willing to testify as to how their lives were turned around for the better because of what the Ministry did for them.

“The group also failed to factor in the severity of poverty prior to the execution of these social safety net programmes. Had SERAP referenced a baseline study that showed that these programmes are not meeting expectations instead of cherry-picking the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report then it would be in a potion to pontificate in its letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.

“SERAP’s threat to take legal action if its demand for the probe of the Ministry is not met within seven days is no surprise as the group often recites this tired line like a broken record. It is a ploy that it has consistently deployed to destabilize and distract any government Ministry, Department or Agency that it is targeting. Such distraction from SERAP has proven more damaging than whatever ill it claims to be fighting. Interestingly, SERAP has never gotten anything meaningful from its proliferated litigation against government interests and public officials.

“Rather than attempting to harass FMHADMSD and its minister, SERAP should come up with ingenious solutions for amplifying the impact of the good work that the ministry is already doing. For instance, CALSER would like to see religious bodies and non-profits commit higher percentages of their disposable resources to support the government’s poverty alleviation initiatives as is the case in some other jurisdictions”.

The Centre, however, urged Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq and FMHADMSD “not to be perturbed by SERAP’s theatrics in calling for a probe as this is a well-known modus operandi of the organization, which threatens government agencies and ministries on a weekly basis with cogent reasons.”

It also urged President Buhari to “urgently consider a special class of award for the Ministry and its management in recognition of the good work they have done in contributing towards the goal of his administration to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty over the course of ten years.”

THE NIGERIAN ARMY’S EXPLOITS IN PEACE AND SECURITY ON THE PLATEAU AND BEYOND

By Rev Solomon Semaka

For more than a decade, Jos and indeed the whole of Plateau State was embroiled in recurring crisis that refused to abate. Lives and property worth billions of naira were lost on the Plateau in the process. The city was ethnically and religiously profiled and visitors had to take caution not to go into the wrong section of the city. Killings and enforced disappearances were reported on a regular without an end in sight. The once serene and beautiful State and city of Jos had become a nightmare to visitors and businessmen as well as tourists. All efforts by the State and federal government to neutralise the situation failed; including the declaration of a state of emergency. All these challenges peaked before the appointment of the current Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Faruk Yahaya

Since assumption of office as the duo, they has never slowed down or waned in their resolve to tackle a number of Nigeria’s security challenges.

As both officers who served at the theatre command in the North East, they are well versed not just in the management of war but fully grounded both in operational and psychological tactics. The synergy existing between the military and other sister security and paramilitary institutions has been commendable under the reign of General Irabor as chief of Defense staff. Aside from prioritizing the professional training of officers and men of the Nigerian military, the chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has demonstrated that he is indeed an accomplished war commander by the kind of appointments he made within the Nigerian military formations across board in line with the collective vision of Mr President. Putting the right officers in the right postings is perhaps his greatest weapon in the fight against insecurity and terror in the country.

While appreciating and acknowledging the professional efforts of the CDS and his service chiefs. It is pertinent to acknowledge the support of Mr President to the fight against insecurity in Nigeria. For it is on his shoulders that that entire military and defense infrastructure rest. It goes without saying that the successes recorded so far in the war against terror both by the Air Force, Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Navy wouldn’t have been possible without his astute leadership style. We therefore pay special tribute to him for the peace we are enjoying in Plateau State and for the support the COAS has extended to the GOC 3 Division of the Nigerian Army ,Maj Gen Ibrahim Ali who doubles as the Theater Commander of Operation Safe Haven is currently enjoying.

The appointment of Major General Ibrahim Ali as the Grand Officer Commanding (GOC) Division 3, headquartered in Jos, Plateau State as the Commander of Operation Safe Haven, is one of such manifestly productive appointments that has endeared the people of Plateau and environs and indeed Nigerians to the current the administration commitment to security of lives and property.

The incumbent commander of the Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) has no doubt broken the jinks and ensured sustainable security and peace on the Plateau and environs within a short time on the saddle. Like Einstein would say, he climbed on the ‘shoulders’ of his predecessors and did what many thought was impossible due to the peculiar nature of the crisis. His sincere and professional commitment has brought to a drastic end in the protracted crisis that almost swallowed up the communities within Jos and environs.

Immediately upon assumption of duty as GOC division 3, Nigerian Army, Maj Gen Ibrahim Ali reached out to both the political, religious and traditional institutions on the Plateau to find a lasting solution to the prevailing insecurity prior to his appointment. The support gathered from the Nigerian Police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps must actively be acknowledged and the collaboration commended. His diplomatic consultations did not just yield temporal fruits but have become a template for peace support operations in Nigeria as a whole. Nigerians are proud of the giant strides of the military and indeed commends the CDS anf his service chiefs for choosing the right Commanders to restore lasting peace across the country.

Not only has Major General Ibrahim Ali been an excellent Commander, but he has also proven himself to be an excellent administrator and a development enthusiast too. In the few days, he has held sway as the GOC 3 Division Nigerian Army, he has justified the position and confidence reposed in him and his soldiers by CDS and COAS. Despite the scarce resources available to the Nigerian military, the (OPSH)under Maj Gen Ibrahim Ali has remodelled the Maxwell Khobe Cantonment Main Entrance Gate and the Quarter Guard. Solar-powered street lights are installed to ensure the internal security of lives and property within environs. Currently, their is ongoing construction of Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA) 3 Division Chapter Secretariat. As if this is not enough, renovation of soldiers’ accommodation as well as the ongoing construction of the 3 Division Gymnasium Center and the Swimming Pool in line with the Chief of Defense Staff’s mandate to create sane and comfortable working conditions for men and officers of the Nigerian military.

General Ali knows the importance of peaceful coexistence and has worked to deepen his relationship with members of the host communities and indeed all the people under his command General Area of Responsibility. He has unlike anybody before him executed several projects under the Corporate Social Responsibility blueprint of the Nigerian Army. The Peace and Unity Walk which is supposed to bring everyone in Jos and its environs to exercise and develop positive energy as well as medical outreaches, and water supply to communities around the Maxwell Khobe Cantonment are just some of the many things the military has done to the ever grateful people on the Plateau and beyond. Constant engagement with youths, women and Civil Society Organizations has stood the command out in terms of results . The military is also known to be a great contributor to the educational and sports development activities within the General Area of Responsibility as education and sport are crucial to peace and youth development.

As the representative of the COAS, Maj Gen Ibrahim Ali has also distinguished himself as one officer that has maintained a very cordial, professional and apolitical relationship with the host state government. This is perhaps one of the reasons why he has achieved so much in a short time. Indeed General Ali has justified the confidence reposed in him by the military top brass and indeed Nigerians who have watched with admiration the gradual return of peace on the Plateau and elsewhere. The recent swift response of Operation Safe Haven to an attack on Bokos community merits a special mention here and is deserving of commendation. Proactive steps such as these are necessary if we must defeat terror and all forms of insecurity in the country.

As the 2023 general elections draw near, Nigerians are beginning to be worried about the security of their lives and property not just in Plateau State but everywhere across the nation. However based on the facts available on ground, Plateau and it’s environs will enjoy peaceful polls even as the relevant security agencies on ground have been working round the clock to thwart any attempt to breach peace. We must not forget that security is everybody’s business and must work hand in hand with him to provide credible intelligence. Reporting suspicious movements around our neighbourhoods are crucial if we want to continue enjoying the peace that has been recorded so far. As the 2023 general elections draw near, we must strive to desist from being used by selfish politicians to disrupt the peace and tranquillity on the Plateau and elsewhere. Let’s join hands together to restore the dignity of our country as we consolidate on the existing peace on the Plateau.

Solomon Semaka is a Civil Society and Mass Media Consultant, Convener of Save Nigeria Movement (SNM) and lives in Abuja

Same sex activists endorse Peter Obi for president

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Community in Nigeria has thrown its weight behind Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

In a statement signed by its president, Jasper B. E., the group said it came to this decision after assessing all tbe candidates, noting that Obi is the most LGBT-friendly.

Jasper said the Obi presidency has been further strengthened by his promise of a speedy repeal of the repressive Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act 2014 and other legislations.

According to him, the former Anambra State governor, during a meeting with its leadership, promised to promote the secularity of the state by helping to abolish cultural practices that are inimical to the existence of the Community as well as putting a stop to the implementation of Sharia Law throughout the federation.

“The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Community in Nigeria has found renewed hope in a future where we will live unchallenged, free of threat to life and unafraid of discrimination once the Labour Party candidate for the presidential election, Mr. Peter Obi is sworn in as the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria. We are going to ensure this by massively voting for him and mobilizing persons of similar persuasion, who are presently forced to be in hiding, to come out and ensure a Peter Obi victory,” Jasper said.

“We have, as a consequence, formally collapsed our Community into the OBIdient Movement for the electioneering period even though our members have been part of the Movement from the onset.

“Our resolve stemmed from the assurances and guarantees from Mr. Obi after he espoused his vision of an egalitarian Nigeria to us at a meeting where he outlined how every Nigerian, irrespective of orientation, is allowed to thrive and recognized on the basis of their talents and what they can contribute to the economic growth of the country.

“The LGBT Community in Nigeria, therefore, hereby endorses Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party as its preferred candidate, whom it would vote for in the February 2023 Presidential Election on account of being the most LGBT-friendly candidate based on our assessment of all those contesting. No other candidate has been able to clearly articulate the protection of our members as Mr. Obi did.

“Our confidence in an Obi presidency has been further strengthened by his promise of a speedy repeal of the repressive Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act 2014 and other legislations that hostile homophobes have exploited to make life a living hell for us in Nigeria. This 2014 Act is the singular piece of legislation that is being used as the greatest weapon for legitimizing state-backed attacks on our persons and community. We are eager to see it go and only an Obi presidency will guarantee us that.

“We would like to clarify that our preference of Mr. Obi is not all about his global view of sexuality and sexual orientation because he has shown us that he is in tune with the realities of contemporary times. At the meeting with the leadership of our community, in addition to his assurances to protect the Community, he also promised to promote the secularity of the state by helping to abolish cultural practices that are inimical to the existence of the Community as well as putting a stop to the implementation of Sharia Law throughout the federation.

“We welcome Mr. Obi’s promise to usher Nigeria into the same socio-psychological era as the advanced countries of the world where the LGBT Community is not under the constant threat of repression. We assure him that our contributions to the economic rebirth he is promising Nigerians would be glaring for all to see. The medieval mindset of hounding the LGBT Community has no place in an age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution that Mr. Obi wants Nigeria to tap into.”

The LGBT Community, therefore, assured the Labour Party candidate that “its members would be able to increase their contributions to the country once the stigmatization, harassment and criminalization of their orientation become things of the past under him as president.”

Jasper added: “We further assure our dear incoming president that we shall leverage our international connection and network to attract foreign direct investment into the country being that some of these investment potentials were blocked on account of the homophobic stance of past and present governments, which will not continue under Mr. Obi as president, going by his promises to us.”

NEDC’s Human Face And North East IDPs


By Moses Adamu

Excellence can simply be defined as the quality of being outstanding or extremely good. It is not just about doing the right thing; it is about doing it exceptionally well. The truth is, the more people there are in any society who put uncommon efforts into the common everyday tasks, the more progress it makes.
Undisputedly, this best described the North East Development Commission (NEDC).

Following the inauguration of North East Development Commission (NEDC) by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2017 to coordinate all Humanitarian interventions by government Ministries, Departments and Agencies based on The Northeast stabilization and restrategizing masterplan, a lot can be said about its magnanimous achievements in the elimination and mitigation of various effects caused by terrorism in the Northeast, which has so far resulted to rapid economical growth in the affected areas.

The North East Development Commission, as we all know, is an interventionist agency. However, the existential-effect of the NEDC has proven to be different, and also further distinguished from other interventionist agencies in the country. There has been a consistent drive towards achieving its core mandate in rebuilding North East Nigeria that had suffered phenomenal destruction since 2009 when the Boko Haram group began its violent campaign against Nigeria, Thus, empowered by the FGN and other international intervention agencies, the Alhaji Mohammed Goni Alkali-led NEDC management embarked on this assignment with every seriousness and vigour , under the broad program of Rapid Response Intervention (RRI) by giving it all that is needed to be done in order to bring about normalcy in the region.

Overtime, the NEDC has influenced the peace process in the long term, via development projects. The federal government in all its wisdom seeing the many crisis faced by the North Eastern part of the country commissioned the NEDC to relieve the region of its troubles. It was a development that at the time received a lot of criticism from malcontent individuals and members of the opposition party.

However, in the wake of recent government efforts, among various initiatives that were established in actualization of the plan which is based on strengthening criminal justice responses to Terrorism in the Northeast, one unique agency of the federal government that distinguished Itself outstandingly in public leadership was The North East Development Commission (NEDC) by making lots of iconic footprints in public space.

If we could walk down memory lane, before the intervention of NEDC, we should still remember that the north Eastern region of the country attracted a lot of attention from all over the world owing to the plagues of terrorism it faced in recent years. Banditry and killings were the order of the day in that region. The calamitous effect of these many crises in the region was widespread, and people living in the region were faced with constant unrest. Families that were displaced from their homes were forced to seek refuge in other less troubled regions or in IDP camps. Children couldn’t attend schools, as these schools were no longer safe and farmers never felt safe to go out and farm, leading to the rise in the cost of many edibles that use to be transported from the northern east to other states. All these greatly affected the nation at large.

It can be obviously stated that the crisis in North-East Nigeria that came with its attendant loss of lives, destruction of properties and displacement of thousands of people has been greatly managed and subdued, leaving its after effects less visible. This is as a result of the magnanimous reconstruction, and progressive decision implementation made by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) in the coordinating, harmonizing, and overseeing the success of many intervention and initiative programmes for the Northeastern States.
The NEDC have been able to successfully step in by bringing relief and intervention to these challenges. It has been able to successfully achieve the mandate handed over to it under the leadership of its Chairman, Mohammed Alkali. Establishing the agency was a much needed development and it was clear that such a vital agency had to be headed by a sagacious individual who was more than capable of handling the agency and achieving all its goals.

In a positive note, these great achievements of the NEDC is a manifestation of great intellectual results exhibited by good Leaders through strategic plannings, and implementation of programmes with a direct impact on the people.
For the record so far, the NEDC has executed not less than 224 developmental Projects in 112 Local government areas across the Six North-East states under the Rapid Response Intervention (RRI), as part of the comprehensive Master plan to holistically rebuild the region based on the recommendations and demands of the states in the areas of education, health, social Infrastructure, agriculture and WASH.

Furthermore, according to the managing director of the NEDC, the projects were part of the early recovery actions plans by the Commission to return simple Infrastructure which included, public and Institutional structure, boreholes and culvert that were ravaged by the insurgency to function again. It is also instructive to state that before this year, the NEDC has earmarked N6 billion to replenish the 10 percent annual grants on scholarship for students in the region. Under this arrangement, the beneficiaries include; 5 000 bachelor’s degree, 336 Masters and 54 Doctorate Degree candidates. The funds would also be used for skills and acquisition training and provision of starter packs to 5 000 Information Communication Technology (ICT) skills, 5000 women and youths on entrepreneurship, and 2000 other vocational skills in each of the 1,028 wards in the Northeast.
One of the recent successful implementations was the launching of North-East Development Commission (NEDC) Education Endowment Fund (EEF) NEDC-EEF.

This is indeed brilliant and an indication that the infrastructural and economic development of North-East Nigeria is well on course.
It’s worthy of note that the operations of the NEDC fully commenced in 2019. So far, the NEDC has demonstrated Itself as an agency which has overpowered the Nigeria’s regressive cancer and exculpated itself from the cultured setbacks of non-performing federal agencies.

Concerning the recent update on the IDP’s care and responsibilities, One won’t doubt the intellect behind the handing over of the IDP wellness to be overseen by the NEDC. Putting the best hand in such position is a game changer that would see to effective transparency , collaboration, and successful actualization of the humanitarian mandate in bringing relief to the massive flood victims, because without putting NEDC in charge of such a sensitive position and situation, peace would definitely be a short-lived phenomenal in IDP Camp. This responsibility is not an alien situation to be handled by them, because it as been part of their mandate in bringing relief to victims of insurgency; by helping in resettlement, provision of basic needs and welfare, as well as their feeding.

The NEDC will continue to strive for a continual improvement in their operations, which is necessary, given the enormity of the task at hand.
No doubt that the NEDC is making life very meaningful to victims in Northeast through its interventions. The region is now wearing a better look cutting across the provision of social amenities, and exemplifying core transparency in achieving their mandate towards this great nation, Nigeria.

Adamu is a public affairs commentator wrote this piece from Yola.

Fifth CIIE writes story of win-win cooperation

By Che Bin, People’s Daily

The fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE), which concluded in Shanghai on Nov. 10, was indeed a fruitful event as expected.

It was joined by over 2,800 exhibitors from 127 countries and regions, and 66 countries and three international organizations took part in the country exhibition. All these numbers exceeded those in the previous year.

A total of $73.52 billion worth of tentative deals were reached for one-year purchases of goods and services, up 3.9 percent from a year ago.

Apart from cutting-edge innovations, the fifth CIIE also featured exhibits that were handy and practical, manifesting China’s sense of responsibility in implementing the Global Development Initiative and promoting the common development of the world.

The CIIE is not only a platform for big names but also one that cares about enterprises from the least developed countries. Every year, the event would provide the latter with free exhibition booths to assist them selling their food, traditional handicrafts, and tourism products to a wider audience. This year, the number of free exhibition booths for exhibitors from the least developed countries nearly doubled from a year ago.

For the first time, Guinea-Bissau’s cashew nuts were displayed at this year’s CIIE. They attracted a number of merchants, though they were not in fancy packages. The export of cashew nuts is the primary source of income for most of the farmers in the African countries, and the CIIE has established a platform that brings tangible benefits to them.

Guinea-Bissau’s Ambassador to China, Antonio Serifo Embalo, told People’s Daily that Guinea-Bissau hopes to attract more investors at the CIIE so as to better help the country’s farmers increase their income and realize technological and industrial upgrades for the country.

The All Pakistan Commercial Exporters Association, attending the CIIE for the first time, displayed emeralds, Himalayan salt, Basmati rice, and other featured products. The association contacted the Pakistani Embassy and Consulates in China soon after it booked an exhibition booth, asking the latter to recommend featured Pakistani products.

“I hope Pakistani enterprises can find more opportunities in China through the CIIE,” said Miao Lan who is responsible for the booth of the Pakistani association.

Over the past five years, the CIIE has turned many exhibits into commodities and exhibitors into investors. Through the exchange of ideas, it connects China and the rest of the world. It is a global public good shared by the whole world.

Handmade alpaca toys produced by Peruvian enterprises have found their market in China through the CIIE, involving over 100 Peruvian families that designed and produced the toys in the trend of economic globalization. Besides, the CIIE also expanded the sales of coffee from Timor-Leste, chili from Rwanda, wool carpets from Afghanistan, soaps from Syria, honey from Zambia, and handicrafts from South Sudan.

It has turned the China market into a market for the world, a market shared by all andaccessible to all.

It is reported that enterprises have already signed up for an exhibition area of more than 100,000 square meters for the sixth CIIE.