By John Austin Unachukwu
Plateau State Governor and the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) has urged Nigerians to support goverments at all levels in the race to strengthen the economy and improve people’s wellbeing.
They gave the advice in a statement signed by Lalong on behalf of the Forum
Lalong, the Forum’s chairman, said: “From the record of achievements last year, 2020 is full of prospects and opportunities for Nigerians to again work for the upliftment of the country by supporting goverments at all levels to carry out development inintiatives that will strengthen the economy and it’s people.
“All that is required is for all to demonstrate patriotism and genuine commitment to making the desired sacrifices that are needed to building a nation that is self sufficient and strong enough to provide opportunities for its people to flourish.
Insecurity remains a major challenge that both the government and citizens must collaborate at ensuring that it is tackled holistically in order to overcome criminals who are bent on unleashing terror and sorrow on Nigerians.”
He said the NGF is committed to “carrying out robust initiatives towards targeting poverty, illiteracy, diseases and insecurity that are plaguing many parts of the region in particular, and the nation as a whole.
“The governors of the Northern Region will continue to peer review one another and also benchmark targets for regional development plans that will engender peaceful coexistence and people oriented programmes.
“We shall continue to work closely with the Federal Government under the purposeful leadership of His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR to create synergy that is critical to achieving meaningful development of the Northern Region and the nation at large”.
Meanwhile, Lalong has congratulated Godwin Nwangele, a 25-year old Nigerian winner of the 2020 Rhodes Scholarship for West Africa.
Nwangele was born and brought up in Jos.
He gave the commendation in a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr. Makut Macham.
The statement reads in part: “With his selection, Nwangele Godwin becomes the second Nigerian and the fourth recipient of the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship from the sub-continent since its re-launch in 2017.”
Nwangele, an Electrical & Electronics Engineering graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka was born in 1994 at the Ande Hospital and grew up in Tudun Wada area of Jos, Plateau State.
Macham said Lalong expressed “deep excitement on Nwangele’s achievement in a telephone call to the scholar.
He traced Nwangele’s achievement’s to Jos “where he built his life’s early experience and knowledge base which has earned him the prestigious scholarship.”
Lalong said: “I congratulate you for being elected as a Rhodes Scholar which is a rare award that goes not only to the brightest, but to young people with dexterity and character that projects a future filled with hope and expectations
This rare achievement is another testimony to the great minds that have emerged out of Plateau State and are making the country and the world proud.
“This achievement puts you in the exclusive list of great achievers that we are planning to celebrate during the Glorious Stars Event coming up in 2020 where we plan to tell the positive stories of Plateau State as we continue to rebrand and open up our potentials to the outside world. We are very proud of as a young ambassador of our State”.
The governor said the state realizes that the unfortunate crises of the recent past had sought to damage the hard-earned reputation and positive image of the state as the ‘Home of Peace and Tourism’ as well as centre of learning, entertainment, sports and creativity.
This, he said, has to be countered with the right narratives which can be told simply and clearly by the testimonies of those who were groomed in Plateau State before being unleashed to the world where they made, and are still making huge impact.
He encouraged Godwin to continue to be a good ambassador of Plateau State as he proceeds to Oxford University, United Kingdom, for his post graduate studies.
Godwin attended Albakans Pre-Science Private School, Tudun Wada-Jos before where he constantly maintained the top spot in his class and represented Plateau State at the NTIC Regional Mathematics Completion where he came tops, doing the State proud.
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He went ahead to fly the colours of the State at the National Stage.
He had his Secondary Education at St. John’s College, Jos where he also maintained top spot in his class, and also represented Plateau State at different competitions.
He later moved on to study Electrical Engineering at the University of Nigeria and graduated with a first class as the Best Graduating Student from the Faculty.
He later receivedthe CORENaward as the Best Graduate Engineer in Nigeria for 2017.
Nwangele is currently carving out a niche in the renewable energy space of Africa, a dream he wants to live because of his love for mother earth, and the decision to join in the struggle to save earth and to redefine Africa.
He intends to study Energy Systems at Oxford and says his goal is to deepen his technical knowledge, enhance leadership skills, build valuable networks and develop a global strategy that would help to grow the vision of energy sustainability in Africa and beyond
Nwangele was selected out of a total of 2,783 applications who registered as intending scholars for the 177 year old Rhodes scholarship which started in 1902 with past scholars including former US President Bill Clinton among other world leaders.
He still lives “the Jos dream of possibility even when it is thought to be very impossible,” Lalong said.
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