The Northern Youth Congress of Nigeria (NYC) has honoured Dr. Ibrahim Aminu Trader, Executive Director of the Regional Sustainable Energy Centre of Excellence for Sub-Saharan Africa (RSECE), with its coveted Northern Elders Award of Excellence, “Garkuwan Marayun Arewa,” in recognition of his outstanding service to youth empowerment, national unity and social development.

The prestigious award, which translates to “Shield of Northern Orphans,” was conferred during a colourful ceremony at the RSECE headquarters in Abuja.

The event drew a cross-section of youth leaders, civil society groups, and stakeholders from the public and private sectors.

National President of the NYC, Ambassador Auwalu Mohammed Majiri, commended Dr. Trader’s enduring commitment to nation-building.

“This recognition is rooted in Dr. Trader’s consistent efforts to empower young people and his unwavering role as a bridge-builder in Nigeria’s journey toward unity and peace,” he said.

Dr. Trader, who has a storied career in public service and finance, expressed deep gratitude to the NYC.

He described the recognition as “humbling,” adding that his passion for uplifting the next generation remains central to his work.

“As someone who became the first Northerner to graduate at the age of 19, and having held top roles in the civil service and banking sector, I understand the power of opportunity,” he stated.

“Through RSECE, I continue to support youth initiatives and encourage entrepreneurship as a tool for nation-building.”

The award serves as a powerful endorsement of Dr. Trader’s leadership, humanitarian values and grassroots impact, particularly among marginalised communities.

His honour, according to observers, stands as a beacon of hope and a call to action for others committed to Nigeria’s collective progress.

A member of Nigeria’s opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has publicly disavowed his role in a recent protest targeting Bello Matawalle, the country’s Minister of State for Defence, claiming the demonstration was a politically motivated scheme orchestrated by the Zamfara State Government.

Kamilu Ibrahim, who identified himself as an active PDP member and one of the protest’s organisers, issued a statement on Saturday retracting his involvement and apologising to Matawalle.

“It’s important to note that I am not an indigene of Zamfara State, and none of the participants come from Zamfara State.”

He alleged that the protest was not driven by genuine grievances but was instead sponsored by Zamfara’s PDP-led government under Governor Dauda Lawal Dare to discredit Matawalle, a prominent figure in the rival All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ibrahim said Dauda promised us $100 to each protester, and we have over 330 members. He has not kept his promise.

“The reason we are begging Matawalle to forgive us is that we found out we were fooled and misled by false information to deceive the public.

“We are sorry for any damage we have caused you, Ibrahim told Matawalle.

“I believed at the time that our actions were justified,” Ibrahim said.

“However, after reviewing the facts and listening to credible reports, I now realise that the allegations against Matawalle are unfounded and politically motivated.”

Ibrahim further claimed that the organisers of the protest were not APC members, as reported in some media outlets, but PDP loyalists acting on instructions from the Zamfara State Government. He accused Governor Lawal of orchestrating the campaign to undermine Matawalle for political gain.

Ibrahim suggested that Governor Lawal has been avoiding a summons by Nigeria’s National Assembly, fearing that a federal inquiry could expose administrative failures and potentially lead to the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.

“Governor Lawal is deliberately avoiding the National Assembly’s invitation,” Ibrahim alleged, citing concerns that an investigation could reveal “the truth” about the state’s security and governance challenges.

Ibrahim’s statement casts fresh doubt on the credibility of the allegations against him, framing them as part of a broader political vendetta.

In his statement, Ibrahim expressed regret for his role in the protest and sought Matawalle’s forgiveness.

“I sincerely apologise to Honourable Bello Matawalle for the role I played,” he said, vowing not to participate in “such deceitful agendas” in the future.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has issued a stark warning regarding an escalating hunger crisis affecting millions in West and Central Africa. The region is grappling with unprecedented levels of food insecurity driven by conflict, displacement, economic challenges, and extreme weather events.

Recent analyses indicate that approximately 36 million people are currently unable to secure their basic food needs, a figure expected to exceed 52 million during the critical lean season from June to August. Among those affected, nearly three million individuals are experiencing emergency conditions, with 2,600 individuals in Mali facing the threat of catastrophic hunger.

Despite the alarming rise in food insecurity, resources remain critically limited, placing millions at risk. Margot van der Velden, Regional Director for West and Central Africa, emphasized, “Without immediate funding, WFP will be compelled to further reduce both the number of individuals assisted and the size of food rations provided.”

In comparison to 2019, when only four percent of the population faced food insecurity, the current figure has surged to 30 percent, according to Ollo Sib, a senior research adviser at WFP. He expressed hope that the urgency of the situation in the Sahel would capture the attention it deserves during a press conference in Geneva from Dakar.

Sib recently visited some of the hardest-hit areas, including northern Ghana, where communities are dealing with severe drought conditions. “They have had to replant two to three times, and each failed sowing exacerbates their financial strain due to the high costs of fertilizers and seeds,” he noted.

The assessment team also traveled to northern Mali, the only region where catastrophic food security conditions are reported. Sib recounted conversations with pastoralist elders who typically sell livestock to purchase cereals but are now facing a 50 percent increase in food prices compared to the five-year average, all while struggling to access markets.

WFP highlighted that ongoing conflict is a key driver of the worsening hunger situation in West and Central Africa. More than 10 million vulnerable individuals have been displaced due to violence, including over two million refugees and asylum seekers in Chad, Cameroon, Mauritania, and Niger, with an additional eight million internally displaced, particularly in Nigeria and Cameroon.

Rising food and fuel costs have compounded the problem, leading to soaring levels of hunger. Furthermore, recurrent extreme weather events continue to undermine families’ ability to provide for themselves.

WFP is prepared to enhance its response and vital assistance efforts in West Africa and the Sahel, seeking $710 million to support life-saving operations until the end of October. Their goal is to assist nearly 12 million individuals this year, with three million already reached, including refugees, internally displaced persons, and vulnerable children and women.

However, the agency warns that five million people are at risk of losing access to assistance unless urgent funding is secured. WFP has also urged governments and partners to invest in sustainable solutions that strengthen resilience and reduce long-term reliance on aid.

Since 2018, WFP has collaborated with regional governments to tackle the root causes of hunger, successfully rehabilitating over 300,000 hectares of land to benefit more than four million people across 3,400 villages. (NAN)