The Nation Newspaper

Tag: youths

  • Youths felicitate with Iwuanyanwu on lecture series

    The Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders has congratulated its Grand Patron,  Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, on the inauguration of his Annual Lecture Series by the Owerri, Imo State branch of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE).

    It described the development as a confirmation of the belief of youths in the patriotism and commitment to the cause of the downtrodden, by Chief Iwuanyanwu.
    The group, which is an amalgamation of youth organisations, lauded the NSE, for acknowledging Chief Iwuanyanwu for the rare honour.

    This honour conferred on Chief Iwuanyanwu has further shown the resolve of the prestigious NSE to celebrate genuine achievers, patriots and people of high morals and integrity.

    Over the years, Chief Iwuanyanwu have had so many things going for him. Focus, determination, discipline and a quest for excellence at all times.

    “On behalf of the entire Nigerian Youth, we congratulate Chief Iwuayanwu on this great achievement. It is a gift to us as Youth and a morale booster to our generation. We are proud of this singular achievement.”

  • Nigeria needs ground-breaking youths – Alakija

    Nigeria needs ground-breaking youths – Alakija

    The solution to the current social economic situation in the country and the continent is the need for a generation of ground breaking, resilient and adaptable young people.

    Executive Director, FAMFA Oil, Folorunsho Alakija stated this at the weekend, during the Grand Finale of Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs Empowerment Nigeria (AYEEN) 2016, in Lagos.

    She said there is need for youths that can create a great future at the award and celebrate 500 AYEEN beneficiaries.

    AYEEN identifies and empowers the most innovative solutions and economically viable businesses that have the potential and passion in converting the present level of their business to becoming ‘the next big thing’ in Africa regardless of the sector.
    Alakija, who is AYE’s Chief Executive Matron, noted that the transition from education to employment has become a matter of luck and sometimes ‘who you know’. She said private entrepreneurship is the only solution that guarantees the progress of youths and the economy.
    “If we give youths the opportunity the future is going to be bright,” she said.
    She said AYEEN and its programs remains the foremost entrepreneurship programme in Africa, adding that thousands of business owned by its members has benefited from grants including financial literacy
    programs, specialised skills training, soft loans from financial partners and structural support.
    She said the 500 beneficiaries have showcased the characteristics of innovation, passion and research in their business fortunes.
    She encouraged the beneficiaries  to challenge themselves by being relevant and dynamic in the face of the current recession.
    “Use your God given favours to change the lives of others through job creation. We will continue to monitor your business progress and render the necessary support,” she said.
    She added that the beneficiaries should not take likely what they have being empowered with, but should use it judiciously, be focused, look and plan ahead, and not mess around.
    She urged them to touch the lives of others by setting up businesses that will enable them to give back to the society. “They must work hard, build on and enlarge the money, make the best and the most of
    it,” she said.
    Alakija noted that the scale of the African and Nigerian challenges is large, saying that effective collaboration is needed to ensure a sustainable entrepreneurship future.
    She said this year’s AYEEN programme has experienced a massive turn out of entrepreneurs from Borno state, noting that despite their challenges of terrorism and internal displacement, they had the
    courage to apply and request for support.
    According to her, AYEEN has extended its mandate from entrepreneurship to include humanitarian support by the launch of ’empower Borno project’ in partnership with the Borno state
    government.
    She said the initiative would drive entrepreneurship evolvement in the state and change the state of violence. She urged all to support the initiative.
    President/ Founder Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs (AYE), Smart Francis said the beneficiaries will turn around and transform the economy of the country to drive us out of the current economic recession.
    According to him, entrepreneurs are the strength of Nigeria. “We must use our strength to overcome our weakness; Nigeria has determined entrepreneurs and they must put in energy to develop the nation.”
    He urged government to make entrepreneurship activity its priority, saying it is something that can transform a nation.
    “Government needs to create a system that is friendly to entrepreneurs and one that will enable them strive.”
    He appealed to government and other organisations to partner with AYE to enable them do more.
    He urged entrepreneurs never to give up, adding that if they fail, they should move on because challenges will come and go.
    He said the beneficiaries are given the grants in different sessions, adding that there is no limit to what amount can be given as grant but it depends on what the business is about and how much is needed.
    He said the business must be innovative, have the ability to move Nigeria forward and create jobs.
    AYE Vice President, Ibada Ahmed said AYEEN identifies exceptional innovations in the African continent and source for innovative, dynamic and economically viable businesses. She said the 500
    beneficiaries would create more jobs in Nigeria.

  • Youths undergo leadership, mentorship training

    Youths undergo leadership, mentorship training

    In a bid to help youths discover their potential, the Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe (HOW) Foundation has organised a leadership and mentorship seminar for students of secondary schools.

    Speaking at the event entitled “Be the Best” held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Lagos, the Guest Speaker, Joshua Ajitena, a United Kingdom-based Nigerian motivational speaker and the founder Genero Living, noted that Nigeria is approaching the peak of its creative edge. However, he noted that the youth who are the leaders of tomorrow, lack good platforms where these creativities and innovations would be adequately built and harnessed.

    Speaking on qualities of champions, Ajitena said: “Champions are committed; they believe in themselves and they never give up. I enjoin young ones not to be lazy; for lazy people always give away the best in them.

    “Know that nothing good comes easy. Develop the right work ethics, have the right mind-set and be ready to face challenges. Challenges are supposed to bring out the best in you.

    “The young people are the answers to the Nigerian problem; we should sit with them, give them a voice and understand them. Only then can we compete favourably with the rest of Africa and the world.”

    Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Ms. Antonia Ally said the foundation is poised to help young people understand their type of leadership potential as well as develop their skills from a tender age.

    “We are helping the young ones to develop their skills. We want to enlighten them about how to direct these skills into something that would help to make them great in life. We want to impart in them the characteristics that good leaders possess which would make our country greater if properly utilised,” she said.

    The foundation has partnered with national and global organisations that share the same passion and drive in areas such as malaria, prostate cancer and youth empowerment. The focus around malaria is to help educate them on the possibilities of malaria eradication in Nigeria and assist in providing tools/resources that help to fight against and prevent malaria. The attention on prostate cancer is to raise awareness and aid in the provision of tools which would enable professionals to erase the stigma about the disease in Nigeria.

    The foundation also empowers youths with leadership and mentorship programmes, developing various seminars and schemes aimed at providing them with support to push them closer to achieving greatness.

    In a chat with Southwest Report, one of the participants, Debo Oluwadarasimi of St. Gregory’s College, Lagos said the programme was an eye opener, pledging to be more studious and to take care of his environment in a better way. Over 12 schools were represented at the event.

    The foundation had carried some events in the past, some of which were with Dr Save a Life Foundation, Visit to Isiokpo, in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, (The Home of the Founder) to hand out 1 million free malaria nets to the community, performed rapid malaria tests, distributed 1 million malaria prevention and treatment drugs to women and children and educateed them on how to use these kits. Visit to Arrow of God Orphanage to hang out back- to school materials for children.

  • Rotary trains youths, women in skills

    Rotary trains youths, women in skills

    The Rotary Club District 9110 has begun a three-week intensive training for women and youths.

    The empowerment programme in which 500 people participated began on November 14 and will end on December 3, at St Leos Catholic Street along Toyin Street, Ikeja Lagos. It was inaugurated by the Governor of the District, Patrick Ikheloa.

    Some of the skills the beneficiaries will learn include bead making, bag and shoe making, event planning and decoration, makeup, gele tying, catering and hotel management as well as hat and fascination making.

    According to Chairman of the Organising Committee, Taiwo Shonubi, the event was instituted to support people in becoming self-reliant and economically viable in order to survive the current economic recession.

    It was part of activities to mark the Club’s Economic and Community Development Seminar for the year. Resource persons were on hand to train and lecture many of the beneficiaries who turned out in their numbers to take advantage of the rare opportunity that will help them to gain knowledge of the handiwork of their dreams.

    Each club sponsored five participants.

    Another of their activities held the previous week was a seminar on Agriculture tagged “Transformation towards Agriculture”

    Chief Executive Officer of X-ray Farms, African farmer Mogaji, spoke on Agriculture Investment as an alternative income source. He called on all to leverage on available resources, stressing on the value of information and knowledge gotten from other sectors.

    He noted that sustenance is crucial to having cheaper quality food; and small-scale farmers can be helped by giving them quality input for their crop production rather than money.

    He also warned that government should not ban importation of rice at least for three years, but should focus on local production and develop more storage facilities.

    “Nigeria has signed many treaties that won’t allow them ban rice. But after government have intensified local production, they can then develop a roadmap to increase its tariff in the next five years. That way, they are supporting businesses and farmers to produce enough rice for the next three years, within which there would be enough rice to feed the nation.

    “Also, it is not that government has no good intentions on this, but climate change will affect rice production. Thus, there is the need to look into the organic approach and the process of food production.

    Head, Agricultural Department of Stanbic IBTC Bank, Maximus Okoye spoke on financing perspective in ensuring the needed transformation in agriculture.

    He noted that agriculture is pillar to industrial development. He praised the adoption of the different intervention programmes of the government, which he said has helped agric-business.

    Professor of Economics at Caleb University, Olufemi Oludimu gave a presentation  on strategies for marketing agriculture. He urged all to leverage on untapped opportunities and look into food exports.

  • SON educates youths on standardisation, quality policy

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has spread its net to inculcate standardisation and quality in the youth and children.

    Its Director-General Osita Anthony Aboloma said in line with the “World’s Standards Day” with the theme: “Standards Build Trust,” the agency was promoting awareness on standards among children and the youth as agents of change.

    He spoke in his Lagos office when he hosted some children from schools in Lagos, who made presentations on standardisation and the need to ensure quality of products  and services.

    Aboloma, who was represented by Mrs. Cynthia Ifeagwu, said standards should guide Nigerians in businesses, schools and daily live, noting that if the rudiments of standards and quality are imbibed at a young age, children and youths could identify substandard goods.

    He said: “Good habit if learnt at a young age, there is a  possibility that a youngster will grow living his life insisting on quality and standard product and services through one’s life time. Children interface with different types of food and also are in a position to drive quality standards by engaging their parents to buy goods and services with SON standards mark of quality”.

    In its presentation, Chrisland School, led by Miss Mmesoma Okonkwo, defined her understanding of what standards are and its role in economic growth. She also stated that compliance to standards could  encourage sustainable economic growth.

    Miss Oyindamola Samuel, from Agape Bundle School, said compliance to standards could make people entrust their lives to particular products. She said no product could  claim to have quality and standards except it is approved by SON.

    She encouraged the public to insist on products with SON quality mark, stressing that the mark of quality helps organisations create wealth, build trust and stand-out in the pack.

    Aboloma  educated the students on the need to get their parents to patronise quality and safe products. This, he stressed, will safeguard the them from the effects of unsafe products.

    Aboloma said his agency’s mandate was to educate the public on the dangers of substandard products in school, and to build a nation whose economy is sustainable.

    He further stated that the mandate included safeguarding people’s lives and property from the impacts of substandard products through consumer education.

    SON has recorded successes in several sectors of the economy through the SONCAP and MANCAP, which are mandatory regulatory programmes for imported and locally manufactured goods.

  • 1m Lagos youths to learn programming

    By 2019, the Lagos State government e hopes to make programming commonplace among young people even from primary school level.

    It has put in place machinery to that effect through an initiative called “Code Lagos”, which was unveiled at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island last Friday by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    The project would train one million primary and secondary pupils – both from public and private schools – as well as tertiary students and others outside the school system to program such that they would be able to use technology to solve problems around them.

    Ambode, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Oluranti Adebule, at the event, said Code Lagos would help the state harness the potential of its youth, which makes up 65 per cent of its population, in positioning Lagos as a tech smart city.

    “When it becomes fully operational, the Code Lagos programme, in the short term, will place Lagos State at the forefront of positioning students across the state to harness, create and leverage on local and global opportunities of the 21st century.  It is our expectation that the programme will also enhance the participants’ ability to create value as employees or job creators; meet the growing demand for technical skills; develop a workforce that speaks a universal digital language and are ready to take on and provide solutions to the myriad of socio-economic problems confronting the society,” he said.

    Special Adviser on Education, Mr Obafela Bank-Olemoh, under whose office, the project is being implemented, said 520,000 of the participants would be drawn from the primary and secondary school system, 400,000 from tertiary levels, and 100,000 among those outside the school system.

    He said those in the primary/secondary school system would be trained through coding clubs that would be set up in schools; tertiary students through online modules, and others using public digital libraries.

    “We want to make Lagos the technology frontier of Africa.  Each coding club will have two facilitators, 10 computers, inverter, projector and internet service.  We will set up classes that can do 40 students to run 2-4pm four times a week.  Tertiary level will have more students – between 100 and 200 with two to five facilitators per class.  Others will learn in public spaces.

    “We are looking at 500 coding clubs around Lagos.  Come January 2017, the Deputy Governor will launch the Coding Curriculum for Lagos.  We are going to focus on low income and girls’ only schools; and schools that have the facilities,” he said.

    Bank-Olemoh added that the project is expected to take off by April.

    Special Adviser to Governor Ambode on Overseas Affairs and Investment, Prof Ademola Abass, said with the initiative, Lagos is investing in its best resource.

    “We have seen major investments in the past one or two years more than in the last 16 years.  But the greatest investment a country can make is in its people and that is what Code Lagos is all about,” he said.

     

  • Monarch cautions youths on violence

    The Baale of Orile-Kosofe, Mile 12, Chief Rasak Ajani Adeosun has appealed to the youth and motorcycle operators at Omojuwa Street in Orile-Kosofe of Ikosi/Isheri Local Council Development Area of Lagos State to sheath their swords and allow peace reign.

    Baale Adeosun reacted over the recent clash between police officers from Ketu Police Post and motorbike operators popularly known as ‘okada’ over flagrant disobedience of traffic rules which resulted in a stray bullet that hit one of the young sons of Omojuwa’s family.

    He, however, stated that as soon as he got the wind of the crisis, he invited the soldiers stationed at Kosofe/Mile 12 Market to be on guard in order to forestall further violence and also to save lives and properties from being vandalised and looted.

    According to him, he reached out to the parents of the wounded boy to seek for their co-operation through peaceful settlement, even as he urged them to keep calm while the victim was taken to Igbobi Orthopaedic Hospital where he is currently responding to treatment.

    Oko-ilu, as he is fondly called, also convened a meeting with officials of Okada Riders’ Association, Private Taxi Operators and other stakeholders who witnessed the crisis. First to speak on the issue was Mr. Sola who said the two policemen held one of the okada riders for operating beyond the distance approved for them. But as he tried to escape towards Omojnwa’s family home, the police ran after him. This drew the ire of the youth of the area.

    Another cab operator, Mr. Suleiman Adeleke also said he observed argument between police officers and okada riders and the next thing he heard was gunshot.

    Concluding, Baale urged the Lagos State Government to provide jobs for Orile-Kosofe residents and Omojuwa community, appealing to the police to stop indiscriminate shooting at civilians.

     

  • Youths undergo leadership, mentorship training

    Youths undergo leadership, mentorship training

    In a bid to help youths discover their potential, the Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe (HOW) Foundation has organised a leadership and mentorship seminar for students of secondary schools.

    Speaking at the event entitled “Be the Best” held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Lagos, the Guest Speaker, Joshua Ajitena, a United Kingdom-based Nigerian motivational speaker and the founder Genero Living, noted that Nigeria is approaching the peak of its creative edge. However, he noted that the youth who are the leaders of tomorrow, lack good platforms where these creativities and innovations would be adequately built and harnessed.

    Speaking on qualities of champions, Ajitena said: “Champions are committed; they believe in themselves and they never give up. I enjoin young ones not to be lazy; for lazy people always give away the best in them.

    “Know that nothing good comes easy. Develop the right work ethics, have the right mind-set and be ready to face challenges. Challenges are supposed to bring out the best in you.

    “The young people are the answers to the Nigerian problem; we should sit with them, give them a voice and understand them. Only then can we compete favourably with the rest of Africa and the world.”

    Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Ms. Antonia Ally said the foundation is poised to help young people understand their type of leadership potential as well as develop their skills from a tender age.

    “We are helping the young ones to develop their skills. We want to enlighten them about how to direct these skills into something that would help to make them great in life. We want to impart in them the characteristics that good leaders possess which would make our country greater if properly utilised,” she said.

    The foundation has partnered with national and global organisations that share the same passion and drive in areas such as malaria, prostate cancer and youth empowerment. The focus around malaria is to help educate them on the possibilities of malaria eradication in Nigeria and assist in providing tools/resources that help to fight against and prevent malaria. The attention on prostate cancer is to raise awareness and aid in the provision of tools which would enable professionals to erase the stigma about the disease in Nigeria.

    The foundation also empowers youths with leadership and mentorship programmes, developing various seminars and schemes aimed at providing them with support to push them closer to achieving greatness.

    In a chat with Southwest Report, one of the participants, Debo Oluwadarasimi of St. Gregory’s College, Lagos said the programme was an eye opener, pledging to be more studious and to take care of his environment in a better way. Over 12 schools were represented at the event.

    The foundation had carried some events in the past, some of which were with Dr Save a Life Foundation, Visit to Isiokpo, in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, (The Home of the Founder) to hand out 1 million free malaria nets to the community, performed rapid malaria tests, distributed 1 million malaria prevention and treatment drugs to women and children and educateed them on how to use these kits. Visit to Arrow of God Orphanage to hang out back- to school materials for children.

     

  • Youths protest ‘gang-up’ against Tinubu

    Youths protest ‘gang-up’ against Tinubu

    HUNDREDS of youths trooped out in Lagos yesterday protesting what they described as gang-up against the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu by the party hierarchy.
    The youths who converged at the frontage of the Lagos State House of Assembly complex, Alausa, Ikeja embarked on “Bola Tinubu Loyalty Walk” that terminated at the APC state secretariat along ACME road also in Ikeja.

    They were received by the APC leaders in the state including party chairman Otunba Henry Ajomale, Cardinal James Odunmbaku, Vice chairman; Chief Babatunde Ologunde and Olumuyiwa John, the Deputy Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly.

    The leader of the protesting youth, Akanbi Afonja said we are protesting against the gang up against Tinubu and to express our unflinching support for him as APC national leader.

    Akanbi said:  “Tinubu has done much for the APC to win the presidential election. We know what he deserves; he’s a man of honour; a trail blazer and a builder. We are not happy with what is going on among the leadership of the APC.

    “The gang-up against Tinubu is unfair. We want you (our leaders in the Southwest) to stand firm. Without Asiwaju everything is hollow. He introduced APC and President Muhammadu Buhari to us. Asiwaju fought for him but he is now being paid back in negative form. Our support for him is 100 percent,” Afonja reiterated.

    Responding, Ajomale thanked the youths for rising against the attempt to rubbish Tinubu. He said they have done a lot by showing the vibrancy of younger generation and urged them “not to allow our leader to be rubbished.”

    Ajomale stated that Tinubu was the brain behind the formation and creation of APC, saying nobody can take away the leadership of the party from him.

    He said the Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) which Tinubu led to the negotiation table for the formation of APC was a senior partner. We went there with six governors, the highest produced by the parties that merged to form APC.

    “What we want is justice. Whatever you do you must reap the fruits of your labour. Asiwaju started the revolution against changing the PDP government, he should not be rubbished. Asiwaju is not fighting to become President of Nigeria but for the welfare of the common people.

    “Someone is trying to put things right but few are trying to create problems within the party in order to truncate our plan for the country, we won’t allow them,” he said.

    Odunmbaku said nobody can ignore the contribution of Tinubu in the formation of the APC and the role he played towards the victory of the party in the last general elections.

     

     

  • NSITF urges youths on self-development

    •Says artisans not covered by ECS

    The Acting Managing Director, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Mr. Ismail Agaka, has called on Nigerian youths to acquire productive skills that will position them to become highflyers in corporate governance.

    The NSITF boss stated this in Abuja when a delegation of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) led by its President, Murtala Muhammed, paid him a courtesy visit.

    He said rather than staying glued to social media and entertainment, youths must learn to develop themselves mentally to be sufficiently equipped for skilled functions and corporate governance.

    He charged youths to acquire the mentality of starting small, taking time to grow, thereby developing their decision-making skills instead of begging for handouts.

    Agaka, who said he was sympathetic with youths for bearing the brunt of the prevailing economic climate in the country, also blamed many young persons for being indolent.

    Agaka regretted that youths of today engaged in all sorts of social misdemeanour instead of productive ventures that could better their lives, saying it was pathetic that some youths, aged 35 to 40, still depend on their parents and guardians to eke out a living instead of the other way round.

    Asked if roadside workers such as vulcanizers, mechanics, and other artisans were covered by the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS), he explained that this group of workers, classified as the informal sector, are not presently covered by the scheme.

    He added that the informal sector was not covered by the scheme owing to the flexibility of its income earnings, and explained that the provision of the scheme as it presently stands, can only accommodate the formal sector.

    He, however, said the only way the informal sector can benefit from the Scheme for now, is for them to come under umbrella bodies such as cooperative societies, trade unions and associations.

    He further disclosed that NSITF has done poverty mapping across the country and noted areas where there are high incidences of poverty and has submitted its report to the Federal Government.

    Earlier,  Muhammed said the group was an umbrella body of all voluntary youth organisations in Nigeria, under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development.

    He lauded the giant stride recorded by the NSITF in the implementation of the ECS.