Day: July 27, 2024

Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, says Nigeria is scaling up tangible and valuable investments in renewable energy systems.

He said in a statement in Abuja that he had a fruitful discussion on Friday with Dr Nkiruka Maduekwe, Director-General/CEO of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC).

He said he also joined a virtual meeting with the Executive Management of Oando Clean Energy to discuss their groundbreaking work to increase investments in renewable energy systems.

Ngelale explained that Oando’s focused attention on RandD and study of prospective clean energy investment opportunities, with the willingness to take calculated risks, would be beneficial to the organisation and the Nigerian economy as a whole.

‘They will be given all the relationship support we can muster based on the merit of their organisational vision and wide-ranging activities,’ he said.

He said he also deliberated virtually with officials of the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. State Dep
artment.

He stated that the discussion focused on Nigeria’s push to leverage on its vast marine resources to attract new green-focused partnerships and investments in seaports and shipping corridors.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of the Sector-wide Coordinating Office-Programme Management Unit (SCO-PMU) domiciled in the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.

A statement on Friday by his spokesman, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, said the unit would ensure efficient, transparent and accountable management of external grants mobilised towards the implementation of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).

Ngelale said SCO-PMU would report to a Steering Committee/Ministerial Oversight Committee chaired by the Minister, including the Minister of State, Permanent Secretary; Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and relevant development partners.

‘The SCO-PMU will serve as the secretariat and delivery unit for the NHSRII and is to be headed by a national coordinator (NC).

‘The functions of the SCO-PMU include programme management, monitoring and evaluation, engagement and supervision of Independent Verification Agents (IV
As) for NHSRII programmes and fiduciary management, among others.

‘Consequently, the President has approved the appointment of Dr. Muntaqa Umar Sadiq as the National Coordinator of SCO-PMU,’ he said..

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sadiq has over 17 years of experience in public health, impact investing, investment banking, energy, and climate financing across the health, finance, climate and energy sectors.

He had served as Head of the Performance Management and Delivery Unit at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and Chief Executive Officer of the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria.

He also served as Head of the Nigeria Energy Transition Office and Private Sector Engagement Adviser at the World Bank.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Ms Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, on Friday, said her mission to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries that were forming a new alliance was successful.

Mohammed said this while briefing State House Correspondents on Friday after her meeting with the President Bola Tinubu.

She said she visited the country to debrief President Bola Tinubu on the visit of her delegation to Senegal, Guinea Conakry, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

‘We went to Ethiopia on a finance mission. We were able to debrief the president on the proposals that he had made to try to keep the dialogue going for some of the states that we have challenges with.

‘But at the same time, we also looked for the possibilities to include economic development so that the people don’t suffer at the same time,’ she said.

She said the countries had crises due to unconstitutional changes, and they must come back to a transition, a process to democracy.

‘On the other hand, they have to also look at the development
paradigm for their people where there is terrorism.

‘But there is also a need to look at jobs, food security and energy. All those also have to continue.

‘Now if they can display a roadmap that gives everyone some confidence that there is a return to democratic rule, then they will find support,’ said Mohammed..

According to her, she believes that ECOWAS is a family, and regional integration is important for the region.

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‘And the proposal by ECOWAS at its last meeting to have President Faye of Senegal and President Faure of Togo continue that dialogue and engagement is a good one,’ Mohammed added.

She said the response from the countries was that they felt they did not get the support of ECOWAS that they envisaged.

‘There is a lack of understanding such that in some cases they are going ahead with their alliance, but at the same time they expressed their priorities.

‘First was security and the fight against terrorism. The second was invest
ments that they were looking for in certain areas like food security, and job creation for young people,’ she said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Lagos State Government has unveiled the Eko Flavours project, a platform to showcase the state as the melting point of Nigeria.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Food System, Ms Abiola Olusanya, disclosed this at a press conference on Friday in Lagos.

She said the project was also aimed at testing the culinary prowess of youths.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the government, in its bid to engage youths and students meaningfully during holiday, came up with the Eko Flavours project.

The project is an epic showdown for upcoming chefs, culinary students and local food vendors to celebrate diverse food culture.

‘The main aim, aside engaging young culinary enthusiasts and food lovers, is to showcase Lagos as a transformative state when it comes to experience around food.

‘ We seem to have more affinity to just getting our foods inside our kitchen without understanding the logistics that goes into the production side,’ Olusanya said.

Olusanya, who said that the Eko Flavours project wo
uld showcase the cooking skills of chefs residing in Lagos, gave the assurance that various cultural dishes would be displayed to the delight of residents.

The commissioner said that the project would be an annual event and support chefs, who would register online via www.ekoflavourslagosfreshfoodhub.com, with a voucher of 200,000 to purchase food items for the competition.

Representatives of the Project Management Agency, Mrs Olufunke Adu and Mrs Jennifer Odufuwa, said that 50 chefs would be selected for the competition, of which 20 semi-finalists would emerge.

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‘ Just post a cooking vlog on your social media handle and tag us. The content with the highest interaction with likes and comments will be among the 50 to be selected.

‘ From there, we would pick the best 20. Contestants will be judged based on taste, cleanliness, time management and presentation,’ Odufuwa said.

She said that, from the 20 semi-finalists, the topmost three contesta
nts will emerge, and the winner will be the ambassador for Eko for the next one year.

‘The winner will go home with five million Naira. The second and third positions will attract three million Naira and one million Naira, respectively. There will be consolation prizes,’ she said.

She said said that the idea was to encourage unity among the various ethnic groups in Lagos with their various cooking skills and dishes.

She described Lagos as the melting point of diversification in Nigeria.

NAN reports that the only criteria to apply for the competition is having Lagos State Residents Registration Agency card.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Rotary Club of Abuja Aso-Golf District 9127, has carried out a sensitisation campaign to promote family planning services and hygiene practices for nursing mothers at Mpape Health Centre, Abuja.

At the event on Friday, Liz Asomugha, the Club President, said the theme, ‘Maternal and Child Health’, is aimed at enlightening nursing mothers on the importance of family planning, child spacing, and self-care.

‘Having children is important, but having the resources and funds to care for them is more important,’ Asomugha stated.

She said the initiative by her club exemplified their dedication to improving maternal and child health in the community.

Makosi Musambasi, a retired registered nurse and Rotarian, educated the mothers on the benefits of child spacing and family planning for both their children’s health and their own.

She said that these practices help ensure better health outcomes and resource management within families.

Dupe Abosede, the past assistant governor of the Rotary Club Aso-Golf, reitera
ted Rotary’s commitment to maternal and child health, one of their key focus areas.

‘Our goal is to meet the needs of women and encourage them on how to care for their children, homes, and themselves,’ she said.

Several nursing mothers expressed their gratitude to the Rotary Club for the education and support.

Tolufashe Jumoke, a single mother, appreciated the club’s efforts, noting the challenges of single motherhood, especially in the current economic climate.

Nafisat Shehu, another nursing mother, also expressed her hope that the Rotary Club would continue to support nursing mothers.

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Adama Musa, the Officer-in-Charge of Mpape Health Center, thanked the Rotary Club for their support and asked for their continuous support for the mothers and the health centre.

The event concluded with the distribution of care packages to the nursing mothers.

These packages included mosquito nets, diapers, sanitary pads, detergents, rice, seaso
ning cubes, petroleum jelly, and cooking oil.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria