UK, US-Sponsored Education Programme In North-East Nigeria Ends

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September 12, 2021

A programme funded by the United States and United Kingdom to address challenges in education in North-east Nigeria has drawn to a close.

The programme, “Addressing Education in Northeast Nigeria (AENN)” with a lifespan of three years was launched in 2018, to help the government of Nigeria create more certified and safe educational environments for girls and boys in Borno and Yobe in collaboration with major local, federal, and international education establishments.

The activity has since improved literacy, numeracy, and social emotional skills of nearly 200,000 out-of-school children in formal and non-formal settings, more than half of them girls.

USAID Mission Director Dr. Anne Patterson joined Nigerian education officials and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to mark the closing of the three-year U.S. and UK government-funded activity.

Paterson said: “It is promising to see that of those girls and boys who participated in the new instruction throughout Borno and Yobe, nine out of 10 were able to later transition successfully back into mainstream education despite missing school time because of conflict.”

She added that: “A better educated Nigeria is a stronger, more prosperous, and ultimately resilient Nigeria.”

Utilizing research conducted by USAID and its partners, the activity was designed to create a sense of safety for young people, and produced in local languages to increase children’s ability to learn and build resiliency from the surrounding conflict.

The conflict-sensitive curricula were supplied in the Hausa and Kanuri languages in more than 900 accelerated education centers supported by AENN.

Rebuilding the devastated school system also included addressing the gap left by the thousands of teachers who were forced to abandon their jobs in the Northeast.

AENN provided conflict-sensitive training to more than 2,000 learning facilitators and another 600 school administrators who can continue to advance the learning opportunities in their respective communities.

AENN was implemented by FHI360 in consortium with Save the Children International and Via Mobile, as well as in close collaboration with the government of Borno and Yobe and community-based organizations.

NY Hospital Puts Baby Deliveries On Hold As Maternity Workers Quit Over Vaccine Mandate

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Koko Lawrence

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September 12, 2021

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A hospital in upstate New York will put baby deliveries on hold after too many workers in its maternity unit resigned over the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, according to local reports.

Lewis County General Hospital will be forced to temporarily stop all baby deliveries after Sept. 24 due to the staff’s refusal to get vaccinated, WWNY-TV reported.

So far, six employees in the hospital’s maternity ward have chosen to resign instead of getting the vaccine, while another seven are undecided, Lewis County Health System Chief Executive Officer Gerald Cayer said during a news conference on Friday, according to the station.

Since the vaccine was mandated for health care workers on Aug. 23, Cayer said that 30 workers have resigned, 20 of whom held clinical roles like nurses, therapists and technicians.

Jigawa To Establish Additional 200 Nomadic Schools, Engage 270 Herdsmen

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Precious Obazee

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September 12, 2021

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Jigawa state Government has promised to establish 200 more new nomadic schools and employ 10 herders from each of the 27 local government areas in the state, as part of its effort to continue to provide and expand qualitative nomadic education to the herders in all parts of the state.

The state Governor, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, made the promise when he received a delegation from the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, a socio cultural Fulani organisation at the Government House in Dutse, the state capital.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Public Relations to the governor, Habibu Nuhu Kila.

Badaru said his administration was committed to providing education to all citizens of the state, including the herders.

He also said that after his recent working tour to the Netherlands, plans were underway to expand the existing cattle routes and grazing reserves which would provide enough all-year grass for the herders.

Badaru called on the association to support the state government in the fight against negative vices among the Fulani especially youths who are engaged in criminal activities.

Chairman of the association, Adamu Hadejia, commended the efforts of the state government in maintaining peace in the state.

He promised that the association would do everything possible to ensure that the relative peace that exists between farmers and herders is maintained, adding that with the support of the state government, the group will fish out criminals among them.

Maxwell Brings Shimmer, Shine and Smiles to NY Fashion Week

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Koko Lawrence

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September 12, 2021

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At the end of Brandon Maxwell’s show at New York Fashion Week, his models were doing something models don’t usually do on runways: They were smiling.
Maybe that’s because Maxwell had dressed them in clothes meant to project joy and fun — psychedelic patterns, shimmering fabrics and bright colors, in casual garments that evoked a day in the park or at the beach.
“Don’t we all want to be on a beach at this point?” Maxwell said during a backstage interview after Friday night’s show. “Life has not been a beach for the last year and a half.”

But this time, rather than focus on the bleakness of the past year, Maxwell said he wanted to “find the beauty in this moment.”
So he imbued his Spring Summer 2022 collection with a casual-chic aesthetic featuring bold prints in pinks, oranges and greens, plaid board shorts, shiny windbreakers, jackets and trenchcoats, dresses in bright metallics, and tees emblazoned with a mushroom design. There were long dresses, too, but made casual by wide stripes or bold psychedelic prints.

FBI Releases Newly Declassified Record On Sept. 11 Attacks

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Koko Lawrence

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September 12, 2021

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A declassified FBI document related to logistical support given to two of the Saudi hijackers in the run-up to the Sept. 11 attacks details contacts the men had with Saudi associates in the United States but does not provide proof that senior kingdom officials were complicit in the plot.

The document released Saturday, on the 20th anniversary of the attacks, is the first investigative record to be disclosed since President Joe Biden ordered a declassification review of materials that for years have remained out of public view. The 16-page document is a summary of an FBI interview done in 2015 with a man who had frequent contact with Saudi nationals in the U.S. who supported the first hijackers to arrive in the country before the attacks.
Biden ordered the Justice Department and other agencies to conduct a declassification review and release what documents they can over the next six months. He was under pressure from victims’ families, who have long sought the records as they pursue a lawsuit in New York alleging that Saudi government officials supported the hijackers.

Emma Raducanu: US Open Champion ‘Does Not Want To Let Go’ Of Trophy

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Koko Lawrence

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September 12, 2021

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Emma Raducanu says she does not want to let go of the US Open trophy after her fairy tale in New York culminated in the ultimate happy ending.

The 18-year-old is the first British woman in 44 years to win a Grand Slam singles title and did not drop a set.

She is also the first qualifier to win a major title.
“It means everything to hold this trophy and I don’t want to let go right now,” she told former British number one Tim Henman in an interview.
“Yesterday there were weird feelings I couldn’t put my finger on – I think that’s just normal. When I came out it was business as usual, one point at a time.
“I had to fight hard for that first set and keep myself ahead in the second. In the key moments, I came out with some clutch serves.”

Her sensational run at Flushing Meadows has captured the imagination of the public and she hopes her victory allows others to dream big.

“I’ve always dreamed of winning a Grand Slam. You just say these things. But to have the belief I did, and actually winning, I can’t believe it,” she said.
“I first started when I was a little girl, but I think the biggest thing that you have visions of is the winning moment, and going to celebrate with your team, trying to find your way up to the box.
“That’s been playing in my head, like, a couple of nights. I’ve fallen asleep to that.”

Raducanu is the youngest female major champion since Maria Sharapova won Wimbledon in 2004 and the youngest Briton ever to win a Slam title.

Nigeria Makes Impact In Track Cycling Championship

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Koko Lawrence

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September 12, 2021

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Nigeria is doing well at the ongoing 2021 Tissot International Cycling Union (UCI) Championship in Cali, Colombia.
Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN), Giandomenico Massari, made this known while congratulating Nigerian female track cyclists taking part in the event.
Massari said, in an interview on Saturday in Abuja, that the Nigerian team was chalking up points in the competition.

“We are acquiring points and the Olympic qualification is based on continent and in Africa for now we (Nigeria) are leading.
“We have two African countries participating, Nigeria and South Africa.
“Although Nigeria is not as experienced as the other countries that have decades of experience, it is doing well.
“This is our first appearance in the UCI Track Cycling Championship… We are only participating in the women’s categories,’’ Massari said.
Massari disclosed that Nigeria was being represented in the competition by four female riders, Tawakalitu Yekeen, Mary Samuel, Grace Ayuba and Ese Ukpeseraye.
According to him, even though Nigeria started participating in the sports since 2018, it is better than some other teams with decades of experience.
He said Nigeria’s initial target was to qualify to participate in the Colombia tournament and that it achieved.
The ongoing game 2021 Tissot UCI Track Cycling Nations Cup championship in Colombia commenced on Sept. 9 and is expected to end on Sept.13.
He expressed the hope that Nigeria would come back successfully.

England Vaccine Passport Plans Ditched, Sajid Javid Says

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Koko Lawrence

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September 12, 2021

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Plans to introduce vaccine passports for access into nightclubs and large events or crowded places in England will not go ahead, the health secretary has said.

Sajid Javid told the BBC: “We shouldn’t be doing things for the sake of it.”

He said the government had looked at the evidence, adding: “I’m pleased to say we will not be going ahead.”

It was thought the plan, which came under criticism from venues and some MPs, would be introduced at the end of this month.

No 10 stressed it would be kept “in reserve” should it be needed over autumn or winter.

Under the scheme, people would have been required to show proof – whether of double vaccination, a negative Covid test or finishing self-isolating after a positive PCR test – in order to gain entry to clubs and other crowded events.

The Night Time Industries Association warned the plans could have crippled the industry and seen nightclubs facing discrimination cases.

The industry body has since welcomed the move, saying it hoped businesses could now plan with some certainty and start to rebuild the sector and regain customers’ confidence.

The Music Venue Trust, which aims to protect grassroots venues, also welcomed the announcement, describing vaccine passports as “problematic”.

There was opposition too from Tory MPs on the Covid Recovery Group and the Liberal Democrats, whose leader Ed Davey called them “divisive, unworkable and expensive”.

Speaking on The Andrew Marr Show, Mr Javid said: “We just shouldn’t be doing things for the sake of it or because others are doing, and we should look at every possible intervention properly.

“I’ve never liked the idea of saying to people you must show your papers or something to do what is just an everyday activity, but we were right to properly look at it.

“We’ve looked at it properly and, whilst we should keep it in reserve as a potential option, I’m pleased to say that we will not be going ahead with plans for vaccine passports.”

Disability Affairs Commission to encourage Social Inclusion

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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September 12, 2021

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The establishment of the National Commission on Disability Affairs (NCDA) by President Muhammadu Buhari would foster the inclusion of millions of people living with disabilities in the process of national development.

The Director-General of Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Ilorin, Comrade Issa Aremu made this observation during the week while playing host to the officials of Kwara State Joint National Association of Persons Living With Disabilities (KWJONAPWD) at the Institute.

The Director-General commended President Buhari for signing into law in 2018 the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act which prohibits discrimination against people living with disabilities and established a National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, responsible for ensuring that people with disabilities have access to housing, education, and healthcare.

He described the Disabilities law as the “most socially responsible law in the democratic dispensation” adding that Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), would partner with Kwara State Joint National Association of Persons Living With Disabilities to implement the new law through mass education of organised labour and civil society on its provisions.

He also disclosed that MINILS is set to mark the 2021 International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3 which is an International observance Day by the United Nations since 1992 to promote understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.

In his address, the Chairman Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities, Comrade Bashir Yusuf hailed President Buhari for the establishment of Commission on Disabilities Affairs to be manned by people with disabilities as well as giving 10% of the Federal Government Special Public Work in the State and also the 10% allotted to People Living with Disabilities of N- Power applicants throughout the Federation.

Comrade Bashir while appreciating, the Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his laudable programmes in repositioning the State and the wellbeing of kwarans with disabilities, called for the full implementation of the state Disability law with respect to the establishment of a Disability Affairs Office to cater for persons with disabilities.

As of 2020, there are reportedly over 27 million Nigerians living with some forms of disability that include, visual, hearing, physical, intellectual and communication impairment.

Nigerian Wins 2021 Women Agriprenuer Award in Kenya

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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September 12, 2021

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The Founder and Executive Director of WOFAN, Hajia Salamatu Garba, has emerged as the winner of Value4her Women Agriprenuer of the Year 2021 (WAYA2021) at the 2021 Africa Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) held in Kenya.

Garba said in a statement in Abuja on Saturday that over 2,500 farmers competed from 21 African Countries.

She said that the award recognised WOFAN‘s innovations in the field of mobilising over 4,500 functional and mobilised key smallholder farmer’s groups.

She stated that WOFAN had also created 5,000 fully registered women and youths in agribusiness, adding that 80 percent of which were women who were into various agribusinesses along with various crop value sectors.

The 2021 AGRF was a hybrid summit with the theme “Pathways to Recovery and Resilient Food Systems” hosted in partnership with the Government of Kenya from Sept. 7, to Sept. 10.

The Summit convened close to 7,000 participants virtually, including African presidents, agriculture ministers, agricultural stakeholders, multilateral and experts.

This, according to her, was to discuss ways the continent could transform food systems and accelerate progress to eradicating hunger and poverty.

Garba, however, promised to continue to be an advocate of re-thinking agriculture and the food systems in Africa.

According to her, the leaders need to creatively invest in simple equipment and technologies with an amplified application, use and development of ICT-related farm technology.

She stated that inclusiveness in the financial section and access to finance and trade opportunities across the region needed to be magnified for visibility and action.

She urged financial institutions to roll out friendly policies to address climate change financing to mitigate the shock being faced globally.

Garba noted that women and youths were the neck of agriculture because they carried the head and body of food security in Africa.