News
NASS partners NEPAD on accelerated development in Nigeria
The National Assembly Wednesday set machinery in motion towards making the New Partnership for Africa’s Development ( NEPAD) to serve as required catalyst for development generally in Nigeria and Africa through value added peer review among the various countries.
In achieving this, , the joint committees on NEPAD from both the Senate and the House of Representatives held a legislative roundtable discussions with key players of the partnership on the Second African Peer Review of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2020.
In his remarks at the round table discussions , the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa and NEPAD, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani (PDP Enugu East), said the interactive session was put in place for critical review of the peer review itself as regards development inputs .
“Peer review being coordinated by NEPAD now known as African Union Development Agency (AUDA) , is very necessary for the required exchange of development – driven ideas among the various African countries .
“Of most importance, is how such peer review process, will add value to Nigeria’s quest for genuine development across the four identified thematic areas, one of which is entrenching constitutional democracy and the rule of law “, he said.
In her key note address at the round table discussions, the National Co-ordinator and Chief Executive Officer ( CEO) of AUDA – NEPAD/APRM, Princess Gloria Akobundu, said the four primary objectives of the peer review mechanism are ÷ eradication of poverty in Nigeria and other African countries, promotion of sustainable growth and development , integration of Africa in the world economy and acceleration of empowerment of women and youths.
Accordimg to her, “the historic path to the reform of NEPAD to AUDA, is beaconed on AUDA as a vehicle for the realization of the regional integration and acceleration of priority programmes and projects for better execution and timely implementation of AU Agenda 2063 and SDG’s 2030 at the county level” .
She stated further that since its transformation from NEPAD to AUDA, the agency has been mandated to among others ( i) coordinate and implement priority Continental and regional projects towards promotion of regional integration that will accelerate realization of Agenda 2063.
(iii) Strengthen capacity of AU members States and regional bodies to design , plan and implement Africa’s priority development programmes within the framework of African Union’s Agenda 2063 etc ” .
The AUDA CEO, explained further that the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), is a voluntary assessment tool instituted by the African Heads of State in 2003 .
“In Nigeria, APRM is domiciled in AUDA – NEPAD, with the primary objective to foster the adoption of policies, standards and practices that lead to political stability , high economic growth , sustainable development and accelerated regional and Continental economic integration .
“The APRM review process entails periodic reviews of policies and practices of participating countries to ascertain progress made towards achieving the agreed goals and compliance with the APRM thematic areas .
“The APRM review process is not a score card as it is not meant to name , shame or punish any member state .
“It is to make the review process relevant to citizens needs, more cost effective and in tune to the Agenda 2063 “, she said .
The wife of Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), Hajia Aishat has offered cash and food items worth millions of naira to widows and vulnerable women across Dekina local government Councils, promises to take similar gesture across the nine local government in Kogi East.
The exercise which was tagged: “Widows Empowerment”, saw the Senator’s wife distributing cash and food items to cushion the effect of Ramadan.
Items distributed are bags of rice bags of salt, cartons of seasoning, maggi etc, which were evenly distributed to widows and vulnerable women across party lines.
A beneficiary who spoke with our correspondent at Odu in Dekina Local Government Council, Hon Fitumi thanked Hajia for her continuous effort in coming through for widows and vulnerable regularly.
She acknowledged similar gesture by Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), a fortnight ago at Ankpa when youths in their numbers from three Local Government Areas were trained in Agriculture and empowered, stressing that people are now living testimony to the effort of the lawmaker.
“”We are aware of several intervention projects, empowerment and developmental projects of Senator Echocho and we are not surprised seeing Hajia toeing the similar path.
“The distribution of food items and cash today is not only a rekindling of hope to the beneficiaries, but an encouragement that despite their condition, they were not forgotten.
Hajia Labran, and other APC Women leaders who spoke on behalf of women, applauded Hajia Aisha Echocho and pray Allah to strengthen her to carry on, urged others to emulate her sustainable initiatives.
The women advised other political office holders to emulate what is good and just, which they believed would strengthen the party.
As part of the activities to celebrate the golden anniversary of the University of Calabar, the wife of the President of the Senate, Mrs Ekaette Unoma Godswill Akpabio was on Saturday, March 22, 2025 conferred with an honorary doctorate degree in Education Management.
The ceremony held at the main campus of the institution in Calabar, Cross River State also saw the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike awarded the honorary doctorate degree in Law.
Other awardees included Major General Moses Bisong Obi (rtd) (Doctor of Peace and Conflict Studies) and Supreme Court Justice, Emmanuel Akomaye Obi (Doctor of Law).
In her acceptance speech after the conferment by the 15th Emir of Kano and Chancellor of the University, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Akpabio thanked the Governing Council and Management of the University for finding her worthy of the honour.
A statement by the Special Assistant on Media/communication to the President of the Senate, Anietie Ekong quoted Mrs Akpabio as saying “I am happy to be honoured with this award from the prestigious University of Calabar that I have heard so much about from my dear husband, an alumnus of this great institution.
“I was wondering when I will join him as a great Malabress and that day has come and I am grateful to the University for this honour,” she said.
Mrs Akpabio promised to work with other awardees especially the Minister of the FCT to provide infrastructural assistance to the university.
In a citation the University extolled Mrs Akpabio for her philanthropic and humanitarian efforts towards uplifting the lives of women and the vulnerable of the society through her non governmental organisation, the Family Life Enhancement Initiative.
She was also recognized as a Champion of women’s rights and as one who used her position as the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State to fight for the inclusion of more women in governance.
On his part, Chief Wike said he was honoured to be among the recipients of award. He extolled the Visitor of the University, President Bola Tinubu for working tirelessly to promote tertiary education in the country.
Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed disappointment over the declaration of State of emergency in Rivers State, saying it discredits Nigeria’s image.
The declaration by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sent Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara packing for six months, while the elected members of the State House of Assembly have also been suspended.
Jonathan stated this while speaking as the Chairman at the Haske Satumari Foundation Colloquium in Abuja on Saturday.
He said elected officials have been removed from office in a very disappointing manner.
Contrary to Jonathan’s view however, the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, expressed support for Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers.
The party said no responsible government will allow a situation to deteriorate before taking decisive action in the best interest of its citizens.
NNPP National Chairman, Dr. Agbo Major, told newsmen: “President Tinubu is the Chief Security Officer of Nigeria.
“The information available to him as president from intelligence sources may not be in the public purview.
“The government in Rivers was suspended and no one can actually say what would have happened by now, judging from the deepening crisis.
“The crisis was further compounded by some leaders who, instead of offering advice or promoting peace during the turmoil, allowed it to escalate before later stepping in to criticize.”
But for President Jonathan, “These actions by key actors in the executive and legislative arms of government paint the country in a negative light.”
He said it was not the norm for former presidents to comment on issues, so as not to heat up the polity.
However, Jonathan said, his comment became necessary after calls from many Nigerians, urging him to speak on the events in Rivers State.
He added that the image of the country and how much investments a country attracts is dependent on the actions of the executive, legislature and judiciary of that country.
Goodluck Jonathan faulted the situation where an individual can dictate to the judiciary, noting that it makes it difficult for anyone to have faith in the judiciary.
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