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IOM Supports Somali AIDS Commissions
… to Present Their AIDS Responses at the 17th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA)
GENEVA – For the first time in history, Somali National AIDS Commissions*, with technical and financial support from International Organization for Migration (IOM), were represented at the 17th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA).
“IOM is grateful to be part of supporting Somali AIDS responses to be known to the world through ICASA. This representation was historical and significant as it offered the international community valuable experiences and lessons learnt from conflict and post-conflict settings,” said Ali Abdi, IOM Somalia Chief of Mission.
Held during 07-11 December 2013 in Cape Town, South Africa, ICASA is the largest International HIV and AIDS conference in Africa. Over 7,000 leading scientists, policy makers, government leaders, people living with HIV and AIDS, national AIDS Commissions, United Nations (UN) agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs), private sector, donors and research institutes attended the biennial conference being held under the theme “Now More Than Ever: Targeting Zero”.
IOM sponsored a booth for the Somali National AIDS Commissions at which they showcased achievements of their AIDS responses and interacted with conference delegates to learn lessons from other countries, in order to contribute to strengthening the effectiveness of their AIDS responses.
Since 2008, IOM, in close partnership with Somali National AIDS Commissions and Joint UN Team on AIDS (JUNTA) in Somalia, has been contributing to the fight against AIDS by providing technical assistance, conducting epidemiological research, and implementing prevention projects through an evidence-informed, migrant-friendly and human-based approach.
For instance, during 2010-2012, IOM, in partnership with 18 NGOs, has implemented a Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) HIV prevention and stigma reduction programme targeting hard-to-reach mobile key and bridging populations such as sex workers, truck drivers, uniformed services.
Some of the achievements include training a total of 108 peer educators on HIV awareness and 60 peer educators on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) awareness and micro loan management, conducting HIV sensitization workshop for a total of 5,110 at-risk and vulnerable women, port workers, truck drivers, uniformed personnel, migrants and internally displaced persons and, as well, training 60 vulnerable women as “Women’s Advocates” on modes of HIV transmission, SGBV and the right to health.
In addition, IOM, in collaboration with various partners, has been conducting several studies on HIV epidemic in various parts of the countries that contributed to the national AIDS responses.
Most notably, in 2008, IOM conducted an Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance (IBBS) Survey, a ground-breaking epidemiological study which identified priority populations where the HIV epidemic is concentrated. The study was published in a leading peer review journal, AIDS in July 2010. IOM is also currently conducting another round of IBBS Survey, which is expected to contribute to the new National Strategic Plan and publish in 2014.
In this context, the Somali national responses in this conference drew special attentions from the international community as their responses as well as epidemiological data have not been well articulated in international venues in the past.
Addressing HIV and AIDS is an integral part of IOM’s migration health programme. Established in 2010, the programme contributes to the UN Millennium Development Goals by pushing for universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
*The Somali National AIDS Commissions are: Somaliland National AIDS Commission (SOLNAC), Puntland AIDS Commission (PAC), and South Central AIDS Commission (SCAC).
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Shallipopi Splits From Record Label, Dapper Music
Popular Nigerian musician Shallipopi has officially parted ways with his record label, Dapper Music.
Rumours of the split had circulated earlier, as Dapper Music played a pivotal role in Shallipopi’s rise to fame in 2023.
A look at Shallipopi’s social media now shows he has removed Dapper Music’s name from his bio and unfollowed the label’s boss, confirming the end of their partnership.
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The developments appear to confirm rumours of his split.
The separation follows Shallipopi’s recent launch of his own label, Plutomania Records, with Zerry DL and Tega Boi as the first signed artists.
BIZTELLERS notes that Shallipopi’s exit comes less than two months after Seyi Vibez also parted ways with Dapper Music.
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Increased Crude Oil production: NCDMB Advocates Annual FID Week
As part of the strategies to increase Nigeria’s crude oil production and enhance revenue accruing to the national treasury, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has advocated for a week in each year to be dedicated to signing final investment decisions (FIDs) on new oil and gas projects.
The Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe made the proposal on Tuesday in his presentation at the 2024 African Energy Week (AEW), at Cape Town, South Africa.
A final investment decision is the final point in an energy project, in which the company or partners owning and operating a project give the final approval for the development, releasing the funding for the commencement.
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Ogbe stated that the FID Week, if adopted, could be incorporated into the existing annual international oil and gas conferences and would feature international and indigenous operating companies.
He posited that dedicating a week every year for FID signing could compel companies and relevant regulators to fast-track their processes to meet the deadline.
He also indicated that the proposal for the annual FID Week has already been broached to Special Adviser on Energy to President, Mrs. Olu Verheijen and the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and international operating companies and was being considered.
Represented at the African Energy Week (AEW) by the Director, Projects Certification and Authorization Division (PCAD) Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, the NCDMB boss said the proposal for an annual FID Week was geared to address the insufficient FIDs signed by the operating companies and the limited number of new projects being developed in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. These worrisome developments contributed to Nigeria’s dwindling crude oil production and the negative impact on revenue, he said.
He suggested that the Nigerian oil and gas industry needed to have at least one or two final investment decisions on major projects to be signed every year, to catalyze activity in the local service sector and the national economy and ultimately increase crude oil and gas production and revenue for the country.
He made reference to the three Presidential Directives (PDs) rolled out by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in March 2024, for the oil and gas industry, stating that NCDMB had complied fully with the directives as it relates to fast-tracking the contracting cycle and eliminating middlemen with no demonstrable capacity from participating in the oil and gas value chain.
The PDs included Presidential Directive on Local Content Compliance, Presidential Directive on Reduction of Petroleum Sector Contracting Cost and Timelines and Presidential Directive on Oil and Gas Companies (Tax Incentives, Exemption, Remission, etc)
Ogbe announced that NCDMB had applied the Presidential Directives in approving five oil and gas projects which are currently in the funnel.
He hinted that the expected production values of those projects are 1 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day and 350 million barrels of crude oil per day.
Commenting on strategies that would ensure sustainable local content development in African nations, the Executive Secretary stated that local content has to be promoted as a national agenda and supported by all institutions, businesses, decision makers, investors and citizens.
Some other personnel of the NCDMB made presentations at the 2024 edition of the African Energy Week (AEW) on core operations and initiatives of the agency.
The officials included Director of Finance and Personnel Management, Mr. Ifeanyi Ukoha, the Manager, Institutional Strengthening, Engr. Obongo Dokubo and the Supervisor Upstream, Engr. Bashir Ahmed.
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Presidents Invite Me To Dinner Wherever I Go – Davido Boasts
Renowned Nigerian singer, David Adeleke, known by his stage name Davido, has stated that he receives special treatment globally due to his celebrity status.
The Afrobeats sensation mentioned that he is frequently invited to presidential dinners in nearly every country he visits, with the exception of the United States and the United Kingdom.
In a recent interview with Kiss Fresh London, Davido confidently shared that his fanbase includes influential figures such as the World Bank president, presidents of powerful nations, and other notable personalities.
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“Every country we go to, the President invites us for dinner except London [United Kingdom] and the United States of America.
“It’s beautiful to see. I mean, leaving my country, Nigeria, and people welcoming me like the president in other countries, shows how well Nigeria is doing around the world in terms of music and cultural impacts,” he said.
Davido has expressed that he feels most respected in Africa, which is why he cherishes his African tours more than those in Europe and America, even though the latter bring him greater financial rewards.
He shared that his Jamaican collaborator, YG Marley, was astonished by the immense admiration from fans when he visited Nigeria for the video shoot of their joint hit, ‘Awuke.’