IFRC to Vaccinate 500 Million People Against COVID-19

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is launching a plan to help vaccinate 500 million people who might be affected by inequality in coronavirus vaccine distribution, IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain said at a virtual news conference.“Our goal is ensuring equitable geographical access to the vaccines.

“Our plan is to reach 500 million people this year, 2021.

“But we will see whether we have to continue the campaign beyond 2021.

“We will adapt if we have to adapt,” he continued.IFRC secretary-general explained that the plan would be complimentary to the COVAX initiative, aimed at delivering vaccines to developing nations and led by the World Health Organisation; GAVI vaccine alliance; and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.

“We will help in deliveries of the vaccines in the arms of the people who need it,” Chapagain said.

IFRC Director of Health Emanuele Capobianco added that there are already over 60 national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies that have agreements with national governments of their countries on supporting the vaccination efforts.

“We imagine this will be expanding,” Capobianco said.

SOURCE: HERALD

Biden appoints Nigerian-born Ebong as acting director USTDA

 

 United States President Joe Biden has appointed Nigerian-born Enoh Titilayo Ebong as the acting director of the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).

 “The appointment meant a return to USTDA where from 2004 to 2019, Ms. Ebong had served in a variety of roles, most recently as the Agency’s General Counsel, and Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer,” USTDA said in a statement.

 “As Acting Director, Ms. Ebong leads an agency that partners with the U.S. private sector to develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in emerging economies, while supporting U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services.”

 Ebong had previously served as the head of strategic partnerships at the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream.

 She is expected to lead the agency in partnering with the country’s private sector in order to develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in emerging economies.

 “It is an honor to return to USTDA,” Ebong said.

 “The opportunity to lead the Agency comes at a critical moment when the world is turning to the United States for leadership on clean energy and climate-smart infrastructure, as well as safe and secure ICT solutions.”

 She also noted that the agency is one of the most effective, targeted and proven tools within the U.S. government.

 “I’ve longed believed in USTDA’s mission and program, which are fully aligned with the President’s vision of strengthening the country’s economy and addressing climate as an essential component of American foreign policy and national security,” Ebong said.

 Ebong grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. Her father, Ime James Ebong, was a Nigerian civil servant who served as permanent secretary.

 She practiced law at the Boston office of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris and Popeo, P.C., representing public and private companies in public offerings, financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance issues before joining the agency in 2004.

 Ebong earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School, a Master of Arts in Communication from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master of Arts in History, with Honors, from The University of Edinburgh, Scotland. She is a member of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Bar.

She  is not the first Nigerian- American to be appointed by the US president. Adewale Adeyemo was recently announced as deputy secretary of the treasury department.

 Biden also appointed Funmi Olorunnipa Badejo into his cabinet as white house counsel, as well as Osaremen Okolo as a member of his COVID-19 response team.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER

 

COVID-19 hits Army, GOC dies...

There was panic at the venue of the botched Annual Chief of Army Staff Conference in Abuja following the reported sudden death of the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Major General Johnson Olubunmi Irefin, from COVID-19.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sagir Musa had in a statement announced the suspension of the conference over the sudden illness of the General.

The statement read: “Due to resurgence of COVID-19 in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja in what appears to be a second wave of infection cycle and the unfortunate incident on December 8, where an officer participating in the ongoing Chief of Army Staff’s Annual Conference 2020 in Abuja, tested positive for COVID 19, the remaining activities of the conference have therefore been immediately cancelled.

All the participants have been mandated to immediately proceed on self-isolation in line with the Federal Government’s protocol for COVID-19 and to prevent any further spread of the disease,” General Musa added.

It was, however, gathered that Major General Irefin who hailed from Kogi State died Thursday morning in Abuja following sudden illness The Annual Chief of Army Staff Conference which was taking place in Abuja had President Muhammadu Buhari addressing participants virtually when it kicked off a few days ago. 

SOURCE: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

NGF starts distribution of palliatives donated by R&A

To cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on players, officials, and clubs, the Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) at the weekend started distributing COVID-19 palliatives donated to the country by the world golfing body, Royal & Ancient of St. Andrews, Scotland.

The distribution of the first tranche of the palliatives to golf clubs commenced at the just concluded 29th edition of the Port Harcourt Ladies Amateur Open Championship with Bonny International Golf Club (BIGC) the first to receive it.

Presenting the items, which include packs of facemasks and hand sanitisers, to BIGC Captain, Dr. Okuns Ohiosimuan, on behalf of NGF President, Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola, NGF Director, Finance, Rev. (Mrs.) Omatsola Williams urged golfers to always be safety conscious.

She said, “We have to thank R&A for these palliatives; it will go round the clubs in all zones of the Federation, but we’re beginning with the South-South.

“However, this is to let us know that COVID-19 is still with us and there’s a need for us not to backslide on the safety protocols: washing of hands all the time, wearing your facemasks and social distancing, it’s very important.”

Dr. Ohiosimuan in the same vein commended NGF for being alive to its responsibilities and carrying the clubs along.

Port Harcourt Golf Club’s palliatives were received by the manager, Mr. Pennington.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris named Time ‘Person of the Year’

US President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris have been chosen as Time magazine’s 2020 “Person of the Year,” the publication announced Thursday.

The Democratic pair was chosen ahead of three other finalists: frontline health care workers and Anthony Fauci, the racial justice movement, and President Donald Trump who Biden defeated in November’s election.

Time’s magazine cover has a picture of Biden, 78, and Harris, 56, with the subtitle “Changing America’s story.”

Biden beat Trump by 306 electoral college votes to Trump’s 232 to end the real estate tycoon turned politician’s presidency after one term.

Biden received roughly seven million more votes than his Republican adversary, who is yet to concede, claiming widespread fraud of which there is no evidence.

Time magazine’s award — handed out annually since 1927 — honours the person or people who most impacted the news, for better or worse, during the calendar year.

Earlier Thursday, Time named basketball superstar LeBron James Athlete of the Year for his achievements on and off the court.

The 35-year-old Los Angeles Lakers player was honoured for battling voter suppression among Black citizens in a year when he won his fourth NBA title.

K-Pop sensation BTS was named Entertainer of the Year.

Teenage climate change activist Greta Thunberg was Time’s Person of the Year last year, while Trump won in 2016.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN

See young people as an asset - Amina Mohammed

The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Amina Mohammed, has advised Nigeria leaders to see young people as an asset, if they want peaceful retirement.

Amina Mohammed gave the advice during her visit to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Secretariat, in Abuja recently, as part of her tour of some West African States including Ghana, Sierra Leone, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.

A statement issued by the Head, Media and Public Affairs of NGF, Mr. Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, quoted Amina Mohammed as commending the governors for the mature manner with which they handled the #EndSARS demonstrations.

She, however, regretted that some ugly influences eventually contaminated the EndSARS protests.

The NGF Chairman and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, while welcoming the UN General Assembly scribe, stressed the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on the country and governance at its sub-national level.

Fayemi said that although the virus hit Nigeria in March, its impacts had been ravaging with over 64,090 confirmed cases and 1,154 deaths.

The impacts according to him include the fall in oil prices, contracting tax base, loss of sources of livelihood, unemployment and youth restiveness (#EndSARS Protests).

Catholic Archbishop Condemns Freezing of #EndSARS Promoters’ Accounts, Asks President Buhari To Apply Caution In Dealing With Youths

The Archbishop disclosed this in a statement by its Director of Social Communications, Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu.

  

The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev Alfred Adewale Martins, has faulted the freezing of accounts of #EndSARS promoters.

The Archbishop disclosed this in a statement by its Director of Social Communications, Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu.

Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Nigeria.

The clergyman advised the Nigerian Government to be guided in handling prominent figures in the #EndSARS protests.

The statement reads, “We have been reading with great concern, reports of arrest, seizure of international passports and the freezing of bank accounts of some of the prominent figures in the #EndSARS protest.

“Everyone was delighted to hear the President say that the voices of the youth had been heard loud and clear. That left everyone with the impression that the government had seen the point in their protest and had taken a cue on how to meet their concerns. It came as a surprise to hear that the people who had helped the government to the new awakening are now being punished for the service they offered.

“Apart from being an abridgment of the rights of these youths to organize peaceful protests, a right that government officials have affirmed over and over since this whole matter started; it also amounts to a betrayal of their trust that the government will actually listen to them. Financial contributions to support a cause, that even government officials recognize as being a noble one, should certainly not be a crime.”

The Archbishop further admonished the Nigerian Government to be careful in the way it handles the matter so that wounds that are gradually being healed would not be reopened and the hope that trust would gradually be restored may not be lost again.

He assured Nigerians of continued prayers for the nation and enjoined all citizens to be law-abiding and peaceful while going about their daily activities.

SOURCE: SAHARA REPORTERS