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Coalition Bemoans High Unemployment Rate In Nigeria

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The Civil Society Coalition On Economic Growth and Employment in Rivers State has expressed concerns over the high unemployment rate in the country, and advised government at all levels to put measures in place to address the problem.
The coalition, which made its position known while briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt, yesterday, said going by the report of the National Bureau of Stastics (NBS), Nigeria has a national unemployment rate of 33.3 percent and under-employment rate of 22.8 percent while the youth population has 42.5 percent unemployment rate and 21 percent under-employment rate.
These national figures, according to the coalition, speak to the fact that the right policies have not been put in place at the national level and sub-national levels to strengthen economic growth that should lead to the creation of jobs and employment across boards.
Addressing newsmen on behalf of the group, Deborah Effiong of Arise for Gender and Livelihood Initiative (ALIVE), said Nigeria’s unemployment rate has quadrupled over the last six and seven years, as the country has gone through two recessions and a global pandemic that saw to the crippling of economic activities.
She said further that Nigeria will need to create five million jobs annually for the next 10years to cover its unemployment gap, according to the International Monetary Fund(IMF).
Effiong expressed worry that the NBS report states that Rivers State has a labour force of 3, 921, 860 while a total number of the unemployed was put at 1, 714, 189, ranking second behind Lagos State in the second quarter of 2020.
Against this backdrop, the coalition advised the state government to give priority attention to human capital development, job creation, entrepreneurial and economic activities.
“ There is need to address the high rate of unemployment in Rivers State as an opportunity to understand the drivers of unemployment in the state, identify the key sectors that can absorb a high number of the readily available labour force and revitalise the economy of the state by creating jobs through economic activities in the state, through people-centred policies,’’ the coalition said.
It further called on the state government to adopt a more effective approach towards the reduction of crime, insecurity and illegal oil bunkering through the creation of jobs that can absorb the teeming youths pulled into these criminal enterprises.
The coalition also advised the government to create a business enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and strengthen Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through grants and loans, and recommended that the candidates of political parties in the run-up to the 2023 governorship election should prioritise economic growth and job creation as part of their policy framework for the administration of the state in the coming years.
The Civil Society Coalition On Economic Growth and Employment in Rivers State is a coalition of Civil Society groups, the academia, youth groups, women rights organisations and community groups that have coalesced with the sole purpose of addressing and highlighting the issue of economic growth and employment in the state.
Among other top officers of the coalition at the event included Inyingi Irimagha of Gender and Development Action (GADA); Akeodi Allswell Ali of Feel Rivers Media Network (FR News); Raisa Senibo of Borikiri Community Advocacy Group; and Amb Vincent Gbosi of Centre for Social Justice and Environmental Rights Protection (CESJERP).

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Group Promises To Champion Unity, Peace, Development Of Okrika

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A socio-cultural organisation in Rivers State, “Wakrike National Congress” (WNC), has pledged to champion the unity, peace and development of the Okrika nation.
The congress said this in a pre-inaugural press briefing in Port Harcourt recently.
The text for the briefing, which was read by the Chairman, Central Planning Committee of the Congress, Barrister Tamuno Williams, on behalf of the President, Wakrike, USA, Solomon David, said the body, which took three years to evolve, will also look into some problems affecting the Okrika nation .
He listed some of these problems as environmental pollution, youth unemployment, and the high level of illiteracy among Okrika youths.
The organisation said it will also bring back the lost glory of the Okrika nation.
“Gentlemen of the press, it is pertinent to underscore the vision and mission of this organisation: recognising our heritage as a people, the legacies of our forebears and our unique evolution and history.
“The Wakrike people from time immemorial have been the beacon of progress, development and prosperity among the comity of nations in our dear Rivers State.
“As Wakrike people, we recall with pride and sweet memories the pivotal role played by our forebears in the struggle towards the creation of Rivers State and its nurturing to the attainment of its stardom as the ‘Treasure Base of Nigeria’”.
The group said, despite these achievements, the “walls sustaining our heritage were broken down and everything appeared lost, except our unique will and God-given spirit of never giving up”.
The congress said time has come for the Okrikans, whereever they are, to be united.
“As a people, we must become united, we must fight for the education of our people, we must take steps to protect our environment and ecosystem, we must ensure that our kings and traditional institutions are respected and given a pride of place, our youths and women shall be repositioned to play critical roles God and humanity have bestowed upon them”, they said.
Meanwhile, the inauguration of the congress was held last Friday, with an inaugural lecture titled, “Wakrike Culture, Nationalism and Prosperity: Rebuilding the Broken Walls of Unity for Politico-Economic Renaissance”, delivered by Professor Ibibia Lucky Paul-Worika at Ogu Town in Ogu /Bolo Local Government Area.

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Nigerian DPO Bags UK Varsity Professorial Award

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A United Kingdom-based university, St.Thomas-Becket University, Canterbury, England, has conferred an Honorary Professorial Award on the Divisional Police Officer, Kwal Division, Delta State, CSP Edwin Igoche.
The award was presented to the DPO by Professor Chidi Ehiriodo, Presiding Chancellor of the African Institute of Theology (AIT) and assisted by Dr Emeka Okanu.
A press release signed by the, media aide, Comrade Christian Isaac, and made available to The Tide in Port Harcourt, says the award was in recognition of his policing prowess in and around the Niger Delta region.
According to the release, “St. Thomas-Becket University, Canterbury, England, United Kingdom, honoured Amb. Dr. Edwin Igoche Okoh, as a Professor.
“He received his professorship Award as a Professor Of Peace Conflict and International Jurisprudence. The certificate was presented by Prof. Chidi Ehiriodo, Presiding Chancellor, African Institute of Theology, AIT. He was assisted by Dr. Emeka Okanu”.
It stated that Edwin Igoche, before now, had acquired serveral academic qualifications such as BL, LLB, LLM, LLD, as a distinguished academia, describing the award as well deserved.
It further said the Police Officer has contributed a lot to the society in curbing insecurity and also expanded the knowledge frontier through the publications of serveral books.
Speaking with newsmen later, on, the DPO said he dedicated the award to God Almighty and the Nigerian Police.
He said those in positions of authority should do their best, as society is watching them.

By: John Bibor

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Climate Change: TotalEnergies Plants 114 Trees

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TotalEnergies Limited planted about 114 trees and collected 4,706 kilogramme of waste in Lagos, Edo and Kano States to mitigate the impact of climate change and safeguard the environment in commemoration of the World Clean-Up Day, recently.
The Managing Director, TotalEnergies, Marketing, Dr Samba Seye, said the 2023 World Clean-Up Day is a clarion call to action for Nigerians to make the planet safe.
Seye stated that the objective of this initiative was “to meet some of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals by demonstrating TotalEnergies, commitment to protecting the environment and promoting climate actions while provoking environmental consciousness among our communities and young persons.
According to him, putting the exercise in the context of the company’s transformation towards cleaner energies, the Managing Director said “We are constantly embracing initiatives that support biodiversity and environmental preservation.
“More than ever before, there is heightened need for environmental consciousness as the climate beckons for action from every individual. We are therefore intentional in creating necessary awareness and implementing actions that protect the environment”.
The Managing Director’s speech was read by representatives at the other locations of Edo and Kano States.
The call for action was corroborated by Deputy Director, Conservation and Ecology, Ministry of Environment, Lagos State, Mr. Olabode Adeola, who represented the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry.
He said, “We are harnessing the power of the people to clean up the earth. If we treat our environment well, it will treat us well. This change must begin with us”.
Over 50 permanent employees of the company participated for the activities through the employee volunteers’ platform, ACTION.
Also, over 100 staff from the company’s service stations and over 330 students volunteered across the six locations/schools in the participating States.
Representatives of the Ministries of Education and Environment in the selected States, officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Kano State, staff of the Kano State Zoological Garden and Tourism, 10 volunteers from the Ogba Zoological Park and Garden in Benin City, Edo State, and two sanitation officers from Benin City, Edo State also participated in the activities.
The World Clean-Up Day is an annual global social action programme aimed at combating the global solid waste problem.
It is celebrated annually on the third Saturday in September and brings together pro-environment enthusiasts worldwide to clean up and care for their communities.

By: Ike Wigodo

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