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Health

Group demands inclusion in Nasarawa State governance

By Awayi Kuje
Inclusion
Akwanga (Nasarawa State), Sept. 9, 2019 (NAN) Mr Nathaniel Isa, President-General of Nasarawa North Peoples’ Assembly (NNPA), has demanded for inclusion into Gov. Abdullahi Sule’s cabinet to enable them contribute their quota to the development of the state.

Isa made the appeal in a statement in Keffi on Monday.

He said that members of the group are hard working and had worked tirelessly for the victory of the governor.

“There exists the need for Governor Abdullahi Sule to consider and give NNPA some political appointments in view of their contributions to the success of the 2019 General Election in the State and particularly Akwanga Zone.

“If hard-work, commitment and painful sacrifice is anything to go by, then members of Nasarawa North Peoples Assembly deserve to be part of Nasarawa State Executive Council.

“As His Excellency, Gov. Abdullahi Sule prepares to announce his cabinet,” the statement said.

Besides, Isa called for the appointment of members of the group as Rector of Isah Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic, Lafia, and recommending some to the Federal Boards and Agencies to give the youths in the zone a sense of belonging

“NNPA passed through valleys, deserts and mountains in the struggle for power shift to Akwanga Zone.

“The Assembly championed and coordinated all the support groups and demands for a shift of Governorship position in 2019 General Election to the Zone through various publications,

“Organisation of conferences, visitations to stakeholders and political parties, knowing not only the issues involved,

“But also the questions that agitated the minds of the people, and equally declare support for APC gubernatorial candidate,” he said.

The NNPA President-General also disclosed that the group has concluded plan to organise an Economic Summit for Akwanga Zone from Oct. 1-3, in Akwanga, in order discuss the pervasive rate of poverty, illiteracy, underdevelopment and backwardness of the zone.

He said that the governor’s 100 Days in Office captured the vision and mission of the administration, the poise and zeal to move the state to greater heights.

“Governor Abdullahi Sule insights into the future have started manifesting in the policies and programmes as reflected in the plans for youths, women empowerment scheme, human and infrastructural development,” he said.

The President-General commended the governor’s commitment to put in place the bricks for major developmental strategies, his plans and intentions in the different sectors.

Isa urged Nigerians to live in peace and tolerate one another in order to enjoy more dividends of democracy. (NAN)
AKW/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Minister advocates youth inclusion in policies

Minister advocates youth inclusion in policies
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Youths
Abuja, March 14, 2019 (NAN) The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung, says youth participation and inclusion in decision making processes will have positive impact on the overall development of the country.
Dalung said this at a workshop organised by Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) in partnership with the National Assembly (NASS) on Thursday in Abuja.
The theme of the workshop was Strengthening Co-ordination in Pro-Youth policies to entrench youth inclusion in governance.
Dalung who was represented by the Chief Youth Development Officer in the ministry, Mrs Lami Bature, said it was in view of youth inclusion that the federal government initiated the Nigerian Youth Parliament in August 2008, among other programmes.
“This is a platform that gives young people the opportunity to be initiated into decision making processes of government especially on issues that concerns them.
“Some states have under various orientation, already inaugurated their own Youth Parliament which is yielding positive results,” he said.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr Mohammed Omolori, who was represented by the Secretary, Directorate of Legislative Budget and Planning, said the clamour for the participation of young people in politics and decision making process was a welcome development.
“Young people will have to be ready to be mentored, properly organised and also willing to take up responsibilities and be accountable for every action and inaction that will occur in the process of their inclusion.
“The success of the Young Parliamentarians Forum in State Houses of Assembly will depend more on how strong the Secretariat and the manpower that will drive it.
“Remember that you are the memory of the legislative institution, we are hopeful that you have the capacity to see this project through,” he said.
Omolori said the NASS in the last five years through the operations of the Young Parliamentarians Forum (YPF) had been able to activate, express and protect the interest of young people, adding that it is time to move to other parliaments in the country.
The Country Representative of WFD, Mr Adebowale Olorunmola, said Nigeria still has so much work to do with regards representation and participation of youths in decision making.
“Nigeria has 11.11 per cent under 40 years of age in the parliament. Political parties particularly the ones regarded as ‘big ones’ are closed to quality youth participation.
“If young people are not represented in decisions that affect their everyday life, how would quality decisions be made, perhaps this and many more are the reasons why youths interest items are given little attention,” he said. (NAN)
OEO/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Foundation wants inclusion of persons with disability in national devt

NGO wants inclusion of persons with disability in national devt
NAN-HG-4
Disability
By Talatu Maiwada
Abuja, Dec. 19, 2017 (NAN) Disability Journey Initiative, an NGO, has called for the inclusion of Persons With Disability (PWD) in national development plans to ensure equal rights, privileges, obligations and opportunities before the law.
Mr Greg Simon, the Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, in Abuja.
Simon said the plight of PWDs in the country was further aggravated by lack of appropriate laws to ensure their full social integration into society through provision of their economic, social and educational needs, among others.
He said the Disability Discrimination Bill before the National Assembly would ensure inclusion of PWD in nation building while realising their full responsibilities as citizens, if passed and accented into law.
“In Nigeria we are seen as second class citizens, and a lot of people think we have nothing to offer to the society.
“However, we want to see a society where every child and adult with any form of disability can rise above their limitations to affect the society they live in.
“We want to be involved in national development at all levels of government; we are educated and highly intellectual in all fields of profession and can contribute to nation building.
“Stroke survivors and victims of polio could be left with physical disabilities but they still have their mental faculty and speech intact,’’ he said.
Simon added that with a law in place, the rights of PWD would also be protected against discrimination at work places and other public centres.
He decried the act of some parents in the northern part of the country using children with disability as means of making money for the family through street begging.
Simon further called on state governments to adopt policies that would stop such acts and penalise parents engaging in such act to serve as a deterrent.
He noted that persons living with disability experience marital discrimination which was worrisome and results to psychological and emotional torture.
Simon appealed to parents and guardians to support their children if they decide to marry persons with disability, adding that they are emotional beings capable of caring, loving and reproducing. (NAN)
TIM/GOM/MST
Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

NGO advocates inclusion of ageing in SDGs

NGO advocates inclusion of ageing in SDGs

NAN-HG-3

Advocacy

Abuja, March 13, 2016 (NAN) Dr Emem Omokaro, the Executive Director, Dave Omokaro Foundation, has the Federal Government and civil society groups to include ageing in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda.

Omokaro made this call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

According to her, identifying aging as a development challenge in terms of health and poverty eradication would help in the care of the aged in the society.

She also said that engaging stakeholders that are interested in welfare of the aged would make it easier to evolve a policy action that would help in addressing the dignity and health of the aged.

“We want to see legislation and policy action for the health of older persons in the society.

“There must be enhanced understanding of the fact in every field of development; whether it is health, poverty alleviation, transportation and agriculture to include older persons.

“The perception of older persons should not be stereotyped and seen as welfare objects or that they have nothing to contribute.

“They should be seen as people that can contribute to the enhancement of the society,’’ she said.

She noted that inclusion of older persons in the nation’s policy as well as seeing them as an investment in terms of giving back to the society would help extend their life expectancy. (NAN)

CSO/AK/MST

Edited by Akin Makanjuola/Muhammad Suleiman Tola