Tag: Youth

Kogi Youths March, Demand Peaceful Governorship Election

 

Youth in Kogi State have vowed to ensure a free, fair, and credible exercise ahead of the November 16 governorship election in the state.

They also said they have resolved to support a peaceful process that would lead to electing a competent candidate who would transform the state economically and politically.

The youths staged a march on Wednesday tagged, ‘Vote Not Fight; Election No Be War,’ as part of activities lined up for the celebration of 2019 National Youth Day in Kogi State.

They stressed the need to sensitise the public against violence during and after the governorship election as they staged a peaceful protest walk within Lokoja metropolis.

READ ALSO: PDP Members Caution Leaders Against Endorsing Aspirants

The youths drawn across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state came together and asked residents to flee from any act of violence during the poll.

They walked from the Ganaja junction down the town to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state capital.

There, they handed over a five-point demand to the representative of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), while the coordinator appealed to INEC to remain unbiased during the election.

In his response, INEC’s Director of Voters Registration and Publicity, Mr Ahmed Biambo, said the electoral body was determined to create a level playing ground for all the 91 registered political parties to contest the governorship election.

The youths also took their sensitisation to the Police Headquarters in Lokoja, and they were received by the Commissioner of Police, Mr Hakeem Busari.

Mr Busari who also received the letter containing the demands by the youths promised to support their course for a better election.

Ondo Youths Protest Over Lack Of Development In Ilaje

Ondo Youths Protest Over Lack Of Development In Ilaje

 

Youths from the oil-producing Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have staged a peaceful protest in some communities in the area.

The protesters, carrying placards with various inscriptions, said they were unhappy with the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), the government agency in charge of developing communities in the LGA.

They decried the lack of development in Ilaje, alleging that OSOPADEC has not executed any project in the area in the last two years.

READ ALSO: Floods Hit Parts Of Lagos After Heavy Rains

The youths, therefore, called for a total autonomy of the agency to enable it carry out its responsibilities effectively.

Motorists and commuters also decried the deplorable condition of roads in Ilaje.

But the chairman of OSOPADEC, Olugbenga Edema, told Channels Television that claims that the commission has not executed any project in Ilaje in the last two years were untrue.

He equally spoke about the issue of autonomy for the agency.

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Nigeria’s Greatest Asset Is Our Youths – Atiku

Nigeria's Greatest Asset Is Our Youth – Atiku
File photo

 

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, says it is important for the Federal Government to regconise the fact that the youths are the nation’s greatest asset.

He said this in a Facebook post on Thursday, apparently in reaction to the comments made by President Muhammadu Buhari about the youths.

READ ALSO: ‘We Are Not Lazy’, Nigerian Youths Reply Buhari

In a video, the President had said that many of the youths below the age of 30 were uneducated, but waiting for everything to be done for them, just because Nigeria is an oil-rich country.

Atiku, on his part, said he would never refer to the youths as people who sit and do nothing, stressing that they are all hardworking.

“I should know, I have thousands of youths working for me all over the country who have been the backbone of our success.

“I’ve always said oil is not Nigeria’s greatest asset; our greatest asset is our youth who created Nollywood out of nothing and an entertainment industry that is second to none in Africa,” he stated.

The former presidential candidate noted further that Nigerian youths are charting new frontiers and creating a huge technology industry on their own.

He added that their entrepreneurial spirit, work ethic, and creative abilities are things of pride that should be applauded, encouraged and nurtured by the government.

Meanwhile, Many of the reactions to the President’s comments have been critical, some of whom accused him of describing the youths as lazy and being humourous with national pride.

However, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina, in a statement on Thursday, accused mischief makers of twisting President Buhari’s comments.

“There is no way President Buhari, father of the Nigerian nation in every sense of the word, who equally has biological children of his own in the youths age bracket, pass a vote of no confidence on all youths.

“It can only exist in the imagination of those who play what the President has described as ‘irresponsible politics’ with everything,” Adesina said.

Youth Empowerment: Kano Govt Graduates Over 500 Participants

At least 500 youths have undergone empowerment training initiated by the Kano State government.

The youths, after the programme which lasted for three months, graduated with various empowerment packages.

The event held on Thursday in Kano State and was attended by the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, and senior government officials in the state.

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Ajimobi Congratulates Obaseki, Says APC Will Not Disappoint

Abiola Ajimobi, youth, agricultureThe Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, has assured the people of Edo State that the Governor-elect, Godwin Obaseki, and “the All Progressives Congress family” will not betray the trust and confidence reposed in them through their mandate.

The Governor gave the assurance through his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka, in a congratulatory message to Obaseki, in Ibadan, on Saturday.

Ajimobi applauded the Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, for entrusting the fate of the people of the state in the hands of Obaseki, whom he described as a worthy successor, capable of keeping up the momentum.

He thanked the people of Edo State for their resolve to keep faith with the APC, a development he attributed to the people’s appreciation of the massive socio-economic transformation the state had witnessed in the last eight years.

Ajimobi said: “The outcome of the keenly-contested election is a further confirmation of the confidence which the people of the state have in the APC as well as the present administration under the pragmatic leadership of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

“I must not fail to commend the APC campaign train in Edo State and the national campaign council chaired by my brother, Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State for a well-articulated and well-coordinated campaign that took them to the nooks and crannies of the state.

“I’m confident that the incoming governor will not betray the confidence the people reposed in him by giving him their mandate, given his impeccable antecedents as a good manager of men and resources.”

The Governor assured the people that Obaseki would build on the monumental achievements so far recorded by Oshiomhole through his people-oriented programmes, which had endeared him to the generality of the people of the state.

Ajimobi also called for continued support of the people for the APC-led Federal Government in its determination to take the country out of its present economic doldrums, stressing that they would have cause to smile when the efforts began to yield fruits.

Kano Youths Kick Against Pension For Former Governors

Kano Youths on pensionSome youths have called on the Kano State House of Assembly to repeal the pension benefits for former governors and their deputies in the state.

The Voice of Progressive Youth in Kano State alleged that the benefit had given more attention to the governors and deputies to the detriment of the citizens.

The Chairman of the group, Hamisu Sharifai, presented the letter of protest to the Clerk of the Assembly on Friday in Kano, northwest Nigeria.

He noted that the law would destroy the state’s economy, considering what the beneficiaries of the law were getting from the state’s lean treasury.

In line with the current Nigeria’s economic crisis, Mr Sharifai insisted that the said law be repealed in the interest of justice, equity, fairness, public decency and morality.

The youths noted that the law depleted the lean treasury of the state as well as made the governors and their deputies the landlords, rather than the servants of the good people of Kano State.

In his response, the Clerk of the Assembly, Mr Lawan Badamasi, assured the youths that their message would be delivered to the leadership of the House.

He promised that the lawmakers would act in accordance with the law.

In 2007, a former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, signed the Pension Rights of Governor and Deputy Governor, a law that entitles former governors and their deputies to pension rights for life.

Section 3 (1) of the law provides the governors and deputy governors with pension at the rate equivalent to annual total emolument of the incumbent governor.

This includes two personal staff, two brand new vehicle, free medical treatment and 30 days annual vacation within or outside Nigeria.

Leaders, Citizens Must Sacrifice For Nigeria To Progress – Ajimobi

Abiola Ajimobi, youth, agriculture, Oyo State, AjimobiThe Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, has enjoined the country’s leaders and followers to be prepared to make sacrifices for its development in the spirit of collective responsibility to bail the country out of the pervading trying times.

The Governor gave the advice in an interview with journalists shortly after participating in the Eid-el Kabir prayers at Agodi prayer ground, Ibadan, in company with some members of the state executive council, as well as the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Dauda Makanjuola, and other Islamic faithful.

He called on citizens of the country and by extension the people of the state to perform their civic responsibilities and to play the role expected of them for the progress and prosperity of the country.

Speaking on the essence of the Sallah celebration, the Governor admonished the people and those in position of authority to ensure that they fulfilled every promise they made, which, he said, was in line with the teachings of the holy Quran.

Ajimobi said: “For every position we occupy in life, there is a responsibility. As Prophet Ibrahim sacrificed his son, we should also be ready to sacrifice. We should not always expect that only God must give, every individual must also give in order to get.

“For me, Eid-el Kabir signifies promise fulfilled. When a promise is made, we must ensure that we fulfill it. As government, we must endeavor to fulfill all our promises.”

He admonished the people to have strong belief in the ‘Change Agenda’ of the present administration, noting that the problem being faced by the country was as a result of long time financial indiscipline by political leaders as well as the followers.

He added: “The problem being faced today emanated from past mismanagement of our resources, lack of adequate planning, lack of infrastructural development and lack of adequate structure to propel development. So, every individual must play his or her role for the economic situation to improve.”

The Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh AbdulGaniyu Agbotomokekere, had earlier led prayers at the ground and slaughtering of ram, in accordance with Islamic teachings.

While delivering his sermon, the Chief Imam called for tolerance and peaceful coexistence among all residents of Ibadan, which, according to him, was in line with the teachings of the Holy Quran.

He counselled the people of the state to be vigilant and report any suspicious movement of unknown people to the security agents, just as he prayed for peace and tranquility of the state.

NAFOWA Trains Youths, Widows of Fallen Air Force Personnel

Nafowa, Youth, Women Empowerment, Skill Acquisition ProgramsThe Nigerian Air Force Officers Wives Association (NAFOWA), has been training widows of deceased Air Force personnel and youths in different skills.

The training programme commenced on June 20 with 165 participants.

Most of the trainees were those whose husbands or parents died while fighting insurgents in the northeast region of Nigeria. The rest were from the barracks and host communities.

They were trained in tailoring, beads making, shoe making, ICT, catering, hairdressing, barbing among others skills.

The participants also received starter packs to enable them become successful in their chosen career.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony of the trainees at the Air Force base in Kaduna state, President of the association and wife of the Chief of Air Staff, Mrs Hafsat Abubakar, said that the training programme was to compliment the federal government’s effort in tackling unemployment and youth restiveness in the country.

She explained that the programme was designed to help build entrepreneurial skills among youths and women in the barracks, with a view to making them self-sufficient and useful to the society.

According to her, the current decline of the Nigerian economy makes it necessary for women and youths not to rely solely on white collar jobs, but to look for alternative sources of engaging themselves meaningfully through capacity building and skill acquisition.

Wife of the governor of Kaduna state, Mrs Hadiza El-Rufai, commended NAFOWA for initiating the training programme which she said would add immense value to the empowerment of youths and indigent women in the state.

She urged the beneficiaries to make use of the opportunity and develop themselves.

The Chief of Air Staff, who was represented by the Chief of Administration, Nigerian Air Force headquarters, Air Vice Marshal Ajibola Jekenu, also commended NAFOWA.

He said that the service had also initiated some programmes aimed at touching the lives of indigent persons in the barracks and host communities.

Some of the beneficiaries expressed optimism that the training they have received would help them in becoming self-reliant and better equipped to support their families.

Christian Group Tasks Kaduna Governor-elect, Deputy On Campaign Promises

el-rufai Kaduna Governor The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has admonished the Kaduna State Governor-elect, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and his Deputy, Barnabas Bantex, to deliver on their campaign promises to the electorates.

The Chairman of the Kaduna State Chapter of CAN, Bishop George Dodo, gave the admonition on Sunday at a Thanksgiving Service ahead of the May 29 handover. The Service was held at the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) in Kaduna.

He also urged the elected representatives to be fair to all and also run an open-door policy if they must make progress as leaders.

Bishop Dodo told the elected officials that the people would hold them accountable for their actions and inaction while in office and, therefore, urged them to do what was right before God and man.

The church service was part of the inauguration programme lined up for the May 29 handover.

‘Tough Decisions’

Although the incumbent Governor, Mukhtar Yero, lost the April 11 governorship election to the former Federal Capital Territory Minister, Mallam El-Rufai, both men had continued to work closely for a smooth transition.

Addressing the congregation, the Deputy Governor-elect, Barnabas Bantex assured them that the incoming administration would take some tough decisions for the interest of the people.

He also explained that the incoming government would take all decisions in-line with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, and however assured the Christian community of equity and fairness.

Mr Bantex also told the Youth that the El-Rufai Government would provide massive jobs for them, and solicited for prayer from the Church to enable them succeed.

On his part, the outgoing Deputy Governor, Nuhu Bajoga, who represented Governor Yero, thanked the people for their support to the outgoing administration and urged them to extend similar support to the incoming government.

Jonathan Tells Commonwealth Youths To Campaign Against Violence

JonathanPresident Goodluck Jonathan has reiterated that his political ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian citizens.

While speaking to members of the Commonwealth Youth Council led by current Chairman, Ahmed Adamu, in the presidential villa on Wednesday, President Jonathan said elective officers are for service.

“If any politician is endangering the lives of the citizens, it has amounted to deception,” he said.

Mr President also called on the youths to campaign against violence to the grassroots, so the message would sink in the ears of those who may want to foment trouble during the election.

While addressing politicians at the All Political Parties Summit, held at the Federal Capital Territory earlier, President Jonathan said his political ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian.

President Jonathan decried the discordant tunes from politicians since the advent of terrorism in Nigeria and called on politicians to join hands with the Federal Government if the war against terror must be won.

Emphasising the need to place national interest ahead of personal ambition, he also decried what he called anti-democratic tendencies of some politicians and the tension being created.

Goodluck Jonathan advised the gathering that no one should play into the hands of extremist elements who use the campaign of terror against the country.

Delta Security Council Bans Speed Boats To Curb Tribal Clashes

The secretary to the Delta state government, Ovuozorie Macaulay has announced the government’s decision to restrict certain activities in Warri North Local Government area of the state.

This, according to him, is in order to curb the recent spate of inter-tribal clashes.

Mr Macaulay made this known after an emergency state security council meeting in Asaba.

Macaulay, who was flanked by the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, Mr Ikechukwu Aduba and heads of different security agencies in the state, observed that the security council which was chaired by the Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan decried the present skirmishes being witnessed in some communities in Warri North Local Government area and commiserated with affected victims and families.

He however appealed for calm as security agencies are on top of the situation and they should be allowed to do their work.

Macaulay further pointed out that the state “notes with regret the recent happenings in Warri North local government area within the last few days and wish to commiserate with victims and affected families. Security operatives are however in control of the situation and they should be allowed to do their duties. People should be calm and go about their normal duties”.

He announced the decision of the state government to place a ban on speed boats on the water ways from 6pm to 7am, while banning in totality the use of  motor boats with two horse powers and above in the region.

Mr Macaulay also made it known that activities of various youth  associations should be suspended in the region to prevent youths from gathering for nefarious activities, but he encourages honest residents to go about their businesses as security agents have been deployed to maintain law and order in the region.

Meanwhile, the former secretary of the Ijaw Youth Council, Udengs Eradiri, has called for calm among the two tribes in the region.

The youth leader wants “brotherly love to continue among the Itsekiris and the Ijaws after living in peace since 2003. He is also seeking a peaceful resolution of the crisis”.

According to a March 1997 Africa Research Bulletin Report, the conflict between the Itsekiri and the Ijaw people dates back to 1997 when the headquarters of the newly-created Warri South West Local Government Area was relocated to a rival town Ogidigbein of the Itsekiri community from Ogbe-Ijoh.

Reports had it then that three members of the Ijaw tribe were killed in rioting, and the home of former Information Minister, and foremost Ijaw leader, Edwin Clark destroyed in a fire believed to have been the handiwork of arsonists.

The recent row was caused by an alleged attack on Ugborodo, an Itsekiri community in the state.

 

 

Agriculture To Create 3.5 Million New Jobs By 2015 – Jonathan

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has disclosed that that his administration has embarked on bold policy and institutional reforms aimed at adding 20 million metric tonnes of food to domestic supply and creating at least 3.5 million new jobs by 2015 in the agriculture and allied industries.

The President made this known on Tuesday while speaking at the formal opening of a meeting with members of the Eminent Persons Group on the Transformation of Nigeria’s Agricultural Sector at the World Economic Summit in Davos, Switzerland.

President Jonathan said that the present administration’s objective was to build on Nigeria’s tremendous natural resources, reverse the decline in the agricultural sector’s productivity which followed the discovery of oil, establish domestic self-sufficiency in food and make the country “a major net exporter of food”.

“Such a shift will not only reduce the billions of dollars we spend importing basic food items, but will also create millions of jobs, especially for our youth,” the President said.

He also told the gathering that his administration was wholly committed to a government-enabled, private sector driven transformation of the nation’s agricultural sector.

He further disclosed that the initiative to transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector through the private sector is already paying off with new private sector investments worth about Eight Billion U.S. Dollars now committed to agriculture.

Thanking members of the Eminent Persons Group for their support, he stated that their contributions will not only help to achieve food security for the nation, but also help to create more new jobs to take millions of unemployed youth off the streets and into productive employment.