TheNewsGuru

Tag: Youths

  • Angry youths protest incessant robbery in Edo, block Benin-Ore Express road

    Angry youths protest incessant robbery in Edo, block Benin-Ore Express road

    Reports reaching TheNewsGuru.com now has it that some angry youths have blocked the Benin-Ore Express road in Edo State to protest the incessant attacks of armed robbers on the route.

    According to an eyewitness who confided exclusively in TheNewsGuru.com, the youths disrupted vehicular and commercial activities on the road since 3 am on Friday (today).

    ‘One of the passengers in a coaster bus plying the road has just been shot now by the armed bandits’, the witness said.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the corpse of the passenger was laid on the express. The angry youths have however stopped police officers from removing the corpse.

    Some of the angry youths were heard saying that there were barely any checkpoints on Benin-Ore road. Others explained that the drivers have been complaining about this for years without any response from appropriate authorities. TheNewsGuru.com reports that just one month ago, a similar robbery led to the loss of two lives on the ever busy express road. The youths, however, promised not to leave the road until the governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki attends to them in person with the assurances that government will provide adequate security on the road to curb the indiscriminate loss of lives on the busy road.

    Commuters were however stranded and had to seek alternate routes in nearby bushes. Some of the youths volunteered to lead them through after collecting some token.

    ‘We just passed through the bush now. Some youths collected money from us to lead us through the bush’, a visibly terrified and exhausted commuter told TheNewsGuru.com.

    Efforts to reach the Edo State Police Commissioner as at press time for reactions was unsuccessful as his mobile phones were unreachable.

  • Obaseki orders employment of 4,200 youths

    Obaseki orders employment of 4,200 youths

    In line with his promise to create at least 200,000 jobs within 4 years, the Governor of Edo state, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has ordered the employment of 4,200 youths across the state under the Edo state public works program from July 1st, this year.

    In a statement endorsed by the governor’s Chief of Staff, it was also revealed that Governor Obaseki had directed the engagement and training of 50 civil engineers to supervise the public works program and that the successful applicants were sourced from the database of unemployed youths developed by the government for the Edo Jobs initiative.

     

    According to the Chief of Staff, “The newly employed beneficiaries will work across the state on 45 inner roads selected under this special window. The governor also promised to engage another set of 4,200 in August 2017 under another window that will see the state government constructing and maintaining another set of 55 roads, culminating in almost 100 kilometers across the state.”

     

     

     

    He further enjoined the workers to be dedicated for the period of their engagement with the state government, as it would eventually amount to experience gathering and capacity building.

     

     

     

    Meanwhile, to complement jobs originating from road construction, the state government also finalized arrangements to train young electrical and electronic engineers under a special arrangement with Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).

     

     

    The program, would build the capacity of young men and women on the practical side of electrical engineering in line with the ‘Electrify Edo project’, which kicked off with the signing of a power purchase agreement between the government and, at different times, Siemens AG and Ossiomo Power limited, a few months ago.

     

     

  • Unemployment: Obaseki to engage 4,200 youths in August

    Unemployment: Obaseki to engage 4,200 youths in August

    Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has ordered the employment of 4,200 youths across the state under the Edo state public works programme, from August this year.

    In a statement signed by the governor’s Chief of Staff, it was also revealed that Governor Obaseki had directed the engagement and training of 50 civil engineers to supervise the public works programme, and that the successful applicants were sourced from the database of unemployed youths developed by the government for the Edo Jobs initiative.

    According to the Chief of Staff, “The new employed beneficiaries will work across the state on 45 inner roads selected under this special window. The governor also promised to engage another set of 4,200 in August 2017 under another window that will see the state government constructing and maintaining another set of 55 roads, culminating in almost 100 kilometres across the state.”

    He further enjoined the workers to be dedicated for the period of their engagement with the state government, as it would eventually amount to experience gathering and capacity building.

    Meanwhile, to complement jobs originating from road construction, the state government also finalised arrangements to train young electrical and electronic engineers under a special arrangement with Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).

    The programme, it disclosed , would build the capacity of young men and women on the practical side of electrical engineering in line with the ‘Electrify Edo project’, which kicked off with the signing of a power purchase agreement between the government and, at different times, Siemens AG and Ossiomo Power limited, few months ago.

  • Quit notice: Call for arrest of Arewa youths unpatriotic – Kwankwaso

    Former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has advised against call for the arrest of leaders of Arewa youth groups who have given the Igbo a three-month ultimatum to quit the northern part of the country by October 1, 2017.

    Describing the call even from some governors of the North as unpatriotic and capable of causing national insecurity, Kwankwaso urged the governors and other leaders in the North to dialogue with the youths, instead of resorting to their arrests.

    Kwankwaso, who currently represents Kano Central senatorial district in the National Assembly, made the statement while addressing journalists said arresting members of the groups would rather aggravate the already tensed atmosphere.

    Describing the people of Igbo extraction as bona fide citizens of the country, who were free to live in any part of the country, Kwankwaso noted that true dialogue would enable the youths, who are leaders of tomorrow, better appreciate the nation’s unity in diversity.

    “The general belief in the North is that we are better together as a country. The unity and development of the country should be of paramount concern of every Nigerian,” he said.

    Kwankwaso blamed the tension over the pronouncement of the youths and the counter call by another group in the South on the weakness in the nation’s political order, accusing the elders of failing to call the youths to order.

    “Many people are afraid to call the youths to order. If they are wrong, they are wrong,” he said. He, however, commended the steps taken so far by the Federal Government, particularly Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, who had been holding series of meetings with leaders of thoughts from various parts of the country.

    The former governor contended that the agitation of the Igbo which borders on the need for better representation at the centre and the need for even development of their zone, could be addressed without resorting to threat of secession.

     

  • N-Power: FG to recruit fresh 300,000 youths

    N-Power: FG to recruit fresh 300,000 youths

    The Federal Government is set to recruit 300,000 youths in the second batch of its N-Power social intervention and job creation programme.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed disclosed this on Friday in Isanlu-Isin community near Omu-Aran town in Kwara State.

    Mohammed said that the Federal Government would “reopen the N-POWER portal by next week to commence the process for the recruitment”.

    He enjoined the youths to take advantage of the recruitment exercise by completing the application process on line, adding than 200,000 people benefitted from the first batch of the programme.

    The minister said that no fewer than 27,000 people had benefited from the Conditional Cash Transfer programme, while government had given 7,000 interest free loans to market men and women across the country.

    The minister said the home grown school feeding programme of government had covered over 1.2 million pupils and the Kwara State would be on the team of the social intervention programme in September.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the minister was in Isanlu-Isin to explore ways to develop the road leading to Owu Water Fall, located near to the community.

    The Water Fall, which is 120 metres above sea level is credited to be the highest and most spectacular natural water fall in West Africa and a significant symbol of nature.

    The minister recalled that he had visited the Owu water fall in February, where he advocated Public-Private-Partnership for its development.

    He said he was glad to hear that efforts had been made as far back as 2009 to develop the road leading to the fall.

    Mohammed urged the community leader to make available to him documents relating to the contract to enable him move for quick execution of the project.

    “It has been revealed to me that the contract for the construction of the road had been advertised and bided for and the Bureau of Public Procurement had issued a No Objection Certificate.

    “If we get those documents, we can see how we can revive the contract

    “The fall is one of the tallest in Africa and it is just lying there fallow.

    “If we can get the road done, it will attract tourists and revive the economy of the surrounding communities,” the minister said.

    The traditional ruler of Isanlu-Osin, Oba Solomon Oloyede thanked the minister for the visit and expressed the support of his people for the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He commended the government for its efforts at restoring peace and security to the nation as well as the successes recorded in its anti corruption fight.

    The monarch urged the government to do its best in fixing the road linking the community to the Owu Water Fall.

    Earlier in an address, the President of Isanlu-Osin Development Association, Mr Emmanuel Oladele said that the contract for the construction of the road to the fall was captured in 2009 budget.

    He appealed to the Minister to use his good offices for government to revisit the contract in its 2018 budget.

     

     

    NAN

  • Chidinma inspires youths in Uganda

    Chidinma inspires youths in Uganda

    Nigerian singer, Chidinma Ekile was a guest speaker at a three-day visit to Uganda aimed at inspiring young people.

    The petite singer spoke during a youth empowerment seminar which had youths from Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Congo and Somalia in attendance. She spoke to the youths on the dangers of drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, rape, and peer pressure.

    Ekile attended the event alongside actor , Emmanuel Ikubese who stars in MTV Shuga.

    Chidinma Ekile, the sixth of seven children, was born in Ketu, Kosofe, Lagos State.Both of her parents are from Imo State. She worked as a business promoter in Lagos prior to auditioning for the third season of Project Fame West Africa. Chidinma started singing at the age of 6, and grew up with a disciplinarian father.When she was 10 years old, she joined her church’s choir. She attended primary and secondary school in Ketu prior to relocating to Ikorodu with her family. Chidinma is currently studying sociology at the University of Lagos.

     

  • AFDB approves $280m for Nigerian youths in agriculture

    The President of the African Development Bank (AFDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has said the AFDB is supporting Nigerian youths in the agro-business with the $280 million.

    Adesina, represented by Dr Chiji Ojukwu, a Director in AFDB, stated this on Tuesday in Ibadan at the African Youth Agripreneurs (AYA) Forum organised by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan.

    The forum was convened to attract youths across Africa into agribusiness as well as mentor them to invest in agriculture.

    Adesina said with IITA training initiative and the financial support from AFDB, more youths would be interested to go into agribusiness.

    He said that AFDB was working with 33 countries to give assistance to youths in agriculture.

    Adesina said Zambia, Sudan, GR Congo, Cameroon and Nigeria had already been given necessary assistance in 2016.

    He said that the bank was targeting 37,000 youths in Nigeria who would be given $50,000 each as support in agriculture business.

    “The $280m that we have approved for Nigeria cannot be enough; we need $1.8 billion to accommodate the 37,000 youths.

    “This is why we are giving 80 per cent of the money to commercial banks so that they can lend from their own balance sheet and we expect that every dollar we put in would generate five dollars,’’ he said.

    Adesina said the programme was for young graduates who could easily be trained on agriculture.

    He said that evidence had shown that youths could become the driving force of agricultural transformation in Nigeria if given access to the agribusiness enterprise.

    Mr Ken Lohento, the Programme Coordinator, Technical Centre for Agriculture (CTA), highlighted various job opportunities in ‘Agripreneur’ which may not involve working on the farms.

    Lonhento said that most youths were not aware of these opportunities, resulting in many of them shunning the agriculture sector. (NAN)

  • Angry youths attack Gov Bello, orders him to pay workers’ salary

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State on Wednesday escaped mob attack on his convoy at Idah Local Government area of the state.

    He was on his way from Ibaji, the hometown of his deputy.

    According to an witness who spoke on condition of anonymity to Daily Post, Bello was in town to flag off a road construction.

    It was gathered that the youths of Idah town sighting the governor, immediately mobilised and blocked the road waiting for his return.

    On his return, security agents attached to his convoy, having seen the road block, immediately began sporadic shooting and in the ensuing melee, people scampered for safety.

    But those who were fearless, descended on his convoy and battered vehicles while chanting “pay Kogi workers’ salary.”

    The report also showed that the Governor was to supervise demolition of a house belonging to the father of an alleged kidnapper, but had to quickly rush out of Idah having seen the audacity with which the attack on him was being carried out.

    As at the time of filing this report, Idah town was said to have been deserted for fear of reprisal attack

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the government is yet to issue official reaction on the matter.

     

  • FG trains 200,000 youths on agriculture processes

    FG trains 200,000 youths on agriculture processes

    The Federal Government said it had concluded plans to train about 200,000 youths in the country on seeds production, processing and packaging in its Agricultural Transformation Support Programme, Phase one (ATASP-1).

    National Coordinator of ATASP-1, Mr Haruna Akwashiki, stated this at a strategic meeting to discuss the process of implementing the programme on Friday in Abuja.

    He said that the training would commence in the first week of February and explained that programme was aimed at closing the demand gap in seeds production.

    Akwashiki said that the programme was also geared toward creating employment and wealth across rice, cassava and sorghum value chains.

    He said that ATASP-1 had three components of infrastructure development, commodity value chain development and programme management.

    He explained that ATASP-1 would be implemented over a period of five years in 60 local government areas in Enugu, Anambra, Niger, Kebbi, Sokoto, Kano and Jigawa.

    According to him, the programme will be funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Federal Government with the bank providing 152 million dollars and 23 million dollars by the government.

    “ATASP 1 was developed by AfDB and Federal Ministry of Agriculture. The objective of this programme is to contribute to the agricultural development effort of the Federal Government.

    “Under the programme, a large quantity of seeds will be produced by our youths and some of them will go into direct production of rice, sorghum and cassava.

    “We will develop the agro processing capacity of 200,000 youths in different aspect of agricultural endeavours.

    “We will ensure that the farmers produce about 120, 000 metric tons of assorted food crops for the country.

    “Seventy per cent of the cost of the programme is for the development and construction of irrigation schemes, construction of feeder roads, rehabilitation of schools and health centres and markets.

    “One of the problems in agriculture is the inability of farmers to have access to quality and quantity seeds for production,’’ he said.

    In his contribution, Mr Ibrahim Manta, Zonal Coordinator of the programme in Niger, commended the Federal Government for the initiative.

    Manta explained that the infrastructure development component of ASAP-1 was currently being implemented in the state.

    “When you have good roads, farmers will be able to transport their produce to different places and that will make agriculture to become a business,’’ he said.

    On his part, Mr Romanus Egba, Zonal Coordinator of the programme in Enugu and Anambra, said that the rehabilitation of the Adani irrigation rice project in Enugu state would be done under the programme.

    According to him, this will increase the income of small-holder farmers and rural entrepreneurs.

    Dr Gbassey Tarawali, the Head, Abuja Station of the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), said that the institute was one of the implementing institutions of the project in the states.

    Tarawali said that the institute would focus on the implementation of the cassava commodity value chain, AfricaRice on rice and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics for Sorghum value chain.

    “We will work and mobilise farmers, give them improved variety seeds, train them to improve their yields and link them to the market,’’ he said.

    ATASP 1 was launched in 2015 as part of efforts by the Federal Government to diversify the economy through agriculture.

     

    NAN

  • 4,000 youths, women benefit from Edo employment scheme–Coordinator

    4,000 youths, women benefit from Edo employment scheme–Coordinator

    No Fewer than 4,000 women and youths have benefited from the Edo State Employment and Expenditure for Result (SEEFOR), the coordinator of the scheme has said.

    Mr Fergusen Enabulele, Assistant Project Coordinator, stated this on Thursday in Benin during a routine monitoring of projects.

    According to him, 4,000 women and youths are currently under the employment of the SEEFOR project in the state.

    Enabulele said 26 sub-projects were completed between 2014 and 2015 under the public works sub-component of the SEEFOR.

    He also explained that another 45 of the projects were currently at various stages of completion across the three senatorial districts.

    “The projects were executed to support the state government in asset creation and provision of employment to the youths in the state,’’ he said.

    He enjoined the youths to re-dedicate themselves to duty to justify their remuneration.