For Nigerian Women (and Girls), It Will Take More Than YouWin. By ZAINAB SANDAH

Except for when the camera generally sweeps through the Federal Executive Council seating, you hardly see or hear from Hajiya Zainab Maina, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development. That is, until she was recently reported by Daily Trust as saying that ‘the YouWin program is aimed at facilitating women’s transition from informal to formal sector of economic development’. (Thank God it’s that simple!) But perhaps not so, and Honourable Minister underestimates the daily challenges being faced by women and girls across the country and needs reminding why empowering 6,000 (or 1,200?) out of 80 million women, 54 million of whom are rural and mired in backbreaking and unskilled labour should not presuppose an automatic facilitation of transition to formal sector of economic development.

BMC task FG on entrepreneurship mentorship for youths

Business Management Conference (BMC), a non-governmental organisation, has called on the Federal Government to create centres across the country where youths could be properly mentored on how to be successful entrepreneurs. This, according to the group, would help bridge the unemployment gap.

The call was made in Lagos at a seminar organised by the organisation, themed, ‘Emergence of Giant Entrepreneurs.’

How Can Africa’s Resources Profit Its People? By Katherine Lay

Tune in to the BBC’s Africa Debate and Make your Voice Heard.

Whether Africa will ever harness the full potential of its natural resources to combat poverty is a question that is more relevant now than ever, as new discoveries of coal, oil and gas look set to transform global energy markets and – we hope – the economies of resource-rich African countries. It’s a question the BBC will pose to global experts in the AfricaDebate in Addis Ababa at 19:00 GMT/UTC on 26th October. ONE will be participating in the debate and citizens across the continent will be airing their views.  We’d like to hear yours.

Award Winning Group Makes Song on Co2 'Me & My Bike'

T-S-1 from Nairobi, Kenya, made a song about Co2. They are already winners of four awards.

Rap Ojuki and MaryX chorus Ester

Enjoy!!!

Lerics

Bicycle Song -Me and My Mike

Mobile Technology and Social Change. By Ryan MacLean

The opportunities for youth to be agents of change are increasing in number dramatically, with the spreading use of mobile technology and pace of its innovative applications. Twelve youth across nine countries – Canada, the US, Brazil, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Italy, Belgium, and the UK – were convened by TakingITGlobal on September 4th, 2012 to discuss some vibrant examples of recent mobile web technologies that are facilitating social change, many of which are being created or used by these same participants.

The youth climate movement was well-represented at this Cisco-enabled teleconference, as these young leaders build upon the momentum of Rio+20 and look ahead to the COP 18 Meeting in Doha.

Women and Youth as Catalyst for Agribusiness Development and Growth.

On October 6 – 9, 2012, the leadership of UNIDO Regional Office in Abuja-Nigeria in partnership with IFAD, UNWoman, FAO, UNDP, Songhai Centre & OXFAM organised a four day workshop in Port Novo tagged ‘Youth & Women As Catalysts For Agribusiness Development And Growth in West & Central Africa’.

The event started with a trade fair showcasing agribusiness produces and processing machineries and culminated in a consultative forum which explored strategies for attracting more women and youth in agribusiness - as a credible job and wealth creation option for the sub region.

Earth Hour Unveils 2013 Official Video :)

Earth Hour is organised by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). With almost 5 million supporters and a global network in over 100 countries/territories, it’s one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organisations. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and build a future where people live in harmony with nature.

Globalisation of floods: The start of hundred years of change in Nigeria. By Dele Sobowale

“Climate change is more threatening than people realize”- Dr Kim, CNN, October 12, 2012.

Another climatologist has gone further by stating that climate change and the advent of perennial floods are already reshaping civilization as we know it and very few countries will emerge intact from the impact of climate change. Nigeria is no exception. Countries with long coastal regions and many rivers, which hitherto had benefited from water provided by rivers, seas and oceans will be the hardest hit.

It was in the 1980s that globalisation of markets became the mantra of the leading thinkers in management studies. “In today’s market you don’t have to go abroad to experience international competition. Sooner or later, the world comes to you”. “Harvard Business Review, March-April, 2002”. (VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p75). That explains why no sooner than a new product is released in America, Japan, China, etc, and it is available in Nigerian  markets.

Climate Conversations - Why millions still don't use clean cookstoves. By Jerome Bossuet

There may be plenty of exciting ideas around that could help solve hunger, poverty and lack of access to energy. But the problem is persuading people to adopt them and roll them out on a large scale in poor, marginalised communities.

For instance, at the Convergences 2015 Forum in Paris last month, a photo exhibition entitled Innovate against Hunger, by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), presented several agricultural innovations that are helping farmers cope with drier weather and more unpredictable rainfall. Low-pressure drip irrigation, small seed packets, and bio-reclamation of degraded lands are all boosting yields and incomes, while boosting people’s resilience.

Go Green or Die! By Mukosha Funga

Imagine the world 50 years from now if people do not take an active role in fighting climate change.

IMAGINE the year is 2060 and you have finally managed to get enough money to visit the 7th wonder of the world; the Victoria falls. As the guide leads you to your destination, you have high expectations.

Before you realise it, you ground to a halt and hear the guide saying 'this is it'. You discover you are standing at a deep narrow steep-sided valley; a ravine. It is a lifeless place.

No water cascading over masses of rocks. No lush greenery on the banks. Coarse dried up grass and grey-brown rocks are all that meet the eye.

#NGFloods: THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE SOUTH-EAST RESPONSE. BY Akachukwu Okafor

The floods are finally here, no doubts about that.  It has come with its full rage totally submerging communities, farmlands, destroying lives and property along its path, with thousands rendered homeless, now taking shelter as Internally-Displaced Persons (IDPs) and over 25 million predicted to be affected. No thanks to the increase in annual rainfall this year that caused excess water at Lagdo dam in Cameroun, Kainji, Shiroro, Jebba, Warama, Kiri dams in Niger, Kwara Kano, and Adamawa states respectively to be released. This resulted to over flow of the River Niger and River Benue in the form of flash and massive flood into communities along its plains and tributaries. Affected states includes: Niger, Kogi, Benue, Delta, Anambra, Sokoto, Kebbi, Bauchi, Katisna, Imo, Ebonyi, Adamawa, Kano, Jigawa, Gombe, Rivers, Cross River, Ondo, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Lagos. The magnitude of the devastation can only be expressed by calculating the total land mass of affected area, number of persons killed and displaced, impact on affected population, worth of property destroyed, impact on local and national economy and post flood recovery costs.

National Climate Change Policy and Nigerian Floods.

Climate change, Floods and government responsibility.

Climate change is no longer an issue that is only discussed by a few elite groups in Nigeria. An ordinary Nigerian is currently facing the impacts, making life harder than it already was and governments keep saying that they are doings something about it. Well yes there are.

My New Nigeria. By Precious Arutase Forcados

A day after our great country's independence I decide to write you this. I want to advocate for my client Nigeria, and plead her case before those (NIGERIANS) who had charge her to the noble courts of COMPLAINTS (that might included you & me).

One of my teachers, Wale Salami, said ''Nigeria does not have a problem, Nigerians do''.

Before now we would have thought about so many things about our country, if we where to debate against the country you can outline flawlessly so many points to convince me and others not to live in Nigeria.

Ghana Celebrates International Peace Day.

Mr Lovans Owusu Takyi, Executive Director of Youth Volunteers for the Environment (YVE) Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has called on the youth to pursue peace in order to sustain their future.  

He said it is also of essence for them to eschew ethnic, religious and political strive, stressing: “The future of the youth largely depends on how we pursue peace and come together within our communities, understanding of peace building and sustainable lifestyles.”  

Mr Takyi made this known when he addressed a number of schools and community leaders at Dansoman in Accra as part of activities to observe this year’s International Peace Day.   

Youth Meet-Up on MDGs & SDGs in Nigeria #EducationFirst

EDUCATION IN CRISIS AND THE POST-2015 FRAMEWORK 

#EducationFirst #yahuzameetup 

On June 22, 2012, at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (RIO+20), governments of countries agreed on a Future We Want outcome document which includes commitments to certain sustainable development goals. However, how ambitious these commitments are still remains a point of arguments amongst concerned parties, and as we approach the post-2015 era we hope to amplify the voices of people directly affected by poverty, injustice and their perspectives on a future global post-2015 framework.

The role that quality education (one of the SDGs, paragraph 229) plays in development emphasizes its capacity to reverse the rate of poverty in Nigeria, while in recent years key correlates of fragility in Nigeria include education.