|
UNFPA EXECUTIVE-DIRECTOR VISITS NASARAWA STATE
The
Executive Director of the United Nations Fund for Population Activities [UNFPA],
Ms. Thoraya Ahmed Obaid has led a high-powered delegation from the Fund
Headquarters in New York on a visit to Nasarawa State.
 The
Executive Director, who holds the exalted position of a United Nations Under
Secretary-General, is visiting Nigeria for the first time after her appointment
to attend the African Summit on HIV/AIDS holding at Abuja, the nation’s
capital. Nasarawa state is the only state chosen for such a visit by the
Executive Director.
Receiving
the delegation at the Government House Council Chambers, Governor Abdullahi
Adamu stated that a commonality of purpose existed between the State Government
and the UNFPA in the goal of improving the quality of life of the peoples of the
state through better reproductive health, sustained economic growth, poverty
alleviation and gender equality. This symmetry of purpose is responsible for the
partnership agreement that was entered into with the UNFPA for capacity building
in the area of population and development studies.
To
shore up the activities of the UNFPA in the state, the agency has contributed
the sum of $2 million for supporting the population and family life education
scheme, as well as other schemes to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS in the
state. As its own contribution to this effort, the state government supplied 1
Toyota Land cruiser, 16 motorcycles and forty-five bicycles to enhance the
programme management and supervision.
Speaking
earlier on the mission of the team, the Executive Director stated that the
partnership programme with Nasarawa State has been a huge success story and she
was in the state to focus the attention of the world to the story. She thanked
the state government for implementing all the plans and objectives of the UNFPA
in the state and pledged to continue to support the efforts of the state in all
the programme areas.
During
the course of her visit to the state, the Executive Director performed the
foundation stone laying ceremony for the United Nations Agencies office complex as
well as paid visits to the reproductive health unit of the state specialist
hospital and the population analysis databank in the Ministry of Finance and
Economic Planning.
Accompanying
the Executive Director on the visit was a high-powered delegation from the UNFPA
headquarters in New York as well as the Country office in Nigeria. These
included the Director of the UNFPA African Division, Ms Fama Hane Ba; The UNFPA
representative in Nigeria, Ms Daniele Landry and the UNFPA CST Director in Addis
Ababa, Mr. Benson Morah. The state government side included the Deputy-Governor
of the State, Prof. Onje Gye-wado; Members of the state Executive and Security
Councils; Permanent Secretaries and top government officials.
Page Transmitted 28 April, 2001
|
