Day: May 4, 2023

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“100,000frs for 58 journalists, no journalism in Cameroon”

Journalists in Cameroon joined their colleagues around the world to celebrate World Press Freedom Day this May 03, 2023. On this occasion, these media men and women have expressed some of their worries as far as the job is concerned in Cameroon.

A journalist who was part of the Buea flood incident coverage says he was present when the territorial administration boss visited the flood victims:

“We were actually disrespected and given about 100,000 francs to be shared amongst close to 60 journalists from different media houses. We journalists, have been neglected and disrespected several times.”

The Cameroon Association of English speaking Journalists (CAMASEJ) advised journalists in Cameroon to seek information, process it and make it available to the public in a timely and unbiased manner. This was during a meeting held in Yaounde on May 02, 2023 in prelude to the clebration of the world press freedom day. Jean Vincent Tchinebom a journalist with 57 years of experience in the profession during the Camasej meeting called on all journalists to be determined to restorre the ethics of the profession in spite of the difficulties encountered in the country.

Some journalists complained that Cameroon talks of freedom of speech whereas the reality on the gorund shows there is no freedom

“The case of Martinez is a clear and scary way of saying there is freedom of speech to all journalists who do not love their lives. I love my life and I think journalism in Cameroon still needs much work. We are media men yes, but we are scared to speak for fear of the unknown,” a journalist explained.

“We have thousands of newly opened media houses in Cameroon yes and I like the new developments but to talk of how much journalist are being paid is a total shame. 40,000 francs a month usually turns into a fight often between bosses and their employees. Sometimes journalists are invited to programs and are given 10,000frs as transportation fare which is diminishing,” another journalist adds.

This edition of the world press freedom day is being celebrated at a time when the government of Cameroon is yet to make a clear verdict known on the gruesome murder of investigative journalist Martinez Zogo.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

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Mbanga D.O. blames matouké chiefs for May 1 attacks

The Divisional Officer of Mbanga, Nkefor Christian, has said the three security elements and the bike rider who were killed on May 1 in Matouké in the Moungo division by suspected separatist fighters from the Fako division of the South West region was as a result of zero collaboration of the traditional rulers, neighborhood heads as well as natives.

He vehemently declared this during a crisis meeting he chaired on May 2.

“What makes it so difficult for you the chiefs, quarter heads and your population to collaborate with security officials? What is difficult in doing so?” The D.O angrily asked.

“Collaboration is giving vital information. What I need from you is identifying. Identify among your subjects suspects and report to the forces of law and order or the administration. Identify because the attackers can’t enter here without passing through several people among you and you must know them. Why is it that you don’t want to denounce them? Use your guys, your elements you are talking about and denounce them!”

The civil administrator added that the time for leniency is over and it is now time for sanctions to reign.

“You need to take your responsibilities into your hands because from now we will take severe actions. That issue of village council should be abolished from today. The chiefs should work hand in gloves with the chief of blocs, so much so that you know what is happening in each bloc. If you were working with them you would have had information on happenings.”

As a security measure, the D.O officer ordered the main road leading in Matouké village to be enlarged.

“Chiefs from Matouké to Kotto Up, as you are going back today, see into it that farms that are beside the road should be opened to at least 2km irrespective of what has been planted there. It should be free, everything should be down,” Nkefor Christian emphasized.

The D.O. also announced he will visit the scene where the three security elements and bike rider were ambushed.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

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Bafoussam: kidnap attempt fails

The alleged kidnapper of 5-year-old Tiossock Tchouala Ezekiel, has been arrested this May 3rd by elements of the Bafoussam Judicial Police.

The commercial motorcycle rider reportedly kidnapped the child at their family residence in Kouogouo, a neighborhood in Bafoussam on Tuesday May 2nd and took him to an unknown destination. A family source says the child was returning from school when the tragic incident occurred.

“The bike rider intercepted the child as he was returning from school telling him that his mother wanted him to measure a pair of shoes she bought in the market. The little boy without hesitating, immediately climbed the bike,” narrates a source close to Ezekiel’s parents.

“The child was with his older brother who was not attentive enough when the incident occurred. The older brother was only surprised seeing Ezekiel on a bike going. That is how he alerted neighbors who also informed their parents,” the source adds.

The kidnapper and his team later called the boy’s parents, demanding the sum of FCFA 4 million which was paid for his release. Alerted of the situation, elements of the Bafoussam Judicial Police immediately launched an investigation by tracking the call. The kidnapper then fell into the dragnet of security forces after he had succeeded to withdraw the money according to security sources.

His arrest led to the capture of other gang members who are gnashing their teeth behind bars.

This situation is not the first of its kind in the region. Last year at Government Bilingual High Bafoussam, a man declared he was a manual labor teacher to gain access to the school where he successfully kidnapped a child.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

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SDGs: Experts advocate use of research outcomes for community challenges

Researchers under the aegis of Research for Impact, Knowledge, Economic and Sustainable Development (RIKE-SD) have advocated the use of research and innovations to address economic challenges facing communities.

The Executive Director RIKE-SD, Dr Mustapha Popoola, who said this in Abuja on Thursday, said that it would enable communities to feel the impact of research and ensure the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

According to Popoola, RIKE-SD is looking at connecting research to the communities, hence developing realistic data that will help the economic development of the communities.

“Part of what we have noticed is that investments have gone into research and some of them come out with results and outcomes.

“Some of these outcomes are littering the African continent whereas when we are not looking at research as a solution we are looking outside to import some of the things we can manufacture locally.

“So, in doing all of this there is a great disconnect between people that are actors in the practice of research and the end users,’’ Popoola said.

He said there was a need to change the narrative to enable people to have the feeling of satisfaction and fulfilment derived from research works.

“Until when the communities start feeling the outcome of research we cannot be talking about figures and language that researchers understand but do not feed into the communities,’’ Popoola said.

He blamed the failure of the academic system in the country on disconnect between the communities and the institutions of higher learning.

”If we are not taking development to the community we are not talking to the society. We need to start creating communities around knowledge.

“When we talk about agriculture and we are looking at food security, we need to have a community of practice for food security, not only associations of people that are experts in agriculture,’’ he said.

While emphasising the need for Nigeria to adapt to indigenous solutions to its problems, Popoola said that the country could not meet up with global economic trends due to a dysfunctional knowledge enterprise.

“Many of the solutions we are using are copy and paste. Can we start looking at adapting to indigenous solutions to our problems,’’ Popoola said.

He further said that governments should begin to embrace research outcomes in forming policies geared toward improving the lives of the citizens.

“What we are going to do is research result evidence synthesis. When you say you come up with some research results, can we synthesis some evidence and when we have that evidence can we feed it into the government.

“For example, part of what we are saying is that in drafting legislation in other parts of the world, there are issues that are technical, researchers and technical people are invited to speak to those issues.

“That does not mean that they are lawmakers but we have not seen that connection between the political class and the researchers but there are researches that are going on that are supposed to assist,’’ he said.

Popoola, however, urged Nigerians to embrace research and researchers.

“Almost everybody needs to have business in research; it is not a business for scientists alone.

“Indeed, we expect all of us to take ownership of research, it is not owned by researchers, not owned by the academia, it is owned by all of us,’’ he said.

On his part, the Chairman Board of Governors, RIKE-SD, Mansur Ahmed, said that the time was ripe for Nigeria to embrace research outcomes to solve problems.

“This is the time for us to turn inwards and ensure that sustainable development of our people originates from within us.

“Communities from different perspectives need to come together to say we need to do this together, particularly the government, private sector, the academia, industries, societies represented by various community groups must come together to decide,’’ Ahmed said.

Also, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, Chairman Board of Finance Trustee, RIKE-SD, emphasised the need to institutionalise research and development in Nigeria.

He described it as the bedrock of sustainable development the country needs to move forward.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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NIPSS exposes House of Reps members-elect to tasks ahead

The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, near Jos says it is exposing House of Representatives members-elect to tasks ahead in areas of health, education, security among others.

Its spokesman, Prof. Sola Adeyanju, made the declaration on Thursday in Abuja when he spoke with State House correspondents on the side-lines of the Strategic Leadership retreat for newly-elected public office holders.

“The essence of this retreat is to make sure that we expose our lawmakers, particularly the newly-elected lawmakers to those researches that had been conducted in specific areas of our national life.

“Areas like health, education security; there are lots of works that had been done and recommendations made; and we have a lot of implementation strategies that can help lawmakers to know what their role will be.

“We want a situation where the newly-elected lawmakers will come and they will be able to hit the ground running.

“We want to give them an idea of what kind of bill and in what areas we actually need some bills and areas needing some law making,’’ he said.

Prof. Adeyanju added that there was the need to implement recommendations already made as they would have far-reaching impacts on the country.

“For instance, recommendations had been made on the kind of educational system that we could have where we would not be having incessant strikes.

“We have worked on funding healthcare services which concern people at the grassroots and how government can look for funding to make sure that healthcare services are okay.

“Some of these recommendations are lying fallow out there and we felt we should expose the incoming lawmakers to them before the next Assembly is proclaimed so as to help the country,’’ he said.

Some of the legislators-elect also spoke with the newsmen.

Inuwa Garba (PDP-Gombe) Yamatu Deba Federal Constituency said the retreat had equipped the lawmakers-elect with the requisite knowledge for law-making.

“I have to appreciate NIPPS for this very laudable initiative by organising this programme which I believe will empower members-elect with some basic requirements of the tasks ahead.

“I believe we have gained a lot in terms of the quality of presentations and the answers to so many questions that were raised,’’ he said.

On her part, Chinwe Nnabuife, member-elect representing Orumba North and Orumba South Federal Constituency of Anambra, said the retreat was enriching.

“This programme is very informative and educative; coming from our backgrounds; we have been made to know what the processes of policy-making are,’’ she said.

Nnabuife added that newly-elected lawmakers had been made to understand policy making, policy implementation and policy evaluation.

“For us in the 10th Assembly, we are particular about making policies and ensuring that they are implemented and evaluated for the good of Nigerians; it is not going to be business as usual,’’ she stressed.

The first two days of the retreat were dedicated to governors-elect, their deputies and senators-elect.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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FMBN, Lagos Govt. inaugurate 72 units housing estate in Sagamu

The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) on Thursday inaugurated 72 units housing estate in Emuren, Sagamu, Ogun State.

Speaking during the inauguration, Mr Madu Hamman, Managing Director, FMBN, said the residential housing estate was developed by LSDPC under the FMBN Cooperative Housing Development Loan window.

Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Housing, Mr Kamal Olowosago, presenting document to one of the beneficiaries of the apartments

Hamman said the project, fully funded by FMBN, was in fulfillment of its commitment to the realisation of the home ownership dreams of Nigerian workers who were contributors to the National Housing Fund (NHF) Scheme.

The managing director stated that the commitment led to the development of the FMBN Cooperative Housing Development window through which the estate was delivered successfully.

He said that FMBN had continued to ensure that Nigerians had access to decent and secure accommodation through affordable mortgage financing and access to products in the Nigerian financial services sector.

He appreciated Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos and Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, for the support extended to FMBN and the National Housing Fund (NHF) scheme.

“This support has ensured consistency of NHF contributions by the state workforce.

“This project consists of 72 housing units comprising 48 units of two-bedroom terrace apartment and 24 units of three-bedroom semi-detached bungalows.

“The estate is fully serviced with basic infrastructure including internal road network, drainages, electricity, and water to create a conducive and liveable environment,” he said.

“By this endeavor, we are not only reducing the housing deficit in the country, we are also creating jobs and tackling unemployment,” he said.

The FMBN managing director appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for his support which he said made the project a reality.

In his remarks, Mr Ayodeji Gbeleyi, Chairman, Board of Directors, FMBN, said the projects reaffirmed the commitment of FMBN to deliver affordable housing to Nigerians, who were contributors to the NHF scheme managed by the bank.

Gbeleyi lauded the Ogun State Government for allowing the project to be located in the state, adding that the synergy deserved commendation.

In his speech, Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing, Mr Kamal Olowosago, said that his government would continue to prioritise workers welfare.

Sanwo-Olu commented FMBN for the scheme, saying that the government would continue to collaborate with the bank in ensuring that the state workers benefited more in various housing projects.

Oba Adesegun Abolaji, the Elemuren of Emuren, Sagamu, expressed gratitude for siting the project in his community, promising that he was ready to donate another 20 hectares of land for another phase of the project.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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WPFD : FAME Foundation warns against bullying women journalists

The FAME Foundation has warned against threats to life, stigmatisation, discrimination and cyber bullying of women journalists, urging government at all levels to protect them by all means.

Its Executive Director, Ms Aderonke Ogunleye-Bello, gave the advice on Wednesday at a news conference held in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day 2023 (WPFD) in Abuja.

Ogunleye-Bello said the call became necessary as it would enable journalists to enjoy their right to freedom.

She praised women journalists in particular and called for an end to the bullying that some women journalists were facing.

“On this day, I celebrate journalists for their courage, passion, and determination to bring the news to every corner and nook of the earth.

“I particularly celebrate women journalists and ask for a stop to cyber bullying, threats to life, slut-shaming, and discrimination for doing their job.

“They have the right to practice journalism and report the news like any other person. The rights of women journalists are human rights, protect them,” Ogunleye-Bello said.

According to her, press freedom is the foundation of free speech, adding, ”if the press is allowed to speak freely, so would the general public.”

She added that marking the day should serve as a reminder to the government of their commitment to press freedom and media workers.

Ogunleye-Bello urged other media outlets and personnel to be vigilant and truthful in their duties, refrain from bribery, stop publishing false news and always defend their integrity.

Ogunleye-Bello expressed her excitement, love, and respect for the media and the tremendous expansion of media companies in Nigeria.

World Press Freedom Day is celebrated on May 3 every year and the theme 2023 is: “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights”.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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Small, medium-sized enterprises join securities exchange with public guarantee

Organised small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may enter the Angolan Debt and Securities Exchange (BODIVA) via the Credit Guarantee Fund (FGC), which has financial solutions to boost their investments.

In order to ensure the success of the process, the Credit Guarantee Fund (FGC) and the Angolan Debt and Securities Exchange (BODIVA) signed Thursday a Memorandum of Understanding.

The deal allows the medium and small companies to have a public guarantee that will make it easier to open their capital in order to buy or sell shares, in a more confident and transparent way on the stock exchange.

The document was signed by the executive directors of FGC and BODIVA, Eduardo Mohamed and Cristina Lourenço, respectively.

As part of the process, the amount available is of five million dollars for each interested company with the profile to do so, with the FGC covering risk up to 75% of the capital financed.

BODIVA is also seen as a solution for the disposal of assets and a solution for financing companies.

It currently has two companies listed on the market, but others are preparing to enter this segment.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

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Minister highlights GGPEN commitment

Angolan Minister of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication Mário Oliveira Thursday in Luanda highlighted the action of the National Space Programme Management Office (GGPEN) focused on the use of satellite systems to support the national economy.

The minister said GGPEN has a laboratory with very capable, hard-working young people, which allows the Ministry to present applications whose main objective is to support the national economy in the most varied sectors, from industry, agriculture, environment and also public works.

Speaking to the press at the end of a visit to the Space Applications Development Laboratory, the minister said that the sector created, as part of the national space programme, through GGPEN, this laboratory of which a set of applications have been developed and certified.

“We have been developing applications to support the oil industry, agriculture, infrastructure, among which, for example, applications that allow control of road construction, control of forestation and deforestation, as well as agricultural

control”, he said.

In turn, the head of the GGPEN space applications development department, Luciano Lupedia, put at more than four applications developed.

He added that two applications are actually in use, one of which has been in testing for over a year and the second with satisfactory results.

Among the applications, the head of GGPEN highlighted TECH-GEST, which is an application that makes use of artificial intelligence in satellite and drone image that allows the monitoring of assets, construction works, roads, as well as the monitoring of infrastructure in general.

Other available services are TECH-ECOLOGIA, which is a solution that uses satellite radar images to detect, monitor and warn about the occurrence of possible oil spills in the national offshore.

Whereas, TECH-AGRO, which is designed for farmers, makes it possible to analyse the state of agricultural fields from monitoring vegetation development, using the Normalised Difference Index (NDVI) and biophysical parameters (LAI, Fcover, FAPAR).

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)