Author: The Nation

TWENTY thousand  youths will benefit from Prince’s Trust International, a British charity founded by King Charles III to tackle global youth unemployment, the body has said.

Chief Executive Officer, Will Straw, said the aim is to create opportunities for youths and families.

Straw spoke during launch of its maiden Get Hired programme at Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) house in Ikeja, Lagos.

He noted the organisation had been working in Nigeria  for 18 months but couldn’t launch because of COVID.

The chief executive said the NGO would impact youths positively in skills gap, jobs gap and experience gap.

He noted young Nigerians, like their counterparts in other countries, face three issues.

Straw said: “A skills gap: Over 10 million Nigerian children are out of school. Many more leave school early to start earning. Among those who complete schooling, many leave education without the skills to enter the workforce.

“A jobs gap: With far more job seekers than formal jobs, most young people in Nigeria work in the informal sector.

“An experience gap: Young people are told you can’t get a job because you lack experience, but can’t get experience because you can’t get a job.”

He said the trust’s programmes in 23 countries will  close the gaps by focusing on life skills young people need.

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“Of those who joined our first employability skills programme in Nigeria, 96 per cent were in work or training three months after the programme.

“Our ambition is to support 20,000 young people directly, but what we know is our support has an indirect effect as well on families, communities, a…” Straw said.

Former World Bank Vice President and Board Member, Arunma Oteh, urged the government to create opportunities “that enable young people to live their dreams…”

Present at the event are high-profile industry figures, including representatives of Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSTEF).

The organisers said they got 3,891 applications, of which 120  had job interviews.

Disc jockey and producer, Florence Otedola (DJ Cuppy), urged the prospective employees not to relent.

“For every ‘Yes’ I have, I have about nine ‘Nos’” Cuppy said.

FEDERAL Government has restated its resolve to reverse shortages in medical personnel.

It assured Nigerians it had begun efforts to ensure health workers that have left the system are replaced.

The government noted those in the system need to be motivated to ensure they continue to provide quality healthcare services.

It hinted it will reduce dependence on importation of drugs and equipment to decrease the percentage of importation from 60 per cent to 40 per cent by fostering local manufacturing of medicines and assembly of equipment.

Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr. Salma Anas-Ibrahim, spoke during the Joint World Health Organisation (WHO) – stakeholders feedback workshop on evaluation of third WHO-Nigeria country cooperation strategy (2023 to 2027).

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She said: “President Bola Tinubu’s administration is aware Nigeria faces challenges of brain drain. Prior to this, our human resources for health are grossly inadequate.

“Efforts will be made to ensure we address these issues and advance capacities of our training institutions, to step up action and leverage opportunities to guarantee sustainable human resources for health…

“Efforts are on to address these issues, including having one-on-one replacement to replace those that have exited. Efforts are also on to ensure we motivated vibrant health workers; also, those that want to come back and contribute to healthcare development.”

WHO’s Country Representative, Dr. Walter Mulombo, said: “This review is remarkable as it comes during a political transition in the country. This provides a potential policy change and transformation window, given the opportunities presented by COVID-19, the primary health care reimagining programme, National Health Insurance Authority Act, and the Presidential Health Reform programme.

“One recurring challenge at this review is the need for WHO to be more innovative and agile to adopt a stronger coordination role as the leading authority in health in support of the country and other partners.”

The Chairman of Badagry Local Government Chairman, Olusegun Onilude has hailed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for launching Badagry-Apapa-Marina water transportation scheme.

Onilude, who was represented by the Secretary to local government, Moses Gbotegbo, said the launch of the jetty by the state government was a good gesture.

According to him, the people of Badagry have been clamouring for water transportation along that route for a long time.

“We are grateful to the state government. We thank Mr Governor for this wonderful initiative,” he said.

A representative of Director General of the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Mr. Aderibigbe Adejare said the locals and indigenes of Badagry that study Marine courses will be employed and trained on how the waterways operate, leveraging on their character when on duty.

The Chief Imam of Badagry Division, Sheikh AbdulHakkem Akewushola commended the Lagos State government, saying that the waterway should be well secured; safe and ferry operators be equipped with required training.

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Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Badagry Division, Pastor Sunday Hunyinbo, thanked the state governor for bringing the facility to Badagry.

“We know that transportation is important and we have been suffering on Badagry highway due to ongoing work on the expressway but the initiative of developing the waterways will ease the suffering of the people of Badagry,” he said.

 “I want to thank our amiable government for remembering Badagry and bringing this type of facilities to Badagry. I must commend this administration’s effort and I also appreciate all personnel working with LAGFERRY,” Hunyinbo added.

He urged Lagferry to ensure ferry attendance and driver adhere to the rules of operation.

He said: “Steady safety precautions should be in place to avert accident and danger. Lagferry to ensure all the boat attendance adhere strictly to instructions and avoid over crowdedness of the boat which may occur due to high patronage.”

He urged steady safety precautions to avert accidents and danger.  

The protracted crisis between Ejigbo Local Government, Lagos State and the traditional ruler of Ejigbo, Oba Morufu Adisa Ojoola, has escalated.

The council chairman, Oloyede Bello, alleged that the monarch has refused to corporate with the council administration in its bid to bring development to the local government.

Bello said the traditional ruler has said the he has nothing to do with the council administration.

However, Oba Ojoola denied the allegation.

Bello said the monarch refused to cooperate with him when he met with heads of indigenous family, to dialogue on the revenue matters of the local government.

During the meeting, the council chairman related the circular from the Ministry of Local Governments and Community Affairs, directing all the chairmen to meet with the royal fathers of their respective LGs/Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), in respect of the installation and ratification of chieftaincy title for their records and to streamline the process. In response, he said the monarch, through the Chieftaincy Officer, Mr. Lasisi Idris, distanced himself from the local council,  while also requesting an apology letter from the council chairman for the allegations levelled against him.       Many indigenes described the approach as a clear disregard for the administration of the council and the directive of the State Government. Bello, who hails from Ejigbi, clarified that he has not at any time sent the indigenous family heads to intervene in the matter between the monarch and the council because it is an official matter and not a personal one.

He reiterated that the administration of market and motor park are prerogative of the LG/LCDA, and not that of the traditional ruler, as it is enshrined in the state government guideline vis and the 1999 Constitution.

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Bello explained that the responsibilies and duties of the monarch are clearly stated  in the local government administrative  guideline, adding that the administration of market and motor park is not part of his responsibilities. The dispute between the Ejigbo council chairman and the traditional ruler started when the he allegedly claimed that he ownef the market and motor park.  After series of threats, the chairman reported the crisis to the state government and other security agencies.                                      

Bello said the allegations levelled against the monarch as contained in the letter to the state government, with empirical evidence. He said the local government will publish the agreements with the monarch and palace chiefs at the state level and the office of the Police Inspector-General in Abuja, in the dailies for public consumption. 

He advised the traditional ruler to seek redress at the law court rather than asking for a letter of apology. Bello said despite the fact that the traditional ruler made a public statement that there was no presence of the local and state government in Ejigbo, the administration of the local council under his leadership has been able to fulfil 70 per cent of its electoral promises to the people. These include includes: the rehabilitation of the Morning Star Primary Health Centre (PHC), rehabilitation of Iyalaje Estate Road, free medical outreach to over one thousand (1,000) people in collaboration with the State Government, annual distribution of free GCE Forms to indigent students, better welfare package for the Local Council staff,  donation of over N1m to ease the payment of the electricity debt of some communities in Ilamoshe Ward, rehabilitation of Falana Road, donation of buses to the Ejigbo Branch of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and the Community Development Committee (CDC).

The reconstruction of Ifoshi Road is at the final phase. It passes through the palace of the monarch. The CDC House/ Area Office at Dauda Ilo and, the Link Mini Bridge behind Orilowo Estate Ejigbo are also being constructed. The ongoing reconstruction of the Council Secretariat into a three-storey building that would complete globally with other Local Government secretariats. And of course, the construction of the first ever Central Motor park in Ejigbo.

Despite the financial constraints, the council boss said he has neither mortgaged the council not taken any ill-step capable of running the local government into bankruptcy. Bello promised to continue to run an open government, adding would always put the interest of the community before the interest of individuals.            

Motorists and Commuters plying Ibeh Road in Okota area of the Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) couldn’t hide their excitement over the palliative measure being carried out by the council chairman, Olasoju Adebayo on the deteriorating portion of the road.

Personnel from works department of the council were led by the duo of Supervisors for Works and infrastructure, Jamiu Omotayo and Yusuf Oni, to carry out the intervention on the ever-busy Trunk B road

Prior to the commencement of the exercise, Omotayo addressed some of the motorists and business owners in the area.

He explained that the effort had become important for the council administration to forestall further deterioration of the road which he defined as one of the most important link-roads in the council area.

He sought their understanding and cooperation while the efforts lasted.

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Oni closely monitored the exercise to ensure it was hitch-free and of no adverse effect on traffic.

A commercial tricyclist who identified himself as John hailed the council chairman for the palliative measure as he reveled in the ease it will bring to his business activities.

“Ordinarily, we didn’t expect the council chairman to take this road up because I understand so well that it is under the state government and even the council chairman has a lot of roads to work on but here we are. This shows how sensitive Bayo is to the plight of the residents and I can only pray for God’s blessing for him. What would have become of this road if this intervention had not been carried out is unimaginable because already it is almost impassable. I won’t have to visit the mechanics every two days now to do one or two things on my keke. Thank you Mr. Bayo”, he said.

A motorist, Mrs. Lydia Uzodinma said: “It is pleasing that the council thought of fixing this road. The chairman is really working and we hope that this exercise can be extended to other roads that need urgent attention in the council area.”

A relief has come to the residents and passers-by on the damaged Itundegun Street in Ikorodu, Lagos as the Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government, Wasiu Ayodeji Adesina has commenced rehabilitation and resurfacing works on the road.

Itundegun Street is a link road between Ita-Elewa and Ejina within Ikorodu local Government.

The council chief said he embarked on the rehabilitation of the road to further ease vehicular activities in the area.

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Adesina said the road has a huge significance to the economic development of the street and adjoining areas.

The council chairman, however, appealed to residents and road users to bear with the local government.

He noted that the ongoing repair works would be done as fast as possible and with standard materials for the road to stand the test of time after rehabilitation.