From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Ms Ene Obi, Country Director, Actionaid Nigeria
Leaders in Nigeria have been asked to prioritize the issue of improved living condition for its citizens.
Ene Obi, Country Director, Actionaid Nigeria, who gave the charge at a System and Structure Strengthening Approach Against Radicalization to Violent Extremism (SARVE 11 Project) Midterm Review Dissemination, urged leaders to make the provision of healthy living for their citizens Paramount.
The Country Director said the time for leaders to strive towards good governance and ensure improvement in the living conditions of the citizens has become mandatory and very demanding.
While lamenting the rising trend of violence against women, Ene Obi called on governments to rise up to the occasion and protect women and the girl child.
The Country Director particularly frowned at the killing of late Mrs Salome Abu, a woman leader in Kogi as the height of callous treatment metted to women, describing the incident as a sad narrative for Actionaid Nigeria.
She said that Actionaid Nigeria would continue to make the issues of protecting women and the girl child a priority as well as human security, good governance, anti corruption, education and agriculture to occupy a pride of place in its efforts.
According to her, government at all levels should create jobs to check the rising trend of unemployment, leading to antisocial vices and violent extremism.
While pointing out that Actionaid Nigeria believes in the ability of the Nigerian Police to deliver, she said that can only be achieved when they are well equipped.
In a overview, Sarah, Nigeria Country Manager, GCERF listed decrease sense of purpose, access to Economic opportunities, weak Central government and increased violence as some major impact of Covid19 in the country.
The GCERF Country Manager advocated the need for media Communication, network Building, Youth Volunteering, use of new online tools using increased digital literacy as positive measures post covid19 to improve socioeconomic development in the country.
Other highlights of the MTR was a presentation on the overview of AAN Humanitarian and Resilience Signature by David Habba, Manager, Humanitarian and Resilience, AAN, described AAN as adaptable and proactive Organization at the advent of Covid19 stressed the consciousness of AAN to women and the general wellbeing of the people.
Presenting the SERVE 2 Mid-Term Evaluation Report on the project being implemented in collaboration with Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development( PIBCID) in Kogi state, PIBCID described the MTR as a learning and rewarding experience and recommended the following:
Commencement of a peace Building programme, more collaboration with religious leaders, the need to organize public events for more impactful reach.
PIBCID equally recommended early commencement of Training and distribution of income Generating equipment.
They equally recommended increased length of Training period for CART, Capacity Building outcome generation from acquired skills and the need to step down Training for women safe space for adolescent girls.
