Twitter Chat with Dr. Hussaini Abdu

According to world health organization, as at 5th July, 2020 – the world has recorded over 11.1 million cases of COVID – 19, about 528, 204 deaths and a total of 216 countries were affected by this pandemic and the most alarming part of the report is; 60% of all the cases so far have been reported just in the past month. This is but pointing at the need for all the tenants of this planet to put in more energy and re-strategize in the battle against this deadly virus.

The issue is now beyond just physical distancing, hand washing, face masking and isolating the suspected and confirmed victims but a comprehensive approach to dealing with the pandemic so no window is left open for its further spread. We must leave not even one of these plus others that may sooner or later be discovered; isolation, testing and caring for every case, tracing and quarantining every contact, equipping and training health workers and educating and empowering communities to protect themselves and others.

Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) have since swung into action doing all it could exploring all the available avenues though investing most of its energy in ICT related approaches which is a key component of the organization’s mandate and series of twitter chats is one of them.

This week, we hosted Dr. Hussaini Abdu, a medical practitioner who discussed and attended to questions on XXXXXX topic.

 

Below is the extract of the chats as lifted from the Twitter platform:

 

  1. Sir, can we know how this pandemic affacet donor agencies especially in Nigeria?

 

Ans.Covid 19 is an important global challenge and a significant shaper of development in the medium term

 

The best contribution you can make to social justice is not giving your life to the struggle, but give the REST of your life – Kumi Naidoo

 

Significant part of Nigeria’s GDP doesn’t pay tax – Emir Sanusi

 

The xter of governance must therefore change if we have to respond to this situation

 

We expect that some of them will like to respond to this crises and therefore divert resources for such purposes

 

Donor resources are drawn from tax payers. Taxes are largely function of the the economy

 

When the economy is good, people are able to pay tax , and when its slows down it effect the revenue profile

 

As COVID 19 slows down the economies of the rich and donor donor countries, we expect donor funds to reduce

 

  1. So how are you planning as implementers of the programs to adjust and ensure important interests are not being neglected?

 

Ans.

We also expect donor priorities to change in receiving countries as they concentrate on public health issues

 

And second, is to ensure our development or programme agenda reflects the realities of our people

 

You will agree with the me that our programme approaches must change as physical contacts reduce

 

  1. Is define our development agenda and engage donors on the basis of that.

 

We should have 2 responses to this this emerging challenges

 

Like we all know, the pandemic is a major humanitarian crisis. How we respond to the crisis will determine how quick we get out of it and how prepared we are for the post Covid 19 context

 

There are also immediate response to this challenge, which is about repurposing our projects to enable us work safely and respond to the COVID 19 pandemic

 

If we engage our donors without understanding our context, then we will be compelled to follow their understanding of our context

 

We also must be seen supporting the response, particularly the most vulnarable of our communities

 

  1. @hussainiabdu is there need for reforms as regards to NGO funding so we can deal with threats like COVID-19? If yes,  what is your suggestion.

 

Ans.

If we engage our donors without understanding our context, then we will be compelled to follow their understanding of our context

 

  1. Dr @hussainiabdu, as someone that led many developmental programs & headed many Donor Organizations in Nigeria, apart from health sectors that we already know donors will focus their attention to, which other sectors will also get the attention of donor?

 

Ans.

 

These will remain important, but also depends on how we advance the issues

 

Nigeria is faced with multi dimensional crisis that revolve around our governance capacity and effectiveness

 

Governance and public accountability is still very important and remain so for donors in Nigeria

 

Others include peace building efforts and community resilience

 

Gender and social inclusion is also another area that will remain important

 

  1. @hussainiabdu With the spread of the Covid-19, development aid and donor agencies face new challenges, going by the this short time frame, what are these challenges and the way out?

 

Ans.

Governance and public accountability is still very important and remain so for donors in Nigeria

 

Nigeria is faced with multi dimensional crisis that revolve around our governance capacity and effectiveness