The Nation Newspaper

Tag: self-reliance

  • ‘We’re promoting self-reliance among youths’

    The Chairman of Ijede Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State, Comrade Salisu Jimoh Fatiu, has said his administration is promoting self-reliance among youths to boost economic activities in the area.

    The council chief spoke at the opening of the LCDA’s vocational training centre at Igbe.

    He noted that the development of human capital, especially among youths through skill acquisition and vocational training, is his priority to contribute to national growth.

    Fatiu said: “The vocational training centre’s services are targeted at promoting social change and reducing social vices, such as fraud, sexual violence and harassment, unemployment, illicit drug use, armed robbery, cultism, among others, through character-reforming programmes, discovering, mentoring and grooming participants’ talents and potentials of youths to make them useful to themselves and the nation.

    “This administration will take necessary actions to rapidly reposition the vocational training centre as an efficient trainer of skilled workers for building the council. We will endeavour to act swiftly in ensuring that the centre is fully revamped, staffed and equipped to produce more skilled artisans who will meet the current demands of the labour market.

    “This will be done through a fast-track intensive skilled acquisition programme, using a combination of classroom, indoor and outdoor practical and a programmed apprenticeship period.”

    Fatiu said the training programme is a life-transforming exercise that provides a platform for teeming youths to equip themselves with necessary skills for self-reliance.

    The council chief said this would help them to cater for themselves and their families.

    He added: “Youth development is a significant investment, which, if properly handled, will lead to gains in the present and in the future. It would engender tremendous productivity in the economy, generate increase in the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and significantly contribute to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).”

  • N100m boost for constituents’ self-reliance

    N100m boost for constituents’ self-reliance

    Senator Fatimat Olufunke Raji Rasaki has provided empowerment materials for members of her constituency in Ekiti Central Senatorial District. The gesture was in fulfilment of her electoral promises. The event was also a platform for presentation of her score card. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports. 

    About 600 people in Ekiti Central Senatorial District of Ekiti State had cause to smile when the legislator representing the zone, Senator Fatimat Raji Rasaki donated economic empowerment materials worth N100 million to them.

    The constituents, who trooped out in large numbers at the ceremony held at African Church Primary School, Mobil area of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, were happy that the gesture would make them become self-reliant.

    During her tenure as a member of the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2011, Mrs. Rasaki had carried out the same gesture. This time around, she decided to up the ante as she now represents a larger political space.

    At the ceremony, which also served as the first town hall meeting since her election into the National Assembly on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Chairman of Senate Committee on Trade and Investment pledged to do more for her constituents in order to reduce the level of poverty and provide them the opportunity to contribute to grassroots economy.

    She further explained that the beneficiaries who were drawn from the 57 wards making up the district, were nominated by various associations and interest groups, promising that more people would benefit in future programmes.

    Beneficiaries who were drawn from Ado, Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ekiti West, Ijero and Efon local government areas that make up the district received N10 million cash, tractors, motorcycles, tricycles, helmets, reflexive jackets, spraying machines, agro-chemicals and insecticides.

    Other materials distributed were rain boots, sewing machines, vulcanising machines, grinding machines, popcorn making machines, clippers, hair dryers, cooking stoves and commuter buses for Ado-Ekiti Central Mosque and National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in the five council areas of the district.

    The N10 million cash was distributed to local traders, widows, aged persons and senior citizens to give them succour against the harsh economic situation.

    Giving account of her performance in the National Assembly, Mrs. Rasaki revealed that the bills she had sponsored included Companies and Allied Matters Act (Amendment) Bill 2016 which has reached second reading and Nigeria Industrial Development and Zones Commission Bill which has reached committee level.

    The Senator explained that she had used her position to bring the Bank of Industry to her constituency to organise seminars for 2,500 local investors in order to assist them with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) loans.

    According to her, she also facilitated employment opportunities for her constituents in paramilitary organisations while youths, women, the aged, widows and indigent students are benefiting from Fatimat Raji Rasaki Community Development Programmes.

    Senator Rasaki promised to continue to carry her constituents along through regular presentation of her score card to them in appreciation of their mandate to her at last year’s National Assembly polls.

    She said: “As your representative in the Senate, I speak on your behalf and in your best interest. I have communicated your needs and aspirations as a community through the mandate given to me in last year’s general elections.

    “I have projected our local government areas Ado-Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ijero, Ekiti West and Efon as a community with enormous economic opportunities, vast land mass and an investment haven for Ekiti people, Nigerians and the global community.

    “Beside the business of law-making for which I have your mandate, we have worked further to touch the lives of our people in various communities. The youth, women, the aged, widows, indigent students and more are benefiting from the ongoing Senator Fatimat Raji Rasaki Community Development Programmes.

    “As we are aware, execution of constituency projects lay basically within the purview of the executive arm of government. We as legislators make efforts to align our constituencies with the necessary fiscal provisions which must definitely undergo the thorough budgeting process.

    “As your steward, I am mandated to carry the entire communities along on our collective journey to greatness. That is why I deployed all channels of communication-both conventional and modern-to provide feedbacks for the constituents from time to time which has generated tremendous results.

    “In the last one-and-half years, I have convened meetings with stakeholders and heads of many sectors and communities as a feedback mechanism towards ensuring that the people of my senatorial district are well abreast of developments, actions and issues from the Senate.”

    Husband of the Senator and former Military Governor of Ogun and Lagos states, Brig.-Gen. Raji Rasaki (retd.) who inaugurated the buses, said his wife inherited the integrity of keeping promises from her late father, Chief Michael Obayemi.

    The Owa Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Adewole, inaugurated the tractors and praised the Senator for  spreading empowerment across communities in the constituency.

    Gen. Rasaki explained that most of the projects the Senator executed during her tenure as a member of the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2011 are still there for all to see, adding that the empowerment programme was a confirmation of her steadfastness and pedigree.

    Brig-Gen. Rasaki described his wife as a promise keeper, saying her humanitarian gestures dated back to the period of his tenure in the two states when she served as wife of the military governor.

    He said: “During the electioneering campaigns, your Senator made some very specific electoral promises. Keeping promises has become a tradition in the family. Throughout my military career and state governance in this country, I made efforts in all ways to keep my word; as my word has always been my bond.

    “During the whole period of my sojourn in the Government Houses and Barracks (Ogun and Lagos states), your Senator, Fatimat, made promises as wife of the military governor and she never wavered.

    “The Senator, naturally inherited integrity from her late father-the patriarch of the Obayemi Dynasty- Chief Michael Afolabi Obayemi, Atuase of Ado-Ekiti. So, keeping promises and maintenance of integrity are not alien to her.

    “Today’s empowerment programme is, therefore, a further confirmation of her steadfastness and her uncommon pedigree.

    “It is on record that she succeeded first as a member of the House of Representatives and all promises made during her tenure were fulfilled. Most of the projects are still surviving till today whereas those of some of her counterparts had disappeared. She is still capable of doing more and will do more by the grace of God.”

    The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, who was represented by the Sasere, Chief Segun Famuagun, said the kingdom and the entire senatorial district are proud of Mrs. Rasaki for representing them well.

    He said: “She is an illustrious daughter of the kingdom, she has represented the senatorial district well and she has come back to appreciate the people who sent her to the National Assembly.

  • Tips for self-reliance

    Tips for self-reliance

    Graduating medical students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) have received tips on how they can be self-reliant after school. It was at an empowerment programme organised by TOMEB Foundation in partnership with ExxonMobil. Our Correspondent reports.

    Given the high rate of unemployment, graduating students are enjoined to develop their latent potential to keep themselves busy after leaving school. This was the advice given at an empowerment programme held for final year medical students of the University of Lagos (UNILGA).

    The event with the theme: Achieving goals: A dignified successful future is possible, was held at the College of Medicine auditorium and was organised by TOMEB Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, in partnership with ExxonMobil.

    Guests at the event included the college provost, Prof Folashade Ogunsola, Secretary, Mr Azeez Oladejo and Deputy Director, Students Affairs Unit, Dr Moshood Akinleye.

    Speakers included the Managing Director of Accenture, Mr Niyi Yusuf; Dr Ibipo Abdurraheem-Salami of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), and Managing Director CRC Credit Bureau, who is also the founder of TOMEB Foundation, Mr Tunde Popoola.

    In his lecture titled: Art and science of self-knowledge, Yusuf urged the participants to develop their communication skills to enable them interact properly. He said students must identify their passion and develop it to be self-reliant.

    Citing successful sportsmen, such as Austin Okocha and Kanu Nwankwo, who did not have university degrees but make fortunes through their passion, Yusuf said: “To these people, football has become a business. This means what you love doing the most would bring you means of livelihood. This is why self-discovery is key to achieve our goals.”

    Speaking on Principles and practice of goals setting and achievements, Dr Abdurraheem-Salami, a Senior Registrar in the Department of Public Health at LASUTH, said underemployment had become a major challenge among doctors, noting that the quality of training received by young doctors was not improving with the changing times.

    Admonishing the students, she said: “A man is what he makes of himself. Always have clear plan of what you want out of life. Unless you are excellent doctors, there is nobody that will give you a job. Know your ability before setting a goal. This is important, because it helps to envision what you want to be in future.”

    Popoola, who spoke on Dealing with procrastination, said indecision was the greatest hurdle standing between people and success. He advised the participants to avoid procrastination, saying:  “You don’t write your goals in the papers and go to bed without taking action on how to achieve them.”

    On how to achieve set goals, Popoola said focusing on single action would help to start a big task.  He said: “Do not follow the normal route of most people; always start your day by doing the most important task first. Make a list of all you have to achieve each day and review the list using the ‘ABCDE’ method and the 80/20 Pareto Rule. Select A1 task, assemble everything you need to start and finish the job. Lay it out in preparation for commencement, clear your workspace to get up, get ready and start this most important task.”

    Prof Ogunsola praised the organisers for what she called “life-changing programme”. She charged the participants to use the knowledge received to guide their life and passion.

    At the end of the event, participants received book titled: The Personal Business Plan: A blueprint for running your life, which was purchased by ExxonMobil for the benefit of the participants.

    TOMEB foundation, an educational and youth development organisation, was founded in 2011 to motivate students to achieve their goals and be self-reliant.

  • Students get tips on self-reliance

    Students get tips on self-reliance

    A team of graduates and Corps members, under the aegis of I Create Solution Initiative, has organised a seminar for students in commemoration of Independence Day.

    The event had the aim to mentor youths towards developing their skills to engender national development.

    The event, which held at the Abdusalam Youth Centre in Minna, the Niger State capital.

    Jide Orintunsin, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, urged participants to learn lucrative skills and strive for academic excellence. He said young people could not be independent if they develop their talent and pursue it with passion.

    The event featured a panel tagged: The Nigeria we want, during which the panelists engaged the participants on ranges of issues, including Agro-economy, entrepreneurship, politics, religion and social media.

    Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, founder of the initiative, Faith Olaniran, said the organisation was out to empower and motivate the youth.

    He said: “We are people, who want to transform our nation through value creation and leadership. Ultimately, we seek to build a coalition of individuals and organisations with a new set of value system for positive transformation and to empower young people to make good impact towards nation-building.”

    In his message to the participants, Olaniran said: “You must be a solution provider and not a part of the problem. You must be a role model who is worthy of emulation and be the best in all you do, particularly things you are naturally good at. You must do the right thing at all time, regardless of who is doing the wrong thing.”

    Participants, who are secondary school and higher institution students, described the event as wonderful, praising the organisers for the mentorship.

    Williams Idoko, SSS 3 pupil of Police Secondary School in Minna, said: “I feel happy to attend this event. I have actually learnt how I can develop my entrepreneurial skills to make independent of anyone.”

    A SSS 2 pupil of Redeemer’s College in Minna, Edwin Dominick, said his view about social media had changed after learning how he would use social media for business.