Reunion Wire

The Foundation for a Better Environment (FABE) on Monday said it had donated 100 giant recycling bins to schools in Ogun and Lagos States.

The founder of FABE, Mrs Temitope Okunnu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the donation was to promote environmental sustainability and commemorate the World Environment Day (WED).

NAN reports that the World Environment Day is the United Nations day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect the environment, held annually on June 5.

The theme for the World Environment Day 2023, which is under the campaign #BeatPlasticPollution is, “Ecosystem Restoration”.

“With funding from the Coca-Cola Foundation and with our determination to ensure that Nigerians become environmentally responsible, we have donated 100 giant recycling bins to different schools in Ogun and Lagos states.

“This is line with our goal to promote the importance of environmental education in schools.

“We are doing this because we understand the role that environmental education plays in shaping the future of our next generation,” she told NAN.

Okunnu said that the bins were donated to Akande Dahunsi Senior Secondary School, Ikoyi; Olomu Junior Secondary School, Ajah, among others in Lagos State.

“In Ogun State, the foundation donated some of the bins to Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta; Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), where it is also going to set up a recycling hub,” she said.

According to the FABE founder, funding for the donation is in line with the group’s aim to promote circular economy, waste management, recycling activities and to commemorate the World Environment Day.

Okunnu stressed that recycling was one of the solutions to beat plastic pollution in the country, adding that the Foundation wanted the next generation to have a responsibility to the environment, hence its donation to the schools.

“We want to create more awareness about sustainable waste management, segregation, sorting and recycling at an early age.

“We are also targeting the higher institutions this time and not only the secondary and primary schools.

“We also want to encourage both the students and teachers to adopt sustainable practices by planning and sorting their waste, recycling and to reduce the amount of waste in our dumpsites.

“Through this, we can promote our circular economy approach; we also want our students, teachers and even the parents to work towards the achievement of environmental Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“We are not just donating bins, we are also teaching students and changing the narrative to waste management and sustainable solutions,” Okunnu said.

She reiterated that the donation was beyond giving out bins, but to change the narrative to waste management, recycling activities and sustainable lifestyles.

“We are also going to be empowering the students to make income by the side when they drop their plastic waste at recycling bins in exchange for cash.

“The donation is to demonstrate our commitment to supporting efforts in creating an environmentally sustainable learning environment. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Gov. Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has commended the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for its unwavering commitment to uplift Hajj administration in the country.

The commission’s Head of Information and Publication Division, Malam Moussa Ubandawaki, in a statement, said the governor made the commendation during a courtesy call on NAHCON’s Headquarters on Monday in Abuja.

Lawal also applauded the commission for the seamless arrangements made in the transportation of Zamfara pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

According to him; the fact that there isn’t so much noise and fuss anywhere showed that the operation is moving smoothly with little hiccups.

“I want to commend the Management and Board of the commission for the way and manner this year’s hajj transportation is being conducted across the country.”

He stated that since he assumed office, he had decided not to interfere in the planning and execution of Hajj arrangements by the State’s Board in order not to jeopardize the exercise.

Earlier, the Chairman of NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan expressed delight at the style and maturity of the governor since he assumed office.

” You have been magnanimous in victory and you have continued to demonstrate that you are a progressive who is ready to serve the interest of the people of the State.

‘ I really want to commend you for that.”

The Chairman also applauded Zamfara pilgrims, officials of sokoto and Zamfara Pilgrims Welfare Boards for their efforts in ensuring that transportation in the Sokoto Zone goes on seamlessly.

“Indeed the flight operation in Sokoto Zone so far has been seamless. The pilgrims from the zones are on record to be always on time to board the aircraft promptly.”

In a related development, the Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Amb. Yahaya Lawal, commended NAHCON boss for his vision and all-inclusive style of management in monitoring the organisation of the hajj operation.

“I’m so impressed with the monitoring of the hajj operation. I am so glad and delighted that the operation is getting on very well, ” he said.

Amb. Lawal who breezed into the Central Coordinating Committee Meeting at the NAHCON’s office, said he was encouraged by the event in the Situation Room to adjudge this year’s Hajj as an outstanding one.

“I have seen the result of better planning, organization and monitoring. It is a great accomplishment that you are able to utilise all the 95,000 slots allocated to Nigeria.

” Indeed, this will give us the impetus to ask for additional allocation in 2024. I want to say this year’s hajj operation has been very outstanding.”

He assured of the embassy’s readiness and commitment to support and collaborate with NAHCON to achieve its desired objective of a successful Hajj.

“We are at your disposal to collaborate with you for a successful operation this year and beyond in the discharge of your national assignment.” (NAN)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Swapo Party Central Committee is expected to convene to discuss the Supreme Court ruling that recognises same-sex marriages concluded outside Namibia.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Swapo’s Secretary for Information and Mobilisation, Hilma Nicanor, said the meeting will discuss the various concerns raised by its members, structures, supporters and the general public.

Nicanor said the ruling, its implications and its impact on society as a whole warranted consideration of the range of available and legally viable statutory remedial action that could potentially be taken.

“I wish to reassure our members, sympathisers and supporters, and the public, that the Swapo Party takes the public’s concerns, anxiety and unhappiness seriously. As such, the party will do everything it is able to do in accordance with the constitutional and legal requirements to find a long-lasting and acceptable solution,” she said.

Nicanor however did not specify when the meeting of the central committee would take place.

The Supreme Court last month ruled that same-sex marriages concluded outside of Namibia are recognised as valid in the country. The ruling has been met with mixed reactions in Namibia, with some strongly opposing it, while others welcomed it as a step forward for equality.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The Swapo Party Central Committee is expected to convene to discuss the Supreme Court ruling that recognises same-sex marriages concluded outside Namibia.

In a statement issued today, Swapo’s Secretary for Information and Mobilisation, Hilma Nicanor, said the meeting will discuss the various concerns raised by its members, structures, supporters and the general public.

Nicanor said the ruling, its implications and its impact on society as a whole warranted consideration of the range of available and legally viable statutory remedial action that could potentially be taken.

“I wish to reassure our members, sympathisers and supporters, and the public, that the Swapo Party takes the public’s concerns, anxiety and unhappiness seriously. As such, the party will do everything it is able to do in accordance with the constitutional and legal requirements to find a long-lasting and acceptable solution,” she said.

Nicanor however did not specify when the meeting of the central committee would take place.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Engagements between the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (NORED), NamPower and other key stakeholders at the national level are ongoing to ensure there will be no further suspensions of electricity to Nored’s customers.

The head of corporate communications and marketing at NORED, Simon Lukas, said this in a media statement issued here on Tuesday after several towns in the Hardap and ||Kharas regions, as well as in the seven northern regions supplied by Nored, went without electricity.

Towns experienced power outages between 17h00 and 22h00 on Monday.

According to Lukas, the power outages occurred after a recent announcement by NamPower on its plan to suspend in stages the electricity supply of the defaulting customers starting on 05 June 2023 as part of their debt collection mechanism.

The defaulters owe the power utility over N.dollars 1 billion.

‘However, NORED took note earlier on 05 June 2023 about a Cabinet directive for NamPower to put on hold the impending power suspensions, pending further consultations among relevant stakeholders,’ Lukas stated.

He said Cabinet had directed NamPower to stop its plan to cut power to defaulting regional electricity distributors, local authorities and regional councils.

Finance and Public Enterprises Minister, Iipumbu Shiimi, informed Cabinet about the worsening debt situation of these entities, which led to a directive for NamPower to postpone the power suspensions.

The decision he said was communicated to NamPower board chairperson, Daniel Motinga, in a letter from Shiimi.

‘NORED regrets this unfortunate incident and in the same vein hereby would like to extend its sincere apologies to all its esteemed stakeholders and valued customers,’ Lukas noted.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency