Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ alongside other civil societies in Nigeria on Monday met with representatives of International Monetary Fund, IMF in Abuja following the economic hardship biting hard on Nigerians and other residents living in the country.

According to news release made available by ANEEJ, the meeting was inline with “IMF Article IV Consultation 2024”. The statement added that the economic hardship currently biting Nigerians due to harsh fiscal and monetary policies of government were centre points of discussion at the meeting.

Acting Executive Director of ANEEJ, Atakpu Leo told the IMF delegation led by its Mission Chief, Axel Schimmelpfennig that the inflation experienced by Nigerians is a product of ill-advised policy of subsidy removal on petrol, the unification of both the official and parallel Foreign Exchange Markets and therefore called on the IMF to put people first in its policy Prescriptions for Nigeria and other poor countries currently enmeshed in economic crisis.

The news release read further that at the consultation meeting, the participants identified food insecurity, high inflationary rate, huge debt burden, Climate crisis, low domestic resource mobilisation amid high cost of governance as key issues affecting the economy of Nigeria, pushing more citizens into extreme poverty, and asked for better policy Prescription.

“Speaker after speaker at the meeting harped on the need for the federal government to plug all leakages in government, intensify the crackdown on terrorists and bandits to provide security for farmers, improve power supply, re-engineer social protection programmes as urgent steps needed to be taken to provide an enabling environment for foreign direct investments and increase local production direly needed to improve domestic resource mobilisation.

High point was the presentation of ANEEJ research report on utilisation of Special Drawing Rights released by the IMF to Nigeria in 2021 to cushion the effects of Covid-19 on the economy by Mr Atakpu to the IMF Mission Chief to Nigeria.

Present at the consultation were: Christian Ebeke, IMF Resident Representative for Nigeria, Zainab Mangga Kyari, an Economist with the IMF, IMF Washington officials who joined online as well as a cream of CSOs working on Economic Justice issues in Nigeria to include: Oxfam Nigeria, CISLAC, Step Forward Nigeria, BudgiT among others.

A report on the ongoing consultations is expected in May 2024″, the statement reads further in quotes.

Meanwhile, ANEEJ has taken a step forward by launching the 5th intervention cycle of the Brighter Futures project.

ANEEJ in a statement on Monday, said; “In this new phase, the focus is on building youth resilience by reducing the rate of youth involvement in Serious and Organised Crime; increasing the youth leadership approach to crime prevention; and strengthening existing youth platforms to tackle crime in the community.

The primary focus of the resilience training sessions during this cycle in the Oka N Ighi Zevbihen community revolves around the pivotal role of target beneficiaries in crime prevention. The target beneficiaries were guided on how to realise the significance of their values, strength and vision, all of which should be tied to maintaining the safety of their community and society as a whole.

Further enriching this transformative journey, a subsequent meeting with TAs delved into the topic of enhancing self-esteem to reduce criminal conduct. Sub-topics including positive self-image, self-value, fostering a healthy self-perception, managing negative thoughts, and steering clear of unhealthy comparisons were thoroughly discussed. In tandem with these efforts, personalized one-on-one mentorship sessions for target beneficiaries, integral to the 5th intervention, have commenced within the community.

This multifaceted approach aims to not only build individual resilience but also collectively strengthen the fabric of the community against criminal activities, ultimately contributing to the overarching goals of the Brighter Futures project”.

Also, under the Brighter Futures project, ANEEJ had continued Resilience Training for Youths in Oka N Ighi Zevbihen and Umegbe Communities Under the 4th Phase Intervention.

“In the latest development for the Brighter Futures project, intervention partners, such as Barrister Nduka Nwanwene, the NAPTIP Zonal Commander, along with Dr Joy Ariyo, a psychologist, and Dr Blessing Uteh, a clinical psychiatrist, Mr Victor Oriakhi, an educationist, successfully conducted five engaging resilience sessions from Monday 12 to Saturday 17, February 2024 in Oka N Ighi Zevbihen and Umegbe Communities as part of the implemnetation of the 4th Intervention Phase of the Brighter Futures project.

These sessions transcend mere goal setting and vision; they focus on enhancing life-coping skills, addressing substance abuse, and educating the youth in the communities. During the resilience training, the target beneficiaries were equipped with essential coping mechanisms, including recognizing triggers, building a robust social support network, fostering self-awareness, maintaining a positive self-image, embracing change, and exploring therapeutic options.

The sessions also shed light on emerging issues such as human trafficking and irregular migration, covering various recruitment methods employed by traffickers, including deception, coercion, adoption, and kidnapping.

Notably, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) shared their mobile contact for reporting trafficking cases, enhancing the preventive approaches that target beneficiaries can adopt individually.

The preventive approach to substance abuse and addiction expanded the beneficiaries’ knowledge on psychoactive substances, legal and illegal substances, narcotic analysis, stimulants, depressants, and inhalants.

A significant outcome of the sessions was the commitment made by the target beneficiaries to refrain from substance abuse, as expressed during the group session. The project is making strides in empowering the community with valuable knowledge and skills for a resilient and healthy future”, ANEEJ statement stated in quotes.

Osazuwa Akonedo

Osazuwa Akonedo is a Nigerian media professional, author, and consultant. His work spans various sectors of communication and literature: Journalism and Media: He is the founder of OsazuwaAkonedo, which focuses on news analysis and commentary. He also provides consultancy services in media and banking. Literature: He is a published playwright and author of Nigerian literature. One of his notable works is the drama titled The End Shall Tell: What Exam Malpractice Can Cause, which addresses educational and social issues in Nigeria. Reporting: He frequently reports on regional news, particularly concerning Edo State and broader Nigerian current affairs. Credit: Google Gemini AI Mode Osazuwa Akonedo is a Nigerian media creator, journalist, and entrepreneur who engages audiences via news reporting, social media content, music, and a mobile application. Professional Background and Company Osazuwa Akonedo is associated with OSAZUWAAKONEDO LIMITED, a company registered in Nigeria that operates in media consultancy and news services  The company is headquartered in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, and has been active in publishing news in various formats including text, audio, video, and photos  Social Media and Online Platforms Osazuwa Akonedo maintains a strong online presence on several platforms: TikTok: Shares news updates and reports, for example, covering police operations in Nigeria  YouTube: Operates a channel where he uploads videos on current affairs and news content  Twitter/X: Active under the handle @akonedo_osazuwa, posting updates on events and news  Facebook: Profiles listing his connection to news and media activities can be found on Facebook  Mobile App: Offers a dedicated mobile application for news access through Google Play (Osazuwa Akonedo News App) providing text, video, and photo news formats  News Reporting and Content He produces news content covering national and local stories, including criminal activities, government updates, and investigative reports   His reporting spans multiple formats, making it accessible to a wide audience through online platforms, mobile apps, and social media  Other Contributions In addition to journalism, Osazuwa Akonedo has also ventured into audio releases, such as “Former Justice Minister Abubakar Malami Begs Nigerians For Justice” released on January 25, 2026   He also hosts podcasts documenting significant events, e.g, NDLEA arrests related to historical criminal cases  Summary Osazuwa Akonedo is a multifaceted media professional engaged in journalism, social media content creation, music, and technology via his news app. He utilizes platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Twitter/X, Facebook, and mobile applications to disseminate news and reach audiences both locally and internationally Credit: Azure AI

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