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AGF Pledges Improved Funding For Water, Sanitation Sector

Published

4 years ago

July 1, 2020

The Accountant-General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris on Wednesday pledged to support policies and programmes that would help to improve access to potable water and sanitation in the country.

Idris made this commitment when members of the Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN) paid him an advocacy visit in Abuja.

According to him, no sane government abandons prioritizing access to potable water and sanitation for its citizens, as access to such stands with dignity and life itself.

He said as a member of the Cash Management Committee of the Federal Government, there was a realization that budgetary allocations to line ministries of environment, water resources, health among others were sacrosanct.

“Sanitation means living well, living decent, living well, and in a clean environment, anything that degrades the environment degrades sanitation and it poses danger to human life.

“Nobody will kick relating with you, whoever is in his or her right senses will like to partner with you because you stand for life.

“There are also other steps that government has taken in line with meeting the Sustainable Development Goals on Water and Sanitation such as Executive Order 009 and funding of the ministries of Water Resources and Environment and other ministries that do similar work has been on the priority list of the government.

“I am a member of the Cash Management Committee, the committee that distributes resources to agencies of government, I am known water is classified by those ministries as critical and they have been given priority, even when resources are scarce.”

The AGF noted that the Federal Government was abiding by the Open Governance theme in which allows all stakeholders to have independent access to information in its open treasury portal.

He said that this had helped to create transparency in all its activities, saying that with the inauguration of its Federal Treasury Academy Orozzo in the FCT, training was being done to promote best practices in all project implementation.

Idris, while commending the group for its efforts at sustainable development of the Water and Sanitation sector, urged the team to extend its advocacy toward the head of the service and other relevant agencies.

NAN

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FG to Harness the Digital Economy to Empower Youth

Published

3 days ago

April 17, 2024

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Honourable Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande has disclosed that the Federal Government is making efforts to harness the potentials of the digital economy in empowering the youth and creating sustainable jobs.

He made this disclosure in Abuja when he received the participants of the Senior Executive Course 46, 2024 of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, Plateau State who were on study tour to the Ministry.

Mr Olawande said over 50% of the population below the age of 30 have a significant demographic advantage in the digital age.

“Our youths are tech-savvy, innovative and eager to contribute to the country’s economic growth. However, they face numerous challenges including limited access to quality education, skills training and job opportunities.

The digital economy offers a unique opportunity for Nigeria to leapfrog traditional development challenges. With the rise of e-commerce, digital payments and remote work”. “Our youths can assess global markets, skills training and job opportunities like never before,” he added.

According to the Minister, challenges hindering the growth of the digital economy in Nigeria must be addressed.
He explained that to overcome the challenges, the Ministry has implemented initiatives such as digital skills training programs for youths, focusing on areas like software development, data analytics and digital marketing especially in the NYSC.

This, he disclosed is alongside partnering with Galaxy Back Bone to improve infrastructure, Internet connectivity and alternative electricity supply as well as funding opportunities such as grants, loans and venture capital for startups of small businesses with launching of the National Youth Investment Fund.

The Honourable Minister who hinted that the Ministry’ s goal is to create an ecosystem that supports entrepreneurship and employment opportunities for youth stated: ” We recognise that sustainable job creation is critical to Nigeria ‘s economic growth and stability”

”I urge you all to join us in this journey to harness the potential of the digital economy for youth empowerment and sustainable job creation in Nigeria.”, he added.

Mr Olawande further said that the opportunities and challenges underscore the need for a collaborative effort from all stakeholders to harness the potential of the digital economy for sustainable development.

The Minister who observed that there is a gap between the Government and the young people expressed his heartfelt desire for the Youths of the nation to feel the Government. He opined that the country has the most intelligent youths in the world.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation from NIPSS, Barrister Nima Salman Mann, mni said they are in the Ministry to research, proffer solutions, recommendations and strategies to help Government chart its course for the the year, with the theme : ‘Digital Economy, Youth Empowerment and Sustainable Job Creation in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities’.

.She also added that Ministry of Youth Development is very germane to this year’s theme .” We are with the Ministry of Youth to listen to what you are doing to help the youth, how you are doing it, strategic plans and way forward as well as how we can use the digital economy to chart the goal for sustainable job creation,” she concluded.

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