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DG NYSC Urges Corps Members To Know Host Community’s Language For Unity …Warns Against Involvement In Partisan Politics

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The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC),Maj-Gen Shaibu Ibrahim, yesterday, urged corps members to learn the language and culture of their host communities as a veritable tool to unite the country.
Ibrahim gave this charge in a nationwide address to mark the Terminal Parade/Closing ceremony of 2022 Batch ‘A’ Stream 2 Orientation Course exercise.
Ibrahim,who was represented by the Rivers State NYSC Coordinator,Mr George Mfongang, enjoined the corps members to brace up for the tasks of the service year.
A total of 1,996 corps members successfully completed the three-week orientation course exercise at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Nonwa Gbam Taiin Rivers State.
He stated that the entire nation looks forward to their roles in advancing the unity, integration and development of the country.
Ibrahim charged them to remain patriotic, hardworking and resilient in the performance of their duties, devote time to identify the felt needs of their host communities.
“Help your host communities to surmount the needs by initiating and executing personal and group Community Development Service projects that will uplift the living standards of the people,”he said.
Ibrahim also appealed to stakeholders to speed up the passage of the NYSC Trust Fund Bill.
The NYSC-DG harped on the importance of the NYSC Trust Fund, stating that when signed into law and becomes operational will further enhance the quality of the scheme’s programmes.
He said the Trust Fund when established would make the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) Programme of the NYSC more impactful.
“Once it becomes operational, the quality of the programme will be further enhanced through the provision of adequate training materials and engagement of more specialist trainers.
“All trainees with bankable business proposals will also be supported with start-up grants and you will in turn be expected to step down vocational training or employ a good number of youths of your host community.
“That way, we will be pulling millions of Nigerians out of poverty, thereby stemming the tide of youth restiveness and the tendency for criminality,” he said.
Ibrahim said the orientation course served as the launchpad for the entire service and enjoined corps members to brace up for the tasks of the next phase.
“This is important as the entire nation looks forward to your roles in advancing the unity and development of the country.
“I urge you to remain patriotic, hardworking and resilient as demonstrated during the orientation exercise,” he said.
Ibrahim assured the youth corps members that their welfare and security were topmost on his priority list and that the NYSC had liaised with security agencies to ensure their safety.
Similarly, as politicking for the 2023 general election heightens, the Director-General of NYSC, Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim has cautioned corps members against partaking in partisan politics.
He said the corps was not averse to any member wishing to serve as electoral umpires anytime they are mobilised for such purposes.
The warning was contained in a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations,Emeka Mgbemena, yesterday.
The DG while debriefing the 2022 Batch ‘A’ Stream Two Corps members in a nationwide virtual address, admonished them to allow the lessons learnt during the orientation course to guide them during and after the service year.
He also warned them about security consciousness and to avoid anything that would endanger their safety.
He said, “Let the spirit of NYSC live in you. Steer clear of politics, NYSC is apolitical; therefore, don’t get yourself involved in politics.
“You must be security conscious. Never put yourself in harm’s way. Don’t get yourself involved in any risky behaviour.
“For those of you going on relocation, kindly follow your state coordinator’s guidelines, directives and instructions”, he said.
He equally cautioned them against using social media to spread fake news, urging them to use it to promote national unity and integration, which the NYSC was established for.

By: Amadi Akujobi

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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo

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The Sole Administrator of Emohua Local Government Area, Barr. Franklin Ajinwo, has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to supporting community development, peace, and progress, describing it as his life’s calling.
Ajinwo made this known on when Okporowo Vanguard—a foremost association dedicated to driving sustainable development in Okporowo community—paid him a courtesy visit at the Council Secretariat, Emohua.

Speaking during the visit, the Emolga  Council boss advised the group to shun internal wranglings and leadership tussles, cautioning that such impediments could undermine their collective goals. He emphasized that unity is strength, and true power comes only from God.

Highlighting his ongoing efforts in repositioning standards within Emohua Local Government, Barr. Ajinwo commended Okporowo Vanguard for initiating plans to conduct large-scale skills acquisition training for young people in Okporowo. He assured them of his steadfast support towards such developmental initiative.

The former Chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Rivers State stressed the need for selfless service, saying it is essential for achieving peace, unity, and development in any community.

He applauded the group’s vision of empowering youths through skills acquisition, aligning it with global best practices aimed at reducing dependency on white-collar jobs.

Earlier, the President of Okporowo Vanguard, Hon. Israel Emeji, outlined Barr. Ajinwo’s numerous and impactful contributions to the development of Okporowo community.

According to him, every family in the community has benefited from Barr. Ajinwo’s dedicated employment initiatives.

Hon. Emeji disclosed that during his tenure as Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA) and as NULGE Chairman, Barr. Ajinwo facilitated the employment of over five hundred (500) individuals from Okporowo community—a record that informed the association’s decision to honour him with the Excellent Leadership Award.

In a vote of thanks, the Secretary of the group, Dr. Okechukwu Godwin Amadi, praised Barr. Ajinwo’s outstanding leadership and unwavering support, both before and after his appointment as Sole Administrator.

He thanked him for the warm reception and appreciated members of Okporowo Vanguard for their strong turnout and continuous support for the present administration.

In their separate remarks, Barr. Kelvin Ajinwo, Chief Polycarp Ndala, and other dignitaries present prayed for God’s continued guidance and protection over Barr. Ajinwo, describing him as a divine gift to the Okporowo community.

They expressed hope that he would be granted even more leadership opportunities to further uplift the living standards of the people.

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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP  …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

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Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their  living conditions.

This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.

Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s

She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.

According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.

The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while  bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.

Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.

Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.

According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.

He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.

Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may  lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.

During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.

The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.

He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.

Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.

They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.

At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.

King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.

Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.

Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.

At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.

He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.

Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.

 

John Bibor

 

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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman 

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The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.

Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.

Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.

In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.

However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.

Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.

In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.

Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.

“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.

 

 

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