NEWS
FG, UNICEF Expanded Schemes to Upskill 20m Young Nigerians- Osinbajo
No fewer than 20 million young Nigerians would be impacted with digital skills through an initiative of the Federal Government and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Vice President Yemi Osinbajo disclosed on Monday, in Abuja.
Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement, said this was part of a pre-recorded message delivered by the vice president at the official launch of the Generation Unlimited (GenU) programme in Nigeria.
GenU is a global, multi-sector partnership initially launched in September 2018, in collaboration with over 200 partners, and impacting over 100 million young people globally, through innovations and programmes in more than 40 countries across six continents.
Osinbajo said that the initiative, which offered expanded education, training and employment, targeting 20 million Nigerians from aged between 10 and 24 years, from 2021 to 2030, would positively impact the country’s future job growth enabling programmes.
“This programme is important because it promises to provide 20 million Nigerians with digital skills; link them to entrepreneurial and other job opportunities and assist them in realising their full potentials.
“Over the next couple of years, we will provide digital learning, employment, entrepreneurship and engagement for and with 20 million young Nigerians.
“This process is not only significant for our socio-economic development as a nation in the coming years, but also provides a learning asset for developing future job growth enabling programmes.
“Nigeria has one of the world’s largest young populations; and it bears repeating that our country’s youth are the nation’s present and indeed its future; the cost of failing to invest in them is quite simply, unimaginable.
“So, we are excited to be a part of the ambitious goal of reaching young Nigerians with this opportunity.
“The work is massive, and we know we cannot achieve this objective without strong partnerships; and so, the presidency, the relevant ministries and state governments will be collaborating with GenU Nigeria, the private sector, the international community and our young people themselves to make this a reality.”
Osinbajo said GenU Nigeria would have three key components– Digital Skills Development, The Workforce Readiness Programme and Youth Engagement — as youth employment, and especially the empowerment of female entrepreneurs, was a major aspect of GenU Nigeria.
The vice president commended private sector partners such as Airtel, the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Jobberman Nigeria, among others, for their innovative work with young entrepreneurs throughout the country and for their commitment to GenU Nigeria.
The introduction of GenU Nigeria was in collaboration with state governors, including Govs. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Abdullahi Ganduje, Kano State and Godwin Obaseki of Edo.
Edward Kallon, UN Resident Coordinator, was also part of the initiative as a development partner.
GenU Nigeria, billed to be implemented in 12 states distributed across the six geo-political zones in the country, has a wide range of development partners, including the AfDB, GIZ, ILO, UNDP, USAID, and private sector organisations.
The participating states and their zones include: Northwest – Kano State and Kaduna State; South West — Lagos State and Ogun; North East –Borno and Bauchi States; South East — Ebonyi and Enugu States; North Central — Niger and Benue; South-South — Rivers and Cross River.
Dignitaries present at the launch included Kano Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje, Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shuaibu; Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mohammed Abdullahi, and the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Segun Dawodu.
Others were: UNDP’s Kallon, alongside Country Representative, UNICEF Nigeria, Peter Hawkins, Country Managing Partner PwC, Nigeria, Uyi Akpata, Global Chief Executive Officer, GenU, Kevin Frey, and representatives of youth groups. (NAN)
The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, Thursday and Jan.1, 2025 as public holidays.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Ministry of Interior’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Magdalene Ajani, on Monday in Abuja.
According to Ajani, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said that the public holidays were to enable citizens to celebrate Christmas, Boxing Day and the New Year respectively.
“The Christmas season is a good moment for both spiritual reflection and national renewal.
“As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, let us demonstrate kindness and extend goodwill to one another, irrespective of our differences,” the Minister.
Tunji-Ojo emphasised the importance of the season as a time to foster harmony and to strengthen bonds across families and communities.
He assured citizens of the federal government’s continued commitment to ensuring peace, security, and prosperity across the nation.
He further expressed confidence in the renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu’s administration for a better and prosperous economy in 2025.
The Minister, on behalf of the federal government sent warm greetings to all Nigerians, urging them to use the festive period to reflect on the values of love, peace, and unity that the season signifies.(NAN)
Some suspected hoodlums on Saturday attacked the palace of Etsu Lokoja, Chief Emmanuel Dauda-Shelika, Nyamkpa IV, burning properties within the premises, including a vehicle.
The palace, located on plot 306, New Layout, Lokoja, was allegedly attacked by hoodlums at about 1:00 am on Saturday.
The Nupe Natives of Lokoja Development Union were planning to host the 2nd edition of the Nupe Natives end-of-the-year event, tagged “Lokoja ’24 Nupe Cultural Fiesta,” on Dec.
21, 2024, before the incident occurred.The event was, however, aborted due to the unfortunate attack.
Dauda-Shelika said this on Monday in Lokoja that he heard a big bang on my door at around 1 am.
“I woke up to check through the window, wondering what could have happened.
“Then, I suddenly saw wildfire coming out of my car that was set ablaze by attackers.
“I knew it was an attack on the palace, and therefore I could not come out because of fear of being attacked. So, I managed to come out through the back door and scaled the fence to escape for my life.
“Thereafter, I came out to the road and realised that all my neighbours in the community were on the ground trying hard to quench the fire, but unfortunately the car was burnt as well as other properties inside it.”
The traditional ruler appealed to the government and security agencies to investigate the cause of the attack and bring perpetrators and their sponsors to justice.
He admonished Nupe natives in Lokoja to avoid any reprisal attack but continue to remain peaceful and law abiding and allow the government and security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation of the attack.
“We are appealing to Gov. Ahmed Ododo and security agencies to please use their good offices to investigate this unfortunate incident and bring to justice whoever is concerned, whether directly or indirectly.
“We also want the government to kindly visit our issues by recognising and grading the stool of Etsu Lokoja, which had been in existence before colonisation,” he said.
He stated that the Lokoja Local Government Area chairman and his security team came for an on-the-spot assessment that Saturday morning, as well as the police and other security outfits.
The National President, Nupe Natives Union Lokoja, Alh. Abubakar Ndashite, said the event scheduled for Saturday was a celebration of Nupe cultural heritage and not any form of coronation as being insinuated from some quarters.
Ndashite, who doubles as the chairman of the planning committee, said the aborted event was to project the Nupe spirit and culture as well as the rich history of the diversely composed Lokoja community and the peaceful and harmonious coexistence among her.
He expressed his displeasure over the aborted cultural event, noting that the union had expended so much on it, and urged the government to bring perpetrators to book. (NAN)
The Abia Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of eight persons with two others injured in a road traffic crash that occurred along the Bende-Ohafia Road.
A statement by the Sector Commander, Mrs Ngozi Ezeoma, on Monday in Umuahia said that the crash occurred on Sunday along the Mmuri River axis of the road in Ohafia Local Government Area of the state.
She said the crash involved a Trailer carrying chippings which hit and fell on a Sharon Volkswagen vehicle with 10 persons on board.
“At the time of the crash eight persons had died including a woman standing by the roadside and three were injured.
“The injured victims were taken to the hospital while the dead ones were deposited at the morgue,” she said.
Ezeoma said that preliminary investigation revealed that the crash was caused by dangerous driving and excessive speeding. (NAN)
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