One of the important and crucial debates in the world today is how to provide sufficient food for over 7 billion people in the world. In 2019, 690 million people were suffering from hunger globally, while about 135 million people in 55 countries and territories were suffering from acute food insecurity with Africa accounting for 73 million of this figure.

Food insecurity is one of the major challenges of most African governments occasioned by an increasing number of people living in extreme poverty, low-level of human capital and unfavorable climate change in the region. Nigeria has the highest number of people living in extreme poverty globally.

The Global Food Security Index (GFSI) rank that Nigeria has been one of the countries with increasing food insecurity since 2013 while it was ranked 94thamong 113 countries in 2019. Nigeria is facing the challenge of food insecurity, especially in the Northeastern and North-Central states where Conflicts/Insurgency, Kidnapping, Arm Banditry, Cattle rustling and Weather extremes, and unfortunately the COVID-19 Pandemic are aggravating the food security situation.

In the last couple of weeks, we have been discussing broad issues surrounding good governance especially as it concerns us as a nation. While still focusing on the issues of good governance, today, we will be narrowing down on the demand for basic amenities Vis-à-vis Government’s willingness and otherwise in delivering its own part of on social contract for the benefit of the masses. On this edition of Building Bridges, we shall be narrowing our gaze on the provision of water as a form of basic amenity in the process of governance. This is as contained in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 which specifically focuses on provision of clean water and sanitation by the year 2030. Water is an essential commodity in every home and every human endeavor therefore it is expected that clean and affordable water should be a right to be demanded from government by citizens. Available statistics shows that Water scarcity affects more than 40% of people around the world, and that number is projected to go even higher as a result of climate change. If we continue the path we are on, by 2050 at least one in four people are likely to be affected by recurring water shortages. It is expected that Government at all levels should be able to provide citizens with safe and accessible water as part of its deliverables. However, several communities in Jos and environs are faced with difficulty in accessing safe and quality water supply especially as the harmattan season sets in. Do you think Government is doing enough in terms of providing safe and accessible water supply in Plateau State? Is there access to safe and quality water supply in your community? What are the prevailing challenges and how can we better press home our demands as citizens? All these and other pressing issues of good governance, form the basis for our discussion on this edition of Building Bridges with Mr. Nanmak Bali (Team Lead, Relief and Hope Foundation) as our guest.

With the 16 Days Activism against Gender-Based Violence with the theme:"Orange the World" which kick starts 25 November to 10 December. There is a call on governments, CSOs, Women's organisations, Media, Public and Private sector, UN system to join forces in addressing the global pandemic of violence against gender.

16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence with the global theme:”Orange the World” is an international campaign that takes place each year. It commences on 25 November, the international Day for the elimination of violence against women, to 10 December, indicating that women are the most pervasive breach of human right worldwide. The campaign is a multi-year effort aimed at preventing and eliminating violence against gender around the world. There is a call on governments, Civil Society, women’s organizations, young people, the private sector, the media and the entire UN system to join forces in addressing the global pandemic of violence against both genders.

Gender based violence can manifest in different forms, and it’s important that we identify what qualifies as gender-based violence. Think of it as an act of violence that is directly related to or justified by using the gender.

Gender-Based Violence can happen in the private or public sphere, in kitchens, bedrooms and streets, markets and boardrooms, or in the refugee camps. It can include street harassment, i.e. groping, whistling or unwanted attention in public spaces, marital rape and intimate partner violence. There are many forms of GBV that have been challenged as traditions in certain communities. Whether it is early marriages in certain communities, rape, trafficking of persons, sexual violence, femicide and female mutilation, honor killing as the culture may be. There is no justification for violence.