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  • Ambode: Lagos‘ll enhance laws to fight flood

    Ambode: Lagos‘ll enhance laws to fight flood

    Last weekend’s flooding of Ikoyi, Victioria Island, Lekki and environs has shown that the Lagos State government must step up its enforcement of physical planning laws, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has said.

    Speaking at the Water Technology and Environmental Control Conference and Exhibition in Lagos, Ambode said the government would reinvigorate the campaign against the dumping of refuse into canals.

    “We will be stronger in enforcing our physical planning laws especially those building illegally on canals and blocking the free flow of water across the state.

    “For the past few days, the state, and indeed most parts of the country, have witnessed torrential rainfall which is quite unprecedented. We have witnessed our most prime estates flooded with water, we have seen our roads taken over by floods, and we have painfully watched how many homesteads have literally become pools.

    “These indeed are trying times for any government, especially our own administration which has determinedly pursued massive infrastructural development to improve standards of living of our citizenry,” the governor said.”

    Ambode said the canals and drains must be reviewed to re-envision the water management system.

    “So, in effect, what we should immediately pursue is a holistic solution to what is certain to be a recurring problem. It must be a sincere collaboration between government and the citizenry,” he said.

    Ambode said flooding was not peculiar to Nigeria, nor he Third World, noting that the United Kingdom was heavily flooded this year.

    “Japan, a country that is equally technologically savvy has also not been spared heavy flooding this year. No matter how well a society may be prepared, we can never rule out the element of the natural or if you like, the supernatural. This is why Lagos State, and indeed Nigeria fully subscribes to the tenets of Climate Change Solutions by the United Nations.

    “While all the aforementioned examples enjoin us to put our experience and pains into perspective, they also impress on us as a state and a government that we must learn from all these examples in order to better prepare for the future.

     

  • Onu: Lagos APC should unite to win council polls

    Onu: Lagos APC should unite to win council polls

    All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Prince Nwaeze Onu urges the members of the Lagos State chapter to put the primaries behind and unite to win the local government elections.

    On May 27 and 29, 2017 the Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi-led Local Government Election Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) organised primaries for chairmanship and councillorship aspirants for the local government elections to be held on July 22 across the state. After the primaries, there were drama, protests and even violence. Nothing less was expected from the primaries of a party in government in the state and at the centre and whose leaders have, since the return of democratic rule in 1999, been calling the shots in the politics of Lagos state.

    The APC and its progenitor parties have, in fact, never lost any election in Lagos state. It was therefore not surprising that the party had, in some cases, as much as thirty persons vying to fly the party’s flag in the polls to elect the chairman of a single local council. Even after giving automatic tickets to some18 immediate past chairmen, no fewer than 200 party members contested for the chairmanship tickets of the remaining 39 local councils.

    While the APC expressly forbids imposition of candidates, it nevertheless recognises and validates consensus candidacy provided their emergence does not lead to division and bitternes. The concluded primaries did leave a lot of bitterness in its wake although a lot of reconciliation has taken place already.In focus here, is the god-like stature of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chief Henry Ajomale. Love or hate him, the lion of Bourdillion has played and continues to play a pivotal role in the democratic and political development of Lagos state, the SouthþÿWest and indeed Nigeria. Despite initial hold – outs by some self-acclaimed Awoists, the Asiwaju has successfully wrestled the mantle of leadership of the South-West as vacated by the revered late chief Obafemi Awolowo. His rise from a National Democratic Coalition, NADECO activist to the founder and leader of Alliance for Democracy, AD, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and now the All Progressives Congress APC has marked him out as a consumate politician, astute organiser, bridge builder and leader. In the course of his rise, Tinubu has identified, trained and positioned a lot of other regional and national leaders who are not only following his footsteps but are capable of stepping up the leadership ladder whenever called upon to do so.

    Ajomale is indisputably a long standing associate of Bola Tinubu. Since they got together in 1990, like siamese twins, they have remained inseperable in the progressives camp. This speaks volumes in an environment where politicians lack vision and convinction and generally prostitute themselves from the left to the right and centre of the political spectrum at the drop of a hat. Bucking the trend, Tinubu and Ajomale have been in the trenches together from the days of Alliance for Democracy (AD) through Action Congress (AC) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to the present day All Progressives Congress (APC). Between 1999 and 2003, Ajomale served under Governor Bola Tinubu as special adviser and commissioner in Lagos State.

    He was the Lagos state chairman of the Action Congress (AC) and later Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) from 2003 up till the merger that gave birth to the APC and still continues as the APC chairman today. It is trite to say that the understanding and trust between Ajomale and Tinubu is legendary. Working together, they have made Lagos state a fortress of progressive ideals and governance that not even the president Obasanjo – led PDP onslaught of 2011 could overcome. Ajomale has become an institution with a lot of clout in Lagos state and beyond. So much is to be said and admired about his steadfastness and loyalty to the cause. Considering the volatile and merchantilist nature of Nigerian politics and politicians, only one guided by principles can stay true to a cause for so long. Lawyer and administrator, Ajomale has led his party to victory in four general elections into the local governments, state House of Assembly and governorship. Surely, the story of progressive politics and the emergence and victory of the APC can never be told without the names of Tinubu and Ajomale taking centre stage. Boasting such track record of success, it is foolhardy to think that their alleged actions in respect of the Lagos APC primaries was actuated by anything other than the general interest of the party and the people of Lagos state. Having come out tops in four previous elections as chairman, Lagosians must trust Ajomale to deliver once again. Consensus candidacy was much loved and promoted by the late sage, chief Obafemi Awolowo in the days of the Unity Party of Nigeria.

    If Ajomale and the Asiwaju had endorsed the consensus candidates, it goes without saying that they must have considered all variables before coming up with what they considered to be in the best interest of the party. The duo has produced political stars that have performed beyond people’s expectations. Babatunde Raji Fashola, Rauf Aregbesola, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, Babatunde Fowler, Ben Akabueze, Lai Mohammed and Akinwunmi Ambode are just a few of such stars who owe their political ascendancy to the mentorship of Tinubu and by extension, Henry Ajomale.

  • Lagos honoured for Hajj operations

    Lagos honoured for Hajj operations

    Lagos State Government has received seven awards from the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) for its outstanding performance during last yesr’s Hajj.

    NAHCON Southwest Commissioner Alhaji Fuad Adeyemi presented the award to Deputy Governor Dr Idiat Adebule, who stood in for Governor Akinwumi Ambode at the State House, Ikeja, at the weekend.

    The state, Adeyemi said, covered the needs of its pilgrim.

    The state’s welfare packages, he noted, included, accommodation, feeding, coordination, education and enlightenment programmes, urging other states to learn from Lagos to improve their operations.

    He said: “‘If a Christian governor can support another religious body like this, then he must be honoured and appreciated so that he can do more. ‘In 2016, when we went for Hajj in Saudi Arabia, at Arafat, Lagos stood out in terms of their e-tracking device, coordination of pilgrims airlift, feeding, pilgrims’ education.

    ‘’Whenever any Nigerian misses his or her way, the Lagos tent was usually the first port of call to trace such person. Governor Ambode should be commended for making us proud in Saudi Arabia, ‘’ he said.

    Adebule thanked NAHCON for honouring Lagos, pledging that the award would ginger the state to do more.

    ‘’For us as a government, we are committed in making life comfortable for the people of Lagos State and we will not relent in our efforts. I am pledging that the best support will be provided to our people in the next Hajj,’’ she said.

    Commissioner for Home Affairs AbdulHakeemDr AbdulLateef, hailed Governor Ambode for making Lagos home for all religious bodies.

    According to him, the governor’s inclusive policy has brought development to every part of the state.

  • Massive flood in Lagos, govt urges residents to stay indoors

    Massive flood in Lagos, govt urges residents to stay indoors

    Following the flooding of many parts of the state on Saturday after rainfall that lasted for hours, the state government has called on residents to observe extreme caution on the roads.

    Lagos Island, Ikoyi, Lekki and Ajah areas were worst hit as many streets and houses were submerged in the flood.

    While assuring the general public of the heavy deployment of environmental sanitation officers and emergency rescue teams, especially in flood-prone areas of the State, the government urged residents to stay indoors, either at home or in their places of work, whenever there is heavy downpour, except when the need to commute becomes necessary.

    Warning that heavy downpour is expected for a few more weeks, the government solicits the support of citizens to desist from dumping refuse in the canals and gutters and observe safe and hygienic conducts at all times in order to reduce the effect of temporary flooding being recorded in some areas.

    The government also urged residents to make use of emergency numbers in case of dire situations.

    An unprecedented flood took over the entire Ahmadu Bello way in Victoria Island, forcing some residents and commercial offices to  unceremoniously vacate their premises.

    The Lagos State Police Command has temporarily closed the road for human and vehicular movements due to threat by heavy flood.

    The  News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ahmadu Bello Way in Victoria Island, Lagos has been flooded due to continuous down pour experienced in the state since three days ago.

    The command’s spokesman, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, told NAN that the second link-road to the Island coming from Lagos mainland was unsafe for  motorists.

    Famous-Cole said that the down pour in the state has caused flood making other roads on the Island unsafe.

    He said that the flood has caused traffic gridlock in parts of Victoria Island and its environs and advised motorist plying Ahmadu Bello Way and other areas prone to flood to take alternative routes approved by traffic officials.

    “The flood in the area has caused us to temporarily block Ahmadu Bello Way for safety of motorists.

    “We want the public to know that the relevant traffic and security agencies are on ground to flush out the drains and secure road users in the state,’’ Famous-Cole said.

    Mr Mahmud Hassan, the Public Affairs Officer, Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA), told NAN that their men have been on ground since morning ensuring that road users use alternative routes provided.

    He said that the flood has caused hardship to road users and people living in the area.

    Mr Tosin Olalere, who resides at Abraham Adesanya Estate near Victoria Island, told NAN that he has been in his house since Wednesday due to the continuous rain.

    “There has been no vehicular movements since Wednesday July 5, till now.

    “People in my community have resulted to trekking or using canoe to move about.

    “Some people have even started moving out of the community because of the flood which destroyed their properties,’’ Olalere said.

    Similarly, some soldiers, who are residing in the Bonny Cantonment, told NAN that a significant number of residents have been forced to vacate their homes.

    Some passengers in a commercial bus from mainland to Island in Lagos also complained of outrageous amount they paid to get to Victoria Island due to the flood on Ahmadu Bello Way.

    A student, who declined to give her name, said she spent over four hours in traffic from Oshodi to Ajah because of the flood.

    She said she and other passengers paid N1000 from Oshodi to Ajah instead of the  N400 being paid on a regular day.

    “People were even rushing to board the bus despite the crazy increase in the fare,’’ she said.

    Another passenger who simply gave her name as Obianuju, said she tried to avoid paying N1000 to Ajah from Oshodi, however boarded a bus to Obalende for N250 from Oshodi only to find out that the fare from Obalende to Ajah had also skyrocketed.

    Obianuju said: “I paid N250 from Oshodi to Obalande in order not to pay N1000, only to get there and the drivers were charging N700 from Obalande to Ajah. It was really annoying.’’ (NAN)

  • LAGOS JAZZ SERIES QUINTET TO PERFORM AT CAPE VERDE JAZZSAL

    LAGOS Jazz Series Quintet on Thursday jetted to Sal, Cape Verde to perform at this year’s Cape Verde JazzSal, which opens on Saturday, July 8, 2017. Sal is one of the ten Islands that make up Cape Verde.

    The trip to JazzSal, ignites a musical exchange programme between the two festivals. This is the first-time musicians from Nigeria are going to Cape Verde to perform on the main stage at JazzSal.

    The Lagos Jazz Series, which is the music festival founded by Oti Bazunu in 2010, has evolved to become one of Africa’s most anticipated music calendar festivals.

    A few years ago, Bazunu recruited music graduates from the Music Society of Nigeria (Muson Centre), honed their skills and today they are heading out of the country as a group, which will represent Nigeria credibly in Cape Verde.

    Speaking on the invitation of the Nigerian Jazz group, Bazunu said: “The Cape Verdians seem to have huge respect for the musical skills of the boys – as we do for the small Island country folks. We are totally honored to have been billed for their main Stage at JazzSal.”

    According to Bazunu, the LJS Quintet – featuring Opeyemi Omotayo on the Piano, Johnson Eyo on Bass, Tosin Paul on Drums, Taiwo Clegg on trumpet and Philip Iwuagwu on Guitar, are totally prepared to pelt-out some straight-ahead jazz and Afrobeat.

  • Megacity: Unionists urge Lagos to accommodate slum dwellers

    Trade unionists, activist, diplomats, academics and other stakeholders, have called on Lagos State Government to find alternative accommodation and means of livelihood to victims of demolished  slums, shanties, road side stores. Many residents, whose houses were demolished got dislocated in the state’s drive towards mega city project.

    At a debate organised by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in commemoration of its 40th Anniversary in Nigeria, which  focused on “The poor must live – Demolitions of markets and workplaces in Lagos”, some of the panelists submited that people’s welfare should always be paramount in all programmes and policy formulations to check the high rate of unemployment, crime and restiveness.

    The debate also focused on how to ensure that in turning the Lagos to a megacity, the informal sector is not harmed, but given a level of protection.

    A legal practitioner, Adeola Samuel-Ilori advocated that the informal sector should be aware and exercise their rights so as not to be taken for granted by the government.

    “The problem is that many people dont know their rights and the politicians take advantage of their ignorance to subject them to all sorts of maltreatments,”he said.

    German’s Consular-General in Nigeria, Ingo Herber, who was the special guest of honour at the event, hinted that the consulate and the Lagos State will be partnering towards improving people’s welfare in the informal sector.

    Resident eepresentative, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Ulrich Thum, advised those in attendance to always use their power as tax payers to demand for their rights from the state.

  • Why courts haven’t stopped parade of suspects, by judge

    Why courts haven’t stopped parade of suspects, by judge

    The presiding judge of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, Justice Mohammed Garba has absolved the judiciary of blame in the parade of suspects by prosecutorial agencies.
    Justice Garba said a court could not make a pronouncement on the legality or otherwise of media trials generally, if the matter was not brought before it.
    He spoke on ‘Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015: Innovations, challenges and the way forward’ at the annual Seminar/Workshop of the National Association of Judicial Correspondents which held in Lagos on Thursday.
    Co-guest speaker and Managing Editor Online and Special Publications, The Nation Newspapers, Lekan Otunfodunrin, discussed ‘Journalism in the 21st century: Opportunities and challenges.’
    The event was chaired by Professor of Law Egerton Uvieghara, who was represented by Prof Joseph Abugu, while Chief Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN) was guest of honour.
    Garba, who was represented by Appeal Court judge, Justice Ugochukwu Ogakwu, noted that media trial is now widespread among prosecuting agencies.
    He said: “Sadly, most of the agencies we have now who have both investigative and prosecutorial powers, like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in particular, engage so much in media trial.
    “But, if they don’t blow their trumpet, nobody will blow it for them and it’s only when they blow their trumpet as to what they are doing that we’ll know that they are actually working.
    “What can the judiciary do? The judiciary only works on what is brought before it. Unless there is a case that has been brought for judicial pronouncement, the judiciary will not make any pronouncement on whether it is wrong or not.
    “So, the judiciary is not self-activating, the jurisdiction of a court is only invoked when such a matter comes for judicial pronouncement and untill such matter comes, the judiciary cannot do anything.”
    Garba described the ACJA 2015 as commendable, adding that it contained at least 27 innovative provisions that could revolutionise justice administration.
    The judge lamented that Nigeria appears to have the highest number of confessional statements used as basis of findings during police investigation.
    He urged the police to do more investigation rather than waiting for a confessional statements to unravel a crime.
    Otunfodunrin reminded journalists of the constantly changing nature of their profession.
    He urged them to keep up with technological innovations to improve their skills or risk losing their livelihoods to new media practitioners.
    Otufodunrin said: “New media has disrupted the traditional journalism which most of us were trained in and have been practicing for years, there is the need to be alert to new developments in our profession to avoid becoming a relic.
    “Not only has new technology demystified our age-long claim to being Gate Keepers and turned us into purveyors of stale information, the economic recession is gradually strangulating our operations.
    “In the sense that there are massive layoffs and poor or non-payment of salaries, sales of newspapers and advertising are also low with what most media houses generate not being enough to meet many other obligations apart from salaries.
    “Instead of living in denial about our precarious circumstance or dismissing the threat of the new media, it is important that journalists get themselves well acquainted with the new trend with technology.
    “There is an urgent need by all to take our destiny in our hands, especially for those of us who don’t know any other thing to do than journalism.”

  • Baale of Magodo abducted

    The Baale of Shangisha in Magodo, Lagos Mainland, Chief Mutiu Ogundare was on Wednesday abducted by three men along Center for Management Development (CMD) Road, Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
    Ogundare was said to have received a telephone from supposed developers, who had indicated interest in a landed property within his domain.
    The callers were said to have told the Baale where to meet them, prompting Ogundare to drive to the address with one of his brothers.
    On arriving the location, the three men, it was gathered, appealed to the Baale and his brother to join them in their White Toyota Venza vehicle so that they could go check out the land.
    But on their way, it was gathered that the Baale’s brother noticed that one of the men had a gun on him and he raised alarm.
    It was learnt that the suspected kidnappers pushed him out of the vehicle and sped off with the Baale.
    Ogundare’s brother, it was gathered, went to the police station and reported the kidnap.
    Contacted, the command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) said it was not a kidnap.
    He said there has been protracted dispute between Ogundare, one Shittu Lawal and another person.
    According to Famous-Cole, it was a case of rivalry between two Baales, adding that investigation had commenced.
    He said: “The White Venza had no registration number. They drove to CMD Guest House to meet the people who called that they wanted to check a land. It was there that they joined the suspect’s vehicle on appeal so that they could take them to the land. I cannot say if the Baale has regained freedom unless I receive additional information from the men in the field.”

  • Surmounting Lagos’ environmental challenges

    The environment agency of the Lagos State government has in recent time been experiencing monumental reformation. From the passage of the Lagos Environmental Law 2017, to the recent employment of new environmental officers, the change in the nomenclature of the popular Kick Against Indiscipline, (KAI) to Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps Agency (LASESCORPS) among several other innovations is certainly commendable and worthy of note. With these reforms going on simultaneously, the state government is further demonstrating its renewed commitment to rid the state of all forms of environmental nuisances.

    Environmental sustainability, being the seventh of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), has several areas of focus, which include sustainable development, environmental protection from natural occurrences like greenhouse warming, ozone depletion, soil erosion, chemical management, acidic rain and water pollution, among other things. Generally, the ultimate purpose of this goal is to improve the lives of the citizenry, so much so that activities of urban settlers will not impact negatively on the life of the rural dwellers and vice versa.

    Before now, several commendable efforts have been made to combat environmental challenges and attain a cleaner and sustainable environmental standard by successive visionary administrations in the state. Parts of these initiatives informed the establishment of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA, in addition to some already existing agencies under the Ministry for the Environment. Of note was the establishment of the Kick Against Indiscipline Brigade (KAI) in 2003 as a division of the Ministry of the Environment, to effectively police and maintain cleanliness in the Lagos environment as well as ensure that there are no illegal trading activities on major roads and highways within the metropolis.

    The establishment of KAI then and reformation of the brigade by the present administration to include some additional responsibilities show a more pragmatic approach to combat all environmental-related issues. KAI has as parts of its establishing mandate to curb street trading and hawking within the metropolis; prevent indiscriminate dumping of refuse in unauthorised places; prevent erection of illegal structure and shanties on drainages, roads, setbacks, lay-bys and medians.

    In addition to the above, KAI was also established to curb vegetal nuisance and overgrown weeds around the state; enforce the use of pedestrian bridges and curb illegal parking and vehicle abandonment for effective free flow of traffic. This is because the state government realised the long-term effects of these misdemeanours and their ripple effects on the collective good of its residents, as well as attendant threat to the environment.

    This effort by KAI Brigade is also being complimented by Central Business District, CBD officers, whose operations are restricted to the Central Business District of the Lagos Island.

    A remarkable feat by the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode in the environment sector was the signing of the new environmental law, early this year. The law, which is the first of its kind in the history of the state, also consolidates and harmonises the various laws relating to the environment into a single law to allow for a more convenient administration and management of the environment.

    One of the provisions of the New Environment Management and Protection Law is the change in the nomenclature of the Kick Against Indiscipline Brigade (KAI) to Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps Agency (LASESCORPS) with assigned power to spearhead enforcement of the new law, thereby expanding the composition and scope of operation of LASESCORPS officials. Besides creating 27, 500 new jobs, the policy will fast track the process of transforming the Lagos metropolis into a cleaner megacity by tackling air and water pollution.

    The fact that Lagos is surrounded by water bodies, which makes it susceptible to some natural environmental challenges, makes the law even more imperative. So, from another perspective, the law will also insulate residents against preventable diseases and halt further deterioration of the environment, thus paving the way for thriving socio-economic activities.

    Just as the introduction of Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA changed the face of waste management in the state in years past, the new Lagos State Environment Management and Protection Law, which provides for a smarter waste collection method, will usher in a cleaner, healthier and smarter Lagos.

    As part of the provisions of the Lagos State Harmonised Environmental Law, 2017 also, and in furtherance of the state’s spirited effort to make Lagos State cleaner, healthier and more liveable, a special task force for the removal of abandoned and disused vehicles and tricycles littering the state has been set up by the state government.

    Similarly, the state government has appointed vehicular scrap collection agent, in line with Section 56 sub-section (1) of the Lagos State Harmonised Environmental Law, 2017, whose activity commences this month.

    The Environment Task Force will paste a sticker with a Removal Notice on identified abandoned vehicles with a seven-day period for self-removal by owners of the vehicle. Upon expiration of the grace period, identified abandoned vehicles will be removed by the task force to a designated depot within the state and where such vehicles are unclaimed within 30 days, the vehicles will be forfeited to the government and undergo proper disposal accordingly.

    With the new Lagos environmental law, the rigorous beautification and green Lagos projects and various regeneration efforts and the support and cooperation of every resident of the state, the state hopes to reverse the loss of environmental resources and sustain an even environmental development.

    Street trading and hawking indeed remains great environmental eyesore to the Lagos State government and does not fit into its Smart City vision. Citizens should therefore realise that, as a people, we cannot continue to sacrifice proper and environmental friendly possibilities on the altar of making ends meet. We must also be conscious at all time of the fact that having a sustainable environment free of all forms of nuisances is achievable in Lagos if all hands are on deck.

     

    • Alabi (Mrs) is of Ministry of Environment, Lagos State.

     

  • Lagos empowers 12,000 students

    The Season 2 of the Ready Set Work (RSW) initiative kicked off last Saturday at the Lagos State University (LASU).

    The 13-week programme, which will run from July to September 23,  will empower 2,000 final year students from six institutions in the state.

    In addition, 10,000 other students in their penultimate year will undergo online training in preparation for the Season 3 of the RSW next year.

    Speaking at the opening, the Special Adviser to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Education, Mr Obafela Bank-Olemoh, explained that the programme is the state’s entrepreneurship and employability programme for final year students to help bridge the gap between the town and the gown.

    He said: “The 12,000 students will be trained on critical thinking, life skills, soft skills, employability skills and entrepreneurship. At the end of the programme, the best students will get internship placement across the country.

    “Last year, we placed 200 students. This year we will be placing 750 students.  2,000 are participating directly while 10,000 students in their penultimate class are participating online. The 2,000 students are being trained at three centres – LASU, the University of Lagos and the Lagos State Polytechnic.”

    He continued: “We started this last year in response to complaints about the quality of our graduates.  As a result, the governor gave us a clear directive to come up with an initiative to solve our problem. For us in Lagos it is critical we do this. Lagos is the fifth largest economy in Africa. We have to ensure that we are producing graduates that can help us continue to drive this economy. We are building their employability skills and entrepreneurial skills”.

    One of the facilitators, Mrs Bunmi Agozu who trained the students on ‘self-understanding, said the classroom and certificates were insufficient to have a successful life.

    One of the beneficiaries, Desmond Eze, lamented the high level of unemployment in the country and thanked the state government intervention to reduce it.

    Another student, Fatima Idowu, who aspires to be a career woman, noted that one major area she has benefitted from the programme is self-discipline.  She also thanked the government for its commitment to youth empowerment.