UN Delegation Visits Anambra, Seeks Strategic Partnerships

EJIKE ABANA

 

Marthias Schmale has called on the Federal and other subnational governments to use vocational training to combat insecurity and other vices.

 

Mr. Schmale was speaking at the government House, Awka, during an interaction with CSOs, Youth leaders and women group on ways they can be of assistance to Anambra State.

According to the Resident Coordinator who explained that uneducated people are part of the driving force of insecurity saifcountries like Germany, Japan and Korea are doing well in vocational training, committing to help the state seek assistance in that regard.

He pledged to continue to push the government to channel investments into the education sector and stressed that ideally, ten percent of the income of any government should be invested on education.

While speaking on the upcoming World Education Summit in Nigeria and promising to figure out a sub-strategy for the South East, Mr. Schmale also called attention to quality of education in the country, the level of insecurity, justice system, combating hate speech and intolerance on the social media, among other issues.

Recieving the delegation on behalf of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, his Chief of Staff, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi, who drew their attention to issues of flooding and erosion, internally displaced persons in the riverine areas, called for assistance from the United Nations.

While pointing out that Anambra runs a transparent government, Mr. Ezeajughi acknowledged the efforts they made in the truth justice and peace committee set up by the present administration, stating that the delegation’s visit is quite reassuring in the journey to building a liveable, prosperous, smart megacity.

The Commissioner for Social Development, Women and Children Affairs, Mrs. Ify Obinabo, asked for support on how to save Anambra Children from rape and all kinds of abuse, stressed that sensitisation, encouragement in the education sector and family support are key factors that can be of immense help to the state.

Contributing, the Chairman of Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, Prof. Phil Eze explained that Anambra state is presently at cross roads and noted that though the UN-Anambra partnership has been ongoing for the past ten years, intervention have been ongoing in thirteen erosion sites, out of which eight have been completed, while intervention have been terminated in five sites, saying that problem is beyond what the state resources can handle.

He emphasized that erosion and flooding has brought about conflicts in communities, stating that such conflicts can be managed when the issue is resolved.

The President General of Anambra State Association of Town Unions, Barrister Titus Akpudo spoke on the state’s ecological problem, saying that unless assistance is rendered, other problems in the state may not be solved, emphasizing that the Global community have the capacity to address such challenges.

One of the participants, Prince Chris Azor noted that without security and social protection, there will be no peace, asking the United Nations to set up a social protection policy in the state, while Dr. Dennis Ekemezie harped on the impact of public enlightenment on peaceful coexistence in the state.