Day: May 17, 2023

Mrs Sadiya Farouk, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development says no country can develop if its youths are lagging behind.

The minister stated this at the empowerment of 60 youths organised by the Citizens’ Health Education and Development Initiative (CHEDI), an NGO, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Represented by Mrs Helen Ikem, Assistant Chief Social Welfare Officer at the ministry, Farouk stressed that the importance of youths empowerment couldn’t be overemphasized, adding that youths are the base of any nation.

She said such gestures create a sense of responsibility and leadership skills in the youth due to which they could feel and identify the actual practical problems of the society affecting the people.

Farouk said: “So many youth empowerment programmes were launched overtime because finally, people have realized that when the youths are empowered, it gives rise to a strengthened nation.”

The minister said that the society would be secured enough when the youths were empowered, saying, ”an empowered youth would never do any harm to the society in which they are living.

” An empowered youth is always passionate and dedicated towards their work and their society and they always dare to do something big for the betterment of society.

“They no longer wait for the high authorities to come and sort out the problem, instead they take some practical steps to solve the problem on their own.

Farouk said that youths empowerment played vital roles in the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari via the National Social Investment Poverty Alleviation and Programme.

The minister said: “Under this programme, we have the N-Power which creates opportunities for youths to be trained in various vocations and skills.

“There is also the Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme GEEP which provides opportunities for upscaling business investments in eradication from society.

”That is why the agriculture and other trades, Conditional Cash Transfer which provides cash grant support for micro level traders.

” And the Home grown School Feeding Programme which provides meal opportunities for school children is to boost school enrolment and prepare them for a decent and literate adolescence.”

Farouk commended the efforts of the CHEDI for complementing the government’s efforts in providing developmental support for the teeming youths.

“We must all realise that a collaborative effort such as this will always go a long way in making the society a safer and better place to live in,” she added.

The minister advised the beneficiaries to assist their peers in skills-building and help them to become financially independent like them.

Earlier, the Executive Director of CHEDI, Mrs Selina Enyioha, said the beneficiaries were drawn from the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa State and Niger.

Enyioha said that, hitherto, the NGO focused its empowerment programme on women, children and girls, adding,”we decided to include the youths this year due to high rates of youths unemployment in the country.”

She said that according to the National Bureau of Statistics reports of 2022, youths unemployment in Nigeria was about 53.40 per cent.

Enyioha said: “That is to say over 80 million Nigerian youths are unemployed. Our targets are unemployed graduates who have been trained and acquired skills in areas of tailoring, barbing saloon and hair dressing.’

“These graduates have had their hopes heightened after acquiring education, but unfortunately their dreams in Nigeria have become a mirage.”

Also, Ms Zara-Binta Goni, Senior Social Development Specialist, World Bank Staff Representatives, assured that the bank would continue to support the youths and women.

“The World Bank group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries.

” Its institution shares a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development and has a unique set of standards that endorse inclusion and empowerment.

” I would like to inform you that this support and resources were received from the staff of the world bank,” she said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Federal Government has inducted eight female achievers into the Nigerian Women Hall of Fame at the National Center for Women Development (NCWD) for their outstanding performance in their professional fields.

Mrs Pauline Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs, while inducting the women commended the inductees for their contribution and exceptional feat

She urged them to mentor young folks to sustain the tides of women development and participation.

Tallen also called on state commissioners for Women Affairs to replicate the structure of the Nigerian women hall of fame in their various states to recognise and document the contributions of women at the subnational levels.

“As we recognise and pay tribute to women by women, I believe that many more women are out there whose works and contributions have not been documented.

” I therefore, call state commissioners of women affairs to duplicate such structures, so that the feedback process will be established and activities decentralised,” she said.

Also, Dr Asabe Vilita-Bashir, Director General, NCWD, explained that the hall of fame features records of pre-colonial and contemporary Nigerian women who played leading roles in different aspects of the society.

“ The hall of fame also provides role models for younger girls and the society at large, on the ultimate potentials of women in the Nigerian society.

” The criteria for selection are first women, historic or living to achieve recognition in the field of endeavour or a lifetime of achievement in that field” she said.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the inductees include the First International President of the Medical Women Association, Dr. Eleanor Nwadinobi, the First African Woman to Invent a wearable Technology.

Others are Mrs Bolariwa Kemisola and the First Female Monitor-General in the 44years of the Nigerians Institute for policy and strategic studies, AIG, Aisha Baju among others.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

A United States of America – based philanthropists and business tycoon, Mrs Magdalene Agada has hailed the May 9 Supreme Court victory of Sen. Ademola Adeleke, Governor of Osun.

Chief Agada in a statement on Tuesday in Asaba, said that the Supreme court victory had opened the way for more democracy dividends for the people of Osun

According to her, Tuesday, May 9 victory over former Gov. Gboyega Oyetola has closed the chapter of legal distractions faced by the Adeleke administration.

“This means that Gov. Adeleke can now focus on the important task of delivering more dividends of democracy for Osun people.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Chief, Dr Magdalene Nwaka Agada is a frontline philanthropist, whose Open Hands Amazing Charitable Organization undertakes life-changing activities across Nigeria.

Mrs Agada, is also President of leading U.S-based medical equipment firm, Star Global Marketing Limited.

She thanked the Supreme Court Justices for returning a verdict that aligns with the wishes of the vast majority of Osun people, as was evident in their wild celebration of the judgement.

She also thanked Gov. Adeleke for extending the olive branch to former Gov. Oyetola and others who contested the July 16, 2022 governorship polls with him.

Agada felicitated former Gov. Oyetola for accepting the ruling of the apex court while congratulating Gov. Adeleke for his victory.

“With the litigation process having been brought to an end, His Excellency, Sen. Ademola Adeleke can now fast-track the actualisation of his administration’s six-pronged developmental agenda.

“The agenda designed to touch the lives of Osun masses in all the Local Government Areas of the state,” Agada said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Federal Government has condemned the attack on the motorcade of staff of United States (U.S.) Consulate in Nigeria by gunmen in Ogabru Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra which left four people dead.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack in a statement by the ministry’s Spokesperson, Francisca Omayuli, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The government commiserated with the families of the deceased, assuring them that investigation had already begun with a view to identifying the perpetrators and bringing them to book.

“The Federal Government received with dismay the sad news of the attack on the convoy of the staffers of the U.S. Consulate on May 16, 2023 in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.

“The unfortunate incident, which led to the death of two policemen and two staff of the consulate, is condemnable and most regrettable.

“While the investigation to fish out the culprits and bring them to book is ongoing the Federal Government extends its sympathy and condolences to the families of the deceased as well as to the United States Consulate and Mission in Nigeria over the unfortunate incident.

“The Federal Government remains undaunted by this sad development and reiterates its commitment to the continued fight against all forms of crime and criminality in the country.”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Muazu Sambo, has urged members of staff of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to double their efforts to ensure improved service delivery and economic development.

Sambo gave the advice while inaugurating the new NIMASA Abuja Liaison office on Tuesday.

He said that establishing a permanent Zonal office for the agency was imperative because of its strategic role in the sector.

“Apart from the reduction of cost of governance, the New Abuja Zonal Office will serve as the centre piece of government relations on matters with bilateral and multilateral implications on international trade and cooperation.

“It will enable the agency to host foreign diplomats and other key maritime stakeholders in the Federal Capital Territory, thereby helping the agency to speedily achieve its mandate.

“All these led to the acquisition of the office and served as further proof of the growth in capacity of NIMASA due to its deepened role in Nigeria’s economic development,” the minister said.

While expressing the ministry’s commitment to NIMASA and all other departments under it, Sambo said this project was a pointer to its determination in that regard.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for approving the procurement of the office, the NIMASA Chief executive and all who made the project a reality.

Sambo thanked everyone who contributed to the realisation of the project, saying more of such projects would subsequently be inaugurated in the country

Earlier, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, thanked the transportation minister and the Federal Government for ensuring the acquisition of the state-of-the-art edifice.

Jamoh said the project signaled the agency’s commitment to providing conducive, favourable and supportive working conditions to boost staff productivity.

The director-general said “today’s ceremony is just one more step in living up to what the world has come to expect from us.

“If we train our staff internationally, we must provide them with a working environment that matches with those international standards.

“This edifice reflects management’s commitment to providing a world-class working environment in addition to the recently reviewed and improved conditions of service for all employees.

“With this investment, we have taken things up. Top- notch by providing support, infrastructure environment, regarding safety and security.’’

He, however, pledged NlMASA’s commitment to ensure a culture of maintenance to extend the lifespan of the building.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria