Day: July 1, 2023

ECOWAS in solidarity with Nigeria, says Guinea-Bissau President

The Economic Commission for West African States (ECOWAS) says it is in support of President Bola Tinubu’s efforts aimed at repositioning the giant of Africa.

President of Guinea- Buissau and Chairman Authority ECOWAS Head of State and Government, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, said this during a private visit to Tinubu on Saturday in Lagos.

He said that the economic steps so far taken would not only be for the good of Nigeria but the entire West Africa.

Addressing newsmen after the visit, Mr Dele Alake, Special Adviser, Special Duties, Communications and Strategy to the President, said the visit was strictly private.

“It was a meeting between two African brother presidents and it was very cordial. Of course, the visiting president appreciated the steps taken by President Bola Tinubu within the last one month,

“He said he is ready to cooperate with Nigeria and President Bola Tinubu at all times just as the rest of the world have commended him over his recent policies.

“They also spoke of the ECOWAS head of government meeting which is imminently coming up and also spoke on other areas of cooperation,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was attended by Chief of Staff to the president Femi Gbajabiamila, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos and Alake among others.

The Guinea-Bissau leader has left after the over three hours private meeting.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

AfDB approves $115m loan to Abia for road, erosion projects

The Board of Directors, African Development Bank (AfDB), has approved a loan of 115 million dollars to support a major road rehabilitation project in Abia State, Nigeria.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Nigeria Country Department of the bank on Saturday in Abuja.

It said the project would see to the rehabilitation of roads, erosion control infrastructure and preparation of solid waste management facilities in the state capital, Umuahia, and the commercial hub, Aba.

”Financing for the project estimated at a total cost of 263.80 million dollars, will come through an AfDB loan of 100 million dollars.

”A Canada–AfDB Climate Fund (CACF) loan of 15 million dollars; and a 125 million dollars co-financing loan from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB).

”The Abia State government will provide 23.80 million dollars in counterpart funding for compensation to people affected by the project and implementation of a Resettlement Action Plan,”it said.

According to the statement, the project, which is expected to be completed in 2029, has a total of 248.46 km of road.

It said it had 58.03 km of roads in Umuahia and 190.43 km of roads in Aba which would be rehabilitated to asphaltic concrete standards at varying cross sections.

It said :” Erosion sites in Umuahia and Aba will be reinstated as well as preparatory studies undertaken for private sector participation in solid waste management for the two cities.

”The project will also include capacity building, project management and development of social infrastructure.

”This includes the rehabilitation of schools and the provision of sanitation facilities in schools, community markets and hospitals.”

It said with an estimated population of 553,000 and 814,000 respectively (2022 estimates), Umuahia and Aba, the commercial hub, were currently facing serious infrastructure challenges.

The statement said this aroused from decades of underinvestment amid rapid urbanisation and the situation was aggravated by gully erosion and emergence of huge piles of solid waste on the roads.

It said when completed, the 1.37 million population in these two cities would benefit from reduced travel time, vehicle operating costs and lower transport cost.

”The project will also create 3,000 temporary jobs (30 per cent for women) at the construction phase, and about 1,000 permanent jobs during the operational phase.

”The permanent jobs will particularly benefit the youths, who will make up 50 per cent of the project.

”They will be trained in contract management by the State Youth Road Maintenance Corps for road maintenance, a body of young Abia engineers drawn from the 17 Local Government Areas of the State,”it said.

Mr Lamin Barrow, the Director-General of AfDB’s Nigeria Country Department, said the project would build resilience by providing the towns access to urban infrastructure services, including economic and social amenities.

Barrow said: “the results from implementation of the project will help expand access to economic and social amenities in the two cities, and thereby contribute to building sustainable and liveable cities.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that AfDB’s portfolio in Nigeria comprises 48 operations worth 4.2 billion dollars.

The national (Federal and States) operations account for 90 per cent of the portfolio, for 41 projects amounting to 3.79 billion dollars, while multinational operations constitute 10 per cent for seven projects amounting to 0.41 billion dollars.

There are 24 Sovereign Operations, 2.36 billion dollars or 56 per cent of total commitments and 24 Non-Sovereign Operations (1.84 billion dollars or 44 per cent).

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Fund existing universities to address sustainability problems – Don

Siyan Oyeweso, a professor of History and International Studies at Osun State University, says strengthening of existing universities will greatly enhance their sustainability.

Oyeweso stated this during the Interdisciplinary Research Discourse organised by the Postgraduate College of University of Ibadan (UI) on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the discourse, which was the college’s 80th, was titled: “Interrogating Issues in the Proliferation of Universities in Nigeria.”

Oyeweso in his submission said a committee of relevant stakeholders should be constituted to take a look at the already established universities now and to map the way forward.

He said Nigeria needed university which had a definitive academic calendar and sustainable funding.

“For any good university to be established, it must have a maturation period. It must grow under the already established good university.

“The law establishing Lagos State University (LASU) was passed in 1983 but the process started way back, from 1979 to 1981, and it did not commence academic activities until October 1984 and it was midwifed by the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

“University of Ibadan (UI) midwifed University of Ife, and what we now refer to as the University of Ilorin was midwifed also by the University of Ibadan.

”Also, the University of Jos was a campus of the University of Ibadan and the University of Calabar was a campus of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN),” the professor said.

He argued that there must be in place models, templates and financial sustainability programmes.

“In the case of Osun State University, there was the contract that we had with staff that we will have a moratorium of five years, that we will not be on any strike because we want to have a sustainable academic calendar.

“And we adopted Sept. 21 of every year as the Foundation Day. If you enter the Osun State University today we will give the date of your graduation and we have kept that faith and maintained that tradition till date,” Oyeweso said.

He urged the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of first generation universities to map out alternative sources of funding.

Oyeweso also cautioned government against granting licences for universities which would not survive.

Speaking on private universities, he said other private universities should copy the template of those that had been excelling and focus on solving societal challenges in order to be relevant.

“They should follow those private universities that are excelling in ranking and ground-breaking research,” Oyeweso said.

In his opening remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, said a nation could not grow beyond the state of its university system.

Adebowale who traced the history of the establishment of the first generation of universities in Nigeria said they were established based on research and the country’s needs at that time.

He noted that while there were 270 universities in Nigeria, it was alarming that this proliferation had not addressed critical factors that could solve the challenges of the nation.

”This is because their establishment was not sustainable, but merely political.

“The universities that are being set up now, I don’t know whether they were research-based or politically-motivated,” Adebowale said.

The vice-chancellor however commended the UI Postgraduate College for the Interdisciplinary Research Discourse.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Addis Becomes OEC Headquarters Due to its Diplomatic Hub, Says Secretary General

The Organization of Educational Cooperation (OEC) has chosen Addis Ababa as its headquarters due to its status as a global diplomatic hub, the organization's Secretary-General told Ethiopian News Agency (ENA).

Secretary-General of the OEC, Sheikh Mansour bin Musallam told ENA that Addis Ababa is the third largest center of diplomacy in the world and a gateway to Africa. This makes it an ideal location for an international organization like OEC, which aims to promote educational cooperation among countries from all over the world.

"Addis Ababa is a city that is accustomed to hosting international organizations," Musallam said.

He further said that Ethiopia has the expertise to support our work.

It is to be recalled that while addressing the first General Assembly of the OEC in Addis Ababa, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said: “I am grateful that the EOC has chosen Ethiopia to host the headquarters and this historical gathering. From the inception, Ethiopia has been supportive of the vision and will continue to support the secretariat by creating conditions to enable it to fulfill its mandate.”

OEC was established in January 2020 by 21 countries from Africa, Asia, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Arab world. The organization's mission is to promote educational cooperation and development through a balanced and comprehensive education system.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Ethiopia Earns Some 86 Million USD from Exports of Animal Products in 11 Months

The Livestock Development Institute said some 86 million US dollars have been earned in revenue from the exports of animal products during the past eleven months.

Deputy Director General of the institute, Sahlu Mulu told ENA that the revenue has been gained by exporting meat, honey, camel milk and offal products to different countries around the globe.

Among the countries where the meat products are exported are: the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman are the major destinations, Sahlu pointed out.

Moreover, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Nigeria and Kenya are also the places where the offal products have been sent, he added.

During the stated period, some 20,000 tons of animal products were supplied to the foreign market, Sahlu indicated.

The deputy director mentioned the ongoing effort to maximize the value of animal products and bring them to the foreign market in the current fiscal year. As a result, better results were recorded compared to last budget year.

“A plan was prepared that animal products and products should not be provided to markets without value additions. To this end, a plan was made to process and deliver 22 thousand tons of animal products to the domestic and foreign markets. Of this, close to 20 tons of animal products, which is 90 percent of the target, were processed by industries and delivered to local and foreign markets.”

Currently, the director added products of sheep and goat are the major export items of Ethiopia.

Livestock Development Institute is working hard to expand market destination areas for animal production and products, Sahlu stated.

Thus, he pointed out that agreements have been reached with Cambodia, Seychelles and Azerbaijan as a new market destination for Ethiopian animal products.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

UNIDO Will Continue to Support Ethiopia’s Efforts In Accelerating Industrial Dev’t

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) said it will continue to support the efforts of the Ethiopian government in accelerating industrial development.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, UNIDO Deputy Representative to Ethiopia, Asegid Adane said currently the organization has a very large program portfolio in the area of industrial development and is working closely with the government.

Recalling UNIDO has a program package called Program for Country Partnership (PCP) Ethiopia, he said that we are implementing a project in three priority areas as outlined in relevant government strategies including the Homegrown Economic reform agenda.

These priority areas are leather and leather products sub sector, textile and garment sub sector and agro-processing sector.

“We also have other cross cutting areas like renewable energy development, investment promotion, policy advisory services, which all cut across the three priority areas,” he elaborated.

Currently, he stated that we have a program portfolio in tune with around 60 million USD, which is a technical assistance.

“Using this relatively small amount of resources, we are leveraging close to 2 billion USD in the form of investment and loans to the government, which are associated with the initiatives, which we are supporting.”

To this end, “we continue to support the Government of Ethiopia in its effort for accelerated industrial development,” the deputy representative assured.

Moreover, Asegid stated that UNIDO supported the government of Ethiopia in the development of Integrated Agro-Industrial Parks (IAIP) in Ethiopia.

IAIPs represent one of the main mechanisms to support Ethiopia's agricultural production transformation from being fragmented and supply-driven to becoming organized, safe, and demand-led and quality oriented, it was learnt.

The projects are implemented within the broader framework PCP Ethiopia, a partnership business model that mobilizes external partners and resources to increase the impact of UNIDO’s technical cooperation.

Integrated Agro-Industrial Parks operating in Yirgal Town, Sidama region, in Bulbula, Oromia region and in Bure, Amhara region, are among the projects the UNIDO supports, he said.

The deputy country representative added we have reached a stage where we are now working in mobilization of investors.

“Few investors are working already in the parks, but our aim is to make these three parks fully operational in the next few months and years. Investment promotion is now a very important component of these parks. We are working with the government of Ethiopia and other development partners in mobilizing the investments here,” he elaborated.

The Integrated Agro-Industrial Parks are a little bit different from the other parks, because they are meant to develop the food processing value chain locally.

In 100 radius around each of these parts, we have established what we call rural transportation centers (RTC), he said, adding these centers are responsible for collecting raw products from surrounding areas, from the smallholder farmers through their cooperatives and unions.

“I think in doing so, we are hoping that the maximum benefit of value chain development can be obtained. Benefiting the smallholder farmers who are in millions around these products and also all the others involved along the value chain, creating a huge number of employment opportunities for local people.”

He reiterated that UNIDO provides support to priorities as outlined by the government.

There are also additional sectors which the government wants to pursue, he said, adding “we will be working in alignment with that package to increase and expand our support to the government, of course, related to industrial development.”

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Ethio-Djibouti Railway Manifestation of Joint Infrastructure Dev’t in Africa: CEO

The Ethio-Djibouti Railway Share Company manifests that joint infrastructural development and regional integration is possible in Africa, Company CEO Abdi Zenebe told ENA.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, the CEO said Ethiopia has been transporting important commodities, including fertilizers, cooking oil and other critical commodities, from Djibouti and exporting almost 100 percent of its coffee using this railway which connects the countries.

He revealed that the strategy for the coming year is expanding and diversifying the business as Ethiopia has started transporting vehicles and cement, among others via same mode of transportation.

“The railway is not only connecting infrastructures of the two countries but also creating opportunity for the growing interdependence between Ethiopia and Djibouti,” the CEO stated, adding that “we have (therefore) to align our customs and other different matters.”

According to Abdi, this is a model infrastructure which plays a very significant role.

“This railway is owned by the two states. So, joint infrastructural development is possible in Africa. ”

Noting that the share company creates a lot of opportunities to further expand integration, he said “the regional integration between the two countries helps to improve the economic integration at multiple levels and attract foreign direct investment.”

The CEO believes that regionalization is very critical in society-to-society level integration. In this respect, he stated that the company has customers everyday going to Djibouti and the same from Djibouti to Ethiopia.

“We are creating bonds between the communities. So, at the national and regional level, the societal interaction has been enhanced as a result of this railway.”

In its five years operation, the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway has transported nearly 530,909 passengers and about 7,328,500 tons of cargo.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Ethiopia Front Runner in Climate Change Mitigation: Former President

Ethiopia is a frontrunner, especially in contributing to the mitigation of climate change by planting billions of trees across the country, Former President Mulatu Teshome said.

Explaining Ethiopia’s contribution to the fight against climate at the Astana International Forum held in Kazakhstan on June 8-9 this year, the former president revealed that the country planted 25 billion s lings over the past four years.

“For me the forum (in Kazakhstan) has served as a good opportunity to let the international community know what we are doing in Ethiopia, what potentials we have including natural resources, the good climate we have because planting 25 billion trees in four years, if there was no conductive environment, good soil, water or rain could be very big problem and challenging. So, Ethiopia is very well-placed to be a front runner especially in contributing to the challenges of climate change in this regard,” he elaborated.

According to him, Ethiopia is not only minimizing, but in the long run going to fully engage in developing its non-carbon source of energy.

The impact of climate change to growth and development, global peace and security as well as challenge toward biodiversity were the other agendas discussed at the forum, it was learned.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, the former president said the forum was really focused on the present day and critical issues our world is facing.

He added that on one hand there is globalization, but the philosophy behind globalization is being hindered through the trade wars and sanctions and that was one area how to enhance global trade and investment, free trade and free flow of goods and services, he noted.

At a session dedicated to the former president, Mulatu tried to take the agenda of Pan Africanism and what Africa could contribute to the global challenges.

All in all, attempt was made to explain what Pan Africanism means, especially in its present day context. “It is a call for solidarity among Africans to speak with one voice in order to ensure self-interest of our continent Africa.”

OAU was established on the basis of Pan Africanism and that philosophy of Pan Africanism grew to enable Africans to get full independence from colonial powers and also to eradicate a South African political problem which was discriminating against the native people.

After political independence of the African countries, a call came from African people for independent economic aspiration, he elaborated.

That was how OAU gradually evolved into the African Union and at the back of all this development is Pan Africanism, the solidarity among all Africans which enabled Africa to be together, all African countries to share their solidarity with each other and develop together.

Commenting on the recent Summit for a New Global Financing Pact held in Paris, Mulatu said this idea is the interest of all developing countries, especially countries that have contributed to tackle climate change for carbon reduction.

Promises were made, the former president recalled, adding that but they were not kept. The promises were and are not fulfilled by the donor well developed countries which have contributed to pollution, he stated.

The former president underlined that the call is actually not only in the interest of Ethiopia, but in the interest of the developing world which have contributed to reducing to carbon dioxide.

“We are not doing this for the international community. We are doing it for ourselves. But there is a consensus by the international community that if countries are contributing positively like Ethiopia did, in reforestation, in implementing green economy, then there will be somehow a pledge which was made by the international community to be implemented,” he noted.

The former president who took part in the forum by heading Ethiopian business delegation also shared his views on the historical significance and modern relevance of Pan Africanism as a unifying ideology for the African continent.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency