Gates, Dangote Foundation seal N19.7bn deal to reduce malnutrition

The Dangote Foundation on Thursday sealed a partnership worth $100m (N19.7bn) with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation towards ending malnutrition in Nigeria within the next five years according to Punch.

The agreement was sealed in Abuja by the President Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote who signed on behalf of the Dangote Foundation while Mr. Bill Gates signed on behalf of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

The agreement was witnessed by members of the international community  as well as top officials of government such as the Ministers of Health, Education, Agriculture, Planning and Budgeting.

Speaking on the motivation behind the agreement, Dangote said "despite its rapid economic growth, Nigeria was still ranked as the second country in the world with high rate of under nutrition".

He said more worrisome was the fact that the country was also rated as the second highest in terms of stunted growth owing to malnutrition.

"Currently, there were about 11 million children in Nigeria experiencing under nutrition with the North East and North West region accounting for the highest percentage of under nourished children."

"Owing to its vital role in child health, growth and cognitive development, better nutrition would be essential towards unlocking the potentials of the next generation of Nigeria."

“Over the past few months, Dangote Foundation has gone through a strategy revision exercise and we arrived at a conclusion that the biggest challenge confronting us as we work at reducing childhood death is reducing the level of malnutrition in Nigeria."

“Globally, Nigeria has the second highest level of acute malnutrition rate at 13 per cent and at least five of all the children under the age trove years that died in Nigeria do so as a result of malnutrition."

“Stunting which is chronic malnutrition is the second highest in the world which is about 37 per cent."

“We have to ensure that children who are already malnourished receive help and are prevented from dying while we improve the conditions that led to them being malnourished in the first place.”

In his address, Gates said the agreement would enable the two foundations to begin a joint process that would strengthen the collaboration within the next five years.

He said programs that would be implemented under the pact would include community based approaches and proven interventions linked to behavioral change, fortification of staple foods with essential micronutrients and community management of a cure malnutrition investment in the local production of nutritious foods.

"One of the key objective would be to improve the livelihoods o households by supporting nutrition-sensitive agricultural programs that can increase family income, improve diets and empower women and youth."

Gates said, “Nutrition is one of the highest impact investments we can make in Nigeria’s future growth and prosperity".

With Punch

Arms Procurement: Dasuki’s Trial Stalled, Case Adjourned Till January 22

The case which is before Justice Hussein Baba Ahmed was stalled following a letter from the Counsel to Mr Dasuki, according to Channel Television.

The Counsel to Dasuki claimed that he is before an election tribunal matter in Kogi State, and as such the court should adjourn the case till January 22, to enable him defend his client.

As a result, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, therefore adjourned the case till Friday, January 22 for trial to commence.

On Wednesday, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja ordered the Federal Government to produce Col. Dasuki in court on February 16 and 17, 2016 for trial.

Justice Ademola Adeniyi, in his order, said the court has not excused the former National Security Adviser from being present in court to face the criminal charges preferred against him by the Federal Government.

Bizarre two-legged frogfish stumps scientists

      MUSEUM OF NEW ZEALAND TE PAPA TONGAREWA VIA FACEBOOK

This fish, believed to be a Frogfish, was washed up on the beach at the Bay of Islands in New Zealand.

The curious all-black creature — believed to be a Frogfish — was found washed ashore in shallow water in the country’s Bay of Islands.

Holidaymakers Claudia Howse and James Beuvink found the frog-like fish and sent it on to the Museum of New Zealand to discover exactly what it was.

Experts at the Te Papa Tongarewa museum believe it is a rare type of Frogfish and shared pictures of the unusual animal on Facebook.

“This weird creature is likely to be a species of Frogfish, but we won't know until we have a chance to examine it closely,” said the museum in a statement.

“Frogfishes have the fastest bite of any vertebrate. Their mouths expand at the speed approaching a 22 rifle bullet — and that's in a medium 800x denser than air.”

The frogfish has fins on both sides of its body that have evolved to be leg-like and are generally found living on the seabed.

The fish are known to be cannibals and regularly eat shellfish, other ocean dwellers and each other.

They are found in both tropical and subtropical oceans and seas, except the Mediterranean Sea, according to Mirror Online.

Edo 2016: No candidate yet —Odigie-Oyegun

The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, on Wednesday, disclosed that the party does not have an anointed candidate for the 2016 Edo governorship election, according to Nigerian Tribune.

The APC national chairman dropped the hint during a meeting with APC governoship aspirants for the Edo State governoship seat at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.

He said, “Once I open my mouth to support any candidate, it hampers my ability to be objective and fair in the process. The moment you begin to tell anybody why don’t you step down, the next question is what is in for me?”

“The APC has recorded credible primaries with examples being the presidential primaries and primaries in Kogi and Bayelsa states. Even in the case of Bayelsa State where there were issues, the party cancelled the first primaries and and ordered a fresh exercise — all in a bid to achieve credible primaries.”

“The party assures of credible primaries for the Edo State governorship when the time comes and with the right credentials,” he stated.

On the sidelines of the meeting, an aspirant, Ilenre Austin Emuan, said: “All aspirants were invited for a meeting with the national leadership of APC to have a discussion as far as the campaigns for the Edo State governorship election is concerned and it was a fruitful meeting.”

“As we know, the political climate in the state is getting warmer, hence, the party felt we had to meet so that we could be reminded of the party manifesto, ideology and the fact that everyone should embrace the rule of fair play and above all, to assure everyone of us that all the aspirants will be given a level playing field.”

“Of course, there are a lot of insinuations going around that there is an anointed candidate, but today, all that has been laid to rest. I can say that many of us left with so much confidence about APC and in the process of the forthcoming primaries in Edo State,” he stressed.

Aspirants present at the meeting include: Ilenre Austin Emuan; Dr Don Pedro Obaseki and Professor Oserheimen Osunbor.

APC mentors PDP on 'Change'

                                              Google Image

The national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has described the allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), that it is using its members to draw political capital from it as funny, silly and unfounded allegation.

The governing APC pointedly said it has no hand whatsoever in the in-fighting and resultant implosion being witnessed in the PDP's hierarchy.

The party in a statement said perhaps the wind of Change has blown through the PDP camp and thereby enable many PDP members to realise the need to embrace and enforce change.

The APC statement which was signed by its National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni however said that PDP members who are genuinely inspired by the APC-led administration are welcome to the APC fold.

Buni said it is the right of the PDP members to abandon a sinking ship and join one that is smooth-sailing.

Buni further said; “The APC marvels how the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues to blame everyone but itself for its self-inflicted problems which has led to the sorry state the PDP finds itself.

“In monitored media reports, PDP's National Secretary, Wale Oladipo was quoted saying that some PDP members were being "used by the APC, to draw political capital from the present challenges facing our party [PDP].

“What could be funnier than such silly and unfounded allegation? The PDP now sounds like a broken record with its daily conspiracy theories blaming external forces and unseen hands for its electoral misfortunes, in-fighting and mind-boggling corruption charges and on-going probe of some PDP leaders and the immediate-past PDP-led administration.

“The question begging for answers is: Why does the PDP choose to grope in the dark while reality stares it in the face?

“Did the PDP not know that it will one day pay for the impunity, recklessness and shocking mis-management of the country's common wealth perpetuated under its watch for 16 years?”