News
FG to ensure Nigeria returns to UNESCO Governing Board
(Photo: Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris and Hajo Sani, the Permanent Delegate of Nigeria to UNESCO during her visit to the Minister on Wednesday in Abuja.)
The Federal Government says it will do everything humanly possible to ensure that Nigeria returns to UNESCO Governing Board.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris gave the assurance when the Permanent Delegate of Nigeria to UNESCO, Dr Hajo Sani and her team visited him on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to Idris, his Ministry is key in the activities of UNESCO, adding that it will participate fully and effectively.
The minister said he was keen to see Nigeria take advantage of full opportunities made available to Nigeria’s membership at UNESCO, urging that the ministry should always be communicated on any opportunity.
“We will put up our strategy and strengthen our engagements with other member nations to see that Nigeria returns to that seat on the board.
“If there are only 58 members, I don’t see why Nigeria should not be there. I know that we stepped out so that others could participate in the spirit of unity and togetherness.
“But now that we had that holiday, we will go back to that seat at UNESCO. The Ministry will put its thinking cap and engage member nations. We will step up our engagement activities before the time.
“We are very confident that you too will get there, this is because, it is for the good of Nigeria and Africa as a whole,” Idris said.
The minister further said that his ministry was actively involved in media information literacy, promotion of freedom of information, media independence, pluralism and inclusive knowledge.
He added that there was need to have a responsible freedom.
“Even though the government is desirous of ensuring free press and free flow of information, it also requires that those who are in the business of information dissemination do that responsibly.
“Fake news have no place in our culture and existence. This is an appeal to those who practice journalism. It is important to put out only what you know is true,” the minister said.
Speaking, Sani said that the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientations involved in the works of UNESCO in the Communication and Information (CT) Sector.
She stated that Member States work through the Intergovernmental Committees, adding that there are two main Intergovernmental Committees in which Nigeria has been active as expected.
According to her, they are; Intergovernmental Council of the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) and the Intergovernmental Council of the Information for All Programme (IFAP)
“Nigeria is presently a member of the Intergovernmental Council of the IPDC, until December, 2023.
“Nigeria is also very much involved in the Sector’s programmes under the Committee Programme on the Freedom of Expression, Programme on the Safety of Journalists and the issue of impunity Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Programme.
“There is also a programme to provide a framework for international co-operation and partnerships aimed at building inclusive and sustainable Knowledge Societies.
“UNESCO supports the development of MIL for all to enable people’s ability to think critically and click wisely.The Organization particularly strives to enhance the capacities of policymakers, educators, information, media professionals and others.
“We are also looking forward to the adoption of the Abuja Declaration on Global Financing for Media and Information Literacy,” Sani said.
She also hinted that the 2023 Global MIL Week in Amman, Jordan, from 24-31 October 2023 had been cancelled due to the current crisis in the Middle East, adding that a new date will be announced in due course
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Anambra State Sector Command, has confirmed the death of a woman in an accident at Okpoko Market on the Asaba-Onitsha Road.
The Sector Commander, Mr Adeoye Irelewuyi, who confirmed the accident to journalists in Awka on Thursday, said that the woman was hit while she was crossing the road.
He said that the accident, which occurred on Wednesday, involved a commercial tow truck with registration number XA550BMA.
“Eyewitness report reaching us indicates that the truck was towing a vehicle in an uncontrollable speed along the axis.
“The vehicle that was being towed got detached from the tow truck.
“It hit and killed a female adult, who was said to be crossing the road, while the tow truck continued its movement.
“FRSC rescue team came to the scene and took the woman to Toronto Hospital, Onitsha, where she was confirmed dead and her body deposited at the hospital’s mortuary,” he said.
While sympathising with the family of the dead, the sector commander urged motorists, especially tow truck drivers, to exercise a high level of professionalism.
He also urged the drivers to always use standard equipment and avoid speeding.
The Chairman, Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Lagos State Chapter, Mr Mojeed Iyiola, said the state government’s maize palliative to members of the association made a positive impact on the sector.
Iyiola said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.
“We received about 150,000 tons of maize in February from the Lagos State government as palliative to cushion the effect of high feed prices.
“The major benefit of the palliative is that it actually cushioned the cost of production for most poultry farmers in the state.
“The palliative was beneficial as it made the cost of some poultry produce, especially eggs to drop,” Iyiola said.
He noted that prior to the palliative, a crate of egg was sold between N3,500 and N3,700 at the farm gate, but after the palliative, it now sells between N3,200 and N3,400.
According to the PAN chair, retailers and middlemen who sell from N3,800 to N4,200 do that for their personal gain.
“We have urged our members to sell their eggs at reasonable prices following the receipt of the palliative from the government.
“We appreciate the Lagos State government for the palliative but we also urge the federal government to do likewise, to further reduce the cost of production in the sector.
“This will consequently lead to drop in the prices of all poultry produce across board,” he said.
He said the palliative was shared among financial members of the association at no extra cost.
“As an association we shared the grains equally across PAN’s eight zones in the state equally. We also mandated each zone not the sell even a grain of the maize.
“We, however, considered new poultry farmers who wanted to the join the association as beneficiaries of the palliative,” said Iyiola.
He noted that through the palliative, more poultry farmers were recruited into the association.
“The maize was shared only to poultry farmers and not feed millers, it is the major component of poultry feed formulation,” he said.
Woman killed while crossing road in Anambra
LASG’s maize palliative impactful, says poultry association chair
Fagbemi warns against obstructing EFCC from performing its lawful duty
BDCs now buying dollar at ₦980 — ABCON President
Osun Poly Student, Olanrewaju Olatona killed by hit-and-run one-way driver
Seplat Energy celebrates a decade of Dual Listing with Bell Ringing Ceremony at Nigerian Stock Exchange
3 teens arrested in Germany for allegedly plotting terror attack
Breaking…Naira abuse: Court sentences Bobrisky to 6 months in custody
Lagos Court Grants Emefiele N50m Bail
