With the global concern about erosion of biodiversity and people’s lifestyle that is putting pressure on the natural world, the Director General of UNESCO, Ms Audrey Azoulay, has expressed optimism that there was still time to make peace with the planet. “The erosion of biodiversity is no longer a hypothesis, but a fact – one that can already be seen and felt in our everyday lives. Biodiversity is collapsing, at an unprecedented speed. But this collapse is not inevitable: there is still time to make peace with the planet.” She said at the 33rd session of the International Co-ordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme held  on 13 September 2021, in Abuja. Ms. Azoulay further explained that “Year after year, the figures worsen, revealing the true depth of the crisis we are currently confronting. From the treetops to the ocean depths, from vertebrates to invertebrates, no species is spared.” She called on all stakeholders to harness the power of education to rebuild our relationship with nature – and UNESCO is fully mobilized to ensure that the environment becomes a key curriculum component by 2025, in line with the commitment made by the 80 governments UNESCO gathered at the Berlin conference last May. In declaring the 33rd session of the International Co-ordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB-ICC) open, H.E. President Muhammadu Buhari reaffirmed that a healthy planet was a pre-requisite for healthy people and which, he noted, was the foundation of a healthy economy. “Changing our behaviour, respecting the natural habitat and living in peace and harmony with nature are paramount to a future resilient generation where biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and sustainably used, while maintaining ecosystem services and delivering essential benefits to the people.” He emphasised. President Buhari, who was represented by the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, expressed Nigeria’s pride in hosting the 33rd Session of MAB ICC for the very first time on African Soil. In his goodwill message, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Edward Kallon, called on everyone to rise and take responsibility to restore Human-Nature safe space by taking responsible steps to conserve biodiversity and restore lost resources. This, according to him, “brings to mind the current ‘UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration’ which aims to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean and in line with the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.” He explained that the Decade has therefore placed a demand on scientists, and indeed on all of us, to work together to recover our lost ecosystems and biodiversity to Build Back Better. Kallon commended the efforts of UNESCO in establishing the Man and the Biosphere Programme, which connects all governments of its member states, including Nigeria, to use integrated and holistic approaches for improving human livelihoods and safeguarding natural resources and ecosystems in a sustainable manner.      

The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Mr. Edward Kallon, has strongly condemned the incessant attacks on schools and kidnappings that have affected hundreds of children in a number of states of the Federation.  In his statement on the 2021 International Day to Protect Education from Attack, commemorated every 9 September, Kallon noted that attacks on schools are a direct attack on the future generation, adding that it is traumatic for the children, undermines their individual dignity, and sometimes leads affected families to withdraw them from education entirely. “I strongly condemn every form of attack that has kept many children away from schools. I call on the Federal and State Governments to do more to protect schools from attack and to ensure that teaching and learning is safe and conducive in all schools in Nigeria.” He said. The Resident Coordinator observed that “whenever teaching and learning is disrupted, the impact on human capital development is enormous as the recovery period is always tortuous and longer than the length of the initial disruption.” According to him, Nigeria cannot afford to leave the situation of incessant attacks on schools to remain unabated. “Children are traumatized; parents are scared; teachers and school administrators are afraid; attacks on schools are gradually spreading to areas not known to insurgencies. With education under attack, the collective future of Nigeria is under threat. This must stop now!” He encouraged the Government of Nigeria to review progress made in implementing safe schools under the declaration and fully put into practice commitments made in 2019 by taking decisive action to protect education from attack and give “this great nation’s children the chance to fulfill their promise.” Kallon explained that too often, the right to education fell under attack, especially in conflict-affected areas, where entire populations could be denied learning. He said further, “With over 10 million children already out of school, conflict has aggravated the situation and deeply affected education and the prospects of many young people, especially its most vulnerable ones. In the last academic year, it is estimated that 1.3 million children have been impacted by attacks or abductions at schools in Nigeria. Across the north-east region alone, over 600,000 children remain out of school and some 1.1 million need educational support to stay in school. This has all been compounded by the setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.” UN Agency for children, UNICEF has been working hard to expand the availability of classrooms and teachers in Nigeria’s most conflict-affected regions. Furthermore, the Agency has been supporting the Government of Nigeria in its efforts to implement the Safe Schools Declaration which was ratified in 2019. Over the past five years, according to UNESCO, there have been 13,400 reports of attacks on education facilities worldwide with more than 22,000 students and teachers harmed or killed. The International Day to Protect Education from Attack is aimed at raising awareness of the plight of children in conflict-affected areas growing up without access to education. Education is a fundamental human right, one that is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is an essential driver for fostering peace, promoting just societies, and supporting sustainable development.   

President Muhammadu Buhari has announced the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP), which is a graduate employment initiative led by the Federal Government of Nigeria, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union (EU). President Buhari made the announcement on Tuesday, 31 August 2021, at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja, and explained that, “An important part of our policies and strategies is to focus on employment and creating opportunities for young Nigerians. The Jubilee Fellows Programme will create new opportunities for 20,000 recent graduates annually and I encourage all eligible Nigerians to apply. I also urge private and public sector organizations across the country to join us by providing work placement opportunities, mentors, and funding to support the program. I thank the United Nations Development Programme and the European Union for their support on this vital initiative”. The NJFP aims to match 20,000 highly skilled graduates annually with yearlong job placements in public and private sectors across multiple industries. The programme application process starts on Monday, 6 September, and it is open to graduates and organisations that fit the requirements found here. In attendance at the official launch was the Vice President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, and the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, His Excellency, Mr. Otunba Richard Adeniyi Adebayo CON. Other development partners who attended the event included the Chargé d'Affaires a.i Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS, His Excellency, Alexandre Borges Gomes, United Nations Resident Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Edward Kallon and the UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Mohamad Yahya. According to one 2019 estimate, about 25 million graduates remain unemployed across the country. The NJFP aims to create a channel between graduates and industry, to help address this employment gap by identifying the emerging skills that companies need most, while guiding graduates to be more prepared for a constantly evolving work environment. The NJFP will champion homegrown Nigerian talent and opportunities by connecting organizations directly to graduates. The pandemic has changed our lives in many ways and made it even more difficult for young graduates entering the job market as well as for organizations looking for new talent. Through the NJFP, both graduates and organizations will get a boost in a changing post-COVID job landscape. In his remarks, the Chargé d'Affaires a.i at the Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Alexandre Borges Gomes said: “The EU sees itself as being at the forefront of promoting youth focused, and youth led, development. We see the young as change-makers, essential to the implementation of the Development Agenda and stand ready to assist Nigeria in keeping the young as an asset. This is why we are committing to support the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme.” This fellowship is designed to help fresh NYSC graduates with zero work experience, who often find it challenging to break into the professional world. The long-term goal would be for the Fellows to feel that they are playing a meaningful part in growing the private and public sector landscape, helping to shape the future of Nigeria. “Through the Jubilee Fellows Programme, young Nigerians will access skills that will help them to navigate in an evolving job market. By creating a channel between graduates and companies, the programme will help identify the emerging skills that companies need most, while guiding graduates to be more prepared to make impact, influence decisions and re-imagine future-proof skills”  said UNDP Resident Representative Mohamed Yahya. “We look forward to seeing the inspiring young talent of this country leverage this programme to continue to make positive change and impact in their communities”.    

Insecurity and conflict have plagued north-east Nigeria for almost 12 years, causing millions of people to feel the pain of hunger. As the north-east enters the lean season, food security assessments released in March 2021 indicated that looming food insecurity threatens an estimated 4.4 million people, 775,000 of whom are at extreme risk. COVID-19 has only exacerbated the situation, causing economic shocks that have affected families’ ability to access or purchase food. This dire humanitarian crisis is exacerbated by access constraints and other challenges that hinder the principled, timely and much-needed delivery of humanitarian aid. In one of the latest security incidents, in April 2021, food warehouses in Damasak and the humanitarian office were burned to the ground by non-State armed groups (NSAGs). This led to a temporary reduction in operations, which heightened the already alarming risk of severe food insecurity.  Without urgent action, thousands of families will descend into catastrophic food conditions during this lean season. The UN and its humanitarian partners are working around the clock to ensure that families have enough food to survive. The familiar pain of hunger: Amina’s story Amina Adamo, 25, is only too familiar with hunger; she has lived without food for days and with only very small rations for months at a time. Inside her makeshift shelter at the Elmiskin internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Jere, near Maiduguri, Borno State, she is one of the many people affected by food insecurity. Amina fears hunger. She relied on food assistance for almost five years, up until it was cut off three months ago. The only food assistance available in the camp was meant for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. IDPs like Amina count on humanitarian assistance as their only lifeline. The ongoing conflict and rising attacks on humanitarians delivering aid to communities like hers have made life more difficult and hindered the provisions sent to families who need them most. Despite enormous risks to their safety, the UN and its partners continue to find ways to deliver aid and food assistance through a process called “localization.” Localization allows partners and agencies to work with local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to deliver humanitarian aid and assistance to unreached communities constantly under threat of violence from armed groups. This process allows for local solutions to local problems. To provide food to communities, the World Food Programme (WFP) works through partners such as Intersos and local NGOs like Salient Humanitarian. And the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund focuses on supporting local partners, ensuring they receive humanitarian financing to meet needs at the community level. Five years ago, Amina and her husband fled Bama, a garrison town near the Cameroon border, following an attack by non-State armed groups (NSAGs). The groups’ violent campaign has pushed approximately 8.7 million people from their homes in various communities in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe – the states most affected by conflict in the region.  Amina recounts the night they fled from their home. “We were sleeping when we started hearing gunshots. That was when we ran out of town. We walked for about six hours. We later got a vehicle to drop us at Bama in a parking lot. We started begging for money the next day in order to pay the driver,” she said. Many families in the camp relied on farming to feed themselves, going out into open fields to plant crops to harvest. But the NSAGs’ rising attacks against farmers have created fear, forcing people to choose between planting food and preserving their own safety. This has only increased food insecurity in many conflict-affected communities. “We are making caps and engaging in small trade. Life was good back home: Aisha’s story There are few countries where planting food to eat would pose a threat to life. But this is a brutal reality in north-east Nigeria. Aisha Idri, a mother of three, was living a good life in Baga, a fishing community near Lake Chad, before armed men attacked her village in 2015. She lost four siblings the night the attackers came, and she was forced to abandon her livestock and the family’s thriving fishing business.  Aisha now lives in one of the biggest IDP camps in Borno, where she receives food assistance from WFP. “I am grateful that WFP supported me with food throughout my pregnancy. To ensure we have enough, we skip meals so what we are given lasts us longer,” she said.  The irony of all this is that Aisha’s family used to provide food to their neighbours, via their fishing business. But because of the conflict, they now wait expectantly to receive food each month, like many other families. Daily survival is dangerous: Zara’s story Rearing livestock is another dangerous activity in north-east Nigeria. Accessing farmland and fetching grass from the bush to feed animals may seem like mundane tasks. But in this context, herders literally risk their lives. In the north-east, only garrison towns are secure, as farmers are allowed to farm only within a certain radius, designated as a “safe zone.” Anything outside this zone is no longer considered secure. Life choices have come down to this: stay hungry longer and stay alive, or attempt to plant, grow or raise your own food and risk death. This is the cost of the conflict. It is not only the visible bullets that kill people, and the traumatizing violence that affects communities’ survival. It is the unseen threat of hunger, one that you cannot touch or see but that can be just as deadly.  It is hard to fight against bullets and weapons when you are unarmed. But hunger, though invisible, is one threat that we can collectively respond to and push back.  Zara Bulama lost her husband to the protracted conflict in Monguno, another garrison town. She travelled for about four days to locate her relative in Gongulong, a town near Maiduguri. When IDPs are forced to flee for safety, they often travel to host communities that often are already underresourced and barely getting by. The influx of new families exacerbates the already stretched supplies of food, shelter and water, overwhelming the host communities and creating a source of tension between residents and newcomers.  While living in the host community, Zara was able to survive on the support provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and WFP, which gave her new hope. She explained: “I was a livestock farmer back home in Monguno before the conflict started. I was very happy when FAO gave me some goats to build my livestock business.  “FAO also provided feed for my goats. WFP also gave me some cash to feed my family so that I wouldn’t end up selling all my goats prematurely. We’re grateful to them.” As the conflict in the north-east approaches its twelfth year, with no signs of slowing, people’s needs continue to increase amid the backdrop of rising attacks on humanitarians and assets. Security and access to affected communities are crucial to ensure the principled delivery of humanitarian aid. There is no humanitarian solution to what is happening to millions of people in north-east Nigeria; peace is the only solution.  Amina, Aisha and Zara continue to hold on to the promise of peace. How you can help This year, an estimated 8.7 million people in north-east Nigeria need some form of humanitarian assistance, 6.4 million of whom are targeted to receive aid as part of the UN and partners’ Humanitarian Response Plan. However, as of 17 June the plan is less than 20 per cent funded. People like Amina, Aisha and Zara need your support. Together, we can help them feed their families.