Bob Dewar

Not oil but food!

It is not so well known how growing and processing food in Nigeria is on the up. Everyone thinks of Nigeria in recent decades as dependent only on oil and gas. So it was great to hear of the visit of directors of Olam Nigeria Ltd based in Commonwealth partner country Singapore. Olam was the biggest non-oil exporter from Nigeria in 2007 (over $133m). Its products have traditionally been cocoa, sesame seed and cotton. But there has been more recent news of plans to invest in a sugar refinery and wheat milling.  The company's investment so far has shown how they see long term opportunities here. They have helped rural employment and farmers' profits. Positive stuff. Making a difference for small holder farmers. Let's hope for more.

Posted at 13:04 28 October 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]

The really hot issue for Africa

The poster launched in London by David and Ed Miliband showing what might happen to our blue planet if we don't keep climate change to 2 degrees C or less is dramatic. It is a really important message for Africa. Ordinary citizens have so many problems- just getting enough food to eat and getting kids into some sort of school with a decent teacher is a tough job. How then can they look up and understand the bigger picture- which is that climate change will change their children's lives dramatically for ever unless everyone, every government, every one with influence, takes action to get a balanced, brave, successful deal at Copenhagen? 
 
I was looking at expert analysis the other day of what 4 degrees increase might mean for the great rain forests of Africa which come only after South American ones in importance for world weather systems. Simply put, it would cause an ecological catastrophe with massive loss of forest cover, bringing more extreme weather and turning  carbon sinks into a significant carbon source. People in marginal lands of Africa are already learning about desertification. Will people living in the remaining great forests of Africa today only know savannah tomorrow, if they are lucky?

Posted at 15:37 27 October 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]

Planting the seeds of hope

I always believed small was beautiful from when I first read Shumaker's book all those years ago. Well, a few small but significant initiatives show what can be done in Nigeria on climate change. Firstly a training programme undertaken by a range of Nigerian civil socity organisation under the umbrella Nigerian CAN network (Climate Action Network) has meant they have been able to lobby for an equitable climate change deal and  to influence policy makers. Secondly a weather station in the extreme East of Nigeria (Taraba State) is now providing climate change data on the internet which can feed into climate modelling. Both funded by Britain, both seeds for the future.

Posted at 14:58 26 October 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]

Visit to NDLEA and NAPTIP with Mr Alan Campbell, M.P

Accompanied our Minister for Crime Reduction in meetings with the Government and the anti-drugs agency NDLEA and the anti- people trafficking agency NAPTIP. These agencies are doing a good job. But cocaine trafficking from South America using West Africa for a transit route is a real and growing threat. Half the cocaine entering the UK comes that way. And no 'transit' countries can avoid corrosion to their own societies. Drugs destroy lives. Drugs finance crime and terrorism. New laboratories have been found in Guinea.

Met Commissioners of ECOWAS too and it is good that there is an action plan on the table to enhance co-operation up and down the coast. We've all got to help- and also help individual countries up their game. This really is urgent. Every country must wake up and make itself hostile to drugs trafficking. Finally we visited a shelter for some young women who had been rescued from being trafficked. Very moving to meet them. They are making lovely hats and jewellry to make money and start a new life. 

Posted at 13:50 15 October 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]

Good governance and transparency

Met a new committee of the House of Representatives who are focusing on good governance including making sure resolutions and decisions in the House of Reps are implemented. They are  looking at issues of transparent procurement and fiscal discipline too.  They want to arrange a summit on good governance. I said this was an important theme- in fact perhaps the most important for all countries. But governance standards had to be 'owned' by everyone if they wanted things to happen, by all branches of the state (legislature, judiciary, executive) and by the private sector and civil society. It's all about how people behave. 

Posted at 12:54 14 October 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]

Why we need an Arms Trade Treaty

Travelling round Nigeria only underlines the need for this country to achieve genuine peaceful development for its people and move away from conflict and violence, which can flare up. Conflict and violence is fuelled in many parts of the world by arms. Arms need to be controlled at national and international level. That's why we need progress towards an Arms Trade Treaty and we hope Nigeria will play its part at this week's discussion in New York to bring such progress.

National and regional arms export control need to be really effective. Unregulated trade in arms needs to be stopped. A timetable is needed toward such a Treaty. Ordinary people with ordinary lives need that. It's tough enough in Nigeria for many of its poorer people just to get by and get their kids into school without worrying about insecurity as well. 

Posted at 17:43 07 October 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[2]

Commonwealth conversation

My Ugandan colleague as current Commonwealth Chair launched an awareness campaign with the press, which I attended. This was to encourage Nigerians to participate in the 'Commonwealth conversation.' A great idea, asking people to say what they think about the relevance of the Commonwealth in the modern world.

Just log on to www.thecommonwealthconversation.org. What goals do you think the Commonwealth should have for the future? How can it connect better with the young (half of Commonwealth citizens are under 25). And so on. This conversation is 2 billion voices in 53 countries of amazing diversity, sharing common language and values and a force for positive change in our planet. Make your voice heard!

Posted at 16:44 29 September 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]

Attended the Durbars in Katsina and Kano

Attended the Durbahs in the great Northern centres of Katsina and Kano to mark the Eid at the end of Ramadan. Great pageantry and spectacle with local leaders and followers pledging their allegiance to the Emirs in the presence of the Governors and the modern day State. The skill in horsemanship was tremendous as the surge of horsemen galloped up to the Emirs. I passed my congratulations to Nigerian Muslims on the Sallah (the Eid El Fitr).

Nigeria is indeed justly proud of its traditions. But energetic efforts also need to be made- as some of the Governors are doing- to modernise and look forward. Providing young people with the modern education and opportunities they need for jobs is a key challenge.

Posted at 16:40 28 September 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]

Give peace a chance

Visited Port Harcourt in the Niger Delta. At the formal session with the Governor I said it was important for everyone to give peace a chance. Ordinary people need peace and safety and better governance and to see oil and gas revenue improving their lives on the ground. The Governor said things were getting better following the amnesty offer.

He then signed an MOU with the British Council Director, to train creative entrepreneurs. This sort of training can help get the local economy moving. Creating jobs for the young is a key challenge. The BC are also doing a great job helping in teacher training.

Discussed climate change with the Commissioner of Environment who is looking at a lot of issues including waste management. The potential impact of climate change in this oil and gas producing area is big given sea level rise.  And it seems that local conflict can happen if villagers are displaced. There's also a need to tackle gas flaring of course.

The city was busy with traffic, almost as bad as Lagos on a bad day!

Posted at 13:40 25 September 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]

Partnership in promoting intergrity and fighting fraud

Partnership in promoting integrity and fighting fraud was the theme at midday in Lagos. Handed over a vehicle and some special equipment to the police anti fraud unit in Lagos, designed to help them tackle those involved in fraudulent documents. We are determined to ensure those who apply for visas using false documents- and those who make and supply them- will not benefit. So we have increased our own capacity to spot them and hope the police will use the new equipment to target criminals who are trying such fraud.

The message is clear: we welcome legitimate travellers and those who benefit legitimately from study, business and tourism in the UK. But those who use fraud in their application will not be allowed to travel. Indeed they could face a ban of up to 10 years for using fraudulent documents.

Posted at 17:47 24 September 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]

Values and Beliefs - Bedrock of leadership style

Met a group of young leaders in Lagos who have formed 'The Future' project. They are all excelling in their fields, which range acros the board from media to fashion design or commercial agriculture. They want to be good examples to other less fortunate youngsters. They explained that Nigeria often has the wrong image. Youngsters should be shown role models of how to succeed and bring positive change. I said leadership was indeed important including within the younger generation- but values and beliefs had to be the bedrock of leadership style. They said they agreed with that, saying integrity and due process and sustainability was important. I said it was perhaps about building up institutions and systems that survived beyond any one individual. Anyway a very stimulating discussion and shows that Nigeria can look forward positively if the younger generation are all as talented and committed as this.

Posted at 17:12 23 September 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[1]

The port is Benin's lifeblood

Fascinating to go down the dual highway to Cotonou in Benin. Not nearly so many loaded trucks coming into Nigeria as when I last visited. That's a sign of the impact of the world economic downturn and the credit squeeze in Lagos. The port is Benin's lifeblood. West Africa should be a growing trading region and the challenge is to get the wheels of world commerce moving again.

Infrastructure is getting better in Benin with the new port now privatised and prospect of modernisation of the railway to the north. So it could become a key regional transport hub in time. But the daily reality for many is a small bit of 'informal' trade- a bag of rice in one direction, cheap Nigerian petrol in the other.

Posted at 17:06 17 September 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[1]

Sport matters in Nigeria

Sport matters in Nigeria. The country had a sad day a week ago when they drew with Tunisia in a must-win game to qualify for the soccer world cup. The score was two goals each. Twice a delirious sell out crowd was on its feet. Twice the other side equalised. Excitement and hope deflated in an instant. But Nigeria has great potential as a sporting nation- and not just in football. So many youngsters have natural talent.  Why not some new sports?

The High Commission lost a cricket match against a pretty good Abuja CC on Sunday. And rugby sevens could surely grow fast with the right encouragement.

Posted at 10:24 16 September 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]

SMEs help create employment in Nigeria

It is impressive how our small and medium sized businesses are still focused on exports, emerging from the global downturn just as determined as ever to break into new markets. I opened an exhibition of products, of some exporters from London who have an Afro-Caribbean background.

Valuable linkages are being made with Nigerian SMEs and small scale industry. I made the points in my speech that British products offer quality and international standards. Getting small scale businesses to prosper is part of getting the international commercial system to start operating again. SMEs help create employment in Nigeria too and the future here is to have an encouraging policy environment for this.

Building intra-regional trade in West Africa is an important part of the way forward for Africa, provided that inefficiencies and corruption are reduced. Certainly this is not the time for protectionism

Posted at 16:47 09 September 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]

Getting rid of malaria in Nigeria

Great news that the programme to get rid of malaria in Nigeria and distribute over 63 million nets got a significant boost last week.  The idea is to get two nets distributed to every household by the end of next year, reaching over 30 million homes and hopefully saving thousands of lives.  In fact, Nigeria counts for over a quarter of all cases of malaria in Africa. 

The UK and others are working together, supporting government health services in rolling this out, including £50 million of British aid delivered through DfID.  The shocking statistic is that half of all Nigerians get infected with malaria each year, and over 30% of childhood deaths and 11% of maternal deaths are caused by it.  And those deaths are preventable.   Hopefully that will change with this new push. Picture by Williams Daniel.

Posted at 15:56 08 September 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]