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Shettima says Education, Skills Development will Address Poverty

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Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Wednesday identified education and skills development as panacea for addressing poverty and hunger in the country.

Shettima stated this at a meeting with a delegation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Reports says that the delegation was led to the State House by the President of its Global Growth & Opportunity Division, Mr Rodger Voorhies.

Shettima underscored the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity and the urgent need to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices to ensure food security for Nigeria’s growing population.

He emphasised the need for the foundation to forge a strategic partnership with the Nigerian government to enhance agricultural productivity, improve nutrition and strengthen the education sector.

Shettima also enjoined the foundation to support President Bola Tinubu’s gender empowerment initiatives.

The vice president noted that the programmes which are focused on the girl child are critical to Nigeria’s drive to alleviate poverty.

Shettima expressed his appreciation for the foundation’s significant contributions to Nigeria, particularly in the areas of polio eradication and primary healthcare delivery.

Similarly, the vice president stressed the need for the foundation’s continued support in the Nigerian agricultural sector.

“We are investing heavily in agricultural innovation and best agricultural practices to enhance productivity.

“However, we need the expertise and resources of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to accelerate our progress,” he said.

Shettima also emphasised the importance of education and skills development in addressing poverty and hunger.

He urged the foundation to collaborate with the Nigerian government in expanding access to quality education and opportunities for skills development, particularly in the agricultural sector.

“By the end of the century, we are projected to be the most populous nation on earth. This demographic bulge can be transformed into a dividend or a disaster.

“Investing in education and skills development is crucial for ensuring that our growing population becomes a source of strength and not a burden,” he stated.

He called for a strong partnership between the Nigerian government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Shettima expressed confidence that the partnership could yield transformative results in addressing Nigeria’s agricultural, nutritional, and educational challenges.

He added that the partnership would pave the way for a more prosperous and sustainable future for the nation.

“If a nation is not independent in food production, it remains a dependent nation. So, I am soliciting your partnership and attention.

“Join us in our drive towards combating poverty and hunger in sub-Saharan Africa as you did in Southeast Asia,“ he added.

Earlier, Mr Voorhies said he and his team were in the country to strengthen existing collaborations with Nigeria and also seek other areas of partnership with the new administration, especially in priority sectors.

He commended the Tinubu administration’s agenda on food security and healthcare delivery.

He acknowledged the vice president’s leadership and commitment to nutrition and agricultural transformation.

He assured of the foundation’s commitment and readiness to support efforts aimed at achieving set goals and objectives. (NAN)

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Life Doesn’t End in your Communities, NYSC D-G Tells Corps Members

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The Director-General of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Yusha’u Ahmad, has advised corps members to stop thinking of relocating back to their communities, emphasising that life does not end there.

Report says that Ahmad spoke when he visited the NYSC temporary orientation camp on Friday in Kaduna.

Addressing corps members of the 2024 batch ‘C stream ‘I’ currently on the mandatory three-week orientation course, he urged the corps members to find home anywhere they were posted to, emphasising the importance of adapting to new environments.

Ahmad emphasised that the corps members must find a sense of belonging wherever they were posted, stating that such mindset was crucial for a successful service year.

According to him, embracing new experiences and being open to change can lead to personal growth and development.

He urged the corps members to focus on making a positive impact in their host communities.

The director-general encouraged them to be proactive and seek opportunities to contribute to the development of their host communities.

He urged them to respect the cultures and traditions of their host communities, advising, ”remain peaceful and resilient as you add value to the community you are posted to.

”I am sure many of you will choose to remain here after your service. You should also take security seriously.

“Your security is our concern, but no one can secure you more than yourself.”

Ahmad underscored the importance of skills acquisition and entrepreneurial development of the scheme.

He urged the corps members to take advantage of the programme to become not just self-reliant, but job and wealth creators after their service year.

“Skills acquisition is designed to make you independent, self-reliant and productive.

”The Federal government is out to ensure that youths are supported and empowered so they can stand on their own.

“Thousands of your predecessors who maximised the opportunity are now independent,”Ahmad said.

The director-general however warned the corps members on unauthorised and night travels, indecent dressing, among other acts that may project the scheme in bad light.
(NAN)

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Protect TETFUND from Abrogation Under Proposed Tax Bill–ASUU urges NASS

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged the National Assembly (NASS) to protect the Tertiary Education Trust (TETFUND) from being abrogated under the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024.

Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, the President of ASUU, said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

Osodeke said that the proposed bill was worrisome and also posed potential danger to the Tertiary Education Trust (TETFUND).

“ASUU has observed with keen interest the ongoing debate on the review of the tax system in the country under a proposed bill tagged, Nigeria Tax Bill, 2024.

“This is currently before the National Assembly. Arising from the tax bill is the proposed abrogation of the education tax.

“ASUU is alarmed by this dangerous and unpatriotic aspect of the proposed new tax regime,” he said.

According to Osodeke, the bill proposed that education tax, called development levy, used to bankroll TETFund’s programmes should be ceded to the newly established Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

“TETFund will also receive 66.7 per cent in 2027, 2028 and 2029 years of assessment but zero per cent in 2030 year of assessment and thereafter,”he said.

He said that the far-reaching consequence of the new tax system is that from 2030, all funds generated from the development levy would be passed to NELFUND.

He said that ASUU found the development not only worrisome but also inimical to the national development objective due to the potential danger to the survival of TETFund.

Osodeke said that TETFund has been viewed as the backbone for infrastructural development, postgraduate training and research capacity building in Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions in the
last 15 years.

He said that ASUU had resolved not to stand by and watch the denigration or obliteration of TETfund which represents a positive testament to its constructive engagements with Nigerian governments since 1992.

“It is our considered view that abrogating the TETFund Act 2011, by design or default, will be a great disservice not just to education but to Nigeria as a nation.

“As a result, ASUU is urging members of the National Assembly to do all within their capacity to protect TETFund from being abrogated under the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, ”he said.(NAN)

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Gunmen Kill 1 at Benin Nightclub

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The police in Edo have confirmed the killing of a guest at the popular Raptor Club and Lounge, Stadium Road, Benin.

The victim was shot dead by gunmen in the early hours of Friday, while his female passenger sustained gunshot injuries.

SP Moses Yamu, Public Relations Officer of the Police Command in Edo, said that investigations into the incident were ongoing.

According to him, the police received a distress call at 3 a.

m. that there were gunshots at Raptop Club.

He said the operatives of the command on reaching the scene went after the hoodlums, who escaped and abandoned a pump action gun and two expended empty shells.

Yamu explained that efforts were ongoing to arrest the perpetrators.

NReport says that the incident, which occurred at about 2 a.m., has left the management and patrons of the nightclub in shock.

A source told newsmen that the deceased, whose identity has not been disclosed, was shot inside his white Lexus Jeep vehicle, while the female passenger was hit by stray bullets on her lap.

The incident left the club with some damages, including shattered show glasses and a destroyed glass door.

Policemen were seen at the scene of the incident, as the deceased’s vehicle was towed away. (NAN)

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