Development - Afrikan Heroes

2019 OFID Annual Award for Development recognizes Vida Duti’s remarkable water and sanitation work in Ghana

July 22, 2019

2019 The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) Award for Development has been conferred upon Vida Duti, in recognition of her remarkable work in striving for sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services for the population of Ghana. Duti, who is Country Director of the IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre in Ghana, will receive US$100,000 from OFID in recognition.

Duti leads a team of 12 in Ghana. The team’s priority is advocating for greater financial and political support for WASH, while also supporting national government policies, standards, and guidelines. Its priority in its partner district, Asutifi North, is to support the roll-out of a WASH ‘master plan.’

This plan aims to provide universal WASH services for the entire population of the Asutifi district by 2030. Currently, only around half of the district’s 62,816 people have access to adequate water facilities and just 15 percent to decent sanitation. The project’s coalition includes local government, World Vision, the Conrad N Hilton Foundation, Safe Water Network and non-profit organization Aquaya.

Duti attended a presentation ceremony at OFID’s headquarters during the 40th Annual Session of the organization’s Ministerial Council in Vienna. She said she was humbled to receive the award and that it would motivate and strengthen her resolve to work harder to improve the quality of life of people in the developing world.

“I dedicate this award to the people of Ghana and the Asutifi North district for whose quest I gained this recognition,” said Duti. “I wish to express my profound gratitude to the Chairman and Ministerial Council, the management and staff of OFID. I assure you of my resolve to work harder towards improving the quality of life for people in the developing world, especially Ghana.”

OFID Director-General Dr. Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: “OFID recognizes the important role women play in the WASH sector, advancing solutions and encouraging behavioral change. Vida Duti’s engagement in this sector is exemplary and is helping to deliver access to safe, reliable and affordable water services to numerous people in Ghana.

“OFID hopes that bestowing this year’s Annual Award for Development to Mrs. Duti will help accelerate action in sub-Saharan Africa, encourage the many women working in development, and highlight the important issues of safe water and hygiene.”

The OFID Annual Award for Development was introduced in 2006 to highlight the achievements of organizations and individuals in poverty reduction and sustainable development. Past winners include: Bangladesh-based BRAC, for its support of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh; the Foundation for Integral Development in Guatemala; Syrian refugee Doaa Al Zamel; the Children’s Cancer Hospital in Egypt; Kenya’s Kakenya Center for Excellence; Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan; Dr Mazen Al-Hajri, renowned ENT surgeon and philanthropist; Professor Muhammad Yunus; and Bartolina Sisa National Confederation of Peasant Indigenous Native Women of Bolivia.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry.

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African Development Bank President decries child marriage in Africa

July 9, 2019

The president of the African Development Bank Akinwumi Adesina joined continental leaders in Niger for an African Union summit which saw the official launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement – the world’s largest free trade area since the formation of the World Trade Organization.

The agreement, ratified in April, will cover a market of 1.2 billion people and an estimated gross domestic product (GDP) of $2.5 trillion, across all 55 member States of the African Union.

The Bank has been central in shaping the AfCFTA agreement, setting its strategy and format and approving a $4.8 million grant to the AU for the establishing of the Secretariat and to accelerate its roll out. Nigeria made history at the summit by becoming the 54th African country to sign up.

Commending all the parties involved for bringing this historic agreement to fruition, President of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou said: “The time has come to translate words into actions. The continent has waited for far too long, and we are glad this historic moment for the people of Africa is being witnessed in Niger.”

His comments were echoed by AU President, Abdel Fattah al-Sissi and AU Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat who both stressed the need to celebrate the strides the continent has made.

“An old dream has come true. The founding fathers must be proud,” said Faki.

Whilst in Niamey, Adesina also participated in a high-level panel on combatting child marriage, organized on the sidelines of the summit by the First Ladies of West African Economic Community states and Niger’s first lady Dr. Lala Malika Mahamadou Issoufou.

The panel themed: Combatting child marriage and promoting girls’ education and retention in schools, heard testimonies from young girls as well as from Niger’s traditional chiefs, who committed to support the recommendations of the meeting.

“It is totally unacceptable that in Africa some people would block the future of girls. Fundamentally, we have to protect girls, help them achieve and perform.” Adesina said.

Highlighting the need to urgently address “this plague which jeopardizes the future of girls in Africa,” Adesina urged participants to prioritize the inclusion of women. “Women are the backbone of the African economy and of the African communities,” Adesina stated.

President Issoufou also reaffirmed his government’s commitment to supporting the First ladies.

“Keeping girls in school is one of the best ways to end child marriage. Like men, an educated girl will contribute to her community’s transformation,” the President said.

Rounding off the conversation Niger’s First Lady described the issue as a “critical priority.”

“It is not just a West Africa issue, but an issue for the entire region. So all of us must come together – public, non-governmental institutions, religious leaders, communities, families, and schools – for a sustained multi-stakeholder approach to combat early marriage and promote girls’ education,” Malika Mahamadou Issoufou concluded.

Kelechi Deca