February 2016 A publication of the System in Nigeria

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Geoffrey Onyeama (Right), on behalf of the Federal Govern- ment of Nigeria receives the from the United Nations Resident Coordina- tor, Ms Fatma Samoura

FG reaffirms support to UN as new RC presents Letters of Credence

he Federal Government of Nigeria has reaf- In her remarks, the Resident Coordinator ex- HIGHLIGHTS firmed its support to the United Nations system pressed her delight to be in Nigeria and promised the T in Nigeria and committed to resolving all operation- commitment of the over 19 UN Agencies, Funds and  Female Genital Mutila- al issues facing the UN Agencies in the country. Programmes in Nigeria to work closely with govern- tion in Nigeria must end, The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Geoffrey ment on her development and humanitarian agenda, says wife of President Onyeama, made this commitment when the new especially on the situation in the North East Nigeria. United Nations Resident Coordinator (RC) and Resi- Ms. Fatma Samoura, a Senegalese national was,  UN opens condolence dent Representative of the United Nations Develop- before her new appointment, the UN Resident Coor- books in Abuja, Lagos to ment Programme in Nigeria, Ms. Fatma Samoura, dinator and UNDP Resident Representative for the honour late Secretary- presented her Letters of Credence to the Federal Re- Republic of Madagascar. She joined the UN system General Boutros Ghali public of Nigeria through the Minister of Foreign in 1995 and has held UN leadership positions in- Affairs. cluding; Country Director and Representative, Guin-  UNAIDS Executive Direc- Hon. Onyeama acknowledged the humanitarian ea, (2009-2010); Representative and Country Direc- tor hails Nigeria for halt- and developmental assistance of the UN system to the tor, Cameroon, (2005-2007); Representative and ing the spread of HIV country and therefore pledged to ease operational Country Director, Djibouti, (2000-2005) and Senior challenges of the UN Agencies. Logistics Officer, Italy (1995-2000). During her  UN Chief for refugees By this diplomatic act, Ms. Samoura is officially tenure with WFP Fatma was seconded to the Office protection assures UNCT and formally recognized as the UN in for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in of more support Nigeria and has thus assumed duty as the United Chad from 2007-2009. Before joining the UN, she Nations Resident Coordinator and United Nations worked in the private sector and has travelled exten- Development Programme Resident Representative in sively in Africa and beyond. She speaks English, Nigeria. French and Spanish. February 2016 Page 2 Female Genital Mutilation in Nigeria must end, says wife of President

think of how we can be better sisters, aunties, mothers or friends to others who are about to be victims”. “It is time to say enough is enough”, noted Ratidzai Ndhlovu, the UN- FPA representative, “Our young girls have suffered enough from this barbaric act”. Alt- hough the practice is slowly declining, a few of the myths that perpetuate the practice are ideas that FGM/C prevents young women from becoming promiscuous or that it pro- motes the marriageability and fertility of the woman. “Not one of the myths surrounding this practice has any basis in truth,” said Jean Gough, the UNICEF Representative, “the only truth is that on every level this is a harm- ful and brutal practice that has a detrimental impact on the health of women and girls.” Cecelia a 20 year old survivor almost bled to death when her clitoris was cut at the age of 18. Recounting her story at the launch of the national response, she narrated how she was tricked by her mother to visit the village. The wife of the Vice President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo (Right) presenting an award during the event. Upon her arrival, she was taken away by two strange women. On dirt floor, her legs were spread apart and tied to a tree, while a heavy he wife of the President, Her Excellency, girls). I urge you to be vocal on the need for FGM/C to end in Nigeria (within this genera- woman sat on her chest. She was restrained T Mrs. Aisha Buhari, launched a national but she struggled notwithstanding till she was response to eliminate the practice of Female tion) and take action that will enable this to happen”. cut. “The cut was too deep”, Cecelia recount- Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) in Nige- ed with a shaking voice. With sobbing eyes ria within a generation. The launch which took FGM/C is an extremely harmful tradition- al practice, documented in 28 countries in she looked at her mother and the only re- place at the State House Abuja, was a collabo- sponse she got was “you are now a woman”. ration between the Federal Government of Africa, Asia and the Middle East. It compris- es all procedures involving partial or total “I hear the cry of a little girl, she cries Nigeria, State Governments and the Joint from the pain afflicted on her, she cried yes- UNFPA/UNICEF Programme on FGM/C removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for terday, cries today and may cry tomorrow, Abandonment. will you help me stop the pain?” Cecelia Represented by Her Excellency, Mrs. non-medical reasons. It is widely practiced in Nigeria, where an estimated 19.9 million asked. Dolapo Osinbajo, the wife of the Vice Presi- Diana Kendi Makale, a journalist from dent of the Republic of Nigeria, Mrs Buhari Nigerian women have undergone the proce- dure. According to the National Demograph- Kenya, was honored during the launch, as the called on everyone to join the campaign to end first Efua Dorkenoo Pan African Award win- FGM in Nigeria. She said “I urge the wives of ic Health Survey 2013, 25% of women in Nigeria have undergone FGM/C. ner for her Reportage on Female Genital Mu- Governors particularly those from states tilation. The award was created by The where this harmful practice is rampant to be “It is a violation of women’s reproductive rights, one that destroys her bodily integrity, Guardian UK and UNFPA, to increase the voice of the campaign to end FGM/C in awareness and engagement on FGM within their various States. We have the primary role perpetuated and inflicted by other women” said Mrs. Toyin Saraki, the wife of the Sen- African media outlets at the community, na- to use our privileged positions to make lives tional and regional levels. better for Nigerians (especially women and ate President, “It is time for us women, to UNCG organises social media training for members o strengthen the communication compo- stay as veritable tools of communication. T nent of its intervention in Nigeria and Therefore, he continued, members of the underscore the emerging influence of the so- UNCG should optimize the use of the relevant cial media on public information, the United social media platforms. Following his presen- Nations Communication Group (UNCG), with tation on ‘Using Twitter’, participants had approval of the United Nations Country Team hands-on exercises on tweet composition for (UNCT), has organized a one-day training on wider reach. social media optimization for its members. In her presentation, Ms Nneka Egbuna, a The training, held at Abuja on 29 February Programme Associate at UN Women, high- 2016, was attended by Communication spe- lighted the ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ of the social cialists and focal persons from nine of the UN media as well as the use of twitter handles and Agencies in Nigeria as well as the Coordina- hashtags. tion Specialist in the Resident Coordinator’s As regards Tweets Monitoring and Man- office. Agencies represented included UNDP, agement, Mr Musonda hinged his presentation UNWomen, IOM, UNIC, ILO, UNESCO, on Tweetdeck and Twitter Analytics. The need WHO, UNHCR, and UNODC. for greater collaboration for social media con- succeeded by a brief UNCG meeting during Facilitating the training, the UNDP Com- tents sharing amongst UNCG members for which the UNDAF Review meeting and the- munication Specialist, Mr Lucky Musonda, greater traffic was stressed. The training was matic exhibitions were discussed. observed that the social media had come to February 2016 Page 3

UN takes global goals to NGOs, presents SDGs Year Planner

n its quest to widely disseminate the Sus- I tainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its targets in Nigeria, the United Nations In- formation Centre (UNIC) Lagos, has hosted an NGO-Partners’ meeting to introduce the 17 SDGs and its associated 169 targets with a view to enhancing Partners’ understanding of the SDGs framework and its place in pro- gramming. The meeting which was attended by 95 representatives of 75 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), focused on UNIC Lagos priorities for 2016, SDGs Overview; mapping of NGOs based on their mandates and according to the SDGs as well as aligning Partners’ core areas of activities with UN Observances in the year. Addressing the participants, the Director of UNIC Lagos, Mr Ronald Kayanja, high- lighted SDGs, Climate Change and Counter- terrorism as part of the 2016 priorities of UNIC Lagos. He urged the partners to be strategic in programming this year by aligning their ac- tivities with the SDGs. The global goals, he Participants at the meeting work with the SDGs Year Planner. noted, must be localized through the collabo- rative efforts of UNIC Lagos and its NGO- partners. tains all the 17 goals and the 169 targets. ed that the meeting was rich in contents and much The mapping of the NGOs, he explained, Besides, it also features all the Internation- focused. Speaking in the same vein, the Execu- was aimed at aligning the focus of ‘our NGO al Days. tive Director of Strategy For Mentoring Initiative partners with the goals and targets of the Acknowledging the technical support of and Leadership Empowerment (S.M.I.L.E), Mrs SDGs. To facilitate deliberation at the meet- UNIC Lagos, the Executive Director of Bimpe Bamgbose-Martins, called for more of ing, every participant was given a copy of Women in politics and Governance such quality engagements. UNIC Lagos SDGs Year Planner which con- (WIPOGOV), Barrister Obiageli Obi, not-

UN opens condolence books in Abuja, Lagos to honour late Secretary-General Boutros

Secretary General of the United Nations. Fatma Samoura, acknowledged the tremendous He served a five-year term from 1992 to contributions of late Boutros-Ghali to global 1996. peace and development. The Veteran was praised by Sec- Members of the public have been pouring in to retary-General Ban Ki-moon for guiding sign the condolence books at the two centres. The the Organization through the tumultuous exercise ends on Friday, 04 March 2016. early 1990’s and for helping shape the UN’s response to post-Cold War realities, drafting a seminal re- port on pre- ventive diplo- Late Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali macy, peace- he United Nations system in Nigeria has making and T opened two books of condolence in Abu- peacekeeping. ja and Lagos in honour of the deceased former In her condo- United Nations Secretary-General Boutros lence mes- Boutros-Ghali. The condolence books were sage, the placed at the Anambra House office of the UN Resident in Nigeria and the United Nations Information Coordinator Centre (UNIC) Lagos. of the UN The former Secretary General died on the 16th system in of February 2016 at the age of 93. He was the Nigeria, Ms sixth Secretary-General and the first African Mr Fyneray Mbaka of MTN signing condolence register in honour of late UNSG Boutros-Ghali February 2016 Page Page 4 4 UNAIDS Executive Director hails Nigeria for halting the spread of HIV he UNAIDS Executive Director Michel T Sidibé has hailed Nigeria for having halt- end the ed the spread and reversed the trend of its AIDS AIDS epidemic. Mr Sidibé made the remarks epidemic. during a visit to the country from 7 to 10 Feb- “The gov- ruary. He also urged the political leadership to ernment is increase domestic funding for the response determined from 22% in 2012 to 45% by 2020. to make “Putting our people on treatment is important sure that to the realisation of zero new infections. If we everyone are going to sustain treatment, we will need to has access have a plan for the transition from externally to univer- funded treatment to treatment offered with sal health domestic funds. Nigeria has the means to make care in this happen,” said Mr Sidibé during his meet- Nigeria. ing in Abuja with the Vice President of Nige- We are ria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo. also very Mr Sidibé urged the government to increase its determined support for the Maternal, Neonatal and Child to work Health Week, with the aim that all pregnant towards ending UNAIDS Executive Director, Mr Michel Sidibe exchanges pleasantries with Nigeria’s Vice President, women are tested for HIV by the end of 2016 Prof Yemi Osinbajo and all women who test HIV-positive have new HIV immediate access to antiretroviral therapy. The infec- health week has proven to be an excellent tions,” Prof. Osinbajo said. tion, the Minister of Budget and National opportunity for pregnant women to know their New HIV infections dropped from 310,000 Planning, the Minister of Finance, the Min- HIV status. During the health week in 2015, in 2004 to 230,000 in 2014, and coverage of ister of Health, the Minister of Environ- antiretroviral therapy increased from 13% in for example, Kaduna State reported testing ment, development partners, the President 84,000 pregnant women for HIV in a first 2011 to 22% in 2014, providing more than round and an additional 126,000 in a second 747,000 people living with HIV with access of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; round. to life-saving medicine. pharmaceutical companies and civil socie- Mr Osinbajo told Mr Sidibé during the meet- During his visit, Mr Sidibé also met with the ty; as well as the UNAIDS Champion and ing that Nigeria was making huge budget allo- United Nations Country Team (UNCT), the former President of Nigeria, Olusegun cations for social investment programmes, in Secretary to the Government of the Federa- Obasanjo. part to increase access to health care and help UN marks World Radio Day at Abuja and Lagos (IDPS) located at Kuchingoro, opment Goals. ‘For people in shattered Durumi, Abuja, Nigeria. societies, or caught in catastrophe, or des- The Lagos observance, perately seeking news,’ he continued, organized by UNIC and Asso- ‘radio brings lifesaving information.’ ciation of Voice-Over Artistes Representing the Secretary General at (AVOA) Nigeria, featured a the 2016 World Radio Day observance in press conference, a students’ Lagos, the Director of United Nations In- excursion to UNIC office and formation Centre (UNIC) Lagos, Mr Inspiration 92.3 FM Lagos as Ronald Kayanja, noted that radio could well as a seminar. help in emergency response operations just About 10 radio stations as it could assist with rebuilding. which included Capital FM, Speaking, the President of AVOA, Mr Ehi Ray Power, Aso FM, Love Omokhuale, observed that the radio was a FM, Hot 98.3, Rhythm 96.3, companion for both the rich and the poor Cool FM, Wazobia FM, and a credible source of life-saving infor- FRCN visited the IDPs and mation. Journalists interviewing an IDP with a 7-day old baby delivered at the camp recorded testimonies without antenatal care and immunization about the Boko Haram situation in the commu- he United Nations Educational, Scientific nities of Bama, Damboa, Gwosa, T and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Dokwa, Gamboru, Gala, and Konduga Abuja and the United Nations Information and the onward fleeing of the affected Centre (UNIC) Lagos, have observed the 2016 victims to safe havens as Abuja, World Radio Day in grand style. neighboring communities, and Came- Anchoring the Abuja end, and in line with roon. this year’s theme: Impact of Radio in times of In his message, the United Nations emergency and disaster, UNESCO Abuja; the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon National Commission for UNESCO and the called on everyone to resolve to use Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) through radio for human progress especially selected radio stations, commemorated the day at this time the global attention is on UNIC Lagos, Ronald Kayanja addresses the audience while with a visit to the Internally Displaced Camps implementing the Sustainable Devel- AVOA President, Mr Ehi Omokhuale looks on February 2016 Page 5

UN Chief for refugees protection assures UNCT of more support

he Assistant for tion where T Protection (UNHCR), Volker Türk, has and when the reaffirmed UNHCR’s continued commitment conditions in assisting the internally displaced persons in were right. Nigeria Mr. Turk was speaking after a meeting While encour- with the UNCT on 19 February 2016. Wel- aging govern- coming hiM, the United Nations Resident ment institu- Coordinator, Ms. Fatma Samoura, explained tions and civil the challenges faced by the humanitarian com- society organ- munity as a result of funding shortfalls. izations to “We all need to listen to the IDPs, their lead the re- aspirations and sense of dignity and safety," sponse to Mr. Türk stressed during a visit at the week- forced dis- end to Maiduguri, capital of Borno state, refer- placement, he ring to organized returns to areas back under said: government control but still considered risky. "UNHCR, as Mr Türk reviewed the refugee agency's emer- part of the gency operations in the north-east, where UN- international HCR helps tens of thousands of IDPs located community, in camps. He has also met Nigeria's Vice Pres- will continue Mr. Volker Turk, interacts with IDPs in Malkohi camp ident Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja and government to support partners to discuss the challenges and areas of local initiatives." listen to the people in order to better assist them," cooperation. The Assistant High Commissioner also Türk said. Hapsatu Amadu, a 47-year-old com- During these meetings, he appealed to the met IDPs in Borno and Yola states, listen- munity leader, told him they needed clothing, government to take advantage of UNHCR's ing to harrowing tales of violence and food and shelter. "We are exposed to the vagaries experience in voluntary repatriation and to destruction and the continuing suffering of the weather in these grass thatched huts," she work closely to ensure the welfare of people of and challenges facing people unable to explained. concern. The insurgency has affected about 5 return home. He was deeply moved by UNHCR and its partners have been providing million people, including more than 2.2 mil- their courage and resilience. protection, shelter, camp management training lion Nigerians who are internally displaced At Malkohi, on the outskirts of Yola, and assistance to about 10 per cent of the IDPs in and almost 180,000 who have fled to neigh- capital of Adamawa state, he talked to north-east Nigeria, where most of the displaced bouring countries. Türk offered to help neigh- some of the internally displaced about live with host families. bouring countries organize voluntary repatria- their concerns and situation. "We want to .

Polio Eradication Expert Review Committee warns of a hard road to the finish line

cials, partners and other recommendations around major thematic stakeholders in Abuja areas. On sustaining political and tradition- from 9-10 February, al leaders’ commitment, the ERC recom- 2016 to review progress mended that the “Presidential Task Force be in polio eradication in convened immediately with established Nigeria. The ERC appre- dates for the remainder of the year”. The ciated the unprecedented ERC also noted the importance of timely achievement which led to availability of financing by the Federal the removal of Nigeria Government of Nigeria, including counter- from the list of polio part funding at LGA level, as well as endemic countries and pledged funding from donors. attributed the success so In order to reach chronically missed far to high political com- children, the experts recommended the con- Dr Salla Mbaye, of the WHO Regional Office for Africa presenting the recommendations mitment, impactful inno- tinued close analysis of reasons for missed of the 31st ERC vations and the indispen- children and under-performance focusing on sable effort of frontline the 11 high risk states, with a view to ad- he 31st session of the Expert Review workers performance under some instances dressing operational gaps and reaching T Committee (ERC) on Polio Eradication of very challenging conditions, particularly more children in inaccessible areas of Borno and Routine immunization (ERC), warns that in North-East and North-West of the coun- and Yobe. Close monitoring of population the perception of a “Job done” coupled with try. movements due to displacement following risks of waning political commitment and The ERC further acknowledged the con- conflicts and droughts, was additionally accountability at each level, funding gaps and tinued improvement in AFP surveillance recommended. delays, access to children in North-East and sensitivity. Notwithstanding the progress Dr Rui Gama Vaz, the WHO Country Rep- pockets of low population immunity, could be made, the experts cautioned that “Nigeria resentative in Nigeria, appreciated the guid- bottlenecks to achieving certification in 2017. must sustain the gains, maintain momentum, ance of the ERC and noted the need to con- The summary of the experts’ feedback was and be prepared to mitigate the programme sider prioritization of key areas to focus on contained in a presentation by Dr Salla risks to avoid resurgence of polio in the for attaining certification to be highlighted Mbaye, of the WHO Regional Office for country”. in the final report of the Committee. Africa, after meeting with government offi- To achieve results, the ERC made crucial . February 2016 Page 6

PHOTONEWS

UNAIDS Executive Director, Mr Michel Sidibe and UNCT members

SRSG Marta Santos Pais launching the survey report on ‘End Violence Against Children’ in Lagos

UN Resident Coordinator, Ms Fatma Samoura (Left) and Minister of Environ- ment, Ms Amina Muhammed at #Habitat3 Regional Meeting in Abuja

UN Resident Coordinator, Ms Fatma Samoura (Middle) and staff of UNIDO Abuja

Director, UNIC Lagos, Mr Ronald Kayanja (Left) and Country Representative, UNICEF, Ms Jean Gough at the launching the survey report on ‘End Violence New UN Resident Coordinator, Ms Fatma Samoura (center) with Dr Rui Vaz (2nd Against Children’ in Lagos left) after her meeting with WHO Country Office staff in Abuja on 08 February, 2016

Editorial Committee : Oluseyi Soremekun (Chairman) - UNIC; Charity Warigon—WHO ; James Ayodele—UNODC; Kwasi Amankwaah—RCO; Lucky Musonda—UNDP Contributory Editors : UNCG members— Ronald Kayanja (Chairman) - UNIC; Mr Geoffrey Njoku (UNICEF); Mr Charles Jjuuko (UNAIDS); Ms Kori Habib & Lolade Daniels (UNFPA); Mr Pius Udo (ILO); Ghandi Tamfu (UNHCR); Ikechukwu Attah & Nneka Egbuna (UNWomen); Elisabeth Douglas (IOM); Mimi Hwande (FAO); Ms Julie Osagie-Jacobs (UNESCO); Sylvester Atere (UNODC); Editorial Advisers: United Nations Country Team (UNCT) All correspondence should be directed to The Editor, UN Nigeria Newsletter. United Nations Communication Group (UNCG) c/o United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Lagos. E-mail: [email protected]