The Nation Newspaper

Tag: youths

  • Skilled youths vital to driving growth, says NITDA

    •Affirms confidence in DEMO Africa 2015

    The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has said it is committed to driving youth development through the promotion of the acquisition of relevant information communications technology (ICT) skills, adding that this is one way of driving the economy.

    Its Director-General, Peter Jack, said Africa is growing while the youth are showing the way, stressing that technology forum, such as DEMO Africa 2015, a pan-African launch-pad for technology start-ups to become technology leaders and entrepreneurs, is the way to go.

    He said: “Africa is growing in strength and its youths are pointing to the direction of things to come. NITDA is committed to Demo Africa as part of its mandate on youth development from the perspective of IT as well as its belief that a large population of highly exposed and trained youths will be the driver of Nigeria’s new economy.”

    The DEMO Africa takes place between September 21 and 25 in Lagos. It will showcase 30 technology start-ups from across Africa. Nigeria leads the table with eight startups. They are: PoshRite, Oga Venue, TalkingBookz, iKon Tracker, Mavis Computel,  CarpartsNigeria, Zuvaa, and SmartEdu.

    Kenya, increasingly gaining global spot as tech-startup haven, has six namely: Bitsoko, BambaPOS, Shield Finance, InsureAfrika, LipaPlus, ENT-Mobile, Abacus, and SimbaPay. South Africa has three startup-representatives: Edge Books, Bozza and Eco-mc2.  Ghana has two: Ghana’s Zeepay and Flippy Campus. Egypt also has two: LockName and Raye7. Cameroon features two: Koomza and Feem Wi-Fi; and Zimbabwe also has two startups: IPC eProductivity and RoadRules.

    Uganda, Tanzania and Ivory Coast each have one startup in this order respectively: Roundbob, Tango TV, and Airshop.  Francophone Ivory Coast with its Airshop startup company will be featuring in the event for the first time and underscores the expanding ecosystem for Africa’s technology startups.

    NITDA with the Ministry of Communication Technology is a co-host of DEMO Africa in collaboration with LIONS@FRICA and VC4Africa. NITDA is already promoting eight Nigerian startups at this year’s GITEX Expo and Conference taking place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    DEMO Africa also has the support of private sector technology giants, including Microsoft, under the 4Afrika Initiative.The software company is encouraged by the support of public institutions such as the NITDA for the DEMO Africa forum.

    “It is actions by different players that will see technology entrepreneurship effectively bringing sustainability to entrepreneurship across Africa,” said Executive Producer of DEMO Africa, Harry Hare, while commending on Microsoft’s support for the event.

    One of the highpoints of DEMO Africa 2015 is the newly introduced knowledge streams to delve into critical topics including Business Modelling, Scaling Businesses, Creating an Unfair Advantage, and Raising Capital. Top industry players, including MEST Founder, Jorn Lyseggen,  President, Harry Tomi Davies-ABAN, Partner, Adlevo Capital, Folabi Esan, IROKO TV CEO, Jason Njoku, among others, will lead the discussion.

    Other notable activities at the event would include an investor roundtable forum and theLIONS@FRICA Summit, with the uptake of Africa-generated technology being expected to dominate the conversations.

  • Community youths beat up man harassing girl

    A thirty-five-year-old and father of three in Mkpuma, Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Ejike Nwuzor, was at the weekend, caught by villagers for allegedly defiling a 12-year-old girl.

    Nwuzor was caught by a farmer, Oliver Nwegede, who said he was working on his farm when he saw Ejike harassing the girl.

    Nwegede said the girl’s scream attracted him.

    “The girl was struggling with Nwuzor, crying and begging him to leave her. So instead of coming out immediately to rescue her, I hid very well in the bush.

    “Nwuzor overpowered the girl and this forced me out of the bush but before I could come out, another man, who might have heard the cry, stormed the scene.

    “We took Nwuzor while we got cloth from some women in the farm to cover the victim’s nakedness because her clothes were already torn and then we reported to the villagers,” he said.

    The youths paraded Nwuzor round the community, forcing him to dance to disgraceful songs which they chanted. The show lasted for four hours.

    He was later tortured by the elders who demanded that he offset the victim’s medical bill with a threat to ostracise him if caught in such dastardly act again.

    Narrating her ordeal, the victim said she was returning from an errand and at a lonely place, she heard someone whisper.

    “I suddenly saw Ejike Nwuzor Okemini after the whisper; he dragged me into a corner of the bush and told me to pull off my clothes, which I refused.

    “Because I did not agree, he started tearing my clothes and pounced on me. A man who saw us ran to the scene and nabbed him. Another man joined and arrested him and got clothes from a woman for me”, the girl said.

    Police spokesman Chris Anyanwu said he was yet to receive official report on the matter.

  • Why we prefer some malls to others, by youths

    Shopping malls have become the most visited places by persons of various ages.

    They have various stores, such as Shoprite, Silverbird Cinema, KFC, Lounge, and Mr Price.

    People visit malls to either window-shop, lounge, see movies, party, eat and carry out other activities.

    The Nation Shopping spoke with some youths on their favourite store and their reasons.

    Roseline Aghian, a frequent shopper, said: “Mr Price is actually my favourite spot in the mall because I love shopping cloths and fashion and I think their prices there are moderate so I come here a lot. Also, the discount I enjoy from them when they slash their prices almost by half encourages me to come here and their cloths are of quality.  I can say that it is one place I love coming to.”

    Mrs. Joann Peters, who was visiting the mall for the first time, said his favourite spot is Shoprite because of the things they have and their prices which is affordable.

    “I love the mall in all because the other stores around have good things and the neatness of the mall,” he said.

    Another young man, who identified himself as MC Genesis, said: “I prefer KFC because of their ice cream and other products which are packaged maturely. Also, the discounts I get when I buy in large quantities not only here but in their other branches has encouraged me to patronise them more often.”

    An American, J. R. Teddies, said: “Shoprite is my favourite store in the mall because it is massive.”

    An anonymous person said: “I have no favourite store in the mall but I just enjoy shopping most especially with my kids.”

    Yet another youth, who identified himself as Jersey Lawrence, said: “I love coming to the Spar, KFC and I watch movies most times. I have no favourite spot in the mall as I basically enjoy shopping in the mall for anything. To me, it’s just a regular trip to the mall.”

    They also told The Nation Shopping about their views on the services of their favourite stores in the malls and made some suggestions.

    Aghain said she would like Mr Price to increase its closing time because some people who come between 8 and 8.30pm have to rush to leave the store.

    “Also, some of their cloths are mostly for teens, they should try and get more cloths for the working class because most of the cloths available are crop tops and high waist,” she said.

    “The customer service of Shoprite is poor and I would like if they can improve on it,” said Teddies. MC Genesis  said KFC’s services are very okay and of standard but I would like them to increase the number of their workers because in places such as this people come in their large number, more people should be hired to attend to people.

    Jersey Lawrence said: “For the Spar, they take time to attend to a customer and they should improve on that. The mall, on the other hand, should employ more workers,”

    Miss Ella Okechukwu Chioma said: “Everything about the mall is okay but I still believe they need to improve in all areas.”

    For Mrs Modupe Lawrence, Shoprite’s services are okay; the mall is also okay but when you want to compare it to international standards, I would rate them 40 per cent because in developed countries, people don’t pay for parking space, she said.

    “They also don’t have varieties of things inside where you can do a lot of things such as shopping for all categories of people; they don’t have much of it as you can just lay your hand on few things.

    ‘’I feel bad about being short-changed by Shoprite but at the same time, I look at the things they need to put together, such as electricity, workers and all that. The fact that the genuineness of what you are buying is guaranteed as you are sure that what you are getting here is not fake or adulterated is a reason I patronise them.”

  • Shell to train 150 Niger Delta youths

    Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) operated Joint Venture, said 150 youths from the Niger Delta are to benefit from its 2015 LiveWIRE programme, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to over 6,000 since the launch of the programme in 2003.

    LiveWIRE is a flagship youth enterprise development programme which provides access to training, business development services and start-up capital.

    “LiveWIRE presents a good opportunity for bright young people to bring their ideas to fruition,” said SPDC’s General Manager External Relations, Igo Weli. “We are pleased to see the youths transform to employers of labour after going through intensive business training that is reinforced with theoretical and practical sessions.”

    The two-week training slated for September will be held for the selected youths in Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa states. Media Relations Manager of Shell, Mr. Precious Okolobo, said in a statement that the programme is open to university and polytechnic graduates with innovative business ideas from the three states.

    The curriculum includes business planning and management and post start-up mentoring, incubation and market linkages. Successful candidates will be linked to third parties such as Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), banks, and allied financial institutions and provided a volunteer mentoring programme.

    Okolobo said in 2014, the Livewire scheme was broadened to include a specific focus on people with physical impairments. Some 180 physically challenged people had already benefited from training and grants.  Shell Companies in Nigeria work with government, communities and civil society to implement programmes that have a lasting impact on lives in the Niger Delta and beyond. “Social investment activities are focused in particular on community and enterprise development, education and health,” he added.

  • Youths are partners in nation building, says students’ leader

    President, the National Association of Ondo Students (NAOSS), Adeolu Iwakun, has urged the youth to be patriotic and promote peace.

    He was the guest at an event organised by Orange FM in Akure, the Ondo State capital, to commemorate the International Youth Day.

    Describing the youth as partners in national transformation, Adeolu said no nation can develop without carrying young people along in any programme.

    He said: “The youth are the today and tomorrow of every society. They are partners, because they supply the needed energy and their efforts shape the future of the country. The development of a nation is solely depended on the level of empowerment of its youths, because young people are vital stakeholders in the decision making process.”

    Adeolu enjoined young ones to be law-abiding and peaceful in their conduct, saying there was need for re-orientation to insulate the youth from the effect of corruption, insecurity, moral decadence and poverty, which, he said, could expose them to destructive vices.

    He added: “Our leaders should live by examples and invest reasonable resources in youth empowerment to create an enabling environment for young people to develop their minds through sound education.

    “Youths must be considered when decisions are being made at all levels of government. We must be fully incorporated into nation-building process, so that we can develop the positive attitudes and thoughts needed for an ideal society. It is what is impacted on the youths today that will reflect how they will lead the country tomorrow.”

    Other activities held to mark the day included tree-planting project, which was declared open by Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

    Adeolu described the project as laudable and remarkable, saying it would control erosion and other environmental challenges.

  • Youths must engage social media wisely’

    Youths must engage social media wisely’

    Ebenezer Wikina, 22, is famous for his activities on the social media. A student of the Institute of Journalism in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, Ebenezer is also an online volunteer for the United Nations. This gave him the opportunity to represent Nigeria at the recently-held World Economic Forum (WEF) regional conference in South Africa. He shares his inspiration with CALEB ADEBAYO (Law, Obafemi Awolowo University).

    You seem to have a passion for journalism. How did you come about it?

    When I was 10 years old, I watched the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) news each time I visited my paternal grandmother. She never missed the NTA Network News, and she always made me watch. My childhood memories were filled with names like, Fatima Abass Hassan, Eugenia Abu and Cyril Stobber. My dad would also keep old books and magazines for me to read. These stoked my passion for writing and journalism.

    How did you come about your blogs – Write Paragraphs and The Stroll – for which you are now famous?

    Mary Ajayi and I started Write Paragraphs blog, because we wanted to give voice to the youth. Since, I had interest in the United Nations (UN) activities, I registered with the UN online volunteering service. We created Write Paragraphs to share our thoughts on global issues. But, it grew to what it is today. The Stroll is a column on the blog, where we interview people and share their stories and ideas to inspire youths across the world. I always conduct the interview on social media and I have published over 90 interviews of high-profile people, including Mr Ahmad Alhendawi, the UN youth envoy; UN Under Secretary General Gyan Acharya; Prof Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director, United Nations Population Funds (UNFPA); Richard Wurman, founder of Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED), and Nathaniel Bassey, a gospel artiste, to mention a few.

     

    Why did you volunteer for the UN programme?

    I always believed I can contribute my quota to world peace and progress; so, when I heard of the UN volunteering programme, it was an opportunity for me. I like volunteering for anything that will benefit my peers.

    What inspired the TED event?

    I learnt about TED in 2008 when my mum bought a Java phone for me, which gave me access to the Internet. In 2013, I applied for a license to host TED event in Port Harcourt, but I was told Donald Okudu had already got the license for it. I located the team and volunteered to work with them. After Port Harcourt event, I sought Donald’s approval to replicate the event in Ile-Ife. It turned out to be the only TED event in West Africa in 2014.

    You represented Nigeria at a recent World Economic Forum (WEF) regional conference in South Africa. What lessons did you draw from the event?

    I was one of the 80 youths drawn from Africa to represent our respective countries. I was not the only representative from Nigeria. There were youths from Lagos, Abuja, Calabar and Kano. In the course of the event, I became a member of Global Shapers, a group of youths of ages between 20 and 30 years, which was founded by Prof Klaus Schwab. I wish our government officials were at the meeting, because of the relevance of the theme. How can we re-shape Nigeria’s future? Would the nation still be the giants of Africa in the next 15 years? How does the nation provide jobs for the school leavers? These were the questions discussed during the event.

    How do you manage school work and your activities?

    I have a to-do list. Sometimes, my activities get so many and I won’t be able to sit for a second. I still believe this is a training stage; I am getting better at multi-tasking now.

    Who are your mentors?

    My mum and dad are my mentors. Then, I see Reverend T.O. Adeleke, my spiritual father, as a good role model. The spiritual part of a man is what determines his happiness. So, I always approach the clergy for advice.

    Where do you see yourself in five years?

    I don’t know. I may be at the United Nations headquarters holding a key leadership position. I am not good at prediction. But, I believe I would have been through with school and hope to further my studies in Columbia University School of Journalism.

    What is your advice for young people?

    As young people, we have great energy but some of us lack direction. We must find our direction and passion. Also, we must engage social media positively, because it is a wonderful platform to learn, network and project our ideas.

  • Dry dock location: Youths’ letter scares NLNG management

    The management of multinational gas corporation, the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG) and its investors are panicking, following a protest letter by a coalition of Rivers State youths and other stakeholders on the proposed location of NLNG’s dry dock.

    The letter was said to have startling revelations previously unheard of and lay credence to the fact that NLNG, despite its denials, sponsored the proposed dry dock project in Badagry, Lagos State.

    The nine-page letter, which was copied to government and strategic agencies across the country, was written by Rivers youth leaders representing various groups, stakeholders and other Niger Delta youths.

    The youths, under the aegis of the Joint Niger Delta Youth Movement, is led by Niger Delta activist, Ann Kio Briggs.

    They urged the company to reverse the relocation of the project from Rivers to Lagos State.

    Among those present at the NLNG complex in Port Harcourt at the presentation of the protest letter, are: Chairman of Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Rivers State chapter, Amb. Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo; the National Secretary-General of Ijaw Youth Council and Leader of Rivers Ijaw Youths, Emmanuel Bristol Alagbariya; leader of Bonny Youth Federation, Simeon Wilcox, among others.

    They regretted the non-inclusion of the host communities in NLNG projects and condemned what they called the high-level deceit, fabrication and deliberate intention to foist crisis in the region.

    It was learnt that there was disquiet among the rank file of the NLNG management over the relocation controversy.

    The protesters called for the relocation of the dry dock in any part of Niger Delta.

    Their letter was submitted amidst tight security by the NLNG management, but it did not deter the youth and stakeholders, who matched on the NLNG premises, from delivering it to one of NLNG’s key management officers.

    The letter reads: “It is not in dispute that you, NLNG, conceived the idea and sponsored the disputed dry dock feasibility studies, received, accepted, gave approval to the report and indeed mobilised banks and investors and also organised a road show to actualise and give effect to your desired decision to site the dry dock in Lagos as pre determined.

    “It is necessary here to note that before the feasibility study and road show of December 9, 2014, organised by you, there were no foreign or local investors (company or consortium) for the dry dock. But to our chagrin, NLNG had named the project Badagry Ship Repair and Marine Engineering (BSME).”

     

     

     

     

  • Youths protest corruption in Ekiti

    Youths protest corruption in Ekiti

    •Urge Buhari to sustain anti-graft war

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade has received the endorsement of youths in Ekiti State.

    They have launched a movement to free the nation from the grip of graft.

    Acting under the aegis of Youth Against Corruption, the youth urged the President to be resolute in ensuring that those who looted public treasury were prosecuted and compelled to refund the stolen money.

    The youth, who carried placards, decried corruption, which they identified as the harbinger of poverty, crime, unemployment, underdevelopment and other ills afflicting the polity.

    They said it was regrettable that corruption had robbed the country of development and impoverished the citizens.

    Addressing a news briefing in Ado Ekiti yesterday, the group’s coordinator, Femi Ogundare, said it was sad  that Nigeria retained its place among the most corrupt countries 15 years after coming last in the Corruption Perception Index of the global anti-corruption watchdog, Transparency International (TI).

    He said: “Corruption is the biggest challenge Nigerians are facing. In 2000, Transparency International carried out a survey on corruption level in 90 countries. At the end, Nigeria was ranked the most corrupt.

    “In the latest ranking by TI last year, Nigeria was ranked 136th of the 174th  surveyed countries. Mathematically, it shows that Nigeria is the 38th  most corrupt country in 2014. This result is unacceptable and must be challenged by youths.”

  •  Unemployed Nigerian youths

    SIR: The rate of unemployment has continued to increase over the years. This is a time bomb waiting to explode if nothing drastic is done about the 65 percent youth population in Nigeria most of whom are unemployed. Some of them who are employed are earning wages that cannot help them live a decent life.

    With these growing number of unemployed youths, Nigeria becomes more vulnerable as an idle mind is the devil’s workshop—some of these youths would take to crime and criminality, others will become a menace to the society enlisting with terrorist organisations and also getting involved in shady deals and businesses just to make ends meet. The problem of unemployed youths of Nigeria must be immediately addressed by the Buhari administration before things get out of control.

    Nigeria has not taken advantage of this vibrant, young and productive group in order to grow the economy. Most of these youths have diverse skills and varying talents but there is limited opportunity and avenue for them to put into good use their energy for the benefit of the Nigerian society. Studies have shown that unemployment has a negative impact on the gross domestic product (GDP) of the Nigerian economy. Besides, it results in a waste of manpower.

    President Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu in an article titled ‘’Buhari’s Job Search’’  published in Daily Trust on August 19, 2015 shows there is a glimmer of hope with his explanation of the president’s concern about the unemployed youths and the potential in the science and technology industry to create jobs. It reassures Nigerians that the Buhari administration has job creation as one of its top priorities.

    The president agrees that the Nigerian economy has over the years failed to create jobs for millions of unemployed youths. Those who say that most Nigerian youths are unemployable are justifying their failure and inability to create jobs. Most of the unemployed youths in Nigeria are graduates and those who are not graduates have technical skills and abilities in different areas of endeavour. Being unemployable is a consequence of long-term unemployment which is caused by government’s failure to create jobs.

    Could it be that previous administrations did not have the knowledge or the means to create jobs for the teeming unemployed Nigerian youths? But Nigeria boasts of bright brains in all spheres of human endeavour who could work towards ensuring that the issue of long-term unemployment is addressed and the growing rate of unemployment is kept in check. Ironically, we have had a mixed bag of politicians and technocrats, both at home and from the diaspora who have occupied one public office or the other but yet we have not made much progress in solving the problem of the unemployed Nigerian youth.

    We cannot allow the rate of unemployment in Nigeria continue to increase year in, year out without making job creation a major job of governments at all levels. It is going to be disastrous for a country that has been projected to have the third largest population in the world by 2050.

    • Bolaji Samson Aregbeshola is the author of ‘’Nigerian Political Parties and Politicians: Winding Road from Country to Nation’’.

  • Youths hail anti-corruption battle

    Youths in Abaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the auspices of Abaji Concern Youth Movement (ACYM) have praised the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari on the fight against corruption.

    Speaking at a joint press briefing chairman of the group, Comrade Usman Abdulkadir and Secretary, Comrade Hussaini Sanusi, said the steps taken by Buhari administration to checkmate corrupt people in the society, would go a long to redeeming the image of the country in the eyes of the world.

    They expressed concern over the spate of corruption across all sectors, saying there was need for all citizens, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to give their support to ensure the present administration succeeds in the fight against corruption.

    “It is obvious that some politicians and a section of this country are not happy with the anti-corruption by Buhari administration. But we the youth are fully in support of the move, as we are calling on the Buhari not to be deterred by any attack and criticism on his fight against corruption,” the group said.

    The group urged President Muhammadu Buhari to heed the peoples call in making one of the indigenes of the territory as a minister, saying appointing an indene as minister will break the jinx and set a precedent for any future government to follow.

    They said the original inhabitants of the territory have suffered neglect and marginalisation from successive admirations, adding that indigenous people have been reduced to second class citizens in their ancestral home.

    “The non-inclusion and consideration of the original inhabitants into the federal executive council has also negatively affected the socio-cultural development of the natives, especially the teaming youths,” they said.

    They also appealed to the Buhari administration to set up a committee that would look into the state of the newly completed Abuja University of Science and Technology, Abaji (AUTA), in order to commission it for academic activities to fully commence.