Borno Govt, AOA Global, Host Post-insurgency Conference Today

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Borno Govt, AOA Global, Host Post-insurgency Conference Today

Leadership, 19 Apr 2016

URL: http://leadership.ng/news/519455/borno-govt-aoa-global-host-post-insurgency-conference-today
Borno State government and an international intervention agency, AOA Global, is hosting a multi-sectoral conference on post insurgency rebuilding of the northeast Nigeria, an official statement said.

The conference which is tagged “First Annual Dialogue On Rebuilding Borno”, according to the statement, “signals high level political will to progress rebuilding with a renewed focus on human development priorities for Borno State.”

Chief Executive Officer, AOA Global and co-host, Dr. Ayoade Olatunbosun-Alakija, who signed the statement said, “This collaborative endeavour between the Borno State government and AOA Global (the co-host) brings together leaders in their respective fields to put their heads together to formulate strategic and sustainable plans for rebuilding Borno.

“Health and education will be the twin focus for development of strategic solutions with gender empowerment, children and young people and food security as cross cutting themes for this seminal Thought Leadership Laboratory. The United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will be active partners in the development of an implementation plan and input also provided by the Rhodes Trust, Oxford.

“The Honorable Minister, Kayode Fayemi will offer remarks as the conference considers job creation opportunities in the mining sector. This event will also feature Dr. Yemi Kale, Statistician General of the Federation who will lay the evidence base for ongoing discussions by providing the relevant indices for Borno State, drawing out conclusions from analysis of the data and highlighting data gaps.

Dr Alakija said he shares the views of Borno state Governor Kashima Shettima, on the fact that Borno is facing “a real, existential threats”.

He said there is a need for “every line of support, as Borno experiences a food security crisis, health care challenges and yawning unmet educational gaps in the immediate term and, in the medium to long term, reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement of IDPs.

“Women bore the brunt of the insurgency and deliberate gender empowerment initiatives and girl child education are dear to our hearts.” Dr. Ayoade Olatunbosun-Alakija underscores that “Overcoming intertwined humanitarian, development and security challenges is crucial for Borno and a shared and prosperous future for all Nigeria.”