Ndi Igbo celebrates Today as their day in Nigeria and in the world. This event takes place in Abakiliki In Ebonyi State and everyone is invited, it is a celebration of heros past and future...

The Home-grown School Feeding Programme has been launched in Nasarawa state, kick starting the nationwide takeoff of the scheme aimed at enhancing the nutritional status of Nigerian pupils.

At the colourful ceremony held at Laminga Primary School on 27 September President Obasanjo noted that a substantial number of primary school children in Nigeria do not eat enough to ensure proper school attendance, attention and performance at school while almost half of school children aged between 7-13 years are underweight.

President Obasanjo stated that the School Feeding Programme worldwide has been embraced as safety net for child hunger, poverty reduction, empowerment of school-aged children, mitigation of risk factors to underdevelopment and reduction of malnutrition among children.

The President said it was in response to this situation that his administration constituted a number of Presidential Committees on Dairy Development, Citrus and cereals production among others to address food security.

He congratulated the Nasarawa state governor for the bold steps he has taken through sending samples for laboratory tests preparatory to local production of imported food supplements.

President Obasanjo pledged cooperation with international partners willing to support the Nasarawa School Feeding Programme, which he noted is in tandem with government’s strategy in achieving the second and third goals of the Millennium Development Goals.

Nigeria is 45 on the Ist of October, 2005
It is Reform Nigeria and celebration of life and you.

The school-feeding programme would give impetus to the Universal Basic Education Programme (UBE), which currently has an enrolment figure of 17 million Children.

The Minister of Education, Professor Fabian Osuji, made this disclosure when he received the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), team led by Mr. Namanga Ngongi, WFP’s Special Advisor and former Deputy Executive Director.

He said Nigeria was a country of great diversity, with low school enrolment figures hence schemes like the school-feeding programme will not only attract but also help retain children in school.

The Minister said the Ministry had inaugurated a committee in 2002 with the responsibility of working with WFP and that the programme would help give impetus to the UBE programme.

He expressed government’s interest in the programme because of the need to sustain the increase in enrolment and expanded interests brought about by the introduction of UBE, which makes education free.
Ngongi had earlier attributed the failure of the programme in the past to logistics of taking the food to the designated destinations as against lack of interests on the part of the ministries concerned.
He said his visit was an exploration mission because of the challenges posed to the UBE programme which lacks 100 percent enrolment as a result of hunger making the programme an area that requires more in-depth researches to use home grown resources to support.

The Home-grown School Feeding Programme has been launched in Nasarawa state, kick starting the nationwide takeoff of the scheme aimed at enhancing the nutritional status of Nigerian pupils.

At the colourful ceremony held at Laminga Primary School on 27 September President Obasanjo noted that a substantial number of primary school children in Nigeria do not eat enough to ensure proper school attendance, attention and performance at school while almost half of school children aged between 7-13 years are underweight.

President Obasanjo stated that the School Feeding Programme worldwide has been embraced as safety net for child hunger, poverty reduction, empowerment of school-aged children, mitigation of risk factors to underdevelopment and reduction of malnutrition among children.

The President said it was in response to this situation that his administration constituted a number of Presidential Committees on Dairy Development, Citrus and cereals production among others to address food security.

He congratulated the Nasarawa state governor for the bold steps he has taken through sending samples for laboratory tests preparatory to local production of imported food supplements.

President Obasanjo pledged cooperation with international partners willing to support the Nasarawa School Feeding Programme, which he noted is in tandem with government’s strategy in achieving the second and third goals of the Millennium Development Goals.

August, the eight month of the year does not need much introduction as it plays host to festivals, the elevation of customs and in fact the celebration of beliefs.

At least, prominent among those celebrations are August meetings and New Yam Festivals. Given the legal maxim that ancient custom has the force of law, adherents and believers of such celebrations exhibit a lot of vigour to make it what is often described as colourful.

And so, on the part of August meetings women would come from near and far usually tagged home and abroad and head for home in a show of solidarity with the womenfolk of their communities.

In defense of such actions, observers have pointed out that as they gather, they tend to discuss the development strategies of their communities. Although, its origin is hardly traced, yet it pulls a lot of crowd just like its cousin-New Yam festival which they say, is to thank their god for the yield.

It has also been argued that a good number of features are exhibited to prove their credibility, as they pray and sing.

But critics have come hard on such practices and dismiss them with a wave of the hand. To start with, they argue what kind of prayer would make some women sleep with men in order to get assorted wears for the August Meeting, or that would encourage gossips and jealousy among women during and after such meetings. They also argue what kind of prayer and development would encourage pouring of libation and the molestation of people, as in the case of New Yam festival among other practices.

Actually, beliefs and customs have one common feature.

And this is the fact that they are a product of conviction. Their practices have a fashion whose passion evoke acclaimed credence and confidence among faithfuls who share similar habits and manner of doing things.

And this goes to confirm John Stuart Mill stance that one person with a belief is equal to a force of ninety nine who have only interest. This is even supported by John Burroughs who believed that it is always easier to believe than to deny, as our minds are naturally affirmative. This informs the often-noticed passion by people for associations and gatherings whose aims run counter to what they profess or are difficult to explain. Of course, that is why Michel Montaigna says that nothing is so firmly believed than we least know.

And so, whether in the rascality by youths in the New Yam festival or the so called fashion and gossip parade as in August Meeting, one thing that unites them is an incongruous conviction which J. Barklett describe as custom which is a tyrant of our feelings and our manners and rules the world with the hand of a despot. No wonder, they even force people to belong else trouble. but, if a cultural practice runs contrary to others belief why should they be forced to like what they do not believe in.

Actually, some cultural practices are good, like having respect for elders etc, but when youths molest even their elders on the rod during their celebrations how does that become a good culture.

Indeed, it has been observed that culture is the habit of being pleased with the best and knowing why. This is echoed by Mahatna Ghandi who says that no culture can live, if it attempts to be exclusive.

Unfortunately, humanity has failed to realized that some belief exude and dictate fear, the fear for the unknown which people have refused to come out of. But fear has its magic. according to Lloyed Douglas, if a man habours any sort of fear, it percolates through all his thinking damages his personality and makes him landlord to a ghost.

August, the eight month of the year does not need much introduction as it plays host to festivals, the elevation of customs and in fact the celebration of beliefs.

At least, prominent among those celebrations are August meetings and New Yam Festivals. Given the legal maxim that ancient custom has the force of law, adherents and believers of such celebrations exhibit a lot of vigour to make it what is often described as colourful.

And so, on the part of August meetings women would come from near and far usually tagged home and abroad and head for home in a show of solidarity with the womenfolk of their communities.

In defense of such actions, observers have pointed out that as they gather, they tend to discuss the development strategies of their communities. Although, its origin is hardly traced, yet it pulls a lot of crowd just like its cousin-New Yam festival which they say, is to thank their god for the yield.

It has also been argued that a good number of features are exhibited to prove their credibility, as they pray and sing.

But critics have come hard on such practices and dismiss them with a wave of the hand. To start with, they argue what kind of prayer would make some women sleep with men in order to get assorted wears for the August Meeting, or that would encourage gossips and jealousy among women during and after such meetings. They also argue what kind of prayer and development would encourage pouring of libation and the molestation of people, as in the case of New Yam festival among other practices.

Actually, beliefs and customs have one common feature.

And this is the fact that they are a product of conviction. Their practices have a fashion whose passion evoke acclaimed credence and confidence among faithfuls who share similar habits and manner of doing things.

And this goes to confirm John Stuart Mill stance that one person with a belief is equal to a force of ninety nine who have only interest. This is even supported by John Burroughs who believed that it is always easier to believe than to deny, as our minds are naturally affirmative. This informs the often-noticed passion by people for associations and gatherings whose aims run counter to what they profess or are difficult to explain. Of course, that is why Michel Montaigna says that nothing is so firmly believed than we least know.

And so, whether in the rascality by youths in the New Yam festival or the so called fashion and gossip parade as in August Meeting, one thing that unites them is an incongruous conviction which J. Barklett describe as custom which is a tyrant of our feelings and our manners and rules the world with the hand of a despot. No wonder, they even force people to belong else trouble. but, if a cultural practice runs contrary to others belief why should they be forced to like what they do not believe in.

Actually, some cultural practices are good, like having respect for elders etc, but when youths molest even their elders on the rod during their celebrations how does that become a good culture.

Indeed, it has been observed that culture is the habit of being pleased with the best and knowing why. This is echoed by Mahatna Ghandi who says that no culture can live, if it attempts to be exclusive.

Unfortunately, humanity has failed to realized that some belief exude and dictate fear, the fear for the unknown which people have refused to come out of. But fear has its magic. according to Lloyed Douglas, if a man habours any sort of fear, it percolates through all his thinking damages his personality and makes him landlord to a ghost.

The establishment and actual inauguration of a National Committee on Famine Relief for the Republic of Niger by President Olusegun Obasanjo is both a diplomatic masterstroke and a genuine move to come to the aid of a friendly and brotherly nation and people, writes Salisu Na’inna Dambatta.

Niger Republic, the country that shares a lot in common with Nigeria, is facing a devastating famine caused by the combined effects of a long drought in the food-producing portions of that country, and a merciless onslaught on the patches of crops that sprouted in the last rainy season by a swarm of locusts.

The food scarcity and its devastating impact is visible on the frail bodies of malnourished children, emaciated adults and the remains of thousands of livestock. It is manifested on a massive social dislocation and agony among the estimated 3.6 million people caught in its painful web.

Reports from parts of Niger, especially the densely populated Sahelian southern parts that share border with Nigeria, and the central areas in the inhospitable Sahara desert, indicate that nearly 800,000 children are especially vulnerable, even as hundreds of them have already died of starvation. More are in danger, hence the need for Nigeria to rally for them, to assist them and contribute in saving those that could be rescued by a small, worthy sacrifice.

A country of 11,665,937 citizens and faced by recurring droughts and with only 3.4 per cent of its vast territory as arable, it is described by an informational document published on the Internet as “landlocked; one of the hottest countries in the world: northern four-fifths is desert, southern one fifth is savanna, suitable for livestock and limited agriculture.”

Blessed with deposits of uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum, salt and petroleum, the country’s current Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is made up of 39 per cent contributed by agriculture; 44 per cent generated by the service sector and the balance of 17 per cent put in by industry. However, more than 60 per cent of the population lives below poverty line.

Nigeria and Niger are cooperating closely at multi-lateral and bilateral levels. Both countries are in the ECOWAS, the African Union, the Lake Chad Basin Commission, the River Niger Joint Commission, the United Nations Organisation, the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC), the Non-Aligned Movement and a dozen other regional and global organisations.

In fact, Niger has cooperated and consequently developed a unique understanding with Nigeria over the utilisation of the waters of River Niger by foregoing an option to damn it upstream, which would have eroded the opportunity for Nigeria to develop the hydropower generating stations at Kainji and Jebba. A percentage of the power generated from the hydropower station at Kainji is transmitted to Niger.

Majority of the people of Niger Republic have strong ties and affinities with the peoples in Nigerian states sharing border with that country. At least 90.8 per cent of the people of Niger are Hausa, Zabarmawa, Fulani, Kanuri or Shuwa Arabs, just like the people in Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina, Sokoto and Kebbi states. There are countless socio-economic contacts on daily basis, in shared markets and festivities such as Argungu fishing festival, in mosques during marriage, naming or funeral rites. Herdsmen from both sides share grazing reserves. Inter-marriages across the borders are regarded as normal and very common.

The facts stated in the preceding paragraph and the natural tendency of Nigerians to be their brothers’ keepers are some of the reasons for the swift and generous response to aid the famine victims of Niger Republic. In Kano, a private radio station is mobilising individual donors and it is serving as a collector of donations. The Government of Kebbi State has dispatched 33 trailers laden with rice, millet, sorghum and maize to Niger for those in need of help. Governor Muhammad Adamu Aliero also promised to send drugs and medical personnel for the sick in the areas affected by famine. It would be appropriate for the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to consider mobilising volunteers from its rank to go to Niger and assist. The Nigerian Red Cross and the two Islamic Aid Groups should consider contributing what they can.

It is significant that Jigawa state was the first state in Nigeria to deliver foodstuff worth over N57 million to the victims of the famine in Niger. Borno state offered N30 million; Yobe, N25 million, Katsina foodstuff worth N30 million; Sokoto N35 million; Niger N30 million worth of foodstuff, while Kaduna state has earmarked millions of Naira in emergency aid for Niger famine victims, as announced by the Chairman of the National Committee for Niger Famine Relief, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, the Speaker, House of Representatives.

The corporate giants of Nigeria that contributed generously to so many worthy causes in the recent past, especially to the victims of tsunami and other disasters, have another opportunity in the Niger calamity to once more do good to humanity by donating generously. Their contribution would undoubtedly be a plus for the good name of Nigeria and solidify their individual image as socially responsible and caring organisations.

However, it is not immodest to state here that even before other countries in the world realised the extent of the heartbreaking situation in Niger, Nigeria has silently been partnering with that country as huge quantities of commodities, manufactured goods and petroleum products are regularly ferried across the border without much formal let or hindrance.

As stated earlier, consumers from Niger attend markets in Nigerian border towns and cities in the hinterland, including Lagos, Onitsha and Aba, to purchase foodstuff and other goods. It is widely known that from time to time the currencies of both countries are used in paying for goods and services on each side of the border. So, when Nigeria officially sold grains to the World Food Programme (WFP) for delivery to Niger a few weeks ago, this writer regarded it as just a complex extension of the daily commercial transactions between the citizens of the two countries.

The Nigerien community in Nigeria is one of the largest on earth. Some members of that community are entrepreneurs who have invested heavily in Nigeria, thereby creating employment for Nigerians to the extent that the question of their nationality is no longer an issue.

So, if people from Niger would come and buy from Nigerians or invest their hard-earned money in our country when the going was good for them, it is only proper for Nigeria and Nigerians to come together and assist them in their hour of need. This is one element of a special relationship.

One other factor that contributed in making the relationship between Niger and Nigeria so special is that the 1,497 kilometre-long border we share is probably the most peaceful. It is rare for criminals or bandits, cattle rustlers or invading soldiers from Niger to cross into Nigeria and cause havoc. This cannot be said of one or two of our neighbours that seem to be spoiling for war with our country without any provocation whatsoever.

In the final analysis, given the positive role Nigeria plays in Africa and across the world in peace keeping operations, facilitating conciliation between or among disputants and giving leadership among peers, it is only natural for President Olusegun Obasanjo to set up the Masari Committee in the belief that Nigerians would show compassion, solidarity and generousity to the famine victims in Niger Republic. This spirit was demonstrated for the Asian Tsunami victims, for the Russians when they had a disaster and for countless other causes. It can be repeated for the benefit of our special friends and neighbours.

Indeed, it would be a historic continuation of our good neighborliness, which was extended to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan and other countries. It is also a practical manifestation of our concern for the welfare of fellow human beings.

Following the identification of two polio cases in Somalia, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) began a three-day emergency polio immunisation campaign on Thursday in the capital, Mogadishu, officials said.

The two cases, in the country's southern Benadir Region, in which Mogadishu is located, were the first to be identified in Somalia since October 2002. They were detected by WHO's national polio surveillance system, WHO and UNICEF said in a joint statement.

"The rapid implementation of high quality immunisation activities will limit the spread of the polio virus," Dr. Ibrahim Betelmal, the WHO representative for Somalia, said in the statement.

WHO and UNICEF said in order to reach the children, they were working with all available partners; including local NGOs and community-based organizations, religious leaders, women's groups, youth groups, doctors, traditional healers and others to help raise awareness and support control and prevention efforts. It added that a scientific assessment of the situation had also begun.

"The campaign will continue until 24 September and vaccinators are conducting door-to-door immunisation targeting children aged five years and under. We hope to reach about 268,000 children," Christian Balslev-Olesen, the UNICEF representative for Somalia, said.

The September campaign follows nationwide polio immunisation efforts in February, March, June, July and August to protect the country's children from lifelong paralysis caused by the disease. The June campaign followed a WHO warning that Somalia could become reinfected with polio from nearby Ethiopia and Yemen.

Afghanistan, Egypt, India, Niger, Nigeria and Pakistan remain polio-endemic, and the virus has continued to spread to previously polio-free countries. In total, 10 previously polio-free countries - Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Mali, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen - had been reinfected in late 2004 and 2005

The new TIG platform is very much a great and expected development in my view. It captures the former and improved on it. It is the unlimited community changed but the same.