Malaria Fund Scam: Global Fund, EFCC Sign MoU

Press Release

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the Office of the Inspector General of the Global Fund to facilitate exchange of information on fraud and abuse of office in relation to grant programs managed by the Global Fund targeted at fighting Tuberculosis and Malaria in Nigeria.

Under the MoU which was signed on behalf of the Fund and the Commission by the duo of Norbert Hauser, head of the office of the Inspector General, Global Fund and Ibrahim Lamorde, Chairman, EFCC, respectively, both parties will cooperate by providing information and intelligence to each other, which may help in the investigation and prosecution of anyone suspected of engaging in fraud and abuse of Global Fund grant funds and related criminal activity.

Terms of the agreement stipulates that both parties will consult regularly, in particular to exchange information regarding new areas of potential cooperation and other joint activities falling within their respective mandates. All information exchanged will be treated as strictly confidential.

The Memorandum stipulates that any information exchanged will not be used as evidence in any judicial proceedings without the express prior consent of the party providing that information.

In addition to exchanging financial and criminal intelligence, both parties may cooperate in other ways, including the exchange of general information regarding fraud, abuse and other economic crimes.

Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, who said the Commission is not just helping the Global Fund in signing the MoU, said “What we are doing is helping ourselves. It is our moral obligation to give you our support and cooperation.”

On his part, Hauser said that the signing of the Memorandum with Nigeria, a country where Global Fund grants are being distributed on a large scale, is sequel to similar agreements with Malawi and Tanzania. “This is also an expression of country ownership in its most positive form”, he explained.

Wilson Uwujaren

Ag. Head, Media & Publicity

9th June, 2013

culled from http://theinfrastructurenewsng.com

NIGERIAN RED CROSS - TRULY RED

On the 16th and 17th of April 2013, there was an incident at Baga community in Borno state, Nigeria. It was the heavy clash that broke out between the MNJTF and the Boko Haram (BH) - a radical Islamic group. According to satellite images released by the Human Right Watch (HRW), an estimated 2,275 homes were destroyed by fire and about 125 were severely damaged. The aim of this piece is not to discuss this mayhem, but to highlight the role of a vibrant NGO in the occurrence. As we all know that figures capture the mind; various figures were given as the estimated number of death. The Nigerian Red Cross' figure taken shortly after the incidence caught the public attention, hence contributed to the push for investigation.

The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) was founded in 1960 and it has its headquarters in Lagos. It has over 350,000 volunteers, 300 permanent employees and offices in all the 36 state of the federation. The Nigerian Red Cross Society was established by an Act of Parliament in 1960 and became the 86th Member – National Society of the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Now International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies) on 4 February 1961. Although the activities of the Red Cross in the country dates back to 1917 when funds were raised for Nigerian soldiers who fought during World War 1.

Part of their activities remain disaster preparedness and response, community based health programmes (HIV/AIDS, First Aid, WatSan, Motherless and Abandoned Babies homes etc), training, organizational development, communications,  Restoring family links, youth development, alternative to violence and so on. In recent times, they have been a great help to victims of flood, bomb blasts, displaced people, violence and vulnerable people in several states of the nation.

As the world celebrates the World Red Cross Day today, I join other Nigerians in celebrating this society. When we are in the comfort of our homes, they are there helping communities like Baga after a fresh clash, risking their lives for others. The swift response to Baga victims and coming up with reliable figure is also quite commendable. Hence, if other Not-for-Profits organizations and NGOs can contribute in this manner, I am sure the third sector will maximally contribute to achieving sustainable well being of the Nigerian populace.

TODAY ON DEVELOPMENT CALENDER

TODAY ON DEVELOPMENT CALENDER

- World Red Cross Day

Development Scholarship Opportunities:

Click on each link for more information

MSc Development Management or 
the MSc International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies (IDHE) - The Lalji PfAL Scholarships for graduate study – DEADLINE 13th MAY 2013 LSE  (London School of Economics)


MSc ICT for Development, or 
Development Studies, Development Management etc -  DEADLIDE 30TH OF JUNE, 2013 - Institute for Development Policy and Management (IDPM), University of Manchester, UK

2.5 million HIV/AIDS Orphans in Nigeria and 3.6 Nigerians living with HIV

In December 2012, Maimuna Mohammed, the director- partnership and coordination, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) highlighted in a key note address that at least 2.5million children have been rendered orphans by HIV and AIDS. This she noted, has caused an increase in the population of orphans in the country, hence posing a threat to the socio-economic development of the nation.

It is interesting to know that Nigeria’s HIV prevalence now stands at 4.1 per cent, while more people are infected in the urban than in the rural areas; maybe due to the efforts of rural CBOs, CSOs, NGOs, rural radio campaigns and so on. The director, Maimuna Mohammed also mentioned that “no fewer than 3.6 million Nigerians are currently living with HIV… and that is why we (Nigerians) need to scale up efforts at all levels to reduce the virus to the barest minimum”.

Many organizations have been contributing to this fight at different levels. UNICEF for example has its  4 ‘P’s Strategy which are 1) Primary prevention among young people; 2) Prevention of Mother-to-child Transmission; 3) Paediatric AIDS; and 4) Protection of orphans and vulnerable children.  Many NGOs have also been working locally to build capacity in communities for advocacy, and rendering helping hand in prevention, treatment, care and support for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVCs) as well as their care giver.

Hence, as the development sector celebrates the world HIV Orphans’ day today, let us all look closer into the growing number of Nigeria’s HIV Orphans and the impact this is having and will have on the socio-economic development and well being of many households (where we have children as head of household dues to parents death) and communities.

TODAY ON DEVELOPMENT CALENDER

TODAY ON DEVELOPMENT CALENDER

World AIDS Orphans Day

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

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Data Demand and Use Specialist – USAID funded MEASURE Evaluation Project – Nigeria  

Adolescent Girl Advisor, Strategy and Practice - Abuja - Nigeria (218557-927)

Project Manager, Nigeria - Action on Armed Violence 

Institutional Development Specialist (Ref: IDS, Ebonyi State) - SUWASA

Communications and Outreach Specialist -SUWASA

Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, Abuja, Nigeria - Creative Associates International

Chief of Party (Program Director), Abuja, Nigeria - FHI360

Programme Coordinator, Kaduna Sub-Office, Nigeria, ICS-11(P-4) - UN Population Fund

Manager, Human Resources Planning and Management, Abuja, Nigeria - Intrahealth