Arapmoi22:
https://www.visionofhumanity.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GPI-2023-Web.pdf


32 African Nations are better than USA in GPI.
Better than 14 other African Nations under consideration.

As of Aug. 1, at least 25,198 people have died from gun violence in the U.S. this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive – which is an average of roughly 118 deaths each day.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/116-people-died-gun-violence-day-us-year/story?id=97382759

I know two Nigerian young graduates who parent sold what he had to send to USA, only for them to be crying over same child falling under gun violence.
Meanwhile, he supposedly ran away from Nigeria death. Not knowing America will offer him a faster one.

You are really aware of the development

Furthermore, the youngest lawmaker in Nigeria, Hon. Rukayat Shittu while also reviewing the report stated that, the media has a huge role to play in giving positive reports about Africa more prominence.

According to her, the review of the Global Peace Index in the Africa Peace Insight report brought a new perspective to the report.

She said, media should deliberately seek out positive aspects of any report or situation to uplift the continent, rather than echoing the narrative of foreign media or being fixated on negative stories.

Rukayat stated that, “PeacePro has led the way in this aspect and that’s why we are now learning new facts about the Global Peace Index, which many thought outrightly concentrated in misery in the continent”.

She concluded that the Africa Peace Insight report has already started yielding results, since those participating in the program are already having a different view and perception of the continent through encounter with the Africa Peace Insight.

Participants at the program include Honourable Shina Pellar, a former member of the federal House of Representatives in Nigeria, Hon Maryam Yusuf Aladi, a member of the Kwara State House of Assembly,

Others are, the national president of the Congress of NOUN Students (CONS), Comrade Shakir Kareem, Comrade Surajudeen Adeyemi, Amb Peiro and other leaders of youth organizations were also present.

While speaking at the programme, Mrs. Zulfah Jubril Sanni from the Gambia University of Science Engineering and Technology (USET) who reviewed the report said that the Africa Peace Insight report mirrors the reality of the continent.

According to Zulfah, The Gambia was listed as 4th most peaceful country in the report and she said that it reflected the peaceful nature of the country.

“While the country may not be as developed and rich like Nigeria, the general life style of the people is built around contentment and social cohesion” she said.

Zulfah also maintained that, the false perception of secessionist agitation in many African countries has been exposed as lacking depth, as demonstrated in Sudan.

“In spite of the separation of South Sudan from Sudan, both countries are still amongst the least peaceful countries in the continent, with both having an aggravated internal crisis, far beyond the situation they had before their separation. She said

Over 70% of Africa Nations More Peaceful than US, Says PeacePro

Foundation for Peace Professionals also known as PeacePro at the weekend said about 70 per cent African nations are more peaceful situations than United States of America.

Executive Director of the organisation, Mr. Abdulrazaq Hamzat, stated this in Ilorin at a press conference yesterday on the sideline of the maiden edition of Africa Peace Insight (API) report in Nigeria, popularly known as the giant of Africa.

He said that, “The report is also based on the online public presentation which had 129 participants.

Hamzat stated: “The report named Mauritius, Sierra Leone, Botswana, Equatorial Guinea and Tunisia as most peaceful countries across the 5 subregions of Africa and it equally listed South Africa, Sudan, South Sudan, Mali and Democratic Republic of Congo as least peaceful countries across the sub region.”

He noted “the Africa Peace Insight is an extracted report from the Global Peace Index (GPI), produced by Australia based Institute of Economics and Peace (IEP) to contextualize, simplify and further breakdown the GPI from a continental perspective”.

Hamzat explained that, Africa Peace Insight report spotlight ongoing conflict in Africa including the situation in ECOWAS led West Africa and the ongoing crisis in Sudan, review findings of Global Peace Index, presented Africa as a single entity by extracting North Africa rating from Middle East as done by the GPI, outline the most and least peaceful countries across the sub region and provide recommendation on pressing peace-building concern in the continent”.

While commenting on the review of Global Peace Index, the report says that more than 70 per cent of the continent is more peaceful than the United States, despite the huge challenges in the continent, adding that no African country is amongst top 3 least peaceful countries in the world for 4 consecutive years.

It also noted that Africa is the epicenter of global crisis, as the Ethiopian civil war recorded more death than any other conflict in the world, yet it wondered why the continent didn’t get commensurate relief support compared to Ukraine, which had less casualties.

Hamzat also outline the five major observation of the Africa Peace Insight.

According to him, foreign military presence is directly proportional to proliferation of arms and growing insecurity in the continent.

The report noted that, “despite the huge mineral exploration taking place in the continent, it doesn’t receive commensurate economic returns to clean up its environment, create economic prosperity and provide employment for its teeming youth population.

“Africa Peace Insight concluded with 2 major recommendations, which is to de-militarize Africa through ending all foreign military presence within a set time frame and developing a joint continental gateway to global mineral market”.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2023/10/15/over-70-of-africa-nations-more-peaceful-than-us-says-peacepro

*PEACEPRO SET NEW AGENDA FOR AFRICA UNION AS IT PRESENTS AFRICA PEACE INSIGHT ON 13TH OCTOBER, 2023*

A peacebuilding think tank, Foundation for Peace Professionals also known as PeacePro has announced the completion of maiden Africa Peace Insight report, which is set to be presented next week.

PeacePro also said that the public presentation of the report is to be done on 13th October, 2023 on the International Day of Risk and Disaster Reduction via Twitter public space and eminent peace personalities within and outside Africa are expected to join the conversation.

In a statement by the Executive Director, Mr Abdulrazaq Hamzat, PeacePro said that Africa Peace Insight report was done in partnership with Institute of Economics and Peace (IEP), which is the producer of Global Peace Index and the presentation will be done on twitter space.

Africa Peace Insight (API) report gave the continental outlook of peace in Africa, present regional ranking of peacefulness across the subregion and gave spotlight analysis of ongoing crisis.

API also set new agenda for the continental body, Africa Union to end neo-colonialism and call for an end to balcarnization of Africa through elimination of Middle East and North Africa (MENA ) coinage in many global reports.

Hamzat explained that, Africa Peace Insight is to expand the conversation around the Global Peace Index at the continental level, so as to put peacebuilding as the cornerstone of development in the continent.

He further concluded that the report will put peacebuilding at the centre of policy and security decisions, which automatically reduces the tendency for elevating crisis management.

End

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*FG must articulate a peacebuilding plan to halt insecurity- PeacePro*

_Says there's no difference in mindset of bandits, terrorist and some citizens_

A peacebuilding think tank, Foundation for Peace Professionals also known as PeacePro has called on the federal government to articulate a national peacebuilding plan to end insecurity in Nigeria.

PeacePro said that, Nigeria cannot continue to operate like the security challenges will resolve themselves, noting that the government must be delibrate about developing and executing national peacebuilding policies that will alter the current insecurity challenges in a fundamental way.

In its international peace day statement, the Executive Director of PeacePro, Abdulrazaq Hamzat stated that, PeacePro has consistently maintained that the insecurity in the country cannot be adequately addressed solely by the force of arms or even by the popular stick and carrot approach.

According to Hamzat, Nigeria's insecurity has attained a psychological dimension, in which some citizens are constantly in the state of battle psychologically and even if stick and carrot can address their physical state of insecurity, only a strategic peacebuilding plan can adequately reverse the mindsets of insecurity, which is the breeding ground for their physical actions.

Hamzat noted that, there's little difference between the mindsets of bandits, criminals and terrorist causing physical insecurity in the country and some citizens on the internet.

"The same mindset which made bandits feel justified kidnapping people, which made terrorists feel justified terrorising the nation, is the same mindsets that made some citizens feel justified to constantly be at war with the country on the internet space and until this psychological battle is addressed, no progress can be made" Hamzat said.

Speaking further, Hamzat explained that, PeacePro has made similar proposal to the previous administration, with several initiatives advanced to arrest the situation, but we believe that the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will find it worthy to adopt a more civil approach to our peacebuilding efforts.

He therefore urged the federal government to look into this proposals in its quest to end insecurity in Nigeria.

https://www.primebusiness.africa/peacepro-urges-national-unity-through-peacebuilding/

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Youngest lawmaker, Rukayat Shittu accuses Burnaboy,Olamide,Wizkid others of glamorizing drug abuse

_Proposes media regulations against drug abuse content on social media, movie, music videos etc_

The youngest lawmaker in Nigeria and member of Kwara State House of Assembly representing Owode Onire state constituency, Hon Rukayat Shittu has accused music stars, movie celebrities, skit makers, Big Brother Naija and other influencers of glamourizing drug abuse to mislead teenage minds into a lifestyle they are not equipped live.

The sensational politician has also proposed to different national bodies, including National Broadcasting Corporation, Nigerian Senate, Federal House of Representatives, Nigeria Union of Journalists amongst others, the need to key into the proposed move to regulate social media against the exposure of drug abuse related content.

Hon Rukayat, who is a former senate president at the Congress of NOUN Students (CONS) in her proposal, accused music stars such as Burnaboy, Olamide, Wizkid, Asake, Rema and many others of using their influence to promote and glamorize drug abuse.

She also accused reality show promoter, Big Brother Naija, skit makers, and movie celebrities of deliberate drug abuse promotion in their content, calling for stronger regulations, which maybe criminal in nature against culprits.


Here is the full content


Director General
National Broadcasting Commission (NBC),
Abuja, Nigeria.

11/08/2023

Sir,

*REGULATORY PROPOSAL AGAINST EXPOSURE OF DRUGS PROMOTING CONTENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, MUSIC VIDEOS, SKITS, MOVIES AND OTHER MEDIA CONTENT*

The above subject matter refers.

2. I write to seek your input, recommendation, and action on a proposal, seeking to promote regulation against formal or informal drug abuse promoting content on social media, music videos, skits, movies, and other media contents in Nigeria.

3. The proposed regulation against exposure to drug abuse content on media, social media, music videos, movies, and other media contents doesn't seek to infringe on individual rights to live as they desire, but rather, it seeks to limit exposure to drug abuse related content on media space, especially on social media, music videos, skits and movies.

4. The abuse of drugs and other substances and associated crime have driven a considerable rise in the number of youths imprisoned in recent years. A report by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime in Nigeria indicates that 14.4% (14.3 million) of people aged between 15 and 64 years abuse drugs.

5. This proposal to regulate and criminalize publication and exposure of drug abuse-promoting content on media became necessary due to the increasing use of social media, music videos, skits and movies to consciously or unconsciously influence young people into drugs, and by extension, drug abuse by music stars, celebrities, influencers etc.

6. Drug and substance abuse is prevalent across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. However, the South-West, a zone of serious concern that comprises Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and the Oyo States, is reported to have the highest prevalence of drug and substance use (22.4% or 4,382,000 users)—especially in Lagos and Oyo state—according to a 2018 report by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime. Not surprisingly, Lagos and Oyo State are also the headquarters of showbiz, housing the largest portion of music stars, movie celebrities, skit makers and other social media content influencers.

7. For example, on September 3, 2023, Hiptv, an entertainment channel with over 4 million followers on Instagram published a clip of Afrobeats artists, Odumodu and SheyiVibes on their various social media platforms, smoking uncontrollably backstage of the Headies Award in Atlanta, USA.

Similarly, on 14th June 2023, music star, Burnaboy with over 15 million followers on Instagram posted a video of himself and others on his various social media platforms, consuming various kinds of mixed liquor, while praising Fuji King, Saheed Osupa. He had previously promoted similar drug abuse content in his popular track, last last. Also, another Afrobeats star, Wizkid on July 21 and 22 2023 shared a clip on his Instagram social media platform with over 17million followers with an inviting scene of excessive smoking.

8. Furthermore, YBNL label boss, Olamide in his music video, Jinger displayed excessive smoking scenes. Likewise, the rave of the moment, Asake on June 25th, and August 6th, 2023, displayed on his social media page, with almost 4 million followers, a picture of himself covered with smoke, with a cigar in the hand, depicting an enticing invitation to drug abuse. Earlier, Olamide and Asake had exposed drug abuse scenes in the video of their popular hit track, Amapiano.

9. Other artists, including Portable, Rema, Davido, Kizz Daniel, etc. has made it a culture to display drug-related clips on their various social media platforms and music videos, which makes efforts against drug abuse almost impossible to progress in the manner desired, owing to the fact that most of the young people in the country follow these artists and celebrities on social media and seek to replicate their lifestyles.

Big Brother Naija and other entertainment content producers have also made it a culture to promote drug abuse-related content in their various reality shows and other media content.

10. Although, section 19 of the NDLEA Act prescribes punishment for drug-related offences ranging from 15 to 25 years' imprisonment. This follows the Indian hemp decree of 1966, which prohibits the cultivation, trafficking, and consumption of Indian hemp.

Also, the Tobacco Smoking Decree of 1990 banned smoking tobacco in public places like schools, offices, public transport, etc. It also ensures and enforces all tobacco advertisements to give a caveat to discourage people of a certain age not to smoking or drinking alcohol.

11. Research shows that, as traditionally conceptualized, the two prongs of drug control policy in Nigeria are *supply reduction" and "demand reduction".

"Supply reduction" is usually understood to be synonymous with enforcement of drug law prohibitions and international interdiction activities, whereas "demand reduction" is usually thought to encompass clinical treatment of drug abuse and addiction as well as the spectrum of activities aiming to prevent youths from using drugs (e.g., media campaigns, school-based education programs).

12. This conceptualization is said to be imperfect for two reasons. First, a large component of drug law enforcement focuses directly on reducing demand (e.g., apprehending and punishing users for possessing drugs). Secondly, the standard menu of demand-reduction activities tends to overlook (or take as given) the rich fabric of deeply ingrained social controls against illicit drug use, including legal controls.

13. In people’s daily lives, almost all of their behavior is shaped, channeled, and controlled by the expectations and norms embedded in their relationships with their families, friends, teachers, employers, and various social groups and organizations, and these norms and expectations vary substantially over the life course. Informal social controls may discourage drug use or, conversely, may encourage and reinforce it, depending on the social and developmental context. However, in a world where media and by extension, social media largely influence behavior, especially of young people and music stars, movie celebrities, skit makers and other influencers are the driving force, continuous exposure to drug abuse-related lifestyle and content largely drives demand, leaving the space unregulated ultimately leads to conflicting message about drug abuse.

14. It is on this basis, that I propose the introduction of regulations, not only to ban the display of drug abuse-promoting content on social media, music videos, movies, skit, reality shows and others, but to also prescribe punishment, which may be criminal in nature to create deterrence.

15. It should be noted that individuals could live their lives as they deem fit in their private capacity, but giving media exposure to drug abuse related content, which directly undermines government efforts to eradicate or reduce drug abuse to its bearest minimal should be seen as a grave offense to the nation.

Thanks

Hon. Rukayat Motunrayo Shittu
Member representing Owode Onire state constituency
Chairman, House Committee on Youths

CC:

1. Senate President, National Assembly
2. Speaker, Federal House of Representatives
3. Director General, National Orientation Agency
4. Nigeria Union of Journalists
5. Nollywood
6. PMAN
7. National Communication Commission
8. Federal Ministry of Information and Culture

https://entertainmentdigest.ng/2023/09/16/lawmaker-rukayat-shittu-accuse/

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*PeacePro calls for naming of Nigeria's 6 geo-political zones*

_Says move will strip none state actors of historic content to mobilize support_

A peacebuilding think tank, Foundation for Peace Professionals also known as PeacePro has called on the federal government of Nigeria to name the 6 geo-political zones of Nigeria after historic memory.

PeacePro also said that, the naming of the Geo-political zones will help address some of the fundamental issues being used by none state actors to mobilize public support in their quest for regional solidarity.

In a statement by the Executive Director of PeacePro, Mr Abdulrazaq Hamzat, the group said the description of Nigeria's 6 geo-political zones simply as North West, South West, North East, South East and North Central,South South is of no political significance, hence the need to adopt a more political conscious approach to closing the gap of regional agitation.

According to Hamzat, the federal government should name the 6 zones properly, to reflect the desire and aspiration of the people.

"People in various zones of Nigeria identify themselves by certain names and descriptions and running away from such political identity will naturally make them feel entitled to those identities"

"This is why none state actors simply invoke those identities, to which people have affinity and connections, to mobilize them in their quest for relevance " Hamzat said.

He therefore proposed that, the South West region should be named Oduduwa region, North West named Arewa Region, South East renamed Biafra Region, North East named Kanem Borno Region, South South named Niger Delta region and North Central named Middle Belt region.

Hamzat maintained that, the naming of these regions has political implication, because none state actors often use these names as rallying point to create division amongst the people in their quest to mobilize support for their activities and officially adopting these names automatically stripes them of existing and historical concept to mobilize none suspecting members of the public for their divisive activities.

End
https://www.factualnaija.com/2023/09/foundation-calls-for-naming-of-nigerias.html

boxypane:
These are the side effects of the Single Story.

You are correct.

Many of our activism react to single story, which is dangerous

TemplarLandry:
I like your criticism. 😊