Day: June 27, 2023

Farmers visiting the Nakuru Show will learn how to combat climate change through conservation tillage and the adoption of climate-resilient crops. Exhibitors, who will be showcasing climate-resilient farming practices, have their stands and demonstration farms ready for the event that opens its doors on July 12, 2023. Among the crops on display are short-rainfall maize varieties, wheat, sorghum, and millet, among other drought-resistant crops. Sunflower and Canola plants, which are known for their pure, refined edible oils, are nearing harvesting, and the farmers will get an opportunity to learn about their cultivation. Nakuru Agricultural Society of Kenya Show Chairman Dr. Perminus Migwi noted that more than 80 exhibitors had signed up and had their stands ready for the event. ‘Drought has been a major problem in our country. Our county too has suffered immensely, with the current food shortage being the reason for our emphasis on climate-resilient agriculture in an effort to combat climate change. ‘This year’s event has attracted new exhibitors, among them the Export Processing Zone Authority, the Central Rift Valley Water Works Agency, Gacheha Farm, among other government parastatals and private agencies, to showcase new technologies in farming. ‘Livestok Breeders will also have an opportunity to engage specialists in embryo transfers and other breeding technologies that will enable them to improve their breeds for productivity,’ added Dr. Migwi, noting that more than 150 exhibitors were expected. Dr. Migwi added that entry at the gates had been made easier by the installation of the fibre optics, with mobile money payment platforms open to allow easy processing of payment receipts and tickets. ‘Judging for exhibitors will be made on July 11, and the best exhibitor will be awarded on the official opening day,’ revealed Dr.Migwi while calling on exhibitors and members of the public to turn up in large numbers for this year’s show. The Show’s Marketing executive, David Mwangi, while calling on members of the public to book the dates, disclosed that Sh250 will be charged at the gate, with children being charged Sh200 as an entry fee. ‘Special parties will be accorded subsidized rates. Stringent security measures are in place to prioritize safety for guests on that day. Public health services will guarantee clean water and healthy food in various exhibition stands for a better event experience,’ he added. The show will be officially opened by the President on July 14, 2023, with various leaders expected to grace the events on various days of the week. Family fun days on Saturday and Sunday, July 15th and 16th, respectively, will be the peak of the event. ‘The COVID years kept us off, but we are back across the country, and Nakuru will exhibit in a big way. Traditional exhibitors are still here, and they will make our show a significant contributor to the agricultural sector. ‘We are prepared to give the showgoers an easy time to enjoy the show. A lot of events and entertainment will be going on at the arena, and there is a lot to learn. It is a one-stop laboratory, especially for learners undertaking the CBC curriculum,’ added Dr. Migwi.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The government has stepped up measures to curb the illicit trade of alcohol and drugs in the Nyanza region. This follows a resurgence of alcohol in sachets and the illegal trade of bhang and other substances in the area. Nyanza Regional Commissioner (RC) Flora Mworoa said a multi-agency team has been established to crack down on individuals and unscrupulous businessmen engaged in the trade. Mworoa said the drugs get to the region through the porous borders and Lake Victoria, adding that officials from the two countries have been incorporated into the team to curb the menace. She said the Ministry of Interior, which is spearheading the exercise, has roped in the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to monitor the movement of people and goods through the lake. ‘IOM is doing a good job. Last month they did a study on this issue, and we expect to meet in August to discuss the findings of their report,’ she said. She added that security agencies have been put on high alert to ensure that those involved in the illicit trade are brought to book. ‘The Ministry of Interior is working very closely with the Kenya Coast Guard, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), and the Immigration Department to deal with this menace,’ she said. The RC said drug abuse continues to affect families in the area due to the illicit trade, adding that the majority of those addicted were youths. Speaking during the International Day Against Drug Abuse (IDADA) celebrations at Karanda Primary School in Nyando Sub-County, Mworoa said stigma for drug addicts was the biggest challenge in rescuing those affected. She urged families to embrace them and take them for treatment and rehabilitation to help win the war against drugs. ‘So many people out here are addicted to drugs, but due to stigma, most families are unable to bring them out,’ she said. According to a survey carried out last year by NACADA in collaboration with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and the Tobacco Control Board, the Nyanza region was ranked 4th in terms of alcohol and tobacco abuse. NACADA representative Samson Onyango said the report also revealed that cases of illicit brews were high in the area, with children under six exposed to alcohol. The agency, he said, was reaching out to parents and school-going children to reverse the tide. Through partnership with the County Government of Kisumu, a rehabilitation centre has been established in the area and will soon open its doors to assist drug addicts.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Erongo Region Governor Neville Andre Itope has praised the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) for its efforts in supporting the growth of the entrepreneurial community and ensuring benefits trickle down to society.

In a speech delivered on his behalf at the launch and handover ceremony of the Know2Grow NextGen Entrepreneurs Showcase 2023 in Swakopmund on Tuesday, Itope emphasised the importance of Namibians contributing to the overall success of Namibia’s entrepreneurial youth.

The event, which is the brainchild of the NIPDB, was first held in Tsumeb in 2022 with the aim of providing a platform for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to showcase their businesses and engage with others.

“We aim to foster a sustainable ecosystem that empowers our entrepreneurs, drives economic growth, and creates a more equitable and inclusive future for all youth who have embarked on, or intend to embark on, the journey of entrepreneurship. The entrepreneurial event serves as a testament to our collective commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship and providing opportunities for the next generation of visionaries and trailblazers. Therefore, as a nation, let us remember that success is not solely measured by financial gains but also by the positive impact we make on our society,” stressed Itope.

The second edition of the showcase, scheduled to take place in Swakopmund in November, will be held under the theme: ‘Sustaining communities, unlocking growth, and promoting inclusivity.’

Dino Ballotti, NIPDB’s Executive Director of MSME Development, Innovation, and Acceleration, acknowledged the youth unemployment crisis and said the NIPDB is aware of it.

“The unemployment pandemic provides opportunities for us to implement targeted solutions such as this showcasing, which we believe creates scaling opportunities for MSMEs. In turn, this will generate new job opportunities and inspire young people to be entrepreneurial,” expressed Ballotti.

He further stated that this year’s theme is intentional as it fosters a sustainable ecosystem, promoting the flourishing of communities through the support and advancement of MSMEs.

Coca-Cola Africa Namibia, the main sponsor of the showcase, donated N.dollars 550 000, while the Swakopmund Municipality contributed N.dollars 10 000 towards the event.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Kalthum Foundation for Peace (KFP), a charity organisation, says the former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, did his best to restore peace and security to the country as army chief.

The Chairperson and Founder of KFP, Ummu Kalthum-Rabiu, said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Kalthum-Rabiu, said the foundation had collaborated with the military in the North-East in counterterrorism and counter-insurgency operations through non kinetic approaches.

She said the recent outbursts by one Garus Gololo against Buratai, was uncalled for considering the former army chief’s patriotic efforts in taming insecurity in Nigeria.

According to her, the foundation wants to set the record straight and make it abundantly clear that troops allowance and welfare under Buratai was at its peak and everything was done through the banks to block corruption.

“Similarly, former President Muhammadu Buhari, did his best to procure arms and all gears needed for the troops to checkmate the insurgents thus the victory Nigeria recorded under Buratai as COAS.

“This was acknowledged by the World Terrorism Index and other reputable international bodies.

“Gen. Buratai did not only ensure that troops’ allowance was paid as at and when due but also introduced cigarette allowance of N6,000 monthly to them to boost their morale.

“This is why the last time he was passing through Buniyadi, the troops forced him to stop to show their appreciation and solidarity to him.

“The video went viral wherein the troops referred to him ‘Baba oyo lyo’,” she said.

She urged the public to disregard “jobless and destructive minds and their vindictive utterances” because such people have no any moral compass.

“Certainly, Mr Gololo can not go to the North-East and say what he said here in Abuja to the press.

“This is in no way an attempt to lobby for any appointment in the cabinet of President Tinubu for Buratai but to set the record straight and clear the name of a patriotic officer who gave in his best to stabilize the North-East.

“It is up to the president to do whatever he thinks is best and right for the country. It is his prerogative to work with whom he wishes,” she added.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Federal Government says it is concerned that in spite of efforts to curb drug abuse, the menace has reached an epidemic proportion and thus requires concerted efforts by all to curb it.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr Olufunso Adebiyi, said this on Monday in Abuja, during a news conference to commemorate the ‘2023 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking’.

The World Drug Day marked on June 26 every year has “People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strenghten Prevention” as its theme.

Adebiyi was represented by the Director, Food and Drugs Services, Mrs Olubunmi Aribeana.

According to him, drug trafficking and use are not only a threat to the security, governance and development of a nation but also to the health of its citizenry.

“In as much as supply reduction strategies led by law enforcement and the application of criminal sanctions represent significant efforts towards curbing access to illicit drugs and their non-medical use, there is need to match such measures with innovative drug demand reduction strategies.

“Consequently, implementation of an all-inclusive and integrated approach with equal attention paid to drug supply and demand reduction is crucial.

“This is in line with the spirit of the three UN International Conventions on Drug Control established to protect human health by preventing drug abuse and dependence, and ensuring access to controlled medicines for medical and scientific purposes only.”

Drawing reference from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Adebiyi said that it was estimated that the prevalence of drug use in Nigeria was at 14.4 per cent.

This translates to 14.3 million people between the ages of 15 and 64 who use drugs like cannabis, amphetamines, tramadol, codeine and cocaine.

This, he said, was more than twice the global prevalence of 5.6 per cent among the adult population.

“The report also estimated 376,000 people to be high risk drug users with one in five of these persons injecting drugs.

“This translates to about 80,000 people estimated to be People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) in Nigeria.”

He added that 78 per cent of those injecting drugs were men and that the most common drugs injected were pharmaceutical opioids (such as tramadol, codeine or morphine), followed by cocaine, heroin and tranquilisers.

It also estimated that among every four drug users in Nigeria, one was a woman and that one in five persons who had used drugs in the past year was suffering from drug use disorders.

“Furthermore, the 2020 World Drug Report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) disclosed that people who inject drugs are at increased risk of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and viral hepatitis B and C.

“This is in addition to overdose-related deaths. The World Health Organisation (WHO) also reported in 2015 that psychoactive drug use is responsible for more than 450,000 deaths per year.”

According to him, these are not just statistics but real people who are suffering from the impact of drug abuse.

He, however, said that people who use drugs were at risk of suffering from various health consequences such as infectious diseases like HIV, drug addiction or even sudden death due to opioid overdose.

“Drug abuse also hurts relationships, families and communities. Drug abuse can hinder our children from attaining high educational status; securing and maintaining great jobs; overcoming financial instability and poverty; as well as preventing us from living our lives free of violence and crime.

“Thus, while strengthening our healthcare system to proactively respond by providing healthcare services to those in need of treatment, there is also an obvious need to address barriers to treatment such as stigma and discrimination.

“We also need to strengthen prevention efforts, early detection measures and institutionalise essential harm reduction services to curb this menace in the interest of the wellbeing and development of our people.”

Adebiyi, however, said that there were concerted efforts by the Federal Government and other stakeholders to rid the nation of drug use and abuse.

They include setting up of the National Technical Working Group (NTWG) on Harm Reduction Services in Nigeria to lead the implementation of three critical harm reduction services that focus on people who use drugs.

Others are implementing the National Policy for Controlled Medicines and its Implementation Strategies, and upgrading of 11 hospitals as Model Drug Treatment Centres with the support of the UNODC, across the six geo-political zones of the country.

On the theme of the commemoration, he said that it aimed to raise awareness about the importance of treating people who use drugs with respect and empathy and providing evidence-based, voluntary services for all.

He said that it also aims to offer alternatives to punishment, prioritising prevention and leading with compassion.

On her part, Aribeana said that the focus for the commemoration was to advocate for strengthened action and cooperation in addressing the world drug problem.

Also drawing from the 2018 National Drug Use Survey, she said that cannabis followed closely by opioids were the most abused substances in Nigeria.

According to her, an estimated 10.8 million Nigerians were reported to have used Cannabis in 2017 while 4.6 million were found to have used opioids for non-medical purposes in the same year.

“These alarming statistics provide only a glimpse into the global drug use situation which recognises the increasing trend of drug use in Nigeria and all over.

“They highlight the growing non-medical use of drugs including cannabis, amphetamines and opioids such as Tramadol, Codeine and Morphine which have become a serious public health concern.”

Thus, there is a strong need for action and collaboration by all.

“Nations are also cognisant of the immense benefits of implementing evidence-based strategies in the prevention and treatment of drug and substance abuse as well as rehabilitation of drug users.

“Concerted efforts are constantly being made to strengthen global action and cooperation towards achieving drug free societies,” she added.

Mrs Unoma Asomugha, the Deputy Director, Narcotics and Controlled Substance Directorate, National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), said that the agency recognises that narcotics and some controlled substances are indispensable for medical use, for industrial purposes or for scientific purposes.

She said that the agency also recognises that they have a very high abuse potential, because they have very high impact on individuals, on public health and on the socio-economic fabric of the nation.

“So we focus on methods to ensure that those that need these products have access but also that drug abuse and drug misuse are minimised.”

Dr Sa’adatu Adamu of ISSUP said that everyone has a role to play in curbing drug use and abuse.

According to her, seeing the individuals who use or abuse drugs first as human beings can help everyone understand the root cause and may be help them through the process and not stigmatise them.

“ISUUP is an organisation that has different people come together, it is a place where we think that everyone is important.

“So, if you are in the mental health field, you have a role to play in the life of someone who is struggling with addiction. If you are also in the counselling field, you have a role to play in the lives of families.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the campaign against drug use and trafficking aims to combat stigma and discrimination against people who use drugs by promoting language and attitudes that are respectful and non-judgmental.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Current president of the Organization of Educational Cooperation (OEC) and deputy premier and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke Mekonnen said it is high time developing countries came together to address the common challenges they face in education with a renewed spirit of global cooperation and partnership.

The General Assembly of Organization of Educational Cooperation (OEC) kicked off in Addis Ababa today.

In his inaugural speech, the president said that building the organization we deserve shaping multilateralism is one of the substantive agenda.

OEC is coming into being at a critical time for our world which confronts multiple challenges, he stated, adding that the hardest hit are developing countries.

According to him, the existing global governance architecture is outdated and unfair, unable to address these complex challenges.

The Global dynamics requires new ways of thinking about multilateralism, he stressed, adding that “that is why I welcome our high level dialogue which invites us to think ahead of the curve to reform the current international governance system.”

Demeke further pointed out that “creating an inclusive, fair and effective global system that responds to the legitimate demand of the global south should be top of the international agenda.”

Organization of Educational Cooperation (OEC) Secretary-General, Manssour Bin Mussallam highlighted the necessity to contextualize education systems to national priorities and local realities reinforced through the exchange of best practices across countries of the Global South.

He added that “we do have dreams for which we have operational plans and we do have ideals from which we draw unwavering determination to move eluding aspiration to palpable reality.”

There is no middle ground, the secretary-general stressed, further pointing out that member states should continuously commit to championing the supportive role of education in this regard in order to fully implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and realize socio-economic development aspirations.

Mussallam underscored that researchers, scholars, and the youth play pivotal role in revitalising education to buttress the global development agenda.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs International Organizations Acting Director-General, Leulseged Tadesse said “what we are going to do is deliberate upon important ideas, how we need to further re-strengthen and reform the exiting international architecture with ultimate objective of enhancing the voice of developing countries.”

How to further strengthen this newly established organization both in its human resource as well as in terms of mobilizing financial resources would also be discussed.

OEC is a newly established intergovernmental organization and its member mainly come from the global south with the objective of strengthening South-South cooperation and partnership without replacing North-South cooperation that still remains important.

The international headquarters of the organization of OEC was officially inaugurated in Addis Ababa on May 2023.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency