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40 Per cent of Nigerian Youths Jobless — Adesina

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By Joseph Amah, Abuja 

President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina says that over 40 per cent of Nigerian youths are jobless.
 Adesina, disclosed this while delivering a lecture during the 80th birthday celebration of General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye.


He said the youths are discouraged, angry and restless, as they look at a future that does not give them hope.
 
In the lecture titled, “Nigeria – a country of many nations:  a quest for national integration”, Dr. Adesina , however said all hope is not lost as youths have a vital role to play if the country should arrive on its destined destination.

Speaking further, Dr. Adesina noted that,  “For Nigeria to be all that it can be, the youth of Nigeria must be all they can be. “
He said, “The future of Nigeria depends on what it does today with its dynamic youth population. This demographic advantage must be turned into a first-rate and well-trained workforce, for Nigeria, for the region, and for the world.
“We should prioritize investments in the youth: in up skilling them for the jobs of the future, not the jobs of the past; by moving away from so-called youth empowerment to youth investment; to opening up the social and political space to the youth to air their views and become a positive force for national development; and for ensuring that that we create youth-based wealth. 
“From the East to the West, from the North to the South, there must be a sea change in economic, financial, and business opportunities for young Nigerians. 
“The old must give way to the new. And there must be a corresponding generational transfer of power and wealth to the youth. The popular folk talk should no longer be “the young shall grow,” it should, rather, be: “the young have arrived.” 
“The young shoots are springing up in Nigeria. Today, Nigeria’s youth are leading in the FinTech Industry. two companies – PayPal Interswitch are both valued at $1 billion. 
“A third company, Flutterwave more than tripled its valuation in less than a year to over $3 billion what does this tell us? The future is here and young entrepreneurs are central to it.”
Adesina recalled that, “The African Development Bank approved $170 million in December of last year for Nigeria to support its program to expand digital and creative industries, by unleashing the incredible entrepreneurship of Nigeria’s youth.
“The African Development Bank is also exploring the establishment of Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Banks — financial institutions for young people, run by first-rate young bankers and financial experts, to drive youth-wealth creation. “ 
“Nigerians deserve wealth, not poverty. There cannot and should not be a Nigeria for the rich, and another Nigeria for the poor. 
“We must build one Nigeria, where every citizen has the right to a decent life.  We must build a better nation. We must start building again, not splintering again. 
“We must re-build trust, equity, and social justice, to propel strong cohesiveness as a nation. 
“The tides are high, I know, and our boat rocks from time to time. Yet, I have hope. Hope for a better Nigeria … a renewed nation. Hope for a nation that is helped and healed by God. A nation, where the sacrifices of Nigerians past and present shall not be in vain. 
“I pray and long for a better Nigeria.  For a nation, built not on the division of its past, or the foundations of ethnicity, but on a new foundation, the foundation of equity, fairness, justice, and unity, one Nigerian to the other. 
“For a new Nigeria, where one from the north shall be at home in the east; where one from the east shall break bread with one in the north; one where the one in the west shall eat from the same plate with one in the north; and wash hands in the same basin as one in the east. “
He said for Nigeria to realize its dream, “The constituent States in Nigeria must be more financially autonomous through greater fiscal prudence. If States focus on unlocking the huge resources they have, based on areas of comparative advantage, they will rapidly expand wealth for their people.
“With their increased wealth they will be able to access capital markets to secure long-term financing to fast-track their growth and development. 
“States that adopt this strategy would have less of a need for monthly trips to Abuja for grants. Instead, part of their federal revenue allocations can be saved as internal ‘state sovereign wealth funds’.
“This can then be used as guarantees against borrowings from capital markets. They would be free from needing to exclusively rely on the federal government. 
“As a way out of the economic quagmire, much has been said about the need for restructuring. I know the discussions are often emotive. Restructuring should not be driven by political expediency, but by economic and financial viability – the necessary and sufficient conditions for political viability.
“Surgeries are tough. They are better done well, the first time. The resources found in each state or state groupings should belong to them. The constituent entities should pay federal taxes or royalties for those resources.
“The achievement of economically viable entities and the viability of the national entity requires constitutional changes to devolve more economic and fiscal powers to the states or regions. 
“The stronger the states, or regions, the stronger the federated units. In the process, our union would be renewed. Our union would be stronger. Our union would be equitable. Our union would be fully participatory. “

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LG polls: Nasarawa APC Announces Chairmanship Candidates

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Nasarawa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has announced its  chairmanship candidates for the Nov. 2,  local government councils election in the state.

Mr Tanimu Adamson, Chairman of the party’s primary elections committee, announced the names of  successful candidates, submitting the report of the exercise to the party’s state executive on Friday in Lafia.

Adamson explained that the party’s flag bearers emerged through consensus as agreed by the party,  in line with article 20 of its constitution.

He listed the names of the successful chairmanship candidates for the 13 LGAs  to include Safiyanu Isa for Akwanga, Umar Dan-Akano, Awe, Jonathan Addra, Doma, Abubakar Madaki, Karu, and Adamu Aboki, Keana.

Others are Idris Damagani, Keffi, Bitrus Agbawu, Kokona, Mohammed Ahmed, Nasarawa, Iliya Aliyu, Nassarawa-Eggon, Isa Sani, Obi, Murtala Danmadami, Toto and Ezekiel Jaga, Wamba  respectively.

He said that the emergence of the  consensus candidates followed a painstaking consultation and resolution by stakeholders of the party and the candidates.

Adamson said that the party’s councillorship candidates for 147 electoral wards had also emerged  through consensus.

Receiving the report, Aliyu Bello, APC State Chairman, appreciated the committee members for their sacrifice and for delivering on their mandate within the stipulated time.

He expressed satisfaction with the caliber of persons that emerged as candidates of the party.

He, therefore, expressed optimism that the party would win the election in all the area councils, given the quality of its candidates.

Report says that APC at a stakeholders meeting on Oct. 7, fixed October 14 and 16 for councillorship and chairmanship primaries.

The party at the meeting also adopted a consensus method to produce their candidates for the LGAs and electoral wards, respectively. (NAN).

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Kebbi Sets up Committee to Retrieve Stolen Orphans’ Funds

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Kebbi Government has constituted a committee to recover money fraudulently removed from the individual accounts of orphans out of the N2.1 billion funds disbursed by the World Muslim League.

Report says that on Oct. 10, the League disbursed N2.1 billion to 1,849 orphans in the state through bank transfer to cater for their upbringing.

Report gathers that some guardians entrusted with managing the money have engaged in fraudulent activity by shortchanging those under their care.

Briefing newsmen on the development in Birnin Kebbi on Friday, the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Aliyu, said Gov. Nasir Idris, had directed the immediate recovery of the money in full and return it to the rightful owners.

“The governor has high compassion for orphans, he is up to the task, he therefore, charged the committee to do the needful, to ensure thorough investigation.

“We contacted the banks that disbursed the funds but they informed us that the fraudulent acts were perpetrated using Point of Sale (POS) terminals not the conventional banking channels.

“But we are sounding a word of caution, any bank discovered to be involved in the removal of the orphans’ money, government will formally write a letter of complaint to the headquarters of such bank for appropriate action,” he warned.

Sani-Aliyu vowed that the present administration would not fold its arms to allow some unscrupulous guardians of orphans to cheat the orphans.

“Kebbi Government is immensely appreciative to the World Muslim League for its magnanimity and for disbursing such colossal amount of money to orphans in the state.

“The Nigeria’s Regional Office of the League in Kaduna has been notified about what is happening in Kebbi, and the office has pledged full cooperation to the funds’ recovery efforts.

“The Recovery Committee is headed by my humble self, two other Commissioners, two Special Advisers and two Permanent Secretaries,” the commissioner said. (NAN)

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ACCI Inaugurates Golf Networking Initiative

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The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has inaugurated novel networking initiative aimed at fostering business connections through golf.

Dr Emeka Obegolu, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and President of the Chamber, said this at a B2B meeting and cocktail event organised by the ACCI in Abuja.

Obegolu stressed the importance of achieving a balance between work and personal life, particularly in light of Nigeria’s rising health concerns and sudden deaths.

He advocated for golf as a means to enhance social interactions among entrepreneurs, providing a relaxed environment to discuss business opportunities.

“We are here today to bring businessmen together with the Gulf community, appreciating the eminent businessmen within this community who may not yet be members of the Chamber of Commerce.

“Our message centres on balancing work-life, primarily due to the rate of sudden deaths we are facing in the country today.

“We aim to introduce golf to the business community, providing a platform for networking, exchanging opportunities, and contacts.”

According to Obegolu, the IBB Golf Course, a premier destination, offers an ideal backdrop for networking and forging valuable connections.

He reiterated the chamber’s commitment to promoting ease of doing business in Nigeria, urging support from the Abuja business community.

Obegolu also called on the FCT administration to improve infrastructure at the Idu Industrial District to make Abuja a truly industrial city.

He said more than 110 participants have registered for the golf tournament scheduled for October 19, with more expressing interest.

“”The tournament will culminate in an evening ceremony with awards and prizes.”

Dr James Agbonhese, Vice Captain of IBB International Golf and Country Club, commended the ACCI initiative, highlighting golf’s values of honour and integrity.

“Golf requires sincerity, which is equally essential in business to achieve success without litigation, disagreement, or problems,” Agbonhese said.

He welcomed the partnership between golf and business, looking forward to future events.(NAN)

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