TheNewsGuru

Tag: Youths

  • Edwin Clark worries over brain drain, high exchange rate

    Edwin Clark worries over brain drain, high exchange rate

    Elder statesman Edwin Clark has expressed concern over reports of increasing number of Nigerians, particularly youths relocating to other countries.

    He told newsmen in Abuja that there was nothing wrong with people travelling or relocating to other countries.

    According to him, the recent trend where increasing number of Nigeria’s active population, the youth are emigrating is worrisome.

    He said the development was leading to increased brain drain, describing it as “very bad’’.

    Clark urged government to continue to put necessary measures in place to create a conducive environment to encourage youths to work in Nigeria and contribute to its growth.

    The elder statesman expressed concern over the high exchange rate, which he said had led to the rising cost of goods and services.

    He said Nigerians were finding it difficult to afford basic amenities.

    On redesigning of the Naira, Clark urged Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele to put short term plans in place to mitigate any negative effect.

    He said the rise in exchange rate was one of the likely effects of the Naira, adding that there were reports that the exchange rate had hit a record high partly due to the announcement.

    “On the redesigning of the Naira, I am not a financial expert to say whether the decision was right or wrong but reports have it that the exchange rate further increased the moment the announcement was made.

    “The advice I will give on this is that the CBN governor and other relevant stakeholders should come up with a short term measure that will mitigate the effect of this development.

    “Something urgent has to be done to prevent the Naira from falling beyond what it is today.

    “As we speak today, the rising cost of food is worrisome and something has to be done to stabilise the situation,’’ he said.

    On security, the elder statesman urged government to do more to secure the lives and property of Nigerians.

  • Police confirm, investigate shooting of one man dead, injuring of 18 others in APC, PDP youths clash

    Police confirm, investigate shooting of one man dead, injuring of 18 others in APC, PDP youths clash

    The Police Command in Gusau, Zamfara on Sunday confirmed the killing of one man and 18 others sustained injuries during a clash by members of two youth groups.

    The Police said the groups were suspected to be members of  APC and PDP in the state.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Muhammad Shehu, gave the confirmation in an SMS message to NAN in Gusau on Sunday.

    Shehu, who confirmed that the command had received a report of the killing, said: “discreet investigation into the case has commenced aimed at ensuring that the perpetrators face the full wrath of the law.”

    The PPRO, however, declined further comment on the incident.

    The PPRO’s confirmation followed an allegation by the APC that thugs suspected to have been hired by the PDP attacked and killed one man and injured 18 others without reason.

    The APC’s allegation is contained in a statement issued by Mr Yusuf Idris, Publicity Secretary in Gusau on Saturday.

    Idris said that: “It is highly disheartening and worrisome the attack with firearms perpetrated by PDP thugs.

    “The thugs came as the PDP Zamfara Governorship candidate’s boys and shot at innocent youths who were carrying out their monthly sanitation work in GRA area of Gusau, the Zamfara state capital.”

    He said that victims were attacked because they were APC supporters.

    “We are calling for calm by the good citizens of the state who were angered by the thugs.

    “We wish to call on both the state government and security agents to urgently fish out the culprits and bring them to book to prevent reprisals,” he added.

    Idris urged security agencies to also uncover how and where the alleged attackers secured such dangerous firearms.

    “A stitch in time, saves nine and a word is always enough for the wise,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the state Deputy governor, Sen. Hassan Nasiha, had visited the victims of the attack at the Specialist Hospital, Gusau to ascertain their condition.

    Nasiha told newsmen that 18 youths were shot during the attacks.

    He confirmed that one live was lost while 18 others sustained various degrees of bullet wounds.

    Three of the victims with serious injuries from gun shots were seen being attended to at the specialist hospital.

    He said it was the fear of such breach of law and order that the Zamfara Government announced a halt on campaign activities and rallies by political parties in the state.

    The deputy governor, however, said that the state government would investigate the matter and resolve on next line of action.

    He assured of government’s resolve to punish whoever was found involved in the attack.

    Nasiha consoled with the victims of the incident and promised that the government would not fold it’s arms and watch that happen again.

    Meanwhile the PDP in its response, said that its governorship candidate, Dr Dauda Lawal-Dare, only had a small meeting to receive defectors from the 14 local government areas of the state.

    The party’s Deputy Chairman, Alhaji Murkhtar Lugga, said shortly after the event, that the party received 50 defectors from each of the 14 local government areas.

    On the issue of halting rallies as announced by the state government, Lugga said PDP’s activity was within the ambit of the law and in line with the Electoral Act 2022 as amended.

    According to him, the party was guided by the Independent National Electoral Commission’s guidelines and time table for rallies and electioneering campaigns.

    “We have applied for security and the Commissioner of Police and the Commandant Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps deployed their men that ensured successful activity of our great party,” he said.

    Lugga expressed concern at the activities of some criminal elements who allegedly attacked some PDP youths during the event.

    He claimed that two of its youths were also reportedly shot in front of the Campaign Office of Dr Dauda Lawal Dare in the state capital.

    The PDP officials conducted newsmen round the emergency unit of the Specialist hospital where two victims with fractured legs and other  wounds  were also receiving medical attention.

    Lugga, however, said  that the party would investigate the alleged killing of an APC youth and injuring of 18 others and take appropriate action.

    The vice chairman  said the party was a law-abiding institution, assuring that their activity did not go against the INEC guidelines.

    “There was no information from the INEC  halting political rallies or political events in Zamfara state,” Lugga said.

  • APC youths jogging for Tinubu from Yenagoa approach Lagos

    APC youths jogging for Tinubu from Yenagoa approach Lagos

    Youths of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in South-East and South-South regions who left Yenagoa enroute Lagos to drum support for the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Monday arrived Ogun.

    The youths, under the auspices of “South-East/South-South Jogging for Tinubu Campaign Initiative”, constituted a team of fitness enthusiasts to embark on the exercise.

    According to a statement issued on Monday by Mr Samuel Adaga, the Coordinator of the exercise, the 25-member team is already in Ogun and approaching Lagos to terminate the expedition on Tuesday.

    The jogging was inaugurated at Bayelsa Secretariat of APC by the State APC Chairman, Dr Dennis Otiotio.

    Adaga said that the team had enjoyed warm reception by APC leaderships at the corridors of the Yenagoa-Lagos route at Delta, Edo and Ondo and Ogun, as the team hopes to terminate the expedition at Tinubu’s campaign office in Lagos.

    The team will visit Tinubu, who is expected to receive the volunteers in Lagos.

    According to the statement, the team drew at least two representatives from each of the 11 states in the South-East and South-South and executives of the group.

    Adaga explained that the aim was to raise awareness amongst the populace across settlements along their route from Yenagoa to Lagos.

    Eight members of the 25-member team are female.

  • NASENI empowers Kano youths with modern auto-diagnosis skills, repairs & maintenance of Vehicles

    NASENI empowers Kano youths with modern auto-diagnosis skills, repairs & maintenance of Vehicles

    The Federal government, through the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has responded to the general complaints by modern car owners of lack of capacity by most technicians to properly diagnose modern cars because of technology improvements which came with today’s newly manufactured cars or auto-vehicles.

    Many car owners have had their cars damaged by technicians because of poor handling resulting from inabilities of auto-technicians (popularly known as Mechanics) to handle most automobiles with automation that are out of reach for most of them, in terms of exposure during apprenticeship or hands-on during post-training experiences.

    While declaring the 5-Day training open today in Kano, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive, NASENI, Engr. Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna said that the auto-technical training programme given to the Kano youths was an intervention through a directive by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, whose interest is the empowerment of youths in kano State (NorthWest)  and also as response to the need to give new skills to youths and to empower those who are already in auto-mechanics with new knowledge of how to diagnose and maintain new vehicles, most of which are now designed and manufactured through a combination of mechanical and electronic features rolled into one.

    According to the Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, “without the necessary upgrade of knowledge, training and retraining of present crop of Nigeria’s auto-technicians, many of whom are already thrown out of their jobs, would continue to be thrown out of jobs and the larger society could not afford to allow such trend to continue because of its negative socio-economic implications.

    “Without proper upgrade of today’s auto-technicians on our streets in handling modern cars, they would have many more cars of customers damaged and therefore everyone become the loser. Most Modern cars run on a combination of mechanical techniques combined with electronic features which are out of reach of most technicians that are presently operating in our communities. And if we don’t have them trained and their skills upgraded, most of the technicians are already being thrown out of their jobs and car owners are already facing the difficulties of having their cars maintained efficiently.

    Therefore, the intervention by NASENI to train auto-technicians nationwide beginning from kano State (Northwest Zone) could not have come at a better time, Professor Haruna said.

    While explaining further the rationale for the special skills training, the Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI explained that “more importantly, the work force in Nigeria today needed general upgrade of skills and to give the youths, men and women new competencies in preparation for the arrival of the country at the knowledge-economy phase and also her drive toward industrialization in line with the directive given to NASENI by President Muhammadu Buhari”

    According to Professor Haruna, Nigeria need massive upgrade of persons with technical skills, knowledge and vocations across the country in order to redirect the productive competencies of the country toward transforming the nation into a manufacturing economy driven on the skills and technical capabilities of Nigerians in their various fields or economic activities.

    The training therefore targets not only the auto-technicians on their jobs but also the programme by NASENI aimed at increasing the technical competencies of the youths and men toward industrialization and manufacturing feats in the country currently being championed by NASENI as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Also speaking at the occasion, the Secretary to the Kano State Government, Alhaji Usman Alhaji expressed the gratitude of the kano State Government for the intervention by NASENI because the programme had come to address a very critical issue of unemployment and also meeting the need of auto-mobile vehicle owners who are already expressing frustration in the poor maintenance of their vehicles around Kano State and its environs. He said if the head of a family’s income is affected negatively because of inadequate knowledge in handling modern cars, then, the entire family will experience economic hardship. So the intervention in the area of upgrade of the skills and knowledge of the auto-technicians is a direct economic interventions and empowerment to families in Kano state.

    State-of-the art auto equipment, tools and diagnostic kits worth millions of naira were handed over to the 100 participants in Kano metropolis today, making the number of three(3) states with similar exercise. The Agency has taken the same training to Kebbi and Oyo States to ensure that 10 million jobs are created as promised by the present administration.

    Flagging off of the programme in Kano today, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Engr. Prof Mohammed Sani Haruna said the programme was the first-phase of auto-technical training in the North-West region by the Agency in the implementation of series of President Muhammadu Buhari’s directives to NASENI to ensure development of skills of the nation’s teeming youths necessary for job creation and self-employment generation.

    He said Kano state was selected for the flag-off ceremony because of its occupational trade, advanced skills development and a true mixture of the rural and urban Nigeria setting with all the nationalities living peacefully and thriving commercially.

    “The latest model of any automobiles in the world are all available in Kano. This also informs the selection of this speciality for gainful employment, for capacity building, and for development and intervention.” he said.

    While extoling the ingenuity and creativity of Nigerians when it comes to ability and capacity to observe operations, structure, and built-up of automobiles especially through backward integration techniques, Professor Haruna said Nigeria artisans and mechanics were able to clone automobiles through sourcing of Semi-Knocked Down (SKD), Completely Knocked Down (CKD) and even locally fabricated components/parts, body building and assembling of passengers and cargo vehicles without any training or technical know-how.
    “They are able to diagnose faulty mechanical components and restore functionality of vehicles without having prior training in the methods of conventional or first and second-generation vehicle even through trial and errors. Their innovation has provided employment for large able men who might not even have a formal education. They diagnose and repair  malfunctioned vehicles than certified Engineers could without hands-on practical exposure.

    He said that trial and error method of repairs and maintenance are risky, expensive and incompatible with modern vehicles and automobiles of tomorrow, thus, the essence of the training and empowerment programme of the Federal Government for Nigerian youths across the country.

    Explaining the importance of modern automobile, he said, it has computerized Engine Management Systems (EMS) which deploys advanced control logics, digital electronics and making them sophisticated. “It is easy to trace and address faults in the vehicles without which maintenance becomes too expensive and complicated and at times destructive. Many modern cars are grounded for simple lack of intelligent diagnostic tools or know-how”

    Amongst the automobile tools handed over to the participants by NASENI in Kano are Complete Auto tools, OBD 11Auto Diagnostic Scanner, Cover all, Safety Helmet, Safety Foot Wears, Hand gloves, Safety Google, Respiratory mask, T. Shirt, Face cap, Training bag to include training manual, programme, pad, tag and other writing materials.

  • NASENI kicks off self-employment and job creation programme for youths in Ibadan, Oyo state

    NASENI kicks off self-employment and job creation programme for youths in Ibadan, Oyo state

    In Furtherance of the nationwide empowerment and job creation for youths by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure(NASENI) (Presidency), about 100 youths selected from Ibadan, Oyo state are currently benefiting from the Federal Government’s Youths empowerment programme aimed at giving new skills and modernizing activities of artisans in the plumbing vocation.

    State-of-the-art plumbing equipment, tools and diagnostic kits worth several millions of naira were handed over to 100 youths around Ibadan today in continuation of President Buhari’s directive to NASENI to give Nigerian youths new skills, carry out retraining exercises in line with modern techniques in their different vocations.

    A similar exercise kicked off in Kebbi State recently( in August) where youths from the area were giving training, modern equipment and tools in modern farming.

    The Executive Vice Chairman/CE NASENI, Engr. Mohammed Sani Haruna while flagging off the training in Ibadan today said that NASENI was carrying out President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive saying “the time had come to put an end to the habit of giving out technical jobs meant for Nigerians to foreigners or migrants from neighbouring countries” hence President Buhari’s approval of the on-going special training for Plumbers operating in Ibadan, Oyo State.

    President Muhammadu Buhari is the Chairman, Governing Board of NASENI.

    With the training as a hands-on empowerment programme, Professor Haruna explained, “President Buhari’s intention is the prosperity of the youths and job satisfaction so they could take their plumbing work seriously and move to the highest level of efficiency and professionalism in plumbing”

    The training programme targets inputting in the trainees Modern Skills, Acquisition and training on modern methods of Plumbing and its applications. The youths selected from Oyo State are benefiting from the first phase of the programme targeted at those who are already in the profession of plumbing. The capacity building focuses on reskilling the plumbers to handle installations and maintenance of plumbing works with modern techniques, tools, diagnostics and equipment.

    According to the study carried out which led to the presidential directive; it was observed in Ibadan metropolis that delivery of plumbing works had become problematic because residents and house owners are experiencing poor jobs and finishing of plumbing works. The training programme is therefore targeted at addressing such challenges for professionals and also to make plumbing work become knowledge-based for youths and in tune with modern methods in plumbing and further upgrade of their skills.

    Speaking also at the event, the Chairman of the Occasion and Honourable member representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency who doubles as Chairman House of Representatives’ Committee on Science Research Institutes, Honourable Musiliudeen Olaide Akinremi (Jagaban) said the Ibadan citizens were grateful to President Buhari and NASENI for the intervention to upgrade the skills of plumbers in Ibadan and also giving new tools and technology for them to work with.

    He said the youths and their empowerment had become the most critical socio-economic programme for  sustenance of any modern economy and also a glimpse at “the idea of what the future of the country will looks like”

    Therefore empowering the youths, he said and especially a critical subsector like plumbing is critical to housing and general construction, he said. He also disclosed that youths empowerment programme was central to his legislative agenda, adding, that the Ibadan North Federal constituency zone was lucky for being the first beneficiary of the programme by the Federal Government in South west.

    He charged the trainees to use the equipment and tools to help themselves to increase their efficiency in the course of carrying out their tasks on site.

    The presidential mandate to NASENI in the on-going exercise is to move round the 36 States of the country to empower 100 youths in each location on such areas and skills where it is observed that critical vocational skill lacks efficiency and therefore needing upgrades, new skills acquisition, tools and equipment to advance such identified vocation.

    The list of new tools and equipment handed over to the plumbers include: PPR machine, Drilling Machine, Pressure Testing Machine, Plum, Plunger, Mechanical tools box, Sets of spanners, Pipe Wrench, Punch, Set of Chisels, Ratchet Socket Spanner Box and Gas Piler. Other safety kits given to the trainees include Safety shoes, Eye goggles, mechanical hand gloves amongst others.

  • 2023: A new Nig is possible with youths, women, children as critical stakeholders -Peter Obi

    2023: A new Nig is possible with youths, women, children as critical stakeholders -Peter Obi

     

    …says good leaders bring good life; terrible leaders bring destruction.

    Presidential candidate of the Labour Party LP, Peter Obi has said a new Nigeria is possible with, youths, women, and children will become the key stakeholders in the decision-making process.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports, Obi made this disclosure in his address at the Success Conference held in Ebonyi state on Saturday.

    He said: “Without a doubt, the new administration taking office in 2023 will face a plethora of domestic and external challenges provoked by cumulative leadership failures over the years.

    “These challenges have threatened our national unity, social cohesion, and citizens’ trust in the government and impeded our economic outcomes. Our country is currently one of the most miserable in terms of poverty rate, number of out-of-school children, infant and under-5 mortality rate, life expectancy, and a host of others. All these problems, though difficult, are not unsolvable.

    “Permit me to say that Nigeria is not bereft of good ideas and plans that will move the country forward.

    “However, the institutional weaknesses and lack of political will to implement them are undermining our development efforts. With the right leadership with political will and commitment to addressing these problems, a new Nigeria, where everybody including the most vulnerable and excluded group like youths, women, and children will become the key stakeholders in the decision-making process, is possible.

    “With the right leadership with political will and commitment to addressing these problems, a new Nigeria, where everybody including the most vulnerable and excluded group like youths, women, and children will become the key stakeholders in the decision-making process, is possible.

    Read full address below:

    “It gives me great pleasure and honour to join you all and to extend a warm welcome to everyone attending this crucial conference. This conference is both timely and highly topical as it brings together our vibrant youths to reminisce on their roles, as key agents of change, in advancing national development. I want to express my sincere gratitude to the conference’s organizers for the excellent job they are doing to encourage and uplift our young people to realize their potential as leaders in the development of our beloved nation.

    “It is imperative that, as this conference draws closer to the most critical period ahead of the 2023 elections, all young people of voting age obtain their PVCs and make sure they cast their ballots for qualified, competent, and trustworthy candidates at the local/state and national levels. Governments at all levels have a responsibility to provide an environment that allows people to achieve their life goals, including those related to infrastructure, health, education, and security of life and property. Good leaders bring about the good life; terrible leaders bring about destruction.

    “Without a doubt, the new administration taking office in 2023 will face a plethora of domestic and external challenges provoked by cumulative leadership failures over the years. These challenges have threatened our national unity, social cohesion, and citizens’ trust in the government and impeded our economic outcomes.

    “Our country is currently one of the most miserable in terms of poverty rate, number of out-of-school children, infant and under-5 mortality rate, life expectancy, and a host of others. All these problems, though difficult, are not unsolvable.

    “Permit me to say that Nigeria is not bereft of good ideas and plans that will move the country forward. However, the institutional weaknesses and lack of political will to implement them are undermining our development efforts.

    ” With the right leadership with political will and commitment to addressing these problems, a new Nigeria, where everybody including the most vulnerable and excluded group like youths, women, and children will become the key stakeholders in the decision-making process, is possible.

    “I, therefore, reiterate my commitment to a purposeful leadership that draws its strength from all Nigerians, particularly the youths, in policy formulation and administration. The overall task of our leadership in 2023 is to streamline governance and ensure that it is responsive, transformative, and effective.

    “We will demonstrate that good governance is all about providing the needed services to the people. If elected the next president of Nigeria, youths would be the main proponents of my main agenda to transform Nigeria from a consuming nation to a producing nation.

    ” The two main components of this agenda are human capital development and finance. Incidentally, the central goal of today’s conference is to improve the quality of human capital. Thus, under my leadership, the Federal Government will prioritise the ability of our educational system to produce the necessary skilled labour force that coincides with the 21st-century labour market demand, alongside providing entrepreneurial education at all levels.

    “In addition, given the role of health in reinforcing education in the measure of productivity, my leadership will pay serious attention to the health system by ensuring that at least 100 million poor Nigerians have access to free medical services through an integrated health insurance scheme.*

    “With respect to finance, the lack of government-backed sizeable venture capital funds is a significant adverse factor in the finance mix for SMEs and young entrepreneurs at the grassroots level.

    “If elected, we intend to create a professionally managed SME Equity Fund within the first year of office with the goal of promoting the development of at least one value-added industry that will utilize the local raw material supply, be it agricultural or mineral, in every local government in Nigeria.

    “Our collaboration with global organizations like UNIDO and Afrexim Bank will ensure that the goods from these local enterprises will be of export grade.*

    “In conclusion, I wish to appeal to all Nigerians, especially the youths, to see the 2023 election as an opportunity to take back their country and more importantly shun every form of primordial sentiments.

    “The 2023 election should be based on competence, capacity and commitment to doing the right thing and not on ethnicity/tribe and religion since the high cost of living, insecurity and other problems that are facing us have no discrimination against ethnicity/tribe and religion. Finally, I wish to thank the organisers once again for inviting me.

    #

  • Why we arrested 13 youths in Jos – Police

    Why we arrested 13 youths in Jos – Police

    The Police Command in Plateau says it can justify why it arrested and charged to court 13 youths who claim to be mountaineers (hikers) in a community of Jos North Local Government Area of the state.

    DSP Alfred Alabo, the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, gave the explanation in a statement.

    Alabo discarded the social media reports about the arrest, insisting that the reports did not represent what happened.

    “It is true that 13 youths were arrested at down base of a worship centre staff community, following a sting operation by the police in a suspicious manner.

    “The police detained them for questioning and investigation to determine who they are and to authenticate the veracity of their claim as innocent hikers.

    “Those who have been following recent security situation on the Plateau will recall that there were distress calls on the police over the many incidents of kidnapping and other insecurity in that axis.

    “The command arrested 13 persons, 12 males and one female, in a cave referred to as Rock Number One used by secret cult groups for initiation and other nefarious activities,” he said.

    Alabo further explained that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects did not have permission from the community leaders as it was the practice before embarking on the said hiking.

    “The suspects claimed that they were out for hiking, but preliminary police investigations and information from vigilante members and other community leaders indicated that before any hiking activity, the traditional rulers of the area ought to know.

    “The suspects  neither sought nor got the nod of the of the traditional rulers or the local security of the community thus raising suspicions on their activities at the cave, especially that when there were reports that kidnappers have been plundering the community.

    ‘“The suspects were taken to custody and immediately handed over to the Anti-Cult Unit of the command for further investigation.

    ‘“Search warrant was executed in their various houses and premises and some dry leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa and a military camouflage face-cap was recovered, hence, the suspects were charged to court for prosecution on  Aug. 15,” he said.

    The PPRO said that the exhibits recovered from the execution of the search warrant would be tendered in court as evidence.

    Alabo called on the public to disregard the news that had been making the rounds in some social media platforms and some sections of the media that the police arrested innocent hikers.

    He explained that the police and the court could not both be wrong at the same time.

    He urged residents of the state to report any suspicious activity or movements in their vicinities to the security agencies for prompt response.

  • Bitcoin boss vs EFCC: Remain upright, confident, in discharge of your duties, Cleric charges youths

    An Abuja-based cleric and General Superintendent of Renewal of Grace Ministry International, Pastor Yohanna Paul has charged Nigerian youths to remain upright and confident as a way of life in whatever vocation they choose.

    Pastor Paul who dropped the wise counsel in Awka at the weekend in a lecture titled: ‘Crypto Currency, Youths and the emerging cashless world’ noted that living a sincere and confident lifestyle leaves one without any fear or apprehension in life whatsoever.

    The gathering which was organised by members of The Emerging Markets Association of Nigeria(TEMAN) urged youths to get busy with their brains and hands, especially now the economy of Nigeria was comatose.

    The cleric commended friends of the famous Awka-based Cryptocurrency czar, Messrs Linus Williams Odinaka Ifejika, popularly known as B-Lord for standing up for his right and engaging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for his wrongful arrest, unnecessary detention, and falsely accusing him of engaging in unwholesome transactions and internet fraud.

    Chairman of the occasion, Dr Chris Udeka praised High Chief Law Ugwunna,V. I. C Okeke Esq, K. C. UmeOkafor Esq, I. A. Maikaho Esq, K. C. Nwokoro and O. H. Hammed Esq for diligent and efficient legal representation on the matter.

    He urged youths to see Cryptocurrency business/trading as a genuine line of business for interested persons, particularly now that the government and Central Bank have published the official enabling guidelines.

    B-Lord had consequent upon his wrongful, unwarranted arrest, embarrassing parading before the world, and seizure of some of his exotic choice cars on August 31,2020 on mere trumped-up charge of internet fraud floored the Commission at the Federal High Court, Enugu Division.

    Celebrating his legal triumph in the social media, Blord had declared, “I finally defeated and deflated @officialefcc in Federal High Court. My cars and properties have been released to me. Never believed at my age I will be fighting the Federal Government but I have to fight for what is mine. This is proof that the Nigerian justice system works.”

    Our investigation revealed that many individuals and corporate citizens sleep on their rights, hence organs of the government often get away with actionable illegalities. A Calabar, Cross River State based bitcoin trader-Henry Umoren admitted that he was among the lot stakeholders who strongly doubted that anything good would come out of the litigation back in 2021.
    But here we are, after about 20 months legal fireworks, B-Lord has triumphed.

    It was also learnt that the victory threw the Cryptocurrency traders all over the nation into a frenzy.

    So far B-Lord’s Instagram followers has recorded sudden jumped grossing over 1.8 million since the positive verdict, garnering over 90, 000 views within hours and his page flooded with expressions of joy, happiness, and felicitation.

    Blord’s wife, Francisca Linus, in her post stated, “Let it be known that any act of defamation on his name will not be tolerated. The justice system still works, don’t be subdued by intimidation. Know your rights and fight for it.”

    Another bitcoin trader, Jerry Omonuwa from Edo state saluted B-Lord Ifejika and the legal team for their diligence, doggedness and perseverance in the face of the usual disenchantment, loss of faith and financial inhibition that often stop most citizens from seeking legal redress in the face of obvious illegal actions and unwarranted meddlesomeness by most government agencies.

    Mrs Iruka Chukwuma, an Awka housewife who claimed to have known B-Lord Ifejika for a long time said she knew from the onset that the EFCC operatives we’re chasing the wind. That bitcoin business was in its infancy and many people were oblivious of its operation, hence see the operators as “dubious”, “internet fraudsters”, and or an extension of “yahoo yahoo”.

    Unfortunately it was a smart internet oriented very lucrative virtual business, especially for its earliest entrants.

    Mrs Chukwuma, while giving kudos to the Federal High Court, for its incisive and erudite verdict commended the legal team of High Chief Law Ugwunna Chambers for their efforts and successful prosecution.

    The Anambra- based Bitcoin Lord, popularly known as B-Lord beaming with hearty smiles said he was happy the court has clearly shown there’s still hope for the common man in the country.

    He sent special thanks to Barrister K. C. Umeokafor specially, and the rest prosecuting legal team who worked round the clock to get justice for him even in the face of obvious opposition and challenges. “It’s God Almighty that would reward them abundantly…”, he prayed.

  • Kebbi youths stage peaceful protest, urge Malami to contest governorship

    Kebbi State Youths, under the aegis of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Youths Support (KYS), Wednesday staged a peaceful protest demanding that Abubakar Malami, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, should contest for the governorship position in the state.

    Newsmen reports that the youths carried placards with inscriptions such as, “We in Kebbi are unanimous for Malami’s project”; “Constitution is superior to Electoral Act”; “Malami is Kebbian” and “Baba Buhari, please allow Malami to run”, among others.

    The Chairman of the group, Malam Muhammad Ruwa, who made their demand known at the end of the protest in Birnin Kebbi, said the youths are pleading with Malami to rescind his earlier decision not to contest.

    “We are calling on Malami as youths from the 21 local government areas of the state to listen to our demands and recant his earlier decision, and come and contest in order to continue with the developmental projects the APC-led government has started,” he said.

    The group threatened to use legal action to press home their demands if Malami refuses to heed their demand.

    Ruwa described Malami as a person with sterling leadership qualities and who assisted his people tremendously.

    Speaking on behalf of women members of the group, the Woman Leader, Hussaina Sa’idu, called on Malami to contest the governorship position.

    She said the minister, through his Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), had impacted the children and empowered the people, especially the women.

    “His programmes empowered and have continued to mobilise the people of the state, especially the women to improve their standard of living,” Sa’idu said.

    Responding, Alhaji Yahaya Koko, the Manager of Kadi Malami Foundation, assured the group that he would channel their demands to the minister for consideration.

    “Malami is a leader that every state wants to have as its governor, considering his immense contributions to poverty alleviation and provision of social amenities to people in remotest areas.

    “He has empowered unemployed youths and women as well as small and medium-scale farmers, businessmen and women, among others, in the state.

    “We appreciate your concern and love for Malami and we assure you that your message will get to him promptly.

    “It is our hope and prayer that he will consider your demands and rescind his earlier decision,” Koko said.

  • Tom Associates CEO tasks youths on the path to the attainment of self-fulfilment

    Tom Associates CEO tasks youths on the path to the attainment of self-fulfilment

    Tom Associates Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Mr Tope Jegede, has identified the five springboards the youths must focus on to achieve self-fulfilment.

    At a recent Youth Development Programme organised by the Management of Rose of Sharon with a broad title of Self Actualisation: A Panacea for Youth Survival, the CEO delivered a paper titled: Building on Your Existing Blocks as a Springboard to self-fulfilment.

    According to the CEO, youths should shoulder the responsibility of self-management and run their race to attain self-fulfilment.

    Jegede, who tasked the participants to run their race by living a balanced life and renewing the same daily (dealing with discouragement), categorised critical areas of human life that deserved the attention of ‘balance’ and management, as earlier mentioned.

    “There are five crucial blocks in human life: Personal block, Work block, Relationships and Social contributions blocks. Those areas are like the wheels on a car; they must be balanced and attended to if you want a smooth life journey. Spirituality is like the steering wheel, and you can develop your spiritual practice by meditating and fostering a relationship with God. Once you’ve balanced your tires and taken hold of the wheel, you’ll be well to a joyful and rewarding life.”

    “You cannot be fulfilled until you identify your motivation for life and work. Everyone is driven by something,” he noted.

    Jegede also cited the popular theory on motivation called Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to stress his argument.
    Maslow’s theory states that our actions are motivated by specific physiological needs. It is often represented by a pyramid, with the most basic needs at the bottom and more complex needs at the top.

    “Maslow believed that these needs are similar to instincts and play a significant role in behaviour. There are five levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, starting at the lowest level, known as physiological needs.

    “The levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs include;
    physiological Needs (Food, water, breathing, shelter, clothing, sex); security and safety needs (it could be financial, health& wellness-related); social needs (managing relationships); esteem needs (success); self-actualisation needs (about significance).”

    He further shared a story to illustrate how one’s life is uniquely significant in actualising self-fulfillment if one identifies and balances needs and motivations in line with life and work.
    “A water-bearer in India had two large pots; both hung on the ends of a pole, which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack, while the other was perfect and always delivered an entire portion of water.

    “The cracked pot always arrived half full at the end of the long walk from the stream to the house.
    “The poor cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfection and miserable that it could accomplish only half its purpose.

    “After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water-bearer one day by the stream: ‘I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologise. I have been able to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out back to your house.

    Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts.’
    “The bearer said to the pot, ‘Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you’ve watered them. For two years, I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table.

    Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.
    “Run Your Race – Balance your life, pace your life and renew yourself daily.