The Nation Newspaper

Tag: President Mohammadu Buhari

  • Go, become Bill Gates, Dangotes of your generation, -El-Rufai

    Go, become Bill Gates, Dangotes of your generation, -El-Rufai

    Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai has tasked 779 entrepreneurship trainees to become the next world richest men, like Bill Gates and Aliko Dangote with the business knowledge and skills they have acquired. 

    Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the first intake of the Kaduna Start-up Entrepreneurship Programme (KADSTEP) and induction of the second batch of trainees, El-Rufai said, his administration has targeted to train 5,000 entrepreneurs in the next three years.

    It would be recalled that, Kaduna State Government conceived KADSTEP to empower aspiring entrepreneurs to be able to access the various intervention funds that are available to support micro and small businesses.

    The Governor told both graduating and induction trainees that, the present government sees the youths as the future, and treats them with seriousness they deserve.

    His words: “Those of you graduating today therefore constitute a vanguard that has been empowered to make a difference. You have not been given handouts, but your government has provided you the knowledge capacity to thrive in challenging times. We trust that you will make the most of it. Some of you may falter before becoming the next Bill Gates and Aliko Dangotes of this world. But you have been given the tools to try”

    “To the incoming intakes, I welcome you to KADSTEP. Make the most of the opportunity to immerse yourself in business knowledge, sharpen your skills and be ready to fly as soon as you graduate. The first set had 279 trainees. The second set that we are inducting today has 500 trainees. We are taking an incremental approach to reaching our target of training 5000 entrepreneurs. This is an investment in the future, and we are proud to do our duty to make this investment”

    El-Rufai said, “Permit me to begin by saying emphatic congratulations to the first intake of the Kaduna State Entrepreneurship Programme (KADSTEP) who are graduating today. These 279 young persons took the opportunity presented to them to acquire sound business grounding that can propel their evident passion to set up their own enterprises, add  value and create jobs. They can be proud of themselves as the first graduates of a programme designed to help them think of their proposed businesses in a way that a potential investor can consider bankable”

    He added that, “In applying for KADSTEP, our graduates demonstrated that they were not wedded to any sense of entitlement, but were ready to grab opportunities that could build their capacity to conceive strong and realistic business ideas. These first intake have amply demonstrated that the youths of our country are ready to face challenges, and that they can embrace initiatives designed to help them succeed”

    Having undergone three months of business training, we look forward to hearing success stories from a lot of you” The governor said.

    Our government noticed that the N1b intervention fund we had with the BOI was not been disbursed because the bank did not consider most of the applications it received as viable. On our part, we did not want any potential entrepreneur to treat or consider these funds as unaccountable patronage, or as free funds to feed an unsustainable entitlement mentality. We decided that it was best to create a platform for the willing youth to acquire the necessary business skills. And we were lucky to find willing partners in the Kaduna Business School KBS and the Bank of Industry,BOI”

    “I wish each of today’s KADSTEP graduates success,  not only in securing funding, but in building successful and sustainable businesses. And I welcome the next batch of 500 trainees into the programme. Your government sees you as the future, and treats youth with the seriousness they deserve. Some other people cynically treat young people as easy fodder, to be fed paltry patronage and deluded into the belief that their future is dependent on the benevolence of thieving patrons”

    The Governor maintained that, “This government believes that the future of this country is hardworking, discerning youth who have trained their minds and hearts, and whose trust in honest endeavour is anchored on values that link effort to reward.” He stressed.

    On her part, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar, who spoke at the graduation and induction of the trainees said with the new policy direction of the change administration of President Mohammadu Buhari: “we have no option than embracing economic diversification for a sustainable prosperous future that was hitherto impeded by our undue fixation to the oil sector”.

     

  • We’ve verified assets of Buhari, Osinbajo, others – CCB

    We’ve verified assets of Buhari, Osinbajo, others – CCB

    The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) said Wednesday that it has completed the verification of assets declared by President Mohammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President, Bukola Saraki and others top officials of the current administration.

    The agency said, in a statement Wednesday that it was not true, as reported by a newspaper, that it was yet to conclude the verification of assets declared by Buhari, Osinbajo, Saraki and others.

    CCB’s Head, Press and Protocol Unit, Mohammad Idris said, in the statement, that more than ever before, the rate of compliance to assets declaration requirement by public officers has increased since the inception of this administration.

    “The said publication is another trick to misinform the public so as to undermine the on-going trials of cases of false declaration of assets before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    “Since the inception of the present administration under President Muhammadu Buhari, the rate of compliance by public officials in responding to assets declaration has greatly increased.

    “The Bureau will like to use this medium to appeal to those who are yet to declare their Assets to visit the Asokoro Head office of No 23, Halle Salasi Street Asokoro, Abuja to collect, fill and submit same to the office,” Idris said.

     

  • Infrastructure: Ex-minister commends Buhari

    Infrastructure: Ex-minister commends Buhari

    A former Minister of Lands, Housing and Rural Development, Chief Nduese Essien, on Monday commended President Mohammadu Buhari for signing the infrastructural partnership with China.

     

    Essien, who made the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Eket, Akwa Ibom, described Buhari’s recent trip to China as a huge success.

     

    He said the trip was very timely, considering its significance to Nigeria, especially as regards the proposedEket, Akwa Ibom.

     

    “Though the project was initiated by former President (Goodluck) Jonathan, its inclusion in the 2016 appropriation bill is a mark of patriotism and good intentions for the people of the South-South.

     

    “It would have been disastrous if the Lagos-Calabar rail project was expunged from the 2016 proposed budget– the President having secured a bilateral economic agreement with China on rail projects in Nigeria,’’ he said.

     

    Essien, a two-term member of the National Assembly, also commended the South-South legislators at the National Assembly for their positive stance on the Lagos-Calabar Rail Project.

     

    He, however, called on members of the 8th National Assembly not to play politics with the Lagos-Calabar Rail Project, saying the overall developmental interest of the country was paramount.

     

    “National interest must come first before partisan affiliation. We must endeavour to collectively join hands in moving this country forward, irrespective of our political differences,’’ he said.

  • FG will prioritise agriculture – Buhari

    FG will prioritise agriculture – Buhari

    President Mohammadu Buhari has reiterated the determination of his administration to prioritize agriculture.

    Buhari, while declaring open the 8th Bola Tinubu colloquium held at the International Conference Center (ICC) said the cooperation of all Nigerians would however be required to make agriculture the country’s economic mainstay considering the shrinking crude oil price.

    He said that his administration would prioritize agriculture to ensure that the country is sufficient in the production of rice, wheat among other crops, “We must produce what we eat, ” the President said.

    To achieve that, he said investors would be encouraged towards speeding up agricultural production.

    He also assured that his government will not renege on the school meal programme, adding that school children should not be made to search for food when they are supposed to be in school learning.

    In his presentation, the governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Bagudu noted that government interventions have not been able to address challenges facing agriculture in the country.

    He said of over three million hectares of farmland, less than five percent had been used.

    He urged the Federal government to encourage the production of wheat while adding that the country can still do better with its current insufficient rice production.

    Dr Eleni Garbre Madhin of Tanzanian spoke on what Nigeria can do to develop it’s commodity exchange market.

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi said less is always been done despite promises by the leaders.

    The monarch enjoined leader to live by example by promoting the nation through the promotion  Small and Medium Enterprises

     

  • Love in the time of Vuvuzela

    It has been a colourful presidential inauguration pageant in Abuja. Nigerians are over the moon. It is a honeymoon that seems designed to last for a long time. For now, President Mohammadu Buhari can do no wrong. Journeys seem to end in lovers’ meeting, as their own WS has put it. Even old foes like the aging Creek contrarian, Edwin Clark, have chipped a word or two of endorsement in remorse and contrition. This is as it should be. The whistles of approval are blowing all over the place like a million primitive horns. It is love in the time of vuvuzela.

    Snooper finds the presidential address plucky and inspirational but choppy and unduly chirpy in parts. It doesn’t matter. Nigerians love the bit about Buhari not belonging to anybody. For too long, Nigeria has been held hostage by a heartless power consortium and their designated dingoes. Whether they will let him be without Buhari dropping some iron bricks on their back remains to be seen.

    Like a veteran war correspondent, Okon has been embedded in Abuja all week. But of all the issues that should catch the mad boy’s fancy, it was the appearance of King Mswati the third, the hypergamous, energetic and punitively heterosexual ruler of Swaziland and Africa’s last absolute monarch, swankily attired and looking sharp and snazzy in bespoke suit. As soon as Okon sighted the preeminent playboy of the southern hemisphere, he let forth a hoot of panic and admiration in parts.

    “Bia, I been dey hope say no be you capture dem Cecelia girl I ben dey look for?” Okon hollered as he accosted the suave monarch who smiled back in regal bemusement. A security official quickly moved in with a stern frown.

    “What’s the matter” the rookie growled as he collared the crazy boy.

    “I wan ask weda na him steal dem Cecelia girl, Dem say he get him own Sambisa forest for him Obodo”, Okon whimpered.

    “Get lost”, the security man screamed as he pushed the mad boy away.