Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on Sunday urged the youth to start organising themselves for leadership positions before the 2023 general elections.
Soyinka made the call on the sidelines the Wreath Laying Ceremony to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the death of Chief MKO Abiola, organised by Women Arise for Change Initiative (WA) at the late politician’s graveside in Ikeja.
He said that the youth should recognise that they had the bloc vote to manifest and actualise their expectations.
“Sometimes I refer to this generation of youths in which one places so much hope, as a ‘Gaseous’ generation because they are so full of gas.
“But when it comes to action, you are astonished because they keep calling out names like where is Wole Soyinka? Where is Joe Okei-Odumakin? Where is Femi Falana?
“They keep churning out the same names, same expectations, they do not organise themselves for action.
“This is what we had hoped to happen in the last elections when we called the public to jettison the two major political parties and for the youths to recognise that they actually have a powerful bloc vote and they should exercise it in a progressive way.
“Well, it didn’t work the first time, it’s a new concept to them, so, nobody should place so much expectations.
“But one hopes that in advance, 2023, the youths should begin to organise themselves, they must not wait till the last minute.
“They should begin right now in manifesting their expectations and the possibility of the realisation of their expectations of taking up leadership positions, ” Soyinka said.
Tag: Youths
-
Start preparing for 2023 polls now, Soyinka tells Nigerian youth
-
Anambra youths protest, threaten reprisal over alleged killing, raping of women
Youths of Anambra West local government area, Anambra State on Monday, staged a peaceful protest over alleged continued killings of farmers and raping of women in the community.
They accused the state government of paying lip service to their plight, threatening to embark on a reprisal attack if noting urgent was done.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the protest, Secretary of the youths, Ikechukwu Onuorah, wondered why they would be asked to be patient while they continued to be humiliated by visitors in their communities.
He said, “We are disappointed that the government is paying lip service to addressing the problem.
“How can people be sleeping in their farm settlements and homes while visitors will attack, kill and cut off their neck? It makes us look as if we are weak.
“We are just respecting Governor Obiano that is why we have not confronted the killer herdsmen. We don’t want to create an embarrassing situation for him, but we expect him to act now.
“If they continue what they are doing, we will confront them and it will be bloody and I’m sure at the end of the clash no herdsman will ever come into Anambra West.”
On his part, the Coordinator, Mr. Odikpo Madubueze said, “We don’t want to take laws into our hands, but Federal and State governments shouldn’t allow us to match them violence for violence, they have killed many of our people and farmers have deserted their farms.
“It’s only few courageous farmers that go to farm in groups now, unlike before they go alone and even at that, they have always run out of the farms claiming to be pursued by herdsmen.
“We cannot run away from our farms and villages because of people we decided to accommodate to do their cattle rearing business.”
The protesters, carrying placards, chanted songs, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Willie Obiano to intervene by stopping further killings in the area.
Some of the placards read, “Silent killings of our people by Fulani herdsmen our farms and villages still going on”, “We are running out of patience with the violent activities of Fulani herdsmen in Anambra West”, “Pushing us to the walls will bring mayhem, enough of the killings of our people.”
-
Nigeria in dire need of skillful youths to address unemployment challenges – Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday said that Nigeria at this point requires the youths to be highly skillful in order to solve the problem of unemployment, security and youth restiveness.
The President, who was a Visitor at the 31st Convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), stated that the era of handing certificates to graduates without self-sustaining skills is no longer sustainable.
Buhari who was represented by the State Minister of Education, Prof. Anthony Anwuka, observed that the growth and establishment of new industries to absorb the graduates is rather too slow.
According to him, “there is a need to re-double efforts in turning out graduates with self-sustaining, globally competitive skills and talents for the realization of national goals of building a free, democratic, just and egalitarian society, a united, strong and self-reliant nation”.
He continued that, “our universities are also challenged to key into modern trends in Computing and Information Technology, Cyber security, artificial intelligence, solar and alternative energies and modern biomedical technology, which is where the future is headed”.
The President assured that, “on our part as government, we remain committed to changing the negative narratives of our universities by making effective and efficient policies that will place our higher education at the right pedestal”.
He disclosed further that the Federal Government has completed the energy audit of 37 Federal Universities and is set to award the contracts for the commencement of Independent Power Plants in those Universities, “when completed, it will put an end to the perennial problem of power challenge in all Federal Universities in Nigeria”.
Earlier in his speech, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Francis Eze, said that the University within the available resources has continued to provide facilities and equipment for effective teaching, learning and research.
He however noted that the University urgently needs a befitting Senate building, staff quarters, a sustainable power supply and refurbishment of existing old buildings and other facilities.
Meanwhile, 2,506 were awarded with degrees with 42 bagging First Class Honours.
-
2019: INEC honours 2face, others for mobilising youths to register for PVCs
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday rewarded ace musician Innocent Idibia popularly called 2baba with an award for helping to mobilise youths to register for the 2019 general elections.
At an election summit where the award was given to 2baba in Abuja on Tuesday, INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu said the 2019 general elections will be for young people who constitute 81 per cent of registered voters.
Also among those given awards was Ambassador Ketil Karlson, Head of European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS.
Yakubu explained that another category of youths were drawn from the National Youth Service Corps and tertiary institutions to man the 119,973 polling centres in the country.
He said, “About 22.3 million or 26 per cent of those who registered are officially described as students followed by the second category called farmers and fishermen to the tune of 13.6 million, that is 16.2 per cent of the registered voters.
“But among the farmers and fishermen, the majority are also young people. So, those between the ages of 18 and 35 constitute 42.9 million, roughly 43 million of the registered voters which is 51 per cent of the total number of registered voters in the country.
“But if you add the middle-aged category of 36-50 which is 25 million or 30 per cent, young people in this country constitute 81 per cent of the registered voters in Nigeria.”
While commending Tubaba and others for mobilising youths to participate in the voter registration, the INEC boss urged them to continue to tell them to collect their Permanent Voter Cards.
-
2019: APC appoints Buhari’s wife leader of women, youths Presidential Campaign team
Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has been appointed the Chairperson of the All Progressives Congress Women and Youths Presidential Campaign team for the 2019 election.
The wife of the Vice-President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, is also appointed as the Co-chairman of the campaign team.
This is contained in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja by the Director of Information, Office of the Wife of the President, Mr Suleiman Haruna.
It said the campaign team would be inaugurated on Jan. 3, by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa at 2pm.
The appointees are expected to campaign vigorously for the re-election of Buhari and Osinbajo in the February poll.
The list of the appointees also has the APC National Woman Leader, Hajiya Salamatu Baiwa, as the National Coordinator.
Other executive team leaders include Mrs Adejoke Adefulire as Vice Chairman (South), Mrs Mairo Al-Makura as Vice Chairman (North), and Barr. Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagu as Deputy National Coordinator (South).
According to the statement, Hajiya Binta Muazu would serve as the Deputy National Coordinator (North), with Mrs Rashida Yahaya Bello as Zonal Coordinator North Central, Mrs Hadiza Mohammad Abubakar for North East, Dr Zainab Atiku Bagudu for North West and Mrs Nkechi Rochas Okorocha for South East.
Mrs Florence Abiola Ajimobi would coordinate women and youths from the South West zone while Mrs Judith Chibuike Amaechi would coordinate the South South women and youths for the exercise.
The statement added that the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration, Dr Hajo Sani, would serve as the Administrative Secretary of the team.
Other members of the campaign team included artists and celebrities from Nollywood and Kannywood as well as technocrats, politicians, academicians and the business class.
Similarly, the statement announced an advisory council for the campaign team, comprising serving and ex-ministers, governors, legislators and security officers as well as top public officers.
Those that made the list include the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung; Comptroller General of Customs, retired Col. Hameed Ali; retired IG-P Suleiman Abba; retired Brig.-Gen. Jafaru Isa, retired Gen. Buba Marwa; Chief Orji Ozu Kalu; Chief Sullivan Chime, and Sen. Ali Modu Sherrif.
Others are Dr Mohammed Mahmud; Dame Pauline Tallen; Hajiya Naajatu Mohammed; Prof. Pat Utomi; Dr Nasiru Ladan; Prince Tonye Princewill; Festus Keyamo (SAN); Muniz Banire (SAN); Amb. Justice Muhammadu Dodo; Amb. Baba Jidda; Amb. Deborah Iliya; Amb. Suzanne Aderonke Folarin; Amb. Ayuba Ngbako; Mr Terry Waya; Alhaji Mahmud Shinkafi; and Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki-Nakande.The statement further announced the appointment of a Directorate of Operations consisting of all the APC Women Leaders at all levels; all APC Women/Female Heads of government agencies and parastatals; all APC female candidates; all APC Youth Leaders at all levels; and all elected officials of APC at all levels, among others.
The Directorate of Contact and Mobilisation is to be led by Hon. Nasiru Ali Ahmed, while the Directorate of Strategic Planning would be headed by Dr Garba Abari, the Director-General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), it said.
The statement said the Directorate of Youth Mobilisation is to be led by Mr Mohammed Jibirilla; with Dr AbdulMumin Jibril as the Director of a 71-member Media and Strategic Communication of the team, and Mr Sony Marshal Harry as the Director of Special Duties.
It added that the Directorate of Logistics for the campaign team would be led by Mr Mohammed Jibril, while the Directorate of Creativity and Entertainment has about 170 members comprising majorly Nollywood and Kannywood representatives.
According to the statement, Volunteers of the team comprised representatives from all President Buhari’s Supporters, Women and Youth Presidential Campaign Team members and APC Presidential Campaign Office.
-
Religious Tolerance Among Youths, By Cornelius Omonokhua
Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua
God created human beings in love and command that human beings should love one another. God did not command human beings to tolerate one another. You only tolerate what is ordinarily unacceptable. I guess that some people use the expression “tolerance” in the context of peaceful co-existence because we now live in a world where the value and dignity of the human person has been sacrificed on the altar of religious fanaticism and intolerance. Moreover, religion has been hijacked by mischief makers to enrich themselves. Millions of people have lost their lives in various religious riots in Nigeria. One wonders for how long we may go on like this killing and maiming human beings. The youths who were born and have lived in this situation where human beings have become wolves to their fellows would think that this is normal and therefore need to learn the art of tolerance to promote peaceful co-existence. Given that the state of anarchy we today find ourselves is not the design of God, we shall begin this conversation by establishing the value and dignity of the human person to debrief any youth who may be living under religious and ethnic indoctrination to be aware of the abnormality of the life they have been conditioned to live.
The Catholic Catechism gives the mission and vision of life first by establishing the fact that we are created by God. The reason God created the human person defines his mission. God made us to know him, love him and serve him. The goal and ultimate vision for creation is that the human person should be happy with God on the last day. In the narrative of Adam (humanity) in the Holy Bible and Quran, Man has a higher dignity than the angels whom God commanded to bow to Adam. For the youths to promote peaceful co-existence, the knowledge that our common factor is humanity is imperative. Many of us belong to a particular religion not by choice. Some of us who are Christians today could have been Muslims if we were born to Muslims parents and some Muslims could have been Christians if they were born to Christian parents. We did not choose our parents, tribe, state and country. This is why the most stupid venture of the human person is religious and ethnic violence. The sky is wide enough for every bird to fly. Both Christianity and Islam profess that there is no compulsion in religion. This is why the Christian and Muslim youths must quest for justice in every aspect of life. Equal rights cannot lead to anarchy.
The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council made a declaration on religious liberty because the root to interreligious conflict is religious intolerance that robs free citizens of religious freedom. The document on the dignity of the human person is a call to bring the human person back to the consciousness and awareness of the right of the person and communities to social and civil liberty in religious matters. The Second Vatican Council, in the light of revelation states the general principles of religious freedom that “All men are bound to seek the truth, especially in what concerns God and his Church, and embrace it and hold on to it as they come to know it” (Vatican II, Dignitatis Humanae, 7 December, 1965. No 1). “The human person has a right to religious freedom. All men should be immune from coercion on the part of individuals, social groups and every human power so that, within due limits, nobody is forced to act against his convictions in religious matters in private or in public, alone or in association with others” “Religious communities also have the right not to be hindered by legislation or administrative action on the part of the civil authority in the selection, training, appointment and transfer of their own ministers, in communicating with religious authorities and communities in other parts of the world, in erecting buildings for religious purposes, and in the acquisition and use of the property they need ((Vatican II, Dignitatis Humanae, 7 December, 1965. No 4).
If the youths are conscious of these human rights, they may be able to resist those who employ them to fight unjustly for the selfish benefits of those who finance and promote violence. They would know that peace is a virtue that is deeply entrenched in Christianity and Islam. Justice is a very powerful ingredient for peaceful co-existence hence the Christian and Muslim Youths must demand justice at all levels especially freedom of religion and promotion of human dignity. For the youths to promote the dignity of life, they need Dialogue at all levels and in all ramification. The youths need intra-personal dialogue whereby a person encounter himself or herself interiorly. Through intra-personal dialogue, you ask yourself, who am I? Where am I coming from? Where am I going? What does God want me to do in life to be happy? The next level is inter-personal dialogue. Here you ask yourself, “what do I owe my neighbour? What must I do to make him happy? This is dialogue with the other person. It is a “conversation between two or more persons. Inter-personal dialogue helps people to resolve long-standing conflicts and to build deeper understanding of contentious issues. Dialogue is one sure way to heal wounded memories.
Other types of dialogue are Intra-community, Inter-community, Intra-ethnic, Inter-ethnic, Intra-cultural, Inter-cultural, Intra-religious and Inter-religious. In dialogue, understanding is the key word. Nigerians have gone through many faces of violence, slavery and colonialism. The value of trust has been replaced with prejudice, preconception and mutual suspicions. These, call for education, debriefing, healing of memory, mental reconstruction, reconciliation and compassion. No one should really claim the right to reject another person or attempt to kill a person for holding a different opinion. There are different types of dialogue. Dialogue of Life is what we do in ordinary events of life. Muslims, Christians and traditional worshippers in Nigeria live in the same family, attend the same school and work together in the same office and other places of work. These are avenues and occasion for people to share life together in love and peaceful coexistence.
In the Dialogue of Social Engagements, People of different religions meet in different life situations, like ceremonies, trade and even join together to fight injustice and diseases. This collaboration between Christians and people of other religions promote the integral development and liberation of people. In Nigeria some Muslims and Christians have issued joint statements to condemn terrorism and other forms of social ills. In the Dialogue of Theological Exchange, scholars of different religions organize seminars and workshops to discuss theological issues. This has led some scholars to go beyond the study of their theology to the study of the theology of other religious. In the Dialogue of religious experience, people of different religions in Nigeria sometimes use any given opportunity to share their religious experiences and dreams. This sharing of testimonies and narration of what God has done in their individual life has led others to be converted interiorly. If there is an existing friendship and mutual relationship, conflict management, resolution and transformation are easy. I visit the national Mosque regularly. In the process, I establish a dialogue relationship between some Christian and Muslim Youths who have expressed the need for religious re-education in Nigeria. This means that there are so many Christians and Muslims today who bear true witness to the scriptures. When the youths from different religions collaborate in peace projects, all will be convinced that that there is nothing wrong with religion? It is those who practise the different religions that need proper education and awareness. Let us begin to think of how to redeem our God given religions by living in peace!
Fr. Cornelius Omonokhua is the Director of the Department of Mission and Dialogue of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (omonokhuac@gmail.com; www.omonokhua.blogspot .com)
-
2019: Atiku promises allocating 40 per cent ministerial slots to women, youths
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has promised that 40 per cent of his cabinet, if elected president would be filled by women and youths.
Atiku made this known on his verified Twitter handle @atiku, where he started off by lamenting how Nigeria has become the headquarters of poverty under the current administration.
He said, “Nigeria under Buhari is now the world HQ for extreme poverty. If we are to change that, we must empower women and youths. Therefore, I give an undertaking that if by the grace of God, I am elected by you the good people of Nigeria, at least 40% of my cabinet would be women & youths.
“During my time in government, we designed our policies to help young people grow; stronger banks, telecoms etc. Many returned to Nigeria to start successful businesses. Today, those young people are leaving again, to Canada etc. We are losing our best doctors & professionals.”
He added that his policy document is ready and would be unveiled soon, “Our policy document which is ready and will be unveiled soon, is dedicated primarily to creating an enabling environment for Nigerian youth and women to return to the path of wealth creation and gainful employment.” -
We will make Nigeria more attractive to our youths than Europe – Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerian youths that his administration will make the country more attractive to discourage the desperation that makes them dare both the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea, all in a bid to take up menial jobs in Europe.
The President, who described the dangerous migrations by the youths as hurting the pride of the country, made the comment on Tuesday at State House, Abuja, during a farewell audience with the outgoing High Commissioner of the Republic of Namibia, Mr Peingeondjabi Shipoh.
In a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina, Buhari mentioned that there were vast opportunities for Nigeria and Namibia to cooperate, notably in areas like agriculture and trade.
The President recalled the sacrifices made for the freedom of Namibia, particularly by the administrations of Generals Murtala Muhammed and Olusegun Obasanjo.
Mr Buhari decried the illegal migration to Europe by African youths, despite the continent’s potentials, at grave risk to their lives, pledging that: “We will do our best to make our country liveable again.”
Mr Shipoh, who spent four years and 11 months in Nigeria, said the country had become a second home for himself and his family.
“I enjoyed great support in carrying out my duties. I return home with absolute satisfaction that our two countries are more than ready for intra-African trade and exchange of state visits by the leaders. Our two countries have a lot in common, and Africa can only be developed by Africans themselves,” the outgoing ambassador said.
He wished Nigeria a successful general election in 2019. -
Ooni partners with billionaire Arab businessman to build commercial venture for youths in Nigeria
The Arole Oodua and Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II has established a business partnership with an Arab billionaire, His Excellency, Honorable Sharif Ahmad Bin Jaber Al Natour to create massive job opportunities for the youths in Yorubaland and in Nigeria in general.
The partnership between Ooni Ogunwusi, a foremost African king and the Jordanian business mongul cum philatropist was formally announced during an unveiling ceremony that took place at the Ile-Oodua palace in Ile-Ife on Monday during which they both singed a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU).
The wealthy Jordanian prince based in Morocco who owns Global Trade And Development Corporation(GTDC) group that recently disbursed US$800m fund for commercial ventures in livestock, sugar and sugarcane in North Central Timor Global conglomerate is in the country on a 3 day visit to meet the Ooni and President Muhamadu Buhari on various areas of possible collaboration.
Al Natour said he has visited Oon of Ife because of the king’s efforts in unifiying the Africans in Diaspora through his peace and unity agenda. He further stated his commitment to build green cities in Nigeria under the auspices of GDTC Investment Nigeria Limited as a collective instruments of social, humanitarian, industrial and commercial projects to provide happiness and new lease of lives to millions of Nigerians through his partnership and collaboration with Ooni Ogunwusi through GDTC Investment Nigeria Limited.
“I have met many kings and world leaders but Ooni of Ife dazzles me most. I love him so much. I follow his activities a lot. He goes around the world to unify Africans in Diaspora through his peace and unity agenda. I also love his Youth development quest.
That is why I am here at Ile-Ife to partner with him on green energy and green enviroment for the benefit of the good people of Yoruba and Nigeria.” Al Natour said
He went further to admit Ile-Ife as his second home and assured that with the MoU, the technological hub in its first phase is expected to facilitate massive employment of youths in Nigeria.
“I have ve built schools, hospitals and houses around 168 countries in six continents of the world. My focus now is to come home which is Ile-Ife where the day dawn and I am here to partner with this globally respected monarch who preaches peace around the globe”
“Ooni is not just my business partner, he is also my father who has assured me of his unflintching support to invest heavily in the continent in the area of Agriculture and renewable energy technology that will promote international trade in Africa. With this MoU signed today with Ooni and the meeting that he has scheduled for me with President Buhari in Abuja tonight, our planned technological hub in its first phase will surely facilitate massive employment of youths in Nigeria.” Al Natour assured.
Ooni Ogunwusi while signing the MOU expressed optimism that the project would spur development across Nigeria and Africa at large. He explained that his partnership with the international business magnate was fastracked to ensure that the success of the project can start benefiting the teeming unemployed youths as soon as possible.
“I am very proud to be associated with the new birth of GDTC investment in Nigeria. I will work with you on a very long time basis not on a short time basis”
“We need a lot of investments to make sure that things are properly done in this part of the world. We need a lot of private and public partnership for large transactions.
“We need to provide jobs for the youths. We need to provide a lot of humanitarian services for them. We need to also see how to reform the mindset of our youth very positively”
I am so impressed with the green energy and green city you want to partner with us which will help our teeming youths to be gainfully employed.
“We are blessed in Nigeria to have a philanthropist like you who wants to start his philanthropic works in our country starting from this kingdom of Ile-Ife which is the traditional home for the Yoruba people and which is the source of your forefathers too.”
“Because I want my people in Yorubaland to benefit from this gesture; that was why I first brought you home before taking you to meet with Mr President in Abuja tonight and thereafter going to any other place in our dear country,” Ooni said.
The Spiritual leader of Yoruba race globally and Co-chairman of National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria said Nigeria needs a lot of public private partnership (PPP) to boost the country’s economy.
describing wealth as vanity if it can not be used for humanity.“This life is full of vanity and the only thing you can do to be remembered for is your service to humanity.” Ooni said
GDTC is a global company with presence in over 176 countries of the world with immense investment in human development and infrastructural facilities.
-
Panic in Imo as angry youths set Magistrates’ court on fire
Ther was pandemonium at the Magistrates’ Court in Olru, Imo State, as angry youths numbering above 15 set the court building on fire.
According to a report by The Punch, the fire destroyed all the documents in the court before it could be quenched.
The Magistrates’ Court is on the premises of Orlu High court.
The Police spokesperson in the state, Andrew Enwerem, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent in a telephone conversation, said that it was a case of suspected arson.
Enwerem said that the Commissioner of Police, Daduki Galadanchi, had mandated the Area Commander in charge of Orlu zone to commence full investigations into the matter.
Details later…