Tag Archives: Providing

Abuja Carnival Providing Credible Platform For National Unity– Buhari

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President Muhammadu Buhari says that the Abuja Carnival has continued to provide a credible platform for national unity, peaceful co-existence and understanding of our ethnically and culturally diverse nation.

Buhari said this at the opening of the 2016 Abuja Carnival, with the theme; “The Creative Industry: A Pivot to Economic Growth” in Abuja on Saturday.

According to him, the present quest for authentic and homegrown approach to national security, peace and harmony, as well as the lessons of cultural carnival cannot be ignored.

“The 11th edition of the Abuja Carnival is not just another theme, but a declaration of one of the cardinal principles that we have consciously identified to bail out our nation from the grim of economic challenges that we face today.

“The robust contribution of the creative sector, particularly the performing musicians and Nollywood extraction to the Nation’s GDP are not only heart-warming but phenomenal.’’

Buhari said the sector was fast transforming the Nation into a cultural capital of the Sub-Saharan Africa.

“In this era of search for non-oil alternative, creativity no doubt is key and this government will accord it the priority it deserves.

“This is in line with the UNESCO dictum, since wars began in the heart of men, it is the hearts of men that the defences of peace would begin’’.

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello said that the Abuja Carnival, a multi-cultural event, started 11 years ago with the aim of preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria to the International community.

According to him, the Abuja Carnival has in the last decade emerged as a very viable and practical means of building bridges across borders, tribes, religion and enhancing friendship.

Bello said that this year’s team demonstrated government’s determination to use the creative ingenuity of Nigerians to boost the nation’s economy at this period of economic downturn.

Read More:

http://guardian.ng/news/abuja-carnival-providing-a-credible-platform-for-national-unity-buhari/

US Providing Over $240m In Development Assistance In Northeast Nigeria

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The United States says it is currently providing over $240M in development and humanitarian assistance through comprehensive programs in north eastern Nigeria and the broader Lake Chad Basin region.

This is according to the Director of the United States International Agency For Development (USAID) Mission in Nigeria, Michael Harvey, who is in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, on an assessment tour.

He said the tour was to obtain first-hand information on the spending of sister donor agencies operating in war-torn northeast Nigeria and funded by USAID.

The insurgency problem in northeast Nigeria has forced millions of citizens out of their homes with school-age kids kept out of their classes, a situation that had made the USAID intensify its intervention programmes in the affected areas.

The Director of the USAID said the intervention programmes were targeted at Internally Displaced Persons in Borno, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba and Yobe States.

USAID believes the task of addressing the many issues families in the displaced people’s camps as well as those in the host community are dealing with is overwhelming.

The victims of insurgency in Bakassi, originally from Gwoza Local Council in Borno State are the first to host the team.

They complained of poor living conditions and feeding, which they said had led to malnutrition and other illnesses.

“We need water and drugs and the weather is very harsh here because there are no trees. The sun disturbs us a lot,” one of the displaced persons, Hauwa Bello, told the group.

Part of the intervention plans of the USAID is to identify and empower displaced families preparing them for their return home.

The USAID also encouraged informal community schools assuring them of its willingness to partner with relevant authorities to give as many kids as possible unlimited access to education.

The region had seen over six years of insurgency and terror attacks mostly carried out by members of Boko Haram terrorist group.

Credit: ChannelsTv