Tag: Shettima

…says Nigeria needs total overhaul

Vice President Kashim Shettima has stated that the northern region of Nigeria has endured poverty, corruption, and inadequate leadership for far too long, leading to the emergence of a new generation that lacks fear of God and respect for the country’s laws.

Following protests against hunger organised by the youth nationwide, the Vice President emphasised the urgent need for a complete and comprehensive overhaul in Nigeria.

He also highlighted that the accumulation of numerous problems in the country has resulted in the loss of lives and destruction of property.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony of 20 indigent pupils of Hau’wa Memorial School (HMS), owned by AMA Foundation, the VP who was represented by his special adviser on political matters, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmad said: “For too long we have tolerated poverty, corruption, poor leadership and we can see the result, a generation that has come up that has no respect for God, for the law of the land, for the leadership and our values.”

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He then assured that the Federal Government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will make Nigeria work so that future generations will benefit just like past generations benefited from the legacies of the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello.

According to him, “In the last two weeks, the country has gone through difficult times mostly led by the youth, young people who are angry because they are hungry, young people who are angry because they do not see any prospects in becoming better than they are, young people who think the government does not care about them, young people who have no respect for any authority in this country because they think every authority has let them down.

“Young people who are not afraid of hunger, not afraid of their parents, they are not afraid of the police, the army or anybody because they believe this country belongs to those who can drag and run, young Nigerians believe Nigeria is free for all. We created this situation, generations like ours, but we did not inherit it. The people who built Nigeria before our lives worked very hard, made sacrifices, and tried to build a country through honesty and hard work.”

He urged the youth to channel their anger against the system that does not give them a chance and towards the political system adding, “The political system we are operating is defective because it is producing people who have no business being in government.”

He however challenged parents to be more involved in the lives and upbringing of their children saying, “No matter what, there is no justification for stealing or looting someone else’s property.”

He added: “We have to work hard for this country and believe that Nigeria can be fixed because if you do not believe the country can be fixed, then there is nowhere else to go. We have to begin to rebuild the country by showing our children that they can work the way Sardauna and his team worked so that people like me could go to school almost free and we can become something.

“If the politics we are running are not conducive, change it, if the system we are operating is not producing good leadership, peace, and security, change it but do not walk away from the service of people who have no other people to look up to. For you by the grace of God, we will make Nigeria work so you can go to school and go to your farms without fear or hindrance.”

He congratulated the graduating pupils and advised them not to cheat but to work hard and learn to survive.

Prominent Islamic scholar, Shiekh Ahmed Gumi noted that the protest is a wake-up call to leaders on the need to assist the society to curtail lawlessness.

On his part, the chairman of the occasion, Professor Abdulsalami Nasidi charged northern leaders to educate the young ones as it is the cardinal point to reawaken the North.

He noted that nation-building starts from building the child adding, “We are facing social up time in the North, and one of the major ways out is by empowering, educating and ensuring children are groomed to become respectable members of society.

Executive Chairman of AMA Foundation, Musa Abdullahi charged the 20 graduating pupils to be good school ambassadors in their future endeavours and use the knowledge they have been impacted with to touch other lives in their communities.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has commended MTN Nigeria for its donation of N1 billion to the Federal Government’s Food Support Programme and 4,600 digital devices for distribution to schools.

He said the gesture by the telecommunications outfit towards the government’s efforts in addressing hardship in the country is worthy of emulation and indicative of its commitment to the development of the Nigerian economy.

In a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Information, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima said “I am hugely proud of your (MTN’s) stability as a company and commitment to the progress of our country.

“We have witnessed a couple of changes in the industry, but you have remained stable and strong. On behalf of my boss, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I want to sincerely thank you for this gesture,” he said.

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The Vice President stated this yesterday  when he received the Chairman of MTN Nigeria, Mr. Ernest Ndukwe, on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa.

Speaking during his engagement with the MTN Nigeria chairman, Senator Shettima said the donation by the company will be judiciously managed by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

On the distribution of 4,600 digital devices, each pre-installed with the U-lesson application, the Vice President said the MTN team will liaise with his office to work on the beneficiary criteria and facilitate the distribution of the devices to secondary schools in the six geo-political zones.

He expressed confidence that the gesture by the company would go a long way in supporting the government’s efforts to address the situation in the country, including support for the educational needs of the poor and vulnerable.

While calling on other companies in the country to emulate MTN in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility, the VP assured the business community that the Tinubu administration remains pro-business and its policies will, in a short time, begin to manifest for all to see.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of MTN Nigeria commended the Federal Government for its efforts to revive the economic fortunes of the country through various initiatives rolled out across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of government.

He pledged the company’s support to the present administration, noting that the gesture is in line with MTN Nigeria’s shared value objectives of “the AMBITION 2025 strategy” where MTN seeks to support strategic initiatives of the federal government.

On the N1 billion donation, Mr. Ndukwe said, “It aims to support the most vulnerable, marginalized, and underserved communities, ensuring no one is left behind through increased collaboration and partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

He expressed hope that the devices donated by the company will support the Federal Government’s objective to increase digital literacy in secondary schools and improve creativity, analytical thinking, adaptability, and students’ access to current information in science and technology.

• As APC youth leaders affirm support for president

Vice President Kashim Shettima has reiterated the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to supporting and empowering Nigerian youths.

According to him, the President holds Nigerian youths in high esteem, and his commitment is evident in his appointments and the administration’s policies and initiatives such as the Youth Investment Fund, iDICE Programme, and the National Youth Development Bank, among others.

The Vice President spoke yesterday  when he received the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) youth wing, led by the party’s National Youth Leader, Mr. Dayo Israel, on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa.

Senator Shettima said apart from addressing genuine concerns affecting the youths, the administration’s focus on young persons is premised on the trust and confidence the President has in them, stressing that “the youths are the lifeblood of any nation and Mr. President acknowledges this fact.”

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According to a statement issued by his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President said “I want to assure you that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has the best interests of the youths at heart, and he has demonstrated this in most of the programmes that this administration is doing and has undertaken to do.”

Sen. Shettima further expressed confidence in the ability of the present administration to address all of the concerns raised across different quarters and appealed for more time for the government’s plans and programmes to begin to manifest.

He commended the leadership of the APC youth wing for their steadfastness, commitment, and patience, assuring that all the group’s requests would be addressed in due course.

Earlier in his remarks, the National Youth Leader of the APC thanked the Vice President for his love and commitment to the affairs of young people in the country.

He said the visit to the VP’s office was to express solidarity with the government and inform Sen. Shettima of the body’s programmes aimed at productively engaging youths in the country regardless of their socio-political background.

According to him, the APC Youth Wing has developed a four -year strategic plan designed to, among other things, help young Nigerians understand and overcome challenges and harness opportunities across diverse fields within and outside the country.

He listed the Enterprise-Skills Development Training (EDET) Programme; Workplace Readiness & Employability Skills Training Programme (WREST-P); the Progressive Youth Exchange Programme; and the Progressive Youth Leadership Summit, among others, as some of the initiatives underway by the body to engage youths across the country.

Mr. Israel also requested the presence of the Vice President at the forthcoming Progressive Youth Leadership Summit with the theme, “Shaping the Future We Want: Restiveness, Inclusion, Development, Action”.

Also present at the meeting with the Vice President were the APC Deputy National Youth Leader, Jamalu Kabiru; South East Zonal Youth Leader, Anyalewechi Ikenna; North East Zonal Youth Leader, Jason Baba Kwaghe; South-South Zonal Youth Leader, Oyas Ebimobowe; North-Central Zonal Youth Leader, Zubair Aliyu; South-West Zonal Youth Leader, Kolade Lawal Paff; and Head of Admin, APC National Youth Wing, Amaka Lawrence.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima says Nigeria is not just catching up with the rest of the world but also poised to overtake the global economy.

He stated this on Tuesday when he unveiled the AI Expertise Blockchain and Technology Training and Outsourcing Initiative in Dutse, Jigawa.

The initiative launched at the Yakubu Gowon NYSC Orientation Camp, Fanisau, a suburb of Dutse, was part of Nigeria’s strategy for digital transformation and leadership in Africa.

The AI Expertise Blockchain and Technology Training and Outsourcing Initiative, a partnership with tech company Gluwa, aims to train 1,000 Nigerians annually in artificial intelligence, blockchain, and other cutting-edge technologies.

Shettima urged the youths to embrace the initiative, stressing that, “it is important for the nation’s economic future.

“We are not merely catching up with the rest of the world; we are poised to overtake them.

“This initiative offers its beneficiaries the chance to become part of a global workforce, driving innovation that will shape our future,” he said.

Shettima noted the Jigawa state’s pioneering role in digital technology adoption.

He described the programme as “a homecoming ceremony for those who have eased our journey through the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”

While outlining the federal government’s broader vision, Shettima said, “we are adopting this initiative across the nation to create a network of tech hubs that will power Nigeria’s economic growth for decades to come.”

He commended the partnership with Gluwa, stating that it aligned with President Tinubu’s agenda to revolutionise Nigeria’s digital technology sphere.

Shettima, who acknowledged Gluwa’s significant impact, also applauded the firm for its empowerment of Aella Microfinance Bank.

According to him, the empowerment resulted in the disbursement of over N100 billion to two million Nigerians.

On global implications of the initiative, Shettima said: “Our aspiration remains to transform Nigeria into a premier destination for technology outsourcing.

“Creating a model that combines global expertise with local talent.”

Earlier Gov. Umar Namadi, noted the importance of the initiative, describing it as a rare opportunity at the doorstep of the youths.

He urged the people to venture into the Digital World of ICT Outsourcing to reap its benefits.

“Particularly in terms of job creation and opportunities to contribute to the growth of our economy. Jigawa has a history with ICT education.

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” The State is blessed with hundreds of thousands of ICT-savvy and qualified youths in various fields of information and communication technology.

“This is courtesy of our very reputable Informatics Institute established more than two decades ago.”

He said the new initiative aligns with both the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Jigawa State’s 12-Point Agenda, prioritising digital technologies and innovation.

Namadi further announced the establishment of a new ICT and Digital Economy Agency in the state, adding that, “more than ever before, we are determined to reposition Jigawa State as a major ICT hub in Nigeria.”

(NAN)