Bob Dewar

Awareness about the environment

Participated in a thought provoking round table discussion last week in Lagos on climate change, organised by the British Council. The State of Lagos is doing a lot to raise awareness about the environment but the urgency of climate change has still to strike home to everyone.

Naturally in Lagos, much of which is very low lying, there is a lot of discussion of sea level rise and what it means. But my message was not to panic; instead there are things that all leaders, all individuals can do.  And, besides better planning, there should be great opportunities for use of new technology and funding that we hope will be part of the deal for developing countries at the December Copenhagen summit.

So far as the UK team goes,  we decided to work as much as possible with both the private sector and Lagos state Government in coming months, trying to improve shared understanding and joint cooperation between them. Also trying to help on waste management and other specific areas.

Posted at 16:00 14 July 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]

Great to see Lord Sebastian Coe in Abuja..

Great to see Lord Sebastian Coe in Abuja, Chairman of the London Organising Committee of the 2012 Olympic Games. I remember watching him break those 800 and 1500 metre records!

Besides talking to other organising committees and Olympic representatives from all round the world, he spared time to meet the Minister of Sport.  The London Games wants to be Games for everyone. And one of the great things about the 2012 Games is the International Inspirations project, which is linked to it and already under way. It will use the spirit of the Olympic Games to change the lives of young people in many countries all around the world and thus leave a special legacy.

What better way than sport to reach out to inspire youngsters- including the poor and disadvantaged- in countries such as Nigeria. I think sport can empower them, can motivate them, can bring them together, can give them hope, happiness, pride and friendship. With the help of the British Council and UK Sport this project will try to help the Nigerian Sports authorities to develop sports policies and curricula and activities over the next few years.  On that note I better stop blogging and go for a run!

Posted at 10:45 09 July 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]

Discussion about the environment

While still in Kano, chaired a workshop organised at the lovely British Council office about the impact of climate change on the North. Many experts talked grimly about desertification; urgent need for new energy sources to reduce pressure on wood; and the way the Koran and the Bible support the environment and planting of trees.

Education, awareness, understanding the extent of the problem, changing attitudes, getting community 'ownership', were all themes that emerged.  What's clear is that adapting to the impact of climate change should be a big agenda for the North. We'll do what we can to help.

Posted at 10:09 19 May 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]

One team, working together for progress in Nigeria

On 4 May, signed a joint mission statement with colleagues Eamon Cassidy of DFID and Peter Upton of the British Council. The main message is that we are one team, working together for progress and positive change in Nigeria.

Text: " MISSION STATEMENT

We believe progress in Nigeria contributes to a better Britain. We want a true partnership with Nigeria and with Africa.

Our values are those of service, mutual respect, integrity, professionalism, dignity and honesty. We believe in valuing diversity and in working as one committed team.

We will act as a bridge between our countries and peoples. We believe the UK in Nigeria should work innovatively for positive change, understanding and co-operation.

We will share our values, knowledge, experience, skills and technology, encouraging international rules-based standards and thereby helping our partners transform their country, economy and institutions so that all Nigerians can have a better quality of life.

The work of many of us is to provide fast, efficient and effective high quality services and support. We want to minimise bureaucracy, take necessary risks and deliver- but not to compromise on standards.  

In partnership with stakeholders in Nigeria and West Africa, we are working for faster progress towards the Millennium Development Goals; equitable wealth creation and sustainable lower carbon growth; better governance and democratic standards; good management of bona fide migration; prevention of conflict and promotion of peace and security; prevention of radicalisation and terrorism; and stronger bilateral, regional and international co-operation against serious crime, without fear or favour, including money laundering, trafficking of drugs or people.  

In the process we aim to improve perceptions of the UK and to encourage constructive Nigerian leadership in Africa.

We seek to empower our staff and catalyse their personal potential within a healthy work-life balance and a safe and happy environment.

We hope, in this way, to make a real difference.

Bob Dewar   Eamon Cassidy   Peter Upton
High Commissioner  Head of DfID Nigeria  British Council Director

MAY 2009 "

Drove to Kaduna for a lively evening reception for over a hundred young people from all over the North, many of them University students, who have been involved in debates and outreach and dialogue organised by the 'Bridgebuilders' organisation which we support.

The Bridgebuilders, who are ecumenical and inter-faith, are helping open the minds of youngsters to the need for peaceful dialogue and understanding as the way of resolving ethnic, religious or other differences, rather than violence and conflict. It was great to hear directly from the young people how they believe in these principles.

This has to be an important message in the North and Middle of Nigeria where many different ethnic and religious groups (Muslim and Christian) live in close proximity and where there is also competition for resources and sometimes political power.

Tragically many lives were lost from violence in Jos some months ago- which followed controversial local elections- and also in Bauchi.

Posted at 12:25 18 May 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]

Important issues for the private sector

Held a reception in Lagos to mark the Queen's official Birthday. Well attended by leading opinion formers in this, West Africa's key commercial hub. Focused my speech on important issues for the private sector including international standards (and how British links can help introduce those) transparency, regulation and further progress on economic reform.

Also underlined the need to make a determined push against corruption and crime. There's a movement towards quality here in the banking sector following a predominantly locally influenced correction last year, which reflected the need to introduce full international standards of transparency and regulation.

Posted at 15:02 07 May 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]

An outing to Zuma Rock

Met up with nine teachers from UK, Nigeria and Kenya who are involved in the British Council’s innovative Connecting Classrooms programme. In this case it involved three schools in each country- from Hull in the UK’s case. 

Went out to the government science secondary school and met a couple of the Nigerian students who had been to Hull as part of the exchange. They were full of their experiences and how this had broadened their understanding of each other and the world. The teachers were similarly complimentary, including about how this helped each school with its curriculum and priorities. The Kenyans and Nigerians had found it very interesting to compare notes on everything from standards in school to the differences of culture.

We all went off briefly with some students for a joint outing to Zuma Rock (see photo) which is the geographical centre of Nigeria.

Education is the basis for everything. And the quality of education is so important- which depends on good teachers. So it was very inspiring to meet such dedicated teachers, all of them proud of what they are doing.

Posted at 16:34 11 March 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]

Adding value and impetus to Nigeria

Had a good day reviewing with colleagues across the British government in Nigeria how to work together well as a team in the coming year around our joint international objectives with Nigeria.  These include working with Nigeria to prevent radicalisation and conflict.  And to work towards an effective lower-carbon growth strategy.  And with ECOWAS, the regional organisation, to help make its efforts across West Africa more effective.  Naturally a lot of what we can do in a positive sense is through use of our influence and that's where working together across the British team makes so much sense.  It's really all about adding value and impetus to Nigeria and West Africa's own efforts for reform and good policies, as part of the international community.  So much depends on political will and having the right partnerships of trust when it comes to actual delivery.  So we plan to work hard with the newly reshuffled Nigerian government, to see what can be achieved.  Lots of challenges. But worth the effort. 

Posted at 13:00 30 January 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[0]