The knowledge and capacity building event will be held under the auspices of the ‘Inclusive Climate Change Adaptation for a Sustainable Africa (ICCASA) Program,’
Joseph Ibezim
It Is very heartwarming that ever since Nigeria’s former Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, became the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), has been more active and indeed aggressive in pushing policies and programmes targeted at improving the lot of women in Africa.
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The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 44 African countries with an external office in Japan, the AfaDB contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states.
What is being seen now is a commendable continuation of what he did to enhance the contribution of women in agricultural production in Nigeria as agriculture minister during the tenure of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
His good works were further recognized by President Muhammadu Buhari, who supported his quest to become the President of the ADB, when the position became vacant. President Buhari would always merit commendation for this statesmanlike and patriotic decision.
It is against this laudable background that one views the special ‘Climate Change Seminar on Gender Mainstreaming for African Group of Negotiators, which will hold on Wednesday, September 27 in Dakar, Senegal.
The knowledge and capacity building event will be held under the auspices of the ‘Inclusive Climate Change Adaptation for a Sustainable Africa (ICCASA) Program,’ a project administered by the Bank with a $450,000 grant from the Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation Trust Fund.
The programme’s key goal is to ensure that women and men become less vulnerable and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The ICCASA project will be implemented across Africa by four partners: CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security; African Working Group on Gender and Climate Change; Women in Global Science and Technology, and World University Service of Canada.
The Dakar training session will equip AGN delegates to better understand the concept of gender and inclusiveness, conduct gender responsive climate change negotiations, and to understand and manage the links between gender and climate change, thus ensuring gender balance in access to policy-making and negotiation spaces.
The training will also address the needs and perspectives of women and men in policymaking and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change processes, adopted on 9 May 1992.
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As African countries move towards low-emission, climate resilient, inclusive and sustainable development, they need adequate climate finance, along with properly designed mechanisms. Climate finance implementation will require an inclusive approach – one that considers the needs, interests and vulnerabilities of women and men – at all phases, from concept and design to implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
This will ensure resilience, project sustainability and gender equality.
This training and the Bank’s involvement with ICCASA, underlines its leadership role and ongoing commitment to Africa’s climate change agenda.
All too often, it has been observed that Nigerian delegates to international events of this nature tend to see their participation as mere academic exercise and an opportunity to obtain free foreign exchange in the form of estacode approved for them, to enable such officials participate in such international conferences and events. Heads of the relevant government MDA often times see Nigeria’s participation in international events of this nature as an opportunity to reward personnel who are loyal them rather allowing merit to determine who should be nominated for the programme.
The fortunate nominees should see their participation as a beneficial opportunity to learn new things and best practices that would impact positively on their work performance upon return to Nigeria.
They should demonstrate patriotic zeal in applying the knowledge acquired from the seminar when they return.
That will be a very useful of entrenching the change agenda of the present administration.
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Joseph Ibezim, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Lagos
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There is hope for our youths in Nigeria
The majority of Nigerians are facing severe and dire economic situations, es- pecially the youths who are unemployed and who have to contend with disappointment of not securing admission into tertiary institutions. Even for the people that are working, the take-home pay can hardly take most of them home.
No doubt as a nation, most Nigerians, except very few, who belong to the class identified as money bags, money launderers and treasury looters, desire and pray for a more prosperous nation with abundant living.
The situation of our nation today clearly shows that the country needs healing from the multiple effects of social insecurity, joblessness., cor- ruption, tribalism, nepotism, religious bigotry, oppression of the voiceless and down trodden and lack of health care. It is very sad that 58 years after the end of British colonial rule, several key sectors of the economy, health, education, are in shambles. The fate of Nigeria, many would argue looks gloomier and hopeless by the day.
But the Almighty God would is undoubtedly interested in the peace and progress of Nigeria and the welfare of its people.
The biblical passage in 2 Chronicles 7 verse 14 clearly declares the mind of God concerning Nigeria. It says: “If my people (all believers in
Christ in Nigeria) called by my name, will humble themselves, and seek my face and pray and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Every year, we mark Independence day, to remember how God made it possible for us to cast off the yoke of colonial rule under Britain and become a free nation. This annual celebration should begin to have real meaning for our people and cease to be the empty observance that it currently seems to be.
We need a prosperous Nigeria where life will be more abundant, where our youths will have reason look to the future with hope. There should be a security, social justice, equal opportunity and meaning employment for our youths.
I urge all Nigerians to join the campaign for the rebirth of our nation, renewal of hope and enthronement of righteousness. As a Nigerian desirous of change, growth and development of the country, I believe that the forthcoming special event that will hold in Ikorodu on October 1, to mark this year’s independence anniversary is a good step in the right direction. God bless our nation.
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