Day: August 13, 2023

Angola took over this Sunday the rotating presidency of the Council of Ministers of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which takes place in Luanda, focusing on human and financial capital.

This is the third time that Angola assumes the rotating presidency of the organisation, a position it already held in 2002-2003 and 2011-2012, respectively.

The handover ceremony took place ahead of the 43rd Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government slated for 17 August, under the motto: “Human and financial capital: The main factors for the sustainable industrialization of the region.

The ceremony was chaired by the minister of Regional Integration and Francophonie of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Antipas Mbusa Nyamwisi.

In his speech, the Angolan top diplomat Téte António said the organisation’s objective is to alleviate and eradicate poverty, raise the population’s living standards, promote productive employment, sustainably manage natural resources and improve complementarity between strategies national and regional agenda.

The meeting of the Council of Ministers takes place behind closed doors, and is expected to analyse issues related to financial support, legal instruments of cooperation in the region, as well as the evaluation of the implementation of the SADC restructuring process

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

Survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Adamawa have lauded the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative project for saving their lives and for empowering them.

They made the commendation in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola on Sunday.

One of the beneficiaries of the fund’s interventions, a 20-year-old secondary school student, thanked the UN body for prompt actions toward saving her life when she was raped.

She explained that when the case was reported to the One Stop Centre (OSC), established by the UNFPA in Yola, the officials took care of her medically and psychologically.

NAN reports that the OSC was created to support women affected by violence in private and public spaces, within the family, community and at the workplace.

Aggrieved women who reached out or been referred to the OSC due to any kind of violence are, therefore, being provided with specialised services.

The 20-year-old said she and her parents were seriously disturbed at the time of the incident but after counselling and actions taken by the OSC officials to prevent her against any diseases, the family left everything in the hands of God.

She said “at the end, I was trained and empowered with sewing machine to start my business free of charge which I did not expect in my life.

“Currently I have already started producing bags to generate income for myself.”

Also, Florence Obed, another beneficiary, a 50-year-old widow with four children, expressed gratitude to God and to the UN body and partners for the empowerment given to her.

She said that the UNFPA really impacted her life, which is helping her to take care of her children.

Obed explained that she was trained on how to produce local spaghetti and empowered with a machine, which she is currently using to produce the pasta to feed her children and for sale to earn some income.

Another beneficiary who pleaded for anonymity also appreciated UNFPA for the empowerment and other services.

She told NAN that she learned how to sew clothes at the OSC in Yola and empowered with a sewing machine after she was violently treated by her husband.

She explained that before the empowerment, she was in difficult situation, but currently living peaceful, running her business courtesy of UNFPA.

She added that it is her first time of benefitting from such a gesture and it is impacting on her life as the main source of income to cater for her needs.

She also appreciated the support, training and counselling given to her by officials of the OSC.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Sokoto State Government has pledged sustained partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in promoting skills acquisition training and other educational pursuits of youths in the state.

Alhaji Usman Arziki-Bodinga, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, stated this at the commemoration of the 2023 International Youths Day, organised by the state government, in collaboration with UNFPA on Saturday in Sokoto.

He described this year’s theme ” Green Skills for Youths Toward Sustainable Development”, as apt, saying it will encourage self reliance and productivity among the youths.

The permanent secretary enjoined youths to explore their potentialities and utilise available opportunities in the state and the nation at large.

He, however, lamented that “unemployment rate is on the increase because everyone depends on educational certificates and all out looking for elusive white collar jobs.”

Arzika-Bodinga said that the aim was to highlight the essential roles teachers, trainers and other educators play in providing skills that will equip the youths for labour markets.

According to him, the efforts will prepare them to become relevant decent entrepreneurs in their communities and societies.

The UNFPA Programme Officer in the state, Mrs Gloria Enueze, urged youths to embrace skills for self reliance to reduce unemployment in the country.

Enueze said: “Skilled youths are not jobless, they cannot be easy preys in the hands of organisers of evils in the society.”

A Youth Advocate and UNFPA Desk Officer, Malam Umar Idris, said the objective of the day was to awaken youths to be entrepreneurially minded and have plausible and indispensable digital skills.

Idris said people with skills and education had good chances to thrive and succeed in life, adding, “a skilled person is always relevant at any point of his or her age because there is no retirement.

” The older you become in your skill, the more experienced and sought after you become by those who need your services.

” Skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development should be given more priority in Nigerian schools,” he said.

He added that no society can progress without skills development, saying,” a technical man or woman can never be unemployed.”

Some participants, A’isha Musa, Sa’adatu Hussaini and Yusuf Abubakar, described the event as profitable and promised to utilise the knowledge gained to start businesses beside schooling.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event witnessed presentations, discussions on potentialities development, available acquisition centers, markets and supports.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Youths from four communities in Kajuru Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kaduna State, have planted 1,000 trees to contribute to ongoing efforts in combating climate change.

The tree planting was carried out at Idon, Iburu, Kajuru and Kasuwan Magani community, to mark the International Youth Day, under the Community Initiative to Promote Peace (CIPP) programme.

The exercise was initiated by the Kajuru Youth Peace Network, supported by the CIPP programme anchored by Mercy Corps and funded by USAID.

The theme for 2023 International Youth Day is “Greens skills for youth: Towards a sustainable world.”

After the event, Mr Jonathan Peter, a youth mobiliser at Kajuru LGA, said the theme for the year’s celebration was beyond farming of crops.

He explained that green skills were innovative ways youths could use their knowledge in combating contemporary challenges of climate change, saying tree planting was one of such ways.

Peter noted that Kajuru communities were bedeviled by deforestation caused by commercial activities, lamenting that the trees were not being replaced by planting new ones after felling them.

He, therefore, said tree planting was critical to survival, adding that those who would be affected by the deforestation in the future were the youth.

“We must by all means prepare the society the way we want to live in it tomorrow,” he said.

Peter, who spoke on behalf of the four communities who carried out the exercise, pledged that they would distribute and plant trees across all the political wards in the LGA in three months.

He urged members of the communities to ensure proper nurturing of the trees, while calling on the government and other relevant stakeholders to engage in tree planting across the state to save it from climate change.

Also, Malam Sule Rigachikun, a Ranger at Kajuru LGA, under the Kaduna State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, commended the initiative.

He noted that everybody liked fruits, fresh air and shade, while lamenting that majority did not like planting trees.

Rigachikun thanked the organisations for their support, while urging members of the community to ensure proper nurturing of the trees.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The New Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NNPP) has urged its members to be creative by devising initiatives and ideas that can drive the party to victory in subsequent elections.

The NNPP Acting National Chairman, Alhaji Abba Ali, gave the advice in Abuja on Saturday at an Emergency National Working Committee (NWC) meeting of the party.

Ali appealed to all members of the party to eschew violence and crisis by towing the line of peace to resolve any form of disagreement at all times.

“Therefore, I want us as leaders of the party to be receptive to the ongoing restructuring of the party as it is with the view to further entrench and reposition the Party in accordance with the current

status.

“As political conscious Nigerians, who have determined to rescue the country from political decadence and long years of mis-governance, I implore every one of us to be creative by devising initiatives and ideas that can drive the party to victory in subsequent elections.

“I want to sincerely appreciate the efforts of the National Leader of our great party, Sen. Rabiu Musa-Kwakwanso, NWC, States leadership and other critical stakeholders of the party for your concerted efforts.

“This is a clear demonstration of the readiness of the Party to showcase our collective potentials as a huge Force any time, any day, ” he said.

Also, the Forum of Chairmen of NNPP led by Dr Tosin Odeyemi said that

steps taken by the leadership of the party were commendable.

“We want the whole world to know that the steps taken by the Leadership of our party to restructure the Party for better outings in subsequent elections, is superb and a welcome development.

“It may interest you to know that part of this restructuring is what led to the dissolution of the Executives of some States that have petitions hanging on them to give room for proper investigations.

“We wish to state here that the dissolution of these States’ Executives is just to investigate the petitions against them and if they have no skeleton in their cupboards, they will be vindicated and reinstated after the investigation.

“The affected States include Ekiti, Enugu, Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, Kwara, Rivers and Zamfara.

“What is expected of them is to face the Disciplinary Committee with their defence, clear themselves of allegations.

In his remarks, the National Secretary of NNPP, Mr Dipo Olayoku, said that the party planed to redesign its logo,” he said.

According to him, it is an open secret that the party’s current logo affected our fortunes in the last election.

“It’s for this reason, we have commenced the process of redesigning the logo.

“We are using this medium to call for suggestions from our members and friends, on how to come up with a logo that will meet the aspirations of our members and Nigerians in general,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Nasarawa State Chapter, on Saturday began planting of 1,000 trees to contribute to the conservation of the environment and enhance its sustainability.

The State Chairman of the council, Malam Jaafar Loko, who led scores of youths to plant the trees, said youths played critical roles in curbing the impact of climate change.

” We planted over 1,000 trees today across the state. Part of this was generously donated by Prof. Egbewole Tunde of the Department

of Forestry, Faculty of Agriculture, Nasarawa State University, Keffi.

” As young people, we congratulate the youths across the nooks and crannies

of the state who are making marks and giant strides to contribute to the

development of the state.

“We call on governments at all levels to continue to support us to attain the height of our potential,” Loko said.

He commended Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State for his commitment to the development of

young people, adding that the governor demonstrated commitment to youths advancement by appointing many of them into various positions.

” We urge our beloved

governor to consolidate this effort by giving more youths in the state pivotal

leadership roles to play in the management and allocation of state resources.

” This, we believe, will enhance our capacity to make enduring contributions

to the development of the state.”

Loko drew the attention of governments, corporate organisations, national and state assemblies and other stakeholders to the plight of the young people in the state.

” Our youths deserve to be adequately equipped with skills, Information and

Communication Technology, agricultural practices, as well as technology.

” We urge them to play a more active role in empowering our youths with skills.

We also call on our representatives in every office to ensure that youth

development takes prominence in their constituency projects.

” Young people in Nasarawa State and beyond are facing very difficult

situations with the removal of subsidy on petrol that has now caused an

astronomical increase in the cost of transportation, and by extension, the

prices of every commodity in the market.

The youth leader called on the federal and state governments to take steps to address difficulties being experienced by urgently rolling out palliatives and other measures to ameliorate the sufferings of the people.

” In doing that, the leaders of youth

organisations in the state should be adequately carried along and actively

involved in the entire process.

” We also call on all public institutions, Social and corporate organizations to

redouble their efforts and take steps to address the challenges confronting

young people in the state, to enable them to make a better living.

” To the youths of Nasarawa State, we urge you to continue to be law-abiding,

respect constituted authorities, and shun all forms of social vices and

criminalities for the sustainability of peace in our dear state.

” Nasarawa State is the only state we can call our own. We must therefore do everything possible to make it conducive for all to live and thrive.”

Loko said the council had also taken steps to address the challenges confronting young people through organising skill acquisition programmes.

He also said that the council held town halls, and enlightenment campaigns with young people to dissuade their minds from societal ills.

” More so, the council set up the Public-Traditional Security Intelligence Gathering Committee to help provide intelligence to the

appropriate authorities as part of efforts to enhance peace and security in

the state.”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, Convener of The Asiwaju Group (TAG) and Deputy Chairman, APC UK has urged Nigerian youths to take advantage of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, on the occasion of the 2023 International Youth Day (IYD).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2023 UN International Youth Day celebrated worldwide on Saturday is tagged: “Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World”.

Congratulating the Nigerian youths in a message on Sunday to commemorate the IYD, Abdullahi said the idea behind the 2023 edition’s theme was not far-fetched, ” in a world that is faced with emissions and climate change.”

Lauding Nigerian youths for their courage, tenacity and resilience, Abdullahi said globally, the day was set aside by the United Nations to recognise youths’ impact and importance as propellers to drive positive change all over the world.

“Your impact in instituting the necessary tools and institutions to combat the threats that face us all is fundamentally germane.

“Hence, the need for tapping into your skills to engender a sustainable and habitable humanity.

“We must, therefore, celebrate you, your courage, your skills, your tenacity of purpose and your radical temperament to enforce changes when the need be.

“I must commend your resilience, doggedness and result-driven passion in whatever you choose to embark upon,” Abdullahi, an Oil and Gas expert said.

He said that without the youths’ contribution to the global economy, the world would have been a hell on earth to live.

Abdullahi said: “This is why it is very important that the danger our world faces today has you as the ‘Saviour’ to stem the tide of extinction that stirs us in the face.

“As a fulcrum for development that you all are, the world awaits your interest and readiness to unleash that God-given talents of yours to make positive changes and make our world a better place.”

He advised Nigerian youths to imbibe, the ” can do spirit”.

“Our world today needs you more than ever. We want to tap into your skills in this technologically-driven age. We want your expertise in this age of Acquired Intelligence.

“And we believe you have a lot to offer as the world grapples with the new order,” he added.

He said the decision of Tinubu’s leadership to give more space for the youths was not by happenstance.

According to him, it is a deliberate decision because he believes so much in youths driving the necessary positive changes the nation needs to revamp.

“You must, therefore, prove yourselves as worthy partners in driving a new Nigeria hinged upon greater future and shared prosperity. You must eschew violence, jettison crimes and embrace high moral rectitude.

“You must channel your skills toward adventures that will better foster the image of Nigeria across the globe. You must represent your fatherland well and protect her image with all your strength.

“With your readiness, let Nigeria’s image soar high in the comity of Nations. With you as the beacon of hope, a new Nigeria is possible,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Hundreds of mourners from across the nation paid their respects on Saturday to Katahunda Matundu, former Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (now Popular Democratic Movement) political commissioner, who was given a dignified burial at Okarundu Kozombangane in Opuwo.

Matundu died last week after a lengthy illness. He was 66.

Okarundu Kozombangane is to the people of Kaokoland what Heroes’ Acre is to the Namibian government.

The shrine is historically noteworthy because it serves as a living memorial to the heroes of Kaokoland, notably those of the Otjikako Traditional Authority. Matundu has now joined the ranks of other heroes such as Mbumbijazo Muharukua, Chief Paulus Uziruapi Tjavara, Jamemi Muharukua, Tjiriazondana Kurooro, Uazenga Nderura, former Opuwo Rural councillor Uaurikua Kakuva, and others at Okarundu.

Matundu dubbed the “hero of his time”, has been said to have made significant contributions to the development of the Kunene Region.

PDM’s leader McHenry Venaani remarked during Matundu’s funeral ceremony at his traditional homestead that Matundu was at the apex of PDM emergence and that the party owed its existence to him.

Venaani went on to say that Matundu’s contribution to the battle for independence will be remembered for many years to come.

“Matundu fought for this country’s independence, he was an advocate for peace, unity, and prosperity, and he will not be forgotten,” he continued.

According to Venaani, Matundu was amongst a group of Herero leaders that travelled to Botswana before independence to repatriate Herero people who fled to Botswana during the 1904 genocide, together with Muvi Tjiho, Absai Kandirikirira, and Uahuma Hei.

“He was one of the few people who stood steadfastly for the negotiations of the genocide case, and he mobilised other people to join the fight for the full restoration of the Ovaherero people through the Hosea Kutako Foundation in the Kunene Region. During the Resolution 435 negotiations, he brought 800 Himba communities to the table,” Venaani remarked.

Venaani further stated that Matundu’s burial in Okarundu Kozombangane was a result of his actions.

Matundu served in the Opuwo Town Council from 1992 until 2002.

Swapo’s deputy secretary general, Uahekua Herunga, also spoke at the event, saying the Namibian government will forever be grateful for Matundu’s contributions during independence.

Herunga stated that the late Matundu’s contribution to the Kunene Region’s economic independence will not be forgotten.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Namibian Rugby Premier League outfit Trustco United outclassed their opponent Western Suburbs with a 24-17 win on Saturday, to finish the season in second place.

United who have been third throughout the season on the log standing, overcame a resilient Suburbs who had them on the back foot throughout the first and beginning of the second half.

Suburbs had a short trip from Khomasdal to the Trustco United Sports Ground in Olympia, where they opened the scoring just 17 minutes into the first half with a try which was converted. But the home team responded with a try of their own, and their conversion was missed.

The visitors Suburbs once again ran in a try before the half-time break, but the conversion was missed. The half-time score was 12-5 in favour of Suburbs.

In the second half Suburbs only managed to run in one try, and the conversion was once again missed while United who were playing in front of a handful of their supporters ran in three tries and converted two of their conversions for a final score of 24-17.

The Suburbs try scorers were Jayden Links and Gino Wilson who ran in two tries while Justin Nel converted once from the spot. United’s tries were scored by Hanno Husselman, Gerhard Thirion (two tries) and Dean Blom. Their conversions came from the feet of Hanreco van Zyl and Jahno du Plessis.

With a win against Suburbs, the Olympia-based outfit booked themselves a spot in the semi-finals against Kudus whom they poked from second to third place. Wanderers finished the season top of the log standing and will clash with Rehoboth who finished fourth on the log.

The semi-finals are scheduled for the weekend of 19 August 2023, with the final to be played on 26 August 2023 at the Hage Geingob Stadium in Olympia.

Teams that did not qualify for the playoffs are UNAM who finished fifth, Suburbs who finished sixth, Grootfontein that finished seventh, and Reho Falcons at the bottom of the log.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The body of 22-year-old April Immanuel was allegedly discovered hanging in his room by a friend who came to visit him on Friday at Etayi village in the Omusati Region.

In a crime report issued on Sunday, the police stated that the deceased was last seen that Friday at about 09h00, when he left the Katutura location and went back home.

“It is alleged that the 22-year-old committed suicide, his lifeless body was discovered hanging with a wire around his neck in his sleeping room by a friend who came to visit in the morning time,” the police said.

The police stated that the deceased was staying alone in the house, the next of kin have been notified and the deceased body is kept at Oshikuku Hospital’s mortuary and will be transported to Okahao Police mortuary for autopsy.

In another incident, two Namibian male suspects aged 27 and 32 on Saturday were arrested after allegedly entering the camp of a complainant and slaughtering five Damara breed sheep at Farm Goudini in the Hardap Region.

The police confirmed that the sheep valued at N.dollars 10 000 were slaughtered around 09h30 without the owner’s consent.

“After the preliminary investigations were done, two carcasses and two heads and five skins with trotters were recovered and police investigations continue,” the police said.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

A Namibian man, Silas Martinus, 33, was allegedly beaten with mopane twigs and then murdered by hanging at Iipanda Yambalantu village in the Omusati Region.

A crime report issued by the Namibian Police on Sunday stated that the suspect was a 29-year-old Namibian male and the incident took place around 22h00 on Thursday.

“It is alleged that the suspect used fresh mopane sticks to beat the victim on his facial areas which resulted in injuries and thereafter murdered the victim by hanging with a red elastic rubber which was found around the deceased’s neck,” the police said.

The police stated that the motive behind the crime is still unknown, the next of kin of the deceased have been notified and police investigations continue.

In the same report, two Namibian males and two Chinese males were allegedly robbed of N.dollars 200 000 on Friday at a guest house in Otjiwarongo.

“The four were allegedly driving a white Toyota Hilux pick-up and were robbed around 10h00 when they were stopped at the guest house, after withdrawing an amount of N.dollars 200 000 at a bank at Otjiwarongo, by seven suspects armed with a pistol and stones,” the police said.

It is alleged that the suspects stoned the victims’ vehicle and smashed both the back door windows and further opened the doors, whereby they grabbed the bag in which the money was kept, the police said.

When the complainants allegedly resisted, the suspects hit them with stones that led to the victims sustaining injuries. The suspects managed to escape with the cash bag in the direction of Windhoek, the police said.

No recovery has been made, however, a 32-year-old male suspect has been arrested and police investigations continue.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Two Namibian male suspects aged 50 and 55 on Saturday were arrested after they were found with two full carcasses of Reedbuck Antelopes at Liselo roadblock in the Zambezi Region.

In a crime report issued to Nampa Sunday, Chief Inspector of the Namibian Police Force Elifas Kuwinga stated that the discovery happened at about 05h00 and that the carcasses were valued at N.dollars 100 000. They were loaded in a grey Ford Ranger pick-up and the suspects allegedly failed to avail a satisfactory explanation or any valid permit for such possession

“The officers spotted a vehicle approaching the roadblock but suddenly made a U-turn and fled, immediately members chased and successfully stopped the vehicle,” the inspector said.

Kuwinga stated that during the search a hunting rifle equipped with a telescope, silencer, one pistol, ammunition and two spent cartridges as well as a spotlight torch and knives were also found.

“The exhibits were seized as evidence and brought to Katima police station, suspects will make their first appearance on 14 August 2023 at Katima Mulilo Magistrate’s Court as police investigations continue,” Kuwinga said.

In another incident, unknown suspects broke into a room at a guest house in Opuwo in the Kunene Region on Friday and stole items with a combined value of N.dollars 28 390.

The police officer stated that the suspects used an unknown object to gain entrance in the complainant’s room between 11 and 12 August between 19h00 and 05h00.

No items were recovered, the suspects are not yet arrested and police investigations continue, Kuwinga said.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency