The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • Youths proffer solution to NGF crisis

    TO resolve the ongoing crisis in the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), declare Governor Chibuike Amaechi the winner, a group has said.

    The National Coordinator of the group, Northern Nigerian Youth Initiative for Peace and Development (NNYIPAD), Ibrahim Ali in a statement, expressed fears that the crisis poses a great danger to the 2015 election if not resolved.

    He said: “Truth, as we know it, is incontrovertible. Neither malice nor ignorance can override it, because in the end, it is only the truth that stands. From the various claims and counter-claims that we have so far heard, NNYIPAD holds that truth and victory patiently sit with Governor Amaechi as the duly elected chairman of the NGF.

    Ibrahim explained that the attention generated by the NGF crisis stifles the economy and reduces Nigerians to a group of ridiculous people.

    He added: “The reasoning is that if a circle of 36 individuals who are adjudged strategically fit to lead the citizens of their respective states could not hold a successful election at a mere NGF level, the all defining 2015 general elections will certainly, assuredly meet with monumental doom.

    “As it is, attention is already being diverted from fundamental issues that have meaning for Nigerians.

    “It is instructive to note that the corporate existence of Nigeria supercedes every other cabal or self-serving interests. It is such a strange paradox that the PDP, and, as it is believed, the Presidency, now oppresses one of their own shining stars in a drama that depicts fundamental changes in allegiances and ambitions.

    “If Governor Amaechi is today an outlaw, it may be because he is being denied the right to live the life he believes in. After all, it is said that rebellion to tyranny is obedience to God.

    “NNYIPAD despises and abhors the bullying and oppression of Governor Ameachi and all those who share his sense of justice and freedom

    “Power wrongly used, they say, defeats the oppressor as well as the oppressed. You can’t put a man down without staying down with him. The whole Nigeria is being put down with Gov. Ameachi and we say NO to that. We, therefore, urge all concerned parties to the path of peace and reasonable dialogue.”

    NNYIPAD an offshoot of Northern Nigeria Youth Initiative for Peace and Development having reflected on the huge hullabaloo over the Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF) election has taken stance on the part of justice, freedom and democracy.

     

  • UN centre graduates 282

    No fewer than 282 people have graduated from the United Nations Development Programme Vocational Skill Acquisition Centre at Oshodi, Lagos.

    The centre, situated inside Oshodi/Isolo Local Government, is being maintained by the council.

    Speaking during the 10th graduation ceremony, the council Chairman, Hon Bolaji Muse-Ariyoh emphasised the need to promote vocational training among Nigerian youths.

    On the benefits of skill acquisition, Muse-Ariyoh said it will keep the youth away from the street.

    “Our goal is to assist unemployed youths who are yet to gain admission into university with basic skills that are required in the economy, and most importantly instill in them the sense of creativity and self employment. It is also designed to stimulate self-reliance and improve leadership,” he said.

    He said he has subsidised some courses to enable more youths access the training opportunity. “It is in the process of achieving this that our administration has decided to subsidised the expected amount to be paid for some courses. We have also gone the extra mile by sponsoring some youths to acquire various skills at the centre instead of lying idle on the streets which of course we know the danger inherent in it,” he said.

    The graduates were trained in various courses at the centre among which are, computer studies and engineering, catering and hotel management, hairdressing and cosmetology, fashion designing and training, bead and hat making, photo and cinematography, building technology and performing arts.

    Muse-Ariyoh thanked the instructors for their efforts on the graduates

    He urged them to make good use of the skills they have acquired.

    “Please use this privilege to eke out a living for yourself. All of us cannot be opportuned to secure white collar jobs. I will like to thank the instructors for their perseverance and endurance, it has been a job well done,” he said.

  • A lift for people behind bars

    A lift for people behind bars

    Things are looking up for inmates of Oji River Medium Security Prisons. There is a turnaround of fortunes for them.

    The prison commissioned in 1992 was tucked away in rural Oji River with the aim of reforming convicts with ligh sentences.

    But due to logistics and remoteness of the prison, the inmates were often deprived of some basic amenities and provisions. The problems of drugs, foodstuff, clothings and sanitary wares have been hitting the inmates in addition to the fact that their number has since shot up from an initial 80 to 149.

    Commissioned on December 7, 1992, the prison was fitted with every amenity required for living at least a tolerable life. The prison cells were provided with functional showers in their bathrooms.

    There was also a functional borehole. There was a clinic and a well equipped workshop.  But all these amenities are no longer functional. The inmates resigned to fate. They almost provide everything for themselves. Visits by charitable organisations were rare.

    Things are changing. A charitable organisation, Carmelite Prisoners’ Interest Organisation (CAPIO) visited the prison and met with the inmates. The organisation, a Catholic Church organ, went with lots of items for the inmates. There were various foodstuff, drugs, clothings, provisions, slippers, towels and toiletries.

    The items were so much that the Deputy Comptroller of the Prison, Sir Eric Okafor exclaimed: “This is first of its kind. Additional goodness on top existing goodness.”

    One of the leaders of the inmates added: “I have never seen such gift items since my stay in this prison.”

    He thanked the CAPIO for their gesture which he said was “unprecedented in the history of this prison.”

    He prayed that God will bless them and always replenish their sources.

    CAPIO director, Rev. Fr. James Ekereku told the inmates that it has been one desire of the organisation to fight for those who have been imprisoned unjustly, adding, “we also have programmes to rehabilitate freed prisoners.”

    Ekereku said he was impressed by the orderliness of the prison and the inmates. He advised the inmates not to waste their time in prison idling away but should try to learn a trade or at least keep busy with one trade or another.

    He also implored them to give their lives to God.

    “These items you see here were donated by individuals. It was difficult for us convincing them to donate for prisoners because of their experiences in the hands of criminals.”

    He urged them to change their lifestyle when they are freed so as to make their work easy for the organisation.

    “We discovered that many of you are not interested in changing after regaining your freedom and often go back to crime. You should know that God is there for you and if you repent, he will open the way for you to make positive achievements.”

    Ekereku pleaded with them not to venture into anything that could bring them back to prison after being freed.

    The comptroller of the prison, Sir Eric Okafor told the visiting Carmelites that he regarded their visit as a “widow’s mite” not because it “is all you have but because you squeezed out time to come and give to those who could not reward you.”

    “I say this because any good without a pinch on your skin may not be rewarded. You came for charity, charity without reward.”

    He prayed that God will continue to bless the CAPIO members and the inmates will ever remember them for this unprecedented visit and gesture.

     

  • Katsina trains 4, 820 youths

    A total of 4, 820 youths have been trained in various skills at the Katsina Youth Crafts Village since it was established in 2009 by the state government, an official has said.

    The Special Adviser on Science and Technology to Governor Ibrahim Shema,Alhaji Sule Kuki, said this in an interview with the newsmen in Katsina.

    He said the centre was established to train unemployed youths on various skills in order to make them self employed.

    “The beneficiaries were trained on trades like welding and fabrication, tie and dye, auto mechanics and electrical, handset and computer repairs, carpentry and others,” he said.

    The special adviser said those trained were assisted by the government with working tools and start up capital with which to set up their own businesses.

    According to him, the beneficiaries included youths from the state and its neighbours as well as the neighbouring Niger Republic.

    Kuki said the state government had recently approved the construction of two additional skills training centres in Daura and Funtua following the successes recorded by the youth crafts village.

    “Many officials from other states have visited the crafts village to study the operations and facilities for its replication in their respective states,” he said.

  • ‘I’ll empower widows, aged, others’

    f there is one thing that gives the lawmaker representing Oshodi-Isolo 11 constituency at the Lagos state House of Assembly, Hon. Omowunmi Olatunji-Edet joy most, it is putting smiles on the faces of the less privileged and needy in the society.

    And that is why she is dedicating the celebration of her 40th birthday which comes up on August 15 to reach out to widows, the aged, youths, less privileged, needy, orphanages and motherless babies homes in her constituency.

    Omowunmi-Edet disclosed this to reporters in her office at the Assembly complex on Friday while intimating them with programmes lined up to celebrate her birthday on August 14 and 15

    According to her, “It has always been my duty to put smiles on peoples faces but I want this one to be different, it is going to be a landmark because I am looking forward to how I can affect more lives; to empower both the widows, aged, down trodden, youths, destitutes, politicians who are feeling aggrieved because of neglect over the years. Those are the type of people that will benefit from my empowerment programme on that day which will be mind blowing”, she said.

    The lawmaker is also planning sporting events and competition for the youths, “I feel it is going to bring smiles and joy to the youths, they are going to engage in a lot of sporting events and competition across the wards in my constituency and winners will be awarded beautiful packages and cash gift”, she said.

    “I will also give out start-up kits to people that have learnt some skills like hair dressing, tailoring etc. Kits like dryers, clippers, generators, sewing machines, pop-corn machines, recharge card printing machines etc. And for others who want to engage in trade like the mothers I have packages for them like deep freezers, fridge etc,”she said.

    During her 39th birthday last year she gave out things to about 150 people “but this time around I want the number to be more than that. It will cut across all the wards and all political parties”, she said.

    Omowunmi-Edet who is also an ordained pastor will use the occasion to launch two of the books she has just written; ‘Shaping of the Amazon’ and ‘Casting stone’ and also round it up with a thanksgiving service and visit to orphanage and motherless baby home.

    Speaking about ‘Casting stone’, she said it is all about how to strengthen those who are weak in the society.

    She said she would want people to remember her as a problem solver, “God created me for a purpose and that purpose is what I am here to fulfil as a child of God”, she said.

    Speaking on her achievements as a lawmaker, Omowunmi-Edet who is doing a second term said she has been able to sustain all the programmes she started and bringing relief to so many people and this means reducing the poverty ratio.

    She has also among other things used her position in the House to bring about government presence in infrastructure in her constituency like Ago Palace Way rehabilitation, Cele bridge, Ajao Estate link yto Ejigbo, dualisation of Ibe road, Amuwo- Ago Palace Way etc. “So many water infrastructure here and there, projects that Lagos state is doing because we have a speaking member who is ready to fight for the need of the people”, she said.

    “By the time I leave the Assembly I want to stand tall and say Omowunmi Olatunji passed through this legislative House and affected lives of people”, she said.

     

  • N10m tools, gifts for Kwara constituents

    A member of the House of Representatives representing Ilorin East/South Federal constituency in Kwara State, Dr. Ali Ahmad has spent N10 million on youth empowerment and Ramadan gifts to his constituent members and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders.

    All the 23 wards in the constituency benefited from the gesture in Ilorin, the state capital. Items distributed as Ramadan gifts included bags of rice, sugar, milk, among others.

    Speaking at the event, Dr Ahmad who chairs the House Committee on Justice, added that he had empowered 120 youths in his constituency to engage in mechanised farming.

    He said that each beneficiary of the scheme which is in partnership with some commercial farmers could make as much as N3m annually if they are serious about it.

    He said the gesture was to assist the less privileged during the holy month of Ramadan, adding that the empowerment programme would contribute in reducing youth unemployment.

    The lawmaker implored the beneficiaries to embrace the Ramadan fast and pray fervently for Nigeria to overcome its numerous challenges.

    Two indigenes from Ilorin South and East Local Governments who were sponsored by Ahmad to learn shoe-making were presented with the working tools to effectively put the knowledge to practice to earn a living.

    Said he:” We implore our people to embrace Ramadan as it has approached and to involve in fervent prayers for all the ills bedevilling our nation in current times.

    “We have two empowerment programmes for the youth. We are doing it in phases, this one is for the youths. We have empowered 120 youths in a job that would fetch them between N1million and N3million a year. It is a mechanised commercial farming project in association with some commercial farmers. We have perfected the plan.

    “With the 120, there would be other additional phases for others. Basically it is about commercial farming and we are trying to encourage our youths to engage in farming because this is the employer of labour. We are just leveraging on it and we thank God that it has culminated in the employment of 120 youths.”

    As for artisans, the legislator added that “for those who are artisans, you are seeing what we have done in the past six months.

    “We engage them as a trial, as a model and it has succeeded. So, we have empowered these youths, we have given them all the implements they need to go to the market and I am sure you can see the enthusiasm of other youths. So, we would enrol more youths in this and other artisan work that can benefit them.

    “The advice I have for them is that they have been carefully chosen; they have been enamoured. So, it is for them to now go to the field and you can see the quality of works they do and these shoes are very cheap.

    “It is for them to go further and conquered the world so that they would now be an example for other upcoming youths. And through all these composite programmes, we can keep on to address the unemployment problem that we have.”

    At the event were PDP Chairmen in the two local governments, party leaders, supporters, women and youths who also got their share of the Ramadan package.

    A PDP chieftain in the constituency, Alhaji Oba Bolanta, in his remarks, commended the lawmaker and urged other wealthy Nigerians to always remember the less privileged who live from hand to mouth.

     

  • Niger immunises 2m kids

    The Niger State Primary Healthcare Development Agency has immunised no fewer than two million children against polio during the just concluded round of Immunisation Plus Days exercise (IPDs).

    The chairman of the agency, Dr Aliyu Yabagi told journalists in Minna that the exercise was part of the IPDs for children below the age of five years.

    He said that the state and local governments contributed over N10 million towards the success of the exercise.

    He said the agency embarked on a massive campaign in mobilising all stakeholders in the communities, in order for parents to allow their children to be immunised.

    Yabagi praised traditional rulers and religious leaders for their roles in the sensitisation exercise on the importance of immunisation.

    He said that the agency was still faced with the issue of rejection of the immunisation by some parents in Chanchaga Local Government Area.

    He also commended donor agencies for their support towards polio awareness and the importance of immunisation, which he said assisted the agency to achieve the recorded success.

    “We are fully committed to kicking polio out of Niger. We are collaborating with neighbouring states to address the issue of isolated border communities by synchronising the exercise in those communities to ensure a 100 per cent coverage.

    “The approach will help to stem the cross border movement of the virus, as migrating parents and their children are easily identified and their wards immunised against the virus”.

    He enjoined parents to ensure optimal personal hygiene practice at all times, as well as good environmental standard, to curb the spread of the virus.(NAN)

     

  • Monarch seeks govt’s help

    Monarch seeks govt’s help

    The Chairman of Mushin Local Government, Hon Babatunde Adepitan, has visited the new palace of the Olu of Mushin, Oba Fatai Aileru.

    The palace, a two-storey building, which is under construction,still needs much to be done

    The Olu, who invited the chairman to see the level of work done, thanked him for the many laudable projects he has carried out to lift the youth and market women in the community, sought government’s help to complete the palace.

    The chairman, who was impressed with the level of work done so far promised to assist in the completion of the building in cash or kind.

    “The government will come in because you are our traditional father, and in the next two to three months, we will help out with the little remaining,”Adepitan said.

  • 470 Ogun teachers trained in ICT

    470 Ogun teachers trained in ICT

    No fewer than 470 secondary school teachers in Ogun State have been trained in the CISCO academy organised information technology essentials for a train-the-trainer programme.

    Another 55 instructors have also been trained by the academy and they are now teaching in the various ICT polytechnics in the state.

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun made this known at the Cisco African Academy Safari Conference 2013 held in Abeokuta, advising Nigerian youths and the participants to be more innovative in order to develop software needed to solve basic challenges hindering maximal use of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) in the country.

    He also enjoined stakeholders in the ICT sector to assist the youths to unlock their potentials.

    Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa, a lawyer, Governor Amosun underscored the need for Nigerian youths to be ICT compliant in order to be active members of the “global village which the whole world has become, pointing out that virtually all human activities are now driven by information technology. In the same vein, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA), to the Governor on ICT, Mr. Bunmi Adebayo, pointed out that the world has turned out to be a “global village” whereby the people can unlock their potentials through the use of information technology and become relevant in the world at large.

    According to him, the Senator Ibikunle Amosun believes that knowledge in information technology remained the only means of making any individual an active member of the “global village,” assuring that government would continue to do the needful to enhance human capital development in the State through ICT knowledge.

    Adebayo, in a statement signed by the Information Officer of the Gateway ICT, Mr. Ademola Orunbon, emphasised that educational development occupies a prominent position in the mission to rebuild, recalling that the highest singular allocation of the state’s 2013 budget was devoted to the sector.

    “This government will continue to lay emphasis on youth empowerment and development through the use of ICT. This explains why it devoted the largest single allocation of its 2013 budget to the education sector as it believes that investment in the youth today is a move to secure their tomorrow,” Adebayo noted.

    In his remarks, CISCO’s Regional Manager corporate Affairs, Mr. Alifie Hamid disclosed that out of the five institutions that submitted proposals to be appointed as the academy support designated centre for English West and Central Africa, only two, one of which is the South West Resource Centre were given approval.

    He advised the participants to make good use of the knowledge imparted to them, emphasising that anyone without requisite ICT knowledge would be an outcast in the global village.

     

  • Al-makura advises journalists

    GovERNOR Umaru Al-makura of Nasarawa State has advised journalists to be objective in their reportage.

    The governor gave the advice in Lafia when the Management of Precious FM paid him a courtesy visit.

    The governor described journalism as an old profession which mirrors the society, adding that the professionals played crucial role in national development.

    He said the state government would give special attention to the welfare of journalists working in the state to be in a position to disseminate information effectively.

     

    The governor added that his administration operates an open door policy and urged journalists to help to publicise government’s activities.

    He commended journalists in the state for educating and sensitising members of the public on the activities of government.

    He said that the decision to digitalise the state owned media outfits was to meet up with the National Broadcasting Commission’s (NBC) policies.

    “Information and Communications Technology (ICT) play a vital role in the education and enlightenment of the people.

    “Information is the life wire of economic and national development and this administration will do everything possible to avail the people the necessary opportunities and channels of information.’’

    Al-makura commended the contribution of precious FM in enlightening the people of the state and Nigerians at large, adding that their programmes had contributed to good governance in the state.

    He, however, advised the radio station to desist from airing programmes that were capable of over-heating the polity and causing friction in the society.

    The General Manager of the station, Mr Abdullahi Musa, commiserated with the state government over the killing of security operatives in Alakyo and described the act as irresponsible.

    “We pray that God would give you the wisdom to bring the security situation in the state under control”, he said.

    He commended the state government for constituting a judicial panel of inquiry over the killing, and expressed the hope that it would yield positive result.