NEWS
NDE Empowers 228 Unemployed Persons with N22.8m to Start Agric Businesses
The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has empowered 228 unemployed persons with N22.8 million to set up and manage small-scale agricultural enterprises in their chosen areas in the country.
The Director-General (DG) of the Agency, Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo, made the disclosure in Enugu on Friday while disbursing the facility to the beneficiaries.
The DG, represented by the NDE Enugu State Coordinator, Eugene Agu, said that these prospective beneficiaries were drawn from a pool of persons, trained by the department of the Rural Employment Promotion (REP) in 12 states, including Enugu.
Agu said, under the scheme, 228 beneficiaries were empowered in the country with the sum of N22,800,000 to enable them set up and manage small-scale agricultural enterprises in their chosen areas of interest to become self reliant, create wealth and generate employment opportunities for others.
He said out of the 288 beneficiaries in the country, 19 persons were empowered in Enugu with the sum of N100,000 each.
Fikpo congratulated the beneficiaries in Enugu and 11 other states where this ceremony had also taken place.
He said in driving this policy, the NDE identified a lot of demand-driven labour intensive skills in technical, vocational, domestic, entrepreneurial and agricultural enterprises to close the skills gap that exists among young unemployed graduates and school leavers searching for employment.
The Directorate had over the years, vigorously pursued its mandate through a series of employment generation initiatives.
“It has remained focused, proactive and poised to continue to sustain the fight against unemployment through the promotion of self-employment initiatives, attitudinal change and counseling to achieve its vision of jobs for all.
“The REP Department, through its strategy of training in modern Agricultural skills and empowerment in agribusiness engagements, is one of the core Programme departments saddled with the responsibility of generating employment opportunities in the agricultural sector for the unemployed youth in Nigeria.
“The programme trains unemployed youth in the agricultural value chain activities in production, storage, processing, preservation, packaging and other innovative and technologically-driven skills in the agricultural sector.
“Today, we are here to flag-off the disbursement of loans to 228 beneficiaries under the 2023 sustainable Agricultural Development and Empowerment Scheme.
“Let me remind the beneficiaries to see this gesture as a rare opportunity which should not be allowed to fail. Remember that with the loan facility, you have been doubly empowered,” he explained.
He explained that the loan empowerment provided them with the required finances for entrepreneurship, urging them to justify these efforts by putting in their best to succeed and repay the loan in due time so that other unemployed youths would also benefit.
Fikpo encouraged all well-meaning Nigerians to partner with the NDE for the benefit of the unemployed in their mist.
Also speaking, the Director, Rural Employment Promotion Department, Mr Duke Eden, said that the department was implementing the 2023 sustainable agricultural development and empowerment scheme (SADES) for the NDE-trained youth.
Eden explained that the programme would create employment and generate wealth that would go a long way in reducing the number of unemployed persons in the country.
He advised the beneficiaries on the effective utilisation of the loans which would be disbursed to them through their banks.
He appreciated the Director-General of the NDE for graciously approving the disbursement of the loan in 12 states of the federation, noting that in May this year, the same exercise took place in 12 other states and the FCT. (NAN)
NEWS
Ohanaeze Ndigbo President Iwuanyanwu for Burial Nov. 1
By David Torough, Abuja
The remains of elder statesman and President General of the pan-Igbo group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, have been slated for burial on November 1.
Chairman of the burial committee, Senator Ben Obi, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday.
Alongside with the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Amb Okey Emuchay and burial sub-committee chairmen, Senator Osita Izunaso, Gen.
Azubuike Ihejirika (retd) and others, Obi unveiled a series of activities culminating into the actual burial ceremony.“Our message today is to convey the dates for the burial of the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
“Lagos day of tributes, Wednesday 16th October 2024 at Eko Hotels and Convention Centre.
“Abuja Day of Tributes Friday 18th October, 2024 at the National Ecumenical Centre.
“Enugu Day of tributes, Saturday 26th October with a brief stop at Ohanaeze headquarters, 7 Parkland GRA Enugu while the main event will be held at the Okpara Square.
“Owerri Service of Songs Tuesday 29th October 2024. Commendation Service on 1st November in Owerri and Imo day of burial on Friday, 1st November 2024,” he said.
He added that further details will be communicated in due course.
On whether the Federal Government would participate in the burial, Senator Obi said the committee will visit President Bola Tinubu to intimate him about the transition of the statesman and details of his burial.
“We will be visiting President Tinubu to formally announce to him details of this transition and I am sure the President knows all that Chief Iwuanyanwu had done and he will do the needful,” he said.
Asked whether the late newspaper publisher had regrets about his inability to secure the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and ensure the realization of a restructure federation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo scribe said Chief Iwuanyanwu died a fulfilled man because he never shies away from doing his best in the circumstance.
“Chief Iwuanyanwu and I visited Kanu in jail and I think that was his last official assignment before his demise.
“Prior to that, he had never missed any opportunity to call for the release of Kanu.
“On restructuring, he never minced his words on equity, fairness and justice and he knew that he couldn’t do it alone.
“So he operated with the South-South PANDEF, Middle Belt Forum and Afenifere. He asked for parity in the number of states in each geopolitical zone.
“We in Ohanaeze will continue to pursue these issues that were very dear to his heart and we want to give the assurances that we will not fail,” Obi said.
NEWS
Shettima to Lead Nigeria’s Delegation to UNGA
President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly session in New York this year.The President has thus directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser, Information and Strategy, said in a statement on Thursday.“President Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trip to China and the UK, wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding.
“At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings,” said the statement.The high-level General Debate, with the theme, “Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations,”will run from Sept. 24, to Sept. 28. (NAN)NEWS
NECO Releases 2024 SSCE Results
The National Examinations Council, (NECO) has released the June/July 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination results (SSCE), with 60.55 per cent of candidates securing five credits and above in English Language and Mathematics.
The Registrar of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the NECO headquarters on Thursday in Minna, Niger.
Wushishi said that a total of 1,376,423 candidates, representing 706,950 males and 669,473 females, registered for the exam.
The registrar said that 1,367,736 candidates sat for the examination, representing 702,112 Males and 665,624 females.
He said that 828, 284 candidates had five credits and above, including English and Mathematics, representing 60.
55 per cent.Wushishi said that the number of candidates with five credits and above, irrespective of English and Mathematics, were 1,147,597, representing 83.90 per cent.
He said that there was a great reduction in the number of examination malpractices this year compared to 2023.
“The number of candidates involved in various forms of malpractice in 2024 is 8,437 as against 12,030 in 2023, which shows a reduction of 30. 1 per cent,” he said.
The registrar, however, said that 40 schools were found to be involved in mass cheating during the examination.
” During the conduct of the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), 40 schools were found to have been involved in whole school (mass) cheating in 17 states.
” They will be invited to the Council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions will be applied.
“A school in Ekiti was recommended for de-recognition for mass cheating in two core subjects and 01 Science subject.
” Similarly, 21 Supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting, abscondment, extortion, drunkenness and negligence in 12 states,”said.
He urged candidates that sat for the examination to visit NECO website to access their results.
Wushishi said candidates can access their results on NECO website: www.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration number,” he said.(NAN)