The Nation Newspaper

Tag: rural areas

  • NIGCOMSAT to drive internet connectivity in rural areas

    NIGCOMSAT to drive internet connectivity in rural areas

    Nigerian Communication Satellite Ltd (NIGCOMSAT) Executive Director, Engineering Services, Mr Raji Kolawole yesterday said the agency would collaborate with the private sector to drive internet connectivity in rural areas.

    Kolawale told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that “Nigeria Communication Satellite 1R’’, the satellite communication network owned by NIGCOMSAT, was ready to provide services to un-served and underserved areas in Nigeria.

    “The population of Nigeria of over 180 million people, about 70 per cent of Nigerians live in the rural areas and should have access to communication network.

    “NIGCOMSAT is ready to drive along with other private sector operators to have abundant services and internet connectivity across Nigerian system.

    “The initiatives and the ideas we have can be built into the system and deployed to the rural areas so that Nigerians can benefit,’’ he said.

    According to him, ICT is a major enabler in a knowledge-based economy which can be used in the area of youth empowerment.

    “The only way to empower our youths in Nigeria is through ICT and this can be obtained through the terrestrial network or satellite communication network,’’ he said.

    Kolawole commended Federal Government’s “Content Initiative’’ in satellite communication sub-sector, adding that it was the only way to move the country forward.

     

  • ITF to take training to IDPs, rural areas

    ITF to take training to IDPs, rural areas

    Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) accross the country will benefit from the vocational and technical training development programmes organised by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).

    The Acting Director-General of the Fund, Dicson Onuoha, said the vocational and technical skills trainings for IDPs, which is in line with the Federal Government’s desire for the rehabilitation, reintegration and empowerment of internally displaced persons, is being done in order to properly reintegrate those affected by insurgency and militancy into the society, thereby creating opportunities for economic growth, empowerment, industrialisation and self reliance.

    Onuoha told The Nation that the Fund will also utilise it’s recently acquired mobile training units/ trucks to advance training and empowerment programmes for IDPS in parts of the country where they are located, saying the training which is in various skills development and trade areas, will be provided in order for a greater number of the people to be empowered.

    He said skills will be provided in various trade areas that can stimulate and drive economic growth, including welding, fabrication and information and communication technology, amongst others, pointing out that women and youths will specifically be targeted for the skills acquisition programme so as to achieve maximum impact.

    The ITF helmsman said skills acquisition and development forms an integral part of economic growth, job creation and industrialisation, adding that it is the belief of the Fund that the training opportunity will spur the needed development and economic empowerment yearned for by the people.

    He described this move by ITF, as being part of the Federal Government’s gesture towards achieving its job creation objectives and youth empowerment initiatives, stating that the agency will partner with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the government’s objectives of job creation and youth empowerment are achieved.

    Onuoha  recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari has already directed that all internally displaced persons be returned to their states,  saying  ITF will work towards ensuring that the President’s directive succeeds, by providing the needed survival skills for the returnees through technical and vocational trainings.

  • Foundation to FG: Prioritise vocational education in rural areas

    A Kogi State-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), Dove Love Foundation, has called on the Federal Government to emphasis on vocational education and skill acquisition as part of school curriculum in the rural areas.

    The president of the NGO, Mrs. Agnes Achimugu made the call on Thursday, during the graduation ceremony of fresh vocational trainees sponsored by the foundation, at Oguma, headquarters of Bassa local government.

    She opined that adequate attention was not being paid to rural dwellers under the nation’s school curricular.

    She asserted that improvement in human development was imperative for the economic development of any nation, stressing that vocational training remains integral to national development in Nigeria.

    Her words: “The progress of this country lies in the productivity of its citizens and I venture to stress that vocational education holds the key. Unfortunately, previous governments at all levels did not accord this model a deserving attention.

    “Vocational education especially for rural women is highly recommended because on successful completion of such a programme, the graduand becomes not only employable, but she also becomes  an employer. Vocational education makes beneficiaries, especially the women, to develop self-confidence and become self-reliant”.

    The Aguma of Bassa, Chief William keke Jimba expressed gratitude to the foundation, saying it was the first time he witnessed such ‘developmental model’ coming from an NGO to Bassa kingdom.

    He noted that the group was there on 31 October, 2014 “when she paid school fees for 30 secondary school pupils and “pledged to train at least 10 vulnerable people in our area”.

    Some of the beneficiaries including Paulina Gwatana, Yin Dangagra, Ruth Job, Grace Mohammed, Mulikatu Gwatana, Muritala Sherifat, Shaibu Rahmat, Kashe Jimba, Gbaje Patience and Nefisat Suleiman, took turns to express appreciation for the opportunity, saying they will make good use of it.

    The foundation according to the promoters has trained over 200 rural women in various skill acquisition programmes, providing them with working equipments for self-reliance.

    Speaking on behalf of the parents and guardians, Mr. Rufai Mustapha commended the foundation for impacting positively on the people of the area, particularly those in the lower economic strata.

  • Buhari’s wife to states: build health centres in rural areas

    Buhari’s wife to states: build health centres in rural areas

    Wife of the President, Hajiya Aisha Muham-madu Buhari has urged the states to establish more primary health facilities in rural communities.

    This she said will help guarantee quick and easy access to health care facilities for people who live far from city centres.  The First Lady gave the advice when the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello led her and the wife of visiting German President, Danielle Schadt on a facility tour of the Primary HealthCare Centre in Dutse-Makaranta, a suburb of Abuja.

    Hajiya Buhari, who was represented at the occasion by the wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo, said that Nigeria is a family-focused country, stating that children and mothers are at the centre.

    She said, “I am proud to be a Nigerian seeing how fellow Nigerians are diligently working to provide care for the sick and less privileged; it gives me a lot of joy and hope. I wish this kind of Primary HealthCare Centre I have seen today in Dutse can be replicated throughout Nigeria”.

    Mrs. Buhari while commending the FCT Administration for establishing such a befitting healthcare centre for the rural dwellers, urged states to replicate such facilities in their various localities to improve the health standard of the people.

    Also speaking at the occasion, Mrs Schadt appreciated the programme,  saying that she has personal attachment to healthcare facilities particularly for children and women.

    According to a statement issued by the Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Sule, Mrs. Schadt said “it is possible to eradicate polio from the country.”

    She stressed, “The health of children and mothers [is imperative because they are] the future of any country.”

    She said primary healthcare is a basis for building up a strong society. She therefore encouraged the government to continue in this direction.

    Welcoming guests, Bello who was represented at the occasion by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye, said that the FCT Administration has done a lot for the health and well being of the children and mothers especially in its school feeding programme.

    The Minister announced that FCT Administration would soon commence drastic work on all Primary Healthcare Centres across the Territory; emphasising that healthcare provision remains the focus of this Administration.

    He further assured that the FCT Administration would do more to improve the quality of healthcare of children and mothers; noting that FCT has over 215 Primary Health Care facilities spread across the Territory.

    Bello used the occasion to call on the traditional rulers, community and religious leaders to continue to sensitise their wards to always come out en-masse and take advantage of the Primary HealthCare facilities provided by the FCT Administration in their localities.