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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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Rivers

NSE Members Tasked On National Dev

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Members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, have been urged to work hard towards contributing to national development. This call was made at the recent induction of new members by the Port Harcourt branch of the Society. The induction ceremony was used to formally welcome new members and celebrate its elevated new fellows.
Speaking during the ceremony held a in Port Harcourt, the Branch Chairman, Engr. Idaeresoari Ateke Harriet, FNSE, called on members of the NSE to actively participate in the Society’s professional and technical activities in order to contribute meaningfully to national development. He congratulated the new inductees, describing their admission as a testament to their hard work and resilience.
Engr. Ateke also commended the new Fellows for their immense contributions to the engineering profession, reminding them that their elevation is a call to greater responsibility as mentors and role models.
The event featured a lecture by Engr. Prof. Steve Odi-Owei, FNSE, on “Opportunities and Challenges in Nigeria’s Blue Economy.” The Chairman noted that Nigeria’s maritime and aquatic resources remain largely untapped, adding that engineers have a crucial role to play in harnessing these resources for economic growth and environmental sustainability.
He thanked the first female President of NSE, Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, FNSE, other dignitaries, sponsors, and families of inductees for gracing the occasion.
Also, engineers, especially those in Rivers State have been advised to adhere strictly to the core ethics of the profession and to always uphold the professional ethics of the body.
This advice was given by an engineering expert, Basoene Benibo, in an interview with at the sidelines of the  induction ceremony and Fellowship celebration of the Port Harcourt Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
Benibo stressed the need for young engineers in the state to learn and improve on their skills by tapping from the wealth of experience of older professionals in the field to enable them excel.
 Benibo, who is a one-time Chairman of the Port Harcourt Chapter of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, also noted and hailed the efforts of the society in eliminating quackery in the engineering profession.
Some of the new fellows include Prof Jackson Akpa, Pereowei Jose’s and Telema Osima, while the inductees, Engr Mrs Lizzy Onwuso, Engr David Jonathan jnr and Worlu Emmanuel expressed joy in being found worthy to become full NSE members, believing that it would enable them have access to more knowledge, practice rightly and impact the society positively.
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VALVA Restates Commitment Education Advancement, Literacy In Nigeria

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The President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Library Association (NLA), Dr. Dominic Amenaghawon Omokaro, has expressed deep commitment to the advancement of education and literacy in Nigeria through the library system.
Speaking through his state Chairman Dr. Chidara Okachukwu Nyemezu, at the formal Launching/inauguration of the Vanguard for Library Visibility And Advocacy (VALVA) at Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Port Harcourt recently, Omokaro discribed the inauguration of the new body as a significant and  passionate movement aimed at shining the spotlight on one of the underappreciated yet critical institution in Nigeria’s educational system and national development.
“We are gathered here not just to launch a group, but to launch a vision and ignite a movement to reinforce a mission to make libraries visible and valuable again for our people”, he said.
Dr. Omokaro stated that the birth of VALVA is based of the recognition that libraries, particularly school libraries, are the bedrock of  promoting a reading and research culture that includes innovation and lifelong learning in the society, though the system is grossly underfunded and poorly equipped in many cases.
He recalled the theme of its first week under his watch, “Library System for National Development in 2022”, which he hinted was driven by the state chapters.
He explained that the inauguration of VALVA shows an important mission to promote the visibility and development with impact on schools and other libraries through strategic advocacy that will advance quality education and foster lifelong learning culture in Nigeria.
“The vision is clear to promote the visibility where every school and indeed every community will have access to a functional library managed by a professional Liberian”, he said.
Speaking with journalists at the sideline of the event, the founder of the VALVA, Dr. Juliet C. Akex-Nmec, stressed that no society can grow without a functional and  effective library.
She urged government at all levels to ensure the establishment of effective and functional libraries across the country.
Dr. Alex-Nmec, who is also an Associate Professor of Library and Information Science, Rivers State University, called for the appointment of a Special Adviser on Library matters by the state government in order to assist the government on Library matters.
High point of the event was the formal inaugural of the new body and oath of offices to the new executive.
Akujobi Amadi
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Rivers

Rivers Judiciary Denies Issuing Court Order Stopping SOLAD from Swearing in RSCSC Members

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The Rivers State Judiciary has denied a media report claiming that Justice Frank Onyiri of the State High Court issued an injunction order restraining the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), from inaugurating the newly appointed members of the Rivers State Civil Service Commission (RSCSC).

 

In a statement issued by the Deputy Chief Registrar in charge of litigation at the High Court, Menenen Poromon (Esq), the state Judiciary disassociated itself from the report, describing it as malicious and fabricated.

 

The statement emphasized that the report was a falsehood and a misrepresentation of what transpeared in the court.

 

Poromon clarified that no such order was issued by Justice Onyiri or any other judge of the High Court of the state and urged the public to disregard the information, as it lacked any iota of truth.

 

The statement however advised the public to verify any information concerning the state Judiciary directly from the office of the Chief Registrar, High Court of the State, to avoid spreading of misinformation.

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