TheNewsGuru

Tag: Youths

  • Sokoto lawmaker empowers 350 unemployed youths with N7m

    A member of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Abdussamad Dasuki (APC- Sokoto), representing Tambuwal and Kebbe Federal Constituency on Sunday disbursed N7 million to 350 unemployed youths.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the disbursement was flagged-off under the empowerment programme of the lawmaker in Jabo town of Tambuwal local government area.

    Speaking at the occasion, Dasuki said the gesture was part of his efforts to empower the unemployed youths to enable them establish small-scale businesses for self-reliance.

    He said, “it is based on that today we are selecting 350 youths as a pilot programme in order to support each with N20,000 to become self-reliant.

    “Our aim is to support the unemployed youths and create jobs and entrepreneurial activities will continue to be our priority.

    “So, we have been on all major tracks to ensure that we can help our people, most especially youths and women.

    ”This is because supporting them is key to improving the living standard of the society,” Dasuki said.

    He called on youths to shun any kind of violence to ensure sustainable peace and unity for the overall development of the country.

    He further commended the people of his constituency for their continuous support towards ensuring the success of all his programmes.

    In his remarks, the District Head of Jabo, Alhaji Aliyu Garba commended the lawmaker for his contributions towards the development of the area and the society in general.

    He called on the beneficiaries to ensure judicious use of the money tp improve their living standard.

  • Buhari salutes Dogara @ 50, says Nigeria’s future secure in youths’ hands

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday congratulated the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, as he turns 50 years.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President said having followed Dogara’s political trajectory, he believed that Nigeria’s future can be secured with great leadership by younger Nigerians.

    Such youths, he added, should be fired with the zeal to build one great nation that everyone can call a home.

    The President noted that Dogara’s personal attributes of selflessness, maturity and friendliness have eased the relationship between the Executive and the Legislative arms of government.

    The statement read, “On behalf of the Federal Executive Council and all Nigerians, President Muhammadu Buhari warmly felicitates with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, as he turns 50 years.

    “President Buhari joins the National Assembly, the Nigerian Bar Association, friends and family of the erudite and charismatic leader in celebrating the years of remarkable achievements and awards that have culminated in this golden jubilee.

    “The President extols Dogara’s humility, simplicity and discipline in providing exceptional leadership for the lower house for over two years by diligently bridging the gaps and creating a harmonious atmosphere for debates and exchange of ideas for national development.

    “President Buhari affirms that the Speaker’s personal attributes of selflessness, maturity and friendliness have substantially eased the relationship between the Executive and the Legislative arm, resulting in the passage of bills that directly impact the livelihood of Nigerians.

    “Recalling his personal interactions with the Speaker, and having followed his political trajectory in the House of Representatives, President Buhari believes Nigeria’s future can only be secured with great leadership by younger Nigerians, who are fired with the zeal to build one great nation that everyone can call a home.

    “President Buhari prays that the Almighty God will grant the Speaker longer life, good health and wisdom to serve the country and humanity.”

  • Nigerian youths should question leaders on what they are doing with public funds – Amaechi

    …says youths now openly celebrate corrupt officials

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, says Nigeria youth are copying the wrong model of leadership, an act, he notes, may jeopardise their future.

    Mr. Amaechi made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the Future Awards Africa held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos last Saturday.

    He said the youth were not ready yet to embrace a corrupt-free society because they were wrongly orientated by those who were using them for their interest.

    “The problem with Nigerian youths is that they just want to take over from the elite but they are not ready to embrace change, they don’t want reform.

    “They say that the roles being played by the elite are not satisfactory, but they must be ready to upset the leaders of this country through their ingenuity.

    “For example, during our days of activism, we engage government over unfavourable policies and we get headlong even during the military administration.

    “Now, student union presidents want a vehicle and a driver to be driving him about to attend meetings; during our time, who dares have a car, we all struggle on the street, Mr. Amaechi told NAN.

    He advised youth to rise up to the fight against corruption instead of a tacit support to those that they feel are their benefactor.

    “I will advise the youth to fight against corruption with all their energy instead of giving tacit support to those they think are their benefactors.

    “During our time in the student union struggles, we rose against impunity and organised protests; but what happens today, the government of the day announces the money siphoned but the youth keep quiet.

    “Such astronomic stolen amount government announced wouldn’t have happened during our time, all the street would have been filled with youths protesting and seeing that the culprits were punished.

    “Today, we have some of our youths dancing behind the corrupt politicians for a pot of meal that will not last long thereby mortgaging their future,’’ he said.

    Mr. Amaechi said Nigerian youth should stand up to the reality of life by asking questions from leaders on how they manage the economy and the Commonwealth of Nigeria.

    “Nigerian youths should start asking questions from leaders, including me about what we are doing with our resources. It’s time to reject those that put us in this.

    “We should all desist from pulling our country down through corruption. But unfortunately, the youth are not interested in that, all what they want is how to look good.

    “Maybe they looked at me wearing designer shoes, what they will notice is that designer and how they can get it. That is not supposed to be.

    “During my time as a student union leader, I had only two pairs of clothes. But now the value system is wrong and the youth are copying wrong leadership model,’’ he said.

    (NAN)

  • 57th Independence: Salvation of Nigeria lies in hands of youths – Charly Boy

    • Northern youths more passionate about #Ourmumudondo than South-East, South-West counterparts

    Maverick entertainer, Charles Oputa, alias Charly Boy, is the leader of the OurMumuDonDo Coalition which seeks to defeat political elitism, corruption, incompetence and redirect governance towards empowerment, dignity and freedom for the people. Born on June 19, 1951, the Area Fada, in this interview with TheNewsGuru.com, shares his thoughts on Nigeria at 57; how things were shortly after Independence and the particular point when things started going south. He also spoke on the forthcoming 2019 polls as well as efforts currently being made by his group to retrieve Nigeria from corrupt politicians who, according to him, are the real enemies of the people. Below are the excerpts…

    What can you say of Nigeria as a country?

    I’m sure that a lot of people just as I do feel frustrated. There is this air of uncertainty. We’ve have noticed systemic failure and this type of failure cannot be sustained. There is failure in government and leadership. My primary concern is the young people in this country; for them to try and recreate a paradigm shift in the system because things cannot continue like this without something breaking and my advice has always been that rather than stray aloof or hang around in the corridor waiting for handouts, they better be in the same place with those steering the country and talking about their own future which has so far been stolen. Even the future of their children has been stolen by the kind of criminality and impunity found in government.

    Since Nigeria attained independence on October 1, 1960, at what point can you say its failure started?

    The things Fela talked about in those days have in fact gotten worse. So, I think we started to deviate after the Civil War. Between the Civil War and the early 90’s Nigeria had the biggest brain drain because people were not too sure whether the military was going to leave at all. So the best of the best of us left the shores of this country. The remaining ones went into hiding. There were a few people who were speaking up at the time but like everything else they gradually fizzled out themselves so the political landscape was left to people without pedigree, people without any moral compass. People who had no value, no honour jumped into the whole scene. Then, we lost most of the values we used to hold sacred before the war like: I’m a baby of the early 60’s, I know at that time, if a little boy is naughty on the street, people would ask who are your parents; who is your father. In those days, we worshiped truthfulness, we worshiped people who were straightforward. There was premium for moral standards but immediately after the war everything seem to have gone to the dogs because you can’t have a society that is not built on ideology, on values and principles. You can’t have a government that does anyhow and is controlled by nincompoops, riffraff and people without pedigree.

    Are you saying that the problems of Nigeria started with military’s incursion into politics?

    Yes. It was then that the decay started to become very visible and the war contributed. A lot of the Easterners then were displaced and were made to start life afresh with 20 pounds.

    Do you think the civil war is still haunting Nigeria?

    There have been a class war; them verses us, the rich verses the poor, the people in leadership positions verses the led. The led has not been any more useful because they have for a while been docile. They have not bothered to engage the government, to struggle for their rights, to hold government accountable for its action. There has always been this attitude of siddon look.That is why we say: our mumu suppose to don do.

    When you say our mumu don do, does that mean you are not satisfied with the status quo?

    How can anybody be satisfied with the status quo. The status quo is the problem! The thing that sometimes irritates me about us as a people, I keep wondering whether we realize who our enemies are. We have been so brainwashed by religion, ethnicity and all the rest of it that we forget who the enemy really is. The enemy is not your mother-in-law, your father-in-law, your gateman or your driver. The enemies are those in leadership position who would steal millions and millions of maybe funds meant to build hospital and do you know how many people will die as a result of the money not getting to where it is supposed to get to, to do those things for which it was meant. Those criminals are the enemies. Like I said, I am a baby of the early 60’s, at that time we worshipped integrity, we worshiped people with honour but because of the swap in the value system and the decay in morality, we now worship money by any means necessary and so far nobody has been reprimanded. They have been shouting war against corruption, has anybody been thrown into jail yet? So who are they fooling?

    How would the present set of leaders who you have described as the enemies be sacked from the scene?

    It would happen through a few number of persons. We are only interested in a critical mass. It is not an all-on-board statistics. Not every slave would want to be freed in the first place. I have come to realize that it just takes a few people to change things. As the PMAN president, it took just two or three of us to be able to change the fate of the Nigerian artiste. The things they are enjoying today can be traced to what we did in those days; fight for respect, fight for copyright… The things is that journalists do not dig up information from the past. Nigerians have a very short memory. A lot of things have happened but it needs dedication, tenacity and people with love of country not to divide the country. Was the resume or resign not effective, didn’t Mr. President come back? Didn’t you see their own supporters who they had to pay? Did anybody pay the resume or resign peaceful protesters? They were not up to 10 people yet it was something that was started in the city of Abuja and spread like wild fire to New York, London, Sweden, to Houston and if Mr. President hadn’t come back when he came back it would have been a movement all over the world. So, it takes a few people to change things.

    Have you identified those few people and are you working with them now?

    Over the past 40 years, I have been involved in youth advocacy. I have always said that the salvation of this country lies in the hands of exceptional youths. When I’m talking of exceptional youths, I’m not referring to those in Ajegunle or those in Maroko. I’m talking globally because if you go to NASA – the highest security outfit in America, a Nigerian is there. If you go to Havard, a Nigerian is there. If you go to British Parliament, Nigerians dey there. Nigerians are doing well in so many areas across the world. The people who are holding the little pride that is left of Nigeria in the eyes of the world are Nigerian youths. The criminal politicians and leaders when they travel abroad, shebi they go behave because there is a standard. Things work there based on structures and systems not on individuals. Look at Trump, he can’t do as he would want to in America because the system would not allow it.

    Now you are talking about system which the clamour for restructuring is basically about, what’s your take on restructuring?

    I’ve been married for going to 40 years and it is not an easy exercise and if you desire longevity in your marriage, both partners need to be at their communicative best – talking all the time. If things are not working the way it should work, I think what we need to do is to sit on the table and talk about how we solve the problems and carry on from there and I want to believe that that is what the restructuring is about: how do we carry on as a nation because the world is shrinking.

    In clear terms are you in support of a restructured Nigeria?

    I’m in support of anything that would move us forward, anything that would create more peace, anything that would create a better environment for our children to express themselves and to have hope not finding themselves in a state of hopelessness.

    With this your movement, are you considering getting involved in the political process by maybe forming a political party?

    Our mission is about a ballot revolution, our mission is about creating a paradigm shift and all of these cannot be achieved without youth involvement and this is why we are concentrating on the youths. If the youths decide to be careless about their future in Nigeria, there will be no future for them as it would now belong to the older people. So we are trying to sensitize, educate the docile, ignorant Nigerian youths. Like it was said in the Bible: many are called, few are chosen and we believe in a critical mass. Fortunately, the people that are more passionate about this Ourmumudondo things are those in the Diaspora. In Nigeria, northerner youths are more passionate about Ourmumudondo than those in the West or the East. So, something is changing. Like I tell youths, our biggest weapon is the social media because the people we are fighting are like Goliath while we are like David. A lot of us have been brainwashed to be arrogantly ignorant on so many things. We can’t just continue in this mumuness na. It’s enough!

    Would you support a youth to emerge President in 2019?

    This is what it is all about na. It’s all about us revisiting those values of old to start to promote them.

  • Oct.1 : We have sensitised our members to ensure safety of Igbos – Northern youths

    Coalition of Northern Youths, which had previously issued a quit notice to the Igbo living in the north, has assured them that no harm will come their way on October 1 or after.

    Reacting to the call by the an association of lawyers in Anambra State, asking the Igbo in the north to return home before October 1 to avoid being caught unaware like it happened in 1966, Yerima Shettima, one of the leaders of the group, described the lawyers asking North-based Igbo to return home during the period as mischief makers and enemies of Nigeria.

    Shettima said: “We are a people of honour and respect. We honour our words. So, the Igbo in the north can go about their normal business and should not listen to mischief makers.

    “We have sensitised our members to ensure the safety of every Nigerian, especially the Igbo, and we can assure you that nothing will happen to the Igbo by October 1 and even beyond.”

    This is as leadership of the Igbo community in Northern Nigeria has said that Igbo people will not heed the call by an association of lawyers in Anambra State, asking them to return home.

    The Vice President of Igbo Delegate Assembly in 19 Northern states, Cheif Chris Nnoli, said the call by the so called lawyers was condemnable.

    Nnoli, a lawyer, expressed disappointment and dismay that professionals like lawyers could make such call.
    He, however, assured that no Igbo man living in the north will heed such call because every Nigerian under the constitution of the country has the right to live anywhere they feel like within the country.

    Nnoli, who is also the President General of Igbo Community Welfare Association (ICWA) in Kaduna State, said October 1 remains Nigeria’s national day and they will all celebrate together as Nigerians.

    “We are not in support of such call. And if lawyers actually made such call, because I also read the story in a national daily, then it is very unfortunate and we are not going heed it,” he said.

  • Irate youths set monarch’s palace ablaze in Imo

    Some youths numbering over 200 on Tuesday set ablaze the palace of Eze Edwin Mbaeyi, the traditional ruler of Obollo Autonomous community in the Isiala Mbano Local Government of Imo state.

    A source in the community, who simply identified himself as Collins told The Punch that the palace was burnt over the refusal of the monarch to coronate one Chief Chijioke Njokuocha as the traditional prime minister of the community after the death of his father, Chief Samuel Njokuocha.

    According to the source, the monarch’s preference for one Chief Jasper Nwachukwu angered the youths who had gathered to witness the coronation of Chief Njkuocha.

    The youths took laws into their hands when the event failed to hold.

    He said, “Our traditional ruler has insisted on making Chief Jasper Nwachukwu our traditional Prime Minister as against the rightful owner. The position of the prime minister in our community is hereditary.

    “After the death of our prime minister, Chief Samuel Njokuocha, our custom, and tradition demand that his first son, Chijioku Njokuocha, should be coronated.

    This issue started since 2016 and our traditional ruler has remained adamant and wants to go against the culture and tradition of our people. Even the office of the governor on conflict resolution had mandated him to coronate the rightful person but he vehemently refused.

    After much persuasion, he agreed to do the coronation today (Tuesday) after he had boycotted it one month ago.

    However, to the surprise of the excited crowd who had gathered to witness the ceremony, the monarch once again refused the coronation. The youths were embittered. They had no other option than to set the palace ablaze after the monarch had fled “.

  • Christian, Muslim youths organise prayers for Nigeria, Buhari in Abuja

    Some youths in Abuja held a prayer session on Friday in a bid to seek a divine intervention in the perfect restoration of President Buhari’s health and the nation’s unity.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that various clerics took part in the prayers which commenced on Thursday evening and ended on Friday afternoon at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

    Addressing the participants who came from all parts of the country, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Chief Makole Azugbene, lauded them for raising the nation before God in prayers.

    He called on the government to pay special attention to the youths by creating the right environment for them to express themselves creatively.

    He said, “Today, Nigeria our fatherland is faced with a situation where our maximum efforts are yielding minimum results. The youth have been abused, misused and left despondent.

    “Yet, rather than resort to violence, they have chosen the path of peace. The youth is the hope of this country and as such deserve special attention. Our leaders must not live their today and tomorrow that rightly belonged to the youth.”

    Also speaking, the Chairman, Forum of State Chairmen, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Amb. Sara-Igbe Sukubo said religious harmony is practicable in a multi-religious country like Nigeria.

    He noted that the situation in the country called for the youth to stand for national unity and equally seek divine intervention.

    “By this prayer programme, we redefined the uniqueness of our diverse ethnicity as a fulcrum for national unity and strength,” Sukubo stated.

    The Founder of Belema Foundation, Jack-Rich Tein, identified the challenges in the country to include the non-engagement of youths in nation building and misuse of available resources.

  • Don’t wait till you are 40, you can become president at 30, Obasanjo tells Nigerian youths

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said there was nothing wrong if a youth at 30 becomes Nigerian president.

    The former president noted that himself and another former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon became made it to the top Nigerian job at 39 and 33 respectively.

    Obasanjo therefore advised the youths to democratically wrest leadership from the old guards since they are unwilling to quit the stage.

    To Obasanjo, leadership positions are never given on a platter of gold. He urged the youth to work for them.

    The ex – President, who spoke on Saturday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, at the Youth Governance Dialogue organised to mark this year’s International Youth Day, added that those seeking leadership positions must also carve a niche for themselves through hard work.

    The programme was organised by the Youth Development Centre, an arm of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library(OOPL), Abeokuta.

    Obasanjo noted that moral values had been eroded, unlike in the 50s and the 60s, adding that sound moral values were necessary ingredients for leadership.

    In Obasanjo’s view, Nigeria is in dire need of leaders who are academically and spiritually sound.

    He urged the youth to stop complaining, “moaning and agonising”. He advised them to get ready to fit into elective offices as there were moves now to lower the age for President, Governor and National Assembly.

    ”I joined politics from the top. The only position I contested for is President, but I had a track record of achievements, which led to that.

    ”Nobody will choose you; you have to choose yourself. Why should you have to become president at the age of 40? “Why can’t you become president at the age of 35? Why can’t you become president at the age of 30?

    ”General Gowon became Head of State at 33. I became Head of State at 39. And it is because of my track record, and thanks to Abacha (the late Gen. Sani Abacha)for putting me in jail.

    ”Those were the reasons why I had the opportunity to come back as elected President. The point is this -how are you prepared? Are you really prepared?

    ”You should engage in things that will bring about unity and integration. You see yourselves as Nigerians and one family instead of pursuing things that could divide the country,” Obasanjo said.

    Also, former Attoney-General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi (SAN), in his paper titled “The role of our youth in contributing to the Peace and stability of the nation,” asked youths to strive towards unity and peace of Nigeria.

    ”If Obasanjo can make it, you can also make it. He joined the army and survived. When he was sent to prison, he survived. He was sentenced to death but here he is,” Agabi said.

    The chairman of the occasion, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), advised youths to shun violence and “remain committed to Nigeria’s development”.

     

  • BREAKING: Youths protest at National Assembly

    Some youths on Tuesday protested at the National Assembly, shutting down the main entrance after security officials allegedly denied them access.

    According to reports, the protesters are members of the ‘I support #NottooYoungtoRun’ movement who seek a constitutional backing for young Nigerians to be able to vie for elective positions.

    Details later…

  • 2.3million youths apply for 300,000 N-Power jobs – Osinbajo

    2.3million youths apply for 300,000 N-Power jobs – Osinbajo

    The acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Friday, disclosed that 2.3 million youths have so far applied for the 300,000 jobs that are still available under the Federal Government’s N-Power scheme since the portal was reopened in June.

    Osinbajo disclosed this to journalists when he visited the scheme’s Response Centre in Abuja.

    Under the scheme, which is one of the components of the government’s Social Investment Programme, 500,000 youths are expected to be engaged.

    While 200,000 were employed in the first phase, the portal was reopened on June 13 for the applications to fill the remaining 300,000 vacancies.

    Despite the high number of the applications, however, Osinbajo said the government would stick to the 500,000 target for now.

    He said a decision on whether to increase the figure in the future would depend on government’s resources.

    The acting President said, “Already, 200,000 young people have been engaged. And since the programme was opened, another 2.3 million have applied and we are looking at the next phase of engagement.

    “But for me, I think what is important is that we are able to do this incrementally and we are able to give hope to some of these young people who need the opportunity.

    “We will never always be able to do everything but I think that it is important that we do as much as we can.

    “You will recall that the target was 500,000 but depending on our resources, we can always do more. But the target, for now, is 500,000.”

    Osinbajo said the tablets given to beneficiaries contain useful learning materials that could help develop their skills in a variety of ways and further give them greater opportunities.

    He said the scheme was more than an employment programme but a skills development programme that was unprecedented.

    Osinbajo said there was no truth in the reports of the alleged backlog of salaries as far as the scheme was concerned.

    He said once the Bank Verification Numbers of beneficiaries were verified, they were paid.

    “There is a problem if your BVN does not match the records you gave. If there is a problem with any of your records, you cannot be paid.

    “The moment your records are cleared, then you are paid constantly. If you don’t correct these records, then you might be paying the wrong people,” he said.