By David Torough, Abuja

The Federal Government and the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control (RCSDC) have renewed their commitment to strengthening regional health security through improved risk communication and community engagement, as West Africa intensifies preparations against Ebola and other emerging public health threats.

The commitment was reaffirmed on Wednesday at the opening of a three-day Regional Capacity Building Workshop on Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) in Abuja, bringing together delegates from ECOWAS Member States, development partners and public health institutions to enhance emergency preparedness and response across the region.

Head of the Department of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Tochi Okwor, who spoke on behalf of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, said infectious diseases do not respect national borders, making regional collaboration indispensable.

He stressed that disease surveillance and laboratory systems could only be effective when supported by transparent communication, public trust and active community participation.

“Our core philosophy at the NCDC is that technical surveillance and laboratory diagnostics are only as effective as our ability to communicate transparently, build public trust and actively engage the communities we serve,” he said.

Pate described the workshop as timely, citing ongoing Ebola outbreaks in Central Africa as a reminder that community engagement remains the first line of defence against infectious diseases.

He commended the ECOWAS RCSDC, operating under the West African Health Organization (WAHO), for harmonising surveillance systems, strengthening cross-border disease control and coordinating regional emergency responses.

Pate also acknowledged the support of ECOWAS RCSDC, the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and other development partners in strengthening Nigeria’s preparedness through sustained collaboration, including the recently inaugurated national Ebola preparedness webinar series.

According to him, the initiative has helped train frontline health workers, bridge knowledge gaps and promote continuous collaboration among public health professionals, while supporting harmonised One Health communication strategies, coordinated risk messaging and community-led rumour management.

Highlighting the importance of grassroots participation, Okwor said community engagement reflected Africa’s long-standing tradition of collective leadership.

“If this meeting had taken place 100 years ago, it would have been under a tree in the village square with clan and village heads. Community engagement is in our DNA as Africans, and we should draw from that heritage as we strengthen public health response,” he said.

He urged participants to use the workshop to identify operational gaps, strengthen preparedness against Ebola and develop a sustainable regional RCCE roadmap for 2026–2027.

The Executive Director of the ECOWAS RCSDC, Dr. Mamadou Diarrassouba, represented by Dr. Abubacar Fall, said trust remained the foundation of every successful public health emergency response.

He warned that misinformation and rumours often spread faster than disease outbreaks, undermining public confidence and weakening response efforts.

“Risk Communication and Community Engagement are not supportive activities; they are at the heart of emergency response. They determine the acceptability of public health measures, community collaboration and the quality of decision-making,” he said.

Fall noted that the workshop aligns with the ECOWAS 2026 Action Plan and the regional One Health Strategy, describing it as a results-oriented platform for strengthening preparedness across the sub-region.

He said participants would assess Ebola preparedness and RCCE capacities in Member States, identify operational challenges, strengthen social listening and rumour management systems, promote inclusion of vulnerable populations and update the regional roadmap for 2026–2027.

The workshop will also review implementation of the ECOWAS RCCE Strategic Plan, revise the network’s terms of reference, elect a new executive committee and harmonise regional communication tools to strengthen institutional capacity and cross-border cooperation.

Reaffirming the organisation’s commitment, Fall said the ECOWAS RCSDC would continue supporting Member States to strengthen capacities, harmonise tools, promote training and foster collaboration based on transparency, ethics and respect for communities.

He urged participants to make the meeting a platform for practical decisions that would leave no ECOWAS country isolated in the face of future public health threats.

The three-day workshop, which runs from July 29 to 31 in Abuja, is expected to produce a renewed regional strategy aimed at improving risk communication, community engagement and coordinated emergency response across West Africa.

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to fostering strategic partnerships that promote evidence-based fiscal reforms, capacity building, and sustainable national development.

Dr.

Shehu made this known while receiving the Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Oduma Orji Oduma, and members of the University’s management team who came on a courtesy visit to the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja today Wednesday 29th July, 2026.

Speaking, the Chairman described the visit as timely and significant, noting that collaboration between government institutions and academia remains indispensable in addressing Nigeria’s evolving fiscal and economic challenges.

He stated that RMAFC emphasised its commitment to promoting innovative ideas that strengthen fiscal governance, improve resource allocation, and support sustainable national development to promoting innovative ideas capable of strengthening fiscal governance, improving resource allocation, and supporting sustainable national development. Dr. Shehu commended the NOUN for its pioneering role in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and acknowledged the University’s nationwide impact in expanding access to quality higher education.

He assured the delegation that the Commission would objectively evaluate the University’s requests, particularly regarding its unique operational model and remuneration concerns. He disclosed that the Commission would undertake a comprehensive job evaluation of NOUN and comparable university positions, including labour market benchmarking and fiscal impact analysis, to determine the feasibility of any specialised salary structure or differentiated allowances for ODL personnel.

The Chairman further emphasised that every recommendation would be guided by empirical evidence, national interest, and the Commission’s constitutional mandate to ensure fairness, equity, and fiscal sustainability.

In his address, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oduma Orji Oduma, commended RMAFC for granting the delegation an audience and highlighted the University’s desire to establish a long-term strategic partnership with the Commission.

He proposed the establishment of a Centre for Fiscal Studies and Policy for Revenue Studies which would serve as a national hub for research, policy development, revenue forecasting and modeling, fiscal impact assessment, and evidence-based policy recommendations to support government reforms.

He further offered the University’s expertise in developing digital learning platforms and capacity-building programmes for fiscal officers, revenue administrators, and public servants across the federation. He noted that with over 128 study centres, robust ICT infrastructure, digital libraries, satellite connectivity, and online examination platforms, NOUN has the capacity to deliver nationwide professional training efficiently.

The Vice-Chancellor also highlighted the peculiar nature of Open and Distance Learning, stressing that the University’s operations require substantial recurring investments in ICT infrastructure, learning management systems, digital libraries, online assessment platforms, and continuous 24-hour service delivery. He therefore appealed for consideration of a specialised remuneration framework that adequately reflects these unique operational realities.

He also provided assurances on the quality of NOUN graduates, noting that a significant percentage of the University’s graduates are gainfully employed while emphasising the institution’s commitment to continuous quality assurance, stronger academic collaborations, and improved graduate employability.

Hon. Muhammed Kabeer Usman, the Federal Commissioner for Gombe State, welcomed the proposed collaboration as a mutually beneficial initiative to strengthen institutional capacity and enhance public sector efficiency.

The federal commissioner representing Ogun State, Hon. Akeem Amosun, also observed that research-driven policy formulation remains essential for effective governance and encouraged both institutions to translate their discussions into practical programmes that would benefit the nation. He also stressed the importance of ensuring that any remuneration review is supported by objective data, fiscal sustainability, and equity across the public service.

The Director of Allocation and Fiscal Efficiency, Dr. Umar Usman Kukankada, MNI, underscored the importance of evidence-based policy decisions in fiscal administration.

He disclosed that the Commission would require detailed operational documentation from NOUN, including information on ICT and ODL expenditures, staffing structure, adjunct faculty arrangements, operational allowances, the University’s network of study centres, and graduate employability indicators to facilitate comprehensive assessment.

Dr. U. K. further stated that the Commission would prepare and evaluate a detailed proposal on the establishment of the proposed Centre for Fiscal Studies and the digital training platform. According to him, the proposal would clearly define the objectives, governance structure, scope of collaboration, expected deliverables, implementation timeline, and preliminary financial implications.

He reiterated that such data-driven analysis would enable the Commission to make informed decisions regarding resource allocation, remuneration, and future collaboration between both institutions. The meeting concluded with both organisations expressing a strong commitment to deepening collaboration in research, policy development, capacity building, digital learning, and fiscal governance. It was agreed that technical engagements would continue to refine the partnership framework and translate the proposals into actionable programmes that would contribute to Nigeria’s fiscal and socio-economic development.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has commended Zimbabwe’s economic resilience in spite of a challenging external environment, following the successful completion of the first review under its 10-month Staff-Monitored Programme (SMP).

The IMF, in a statement, said Zimbabwe’s economy grew by 8.

3 per cent in 2025 and remained strong in early 2026, driven by improved agricultural production, robust mining activity and favourable gold prices.

It said inflation had remained low, supported by tight monetary policy and exchange rate stability, adding that the country’s macroeconomic performance had continued to improve.

According to the IMF, Zimbabwe’s economy is projected to grow by five per cent in 2026 and 4.2 per cent over the medium term, while the current account surplus is expected to narrow but remain strong.

The Fund, however, warned that downside risks include a potential major El Niño event and persistent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which could affect economic performance.

The IMF noted that implementation of the programme through March 2026 remained strong, with all quantitative targets and structural benchmarks achieved, although the indicative target on protected social spending was missed.

It recalled that the non-financing Staff-Monitored Programme, agreed in February, was designed to strengthen macroeconomic stability, build policy credibility and support Zimbabwe’s efforts towards arrears clearance, debt restructuring and re-engagement with the international community.

The IMF said completion of the first review marked an important milestone in consolidating Zimbabwe’s macroeconomic stabilisation gains and advancing reforms aimed at supporting sustainable economic growth and financial stability.