Category: General

Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, the African Union (AU) High Representative for Silencing the Guns, on Thursday urged African states to learn from the Chinese experience if the continent is to achieve its dream of development.

Chambas gave the advice when he delivered a webinar keynote address to participants at the 2023 Abuja Forum, a conference organised by the Gusau Institute in collaboration with the Zhejiang Normal University of China.

The forum which was held in Abuja, had the theme: “Promoting Africa-China Belt and Road Cooperation for a New Era of Common Development.”

Speaking further in his address, Chambas said, “there are a few lessons that I see we can learn from the Chinese experience.

“Many commentators see China’s rapid development as a miracle but it is obvious to me that this was no miracle.

“No, it was not a miracle. It came about as a result of careful and meticulous planning directed by a national vision.

“The saying that ‘failure to plan is planning to fail’ is a truism.

“The Chinese were able to correctly analyse and understand their situation and decide where they wanted to go, and set out to plan the exact steps to be taken to get there.

“But we all know that planning alone isn’t enough.

“Therefore, the second important lesson we can learn from the Chinese experience is the discipline of policy implementation.

“No matter how well one plans, without proper execution everything will come to naught. Admittedly, we have a serious problem with following through with our plans in Africa.

“I have seen a fair share of good policy documents prepared by experts at the country, regional, and continental levels which have remained on the shelves while the problems that they were designed to solve linger on.

”I am curious to see how Africa-China partnerships could help us develop this discipline of implementation and delivery.”

He said China’s goal of achieving full integration into the global economy over the longer term, currently manifests through two separate but interconnected global initiatives, namely – the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the “International Capacity Cooperation” initiative.

According to him, BRI projects China’s global economic connectivity and influence along two major axes (the on-land Eurasian bridge referred to as the “Silk Road and Economic Belt” – and the maritime route which connects seaports in China to those in Asia, Pacific, and Africa – referred to as the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road) whereas the “International Capacity Cooperation” initiative aims primarily to move offshore, in the form of project-specific investments.

“China has also set up a variety of special purpose infrastructure investment funds, such as China-Arab Investment funds; China-South America Fund; China-Africa Development Fund, and the China-Africa Fund for Industrial Cooperation aimed at bolstering support for China-Africa industrial capacity cooperation, toward Africa’s industrialisation drive, the former ECOWAS president said.

“Thirdly, the Chinese have been able to develop without compromising their culture, history, and way of life.

“It is remarkable that they have been able to weather all global pressures including ideological, philosophical, cultural, moral, economic, and political pressures to keep their culture.

“From my perspective, it is this ability to maintain and improve upon their way of life that has helped the Chinese to come this far.

“What this teaches us is that we cannot develop by seeking to copy everything from other places.

“Development after all is a positive evolution of culture.

“So how do we take stock of our history and culture, improve upon the positive aspects, and resolve the negative aspects such that we can take full advantage of our enormous resources to build the prosperity that we so desire as Africans.

“This is a question that should continually agitate our minds as we engage our partners,” Chambas said.

He noted that as the AU High Representative for Silencing the Guns, he is “particularly optimistic about what the China-Africa relationship means for peace and security.

“The Africa-China cooperation equally aims at building a safer, stable, and more peaceful Africa by upholding the common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concepts.

“China and Africa have continued to pursue peace through cooperation and resolving differences through dialogue and consultations.

“China supports African countries in seeking African solutions to African problems,” he added.

He stated that the two parties are jointly promoting the timely accomplishment of “silencing guns in Africa”.

Chambas, therefore, urged all sides in the Africa-China partnership to make the collaboration durable and a win-win for both sides.

He expressed optimism that the partnership would help Africa realise its vision captured in Agenda 2063.

Speaking earlier, Founder of Gusau Institute, retired Lt.-Gen. Aliyu Gusau said that the yearly conference “is billed to advance dialogue and foster more understanding between African nations and the People’s Republic of China.

”It also provides the opportunity for critical discussion of issues that mutually affect China and Africa.”

Gusau said that coming against the backdrop of wide-ranging interactions between “our regions”, there was no doubt that the forum could promote closer friendship, greater economic engagement, and other mutually beneficial activities.

According to him, it has become imperative that in the fast-changing political, economic, and other global ecosystems, more attention should be focused on the importance of effective collaboration, in this case, between Africa and China.

“This is not only appropriate but timely if we are to develop a new and workable strategic framework for tackling the increasingly intricate challenges of this era.

“We are convinced, following recent events, that any effort to shape a new international order that is stable, inclusive, and beneficial to all regions of the world, should be a collaborative effort,” he added.

He expressed optimism that the conference would witness very engaging and productive interactions.

“At the Gusau Institute, we believe that what Africa needs most now is an entity that will generate new ideas for dealing with old and emerging challenges facing the continent.

“Such a body should comprehend how global issues affect Africa. It should also articulate the course of actions needed to effectively address the numerous security problems that plague both the continent and the rest of the international community.

“A core value of our Institute is to develop long-term working relationships and partnerships with similar organisations around the globe, as we have with Zhejiang Normal University.

“We believe that fostering strong international relationships is paramount in ensuring the world’s sustainability and future growth,” the former National Security Adviser to former Nigerian presidents Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan said.

Highlight of the conference was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the institute and the Zhejiang Normal University.

The MoU is aimed at promoting academic collaboration, conference hosting, book-writing, student exchange, and information sharing on how to secure funding for academic purposes. (NAN)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Palestinian Ambassador in Nigeria, Abu Shawesh, has called on the United Nations and African Union to set up an independent commission of inquiry on Tuesday’s attack on a hospital in Gaza.

The Envoy made the call on Wednesday in Abuja while addressing newsmen on the attack.

He said that women and children were mostly killed when Israeli Air Force jets allegedly struck the Baptist Hospital in Gaza.

Shawesh said that the hospital, which was located side by side with the Baptist Church, had served as a safe haven for families displaced by the ongoing war.

He also said that calls by the Israeli authorities for people to evacuate the hospital was rejected by medical personnel of the hospital, who said doing so would amount to slow killing of sick and injured patients receiving health services.

He allegedly said that “before the end of Tuesday at 5:30 pm (Jerusalem time), Israeli occupation war aircrafts bombed the Baptist Hospital in Gaza.

“The displaced families believed that this hospital was completely immune from military attacks, in accordance with international law.

“The death toll of the Palestinians in this massacre has so far reached about 900 people; the majority of them are women and children, in addition to several hundreds wounded.

“Since Oct. 7, the death toll on the Palestinian side is more than 3000, of which two to three are children and women and more than a thousand are still missing under the rubbles.

“I call for a humanitarian court to be set up by an independent body such as the United Nations and African Union aside from the west.

“Many Western media outlets are waging a dirty war against the Palestinian people by broadcasting and distributing dozens of false and fake news,” he added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

This is contained in statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Nwachukwu said in this respect, troops of 2 Battalion on Oct. 17, ambushed some marauding insurgents at Udawa general area in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State and eliminated three unsurgents.

He said the fierce fire fight forced others to escape, while troops recovered a bandolier containing 111 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, one AK 47 magazine, two motorcycles, a high frequency communication radio and two mobile phones.

According to him, one soldier paid the supreme price during the encounter.

Nwachukwu added that troops of 1 Brigade on the same day during a stop and search operation, intercepted a suspected ammunition courier in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of Zamfara.

He said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect was on a mission to deliver ammunition to a bandit leader named Gishiri.

According to him, the vigilant troops recovered a bag containing 224 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one mobile phone and the sum of N4,000 from the courier.

“The suspect is currently in custody undergoing further investigation.

“In the North East theatre of operation, a notorious Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) Commander, identified as Bulama Bukar has surrendered to troops of 5 Brigade in Gubio.

“The surrendered terrorist was the commander of the BHT Camp Tapkin Chad at Gilima village in Abadam LGA of Borno.

“Items recovered from the surrendered terrorist include one AK 47 rifle, 5 magazines, 44 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one magazine carrier jacket, one knife, one motorcycle and the sum of N23,500.

“The suspect is currently undergoing profiling sessions” he added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Association of Nigerian Women in Business Network (ANWBN), has reiterated the importance of collaboration in growing women-owned businesses in the country.

Members of the association said this at the ANWBN 2023 Summit/10th Anniversary in Abuja on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the event has as its theme ,” A Decade of Collaboration”.

A member of the Board of Trustees of ANWBN, Mrs Saudatu Mahdi, said women’s businesses would thrive if the ecosystem of production, consumption and competition were put in place.

She urged for more support for women’s businesses in the country, saying if you empower a woman, it transcends her family, community, and larger group.

She said: ”If you also look at the economy itself, the major challenge we are all crying about is a conducive economic atmosphere.

”One that reduces the cost of production, enhances the market and helps people to compete favourably.

”We are now at the head of the World Trade Organisation. We should see that translate into our small businesses.

”We need to see them thriving, you do not need a billion naira in capital for a woman or an entrepreneur to thrive if the ecosystem of production, consumption and competition are correct.”

Mahdi then commended the women on the progress they had made over the years while urging them to continue to work together to move their businesses forward.

For her part, the FCT Coordinator of ANWBN, Mrs Mojisola Makanjuola, also reiterated the importance of cooperation among women in business.

Makanjuola said: ” When we work together, we work faster. It is a conglomerate of women in business who are here together.

”They learn from each other, they build capacity along the line, and they are able to do business better.”

Mojisola said there was no challenge in mobilising the women to come together.

She said the women voluntarily saw the need to have a network where they could boost their various businesses under one umbrella and use it as a platform to reach out to the world.

According to her, it has been a form of strength that women can come together under one umbrella to showcase what they are capable of doing in the world of business.

”And bringing their own quota to growing the economy of the country.

On challenges, the coordinator said the challenge that Nigerian women were crying out was to have an enabling environment where they could grow and get loans.

According to her, women need equal opportunity with their male counterparts to enable them to contribute their quota and ensure the economic growth of the nation.

Earlier, the National Coordinator of the association, Angela Ajala, said the major significance of the 10th anniversary was coordinating four million women to collaborate and work together for ten years.

”Organising women is not an easy task. So, having a platform that gives voice to women to advocate the things they want to do.

”To provide an enabling environment for them to thrive as an entrepreneur is a major milestone, and now we are celebrating it.

”And we are opening up another decade of the next steps we are taking with our women.

We are inaugurating some very special projects today dedicated to women,” Ajala said.

According to her, the association is pushing exports to ensure every woman is a global participant in the economy.

She said the organisation was making plans to ensure health insurance for its members and providing an e-commerce platform to showcase their products.

”We are working with some partner financial institutions to see how they can give start-up capital at single-digit interest rates.

”We are inaugutating what is called ‘ Her Business Hub’ to help women in the area of documentation, account audit and how to scale up their businesses.

”We are also inaugurating the first women’s estate, with the Lagos and Abuja pilot phases taking off.

”If you empower the rural women, the start-ups, they are the engine room of any nation. If business is going well at that level, Nigeria will prosper,” she said.

According to Ajala, ANWEBN is more than just an alliance of associations; it is a testament to the strength, resilience, and unwavering commitment of women.

”Women who have dedicated their lives to shaping a brighter, more equitable future. It is a testament to the power of collaboration and shared purpose. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Climate and Sustainable Development Network (CSDevnet), has called on world leaders to keep promises made to tackle effects of climate change in the forthcoming COP28.

The Civil Society Group made the call during a campaign tagged “keep your promise campaign” in Abuja on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the campaign was done alongside a four-day inaugural conference on Accelerating Agricultural Adaptation in Africa which commenced on Oct. 16 to 19.

COP28 is the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

It will hold at Expo City, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates on Nov. 30 to Dec.12.

Mr Philip Kilonzo, Head of Policy and Advocacy, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PAGJA) in Nairobi, urged world leaders to protect the interest of all humans and be committed to their promises.

“The commitments include the cutting down on emissions, we have been suffering for long but now in COP 28 we require changes.

“We want climate finance for Africa it’s a campaign targeted at all policies action “keep the promise campaign” which is meant to trigger actions in the Pan African level we have got leaders.

He condemned disunity amongst world leaders, urging them to work together in unity and not to be disconnected in their actions.

“We are converging to tell the world leaders to keep their promises. Enough to climate injustices,” he said.

Furthermore, Mr Steven Abu National Coordinator of CSDevnet also frowned at climate injustices.

“We are holding a campaign tagged “keep your promise campaign” we are tasking world leaders, developed countries to go beyond COP promises.

“We are tired of hearing about promises we are going to commit particular amount to climate change action and we are yet to see action.

“This campaign is a call to nations to begin to unlock climate finance that the vulnerable across the world will begin to feel the action at the grassroots,” he said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

A cross-section of Nigerians in Abuja says balanced diet is out of their reach, due to the incessant rising food prices and dwindling household incomes.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews on Tuesday that the situation was worse, especially for low income earners in the country.

Some attributed the situation to the current economic situation while others said; they have maintained balanced meals in spite of the dwindling household incomes.

Mrs Susan Akpomera, a Healthy Living Consultant, said that maintaining a balanced diet was not a function of abundance of money but proper meal planning, proportioning and discipline.

Food stuff

According to her, a balanced diet is a meal or diet that contains essential nutrients needed for optimal functioning of the body.

”Therefore a plate of food can contain rice, a piece of meat, vegetable at the side and fruits to be taken after about thirty minutes, this is balanced”, she said.

Akpomera advised families to employ the services of a nutritionist to help in designing a healthy meal plan that would suit the size of their pockets.

Miss Peace Nwankwo, a banker, said eating a balance diet does not have to do with the amount of money you have, adding that, with proper planning, one could still maintained balance diet with a little income.

”With the current economic situation what we need to do is to feed well. We don’t eat to get full rather we eat what will sustain us.

“We need to reduce the number of times we eat to ensure that if we are eating twice a day, it should be good food. A little of all the needed nutrients will go a long way.

”Eating healthy will also keep us away from the hospital. We cannot afford to fall sick with the present economy, so let try to help ourselves,” she said.

Mrs Mary Balogun, a teacher, said that she feed her family with whatever she could afford just to stay alive.

She said” these days, we don’t think of balance diet, all we want is to eat something that will sustain us. Who is talking about balance meal.

“I can’t even afford to eat properly again as food prices continue to surge. Once I can feed my children twice daily, I am satisfied.

Mr Godwin Peter, a civil servant said he and his family eat not to maintain balance diet but to be satisfied and continue their daily activities.

He said in spite knowing the importance of egg for the development of his children, he could no long afford the one egg per day because of the cost.

Peter said that he look forward to a better Nigeria adding that hope is what is keeping him alive.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Inflation Report, inflation rate in Nigeria has increased to 26.72 per cent in September.

The reports said these increases were observed in food and non-alcoholic beverages at 13.84 per cent and housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuel at 4.47 per cent. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria