Month: September 2023

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, on Friday, inaugurated the newly remodeled 71 Supply and Transport (ST) Training Wing at Ribadu Cantonment, Kaduna.

This is contained in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, on Thursday in Abuja.

Nwachukwu said the training wing, comprising lecture hall, drivers training class, offices, catering demonstration hall refectory and students’ lavatories, was reconstructed and remodeled for the enhancement of training of students of the school.

Speaking at the ceremony, the COAS expressed satisfaction with the execution of the project and commended the initiative and commitment of the project executor, Col. Wasiu Bakare, who has been redeployed to 70 ST Command as Commander.

Lagbaja expressed optimism that the training facility would deliver quality training to trainees and urged the commander, staff and trainees to ensure adequate maintenance of the facility.

The COAS said the remodeled facility was in consonance with his Command Philosophy to “Transform the Nigerian Army into a well trained, equipped and highly motivated force towards achieving its constitutional responsibilities within a joint environment”.

He commended Bakare for showing exemplary leadership, commitment and prudence in resource management while carrying out the project.

Lagbaja, therefore, directed all General Officers Commanding (GOC) to provide transport assets to ST Brigades Training Wings in their Divisions, for optimal performance.

In his remarks, the GOC 1 Division, Maj.-Gen. Valentine Okoro, expressed gratitude to the COAS for enhancing training in the army in line with his command philosophy.

Okoro added that 71 ST Brigade was keeping pace with ongoing evolutionary training in the Nigerian Army.

He assured the COAS that the facility would be put to good use by training personnel that will deploy acquired skills to deliver quality essential services in support of ongoing operations in the Division’ areas of responsibility.

Bakare, who is he project executor, thanked the COAS for providing a conducive and stimulating learning environment for 71 ST Brigade.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

No fewer than 100 residents of Kobi Seriki, a suburb of Abuja, on Saturday received free medical services, food and household items from the Rotary Club of Asokoro as part of its humanitarian services.

The outreach was under projects Declutter to Empower, Feed the Family and Medical Outreach implemented by the club.

The residents, which included People With Disability (PWD), were given food and household items which included rice, beans, yams, noddles, corn, bed foam, pots, fan, shoes, cloths, baby items among others.

The President of the club, Dr Adesuwa Agbontaen, said that Kobi community was adopted to provide care, support and other interventions by the club.

He explained that the gesture was part of what Rotary International does which is providing humanitarian services that help and give succor to people.

“Our team for this year is ‘Create Hope in the World” and this is one way to create hope; we know that right now there is so much hopelessness, difficulties, economic problems and hunger in the land.

“In anyway we can ameliorate it, in any way we can bring smile to faces of people is what we are doing today.

“We hope that at the end of this exercise, some people will be happier, some will feel better and that is why we are here today,” he said.

Also speaking, a member of the club, Mr Olalekan Odutayo, said that over the years, the club had sank a bow hole powered by electricity in the community.

He said that the club had built two blocks of four classrooms in the primary school in the community and was preparing to rehabilitate dilapidated classrooms.

Odutayo said that the tripartite projects of declutter to empower, feed the family and medical outreach are annual projects carried out in the community by the club.

He said that the club is also partnering with Asokoro General Hospital to sponsor cataract eye surgery for patients in the community.

In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the excited beneficiaries who spoke were full of gratitudes to the club.

They prayed God for the expansion of the club and blessings on its members for reaching out to them at a time of need.

Mr Lazarus Turaki, a beneficiary of Feed the Family Project said that he was happy to be part of the programme

He prayed for more strength for the members of the club to continue the good works that are doing in the community.

Miss Beauty Rafael, a beneficiary of Declutter to Empower said that she received baby cloths and food stuff.

She said that she is hoping to birth a baby boy soon saying that the baby cloths were a sign that her boy is on the way.

Mrs Faith Emmanuel, who also got food items and cloths, commended the club for their humanitarian services.

She prayed God for many more successful years for the clubs and wishing the club expansion and growth.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The 2nd Conference on Human Capital Development in Africa (CHCDA) under the theme of "The Future of Jobs, Employability and Skills in Africa" will take place from October 2-3, 2023.

The conference aimed to catalyze Africa's human capital development through skills development and job creation and will feature prominent speakers, engaging panel discussions, and access to industry-leading knowledge and best practices.

It will also provide a platform for stakeholders from across Africa to network, share knowledge, and develop collaborative solutions to the most critical human capital development challenges facing the continent.

The conference is organized by Ministry of Labor and Skills, GIZ, ATD-Ethiopia and The i-Capital Africa Institute.

The conference is a platform designed by The i-Capital Africa Institute to shape the future by fostering collaboration, developing labor market strategies, proposing policies, and identifying solutions.

State Minister of Labor and Skills, Teshale Berecha told ENA that there will be consultation on how to enhance the coordination of the governments, the private sector and other relevant bodies working in the field of human resource development during the conference.

It is a platform to exchange experiences regarding the current status of the international labor and skills market, he said.

Moreover, Teshale added that the conference will contribute significantly to tailoring solutions to gaps in job creation and strengthening the links between industry and educational institutions.

Matching the demand and supply of skills in Africa, learning from best practices, School-to-work transition, volunteering, and internships, ensuring the quality of skills and jobs in the civil service sector, the role of the private sector in promoting employability and skills development, among other thematic topics, are expected to be discussed during the conference.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The International Peace Support Training Institute (IPSTI) has been providing quality education to African military officers and the institute needs to increase the intake of officers from African countries to draw experience from Ethiopian peacekeeping operations, Ugandan, South Sudanese and Kenyan military officers told ENA.

Members of the national army of South Sudan, Uganda and Kenya have successfully completed their two-year long studies at IPSTI and graduated with Master of Arts degree in Peace and Security Management last week.

The IPSTI, which earlier was known as Ethiopia Peace Support Training Center, has been providing education and trainings to both Ethiopian and African military officers and civilians for many years for effective peacekeeping missions in the sub-region and the continent at large.

IPSTI has contributed a lot to enhance the capacity of the East Africa Standby Force (EASF) and other organizations working on peace and security issue, by drawing trainees from across the region.

Lieutenant Colonel Watasa David, a Ugandan chief instructor, who was awarded gold medal for his outstanding achievement lauded the quality education he received during his studies and promised to impart his knowledge and experience to his fellow Ugandans and Africans as his country is also actively participating in a peacekeeping operation.

“I will use my knowledge to also try to impart it to my fellow people back home and as our country is participating in the peacekeeping operations,” Lieutenant Colonel David said,

He added “We are living at a time where peace is becoming a scarce commodity and getting this knowledge from this institute has been a wonderful experience, not only for me but also for my country.”

Noting that pursuing studies at the institute is fortunate for African officers, he said: “Ethiopia is also like home. When the training started, it was during COVID-19 pandemic. So there were a lot of restrictions, but we never missed home. Ethiopia was like a home.”

I had wonderful experience with Ethiopian officers in the classroom, he said, adding my first exposure with Ethiopian officers had been during peacekeeping operations in Somalia and noted that Ethiopia has contributed a lot of peacekeeping operations especially for African countries.

“Now this was my first time experience with the Ethiopian academia, and our class got students who had been in Abyei peacekeeping. So we use it to share a lot of experience especially from Ethiopian perspective. And Ethiopia has had a rich history, especially in peacekeeping. And I was so happy with the inclusion of female officers from Ethiopia. During the class discussions, they were always telling us the gender perspective of every debate. So it was very interesting for our region,” he explained.

The courses are relevant and other African countries need to draw and benefit from Ethiopian experience, “Ethiopia has been able to do it and what we can learn from,” the Lieutenant Colonel said.

According to him, the study tours organized for them to African Union, his visit of the Unity Park and Adama Hot water were all good learning experience.

Brigadier General Jok Angok Deng, a South Sudanese was among the military officers graduated with Master of Arts degree in Peace and Security Management.

Brigadier General Deng is a military attaché at the South Sudan's Embassy in Addis Ababa.

He expressed his hope that the number of students admitted to the institute from South Sudan and other African countries will increase in the future, so will their experience and skills be expanded by acquiring best knowledge and skills to apply in Africa and in global peacekeeping operations.

“I hope next time the number of South Sudanese students will be more than one,” he said.

Ethiopia has extended support to South Sudan in human resource capacity building efforts for many years, Brigadier General Deng said, adding “South Sudan is a newborn nation that needs human resource development and Ethiopia has been instrumental in providing trainings to so many students, whether civilians or member of the army.”

I had also graduated from the same institute with masters degree in 2017 in military operation and leadership and now with another masters degree in Peace and Conflict Management, he said.

“Many South Sudanese also graduated from Ethiopia with different certificates. This is human resource development for South Sudan, which is a new nation, and they will contribute like Ethiopia in peacekeeping operation in other parts of Africa.” he added.

Although South Sudan has lack of trained force for peacekeeping operations, it started participation in peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) under the East African Force, he said.

Ethiopian peacekeeping contingent did an excellent job in Abyei, he recalled, adding that they were fair enough to protect those who were vulnerable people in the area.

Ethiopia's peacekeeping track record is quite impressive and it needs to be emulated by South Sudan, he said.

Similarly, Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Yego, who is from Kenya graduated from IPSTI.

The courses he took were very important, especially to the Horn of Africa, where we are experiencing conflict and they will help us to understand the resolution of the conflict, Lieutenant Colonel Yego said

Ethiopia and Kenya have been cooperating in capacity building efforts in many ways, including exchange program and training for military personnel, he noted.

The lieutenant colonel commended the quality of education and experience acquired during his studies.

“The instructors are very excellent and they provide everything. The quality of education here is very nice. And I also advise my colleagues(Kenyans) to pursue for the same course if given the opportunity,” he said.

He thanked both his country for granting him this opportunity and the Ethiopian government, ENDF and this institute for the support provided to him

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has inaugurated a Moyale Cross-Border Development Facilitation Office.

IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu and Marsabit County Governor Mohamud Ali inaugurated the office on Friday.

The office is expected to support communities on Moyale-Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.

Speaking on the occasion, the executive secretary said that the facilitation office is a central part of a flagship agenda to take IGAD to the people.

This office shall serve as a catalyst for enhancing vision of IGAD in fostering sustainable peace, shared prosperity, and seamless regional integration, Workneh pointed out.

"It's (also) our commitment to fostering regional cross-border cooperation with the objective to propel mutual interests, including the promotion of trade and cultural ties," he added.

Marsabit County Governor Ali twitted that the inaugurated IGAD’s Cross-Border Development Facilitation Office in Moyale is a historic step toward regional peace and prosperity.

Let's work together for sustainable development in the Horn of Africa, the governor urged.

According to IGAD, the office in Moyale will be mandated to facilitate cross border cooperation actors, local government institutions and communities in their respective clusters to foster cooperation around a common programming agenda, especially delivering social services to host communities, refugees, and migrants.

The office was built with the cooperation of IGAD and German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The Bamenda 3 council hall, situated beside the main Council building in Mile 4 Nkwen, was burnt to ashes on Saturday, September 30, 2023, by 1:30 AM.

Everything in the council hall was razed to ashes, sources told CNA.

No firefighters showed up to put out the flames. Only the military and a few people around the Council premises tried to put out the fire, the source narrated.

The Bamenda 3 council, the lone surviving of the SDF party in the North West region has been doing all it could to restore peace in the municipality, reunite the people separated by the ongoing Anglophone crisis, promote inclusiveness in the socio-economic, and cultural aspects and most essentially to enhance development as well as well-being in the municipality.

A Council worker told CNA that surrounding residents heard noises around the building before it went up into flames. They suspect it was an arson attack.

Source: Cameroon News Agency