Author: Web Desk

Dutse, The Jigawa chapter of Nigerian Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI), has commended the state government for empowering 2,500 entrepreneurs and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as part of its palliatives to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.

NASSI’s Secretary in the state, Mr Danlami Haladu, gave the commendation in a statement in Dutse on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Jigawa government, in its State Executive Council meeting on Aug. 10, approved several palliatives to cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy among the people in the state, including Small- and Medium-Scale Business (SMEs) operators and entrepreneurs in the state.

According to the state Commissioner for Information, Youths, Sports and Culture, Mr Sagir Musa, who briefed newsmen on the outcome of the meeting,the breakdown is as follows.

“An empowerment programme for 1,500 young entrepreneurs running existing businesses across the 27 local government areas of the state, where each of the beneficiaries will receive N50,000 to enhance their businesses.

“Approval to support 1,000 SMEs with N100,000 each, under its J-Cares, a World Bank-supported programme.”

The commissioner, however, pointed out that only those SMEs that made the World Bank’s criteria of being registered, has bank accounts, BVN and have at least two employees, will get the grants.

“The association wishes to commend the effort of the state government for approving empowerment programmes for 1,500 young entrepreneurs and 1,000 SMEs across Jigawa,” the secretary said.

NASSI’s Secretary, Haladu, also commended the state and the Federal Governments for their efforts to supply 10 trucks of rice for distribution to less privileged people in the state cushion the effects of subsidy removal, which caused hire in prices of food items and other commodities.

NAN also reports that while the Federal Government sent five trucks of rice for distribution to people in the state, to cover more beneficiaries, the state government procured another five trucks at the cost of N134,665.

The association, however, advised the state government to ensure that the palliative distribution has reached the down-trodden and is done for the betterment of all and sundry across the state.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Reverend Father Camillos Baba Ababagre, Parish Priest at the Saint Cyprian’s Anglican Church in Bolgatanga, has encouraged Christians to be compassionate, and serviceable to humanity, and not shirk their responsibilities as followers of Christ to lord over people.

Preaching the sermon on the theme: ‘We are Called to Serve,’ Rev Ababagre, bemoaned the practice where some Christians lord their positions on members of the congregation, instead of offering themselves as servants

He said: ‘Every Christian is called to serve, no matter who you are, whether you are intelligent or stupid, rich or poor, low or high,’ and reminded them that as Christians, ‘you should not intimidate or bully, or lord your positions over other members of the congregation.

‘As Christians, we are called to liberate wondering people and not to intimidate them. Issiah confirms this instruction to service in Issiah 47:1-7.’

The Parish Priest said the apostles did not lord the words of the Gospel on the people; they served and encouraged the followers to also render service to other people through their teachings.

He reiterated the need for Christians to accept service as an honourable thing to do.

‘Even traders are called to serve. They are to show attachments to their customers. That is the call to service,’ he added.

‘As teachers, we are to serve these children, mould and repair them through service. The politicians will soon run to you with money and when they succeed, they will ignore you over service, until they need your vote again’.

He explained that politicians were expected to constantly provide their service without discriminating or lording their position on the people.

He reminded the congregation that parents were called to serve their children, ‘so are children called to serve their parents,’ and urged them to be transparent, fair, and firm in providing service as Christians.

Source: Ghana News Agency

African countries need to come up with a common political stand on UN climate change conference, State Minister of Planning and Development Sandokan Debebe underscored.

The nineteenth ordinary session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) kicked off today in Addis Ababa.

The conference, organized under the theme “Seizing opportunity and enhancing collaboration to address environmental challenges in Africa,” will be convened for the coming 5 days.

In his opening remark, Planning and Development State Minister Sandokan Debebe said Africa faces unique environmental challenges that require innovative solutions.

Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiatives which surpassed its ambitious target by planting 25 billion seedlings exemplifies a commitment on nature based solution, he said.

The initiative leverage national capacity including tree planting experience, citizen’s engagement, media outreach, fostering a green culture to combat climate change environmental degradation, Sandokan added.

Ethiopia’s national wheat production program also signifies another domestic endeavor thriving for food sovereignty and resilient in the face of shocks such as droughts.

“We need to address this issue including the unwise and unequal utilization of resource, the proportionate severe impact of climate change experienced by Africa manifests through recurrent droughts, hurricanes and rising sea levels. Additionally, the swift loss of biodiversity leading to the wildlife migration and rapid expansion of desertification are pressing matters.”

The engagement in internal discussions such as the one taking place today, along with presenting in united and robust stance at the global dialogues is crucial, Sandokan pointed out.

“We expect the event participants to commit to presenting Africa’s interest in the global negotiations to ensure that our continent benefits from the necessary resource, technical experts while we are maintaining our positions in the global arena,” the state minister said.

UN Environment Program UNEP, Regional Director and Representative, Regional Office for Africa, Rose Mwebaza on her part said we face multiple global crises and plastic pollution now is the critical concern that threatens human health and environment in Africa.

“Climate change continues to pose profound threat to our nation states. It affects a very survival of our people and therefore at UNEP, we are going to continue working with you to leverage climate finance across the multilateral funds to support the African countries to deal with the climate change,” she said.

Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authority, Director General Getahun Garedew on his part said we are expecting the meeting to pass resolutions that will help the African group of negotiators in different multilateral environmental agreements.

Now African countries all coming together, we need implementation. As an output from Addis on climate agenda, the common stand of African countries will be that the loss and damages are surpassed and passing irreversible stage, we need action now.

“We expect the African group of negotiators to give an input for their respective ministers to have political stand regarding common stand of African countries for the COP session and there are some other multilateral stages that expect input from African countries.”

The main objective of the conference that attracted more than 40 environment ministers and over 440 participants, is to strengthen collaboration among the various institutions and enhance implementation of regional and global environmental frameworks in order to address the environmental challenges facing the continent.

The session is believed to provide a platform for strengthening Africa’s collective engagement in the global environmental agenda, including in the various conferences of the parties of environmental agreements, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) and other multilateral processes related to combating climate change and desertification among others.

The 2023 UN Climate Change Conference will convene from 30 November to 12 December 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), it was indicated.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Dr Jethro W. Brooks, the Acting Vice Chancellor for the Regional Maritime University (RMU), has urged the graduates to utilise the knowledge acquired to develop the maritime sector and contribute to economic growth.

He said the University was committed to producing talented graduates capable of discharging their duties excellently within the maritime industry.

The Vice-Chancellor gave the advice at the 17th Congregation of the University, which also marked the 65th and 40th Anniversaries of the University as a training institute and regionalisation respectively.

The event saw a total of 444 graduates passing out

and were awarded diplomas, bachelors and masters degrees in various courses, including ports and shipping administration, marine engineering, computer engineering, accounting and logistics management.

Out of the number, 50 received masters degrees, 324 had bachelors degrees and 70 were awarded diplomas.

Special awards were also presented to hardworking staff, former lecturers, and students as well as individuals who contributed to the growth of the university over the years.

Dr Brooks said the discovery of oil and gas by countries along the Gulf of Guinea, expansion and modernization of ports and harbours in the sub-region coupled with increasing number of ships, presented enormous job opportunities for graduates.

‘I have no doubt that you will continue to be equipped with the relevant skills and knowledge to be in a good position to take advantage of opportunities in the maritime industry,’ he stated.

‘Research and innovations continued to receive the attention that is deserved as one of the core functions of the university,’ he said.

In view of this, he said, capacity building programmes continued to be run to establish a research culture in the university to ultimately improve the standards of the university as a global maritime education and training institution.

‘It is expected that enhanced research capacity of academic staff will enable them to source for research grants for further research and partner with researchers in other tertiary institutions to conduct front-line and cutting-edge research,’ he stressed.

He called on the government and member states to continue contributing to the growth of the university.

Professor Pierre Gomez, the Minister of High Education, Research, Science and Technology of the Republic of the Gambia, called for collaboration

between academia and industry to ensure that the continent benefited sufficiently from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Prof. Gomez said the success of AfCFTA, arguably the largest free trade area, presented a golden opportunity for collaboration between academia and industry.

‘I invite universities and industries to work more effectively in establishing systematic development links with each other to ensure that academic research is geared towards responding to industries’ visible and pressing needs,’ he stated.

According to Prof. Gomez it was also important to utilize modern technologies and innovations to advance trade within the continent.

‘We can only achieve the objective with the use of new and emerging technologies, otherwise African businesses will remain uncompetitive,’ he stressed.

He commended the RMU on their anniversary celebrations, adding that they must be supported to

train skilled individuals that would contribute to the growth of economies across Africa and beyond.

He also urged graduates to look out for the several opportunities within the maritime sector while utilizing available research tools to improve upon knowledge.

Source: Ghana News Agency

In this year’s Green Legacy Initiative, more than 16 million tree saplings have been planted in Addis Ababa, the Urban Beauty and Green Development Bureau of City Administration announced.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched the second phase of the Green Legacy Initiative on June 8, 2023 in Afar region under the theme “Let’s plant tomorrow today”.

At the national level, this year’s Green Legacy Initiative gears towards planting 6.5 billion tree saplings. Addis Ababa has set to plant 17 million tree saplings.

According to Sintayehu Mengistu, technical advisor to the Urban Beauty and Green Development Bureau, more than 16 million tree saplings have so far been planted in Addis Ababa during the current rainy season as part of the national Green Legacy Initiative.

According to plan, the city has managed to planting 60 percent shade trees, 20 percent beautifying trees, and 20 percent fruit trees. Out of the 17 million saplings, we have planted about 16 million, he said.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Flights to and from Catania airport in southern Italy were suspended on Monday, morning due to a volcanic eruption of Mount Etna, the airport’s managing company said.

Sac, the company that manages the Vincenzo Bellini international airport, said that flights would be suspended until 1 pm (1300 GMT).

Mount Etna on the Italian island of Sicily, is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, with frequent eruptions, both large and small.

At more than 3,300 metres high, the volcano is one of the highest in Europe.

Source: Ghana News Agency