Nation
Lagos Empowers 450 Unemployed Youths
A crowd of Rivers people waiting to collect application forms for the Small and Medium-scale Enterprises Scheme of the State Ministry of Commerce and Industry in 2007. Photo: Chris Monyanaga
The Lagos State Government has empowered about 450 unemployed youths, who graduated from the states vocational and training centres with tools that will enable them practice their vocation as well as become employers of labour.
Speaking at the ceremony which held at Adeyemi- Gbero Auditorum in Alausa, Ikeja Lagos, Friday, the state Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN), described the development as a deliberate policy of government to eradicate poverty from the society. Our correspondence reports that Governor fashola, who was represented by his special Adviser on special duties, Mr Adekunle Odubela, said it was a further manifestation of the fruits of true democracy and good governance with the lives of the citizens receiving the necessary attention by their own government.
According to him, “since the administration of our immedicate predecessor, job creation, empowerment programme has been a key component of the 10-point agenda.”
He added that the present administration has also made it one of the major channels of empowering the people through programmes that will equip them with skills that can make them employers of labour and self-dependent.
He said the youth will be engaged in a more meaningful endeavour that would make them useful to themselves and the society at large, urging them to make the best use of opportunity.
“We believe that the provision of job opportunities and social amenities for the less privileged in the state creates the right environment for our people to realize their potentials, improve and enhance their living conditions,” he stressed.
Fashola stated that the only way to take youth out of crime and other social vices is to create the enabling environment for them to be gainfully employed.
He said the government “expects every resident in the state to be committed, dedicated and determined to support the policy thrust of the present administration on the provision of an enabling environment for the less privileged, especially the unemployed youths.”
The Governor noted that, by so doing, the youths would discover their potentials, enhance their creativity and self reliance.
He called on the many unemployed youths to utilize the opportunity the programme provided, adding that, “the government is ready to take them on board as the over all plan is to considerably reduce the desire for paid employment through constant organization of skill acquisition programmes.
Earlier, the commissioner for Special Duties, Dr Tola Kasali, who was represented by the Director of Finance, Mr Numdeen Salami, disclosed that each of the beneficiaries has the potentials of making an average income of about N20,000 per month after acquiring the necessary skills.
Kasali said the development would help boost government effort in ensuring life long income generation for the beneficiaries.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
A pan-Nigeria organisation committed to the promotion and preservation of indigenous languages, Indigenous Language and Culture Promoters (ILCP), has called for the deliberate development and compulsory teaching of indigenous languages in both primary and secondary schools across the country.
The group made the call during its maiden Congress held in Bori, Rivers State, which was convened to examine challenges hindering the official adoption and effective teaching of Ogoni languages in schools.
Speaking at the Congress, the Executive Director of the organisation, HRC Mene Magnus Edooh, Amb.P, emphasised the critical role of indigenous languages in preserving a people’s culture, values and history. He warned against the gradual extinction of native languages, noting that language loss equates to identity loss.
“Years ago, Latin was a language of global relevance, but today it is largely extinct. We do not want Ogoni languages to suffer a similar fate. As a people, we cannot afford to lose our identity through the death of our languages,” Edooh said.
He explained that the Indigenous Language and Culture Promoters was established to collaborate with language stakeholders to ensure that children and younger generations remain connected to their mother tongues. The organisation also appealed to governments at all levels, as well as relevant institutions and individuals, to take strategic actions aimed at promoting and sustaining Nigeria’s indigenous languages.
Also speaking, the newly appointed Director of Media and Information, Prince David N. Gbarato, questioned the rationale behind government reluctance to accord indigenous languages their rightful place in national development policies.
According to him, “People with well-developed languages are people with well-developed indigenous systems and affairs,” stressing that language development is fundamental to cultural and societal advancement.
The Congress further served as a platform for the ratification of key officers of the organisation and featured the participation of representatives from various indigenous language groups and other language stakeholders, all of whom echoed the call for renewed commitment towards safeguarding Nigeria’s linguistic heritage.
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