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Fubara Wants Rivers Youths To Acquire Useful Skills
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has advised youths in the State to take up interest in learning useful but technical skills to enhance their competitiveness in the labour market.
Governor Fubara particularly commended Mr Decency Tompson, a Rivers youth who walked on foot from Nasarawa State to Port Harcourt between April 8 – 25, 2024, to create awareness on the level of unemployment that youths face after graduation from the university and the need to change the narrative.
The Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, on Thursday evening, received Mr Decency Tompson, on behalf of Governor Fubara, at the gates of Government House in Port Harcourt.
Governor Fubara emphasised that Rivers State remains the treasure base of Nigeria, adding that youths in the State should ordinarily entertain no fear about how to be gainfully employed after graduation.
The Governor regretted that poor planning, haphazard implementation of some policies and the near lack of interest in pursuing sustainable economic growth in all facets of the State by leaders had dampened the business environment in the State.
He, however, said: “There is good news for us now. The Governor that we have now, serving us, is the Governor that is thinking of how to fix the situation.
”The Governor is working round the clock to ensure that investors who left the State returned because jobs are created when there is heightened productive activities.”
Governor Fubara further said: “We are the base of the oil industry. As investors begin to come back, more jobs will be available.
”So, I will say to you, as youths, key into this particular agenda so that we can create decent jobs. But they are not the jobs of carrying guns, pointing them at someone, and chasing them.
”It is also not to make people to carry caskets to companies to block the gates, and stop the companies from their operations,” he said.
Governor Fubara stated that the negative behaviours of youths contributed to closing the doors of job opportunities that would have been more available for youths in the State.
He emphasised that Rivers has now become a very peaceful State, stressing that efforts are in top gear towards rebuilding the environment and making it more attractive for investors.
The Governor explained that with the clear strategic policy thrusts of the Administration, in no distant time, the results will start manifesting.
He noted, “But let us also mention that decent jobs do not start paying fat from the first day. Let your heart be circumcised that if you want decent jobs, then you need to go for the right education, go for the right training.
”Go around and search out the skills in demand by these companies and acquire the acknowledge that will make you attractive to be hired. As Rivers youths, put yourselves together, let trainers also develop structured courses that will provide skills required in companies to achieve optimum capacity utilisation.
”Our Ministry of Youths Development has a lot of training programmes for the youths. The Ministry of Chieftaincy and Community Affairs has training programmes where youths can go and acquire skills.
“I also want you to go and improve on your skills in Information and Communications Technology, so that when the job openings are announced, you won’t be rejected as one who is not qualified,” he added.
In his speech, Mr Decency Tompson, said he had decided to embark on a trudge from Nassarawa State where he completed his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to Rivers State to create awareness against the evil of youth unemployment.
Mr Tompson emphasised that youths who are strong, fit and ready for gainful employment, do not always have their productive strength engaged in areas that contribute to economic growth.
He said, as part of the awareness creation, he had created a platform where Government and companies in the State can feed in data on available jobs per time and youths can just log in, search for jobs that suit their education and skills, and apply to be engaged.
The Organised Labour yesterday, called on the Federal Government to ensure inclusiveness in policy making and guide against erosion of rights, such as free speech and association.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero made the call at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja.
The Tide source reports Ajaero and the President, Trade Union Congress, Mr Festus Osifo delivered a joint statement on behalf of the organised labour at the event.
Ajaero described May Day as, not only a moment to honour workers’ sacrifices, but also a platform to demand justice and accountability from those in public office.
He frowned at the alleged suppression of protests, and the erosion of rights of workers by some agents
According to him, workers have a duty to resist economic injustice, insecurity, and policies that undermine their dignity.
Speaking on the theme of the day, the NLC President underscored the need for Nigerian workers to reclaim the civic space and resist policies that contribute to worsening economic conditions.
“Our theme this year – “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship – reflects the urgent need for citizens to protect democracy and push back against repression.
“The civic space, where Nigerians express their concerns and challenge injustices is shrinking.
“If we fail to reclaim this space, the foundation of our democracy risks collapse,” he said
Ajaero, therefore, urged workers to unite and resist division, fear, and despair.
He also urged them to mobilise and organise for change, declaring that the right to demand better conditions is non-negotiable.
“Without workers, there is no society; without labour, there is no development. We must take our place in the fight for economic justice and democratic governance.”
Speaking in the same veins, Osifo said workers are the backbone of the nation—the educators, healthcare providers, builders, farmers, and innovators who sustain its economy -.
He stressed the need for the labour to reclaim the civic space even in the midst of economic hardship.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disassociated itself from a fraudulent site requesting payments from candidates who missed the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board said that the site, “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw” and account number 8520641017 at Sterling Bank, associated with it, are scam.
The disclaimer is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin said the account is being exploited to defraud unsuspecting candidates who missed their UTME.
“We issue this urgent notice to inform the public about this nefarious scheme targeting candidates who were unable to participate in the UTME.
“Some unscrupulous individuals are deceitfully soliciting payments of N15,700 under the false pretence of offering rescheduling services for the examination.
“Let us be unequivocal: this, it is a blatant scam, and we are confident that the public will not fall prey to such cheap and regressive tactics.
” The individuals behind this scam have no affiliation with JAMB or any legitimate government agency.
“The account details provided in these communications are entirely fictitious and bear no connection to any official processes; they exist solely for the purpose of perpetrating fraud,” he said.
Benjamin called on Sterling bank to take immediate and decisive action against this criminal activity.
According to him, JAMB has reported the matter to the relevant security agencies and actively pursuing those responsible for this deceitful act.
He further said that “JAMB does not reschedule examinations for candidates who miss their scheduled tests due to reasons unrelated to the Board’s actions”.
He, however, said that the Board is conducting a thorough investigation for candidates whose biometrics failed during verification and were thus unable to sit for the examination.
He said those without discrepancies would be invited to retake the examination at no cost , stressing that “no cost is required”
“It is imperative to understand that JAMB does not charge any fees for examinations after a candidate has completed their registration.
“We strongly urge all candidates to remain vigilant and not to succumb to these fraudulent schemes.
“Protect yourselves and report any suspicious activity immediately,” he explained.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to partner with the United Nations (UN) to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region.
Dr Samual Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made the appeal in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on yesterday.
According to the statement, Ogbuku sought the UN’s support during his visit to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UNRHC), Mr Mohammed Fall, at the UN regional office in Abuja.
He called on the global body to provide the NDDC with technical assistance and expert services to support the region’s development.
“We are eager to collaborate with the UN, recognising that the state governments in the region and the NDDC alone cannot achieve the level of regional development required,” he said.
Ogbuku identified key areas where support would be needed, including the provision of portable and affordable drinking water powered by high-tech solar energy sources.
He also highlighted the importance of reforesting the mangrove swamps, which have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“Although the NDDC has made progress in providing solar-powered streetlights across the region, we still require UN support in delivering solar energy solutions for residential buildings.
“We also wish to explore the possibility of installing solar mini-grids in homes across communities, which would boost local commerce and trade,” he added.
The NDDC managing director further appealed for increased UN involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, youth training, gender development, and food security.
Ogunku stated that such interventions would significantly enhance the standard of living in the region.
In response, Fall affirmed the UN’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC to fast track development in the Niger Delta.
He assured that the UN would support initiatives in food security, job creation, education, and renewable energy, among other areas.
“We aim to approach development in the Niger Delta holistically, rather than focusing solely on environmental pollution.
“This is merely an entry point; however, the UN’s development vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to positively impact various aspects of people’s lives,” Fall stated.
He assured the NDDC of continued and fruitful engagements to drive the region’s development.