Day: April 11, 2023

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Mirabel Centre, has called on Nigerians to join hands to end sexual violence.

In a statement issued in Ikeja on Monday, the NGO urged Nigerians to support survivors by creating a safe and inclusive environment for them to speak out, so that the atrocious crime could be defeated.

It stated that one in every three women had experienced some sort of sexual assault or the other in their lifetime.

“Someone we know, love or work with could be a survivor.

“Rape or sexual assault affects the victims physically, emotionally, mentally and socially, it can be shattering, leaving survivors being scared, ashamed, and alone or plagued by nightmare, flashbacks, and other unpleasant memories.”

According to the statement, Mirabel Centre is Nigeria’s first Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), which provides support services for survivors of sexual assault.

“We provide direct free forensic medical care, legal and psycho-social support for

men, women and children, who have either recently or in the past experienced rape or sexual assault.

“In nine years of operations, we have provided direct support for no less than 8,000 survivors, who have gone through the trauma of sexual assault.

“The youngest survivor was a three-month-old baby and the oldest, an 82-year-old woman.

“We look forward to providing help for more survivors,” the statement stated.

The centre appealed to people to stop blaming victims, but to support, encourage and make them realise they are not alone.

The NGO stated that a concerned citizen could report on behalf of a person being sexually abused, so they could rescue the person.

It said that anyone sexually abused should access help on time by going to its centre located inside Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, or call the helplines 08155770000, 08187243468

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The National Population Commission (NPC) has assured that the 2023 National Population and Housing Census will be the best ever conducted in the history of the country.

NPC’s Federal Commissioner in Gombe State, Mr Abubakar Danburam stated this in Gombe on Tuesday during the inauguration of a 16- member Advocacy and Logistics Committee for the 2023 Population and Housing Census in the state.

Danburam said with the efforts so far made by the commission as well as the digitalisation of the exercise, the 2023 census would be better than any one conducted in the nation’s history of conducting census.

He said with the commission leveraging technology and modern approach to conducting census, there was no doubt that the 2023 exercise would be an improvement on the ones conducted in the past by the commission.

He said the priority of NPC in conducting accurate, reliable and acceptable census was as a result of the importance of census for development planning and other interventions that would help improve citizens’ wellbeing.

According to him, the 2023 census will address the irregularities associated with previous exercises.

“I can remember very well the 1963 census, there were lots of irregularities due to lack of development. The 1973 census, there was little improvement compared to that of 1963.

“Subsequent censuses came up with a lot of improvements. The current census to be conducted, from the level of demarcation, is digital.

“It is so because we are now matured enough to use the satellite image. The satellite image was used for the demarcation and the demarcation is called the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD),” he said.

He explained that the EAD was the foundation of the current census: “This demarcation was done meticulously and neatly. Every part of this country has been demarcated, no leftover, no overlap.

“This is giving us all the assurance that the census to be conducted will be digital and hopefully the best census conducted so far in this country.”

While inaugurating the 16-man Committee, Manassah Jatau, the Deputy Governor of Gombe State who doubles as the chairman of the committee, said the 2023 census would provide vital information about the socio-economic variables of the nation’s population.

Jatau advised the commission to take proactive measures to curb the threat of manipulation during the exercise as the NPC was working to conduct a credible census that would meet best global practice.

“The digital census is most likely to eliminate previous bottlenecks such as political, religious and cultural sentiments associated with accurate census in the country over the years.

“However, we should note that it is human beings that control and sometimes manipulate these machines that were meant for ease of carrying out tasks, jobs more accurately, with great precision,” he said.

To his committee members, the chairman said their duty was to enlighten, sensitise and get the support of residents of Gombe State towards the successful conduct of the exercise in May.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Ethiopian experts suggest the need to work on building indigenous values and personalities along with the formal educational knowledge in the education system in order to build a reasonable generation that loves the country.

The Prime Minister Office organized “Addis Weg” discussion platform under the theme “Shape Generation Medemer” today.

Minister of Education Professor Birhanu Nega on the occasion said it is necessary to build a generation that is rational and loves its country so that Ethiopia can use its blessings properly.

A generation who would work for Ethiopia with self-motivation should be created, he stressed.

Starting from family level, religious institutions, schools and other social institutions should play their role for this cause, he pointed out.

According to the minister, in addition to their knowledge development efforts, schools are being made to carry out personality building activities as stipulated in the new education curriculum.

The Medemer Generation book has created a favorable opportunity for discussion on how to create a generation that is suitable for Ethiopia, Professor Birhanu said.

Professor Panos Hazendrias, who also works in the field of education, said “our education system should focus on global ideas based on indigenous knowledge.”

Reminding that the education system in Ethiopia has excluded indigenous values for centuries, Panos observed that this has made the generation not to fully understand the existing reality of the country.

Therefore, he stressed the need for additional curriculums based on personality building.

The Medemer Generation book indicates a new approach in creating a generation that knows and loves the country, he noted.

Psychologist Seble Hailu noted that it is the current generation that is responsible for shaping Ethiopia for a better future.

The present generation should overcome grudges and promote love and cooperation instead of hatred, the psychologist advised.

Beamlaksira Fassil, a 12th grade student, said that a paradigm shift is needed to shape the generation in a better way.

In this regard, the Medemer Generation provides a new perspective of generation building that included me and my peers, she explained.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The Kavango West Region Under-20 football and netball teams received a hero’s welcome when they arrived in their home town of Nkurenkuru on Tuesday.

The football team, was for the first time ever crowned champions of this year’s The Namibian Newspaper Cup after defeating Otjozondjupa Region 2-0 on Monday.

The netball team took the fourth place at the games held in Otjiwarongo over the weekend.

The team walked, parading their winning trophy all the way from Nkurenkuru Tula Service Station up till the Nkurenkuru Town Council where the regional leadership as well as the town’s community gave them words of appreciation.

The coach of the football team Julius Simbombo told Nampa on Tuesday that the entire team is elated over their win, before stating that the target was to get through the group stages.

“I knew the possibility for us to win this year’s cup was high because I had the right squad that was very highly motivated and positive,” Simbombo said.

He said they are even more surprised being crowned the champions, when they come from a region with very little resources to their disposal.

The little resources the coach is referring to is the fact that the region does not have a standard sports field and players are forced to train at school playgrounds.

“Many of the players are not exposed as they are from rural areas and have never travelled before, many saw Otjiwarongo and other towns for the first time in their lives,” the caretaker shared.

He called on the regional leadership to lobby for funds for sports facilities to be developed at the town of Nkurenkuru.

Simbombo also urged all regional coaches to help youth develop their skills at an early stage.

“As the defending champions next year, we want to prepare for training earlier so we ask the business community to assist us with training kits and other items the players may need,” he added.

Kavango West Region Governor, Sirkka Ausiku, said the entire region is proud of all the players.

Ausiku said now would be the time for the line ministry to construct sports facilities at Nkurenkuru and meet the players and upcoming sportsmen and women halfway, especially after showcasing the potential in the region.

“Our players were the only team that did not have tracksuits compared to other regions and were perhaps undermined, I would like to lobby our business community to help out next time to further boost the morale of the players to bring back more trophies,” Ausiku appealed.

The football champions won N.dollars 35 000 in addition to the trophy, while the netball team walked away with N.dollars 3 250 for fourth place.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) is deliberating its subcommittee meeting on combating various transnational crimes including terrorism and violent extremism.

The three-day meeting kicked off today in Addis Ababa under the theme “Promoting Best Policing Practices in the Fight Against Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime in EAPCCO Region and Beyond”.

In his opening remark, Ethiopian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Zelalem Mengistea said the region is facing common crime such as terrorism, financial crime, cyber-crime, counterfeiting, narcotics, human trafficking, arm trafficking, and crime against children among others.

“I urge all of us to work towards a common goal of fighting against these crimes and reducing crimes rate in the region. We can achieve this goal only if we work together as a team by building a strong networking, sharing information and using Interpol tools,” he added.

Furthermore, Zelalem pointed out that this will enhance and strengthen cooperation among member country’s law enforcement agencies and partners in the fight against transnational organized crime.

Outgoing Chair from DRC, Colonel Tshiany Magnat Kabeya said that EAPCCO exists primarily as a police collaboration and coordination entity in Eastern Africa region.

He emphasized the importance of collective obligation to combat terrorism and transnational organized crime in the interest of the regional stability, peace and development.

“The government and police chiefs of 14 countries have shown commitment in ensuring that the region is safe,” the outgoing chair noted.

The police chiefs will deliberate on developments and regional response to terrorism and violent extremism and regional efforts to combat transnational organized crimes among others.

EAPCCO with 14 member countries Police Chiefs is aimed at harmonizing, strengthening police co-operation and joint strategies, sharing of crime related information and harmonization of laws in order to enhance the capacity of law enforcement agencies to combat transnational organized crime.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Omaheke Region was on Monday announced as the next host of the 2024 Namibian Newspaper Cup tournament, at its capital Gobabis.

Namibian Football Association (NFA) committee member, Cassius Moetie at the just-ended 21st edition of The Namibian Newspaper Cup in Otjiwarongo said the announcement was made earlier in order to allow the Omaheke Region ample time to prepare and organise a decent 22nd edition of the tournament.

Moetie also announced that new changes were made in the allocation of the cash prizes to the winning teams for the 2023 edition, with football champions, Kavango West receiving N.dollars 35 000 on Monday, then the N.dollars 30 000 as previously reported.

“Khomas Region which is the champion in netball received N.dollars 30 000 instead of the N.dollars 25 000 announced,” he said.

In second place in football, the Otjozondjupa region received N.dollars 20 000, while in third place, the Oshana football team received N.dollars 10 000.

The Otjozondjupa region as runner up in netball received N.dollars 15 000, in third place Omaheke received N.dollars 9 000, and in fourth place, Kavango West walked away with N.dollars 3 250, said Moetie.

Cash prizes in various categories of best players in netball and football, players of the tournament, goalkeeper of the tournament and match officials of the series also received cash ranging between N.dollars 250 to N.dollars 2 500.

The cash prizes at Otjiwarongo were handed over to recipients by the Minister of Sport, Youth and National Services, Agnes Tjongarero.

Governors of Oshana, Kavango West, Ohangwena, Zambezi, Hardap and Otjozondjupa regions also attended and assisted to hand over the awards, medals and trophies to the winners at the annual event.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency