Day: September 12, 2023

Heritage Month is celebrated annually in September. It is celebrated to mark South Africa’s diverse culture and heritage.

Government calls on all South Africans to use Heritage Month to foster greater social cohesion, nation building and a shared national identity.

The celebration of Heritage Month has created a conducive environment for all people to embrace and celebrate what was inherited or bequeathed to the nation by its forebears.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Tourism Month is celebrated annually in September, and provides a heightened month-long focus on the importance of the sector to the South African economy. It features themed activities that are aligned to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s (UNWTO) World Tourism Day celebrations.

This global observance day by The United Nations World Tourism Organisation aims to foster awareness of tourism’s social, cultural, political and economic value and the contribution that the sector can make towards reaching the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Tourism Month encourage South Africans to travel domestically to sustain jobs and support the recovery of tourism in line with the Tourism Sector Recovery Plan.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Farmers in Mafa and Jere LGAs of Borno affected by insurgency have urged the North East Development Commission (NEDC) for more support to agriculture to boost food production.

A cross section of the farmers and stakeholders in the area who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the areas have fertile land for food and cash crops production and needed support from government and relevant agencies, like the NEDC.

Malam Abba Kawu, the District Head of Mafa, said with agricultural support to farmers in the areas that have resumed farming activities would boost their production and addressed poverty.

“These areas are known for farming activities and the current road construction by NEDC will open up the area.

“We want the commission which had also intervened in provision of houses and other livelihood support to the people to do more in agriculture for the people to tap the maximum potential of the areas,” he said.

The Ward Head of Jiro in Mafa LGA, Alhaji Bulama Bukar, who lauded the return of relative peace in the area, said farming activities had resumed for the first time in several years, and farmers needed support in areas of inputs like improved seeds and pesticides.

“We have resumed farming activities with support from security personnel that still give us protection to work on our fields.

“The ongoing road construction in the area by NEDC linking Ngom to Koshebe, Zabarmari, Khadamari, Galameri and Dusuman communities in Mafa and Jere LGAs will greatly enhance agriculture in the areas,” Bukar said.

On their part, Messrs Mohammed Ibrahim, Danladi Idris and Usman Haruna from Khadamari village of Jere LGA known for all-year-round mass production of rice and vegetable, said they needed more agricultural support to expand their areas of production.

They noted that the access roads being provided by NEDC was a big relief that would enhance farming and business activities in the areas that have problem of access roads to transport their produce.

They lauded the Federal Government for establishing NEDC, saying that its interventions are impacting positively on the communities.

NAN reports that Vice President Kashim Shettima had last Friday performed the ground breaking ceremony for the roads by NEDC, linking communities in Mafa and Jere LGAs with Maiduguri. (NAN)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has identified a funding gap of $9.2 billion in the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector in Nigeria.

Deputy Representative of Programme, UNICEF Nigeria, Dr Rownak Khan, made the disclosure when she visited the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev and the Minister of State, Alhaji Bello Goronyo, in Abuja.

Khan said that for Nigeria to achieve the roadmap for the WASH sector, the funding gaps must be closed, saying that tiers of government must do more by providing an enabling environment that would advance the cause.

According to her, working together to change the poor narrative will require new government financing at all levels, noting low water access and poor sanitation are affecting children the most.

She pledged UNICEF’s sustained partnership with the Federal Government to achieve the Campaign to End Open Defecation and Improve Access to Water Supply.

Addressing the delegation, the minister acknowledged the huge contributions of UNICEF to Nigeria’s growth and development in the areas of education, health, water and sanitation.

Utsev said that Nigeria would never underestimate the huge linkage between WASH, health promotion, economic growth and development, saying it would help promote inclusive development.

“UNICEF has done tremendously well in the areas of water and sanitation, nutrition and health and the impact is felt in all aspects.

“Nigerian government is also working in its programmes like WASH in schools, WASH in health and Youth WASH interventions,” he said.

Utsev assured UNICEF of Federal Government’s commitment towards improving the nation’s WASH sector, adding that government’s door was always open for more collaboration with development partners.

Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation, Goronyo, stressed the need for key stakeholders in the WASH sector to up their game in supporting the Federal Government to actualise the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.

He said that partnership with the Federal Government would help achieve the campaign to end open defecation and improve access to water supply.

The meeting had in attendance, the Permanent Secretary, Dame Didi Walson-Jack and some directors in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation. (NAN)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Sen. John Owan Enoh, Minister of Sports Development has called on the leadership of the sports federations in the country, to show more commitment to improving their respective federations.

The minister stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at a meeting with sports federations’ presidents and secretaries.

He said the ministry will continue to play it’s supervisory roles to push the over 33 sports federations to success, and constantly put Nigeria on the sporting map.

“We as a ministry need to show more commitment, focus and passion to succeed.

“We do not want federation presidents who are not committed or are only there to protect their interests, we need the commitment of the leadership of all the federations.

“This meeting will be periodical henceforth. Its essence is to evaluate what progress we are making as a country in the sports sector both locally and internationally,” he said.

Enoh said there was a need for the ministry and the federations to work more closely while setting achievable targets.

“It is a new beginning in the sports sector, therefore, we must as a sector, set achievable targets for ourselves.

“We will be having periodic review meetings to get feedback from the federations in terms of funds needed to prosecute competitions.

“We need to reposition this sector to achieve what we want to achieve, we are ready to collaborate with the federations to succeed,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federation presidents at the meeting, pledged more commitment to repositioning their respective sport while calling for more funding.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The government’s efforts to support women’s participation in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and occupations appears to be having an impact.

The number of women in the technical and vocational fields in Namibia is still low, in part due to the negative stereotype that TVET is meant for men. However, there are signs that women are leading the charge, with many aspiring for TVET occupations.

Last Friday, 420 trainees were conferred with various national certificates after completing training at the Windhoek Vocational Training Centre. They were part of over 963 trainees who successfully completed their training at WVTC during the period June 2019 to June 2023.

The Ministry of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation Deputy Executive Director, Raimo Naanda said that 36.8 per cent of the graduates are female trainees, while 63.2 per cent are male trainees.

“These statistics signify an increase in the number of female trainees in the TVET programmes and in particular, in the previously perceived occupations for males,” Naanda said during the graduation ceremony.

Victoria Ndapona, who studied plumbing and pipefitting, said it is encouraging that young women are entering TVET.

“I think it is important that women are going into training and vocational fields. For a long time, men have been the only ones who could do technical work like plumbing, but I am testimony that we women can also do this type of work,” Ndapona said.

She also applauded the government for promoting TVET, noting that it gives young women valuable employment skills.

“My advice, especially to young women, is to only think of going to university. That is not the only way to succeed in life. Try vocational training, and you will make it your life,” she said.

Alma Hamundjebo, who graduated in auto mechanics, said her fellow women needed to ignore the misconception that some careers in the technical and vocational fields are only suited for men.

“I chose auto mechanics because I know I am capable. But many women are not going for these types of courses due to the wrong perception that auto mechanics is a job for men,” Hamundjebo said.

“I have acquired essential skills that I can use to survive, especially with the high unemployment rate in Namibia. I can overhaul the engine and do other things that many women think they are not capable of doing,” she added.

Hamundjebo, who is from Odombe in the Ohangwena Region, also advises young women to consider TVET.

“As we know now, university graduates like teachers are without jobs. So I am encouraging all ladies to choose vocational education because it will help them in the future. In the absence of jobs, you can open up a workshop and start working for yourself – be your own boss,” she said.

Naanda, who was the guest speaker at the graduation ceremony, implored the graduates to test their new skills and qualifications to improve themselves and the country.

“Most importantly, I would like to implore you to consider becoming self-employed. Youth unemployment is a serious challenge in our country, and it is my sincere appeal to you to consider starting your own enterprises, becoming entrepreneurs and employing others, or even coming together and joining forces.”

“Employment opportunities are very slim in our economy, and it will be sad for some of you to join the group of unemployed graduates while you possess skills to make a difference. My advice to you is to start small and showcase the skills, knowledge and competencies you possess in your neighbourhoods,” he continued.

The Windhoek Vocational Training Centre offers courses in various technical fields including plumbing and pipefitting, joinery and cabinetmaking, bricklaying and plastering, welding, boilermaking, auto mechanic, fitter and turner, electronics, electrical, as well air-conditioning and refrigeration and office administration.

The centre has introduced new programmes this year, including automotive mechatronics engineering that is replacing the auto mechanic programme, which was discontinued as a qualification due to changing technologies in the respective occupational area, according to Naanda.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency