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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.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence that the country would win the fight against insecurity.
The President gave the assurance at the Argungu International Fishing Festival in Argungu town, Kebbi State, on Saturday.
He noted that the relative peace currently being enjoyed in Kebbi and neighbouring states was the result of sustained investments in security intelligence, coordination among security agencies, and community engagement.
Tinubu assured farmers and fishermen of sustained federal support to guarantee food security and safety across the country.
“The peace we are witnessing today is not accidental. It is the outcome of deliberate and sustained efforts. I assure you that the fight against banditry, insurgency, and insecurity will be won.
“Our farmers, fishermen, traders, and families will go about their lawful activities without fear,” he assured.
The President commended the organisers of the festival for sustaining the cultural event for decades, noting that it had endured for 83 years despite social and security challenges.
Describing the Argungu festival as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence, Tinubu stated that it reflects the richness of the country’s culture and the opportunities to harness its natural and human resources for national growth.
He said, “Today, this festival stands as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence among our people.
“It reflects the richness of our culture, the strength of our traditions, and the opportunities inherent in harnessing our natural and human resources for national development.”
The President was received by a large crowd of residents, traditional rulers, fishermen, tourists, and government officials from across the country.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth and women empowerment, irrigation development, rural electrification, and agricultural productivity.
Earlier, the Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, said his administration was determined to elevate the Argungu Fishing Festival to full international standards while pursuing aggressive development across critical sectors of the state.
The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed today, in observance of Presidents’ Day.
The mission made this known in a notice shared on its official X page, yesterday.
“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026, in observance of Presidents’ Day,” the post read.
According to the embassy, Presidents’ Day was originally established to honour the birthday of the former US President, George Washington, but has evolved into a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents and their leadership in shaping the country’s history.
The embassy noted that the holiday also recognises the influence of U.S. presidents on global affairs.
In a related message, the mission highlighted that Washington created the first “Badge of Military Merit,” which later became the Purple Heart. The medal still bears Washington’s image today.
Presidents’ Day is observed on the third Monday of February annually in the United States as a federal holiday.
News
Guterres Backs Nigeria’s Bid For UN Security Council Seat …Hails Tinubu’s Reforms, Regional Security Role
United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has charged Nigeria with spearheading Africa’s quest for a restructured global order, describing the country as uniquely positioned to lead the continent toward superpower status.
Guterres, who backed Nigeria’s bid for the world body’s security council seat, also praised the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration as well as Nigeria’s leadership in stabilising the Sahel and ECOWAS regions, despite facing its own security challenges.
The UN scribe made the remarks last Friday night during a high-level bilateral meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima on the sidelines of the 39th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking during the meeting, Guterres said Nigeria’s large population, sustained democratic governance, vast natural and human resources, and longstanding commitment to multilateralism placed it in a unique position to lead Africa in the evolving global order.
“Given Nigeria’s demographic strength, democratic continuity and deep resource base, the country stands a real chance of leading Africa to becoming the next superpower in the evolving global architecture,” he said.
The UN Secretary-General and the vice president discussed key developments in Nigeria and the country’s expanding leadership role in promoting regional stability across West Africa and the Sahel.
Guterres commended the remarkable and outstanding reforms of the administration of President Tinubu, noting that Nigeria’s bold economic restructuring and security commitments have strengthened its continental standing.
The meeting focused on strengthening Nigeria–UN collaboration to advance global economic growth, peace and security, sustainable development, and a coordinated humanitarian response across Africa.
In his remarks, Shettima thanked the UN Secretary-General for his leadership in advancing global peace, noting that Africa has benefited immensely from his tenure, even as the United Nations undergoes internal restructuring.
“We remain committed to multilateralism and to deepening our partnerships with the United Nations and other global institutions,” the vice president said.
Shettima also reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations system to reflect evolving global realities.
He emphasised that Africa must have stronger representation in global decision-making structures and declared that Nigeria deserves a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Both leaders pledged to deepen cooperation, with Guterres reaffirming the UN’s support for Nigeria’s reform agenda and its growing leadership role in advancing peace, security, and development across Africa.
