As a result of the high unemployment rate in the country, youths in Adamawa State have been taught to unleash their potential for self-employment.

The youth, who attended a business success inspirational talk shop given in Yola by successful business tycoons, were urged never to despair in the face of daunting social and economic challenges but to release their power of imagination to achieve their dreams.

The speakers, assembled by Naturessence International who organised the X-Fest event, stressed that possibilities are unlimited to people who can muster a can-do spirit.

They noted that though young people face difficult challenges, the constraints usually only provide the impetus for pushing more to attain targeted heights, as there is normally no sweet without sweat.

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Dr Agoso Bamaiyi, who gave the first lecture, recounted personal initial failures in his life that he turned around and attained successes by sheer determination.

Tosin Komolafe, a software engineer and business strategist, urged youths to pay attention to details in whatever they do, describing it as the key that opened doors of opportunities for him.

Other guest speakers gave similar pieces of advice and urged youths to diligently seek ways around inhibitions to achieve success.

The convener of the X-Fest, Dr Thom Idowu who is the CEO of Nuturessence International, advised youths to believe always that there is no valid excuse for failure.

The highlight of the event was the unveiling of an inspirational book, Dream to Reality, written by Thom Idowu, which teaches ways to turn dreams into success stories.

It is a 12-paragraph 132-page book which expands on “Getting it Right,” “The Belief that Wins,” “The Choice that Works,” and “The Winning Pathway,” among other topics.

The Commissioner of Police in Niger State Bala Kuryar yesterday decorated 460 promoted personnel of the command with their new ranks.

Speaking at the Command headquarters in Minna, CP Kuryas said the 460 personnel from several divisions of the command, were promoted based on their commitments to their duties in the state.

He commended the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba-Alkali, for recognising the commitment of the personnel and assured that officers of the command would continue to provide security for the state.

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While decorating the officers, Kuryas congratulated and charged them to justify their elevation to the next rank with good performance and professionalism.

“We will continue to do our best in the discharge of our constitutional responsibility and we urge residents to volunteer reliable information that could aid the personnel of the command in apprehending men of the underworld,” he said.

The CP, in decorating the officers, was assisted by DCP Shawulu Dan-Mamman, DC OPS, DCP Ali Hayatu Kaigama and DC SCID DCP Aboki Danjuma among others.

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has condemned the assault by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives on its member of staff.

The AEDC management’s press statement noted that several members of staff of the company were physically assaulted, unlawfully arrested and arbitrarily detained without cause or justification.

The statement reads in part: “We write in response to the ugly incident that occurred at our Corporate Headquarters on June 6, 2022.

“The incident was the unrestrained and brazen assault against members of our staff by a group of five members of staff of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

“The team of EFCC members of staff visited the premises of AEDC without notice or any warrants and violated the rights of law-abiding citizens of this country.

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“These operatives acted unprofessionally and in absolute disregard of the laws and precepts of the country they were employed to serve.”

AEDC said as a responsible corporate organisation, we wish to state that we unequivocally condemn this action in its entirety.

It noted that the law is clear, any law enforcement official who commits violations against law-abiding citizens must be brought to justice and redress must be provided to the victims.

AEDC said the management will explore all legal measures to ensure redress for this gross and regrettable violation of our rights.

“AEDC values every member of staff and does not tolerate any intimidation, threat or assault by members of the public or any institution against any of its representatives in the course of discharging their duties.

“We implore our members of staff to remain steadfast and law-abiding citizens as they perform their lawful duties,” said the management.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) yesterday said it had secured no fewer than 516 convictions and rescued 18,000 victims since its creation in 2003.

The agency’s Director, Public Enlightenment, Josiah Emerole, gave the statistics at a training for journalists on a standard reporting template organised through the Action against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (A-TIPSOM), funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP), held in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

Emerole also said 13 of the rescued victims were sponsored to the university and have graduated, adding that three of them were currently working with the agency.

On the successes recorded by the agency in 20 years, he said: “No fewer than 516 traffickers have been convicted, 18,000 victims have been rescued and rehabilitated while 13 victims have been sponsored to the university. Three of the rescued victims now work with our agency.”

Speaking on behalf of the Director-General, Dr Fatima Waziri-Azi, Emerole said over 20,000 young Nigerian women were trapped in Mali and living in shanties in mining areas where they were being exploited.

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He decried the rising cases of forced labour in Nigeria and sought close ties with journalists to tame the crime.

According to him, Nigeria continues to experience high and external migration due to its huge population, economic climate, poverty and porous borders.

“In Mali alone, no fewer than 20,000 young Nigerian men and women are trapped, living in shanties in the mining areas where they are sexually exploited.

“Many victims are still stranded in a number of West African countries as they cannot move further to Europe and are living in dangerous conditions.

“Most of these trafficked people engage in prostitution for a fee equivalent to N150 which would be collected by those who trafficked them there,” he said.

Press Officer, NAPTIP, Mr Adekoye Vincent, called for an increased working relationship with the media for enhanced prominence on issues of human trafficking to ensure that Nigerians are better informed.

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Works and Housing, has formally handed over keys to the National Housing Programme (NHP) houses to beneficiaries who have fully paid.

The keys were handed over to them in a ceremony at the estate, located in Gama-Gwari, off Jaba Fanisau Road, Fagge Local Government Area of Kano State at the weekend.

Presenting the keys, Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola said: “We gather here to harvest the fruits of our investment and to commemorate the formal handover of keys to the first set of beneficiaries on the sales of completed Phase I of the National Housing Programme (NHP), which was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari on April 7, 2022.

“As we head towards the end of President Buhari’s tenure in office, I am happy to say we have entered a season of completion and handover of keys to beneficiaries in 35 states and the FCT who have successfully subscribed through the open ministry’s website.”

Fashola, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali, said the ministry has offered all the housing units to members of the general public in a “non-discriminatory way,” by opening a portal to ensure those interested are not inhibited by any artificial obstacle.

He added that the allocations are made on the basis of those who apply and pay on a “first come, first served” basis.

Requirements for accessing the houses, according to the minister, include current passport photograph in JPEG or PNG format, copy of current tax clearance and pay slip in PDF, means of identification such as national ID, Driver’s License or digital International Passport, letter of recommendation from any primary mortgage and evidence of 10 per cent initial payment deposit.

He said 12,387 Nigerians have applied through the website, of which 694 of the subscribers’ applications have been approved by the ministry.

The estate in Kano comprises 48 units of the 2-bedroom bungalow, 24 units of the 3-bedroom bungalow and 4 units of the 1-bedroom bungalow.

It was gathered that four people have fully paid for houses of their choice within the estate, comprising 76 units of one bedroom, two bedrooms and three bedrooms.

“The pragmatic national housing programme is part of President Buhari’s developmental agenda of addressing housing needs in the country.

“NHP is a programme borne out of the present government’s desire to provide affordable housing for its citizens,” the minister said.

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) Maitama Abuja branch and the Federal Road and Maintenance Agency (FERMA) have put safety marks on a two-kilometre road to reduce crashes.

The Vice-Chairman of the NSE branch Mr Henry Okoye made this known to reporters yesterday in Abuja.

Okoye said the road marking of Sun City Junction to Sunny Vale Junction was very important so as to avoid crashes by motorists and other road users.

According to him, road markings are of different types and they play major roles in road safety.

“For drivers who have the knowledge of road markings, they know when to remain on their lanes or change lanes by overtaking,” Okoye said.

Another member of the NSE Mr Itodo Thomas said road markings were expedient so as to ensure safety on the highway and avoid crashes by road users.

Thomas said many accidents had been recorded on the particular stretch of road being marked.

He attributed road crashes to lack of demarcation of the road and lack of markings on the particular spot.

Prof. Abubakar Ismail, the Executive Director, Planning and Engineering Services at FERMA told reporters that so much importance was attached to road marking because it reduced crashes.

Ismail assured motorists that henceforth, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) would no longer need to put safety cones on the road every morning as road marks were now in place at the spot.

The Plateau State Coalition of Civil Society Organisations and Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) has commended Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong for assenting to the Violence against Person Prohibition (VAPP) Act, 2022.

Addressing reporters in Jos, the facilitator of CSOs Coalition Gad Peter, alongside the Coordinator of WRAPA, Mohammed Ibrahim, hailed Governor Lalong and other stakeholders for ensuring that expedient actions were taken that led to the assent for VAPP Act.

The coalition also urged the state government to ensure a quick gazette of VAPP law, so that those that might be affected will benefit from it.

The CSOs further solicited the speedy establishment of the gender and equal opportunity commission to ensure the implementation, action, and monitoring of not just the Plateau State gender and equal opportunities law, but also the VAPP Act.

He said: “This will go a long way in addressing the most serious issues most Nigerian laws are faced with, which is the issue of non-implementation.

He explained that constituting the board of the Gender Commission will portray an excellent image of the inclusive nature of the Governor Lalong administration.

“This will amplify his HeforShe nature and put him and his administration in positive national and international limelight.

Mohammed explained that the objective of the model laws is to sustain and advance a prudent engagement for the implementation of the GEO and VAPP law in Plateau State as well as a roadmap on a strategic mechanism to develop and update the estimated budget for implementation of the laws.

The Proprietor/President of Cradle 2 Harvard International School, Abuja, Phrank Shaibu, at the weekend, stated that the 2022 Queen Commonwealth Essay competition will enhance the literary skills of Nigerian students and bring out the best in them.

Shaibu said this at the official launch and public presentation of the essay competition, which was hosted by Cradle 2 Harvard International School, on Friday in Abuja.

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition is an annual event hosted across the 54 Commonwealth countries.

This year’s edition had “Our Commonwealth” as its theme.

Shaibu said: “We are excited to be here, we are excited to host this event that is the flag off and official launch of the 2022 Commonwealth Essay competition organised by the Queen of England. It is an interesting one because I am a linguistic activist who turned into a school proprietor or school president as my kids fondly called me.

“We elected to host this event because of my love for writing, my love for education and I believe we should be at the forefront in salvaging our educational system.

“It is an annual event across the 54 commonwealth countries in the world, and this particular edition’s topic is “Our Commonwealth,” and it is meant to bring out the best in the literary skills and abilities of children across the Commonwealth countries. So, what it does is that it encourages them, it fosters bonding, it encourages writing skills and improvement in literary writing.”