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ECA calls for support to women and youth entrepreneurs in transforming African trade

ECA calls for support to women and youth entrepreneurs in transforming African trade

Addis Ababa, 8 October 2023 (ECA) – African countries have been urged to promote gender responsive and inclusive policies to support women and youth entrepreneurs to accelerate trade development in Africa.

Speaking at the 14th African Congress for Women Entrepreneurs and 4th COMESA Federation of Women in Business Forum, the Principal Regional Advisor for Regional Integration and Trade Division at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Brendah Phiri-Mundia, said women and youth, have revolutionized entrepreneurship in Africa and they are better positioned to boost trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The Congress ran under the theme,  Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Promotion for Women and Youth and support of MSMEs for realizing Africa Continental Free Trade Area  (AfCFTA) and Regional Integration in line with Africa’s Agenda 2063 and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The congress took stock of progress on tackling challenges in accessing economic opportunities faced by women and youth across the African continent.

Ms. Phiri-Mundia noted that the AfCFTA which came into force in May 2019, could advance the global and continental goals on gender equality and women empowerment.

According to the ECA, the full implementation of the free trade area will increase the value of intra-Africa trade to US$195 billion by 2045 compared to US$113 billion recorded in 2020 which is the baseline.

Women have made an undeniable impact in the entrepreneurial landscape with research indicating that Africa alone has more entrepreneurs than other regions for both females and males. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rate of female entrepreneurs globally with approximately 26% of female adults involved in entrepreneurial activity.

The ECA’s 2021 Women’s Entrepreneurship Report estimates that reducing gender inequality will boost African economies by US$316 billion.

Ms. Phiri-Mundia stressed that Africa’s youth is a potent force for innovation and economic development with incubators, accelerators and government initiatives helping young entrepreneurs turn their ideas into reality.

Recognizing the potential of women and the youth in business development, the ECA is providing support to Member States across the continent in the development of gender-responsive and inclusive policies and context-specific interventions to drive women and youth empowerment within the continental integration agenda. 

“Support is being provided for gender mainstreaming in national and regional AfCFTA implementation strategies, capacity building of women’s business associations and MSMEs to ensure they also take advantage of the opportunities under the AfCFTA,” said Ms. Phiri-Mundia.

However, the challenges faced by both women and youth entrepreneurs cannot be ignored, Ms. Phiri-Mundia added, acknowledging the access to start-up financing, skills development, mentorship, promoted by various Women Business Associations and development partners to overcome the challenges faced by women and the youth.

The ECA has also stepped up its efforts to contribute to addressing the complex issue of collecting gender disaggregated data to support better policymaking and evidence-based advocacy across the African continent, said Ms. Phiri-Mundia, who represented the ECA Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Economist, Hanan Morsy.

These efforts include a joint project with UNCTAD and the UN Economic Commission for Europe to “develop a coherent approach to measuring the impact of trade on gender equality using official statistics and building on the existing statistical data and capacity of countries”.

She called for collective action to amplify collaboration in initiatives that address multiple barriers faced by women and youth which finance literacy and digital finance, apprenticeships especially in male-dominated sectors, digital skills training and profitability information across sectors.

The ECA is keen to deepen its partnerships and work towards a future where every woman and youth entrepreneur in Africa not only achieves their aspirations but also transforms their dreams into impactful, sustainable enterprises Ms. Phiri-Mundia said. 

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NASARAWA : STOP BLACKMAILING MUSLIM LEADERS – MURIC TELLS HURIWA

NASARAWA : STOP BLACKMAILING MUSLIM LEADERS – MURIC TELLS HURIWA  

 

7th October, 2023

PRESS RELEASE:

    

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) yesterday accused prominent Muslim leaders in the country including Vice President Kashim Shettima and the Sultan of Sokoto of attempting to influence the ongoing litigation on the gubernatorial election in Nasarawa State.

 

 

However, an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has warned HURIWA to stop blackmailing Muslim leaders. MURIC challenged HURIWA to present its evidence if it has any instead of engaging in mudslinging.

 

The full statement reads :

 

“The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) yesterday accused prominent Muslim leaders in the country of attempting to influence the ongoing litigation on the gubernatorial election in Nasarawa State.

 

 

“Those accused by HURIWA included Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’d Abubakar and the Emir of Lafia, Hon. Justice Sidi Bage Muhammadu I. HURIWA further alleged that the Muslim leaders were trying to ‘weave Islamic sentiments’ around the Nasarawa State governorship litigation’.

 

 

“These allegations are baseless, unfounded and outrageous. HURIWA is just seeking ways of tarnishing the images of Muslim leaders whose profiles tower above those of ordinary Nigerians. As an outfit which has long been known as a biased, Muslim-hating and Muslim-bashing outfit, HURIWA wishes to drag these Muslim leaders of impeccable character in the mud.   

 

 

“We challenge HURIWA to come forward with any shred of evidence in its possession within 48 hours if it has any instead of engaging in mudslinging. No human rights organization worthy of the name should rely on beer parlour gossip the way HURIWA has been operating in the past few years.

 

 

“We urge all the honourable judges involved in litigation matters on the 2023 general elections to ignore attempts by merchants of rumour and peddlers of lies to hoodwink, blackmail and whip up inordinate sentiments among them.

 

 

“We must always show interest in the facts of cases, not in the sentiments. Facts are sacred. For instance, the Court of Appeal will be interested in knowing why the court gave the petitioners what they did not ask for by setting aside the election of Governor A. A. Sule. Was the tribunal’s decision not reached per in curiam here?

 

“The tribunal also appears to have breached the principle of ex dolo malo non oritur actio i.e. he who comes to equity must come with clean hands as the written statements of 8 of the 22 witnesses called by the petitioner were not frontloaded. The Court of Appeal will also be interested in knowing why this happened.

 

“Another fundamental flaw in the tribunal’s handling of the case was its failure to make witnesses tender documents. This has jeopardized veracity of the case. Something happened to audi alteram partem here, the principle of hearing from the other side.

 

 

“We advise the Nasarawa State Court of Appeal to spare no efforts in ascertaining whether or not there has been a miscarriage of justice at the election tribunal. We urge them to discharge their duties without fear or favour. Neither should they be swerved by ridiculous, frivolous and preposterous allegations like that of HURIWA. Meddlesome interlopers are uncertificated UFOs in litigation.”

 

#StopBlackmailingMuslimLeaders

#NasarawaElectionPetition

#DontBullyNasarawaCourtOfAppeal

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

Nigeria will become a net exporter of petroleum products by next year, says Mele Kyari.

 


The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari, projects that Nigeria will become a net exporter of petroleum products by next year.

 

Speaking at the PENGASSAN Energy and Labour Summit 2023 in Abuja on Monday, Kyari said as a resource-dependent country, Nigeria should not be exporting 100 percent of its crude as it does at present.

 

“Today, we export 100 per cent of our productions, no resource-dependent country does this and that is why we must deliver on our mandate. I don’t want to speak about it; when it is done, you will see it,” Kyari said.

 

“So, I don’t want to tell you we are going to revamp our refineries. That is too much of PowerPoint talks. So, it will be done and you will see it. I don’t want to speak about it, we are tired of speaking about it.

 

“But what we must achieve is that this country must be a net exporter of petroleum products and this is within sight.”

 

“I strongly believe now, without giving you a date so that people don’t get angry again, but in 2024, this country will become a net exporter of petroleum products.”

I want to see more Women at Work in Shaping the Society…First Lady

Says it is a new dawn for women especially with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration

First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu CON, says efforts to reshape Nigeria and address societal ills plaguing the female gender require active participation of women.

She said this when she granted audience to the Minister of State for Police Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, who led senior female police officers on a courtesy visit to her office at the State House, Abuja.

Noting with pride, the fact that a large number of women are actively involved in policing and securing the country, the First Lady says the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR has given more room to women to contribute their own quota to national development.

” It is the beginning of a new dawn for women in the country as the current administration will give women more room to contribute their quota. I am also looking for ways to contribute. We can not have a Nigeria without people doing new and great things”.

On how the senior female police officers and other women can help forge a better Nigeria, the Senator Oluremi Tinubu charged them to lead the action in addressing some of the ills, such as rape, child abuse, human trafficking and proliferation of baby factories, that affect them the most in the society.

“Women must thrive and be empowered in a safe environment. We want to see our children not abused through crimes and maltreatment, rape of minors and children. There must be reduction in cases of human trafficking, organ harvesting and baby factory.”

She added that she is looking forward to a day when a female will become the nation’s Inspector General of Police.

Applauding the steadfast advocacy by the First Lady for setting the pace and advancing the interest of women in the country, the minister of State for Police Affairs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim noted that gender equality, safeguarding of human rights and empowerment of women were key anchors of a just and fair society.

“We are working on a bold initiatives aimed at not only addressing existing challenges, but fundamentally reshaping the Nigeria Police into a modern, responsive, intelligence-led and technology-driven institution. We recognize the limitations of past reforms and are now taking a more proactive and holistic transformation that permeates every facet of police operations.

We are here today not just to discuss but to seek your collaboration, for we understand that the collective advancement of these crucial issues requires your esteemed support and partnership”.

Appointed by President Bola Tinubu, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim is the First female Minister of State for Police Affairs in Nigeria.

 

SIGNED

Busola Kukoyi

SA Media to the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

9th October 2023

 

 

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

PRESIDENT TINUBU GREETS GOMBE GOVERNOR INUWA YAHAYA ON 62ND BIRTHDAY

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and Executive Governor of Gombe State, H.E. Inuwa Yahaya, on the occasion of his 62nd birthday, describing him as a very focused leader who has a clear vision to put in place a prosperous and stable state for the benefit of his people.

The President commends the leadership qualities of the Governor, noting his diligent implementation of policies and programmes which are aimed at achieving the economic empowerment of Gombe people through mass job creation. He further applauds the NSGF Chairman for devising practical solutions to the challenges facing the state and for making a difference in the lives of his people.

President Tinubu also takes note of Governor Inuwa’s penchant for responsiveness, which was witnessed most recently in his robust approach to addressing the economic situation resulting from the removal of fuel subsidy, including the introduction of a 40% subsidy on fertilizers and other key agricultural inputs to boost food production in Gombe State, as well as the implementation of salary increases for workers.

“It is my prayer that as you add another year to your life, God Almighty will imbue you with renewed strength and vigour to continue to work in the best interest of Gombe State, the Northern region, and the entire country,” the President said.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

October 8, 2023

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