The Nation Newspaper

Tag: empowerment

  • 300 to benefit from Niger empowerment scheme

    300 to benefit from Niger empowerment scheme

    To tackle unemployment in Niger, the state government plans to empower youths and women under its Agri-prenuer Empowerment Programme.

    Three hundred youths and women are to benefit from the scheme this year. The project is a joint effort between state and Federal Government, under the National FADAMA “Support for Youth and Women Programme”.

    Under the arrangement, the youth and women will be given intensive training in agricultural enterprise of their choice, with emphasis on crop farming, especially rice and sorghum.

    Kicking-off the scheme in Konta-gora, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello presented starter-pack seeds to 66 youths who were trained in agricultural enterprise.

    Presenting N100,000 cheque to each beneficiary under the first phase of the scheme, Sani urged them to ensure judicious use of the package as well as the skills acquired from the training for development of the agricultural sector and betterment of the society.

    “I am informed that this programme through FADAMA Project intervention intended to empower 300 youths to become Agri-prenuer, in addition to 10,000 direct beneficiary farmers under the Third National FADAMA Development Programme Additional Financing.

    “I am highly passionate about the issue of unemployment and our government is putting machinery on ground, particularly under the agricultural sector to address the subject matter in earnest,” the governor stated.

    He praised the initiative of the organisers for their concern for youth and women, calling on other non- governmental organisations (NGOs) and community-based organisations to partner the state in agricultural regeneration and community empowerment.

    National FADAMA Project Coordinator, Mr. Tayo Adewumi,             commended the state FADAMA office for being a pacesetter in the implementation of the fifth component of the programme, ‘Support for Youth and Women’.

    Adewumi, who was represented by Dr. Gbenga Arokoyo, lauded the state for being the first to start the implementation of FADAMA III Additional Financing Programme and for establishing Agricultural Equipment Hiring Centre.

    The state FADAMA Project Coordinator,Aliyu Usman Kutigi said the training, which is in phases, is being conducted with Bako Ranch Limited Kontagora.

  • Minister harps on youth empowerment

    Minister harps on youth empowerment

    Minister of Youth and Sports Mr Solomon Dalung has said proper coordination of youth development activities is important for rapid job creation.

    He said the ministry has developed a strategy to harmonise youth activities in other ministries and agencies.

    Dalung stated these during a dinner and peace awards to commemorate the 18th  anniversary of the Peace Corps of Nigeria in Abuja.

    He said the Corps had remained relevant on youth empowerment, especially at the grassroots, and deserved encouragement from  Nigerians.

    The National Commandant, Dickson Akoh, said the organisation had operated on volunteerism and urged the  government to use the platform for meaningful youth engagement and empowerment.

    Thirty-two Nigerians received awards for their contributions to peace advocacy and conflict resolution in the country.

    The corps has over 100,000 members in the country.

  • Lagos cooperative chief seeks empowerment for members

    There’s need to empower  cooperative societies and their members to mitigate the harsh economic situation in the country, President, Lagos State Cooperative Federation, Oriyomi Ayeola, has said.

    He argued that apart from ensuring that cooperative societies and their members survive the prevailing harsh business environment, empowering them would also enable them to contribute to the revival of national economy.

    He said in a statement at the weekendthat cooperative members need the support not only to inspire the leadership and members, but also to assist the body complete its multi-purpose building designed to create opportunities in Lagos.

    The LASCOFED leader said   he was determined to complete the multipurpose building earlier than the scheduled  date.

    He said: “Experience and research have shown that one of the most challenging factors in carrying out cooperative business is getting the right place that is conducive for business at a competitive cost. We resolved to tackle this challenge by constructing a befitting and expansive multi-purpose building for cooperative societies and their members.

    “The first step was taken by the administration of my predecessor in office, Alhaji Saheed Oki, who laid the foundation in July 2010. I was an executive member and during our foreign trips, we understudied cooperative movements in other climes. Our findings were part of what inspired the LASCOFED cooperative building, which will be commissioned on July 19.”

    He said the speedy completion of the building was a fulfilment of the promise he made, saying: “We promised co-operators in Lagos state that if we were given the privilege to serve, we will be given them a befitting secretariat and ensure unity in the cooperative movement,’’ Ayeola added.

    He said the new building is not meant for cooperative societies alone, saying the structure is massive enough to accommodate businesses outside the cooperative movement, adding that Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, is expected to inaugurate  the building.

  • ‘Why widows deserve protection, empowerment’

    A Group, Chinwe Bode-Akinwande Foundation, has called for enforcement of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015 to protect the country’s over five million widows and their children.

    This, it said, will give the widows a sense of belonging and enable them contribute productively to the nation’s economy.

    Its founder, Chinwe Bode-Akinwande, in a statement to commemorate the international widow’s day, lamented the extreme deprivations and cultural hostilities that widows are subjected to.

    She said: “Widowed women experience targeted murder, rape, prostitution, forced marriage, property theft, eviction, social isolation and physical abuse.

    “Children of widows face horrors such as child marriage, illiteracy, loss of schooling, forced labour, human trafficking, homelessness and sexual abuse.”

    These situations, which she described as unpalatable, disempower and dehumanise them.

    Security agencies, she explained, should be trained to enforce the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015 to protect them from abusers.

    She added that their children must also be empowered through concerted efforts by governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to safeguard their future.

    Bode-Akinwande said: “Widows need empowerment and capacity building, health intervention, nutrition, quality basic education and self-employment schemes for their children.

    “They can boost the economy with a little support and assistance from stakeholders. They shouldn’t be left alone to face the vagaries of life unprotected.”

    She added that the foundation will hold an outreach for free distribution of food items, medical support and clothes in Ikorodu, Lagos.

  • Ambode’s foundation targets leadership mentoring, youth empowerment

    Ambode’s foundation targets leadership mentoring, youth empowerment

    LA Roche Leadership Foundation, a non-profit organisation founded in 2013 by Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, has been formally inaugurated.

    The foundation, which was opened to the public at an event attended by eminent personalities on Saturday in Lagos, will offer leadership mentoring and empowerment for the youths.

    It will also attend to the welfare and prosperity of students in all facets of their educational endeavours.

    The governor, who has since stepped aside from active participation in the affairs of the foundation to avoid conflict of interest, was said to have founded the organisation owing to his passion for reaching out to children and young ones, especially by creating and sustaining a positive and enabling educational environment for the students.

    Part of the objectives of the foundation was to sponsor students by way of scholarships, grants and organising capacity-building seminars, workshops and other related activities and opportunities to students and young people, as well as collaborating with other stakeholders such as government agencies, NGOs and foreign bodies to raise awareness on the country’s state of education and intervening with solutions.

    In her welcome address at the event, the foundation’s administrator, Mrs. Marina Oshoba, said the formal launch marked a milestone in the life of La Roche Foundation, as it would offer a relationship between the organisation and the core people it had been working to serve who are the children and young ones.

    She said: “We started our registration process in 2012. But we got our permit by 2013 and even from before then till date, we have been working on our six projects which are the Flags Project, Tool Box Project, Internship Project, Toy Box Project, Support Our Schools Project and Our Chosen Youth Project.

    “Since we got our new facility last year May, we are now fine-tuning our in-house work such as our Book Bank, E-library, Mobile Library, Resource Centre and E-book Club. We have a Facebook page and we have a blog that we write every two weeks where we talk about education and leadership mentoring.”

    For instance, the administrator said through the schools support project, the foundation hoped to answer to infrastructural needs of schools in Lagos State and work with manufacturers of building and construction materials, building technology professionals and other well-meaning sponsors to help refurbish and upgrade public schools.

    The foundation, according to its administrator, has so far won three awards for projects executed at Government Technical College, Agidingbi; St. Jude’s Primary School, Ebute-Metta and Ojokoro Community Library.

    On funding, Mrs. Oshoba said the Board of La Roche Leadership Foundation was not presently favourably disposed to the idea of soliciting for funds from the public, but felt the foundation has to first build track record.

    She added that she believe that people must first see what the foundation has been able to do to be persuaded to give.

    Chairman of the Foundation and retired Justice of the Supreme Court Justice George Oguntade said the essence of such foundation could not be down played, as it would go a long way in reaching out to people.

    He said: “If you look at the starting position of the Nigerian society, you will know that we are virtually at the end of the ladder in almost all aspects and so foundations like this will hasten development in Nigeria and I think it is commendable.”

    Justice Oguntade, however, expressed the hope that the foundation would be replicated across the state and later across the country, so that the advantages can be evenly distributed.

    Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Oversees Affairs Prof. Ademola Abass said a foundations such as La Roche would help reach out to people, who are often overlooked by mainstream governmental agencies in the society either because their needs do not fall within the mainframe policies of government at any given point in time.

  • Senator’s empowerment tools excite constituents

    Senator’s empowerment tools excite constituents

    The number of the unemployed is rising daily. Public officers are encouraging the jobless to be self-reliant through provision of empowerment items. LEKE AKEREDOLU reports that the Senator Yele Omogunwa has provided N100million worth of empowerment tools worth N100m for members of his constituents in Ondo-South Senatorial District.

    As the country grapples with the challenge of unemployment as a result of lack of white-collar jobs, wealthy individuals and those in position of authority have been encouraging individuals, especially young school leavers, graduates and some others to redirect their attention from being job-seekers to job-creators and employers of labour.

    Lawmakers are not left out in the quest to empower members of their constituency through skill acquisition programmes and empowerment items.

    In the circumstances, the countrified town of Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State sparkled as residents shirked all their commercial and other activities to converge on the headquarters of the local government.

    They gathered to join several distinguished guests who came from far and near to witness a unique moment when many members of the lawmaker’s constituency were empowered with various items to make them self-reliant and, possibly employers of labour.

    For them, it was a rare opportunity to witness such an event which, they said, was the first in the state since the return of democracy in 1999.

    During the event, Senator Omogunwa gave out empowerment items valued at N100 million to some of his constituents.

    Great crowd of members of his constituency witnessed the event which was described as unprecedented. What made the exercise remarkable was that some of the items distributed included 200 sewing machines, 300 motorcycles, 300 pieces of dryer, 400 stoves and pots, 100 generating sets, 100 clippers, 150 speed boats and equally 150 horse power machines to power the speed boats. Over 1, 500 people benefited from this empowerment scheme at the event.

    Speaking at the event, Senator Omogunwa said he was committed to enhance the well-being of members of his constituency, even as he said his tenure at the National Assembly will witness a departure from the stereotypical experiences the people have had with their erstwhile representatives.

    The people are already thanking their stars for voting for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain to represent them at the National Assembly.

    The lawmaker said the items distributed were part of measures to appreciate his party and members of the party in his senatorial district who worked for his success during the general elections.

    The local government areas that make up the district he represents at the Senate are Okitipupa, Irele, Ile-oluji/Oke-Igbo, Ilaje and Ese-Odo.

    Omogunwa, who is the only PDP Senator from Ondo State, said poverty alleviation programmes must be a constant event at the grassroots, as they serve as means of alleviating the sufferings of the people and pull them out of poverty.

    He said: “It is time Nigerian youths began to think of what they can use their hands to do through vocational skills and not to be seeking white-collar jobs that are hard to come by.”

    Omogunwa, however, promised to attract Federal Government’s presence to the area; including the riverside communities.

    He said: “For so long, the people of Ondo State `have been cheated by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by not establishing projects for the well-being of the people. I have told those concerned when we went for oversight functions in South-south geo-political zone that this must be corrected.

    “I discovered that there are meaningful projects that were executed in other states of the Niger Delta region but I don’t know why we were neglected.

    “States such as Rivers, Bayelsa and Cross River and so on are positively feeling the impact of the NDDC. The projects in those states are far different from the projects in Ondo State and no doubt about it, they will adjust.

    “Even the one they have done here, they are coming to investigate. In the next one or two weeks, the team will be in the state to oversee what has been claimed to have been done on paper but not on ground.”

    He, however, enjoined all the beneficiaries to use the empowerment tools judiciously in order to contribute to the economy of the state and the country, and especially to improve their economic well-being.

    On behalf of other beneficiaries, Mr. Adetomiwa Morakinyo from Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo, thanked the Senator for the gesture, assuring him of their regular support.

    Also, ýa 25-year-old lady, Miss Bose Okunola, who just graduated from a fashion design school, said she had been looking for money to buy sewing machine so that she could start her own business.

    She said: “I am so excited that I am one of the beneficiaries of these sewing machines. This will go a long way in reshaping my future in the area of fashion designing.

    “I am a graduate but since all of us cannot get white-collar jobs, I have decided to learn fashion designing. I graduated three months ago but I don’t have money to start the business.

    “I thank Senator Omogunwa for remembering us in this senatorial district and this sewing machine would relief me of lots of burden.”

    A PDP chieftain from Ese-Odo, Lucky Obolo was full of joy when his name was mentioned as one of the beneficiaries of the speed boats.

    Obolo said: “I was at the campaign of Omogunwa last year when he said he would always be available to listen to our complaints and also ensure he gives back to us whatever is given to him in Abuja.

    “I never believed him because many previous lawmakers have said much of this and at the end only their families and close allies benefitted from them. Even those who are representing Akure do not look back after we had voted for them.

    “But I was amazed when I got the information that he would be empowering us less than a year after the elections.

    “One peculiar thing was that he kept the names of those who would benefit from the scheme to his chest and I was surprised that my name appeared on the list.

    “With this boat, I am going to start transportation business and I believe the money I realise from it will be used to cater for my family.”

  • FG begins new training programme for police officers

    FG begins new training programme for police officers

    Towards its criminal justice and police reform agenda, the federal government has commenced a new training initiative that will better equip the Nigeria Police Force to more effectively discharge its roles and functions.

    It will also make the force a more potent tool in fighting corruption within the force and in the country.

    The training programme, according to a statement issued on Monday by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, commenced on March 9, under a collaborative effort between the Presidency and the Nigeria Police Force.

    The first in a four-part series of courses on Strategic Leadership and Management was completed on Friday.

    The training programme, also organised with the support of the Ministry of the Interior and CLEEN Foundation, a law enforcement Non-Governmental Organization, was sponsored by the Anti-Corruption and Criminal Justice Reform Fund administered by Trust Africa, an international NGO. 

    In its first part, twenty police officers of the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police drawn from across the country were taken through seven modules.

    Each of the modules are designed to sharpen the skills of the senior police officers and enable them translate the strategic vision and policing agenda of the Police High Command into manageable and measurable operational directives with the goal of overall nationwide effective criminal justice administration.

    A total of 100 senior Police officers will be trained over the duration of the courses and at the end of the fourth course, the training program will be transferred to one of the Police training institutions along with a standardised curriculum and training manual. 

    The course was facilitated by the following: Professor Olu Ogunsakin, a consultant for the Justice for All Programme of the UK Department for International Development , Professor Todd Foglesong, a Professor of Global Studies with the Munk School of Global Affairs of the University of Toronto.

    Others are Professor Etannibi Alemika, a Professor of Criminology of the University of Jos, Professor Abubakar Mu’azu, a Professor of Communications of the University of Maiduguri, Mrs. Kemi Okenyodo, the Executive Director of Partners West Africa – Nigeria, Mr. Fola Arthur-Worrey, most recently the Executive Director of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, and DIG Saliu Argungu Hashimu, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police on Training and Development. 


    The following modules were covered during the course: Strategic Leadership, Management and Planning; the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and the Police; Effectively Tackling Corruption within the Police and in the Larger Society; the Psychology of Policing, Measuring Performance as a Management Tool, and nvestigative Policing and Network and Relationship Building.

    The just completed first part of the training course was held in the Conference Room of the Inspector-General of Police at the Force Headquarters in Abuja between March 9 and 11, 2016. The other parts of the training would be done later this year.

  • Youths to benefit from Fed Govt’s 2016 empowerment

    Youths in agriculture would benefit from the 2016 empowerment programme, which is starting soon, an official in the Lagos State office of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Mrs. Abiodun James, has said.

    Speaking on Wednesday in Lagos, on the sideline of the election of executives of the Association of Youth for Unity in Agriculture (AYUA), she said some of the members of the association had benefited from the FMARD’s empowerment and promised that with an updated data, other members would be contacted in the future.

    “They are part of the FMARD. Whenever the Federal Government has anything for the farmers, we will contact them because we have their data. Some of them have benefited from the ministry over the years, especially under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA),” Mrs. James said.

    She recalled that there was a time they were given fertilisers, feeds, seeds, while people in aquaculture were given juveniles and feeds and those in the poultry business sector were given feeds also. “They have shown that they are serious and they will benefit more. When the 2016 empowerment starts soon, they will be contacted,’’ the FMARD official said.

     

     

  • BrandPhase empowers students in Lagos

    BrandPhase empowers students in Lagos

    Mr. Emorinken Moses, a leadership/career development expert has charged the students of Okota Senior Grammar School, Okota, Lagos, on the fierce urgency of taking positive actions towards the fulfillment of their dreams, and also the need to build a healthy concept of self instead of being labeled and interpreted by their backgrounds or current socio-economic taxonomy.

    Emorinken, who spoke on the theme: “The future is now, dare to dream,” at a mentoring programme organised by BrandPhase Empowerment Initiative (a Non-Governmental Organisation) for the students from classes – SS1 to SS3; especially the SS3 students who are presently preparing for their Senior School Leaving Certificate examination which is to hold soon, emphasized that all men dream but not equally; some understand the need to wake up and take actions, thereby fulfilling their dreams while the rather indolent majority take their dreams and aspirations with flippancy.

    He identified three kinds of people in the world – the first set are those who make things happen, the second are those who watch things happening, while the third set are those who do not know what is happening.

    He added that even if we have to contend with our current background or were born into an impoverished inter-generational socio-economic class, we owe it to ourselves and to God to make the best of our lives by rising beyond our seemingly genuine excuses for failure. You need God and some intrinsic values like humility, persistence, and determination to be able to thrive in this time and peculiar clime.

    The Vice Principal (Academics), Mrs. Bolanle Gbemile said the students should do a SWOT analysis (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threat) of themselves and find creative ways to solve their problems. She said “there is a way you can meaningfully approach your problems so that they can be defeated”.

    One of the students at the programme, Daniel Moses said:” Even though I hate to read, I have been inspired to imbibe a reading culture. I now know that nobody can stop me on my way to greatness except myself”. Another student, AinaBunmi said:” henceforth, I will embrace humility towards learning. I am usually angry whenever I am being advised. But today, I drop that attitude and embrace positive change.”

     

  • Empowerment for successful businesses, jobs

    Empowerment for successful businesses, jobs

    Workforce Training Solution Limited Chief Executive Shade Olubajo not only helps people gain entrepreneurial skills and social businesses get off the ground, she also hones the skills of jobseekers to make them get employment. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    Like many entrepreneurs, Ms Shade Olubajo, a United Kingdom trained expert in social care, loves creating things.

    As an entrepreneur, she had an idea of how to turn high-quality childcare into a profitable business. Her unique approach involved running an internationally certified training centre for people who want to run profitable childcare operation and social care professionals seeking jobs abroad.

    In return, she has produced qualified childcare employees for companies and individuals.  Hers is a winning formula for starters as well as their corporate clients, parents and the kids.

    She  started  training  child care professionals for well-paid jobs while in the UK.

    According to her, social care business is a lucrative business as  professionals make profits running high-quality care businesses.Upon returning home, she established  Workforce Training Solution Limited, which trains for hotel and social care professionals which has opened doors for Nigerians who want to travel abroad in search of social and health care jobs.

    Having acquired functional skills,   many of her graduates migrate abroad to get jobs or gain admission into higher institutions.

    In collaboration with City and Guilds of London, Olubajo has designed programmes for young adults to get jobs in industries in various sectors, including retail and social care. For those looking for international and local construction works, she assists them to improve their employment and skills.

    With the training, Nigerians can complete construction skills’certification scheme test for individuals and groups to enable them to work in the construction industry in the UK and Middle East.

    She notes that unemployment is a critical challenge and that she is working to help people build skills that help them find jobs and be successful in a work environment.

    After a successful pilot in Lagos, she  is  set to  roll out nationwide through delivery partners. She is ready to partner with organisations that support entrepreneurs starting and building businesses.

    She is interested in talking to employers who wish to become partners, informing the content and providing potential vacancies for participants who complete the programme.

    She plans to prepare young people, learners and clients to succeed and sustain their apprenticeships or jobs.