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http://ift.tt/eA8V8J By Monsuru Olowoopejo lagos—THE Lagos State Government has justified the continued delay in the commencement of National Home Grown School Feeding Programme in the State, seven months after the Federal Government kicked off the programme in other listed states. Speaking with newsmen on the programme execution, the State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule, who doubles as Education Commissioner, said that the atmosphere in the state’s public schools is not conducive for the programme to commence. According to her, we have 497,318 pupils in our primary schools. And for us to feed these children scattered in 1, 010 public primary schools, we must do proper preparation to ensure that no school is excluded from the programme. “We have embarked on renovation and construction of new classes to ensure that the atmosphere in which the students will be fed is right for the exercise. “We have embarked on the provision of benches and chairs in the school to assist the pro...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, said on Friday that he has written to Member States to update them on various reform initiatives at the global body. Guterres said through a number of global agreements on sustainable development, climate change, sustaining peace and financing for development, Member States have provided a broad vision of the future they want. The Secretary-General said he intended to advance meaningful reform to adapt the UN to the complex world and to ensure that the organization could effectively serve all of its member states in achieving that future. “The letter provides a timeline of progress on a number of reform issues, including gender parity, the reform of the development system, and the reform of the peace and security architecture. “Others are the management of the Organisation, the new Counter terrorism office, whistle-blower protection, combatting sexual exploitation and abuse, among others.” Nigeria’s Ambassador to the UN...

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says more than 300,000 women die annually during pregnancy and childbirth. Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, UNFPA Executive Director, disclosed this at the occasion of International Day of the Midwife, which honoured midwives as family ‘partners for life’. He urged governments and development partners to expand midwifery programmes and promote an environment where midwives can effectively serve the needs of women and their families. “Midwives save lives, support and promote healthy families, and empower women and couples to choose whether, when and how often to have children. “They also help avert sexually transmitted infections and prevent disabilities like obstetric fistula, mother-to-child transmission of HIV and female genital mutilation. “Each year, more than 300,000 women die during pregnancy and childbirth. “The UN also estimates that some three million babies do not survive the first month of life, and another 2....

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J The Federal Government says the first phase of Ajaokuta Steel Company will provide 500,000 upstream and downstream employment when it becomes operational. Mr Isah Onobere, the Sole Administrator of the company made this known during a media tour to the company on Friday. Onobere said that the first phase of the plant would also provide direct employment for 10,000 technical staff when inaugurated. He also said the first phase had been completed, adding that it was envisaged to produce 1.3 million tonnes of liquid steel per annum. He said that it would cost 400 million dollars to complete Ajaokuta steel, which had reached 98 per cent completion. According to him, two billion dollars is needed for infrastructure rehabilitation and operational cost. He said that government had begun to commit resources toward the maintenance and preservation of the equipment and facilities of the plant recently and called for improved efforts. According to him, government is c...