ActionAid Nigeria AAN seeks to build bridges; creating alternative against Violence Extremism; SARVE II Project Launch.

ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) work on Poverty Eradication and Violence Extremism in the last decade has shown us the political marginalization and socioeconomic exclusion of Young persons in Nigeria has made them vulnerable to radicalization and ready tools for violence extremism

Violence Extremism “emerged out of a complex environment of vulnerable individuals, community grievances, national ideological campaigns and global factors” (Lisa, Schirch 2018).

ActionAid Nigeria(AAN) with support of Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) and collaboration with Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development (PIBCID) launches the Phase II of System and Structure Strengthening Approach Against Radicalisation to Violence Extremisim (SARVE) in Kogi State;

The Phase I of the project was carried out in Four pilot communities in two Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kogi State among youths and women aiming at preventing Violence Extremism of which 12,985 youths,4,230 women and 8,705 men were reached directly. It is in this same vein AAN is extending the intervention further to 12 communities in Four LGAs in Kogi State and 12 communities in Six LGAs in Nasarawa State.

Mr Anicetus Atakpu Project Coordinator AAN and Miss Lola Communications Coordinator AAN as Anchor and Co-Anchor at SARVE II Launch in Kogi State

SARVE II project aims to see community resilience against violence extremism strengthened in Kogi and Nasarawa State.

Mrs. Tasallah Chibok Director Director Programme, AAN representing the Country Director AAN Mrs Enr Obi giving the overview of ActionAid and SARVE II Project

The project intends to reach 36,000 direct beneficiaries including 18,200 youths (12,600 male and 5,600 female) , 4,160 women, 7,320 men,6,320 in school children (3,160 male and 3,160 female) and 129,360 indirect beneficiaries including 69,600 youths, 11,500 women, 29,280 men, 18,980 in-school children in Kogi and Nasarawa States across 12 LGAs and 24 Communities.

Community stakeholders at the launch

The action will be implemented over the maximum frame of 33 months (April 2019 – December 2021)

The project officially launch by the State Secretary General to the Governor of Kogi State Mrs Folashade Arike representing the State Governor

Kogi Youth Advocacy Cluster sets up a press conference on Kogi Youth Development Commission Bill commemorating International Youth day 2018 celebration themed “Safe Spaces For Youths”.

International Youth Day (IYD) is an awareness day designated by the United Nations. The purpose of the day is to draw attention to a given set of cultural and legal issues surrounding youth . The first IYD was observed on 12 August , 2000. It’s pertinent to note that this year international youth day, with the theme: “Safe Spaces for Youth” is very important for Sustainable youth development in Kogi state. This is because the youth need safe space where they can come together, engage in activities related to our diverse needs and interest, and participate in decision-making process to freely express themselves.

Kogi Youth Advocacy Cluster which is a coalition of Non-governmental Organization NGOs, Civil Society Organization CSOs, Youth focused group and Community Based Organization CBOs held a press conference on Kogi Youth Development Commission Bill to commemorate the International Youth Day 2018 on the 13th of August 2018 at the National Union of Journalist NUJ Press Centre Lokoja Kogi State. Kogi Youth Development Commission Bill is a necessary tool for youth empowerment and development. This bill would not have come at a better time than now that the world is turning attention to youth development. In line with the United Nations 2018, International Youth Day theme, this bill also seeks to advocate for “Safe Spaces For Youths”.

The bill shall help to create jobs & economic development opportunities through a legally established independent and recognized institution. Saddled solely with this important responsibility. It will attract counterpart funding from federal government and International donor agencies to fund youth development programs and activities in the state.

Okwutepa Aminu Oseni Cordinator Kogi Youth development Commission Bill #KYDC Bill giving a press briefing during the press conference at National Union of Journalist NUJ Press Centre Lokoja.

ActionAid Nigeria and Participation Initiative For Behavioural Change in Development PIBCID a Non – Governmental Organization in Kogi State whose core objective is “modifying behavior for positive change” and also an advocate for“Social Justice” offered technical support to the group by setting up an advocacy roundtable discussion on the bill which was held in Abuja on the 23rd of June 2018 and also supported the group with Information, Education and Communication IEC materials to help drive the campaign.

We are Solidly behind the great youths of Kogi State, for this bill will bring about sustainable development and will also reduce youth restiveness in the State. – Mrs Gift Omoniwa Executive Director Participation Initiative For Behavioural Change in Development PIBCID, also representing ActionAid Nigeria.

It is my earnest desire that we call for public hearing on this bill as soon as possible and expedite further action towards having a robust law for the development of youth in the State. – Hon. Ahmed Mohammed, representating Ankpa 1 Constituency at the Kogi State House of Assembly, the lead sponsor of the KYDCBILL.

Press men at the conference asking questions and commending youths for this great step taken.

The advocacy for the establishment of the bill was conducted against the background of poor funding, lack of collaboration and synergy between government agencies responsible for employment generation and implementation, lack of policy for sustainable youth programs which has emancipated poor youth orientation and mindset skill gap, high unemployment rate, under employment, youth restiveness and other social vices in the State.

This bill shall help to create jobs and economic development opportunities through a legally established independent and recognized institution. Therefore the Sustainability of this bill is paramount- Mr. Umar Danasebe Mohammed Executive Director Hands Across Africa Development Initiative

Group Photo at the press conference

Your Vote Your Voice, Sell Not!!! – NGOs, CSO, Youth Groups and CBOs warns.

In a democracy, a government is chosen by voting in an election : a way for an electorate to elect, i.e. choose, among several candidates for rule.

Voting is a method for a group, such as, a meeting or an electorate to make a decision or express an opinion, usually following discussions, debates or election campaigns. Democracies elect holders of high office by voting. Residents of a place represented by an elected official are called “constituents”, and those constituents who cast a ballot for their chosen candidate are called “voters”.

Vote buying and selling been an issue in democracy, hereby obstructing democratic process, yet they remain pervasive in many developing democracies.

Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development PIBCID in collaboration with Hands Across Africa Development Initiative and Activista Kogi State with support from ActionAid Nigeria organized a day Stakeholders Consultative Meeting on Vote Buying/Selling and Election Violence in the upcoming 2018 Bye Election for the Lokoja/Koton-Karfi Federal Constituency and 2019 General Elections, in view of the recent 2018 Gubernatorial Election in Ekiti State Nigeria.

The Consultative Meeting aimed at stopping Vote Buying and Selling which is undermining the electorates in freely electing their representative and leaders which could lead to electoral violence in the state especially at the grassroot level.

Mr Idris Miliki Abdul Executive Director Centre For Human Rights and Conflict Resolution CHRCR during his presentation on Vote buying/selling and electoral violence: The implications for Lokoja/Koto August 11th 2018 Bye Election and 2019 General Election

INEC will ensure a level playing field for all participating political parties – Prof. James Iorham Apam Resident Electoral Commissioner Kogi State.

The media has promised to purge itself of fake news and unethical reportage that is capable of causing disaffection and electoral violence – Mr Ibrahim Adejoh – Radio Nigeria Prime FM 101.5 Lokoja.

Civil Society Organization, Youths, Women groups, Community Based Organization, Association of Persons with Disabilities and the Security agencies who Participated in at the Consultative meeting says No To Vote Buying and Selling in the State.

Participants holding Placards and pledging for a peaceful upcoming 2018 Bye Election and 2019 general Election

Group photo of the Organizers and the participants at the meeting.

Women with disabilities suffer a lot of discrimination in terms of participation in the society – AWWDI

A disability is an impairment that may be cognitive , developmental , intellectual , mental, physical , sensory , or some combination of these. It substantially affects a person’s life activities and may be present from birth or occur during a person’s lifetime. – According to Wikipedia

Advocacy for Women With Disabilities Initiative AWWDI in collaboration with Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development PIBCID and ActionAid Nigeria AAN held a stakeholders forum with women living with this disabilities in Kogi State, Nigeria.

Gift Omoniwa – Executive Director PIBCID giving the welcome address to the participants at the forum

The forum demands that there should be urgent need to pass law that protects person with disabilities against discrimination from the community and also need for the civil society mainstream capacity building of persons with disabilities especially women with disabilities

Miss Bilikisu Yakubu – Chairperson AWWDI Kogi State Chapter presenting the plights of Women with Disabilities

Stereotyped and negative attitude towards people with disabilities devalue us. Most of the discrimination experienced by women with disabilities is based on implicit notion that we are not the same as the other women. – Mrs Bilikisu Yakubu.

Queen Christopher a member of AWWDI moderating during the experience sharing section.

Stakeholders at the event commending the effort of the organizers

Group photos of the organizers and the participants at the forum.

Maputo 2003 Declaration instigates State Level Consultation Meeting on 2019 Kogi State Agriculture Budget.

The Maputo 2003 declaration initiative that mandates all African countries to set aside 10% of their Annual capital budget for Agriculture activities. This fund is hope to enhance the small scale farming and move it towards the much needed effectuation that will spore social and economic development.

Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development PIBCID in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria AAN held a state level consultation meeting on 2019 Kogi State Agriculture Budget where the 2018 Agriculture budget was analysed,

of which the meeting includes planary discussion, multimedia budget analysis presentation, questions and answers.

Budget tracking has been a very difficult task in Kogi State mainly because the beneficiaries of the funds are not clearly stated – Gift Taiye Owonipa Executive Director PIBCID.

The 2018 Kogi State Agriculture Budget is an improvement over the years from 2.7% in 2016 to 6.56% in 2018. However, 2018 budget did not meet up with the Maputo 2003 declaration initiative for 10% funding for Agriculture.

Recommendations were made for 2019 Kogi State Agriculture Budget that there is a need for increased budgetary allocation to Agriculture in the State to meet up with the Maputo 2003 declaration of 10%.

Mr Ahmed Abraham Director Statistics in Kogi State Ministry of Agriculture

Agriculture policy of the State was introduced by the State Ministry of Agriculture to the meeting to help produce a bottom to top budget that is the rural areas where farmers are mostly located will have contributions to the 2019 budget, it is aimed at creating employment for youths in Kogi State, ensures food sufficiency and providing enabling environment for generation of high Gross Domestic Profit GDP from Agriculture.

Address by the Chairperson of the Kogi State Public Financing of Agriculture PFA committee at the State level Consultation meeting of stakeholders.

Agricultural sector is one sector that can generate the much needed employment opportunities and create the wealth that pull our communities out of poverty – Mr Martins Okpanachi Chairperson PFA committee.

There is need for timely preparation, approval and release of resources to ensure that inputs and farming resources get to farmers as at when due. – Princess Secretary Small Scale Women Farmer of Nigeria SWOFON Kogi State Chapter.

The Legislatures will assist the Ministry of Agriculture in anyway to accent the 2019 Agric budget when presented to the State House of Assembly in accordance to the maputo 2003 declaration of 10% allocation – Mr Jiya Aliyu A. representing the State House of Assembly.

The NGOs and CSOs can better access the performance of the budget implementation by going to the field where this budget is being implemented that is looking beyond analysing figures. – Mr Sanni H.M Director budget Kogi State Ministry of Budget and Planning.

I appreciate the committee on the Public Finance on Agriculture PFA for representing us well on this forum, that the need for increased budgetary allocation in the state will be accommodated to meet up with the Maputo 2003 declaration of 10% – Mr Peter Ojo Stephen Permanent Secretary of Kogi State Ministry of Budget and Planning.

Mr Hamza Aliyu PFA Committee member presenting analysis of Kogi State 2018 Agriculture Budget.

Cross section of Participants at the State Level Consultation Meeting on 2019 Kogi Agriculture Budget.

SI4DEV sets to partner with the key stakeholders in ending the misuse of drugs in the State.

Strategy and Innovation For Development Initiative SI4DEV Kogi believes in the power of people and communities to lead social change and sustainable development and also partner with local change makers to offer capacity building.

Drug misuse commonly known as abuse is a term used commonly when prescription medication with sedative, anxiolytic, analgesic, or stimulant properties are used for mood alteration or intoxication ignoring the fact that overdose of such medicines can sometimes have serious adverse effects.

Drug abuse makes youth violent and often makes them unstable. Drug abusers can pose threat and harm to the society or neighborhood they live in as their sudden outbursts of angers are unpredictable. Students under the influence of drugs, addicts act out violently.

The violence affects the entire family physically and emotionally. They might pose harm to them resulting in serious injuries as drugs makes them lose their ability to think and this tend to affect their education as students.

SI4DEV in their believe of improving the health of communities and also the society visited National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA Kogi State Command and Kogi State Ministry of Health.

Alh. Idris Mohammed Bello NDLEA Kogi State Commander

On the 18th of July 2018, SI4DEV Team visited National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA Kogi State for support in sensitizing the youths on the negative effects of drug abuse especially on the school children who are victims of drug abuse in our society today.

Alh. Idris Mohammed Bello NDLEA Kogi State Commander welcomed the team and appreciates their effort in ending drug abuse, he promised to partner with the team and also work with them to end it. He also added that he will also offer to train the team and other youth focused group in Kogi State that has this same agenda as the technical support they will offer and other support in subsequent times.

Pst. Kolawole Johnson Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health representing the Commissioner Ministry of Health Kogi State Hon. Saka Audu.

On the 19th of July 2018 the team visited Kogi State Ministry of Health, Pst. Kolawole Johnson Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health representing the Commissioner Ministry of Health Kogi State Hon. Saka Audu received the team and was happy youth of such age can dedicate themselves in curbing this menace that is trying to take the youth of this generation away.

He promised to be of full support to the group in any way in make sure this sickness does not spread and affect the well being of thousands of youths in Kogi State.

Group photo: SI4DEV team with NDLEA Kogi State Commander with his team

SI4DEV Team