Aso Villa Reads for Wednesday, 23rd June, 2021
Every day, we bring you the best stories that the Media is reporting about the Government of Nigeria
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Tuesday, inaugurated the National Steering Committee of the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. This, he said, re-echoes his commitment to lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years, with a well-researched framework for implementation and funding. Speaking at the ceremony, the President disclosed that the NPRGS had already proposed the establishment of a private equity fund, the Nigeria Investment and Growth Fund, to lead resource mobilisation drive and also manage the resources in a sustainable manner. [Punch]
Within 30 months of its implementation, the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) has created a market worth over N5.2 billion and 2,600 jobs. This was disclosed by the National Information and Technology Development Agency (NITDA), a government body in charge of its supervision. Specifically, the Director, eGovernment Development and Regulation, NITDA, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, revealed this via a broadcast interview. [Punch]
The Federal Government has rolled out plans to ensure the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG, as cooking fuel grows from the current five per cent to 90 per cent in the next ten years. The government expressed concern that over 900,000 people are negatively impacted annually from the use of kerosene, firewood and charcoal in cooking across Nigeria. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said, effective implementation of the National LPG Expansion Plan, NLEIP, would move Nigerians away from using cooking fuel that are harmful to health and environment to cleaner and more efficient energy. [Vanguard]
The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has trained 300 pre-service and in-service teachers on the reviewed curricula on family life and emerging health issues. The workshop was organised to strengthen the capacity of the educators on the delivery of new curricula covering Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW), Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), Harmful Practices (HP) and Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR).[Leadership]
Federal government has distributed 80 indigenous science Kits to 40 secondary schools across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to encourage students at both junior and senior levels to study science, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The minister of science and technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, delivered the kits to the schools during the “Training of Teachers/Distribution of indigenous Science kits for secondary schools”. The scientific kits will spur the curiosity of young Nigerians and further stimulate their interest to study STEM. [Leadership]
In its effort to ensure that Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria face less difficulties, the federal government has commenced validation meeting on the draft national roadmap for local producers of assistive devices for them. The minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, who was represented by the permanent secretary, Bashir Nura Alkali, said the importance of assistive technologies in the life of PWDs cannot be overemphasizsed as it enables them to live healthy, productive, independent and dignified lives. [Leadership]
The Federal Ministry of Health has received in donation some medical equipment worth $1 million from the Government of Saudi Arabia to further strengthen the fight against COVID-19.This is contained in a statement signed by the Director of Media and Public Relations, Olusegun Adetola on Tuesday in Abuja.The statement quoted the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, thanking the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the tremendous donation of 23 ventilators, surgical sterile gowns, non-sterile surgical gowns, surgical mask and nitrite gloves.[Tribune]
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has launched its 2021 medical teams’ Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD). The director-general of the scheme, Shuaibu Ibrahim (major general), said at the launch in Abuja on Monday that the initiative — a medical outreach to rural communities, would feature sensitisation on disease prevention and care. Ibrahim said the scheme had donated over 300 wheelchairs with the support of partners and established community-based clinics and humanitarian support, among others, to communities. [Business Day]
The Federal Government has declared its plan to establish emerging technology centres across Nigeria. This was contained in a statement on Tuesday titled ‘Federal Government to establish emerging technology centres across the nation’ disclosed by The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami. [Punch]
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