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Tag: jobs

  • Create jobs, Ambode tells graduating students

    Create jobs, Ambode tells graduating students

    The Best Graduating Student of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Miss Omotoyosi Fatogun, yesterday said her success was not by accident but by dint of hard work and divine grace.

    Fatogun spoke in Ikorodu during the institution’s 26th convocation.

    She appealed to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to make the institution  residential.

    Fatogun was named the overall best graduating student with a Cumulative Grade Point Aggregate (CGPA) of 3.81 in the School of Pure and Applied Sciences, Department of Science Laboratory Technology.

    She said one of the paramount needs of the students was   hostel accommodation.

    “I implore your Excellency sir, to consider making our institution a residential citadel of learning, as the challenges of the off-campus accommodation is sometimes overwhelming,” she said.

    Fatogun also pleaded with Ambode to facilitate the construction of a pedestrian bridge at the LASPOTECH axis of the Ikorodu-Sagamu road.

    The governor,  represented by his deputy, Dr Idiat Adebule, urged  graduates of polytechnics and colleges of technology in to develop their acquired skills to create jobs rather than be job seekers.

    The economic climate of the country, he said, required young entrepreneurs who are determined to create and generate wealth.

    The governor noted that   graduating students of the state’s tertiary institutions had been prepared through strategic initiatives including “Ready, Set, Work” initiative to look forward to life after school.

    He pledged to continue to invest in the education sector to enrich the pool of human resources from the state’s institutions.

    According to him, no society can develop without  investing in the education of its citizens, or providing an enabling environment for ideas to thrive.

    The Rector, Mr Samuel Sogunro,  urged the graduands to utilise the theoretical, practical and entrepreneurial skills they acquired to enhance their skills as job creators.

    About  6, 355 students graduated, out of which 211 earned distinctions;  1, 368,  upper credit, 3,505, lower credit and 1, 271,  pass.

  • FIIRO plans to create 5m jobs yearly

    FIIRO plans to create 5m jobs yearly

    The Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) has unveiled an action plan to fight unemployment. It aims to create over five million jobs yearly.

    FIIRO Director-General Prof Gloria Elemo told The Nation that the package was designed to stimulate economic activities through processing and value addition to raw materials of relative advantage in each of the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs).

    She said the institute carried out  a comprehensive study on raw materials of relative abundance in the LGAs and came up with technologies that suit the raw material for massive economic exploitation.

    She said: “We have carried out a comprehensive survey on raw materials of relative abundance in all the 774 LGAs in Nigeria. Equally, we have identified FIIRO technologies that are suitable for processing the raw materials in these LGAs for the establishment of micro, small, medium and large enterprises.

    “FIIRO has developed over 250 technologies in its 61 years of existence and these technologies can be deployed in the 774 LGAs for massive job creation and economic stimulation through processing and value addition to raw materials of relative advantage in each of the LGA.

    “We have developed a Blueprint on how this process could create about five million jobs annually through direct and multiplier effects. This will ensure economic independence through drastic reduction in imported goods thereby saving foreign exchange.”

    She said FIIRO is more prepared to deploy its technologies in support and realisation of the objectives of the government’s Change Agenda, stressing that the institute’s total technology package include the development of both process technologies and the machinery and equipment.

    “The institute is ensuring effective technology diffusion through effective collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including Nigeria Society of Engineers, Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Fabricators Association of Nigeria (AMEFAN), National Association of Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (NASME), National Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), and Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN),” Elemo said.

    She noted that the institute had developed a high nutrient density biscuit and drink for the National School Feeding Programme, established industrial enzymes model plant and a  state-of-the-art molecular laboratory.

    Elemo pointed out that FIIRO had  driven the 20 per cent inclusion of cassava flour into wheat flour, which has saved the country billions in foreign exchange spent yearly on the importation of wheat flour.

  • Apc aspirant: I ‘ll provide jobs for Ekiti youths

    Apc aspirant: I ‘ll provide jobs for Ekiti youths

    An Ekiti All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Professor Philip Adetiloye, has promised to provide jobs for youths, if elected at the poll.

    The Professor of Agriculture made the pledge in Igbara Odo when he led his campaign team on a visit to the APC Elders Forum to present his manifestos.

    Elders from all the 16 local government areas of the state were present at the meeting.

    Adetiloye said that, if elected as governor, he would focus on job creation for thousands of employable youths and graduates through the establishment of modernised/mechanised farming, establishment of agro-allied industries and microfinance banks in every local government of Ekiti State.

    He explained that the microfinance banks will give loans to farmers and owners of businesses, market the women and civil servants.

    The aspirant lamented the abject poverty in Ekiti State, which, he said, was compounded by the failure of the present administration to pay workers’ salaries. Adetiloye added that lack of industries to generate employment for jobless graduates could be attributed to poor governance, leading to poor priority setting and financial mismanagement.

    He therefore, promised to govern Ekiti with visionary leadership if elected as the governor.

    Adetiloye explained with focus on modernised farming and industrialisation, the present pains in Ekiti State will be a thing of the past.

    The aspirant expressed gratitude to the Elders Forum for their support for a governor from the South Senatorial District.

    He assured the forum that his government will focus on moving Ekiti State forward in agriculture, industrialisation, education, health and tourism. He said local governments in Ekiti State are suffering the consequences of poor governance.

    The elders who maintained rapt attention during his presentation acknowledged his deep insight into the socio-economic and political problems of Ekiti State and possible solutions to the challenges.

    They advised the aspirant to reach out more to the people. The Elders prayed for him and his entourage for the success of his aspirations.

     

  • INTELS offers scholarship, jobs to 66 physically challenged persons

    Oil and gas logistics giant INTELS Nigeria Limited has taken its community support a notch higher by offering full scholarships to no fewer than 66 physically challenged persons.

    The scholarship scheme, which was set up in 2003 to assist persons with physical disabilities including polio, covers primary, secondary and tertiary education.

    Some of the beneficiaries enjoyed the scholarship from primary school through to tertiary education, attaining professional qualifications in various fields of endeavours, including Economics and Law, among others.

    The beneficiaries also have the opportunity of working at INTELS after completing their education.

    One of the beneficiaries, Uchechukwu Nwafor, who is an Economics graduate of the University of Port Harcourt, said: “words cannot capture the good works INTELS is doing.

    “INTELS has changed my life for good. What INTELS is doing cannot be quantified. The company has been able to make me achieve the desires of my heart. They have empowered me and made me independent. Thanks to INTELS I am not on the road begging for money or food to eat. No company in Nigeria has ever done what INTELS has done for the physically challenged.

  • Olanipekun: let’s create jobs to end slavery abroad

    Olanipekun: let’s create jobs to end slavery abroad

    •Unemployment could spark revolution

    Eminent lawyer Chief Wole Olanipekun  (SAN)  has said the massive unemployment is a time bomb that can cause a revolution.

    Olanipekun urged governments and privileged Nigerians to create jobs for youths to stop them from going into slavery in foreign lands.

    He noted that a situation where PhD holders roam the streets for jobs and beg for survival is shameful.

    The legal icon was reacting to the footage of youths in dehumanising conditions at a slave camp in Libya.

    He said privileged Nigerians have abandoned the youth, adding that this may not augur well for the nation’s future.

    Olanipekun addressed reporters at the weekend at his Ikere-Ekiti home after the inauguration of the town’s Hall of Fame and launch of the community’s anthem at the palace of the Ogoga, Oba Adejimi Adu Alagbado.

    The Ikere Hall of Fame was inaugurated by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.

    The monarch urged Ikere sons and daughters, led by Olanipekun, to support their royal father for further development of the town.

    Olanipekun said the emigration of Nigerian youths to Benin Republic, Niger Republic, Chad Republic, Cameroun and their tortuous journey through the desert to Libya showed their frustration at home.

    The former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) recalled that he had at least six job offers after graduating from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) in 1975 and more job offers after leaving Law School but chose to go into private law practice.

    He said: “It is a shame at this period that Nigerian youths still travel abroad and the routes they take are very tortuous, very winding, very dangerous and very daring. They don’t even mind if the ship they are travelling in capsizes.

    “Why are they leaving? Some of them believe that ‘let me leave Nigeria because the Golden Fleece is somewhere else’; that the green pasture is outside Nigeria in Cotonou, in Cameroun, even in Niger Republic and Chad Republic.

    “Nobody sympathises with them. You can see the fate of our youths nowadays. I want to say those of us who are very successful are selfish and greedy. We are not speaking the truth to our government.

    “Our youths are going through another slave trade, and how do we stop it? The only way we can stop this is that we should create jobs for our youths. Government can encourage small scale and medium scale enterprises for our youths.

    “If we don’t take care of our youths, if we do not sympathise with them, empathise with them and do not create a better tomorrow for them, we are – directly or indirectly, advertently or inadvertently – planting a revolution for the future.”

    Olanipekun advised government not to muzzle the private sector but to empower it with good policies to enable it absorb jobless youths who migrate to foreign lands.

     

    Olanipekun is voice of the Yoruba, says Ooni

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has described eminent lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAW), as an asset to the Yoruba race.

    The frontline monarch spoke at the weekend when he visited Olanipekun at his native home at Ikere-Ekiti in Ekiti State.

    The Ooni poured encomiums on Olanipekun for his “legal feat and patriotism to the Yoruba cause”.

    He added: “I am here to pay a private visit to Asiwaju Wole Olanipekun and to commend him for the great work he is doing for the Yoruba race. He is one of our shining stars in Yoruba land. He is the voice of the voiceless and a legal icon, who has made us proud.”

    Oba Ogunwusi said he had been following his progress before he ascended the throne, adding that “Olanipekun is a brand the Yoruba is happy to flaunt”.

    He said: “You are our pride and joy in Yoruba land. I am happy to be here and I am most humbled by this reception.”

    Olanipekun described the Ooni’s visit as “symbolic and historic”.

    The eminent lawyer said he would forever cherish the visit.

    He said: “Today is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it. To have a foremost traditional ruler, Ooni Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi pay me a visit is worth cherishing forever.”

    Olanipekun extolled the virtues of the Ooni, describing him as a king, who prepared himself for the throne.

    He said: “Since he ascended the throne, he has been doing so much for the unity of the Yoruba race. He has gone to visit the Alaafin. Only a few days ago, he was at the coronation of the Akarigbo of Remo. He has gone to Efon Alaaye, Ijero Ekiti and other towns in Yoruba land. He has been going round the world to promote peace and unity among our people. Sometimes, I wonder where he draws his energy from. May God bless you, sir.”

    The Ooni presented a souvenir to the lawyer.

  • ‘Local patronage of goods’ll stimulate growth, create jobs’

    ‘Local patronage of goods’ll stimulate growth, create jobs’

    The Minister of State, Industry, Trade & Investment, Mrs. Aisha Abubakar, yesterday said patronising made-in-Nigeria goods and services will stimulate economic growth and crate jobs for the youths.

    The minister who spoke in Lagos at the flag-off of ‘campaign for patronage of made-in-Nigeria products and services’ said the inward looking initiative of the current administration is expected to boost the nation’s economy by reviving the local industries to produce goods of international standards.

    According to her,  some of the products the nation has competitive advantage in are textile, furniture, food and drinks, leather and leather products.

    She said  if these resources are exploited, it will lead to the generation of jobs, promote culture and tourism sector, create wealth, reduce poverty and increase the foreign exchange earnings capacity of the country.

    She said: “The promotion of made-in-Nigeria products and services will also stimulate growth and promote innovation in our Medium Small and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs). In addition, it will boost financial inclusion and overall security of the country, two key elements essential for sustained economic prosperity and development.”

    She said the Federal Government has put plans in motion to translate the MSMEs into bigger platforms noting that many of the operators are small but with quality products. She the MSMEs have not only improved the quality and standards of their products but also packaging. She said is prepared to group the small businesses into clusters, boost them financially and also offer advisory services in the areas of marketing.

    Minister of Information & Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, while commending the local manufacturers said the ‘Executive Order’ is expected to boost the patronage of locally produced goods and services. He said the procurement policy of the government makes it compulsory for ministries and agencies to patronise locally made goods. He encouraged manufacturers to continuously work to improve the quality of their products and also deploy information technology (IT) tools in marketing their products.

    Earlier, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode said the craze for foreign goods and services brought the country to its current situation.

     

    He urged the Federal Government to stimulate export and encourage the consumption of locally produced goods with innovative policies.

    Ambode said the state’s partnership with Kebbi government in rice production has resulted in sharp drop on rice importation and the conservation of the much needed foreign exchange.

    Represented by the Commissioner of Commerce & Industry, Prince Rotimi Ogunleye, the governor said the state has encouraged the growth of several MSMEs through various capacity and empowerment programmes in addition to ensuring supportive investment matching of small businesses in the state.

    He said this has encouraged job and wealth creation for entrepreneurs in the state. According to him the nation cannot grow sustainably except non oil export is encouraged.

     

  • Atiku promises jobs as he joins PDP

    Atiku promises jobs as he joins PDP

    •Lalong ‘won’t follow him’

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday promised to create jobs if elected president as he announced his return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He said issues that led to his exit from the PDP four years ago had been resolved.

    In his view, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has failed Nigerians.

    Atiku who made the  announcement   on his Facebook page, said the decision to return to the PDP followed consultations with party leaders and stakeholders from across the country.

    The former Vice President who also responded to questions from a few people on his Facebook page, said he was disappointed with the APC for failing in its promise to create jobs.

    He wrote: “Hello, my name is Atiku Abubakar. I am speaking to you today on Facebook Live as I want to reach as many of our young people as possible as I have an important announcement to make about the future of Nigeria.

    “As it is you, our youths, who represent the future of our nation. I have found in my travels across the country that whenever I get into conversations with young people. their number one concern is whether they will be able to get a job for without a job they have no means of sustaining themselves or begin a family.

    “And without the security of a job we cannot have security in our country. So without jobs there is no future for you or for Nigeria. And I also know as a parent that the older generation is also concerned about jobs for their children and, too often today, for themselves as well.

    “Creating jobs is something I know about as I have created over 50,000 direct jobs and 250,000 indirect jobs in my own State of Adamawa. And I also know how the Government can help create the right environment for businesses to create jobs.  When I was Vice President in 1999 I was responsible for liberalising the telecomms sector which enabled us to increase the number of people who could access a phone from less than 1 million then to over 100 million today.

    “This transformation resulted in the creation of hundreds of thousands of new jobs from the top-up card vendors you see on every street corner to the many new businesses that fed off the mobile phone revolution. Some of you may know that I was elected Vice President under the banner of the PDP, which is the political party I had helped to found some ten years before.

    “And some of you may also know that I left the PDP four years ago when I believed it was no longer aligned to the principles of equity, democracy and social justice upon which we had founded it.

    “I joined the APC as I had hoped it would be the new force that would help improve life for our people and I was excited about the party’s manifesto to create 3 million new jobs a year. The result has not been the change people had been promised or voted for, as in the last two years almost 3 million Nigerians have lost their jobs.

    “And today with a record 25% of people aged 18-25 unemployed I can see how difficult it is for our youths to find a job. The key to creating jobs is a strong economy and that is what we are currently lacking.

    “So today I want to let you know that I am returning home to the PDP as the issues that led me to leave it have now been resolved and it is clear that the APC has let the Nigerian people, and especially our young people, down.

    “But rather than giving a long political speech on this matter I thought it would be more helpful to invite you to ask me questions and share with you my answers.

    Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, a close associate of the former vice president, said he was not perturbed by his resignation from the APC last week.

    Lalong told reporters on Sunday in Jos that he would not leave the APC.

    “We reached out to Atiku while building the APC structure in Plateau and received some help from him, but my loyalty is with the APC. My loyalty is with President Buhari and my people have endorsed him for a second term.

    “Whatever happens in another party does not concern me. We are only waiting for the APC National Convention to endorse Buhari for a second tenure,” he said.

    Adamawa State Governor Jibrrilla Bindow has also said he would not follow Atiku to the PDP.

  • Auto technicians account for 80% of new jobs, says NATA

    About 80 per cent of new jobs in the country are workers, artisans and other employees drawn from auto technicians across the country, Chairman of Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association (NATA) Lagos State Chapter, Comrade Asiwaju Jacob Omonide-Fayeun has said.

    Omonide-Fayeun said this at the 14th Year edition of Auto Technicians Workshop and Exhibition in Lagos.

    The workshop and exhibition, he said, was conceived as a training programme for auto industry and auto technicians.

    He urged government to give NATA more recognition, saying “we account for over 80 per cent of new jobs in Nigeria according to recent statistics from the Federal Ministry of Labour.”

    According to him, it is also a forum where manufacturers, dealers and distributors of all brands of automobile spare parts and accessories and oil companies impact knowledge to auto technicians on the latest trends in the industry.

    The NATA chairman hailed Mobil Nigeria Plc for its support.

    “Mobil Oil has helped in training over 100,000 NATA members nationwide and they are the sponsor of our annual workshop/exhibition; they deserve our 100 per cent patronage,” he said.

    Omonide-Fayeun appealed Lagos State Governor to allocate land to the group to build modern villages in the state for NATA members, saying “we are tired of incessant demolition of our mechanic villages and at the same time driving us away from streets, roadside and under the bridges without providing alternatives for us. We also find it shocking that the Ministry of Transport has increased our ground rent from an average of N20, 000 to N140, 000 per annum. This is very outrageous and we appeal to Lagos State Government to stay action on this matter while we urgently request for a meeting to resolve pressing issues”.

    NATA National General Secretary Comrade Musa Yahaya said the group is interested in partnering with the Global Sights Services Limited (GSSL) to produce NATA ID Card that would be recognised by Law enforcement agencies, banks amongst others.

    GSSL Managing Director Mr. Dayo Bello assured NATA of their readiness to work with them on the project and ensure that it will promote the image of NATA as an association.

  • 20,000 JOBS TO BE CREATED AS‎ POLICE TO LAUNCH TELEVISION, RADIO SERVICES, JANUARY 30

    The Nigeria Police yesterday said it will open the Nigerian Police Broadcasting Service (NPBS)‎ and the Nigeria Police Emergency Response (NPER) in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory on January 30,2017.

    This initiative is said to further boost President Muhammadu Buhari’s quest for fighting crime and criminality in Nigeria and at the same boost the ‎Vice-President, Yemi Osibanjo’s campaign of job creation as means of wiping out poverty in Thee country.

    However, the NPBS and NPER which are the innovations of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris‎ when fully operational will broadcast nationwide on TV, radio, online and the National Emergency Communication Command and Control Centre with its headquarters in Abuja and locations in each of the 36 states to give it effective national coverage.

    This was contained in a presentation made to the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board in Abuja.

    ‎Making the presentation on behalf of the Police yesterday, Ono Akpe noted that the project is expected to gulp S500 million without the Nigeria Police contributing anything to the fund..

    “The Nigeria Police has executed an MOU with Skytick International Limited. The company under the MOU is obliged to raise the required fund to construct, purchase and install all needed equipment including the helicopter and drones for the effective operation of the project throughout the country.

    “The company with the full compliment of the compliments of the police will operate the NPBS for a period of 20 years before handing over to the Nigeria Police. The Nigeria Police is only obligated under the MOU to provide land in the name 36 states and the FCT for construction of the Television and Radio stations”.

    Speaking on the benefits of the initiave, the Chief Executive Officer of Skytick‎ International Limited who is the major partner, Edirin Jerry Wesley said that NPBS is to serve and ensure that the Nigerian Public has access to an efficient and effect police service that meets their security and safety needs through delivery of its strategic objectives.

    He added that it will create a platform to interact with the public and provide them with an opportunity to voice their opinions and other concerns and effect improvements in service provision and deliver an effective and efficient people oriented community police services based on global best practices to build capacity of citizens so that informed feedback and debate on police can freely and easily take place.

    He further noted that the equipment are already arriving in the country, awaiting the start of transmission.

    In his own remarks, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Joshak Habila said that the force is more encouraged that the initiative will be a success, given the calibre of people involved in the implementation.

    He added that the coming up on board of NPBS will further improve the work of the Nigeria Police as it bothers on security of lives and properties.

    “Through NPBS‎, we are going to do our best to effect and educate people on security and protection of lives and properties, especially those in the oil and crime zones.

    “We need the support of all stakeholders in the implementation of this laudable initiative”, he added.

    Responding, the Chairman of the Board, Engr. Simbi Wabote noted that the overall concept is novel and will go a long way to address the security challenges in the country if it is done and executed professionally‎.

    “Security is about information gathering and communication. Before now, police don’t carry guns, but batons. But, as we can see today, even the AK 47 is not enough to protect Nigerians.

    “Security is going more digital, and we have to flow with the tide, if we are to get desired result.

    “We will identify with the project, since part of our responsibility is to develop local content and we need security to do all of this. We are committed to the project and also be an advocate of the project”, he stated.

  • Ekiti elders decry low federal jobs

    Ekiti elders decry low federal jobs

    The Ekiti Council of Elders (ECE) has faulted the Federal Government for giving the state’s indigenes the fewest appointments in the Southwest.

    It said Lagos had 10; Ogun 21; Osun nine; Ondo six, with Ekiti and Oyo having four each.

    In a statement by its Chairman, Prof J. O. Oluwasanmi; Standing Committee Chairman Chief Deji Fasuan and General Secretary Niyi Ajibulu, ECE said Ekiti State was short-changed in appointments to key political positions.

    The council said several federal roads in the state were impassable.

    The statement said: “Ekiti Council of Elders does not believe that this situation should continue. There has to be a change. Equity and fairness have to prevail.

    “For example, sometime ago, when we observed the very deplorable status of Federal roads in Ekiti, we made several attempts at getting the government to undertake some rescue work. We made contacts with Federal Government functionaries. We understood later that the relevant minister visited Ekiti but no tangible results have been seen.

    “Of equal concern is the fact that today, no Federal road is motorable in Ekiti State. All links by Federal roads to Ekiti (Ondo, Kwara, Osun, Kogi) are almost impassable.

    “We expressed some concern when the 2018 budget was being prepared as we expected our representatives in Abuja to identify our problems and include some of them, at least, in the National Budget.

    “The current year’s budget is going to an end; we have not benefitted tangibly from it. We hope the 2018 budget will be different. Ekiti has been excluded for long from the benefits of being part of Nigeria. It is time there is a change.”

    The council said it called its representatives in Abuja for “informal discussions” but the invitation was not honoured.

    It said: “Our obas have also attempted to discuss with our Federal legislators and other key Federal Government appointees. The royal fathers have equally not succeeded.

    “It is our view that distributing or donating materials, like rice, motorcycles and clothes once or twice a year to indigent indigenes are not the answer to the problems facing Ekiti.

    “The fact is that we have not had our fair share of Federal perks, perquisite positions in the Federal setup in the current and previous Federal Governments.

    “As we consistently remind our people, Ekiti has been short-changed in political and upper public service appointments in the Western Region since 1952. In the 1960s and 1970s, there were times when out of 12 permanent secretaries for the region, indigenes of what is now Ogun State had eight while others had four.

    “With a new Federal set-up and with the creation of more states, we had thought that each new unit of the federation would have its own due in fairness and in equity.

    “We have time and again complained that appointments/positions allocated to the Southwest have been lopsided in favour of Ogun, particularly.”