The Nation Newspaper

Tag: youths

  • More attention coming for youths, says Okorocha

    More attention coming for youths, says Okorocha

    The Imo State government will this year, pay special attention to youth employment and empowerment to check the rising incidence of youth-related crimes, especially kidnapping and armed robbery.

    Governor Rochas Okorocha gave the assurance during the dedication of his grandson, Master Jidenna Anthony Anwuka, at the Saint Joseph Catholic Chaplain, Imo State University, Owerri.

    He hinted that the interests of the youths will henceforth, be placed above that of the older ones to give them the needed platform to achieve their potentials, even as he noted that engaging the youths meaningfully would check crimes.

    “It cannot be explained why people, who are over 50 would be in the system working while those between 20 and 35 are idle, roaming the streets, even with the required qualifications. The situation does not call for celebration at all.

    “When you check those being arrested for crimes, they are always between 18 and 35. You can hardly get a man above 40 years. So we must act now to secure the future of these young ones,” Okorocha said.

    The governor noted that the “factory, factory, factory and job, job, job,” crusade and the Young Millionaires Club initiative of his administration were all targeted at getting the youths meaningfully engaged in the overall interest of the society, adding that his government would take radical steps this year to ensure that the government’s dream for the youths are realised.

  • Commissioner urges youths on formal education

    Commissioner urges youths on formal education

    Students and youths have been enjoined to acquire formal education after graduation from skill centres to enhance their optimum performance in an increasingly sophisticated environment to meet the needs of the market.

    The Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) Mrs Lola Akande made gave the advice when she visited the Mushin, Surulere and Kosofe Skill Acquisition centres as part of her familiarisation tours of departments under her ministry.

    Addressing the students in the Adult Literacy class at Mushin Skill Acquisition Centre, Akande revealed that no matter the vocation learnt, if the students cannot read, write and communicate well in the English language as well as be able to keep their records, they cannot maximise their productivity and manage both their customers and employees.

    She commended the students of the Adult Literacy Class for taking the bold decision to learn, an action she described as a good step.

    While asking some of them to read for her to be sure they are taking in the rudiments of what are being taught them, she noted that there was no age limit to learning and that an individual is more independent and can achieve more in life when he or she can read and write.

    She also urged them to be ICT compliant so as not to be left behind in this age of technology, adding that with ICT, they can update their knowledge and get ideas for their work on the internet.

    While enjoining them to be disciplined and put in their best, she urged them to have good human relations in and outside the school to be successful in their chosen fields.

    She later implored the principals to liaise with the ministry to arrange exhibitions to showcase the works of the students to members of the public for patronage.

    She also urged the students to make good use of the internet to promote their work.

    She further commended the principals for a job well done and promised to look into the challenges of the centres.

     

  • Ondo promises jobs for youths

    Ondo promises jobs for youths

    The Ondo State government has promised more jobs for its unemployed youths.

    Commissioner for Information Kayode Akinmade said yesterday that the government’s revolution in the agricultural sector will reduce youth unemployment.

    He said in the government’s cocoa revolution drive, a modern factory that would utilise and process premium quality cocoa beans produced in the state would begin production of chocolate bars by April.

    The commissioner added that the factory would utilise the facilities of the Cocoa Catalytic Factory in Idanre.

    Akinmade said the factory would be run by the state’s Cocoa project’ foreign technical partner, Spagnvola Chocolatier of Spain, and would have the capacity to produce enough for local consumption and export.

    He said the government desires to strengthen relationship with the European Union (EU) to provide international market for the commodities.

    According to him,  plans are on to ensure that cocoa products in the state gain commodity pricing and value at the Stock Exchange.

    Akinmade added that group-farmers would get stock brokers and market their products in the stock exchange.

    The commissioner said the administration’s goal is to process and brand its cocoa in a globally acceptable way that will, in turn, produce  internationally worthy, hygienic, nourishing and outstanding chocolate.

    With the government’s  partnership  with an internationally recognised chocolate producing company , he said  a lot of value would be added to the state’s interest.

    “With the development, the state  will soon be recognised globally in its cocoa revolution and will in turn assist in repositioning Nigeria to its position in cocoa production among comity of nations,” Akinmade said.

  • Politicians manipulate youths, minister alleges

    Politicians manipulate youths, minister alleges

    Minister of Youths and Sports Mr. Solomon Dalung has said the Federal Government will no longer waste tax payers’ money to fund the Nigerian Youth Council (NYC) because the body is under serious manipulation by politicians and other stakeholders.

    The reason not to fund any youth group, according to the minister, is as a result of the leadership squabble rocking it, adding that over six persons are claiming the leadership of the NYC with several pending court cases.

    He stated this in Abuja during the-end-of-the-year ceremony of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) whose theme was “The Role of Youth Organisation in the Promotion of Social Change: The Future of the Nigerian State.”

    The minister promised that by next year, a committee will be set up to register youth organisations.

    Dalung urged youths to shun violence and embrace peace, adding that under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari; it is no longer business as usual.

    His words: “If the Nigerian youths are yearning for change and now the change has come, they should behave themselves.

    “One of the problems of the Nigerian youths today is that they are divided among themselves. They are divided over the question of leadership and I keep repeating without fear or favour that they have allowed us ‘politicians’ to continue to manipulate them.

    “They are under serious manipulation and they operate under the instructions of those that manipulate them. This informed why I found it difficult to take sides when I assumed duty as a minister.

    As a minister, I have withdrawn that right that there is no youth organisation recognised by the Ministry of Youths and Sports. As a government, we will not do any business with them.

    “We will not use the tax payers’ money and waste it on those that are fighting.

    “In the New Year, we are going to set up a committee that will register youth organisations. But for now, we will not spend a ‘kobo’ on briefcase youth organisations and the law requires them to have offices in not less than 24 states in Nigeria. We cannot endorse fraud.

    “We are willing to redefine ourselves to support the youth to ensure that we provide job for them so that they can be gainfully employed so as to be leaders of this great country.

    “I congratulate the Peace Corps for wonderful work it’s doing for the youth of this country. Without peace, Nigeria cannot achieve anything.”

    The National Commandant of the PCN, Mr. Dickson Akoh commended the National Assembly for taking serious the PCN bill which he said has scaled through second reading.

    Akoh advised youths to key into President Buhari’s agenda and also shun violence.

    He admonished politicians not to use youths to achieve their negative goals.

  • Dickson solicits youths’ suppport

    Dickson solicits youths’ suppport

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, at the weekend, urged youths in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area to mobilise the residents for him and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ahead of the January 9 rerun.

    A statement by Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said the governor spoke in Yenagoa, the state capital, when he hosted an enlarged meeting of community leaders.

    Dickson urged them to mobilise their people and vote massively for the PDP.

    The governor said the party won the election, despite Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) declaration that it was inconclusive.

    He expressed gratitude to the youth for their solidarity, saying his victory was not complete until the PDP won the Southern Ijaw election.

    Dickson said his party represented the interest of the Ijaw nation.

    He said: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) is afraid of defeat. That is why it decided to mar the poll with violence. But despite that, be peaceful and conduct yourselves properly during the forthcoming poll. All your leaders are behind the party.

    “In a stakeholders meeting in Abuja, all agencies of the government, including the security, INEC and others, agreed to conduct a peaceful election, without bias from any interested party, as the result will be determined by use of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC).”

    House of Assembly’s Speaker Konbowei Benson hailed the governor for addressing youths ahead of the rescheduled poll.

    He assured that Southern Ijaw would deliver its votes to the PDP, urging youths not to be deceived by the APC.

    Also, a former militant leader, Joshua Macaiva, described Dickson as a visionary leader, who scored an “A” in governance during his first term.

    The Co-ordinator of the Bayelsa Volunteer Scheme Mr. Felix Bonny Ayah praised Dickson for fulfilling his promise of incorporating youth presidents into the scheme.

  • Youths demand CSR from oil firms

    Youths demand CSR from oil firms

    Youths, under the aegis of the Ibasa/Ijegun Egba Youth Movement, in Oriade Local Council Development Area, yesterday protested against the alleged degradation of their community by some oil companies which operate their depots there.

    The youth said some of the oil firms which have been operating in the community for nearly a decade have done nothing to improve the community.

    Dressed in white T-shirts, the protesters sang, danced and carried placards with various inscriptions such as “Cooperate Social Responsibility is key”; “GMB, come to our rescue”; “Ibasa/Ijegun cry for justice”; “This is inhumanity”; “Ibasa/Ijegun Egba is one community”, among others.

    The youth condemned the companies’ divide-and-rule game, insisting that it was time for the companies and the host community to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for peaceful cohabitation.

    Their spokesman, Semiu Babatunde Akinyanmi, said it was unfortunate that the companies pay taxes to state and federal governments but abandoned their host community.

    Being a coastal community, Akinyanmi said fishing and mat making have been the people’s mainstay. He lamented that the contamination of the ocean through toxic waste discharged by the companies has left their parents, who are mostly fishermen, jobless.

    “The oil companies discharge toxic waste into the lagoon, which kills our fishes. As a result, our fathers can no longer fish. They now serve as non teaching staff in schools.

    “Besides, the daily movement of heavy duty trucks has destroyed our roads and made them non-motorable.”

     

    A youth, Sunday Lawal, said: “We are the youth of this community. All we are saying is that we don’t want money. We want development in our community and employment for us youths. When they initially came, they promised us schools and hospitals but up till today, we have not seen anything yet.”

    A spokesman for one of the oil companies said: “I’m in a tight corner to respond to this.  You can come to the depot and ask for the community relations officer.”

     

     

  • Minister caution youths against being used by Politicians

    Minister caution youths against being used by Politicians

    The Minister of Youth and Sport Development, Solomon Dalung has cautioned Nigerian youths against being used as cheap objects by Politicians.

    Dalung who said this Thursday at the inauguration of the third session of the Nigerian Youth Parliament in Abuja also said that if those who manipulate them believe in their future they should invest in them and not manipulate them.

    He said a deal of N1 million can do miracle in a rural area than giving somebody to go and mobilise people or using it to buy arms to cause trouble.

    “After the inauguration today you all must purge yourself from the act of manipulations and come back to your senses.

    “If I have collected money back in our days I doubt if I would have been given the opportunity to be Minister of Youth today and I challenge all youth leaders gathered here that after this session they should go back and reorganize themselves and I am ready to be part of them,” he said.

    He further said it is very sad that the Youth have also taken part in the drama of embarrassment and are now active participant in bringing shame and disgrace to Nigerian.

    “I challenged this August body that has resisted the temptation of not giving up due to much tension not to vote anybody who has given them money last night because such is buying you and if anybody has given you money to buy you, the person is not working for the Youth but the person who has sponsored him. We don’t want to inaugurate anyone into politics of money.”

    The outgoing speaker Youth Parliament Abba Waziri called on the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to deliver their campaign promises for the Youth as they keep pushing for the betterment of Nigerian Youth.

  • ‘It’s of youths by youths and for youths’

    ‘It’s of youths by youths and for youths’

    It was a celebration of the musical prowess of youths as children and teens across Lagos State gathered yesterday for the 2015 edition of the Musical Youth Fiesta Initiative (MYFI). It was at the Expo Centre of the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island.

    With the theme: “The faithful God”, the Fiesta, which is in its fifth edition, had over 6,000 people in attendance.

    There were choirs, pupils and contingents from each of the 57 local government and Local Council Development Areas across the state. Clusters of colours of clothes and hats differentiated one group from the other.

    Also in attendance were the executive secretaries of the local councils and government officials.

    Deputy Governor Mrs. Idiat Adebule was represented by Mrs Yetunde Odejayi, Pastor Josiah Bolarinwa, patron of MYFI, Mrs Kemi Soname, Mrs Bukola Faleke and Jide Sanwo-Olu, the chairman, organising committee of MYFI, attended the event.

    Delivering the opening remarks, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s wife, Bolanle, thanked the convener for the initiative which she said was fast becoming a brand. She said: “What can we give God in return for his mercies? Nothing but praises and praises – that is the reason we are here to give praise to the almighty God. Let us open our mouths and praise Him.”

    The youth didn’t disappoint as each performance seemed to outdo the previous one. The choirs also played various beats – blue grass, reggae, and traditional music.

    Over 300 church choirs signified their interest to perform but the number was reduced. The performing choirs were Mountain of Fire and Miracle (MFM); The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM); Christ Apostolic Church (CAC); Christian Pentecostal Mission (CPM); Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and Cherubim and Seraphim Church (C &S).

    There were also some sub-groups, such as Glorious Acapella (MFM), Elohim Tabernacle Choir and the Blessed Voices (RCCG), which added to the afternoon thrill.

    The soul-lifting renditions of gospel music and the children’s dexterity were testimonies of their musical prowess. Eleven-year-old Bayo Ajayi, son of popular jazz musician Kunle Ajayi also joined in serenading the audience.

    One after the other, the  pupils made the four-hour event seem like a breeze.

    The convener, Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central), said the event was an opportunity to showcase the creative musical talents of the youth and embolden them to perform publicly.

    She said: “This programme is for youths by youths and for the youth. Being an educationist, you don’t know how far this can affect their lives and generations to come.

    “The strength of any nation is determined by the quality of its youths. And you can see in this nation presently, there is a problem of youth unemployment. And when we begin to encourage them – let them have a voice, let them have confidence, it is possible. They have to keep dream alive.”

    Prior to this, Senator Tinubu spent 12 months mentoring the youth, especially the girls.

    Leader of the Guitar Choir of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles, Joseph Olubukola, hailed the programme and the initiator.

    “It is a wonderful place to gather youths to praise God,” he said.

    The first act of the day was by 12-year-old Favour Emeka, whose dexterity on the saxophone got the audience dancing.

    With the stage name Favour Sax, the JS 3 pupil wowed the audience, switching from song to song. She had three younger girls and a boy backing her up. Her mother, Mrs Remi Emeka, said Favour took after her grandparents.

    Besides the singing and dancing, 20 young girls also graduated from the Leadership Academy for Girls, an offshoot of the MYFI.

    The girls underwent a 24-hour course where they were mentored and presented with a certificate at the end. Of the 20 girls, only 18 were present for the graduation.

    They are Oni Ololade Hannah; Alaka Iyiola Praise; Olawunmi Akinsanmi; Alimi Olajumooke; Martins Oluwatosin; Alimi Oluwabukola; Alaba Esther; Ogunade Mary; Blessing Shitta; Ogunsanya Kayinsola; Divine Adaeze; Opakunle Victoria; Adebiyi Oluwapelumi; Ajayi Esther; Hassan Damilola; Taylor Adebisi; Agboola Titilayo and Anjolaoluwa Akerejola.

    Akerejola got a prize for being the most punctual.

  • Lawmaker advises youths on skills acquisition

    A member of Lagos State House of Assembly,  Moshood Oshun, has advised Nigerian youths, especially graduates, to opt for acquisition so as to become self-employed.

    Oshun, who represents Lagos Mainland 2 State Constituency, spoke at the inauguration of the     skill acquisition programme he organised for his constituents in Yaba, Lagos Mainland.

    The beneficiaries numbering about 250 are to be trained in making of adire, soap making, chemicals, paint making, beads, make-ups and fruit juice processing, among others.

    The lawmaker said the training was one of its kinds, adding that he organised it to tell Nigerians that white collar jobs are not enough to go round every job seeker.  There are other things that people can do apart from white collar jobs to boost Nigeria’s econoýmy.

    Oshun, who is Chairman House Committee on Public Account, stressed that the idea in Nigeria is that everybody must be in the office which, he said, is not possible.

    “There are other things that people can do to boost the economy of ýthe country. This is why I extend the training to both young and old.

    “We are ready to help people who will take the training serious. At the end of the day, it would encourage us to do more.

    “In Lagos Mainland, there is no week people won’t organise up to seven parties and you see people with different designs of headgears. Unfortunately, they are not the ones who fixed the headgears themselves. So, you can also set up your own business to make money,” he said.

    He said though the training could be rigorous, it is easier than stealing.

    “Beneficiaries who would want to establish their businesses from what they have learnt from the training, would be encouraged financially,” he said.

    The lawmaker, therefore, warned the 250 beneficiaries against not deploying what they learnt from the training to good use.

    Contributing, the Executive Secretary of Yaba Local Council Development Area, Bola Lawal-Olumegbon said the training was important since it would help the beneficiaries to meet their basic needs.

    “No amount of money given by the lawmaker can make up for the training. There is no job anywhere. Therefore, people live on what they know how to do best. We must, therefore, learn the skills with all seriousness. There is nothing you learn that would not benefit you,” she said.

     

  • Women, youths demand cancellation of election in Bayelsa council

    Women, youths demand cancellation of election in Bayelsa council

    Hundreds of women and youths from Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State have demanded the cancellation of the election in the area.

    They said the election in the capital city was marred by irregularities and inconsistencies in the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    According to them, INEC officials refused to listen to the complaints of voters and agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    They said the overall results were not a reflection of the results announced by the collation officer in the council.

    The state Youth Leader of the APC, Edison Sorgwe and a chieftain of the party, Alawei Opukeme-Jonah, who spoke on behalf of the aggrieved voters, said the result announced by the INEC’s collation officer were inconsistent with the number of rejected and cancelled votes.

    They said the same cases of ballot box snatching, irregularities and violence which INEC relied upon to cancel the election in Southern Ijaw also played out in Yenagoa and should be depended on to annul the election in the capital city.

    They said over eight members of the party were nursing their wounds in various hospitals after sustaining attacks from political thugs.

    “We have lost confidence in the ability of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barton Kpagih to conduct election. We are against the cancellation of Southern Ijaw Local Government election”,  he said.

    Also, the governorship candidate, APC, Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, yesterday, asked INEC to cancel elections in two local government areas of Sagbama and Ekeremor and parts of Nembe, Ogbia and Yenagoa.

    Sagbama is the local government area of the state governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Seriake Dickson, while Ekeremor is the local council of the Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.

    Sylva, in a statement signed by Sylva/Igiri Campaign Organisation (SICO), said the election should be cancelled following widespread violence, security breaches and manipulation that marred the poll in the councils.

    The former governor alleged in the statement signed by SICO’s Director, Media and Publicity, Chief Nathan Egba, that the breach in security and manipulation were caused by Dickson and PDP leadership.

    He said: “It is now a well-known fact that over 1000 armed men suspected to have been imported from Delta and Rivers states by governor Dickson stormed Ekeremor community where they unleashed terror on the entire community from the wee hours of election day for many hours before they were repelled by the army, only for them to return in the evening when the results were about to be collated.

    “The gunmen we suspect were hired for the sole purpose of assassinating the Hon. Minister for State, Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri as they launched a sustained attack on his residence with grenades, dynamite and gunshots for hours before the army repel them.

    “He was very lucky to have survived that night as they returned in the evening to continue till they were repelled by the army. But in the meantime, they had carted away sensitive election materials to manipulate in favour of PDP and returned for collation.”

    According to Sylva, said in Sagbama, youths imported from neighbouring states hijacked materials that were meant for the riverine communities in the LGA including the ward of the former acting Governor of the state, Nestor Binabo.

    He said there was no election in wards 1 and 2 adding that the violence which swept across the state largely occurred in Sagbama, Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw.

    He further condemned the continuous breach of electoral laws by Dickson who allegedly stormed Yenagoa Coalition Centre to threaten APC agents and went to Oporoma in Southern Ijaw against the police directive.