Connect with us

News

FG Kicks-Off Modified Home Grown School Feeding Programme in Lagos

Published

on

The Honourable Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouk, on Thursday, flagged-off the modified National Home Grown School Feeding Programme in Lagos State.

In her keynote address at the ceremony held at LASUBEB premises in Ikeja, the Minister stated that the continuation of the programme was a sequel to the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari that the Ministry should liaise with State Governments to develop a strategy for the continuation of the school feeding programme, despite school closure caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Farouk, who was represented at the event by the Director, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs in the Ministry, Mrs. Margaret Ukegbu, explained that the special intervention will impact 37,589 beneficiaries made up of Parents, Guardians and Caregivers of Primary School children in participating schools.

She said, “The identified and selected households will each receive 5kg bag of Rice, 5kg bag of Beans, Vegetable and Palm Oil, Salt, Tomato Paste and 15 pieces of eggs. These rations have been revealed by nutrition experts to be of good nutritional value and benefit to the children”.

While noting that 17 countries around the world are currently employing the take-home ration option, she reiterated that it is a globally accepted means of supporting children to continue having access to nutrition despite the disruption to the traditional channels of school feeding.

She also commended the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his uncommon commitment and engagement towards making the programme a success, while also thanking the Chairman of LASUBEB, Mr. Wahab Alawiye-King for his unflinching support.

Hajia Farouk noted that Lagos was chosen as one of the pilot States for the commencement of the programme due to the fact that it has been on the frontline in the battle to contain and flatten the curve of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In her remarks, the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo observed that the modified edition is a continuation of the existing home-grown school feeding programme of the State government, in conjunction with the Federal Government, where over 100,000 pupils in public primary schools were fed daily.

She reiterated the importance of food in the development of a child, noting that the modified feeding programme will go a long way in aiding the growth of children.

“When a child is growing, it is quite imperative that the child should have a good quality balanced diet in order to feed the brain and ensure that the brain grows appropriately. This is vital because a hungry child cannot learn properly. So, the take-home ration is to ensure a balanced diet for the children”, she explained.

Contributing to the discourse, the Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, LASUBEB, Mr. Wahab Alawiye-King, stated that the commencement of the distribution of the take-home ration is to ensure that the hardship caused by COVID-19 is minimised, noting that a lot of work has gone into ensuring that the modified feeding programme is carried out in a transparent and seamless manner.

“In a few days, all the targeted households would have received their vouchers which will enable them collect their food rations. At the end of the exercise, 37,589 households and families of pupils in Primary Schools (Class 1-3) would have been fed”, he said.

While thanking the Federal Government for the laudable initiative, Alawiye-King also expressed his gratitude to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for supporting the programme and ensuring that it is brought to fruition.

The Chairman also solicited for the cooperation and understanding of all stakeholders in getting the food items to intended beneficiaries across the State.

Continue Reading

News

Gov Mbah Inaugurates Committee to End Gender-Based Violence in Enugu

Published

on

The Enugu State government has inaugurated a steering committee to eliminate Gender-Based Violence, GBV, in the state, declaring zero tolerance for the social malaise.

The inauguration took place at the Government House Enugu.

The panel, which is chaired by the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, draws its membership from the Nigeria Police Force, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro Industrialisation, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ministry of Human Development and Poverty Reduction, Ministry of Trade, Investment and Industry, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education as well as the Civil Society.

Inaugurating the panel known as the Steering Committee for Strengthening Institutional and Community Responses to End Gender-Based Violence/Domestication of Enugu State Gender Policy using the Oputa Panel approach, Governor Peter Mbah restated his administration’s commitment to not bringing perpetrators of GBV to book, but also putting in place proactive measures – activities, infrastructure, and systems in place to prevent them.

Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said, “We take gender-based violence seriously. We have zero tolerance for it, and in Enugu State, we are ready to go the extra mile to deal with it.

“If you notice, the government has selected people that are very committed to this goal. This is not an activity where we just want to check-off the list. We will track this. We will monitor this, and we will have quarterly engagements on the successes that this particular committee has achieved in terms of reference that we are going to send.

“We will tighten those terms of reference indicators, so that we monitor what we are doing both in terms of cost input and the value added. It’s very important to us. Many people will be involved – civil society, the police and various ministries.”

He however, said that the effort was to protect everyone, men and women alike, as GBV was not restricted to any gender.

“The whole idea is to hold people responsible that are involved in matters relating to gender violence and deter people that by culture or by association get involved in that, protect women, protect our children, and in the case of violence against men, protect our men because most times we misconstrue gender violence to mean women, but it can also be men too.

“We encourage our men to speak out and to make sure they understand that the policy that Enugu State is soon going to domesticate is for everyone, and not only for the female gender,” he stated.

In her remark, Mrs. Enih, explained that the Oputa Panel approach was inspired by the need to cover all local peculiarities in domesticating the policy on GBV, restarting government’s confidence in the members of the panel.

“The approach we are going to use is the Oputa Panel approach, and in the Oputa Panel approach, we are going to tour the 17 Local Government Areas to get firsthand information about what our people are going through because policy is meant for the people, and a policy should suit the people.

“Again, every community has its peculiar problems, so that’s why the government decided that if we have to domesticate the gender policy, we have to hear from the people who own the policy and know the changes that they desire to see. That is the reason we are using this approach.

“The committee members are to also serve as judges. As we gather this information from our people, we will come back to tailor it in a way to suit the people of Enugu State, and then our policy is ready.

“We want the people to know that there is a gender policy for them. I can assure you that when the people are aware that there is such a policy, they will seek for the enforcement of that policy. So, this is not going to be one of those policies that will just lie on the shelf,” she said.

Continue Reading

News

Emulate Christ’s virtues, Glo urges Christians at Easter

Reporter: Sandra Ani

Published

on

Glo and Globacom
Globacom

Digital solutions provider, Globacom, has congratulated Christians in Nigeria on this year’s Easter celebration, and urged them to emulate the noble qualities of Jesus Christ.  

The company, in a goodwill message to the Christian faithful in the country, lauded their perseverance through the Lenten period which preceded Easter. It enjoined them to always promote the ideals of selflessness, love and peace among all as a way of demonstrating the virtues of the exemplary life of Jesus Christ. 

“Peace, love and sacrifice are the central message of Easter. Christ offered himself in atonement for the sins of the world and he lived a life which made Him an eternal symbol of peace and goodwill for mankind”, Globacom added. 

The company enjoined all Nigerians to share in the lessons of promoting selflessness, a necessary ingredient in the growth and development of every society. It also enjoined all Nigerians to join hands to make Nigeria a better place for all. 

Easter is celebrated yearly at the end of the Lenten season of fasting and prayer considered as a ritual of purification for the Christian faithful. It also precedes the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ on Good Friday and His eventual resurrection on Easter Sunday.

The company assured its customers of seamless voice, data and Short Messaging Service (SMS) during and after the Easter celebrations, while urging them to avail themselves of the various data and voice offerings on the network.

Continue Reading

News

NUJ at 70: Private Broadcast Members Congratulate Union

Reporter: Ikenna Oluka

Published

on

NUJ at 70
NUJ

The Guild of Private Broadcast Managers  has extended its heartfelt congratulations to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as it celebrates its 70th Anniversary.

In a congratulatory message signed by the Guild’s National President, Ambassador Patrick Uzoyi-Peters, JP MNGRM, the guild described the milestone as a testament to the NUJ’s unwavering commitment to upholding press freedom, journalistic integrity, and the advancement of democracy in Nigeria.

“For seven decades, the NUJ has played a pivotal role in shaping the media landscape, advocating for the rights and welfare of journalists, and ensuring that the voice of the people remains strong and unyielding. Your resilience, professionalism, and dedication to ethical journalism have been instrumental in fostering transparency, accountability, and national development”.

Celebrating this historic achievement, the Guild’s President, Uzoyi-Peters recognized the sacrifices and contributions of journalists across the nation who work tirelessly to inform, educate, and empower society.

The Guild reiterated it commitment towards collaborating with the NUJ in promoting responsible journalism and strengthening the media industry for the greater good.

While wishing the NUJ continued success, growth, and greater impact in the years ahead, President Uzoyi-Peters prayed that the anniversary serve as a renewed call to uphold the principles of truth, fairness, and press freedom in our collective pursuit of a more informed and just society.

Continue Reading

Trending