Entrepreneurship: DBN, OEAHD, Empower 200 Vulnerable Women In North East

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, the Development Bank of Nigeria Plc (DBN) has empowered over 200 vulnerable women with entrepreneurial development skills in Gombe and Yobe States. The programme which is a partnership with the Organisation for Environmental, Agricultural and Health Development (OEAHD) is aimed at providing soft skill acquisition for selected women, including physically challenged women in the North-Eastern part of the country. Addressing participants at the Entrepreneurial Skills Acquisition Training and Capacity Building event, the National Coordinator, OEAHD, Hon. Tabitha Iliya Sallah re-emphasized the significant roles women play in the socio-economic development of the nation. According to her, “The importance of women’s participation in entrepreneurship cannot be overstated. It is not just about fostering gender equality, but also about tapping into the full potential of our nation’s human resources. As entrepreneurs, women have the power to innovate, create jobs, and drive economic growth, because when women are economically empowered, their communities and the nation at large benefit.” “The fact that this program has been made possible through the collaboration of OEAHD and DBN is a testament to our collaborative commitment and dedication to women’s economic empowerment across regions; especially displaced women.” She stated. Commending DBN for sustaining its long-term vision of alleviating financing constraints faced by MSMEs and Small Corporations in Nigeria, Hon. Sallah noted that by providing training, mentorship, and access to finance, the bank is creating a nurturing environment for women to thrive in the business world, hereby bridging the gender gap and promoting sustainable economic development. “DBN as we all know has been at the forefront of empowering women in business with unlimited access to finance and knowledge to prosper and build viable enterprises that will enable them to improve their livelihoods and contribute to the socio-economic development of their immediate families and communities” She posited. The Organization for Agriculture and Health Development (OEAHD) is an NGO that is passionate about assisting the less privileged and vulnerable, particularly women and children and internally displaced persons etc regardless of race, colour, gender, social status, political affiliations in Nigeria. While the OEAHD have carried out several humanitarian services in the Northeastern part of the country, their operation is Nationwide with regional offices in Abuja and Gombe. The organization’s major service areas cover – Agriculture, Health and, Education. The Managing Director of DBN, Dr Tony Okpanachi, affirmed that the training was in line with the bank’s unwavering commitment to strengthening the capacity of MSMEs in the country so that they could continue to contribute more to the National Gross Domestic Product (GDP). “We believe that this partnership with OEAHD and by extension the entrepreneurial and capacity development initiative will have a significant impact on the lives of the targeted women in Gombe and Yobe State respectively, fostering their empowerment and contributing to sustainable development in the region”. “Up to date, about 62 percent of our lending has gone to women-owned businesses. Most of them are Micro and Small Businesses. Our goal is to continue to nurture and empower women across regions, the ultimate objective being to grow and upscalethem from micro to large businesses.” He stressed. He further stated that the women have received comprehensive vocational skills training that will enable them to start their businesses or enhance existing ones, thereby improving their economic wellbeing.

NAF Airstrikes Annihilate Terrorists’ Hideouts In North East, North West

The Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) in the North East and Operation Hadarin Daji in North West has destroyed several terrorists’ enclaves in recent operations across the theatres. This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, on Sunday in Abuja. Gabkwet said the operations were coordinated in collaboration with the land component and other security agencies within the operational theatres. He said the troops had ensured that terrorists, insurgents and other criminal elements operating in the two regions did not constitute significant security threats to innocent citizens within the regions. In the North East, Gabkwet said the precision air strikes by the Air Component of OPHK on Nov. 3, led to the elimination of several terrorists at their meeting point near Degbawa, a reclusive location within the Mandara Mountains in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno. He said the air strikes were called for after intelligence revealed the sighting of some key terrorists’ figures and their foot soldiers arriving the location for a probable meeting. According to him, their gathering in large number raised concerns, thus necessitating the need for an air interdiction on the location with devastating outcome for the terrorists. “An assessment of the location after the strike revealed several terrorists were indeed eliminated. “According to several sources, the particular location was carefully chosen by the terrorists to evade being easily detected, especially by NAF aircraft. “The outcome of the strike, however, proved the terrorists wrong as their nefarious plans to meet were detected, thus leading to the success of the air strike. “The sources also noted that this strike was a major setback for the terrorists who have, of late, been at the receiving end of the air and land components of OPHK,” he said. NAF spokesman said that there were also strong indications that the terrorists were responsible for the recent attack on some locals in Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe on October 31. He said the terrorists had planned to meet to review the attack as well as plan the next line of attack on innocent civilians and other vulnerable targets. In the North West, Gabkwet said the Air Component of OPHD has on Nov. 1, conducted series of successful airstrikes in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State, targeting the hideout of a notorious terrorist kingpin, Babaru. According to him, Babaru has been implicated in numerous acts of terrorism and banditry across Kankara and adjacent LGAs in Katsina State. He said that the said Badaru was involved in the massacre of over 100 residents of Gidan Gari and Yarmai-Yadiya villages in Bakori Local Government Area on February 2. According to him, the airstrikes destroyed Babaru’s hideout and eliminated several terrorists, though there was no confirmation if Babaru was among those neutralised. Gabkwet said the air strikes were also carried out at the enclave of terrorist kingpin known as Mai Solar in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara. According to him, the air strikes took out clusters of enclaves used as hideouts by the kingpin and his cohorts at the location. “It was a successful strike as few survivors were observed fleeing the scene of the strike. There is no confirmation if Mai Solar was among the terrorists eliminated,” he said.

Insurgency: 35,000 persons killed in North-East –UNHCR

United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has disclosed that no fewer than 35,000 people have been killed since the inception of the insurgency in the North-East in 2009 to August 2023. Mrs Elsie Mills-Tetty, UNHCR’s Head of Adamawa Office disclosed this at a training for military personnel on human rights, humanitarian principles and civilians protection in Yola on Wednesday. The training was organized by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in collaboration with UNHCR. Mills-Tetty, who was represented by Umar Abdullahi, Assistant Protect Officer, said this was according to the “Global Center for Responsibility to Protect” report of August 2023. According to her, the implication of these acts to the economic and social development of Borno, Adamawa, Yobe and Nigeria at large can never be overemphasized. She added that in 2022, the NHRC reported that it investigated complaints on human rights as well as assisted victims in seeking redress. Mills-Tetty said: “Cumulatively, the commission received 2.314 complaints. Adamawa had 65,456 complaints, which is approximately three per cent of the total complaints from the 36 states of the federation. “The 2022 NHRC report also indicated that incidences of Insurgency, banditry, kidnappings, farmers/herders’ clashes and attacks by gunmen continued to increase with the attendant number of internally displaced persons who face enormous human rights violations.” She further called on the participants to take advantage of the training to boost their knowledge on human rights in the course of their duties. In his address, Mr Tony Ojukwu, Executive Secretary, NHRC said the training was aimed at mainstreaming human rights into the counter-insurgency efforts of the Nigerian troops in the North-East. Ojukwu, who was represented by his Special Assistant, Mr Benedict Agu, commended the Nigerian military and other law enforcement agencies for performing exceedingly well in containing insurgency. He added: “To further sustain the gains made so far, the commission, in partnership with UNHCR is here to train key Military officers and men who are directly involved in the counter- insurgency operations in the North-East. “The justification for this training cannot be overemphasized as the war against insurgency is complicated by the asymmetric nature of the conflict. “The insurgents live within us and there is hardly a clearly drawn battle-line between the insurgents and the civilian population,” he said. Ojukwu urged the participants to ensure the implementation of the knowledge acquired while discharging their professional and private mandates.