The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • 4,592 Lagosians acquire vocations

    4,592 Lagosians acquire vocations

    Two retirees – Mrs. Majekodunmi Bolanle, 66 and Mrs. Kuburat Animashaun, 64 – have taken up new craft to keep their hands busy and refresh their minds.

    The grandmothers voluntarily enrolled at the Lagos State Skill Acquisition Centre in Agidingbi to upgrade their skill set, picking up a new vocation in computer operations and software.

    The senior citizens were among the 4,592 trainees graduated by the Lagos State Government yesterday in various skill acquisition courses. The Year 2022 graduation was held at the LTV Blue Roof in Agidingbi.

    The graduands took the vocational training in 19 skill development centres across the five traditional divisions in Lagos. The course fees were borne by the State Government.

    The skill development programme was supervised by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA). Some of the vocational courses taken by the graduates include photography, textile making, catering and hotel management, hairdressing, fashion designing, welding, aluminum fabrication, leather work, furniture and woodwork, among others.

    Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the initiative was targeted at empowering the grassroots, while giving young people an opportunity to discover their innate potential and to be economically engaged.

    He noted that the life skills would help the beneficiaries to be self-reliant, just as their entrepreneurial abilities would be enhanced and make them contribute to the economic growth of the state.

    The governor said: “There is no gainsaying that Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of any economy, contributing to economic development and prosperity in many ways, chief among which is job creation and providing employment opportunities for people.

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    “We have continued to encourage vocational and skills acquisition as a pragmatic approach to alleviating poverty and promoting women and youth empowerment for financial sustainability. This administration will not hold back investment in these programmes, believing firmly that lifting people out of poverty is the cardinal goal of Government.”

    Sanwo-Olu advised the graduands to use the skills to raise their living standards, urging them to pass on the knowledge to empower their neighbours.

    The governor told the trainees to believe in their abilities and strive for excellence, pointing out that the road to success had no shortcut. He added that the training was made free for them to remove barriers that may hinder them from acquiring the skills.

    Sanwo-Olu said the State Government created the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) to support the goals of MSMEs, urging the graduates to approach the offices for business support and opportunities.

    “We set up the Ministry of Wealth Creation to hand-hold entrepreneurs and provide support for them. LSETF is another agency working to improve your business. You must show commitment that you are ready for the future. We want to see you in the next five years and be proud of this accomplishment you have achieved today,” the governor said.

  • Tinubu returns

    Tinubu returns

    President Bola Tinubu yesterday returned after a five-day official visit to Germany where he participated in the G20 Compact with Africa (CwA) Conference.

    He arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, around 8 pm.

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike; All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Dr Abdullahi Ganduje; and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila received the President.

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    The G20 CwA Conference was held simultaneously with the Fourth G20 Investment Summit, co-hosted by the German government and German business associations.

    The President, on Monday, held bilateral talks with German Chancellor Scholz.

    President Tinubu on Tuesday attended the 10th German-Nigerian Business Forum in Berlin.

    He assured the German business community that with Nigeria’s stable political landscape, foreign investments are now secure. 

  • Fubara resumes project inauguration, opens hospitals

    Fubara resumes project inauguration, opens hospitals

    Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara Fubara has resumed inauguration of projects with the opening of the remodelled Dental, Maxillofacial Ear Nose Throat, and Ophthalmology Hospital, as well as Prof. Kelsey Harrison Hospital.

    Speaking at the opening of the Dental, Maxillofacial Ear Nose Throat, and Ophthalmology Hospital. located beside Rebisi flyover in Port Harcourt, Fubara said even in his calm disposition, he would remain firm and follow his course for development to the benefit of the state.

    He said his administration was committed to advancing the interest and welfare of Rivers people, noting that nothing could prevent his vision.

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    Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on Governor Fubara to wake up from his slumber and address poverty, unemployment, insecurity and other ills.

    APC spokesperson Darlington Nwauju, in a statement yesterday said the people would not accept excuses of political distractions to Fubara’s inability to discharge the functions of his office.

    Nwauju lamented the increasing disconnect between the people and the government, the weakness of policies and what he described as the loud silence by Fubara to tackle increasing poverty in the land despite huge resources available to the state.

  • Oyo deputy governor to oversee three ministries, housing corporation

    Oyo deputy governor to oversee three ministries, housing corporation

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has assigned three ministries to his deputy, Bayo Lawal, for supervision. 

    The governor said the decision was in line with his promise to assign Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government to be supervised by his deputy.

    The assigned ministries include: Culture and Tourism, Establishments and Training; and Special Duties. 

    The decision was taken at the state’s Treasury Board meeting held yesterday.

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    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the governor said his deputy is expected to oversee the Ministry of Establishments and Training with a view to structuring gratuity payments.

    The deputy governor is also to guide the newly-established Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which was carved out of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, to drive Governor Makinde’s vision of expanding the economy of the state through tourism.

    Lawal, who was until his selection as deputy governor and running mate to the governor, was the chairman of Oyo State Housing Corporation, is also to bring his wealth of experience to bear on the corporation, as he will oversee it henceforth.

  • Ondo APC: political crisis over soon

    Ondo APC: political crisis over soon

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has expressed optimism that it would soon resolve political crisis in the state.

    It said its move to resolve the crisis was to ward off avoidable political tension and engender friendly atmosphere, ahead of the governorship election.

    A statement by its spokesman, Alex Kalejaye, advised political gladiators and stakeholders to be circumspect in their utterances and actions as regards the political development.

    The statement said the face-off between the executive and legislative arms of the government was being examined by the combined teams of national and state leadership of the party.

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    The statement said: “The party expressed appreciation to stakeholders, particularly the respectable elders in the state for their concerns, words of counsel and prayers, assuring everybody that the storm would be over soon.

    “It is imperative to urge stakeholders to pursue peace with maturity and civilised conducts. Protests and violent agitations, as being contemplated by some groups, can only lead to injuries.

    “We should be reminded that security agents will not condone destructive conducts under whatever pretence. We should be well guided.”

  • YCE urges Fed Govt on economic hardship

    YCE urges Fed Govt on economic hardship

    Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) has expressed what it described as grave concern over the ongoing economic hardship pervading the country.

    Noting that the current situation is dehumanising, the Council reminds President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that the enthusiasm he enjoyed at the last presidential election was driven by the belief in him to turn things around for good.

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    The call was contained in a communique issued by the YCE and signed by Secretary-General, Chief Oladipo Oyewole, after its last quarterly meeting for the year 2023 held at its national secretariat.

  • Judiciary workers embark on strike

    Judiciary workers embark on strike

    Judiciary workers in Osun State have declared an indefinite strike to express their grievances over alleged injustice and persecution they are facing under the leadership of the state Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo.

    The workers have since Monday picketed the state High Court in Osogbo to demand reinstatement of their suspended members.

    They also demanded the payment of some of the allowances they are entitled to.

    Yesterday, the third day of the protest, a detachment of policemen drafted to the scene to maintain law and order dispersed the gathering with teargas canisters.

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    The Chairman of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) in Osun State, Olugbenga Eludire, told reporters that some members sustained injuries as a result of the action of the police.

    Command spokesperson Yemisi Opalola said the police used the canisters to disperse the crowd, and no one was injured.

    The Chairman of Osun State House of Assembly Committee on Justice, ‘Kanmi Ajibola, said the allegations brought against the chief judge were being investigated by the House.

  • Abiru converts family house into tech hub

    Abiru converts family house into tech hub

    The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Jeje, yesterday described artificial intelligence as a barrier breaker  He urged Nigerians to embrace technology. 

    The minister visited the ‘SAIL Innovation Lab’ in Ikorodu, Lagos, an initiative of Senator Tokunbo Abiru, who converted his family house into a technology hub for training of the younger generation. 

    No fewer than 650 people have been trained at the lab, while 3,500 have also been trained offline.  The minister’s tour of the facility was to concretise the partnership between SAIL Lab and the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy.

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    Hailing Abiru, a former banker who represents Lagos East in the Senate, for the initiative, Tijani said the facility had brought great opportunities to Ikorodu Division. 

    At the ceremony were Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, Senator Seye Ogunlewe, Chief Abiodun Rotinwa, Prof. Adebayo Ninalowo, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, Mrs. Adebimpe Akinsola and Dr. Saheed Ibikunle.

  • Oyo understudies Lagos’ tertiary education policy

    Oyo understudies Lagos’ tertiary education policy

    By Oyebola Owolabi

    Oyo State government has hailed Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for initiating exceptional reforms and policies in the education sector, particularly tertiary education, which has repositioned the state to become a model for impactful, inclusive and innovative education.

    The Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Olusanjo Adeniyi, spoke during a recent working visit to the Lagos State Ministry of Tertiary Education, to understudy the government’s policies on tertiary education and other areas for a possible collaboration that can fast-track the growth of education in the state.

    Adeniyi, who led the Oyo State delegation, said they were in Lagos to tap from the government’s initiatives to maintain a high-quality education in their state.

    According to him, the team would also focus on measures to build conversations around leveraging on Information Communication Technology (ICT), to improve the teaching and learning process in Oyo State.

    He noted that while a whole ministry is dedicated to handling tertiary education matters in Lagos State, a department handles that in the Oyo State Ministry of Education.

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    He said the state had a lot to learn from Lagos to drive ongoing reforms in the sector.

    Lagos State Commissioner for Tertiary Education Tolani Sule stressed the need for continued collaborations and partnerships among governments in the Southwest to achieve goals of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN).

    The commissioner stressed the need for more collaboration among governments in the Southwest, especially in education and economic integration, so that the region could continue to have the leading edge in sustainable development.

    He said: “The extent to which a group or an individual goes is the function of the level of education. All of us must collaborate and share our ideas to ensure that education continues to grow in our region.”

    The delegation was also at the Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Ikorodu.

  • ‘Electricity subsidy: Tinubu sensitive to masses’ plight’

    ‘Electricity subsidy: Tinubu sensitive to masses’ plight’

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Mr. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has said the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the stoppage of the implementation of the hike of electricity tariff is commendable.

    Oyintiloye, speaking with reporters in Osogbo, said the directive was a true reflection that the president was sensitive to the plight of the masses.

    It will be recalled that the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, on November 8 disclosed that President Tinubu recently stopped the implementation of a hike in electricity tariff and insisted that subsidy be paid on power consumed nationwide.

    Oyintiloye, a member of the defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), said removing electricity subsidy, while Nigerians were still battling with effects of fuel subsidy removal, would have been counter-productive.

    He said the president’s decision on the electricity hike showed that he was in constant touch with the feelings and aspirations of Nigerians.

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    The APC chieftain said that in the quarterly report by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Federal Government’s subsidy in the power sector hit N135.2 billion in the second quarter of 2023, from the N36 billion it paid in the first quarter.

    He said the NERC reports also revealed that the N135.2 billion recorded in the second quarter of 2023 was an increase of N99.21 billion or 275 per cent compared to the previous quarter of N36 billion.

    Oyintiloye noted that the NERC report showed that government is still subsiding electricity for the masses.

    He said removing the electricity subsidy which government was still paying to fill the gap between the reflective tariff cost and allowed tariff cost would have been another burden on the masses.