The Nation Newspaper

Tag: restiveness

  • Nomadic education is panacea to herdsmen restiveness

    Nigeria can overcome the incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers as well as similar occurrences elsewhere, through government’s  commitment toproviding quality basic education for nomads, the National Commission for Nomadic Education (NCNE), has said.

    The Commission noted that given the right atmosphere to operate, it can live up to its mandate.

    Speaking in Sokoto, the Director Programme Development of the Commission, Alhaji Aliyu Ardo, said with commitment by the authorities, nomads could also be used as focal points for building peace and harmony aimed at developing Nigeria.

    Ardo made the remark at a courtesy call on the state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Jabbi Kilgori, shortly after a tour of schools under the commission.

    Ardo decried the level of dilapidation of existing structures in some of the schools the Commission established.

    He said: “There should be a balanced teaching staff with appropriate Lesson Plan to meet the secular and Arabic education of the children to encourage a participatory role.

    He said the essence of the tour was to critically view, assess and determine the level of progress or otherwise recorded since the establishment of the Commission some 28 years ago.

    “We want to get an analysis of the impact of those graduated over the years and how many have transited from basic to secondary and tertiary institutions.

    “If we identify them, we can strategically inspire their spirit by engaging them in their communities, particularly the girls,” he added.

    Ardo who led a team of five-member inspectors to Sokoto, lamented the enormous challenges within the system under which the schools are operating.

    “We visited some of the schools which include Dukuma and Toji, we were not impressed with the structures and sanitary, lack of water and other facilities including the teachers strength.

    “There were more girls than boys and a single building as classroom without furniture. In fact, we learnt that the school has only a single teacher since its establishment in 1992.

    “There should be routine monitoring and periodic supervision to check punctuality and state of facilities?” he urged.

    “It is sad that in a school established several years ago, only three were graduated and could not move further due to lack of basic support”, Ardo stated.

    Responding,Dr Kilgori explained that nomadic education has braced and inspired the learning spirit and culture of many nomads.

    “It has also encouraged the state government’s active participation in designing a sustainable plan for recruitment of teachers and proper restructuring of the system.

    According to him, enlightened nomads could be more instrumental in motivating others to key into modern endeavours which would further deplete the tendency of violence.

    “We are strategically working to develop all levels and forms of education in the state under the emergency declaration in full collaboration with SUBEB,” he added.

  • How to curb restiveness in the Niger Delta, by Boroh

    How to curb restiveness in the Niger Delta, by Boroh

    The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Co-ordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh, in this paper delivered participants of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), lays bare the poverty in the Niger Delta and the role the PAP has played in reducing it. Excerpts:

    The Niger Delta region has benefitted from Federal Government investment of over $40 Billion, over the last 10 years.  Through a variety of Federal and State Government interventions (schemes and programmes), skills acquisition has been a key tool of government to work towards reducing high levels of poverty in the region.

    The PAP has currently trained 13,571 delegates and with 712 delegates that are currently in-training in a variety of vocational skills. Also, the PAP has graduated 1,230 in various fields of education and currently has 3,057 students in various universities across the globe still studying.  These acquired skills and education have given a total of 18,570 delegates (in education and vocation both graduated and in-training/studying) the opportunities to access sustainable livelihood.  Delegates access to entrepreneurial activities that have earned them on the average, income higher than the minimum wage in Nigeria.  The Programme has therefore been a tool for poverty reduction in the region, given the level of socio-economic improvement of the delegates in terms of education, access to employment as well as access to empowerment in a variety of business areas.

    The results of the survey of 232 delegates have demonstrated the assumption that skills acquisition has a positive impact on poverty reduction.  However, other factors like income (monthly stipend, monthly salary, monthly personal drawings from profit) received by delegates, are also critical.    The acquired skills need to therefore lead to a form of income, through employment or self-employment. Actual poverty reduction also depends on the level of income secured in the employment of micro-business, as the 2016 ILO report on decent jobs highlights. (World, Employment Social Outlook 2016: Transforming Jobs to End Poverty”, International Labour Organization, 2016).

    Many of the surveyed delegates who were empowered with entrepreneurial skills and starter pack items to start-up businesses, have been able to grow their businesses with a good profit margin and these businesses may soon be able to create more jobs in the region thus, having multiplier effects on other households and families. Also, a significant percentage of the skilled, employed and empowered delegates are females and majority of the delegates are married and have dependents under them. This implies that the training, employment and empowerment have multiplier effects on the households and families of the delegates.   Also, a significant percentage of the surveyed delegates become car and house owners within the short period of training, employment and empowerment. Those who had been trained and empowered in business, clearly showed that they have benefitted the most from the PAP.

    The indicators and findings of the survey of the delegates therefore show that the PAP has the socio-economic potentials to continue to improve the wellbeing of the citizens in the region and in the country at large.     Nevertheless, a significant percentage of delegates are yet to be trained and many more still need to be employed or empowered.   This challenge has the potential to reduce the success level of the programme and the capacity of the programme in reducing poverty in the region, if not addressed.

     

    RECOMMENDATIONS

    The following recommendations are proffered to serve as policy interventions for the Federal Government’s Intervention in the Niger Delta:

    • There should be a review of the Niger Delta Regional Development Plan and a renewed cohesive and comprehensive approach should be adopted with regards to investment in the Niger Delta Region by the all stakeholders, including Government and private companies.
    • The various government agencies in the Niger Delta must be strengthened in a way and manner that they can effectively institute transformation in the region. Each of these levels of government agencies must continue to strive to contribute its own quota to the poverty reduction in the Region through training and skills acquisition and empowerment.
    • Skills acquisition interventions must be accompanied with fully-funded job creation and micro business entrepreneurship programmes at federal and state levels.
    • In line with the transparency of President Muhammadu Buhari Administration and to ensure peace in the region, all stakeholders within the Niger Delta region need to be continuously engaged and involved in the monitoring of implementation of these government interventions.
    • The Framework for PAP should be strengthened by increasing the capacity of the Programme to accommodate and give support to all delegates. This could be through private organisations and encourage public-private partnership to increase the scope of service delivery of the Programme and also to attract more funds and support for efficiency and effectiveness. This would enable the empowerment of more businesses that will further create job opportunities in the region.
    • Agencies charged with responsibility for the provision of infrastructure in the Niger Delta region, need a clear sense of direction and to be seen to deliver timely results, to enable the development of a more conducive business environment in the Region.
    • Environmental concerns in the Region should go beyond rhetoric. Action should be taken on zero tolerance for gas flaring, and such other factors which degrade the environment of the Niger Delta during oil exploitation. A multi-sectoral approach is required for cleaning of the region to solve the environmental problem and security problem. Public sector cooperation and synergy becomes imperative.
    • The political matrix upon which the regional economy can develop is very important. Therefore, it is necessary to nurture a transparent democratic process which respects the sovereign will of the people as expressed through their votes and consultative channels that allow unrestricted media attention, as well as the development of a political leadership that is accountable.
    • Skill acquisition packages for Niger Deltans promise a better future for both the local population and the companies if well managed. Upon the completion of their training and education in oil related skills, the companies should ensure that they are recruited and engaged in the oil industry by a quota system.
    • To sustain poverty reduction in the region, it is important that government continues to find a platform for round table discussions with the inhabitants of the Niger Delta as much as possible to reduce agitation in the region.
    • Collaboration among the security arrangements in the region comprising the Police, private and community-based security organisations is critical to lasting Peace in the region.
    • Finally, Government policies must be sustainable and modified only to suit the need of the populace particularly in the Niger Delta. Policies and programmes of the government must be time relevant and consistent with change in administration for positive results and lasting peace in Niger Delta region.
  • Youths urge Ambode to tackle restiveness

    Youths urge Ambode to tackle restiveness

    THE Coordinator of the Young Achievers Campaign Organisation of Nigeria (YACOON), Temitope Adewale, has urged the Lagos State Governor-elect, Akinwunmi Ambode, to tackle youth restiveness when he assumes office.

    Adewale said the youth voted for the governor-elect because of his pledge to tackle unemployment and social decadence in the society.

    The coordiantor added that youths were swayed by the campaign promises of the All Progressives Congress (APC ), adding that they voted for the party at all levels.

    Adewale said youths take to crime because of idleness and the lack of an enduring programme to keep them busy. He said they often succumb to the temptation of being used as political thugs during elections.

    He said some of the youths fronting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not do so on the conviction that the party would address their problems, but because of what they stood to benefit immediately.

    Adewale said: “Many of the youths that portrayed themselves as Jimi Agbaje’s fans did not have permanent voter’s cards (PVC), talk less of getting out to vote; all they know how to do is to use the social media, read and learn politics on Linda Ikeji’s blog.

    “On the other hand, the APC governorship candidate, now Governor-elect, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode had the most awkward fans, ranging from the artisans to the motor parks, Unions, students, professionals and all the way to the grassroots and this are the real electorates.

    “The youths of Lagos decided, they believe in  Ambode and with Ambode they stood for victory. But, as much as the victory is worth celebrating, it is also most important to state that the hope and the expectations of the electorate must be met.”

  • How to curb youths’ restiveness in Niger Delta, by council chair

    How to curb youths’ restiveness in Niger Delta, by council chair

    As leaders in the Niger Delta keep lamenting the harm youths’ restiveness has done to the region, a council chief has identified education as one of the key factors that will bring about the much-needed peace.

    The chairman of Okirika Local Government Area of Rivers State, Mr. Tamuno Williams made the observation in Port Harcourt during the lecture at the inauguration of the Rivers State chapter of Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP).

    He said government should design educational system that would enable the youth to acquire skills that would make them useful both to themselves and the society.

    Williams, who spoke on the theme, “Youth Restiveness in the Niger Delta: Challenges and the Way Forward,” also said that if government would make any effort to curb restiveness in the region, then they should design skilful educational system that would enable the youth to be useful to the society after they graduate.

    The council chief regretted that corruption and unemployment are some of the causes of youth restiveness in the society, even as he stressed that the Federal Government should ensure that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria addresses the needs of the people.

    He further stated that to fight against youth restiveness which has become somewhat a menace in the society; it demands genuine commitment from all Nigerians.

    In his address, the National President of SPSP, Dr Willie Eselebor said that Nigeria is seriously experiencing high rate of insecurity, which he attributed to the inability of various levels of government to adopt conventional approach to solving restiveness as a destabilising phenomenon.

    Eselebor also said that re-orientation of the people on the issue of violence would go a long way in proffering solution to the problem.

    “Violence is violence in any form or shape. Unless both victims and perpetrators are transformed, there will be no end to violence,” he stated.

    In his address, Professor Olawale Albert urged members of the newly inaugurated chapter of the organisation to promote the culture of peace through practice of peace, education and advocacy.

    He also advised them to collaborate and build relationship with identifiable key stakeholders in peace-building.

    Those inaugurated as members of the state executive were Senibo Godwin, chairman; Philip Kalio, 1st Vice-Chairman; Raleigh Joe, 2nd Vice-Chairman; Amagbor Johnson, Secertary; and Nemi Tamuno, Assistant Secretary.

    Others were Ebioboere Ake; Ruth Arijovwode; Vero Iboroma; Godwin Amadi and Charles Ikalama.