Business
British Council Splash N2.4m On YSEC Winners
The British Council has dolled out the sum of B2.4 million to the eighth winners of the Youth Sustainable Enterprises Challenge (YSEC) programme in Rivers State.
The programme was organized by Entrepreneural Development Initiatives Programm (ENDIP) in collaboration with the British Council in Port Harcourt.
The Tide learnt that each of the eight winners will share the sum of #300,000.
Speaking with newsmen, The Director Programmes, British Council, Mr. Chikodi Onyemerele, said the Council in conjunction with the King Council has been making efforts to develop the enterpreneural skills of young Nigerians.
He said the programme was to create opportunity for the participants to develop skills that will be useful to them.
The Director of Programme, who described Nigeria as a vast county with limited resources, also stressed the need for corporate organizations and governments to invest in skills development of young people in the country.
He said by doing this, insecurity and other social vices will be checked in the country, and urged the beneficiaries to make the best use of the opportunities to improve themselves and the society.
Onyemerel, who was the Guest of Honour at the occasion, said the Council has organized similar programmes in Enugu, Abuja, Lagos, Owerri and other parts of the country.
He said the participants will be assisted through mentoring and other support programms to enable them nurture their skills.
In her welcome address, the Executive Director of ENDIP, Mrs. Lilian Ari, said the organization has in the past 25 years stayed true to its vision of developing 10,000 enterprises capable of generating 30,000 jobs in the country by 2030.
“Our mission has been simple but powerful, to give young people the tools, training mentorship, finance and network they need to turn ideas into thriving businesses.
“From vocational skills to business incubation, from micro credit to venture equity we have walked this journey with thousands of young people and today we celebrate the next generation of change makers”, she said.
Mrs. Ari said time has come for the leadership of the Niger Delta to invest in youth development with the view to empowering young people.
“To the Niger Delta Development Commission and the South-South Development Commission, invest in these young people.
“To our state and Local Governments, make youth enterprise a budget priority”, she urged.
She also stressed the need for multinational corporations operating in the region, including oil companies, Banks and others to develop the enterpreneural skills of the youth.
Speaking with newsmen, the Chairman, Joint Association of Persons With Disabilities, Enugu State Chapter, Onyebuchi Mba, said majority of members of the Association in Enugu State have benefited from the programme, adding that it was reason why he was in Port Harcourt to show solidarity with them.
He said ENDIP and the British Council have established a sustainable development ideology that should be appreciated by all concerned.
Also speaking some of the participants and winners expressed excitement over the programme and pledged to make judicious use of the money.
By; John Bibor
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Governorship candidate of The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Rivers State, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, has called on politicians and other stakeholders in the state not to make the governorship seat of Rivers State an ethnic agenda.
Chief Lulu-Briggs, who said this in an interview with newsmen shortly after arrival from Abuja, also blamed the alleged unenviable position of Rivers State among the comity of states in the country on the political class.
He said stakeholders must avoid a situation where the state would be plunged into another round of political crisis, adding that given the ethnic and cultural diversity of the state, it was necessary to give everyone a sense of inclusion by ensuring that the governorship seat rotates among the ethnic nationalities.
The NDC governorship flag bearer condemned the alleged intimidation of the electorate, noting that the situation has underdeveloped the state.
He said, if elected, his administration would provide the democratic dividends that will improve the lives of the people.
In a similar development, the state chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Rivers State, Mr Success Jack, says his party will run an all inclusive government in the state.
Mr Jack, who spoke to newsmen in Port Harcourt, promised that an NDC controlled government will always consult with the people before taking any decisions.
According to him, based on his party’s ideology of “Solid, Strong Accommodating”, the NDC offers hope to the hopeless and the downtrodden.
“We assure you that we are fully ready. Our party is a platform that is open to everybody whether APC or PDP, we offer hope. Our ideology is Solid, Strong, Accommodating. The manifesto of our party is anchored on the ideology of providing genuine service to the people”.
Mr Jack also stressed that the policies of an NDC government would be crafted in such a way and manner that serves the primary and secondary interests of the people.
“This is not what you find in other parties.What you find in other parties is utmost impunity, absolute impunity, where the people are not included, they are not consulted and so their opinion does not count, they don’t know what government wants to do because they didn’t contribute to what government wants to do.
“That’s not the case here. We listen to the people, even provide the way forward, (and) the details for the way forward because we provide the framework as a government but the people will provide the details because they are the ones that wear the shoes and they know where it pinches them”, he said.
By: John Bibor
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding its infrastructures and training to tackle emerging security threats
Navy also said the service is aimed at strengthening operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas stated this during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers, as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, Abbas said the projects reflected significant progress made by the Navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the Navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others facilities include the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base”, he said.
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The Naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the Navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
NAVTRAC also distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
By: CHINEDU WOSU
Rivers State Governor, Sir. Siminalayi Fubara says Airport road will soon be accessible only for Airport activities in the state.
The Governor said this recently while inspecting the level l0of construction work on the Igwuruta By-Pass Road project in Ikwerre Local Government Area.
The Governor who expressed optimism over the progress of work on the project, saying the By-pass road will reduced unrelated activities on the Airport area in the state.
Governor Fubara explained that the By-pass road was designed in collaboration with the host community to address accessibility concerns while preserving the operational integrity of the airport corridor.
“So, we liaised with the community and created this By-pass,” he stated.
The governor further clarified the objective of the road project, saying it would provide the residents with a dedicated access route separate from the airport operations.
“The purpose of the By-pass is so needful that the community can have this as their own way, their own entrance, while the airport will remain only for airport activity once these roads are completed,” he said.
Providing an update on the pace of work, Fubara disclosed that the project had already achieved a major milestone in execution.
“So far, they’ve done about 65% of the job,” the governor announced,
revealing that contractors handling the project had assured the state government of timely delivery.
He also expressed confidence that the bypass would be completed before October.
“They’re also promising that before October, the total project will be delivered,” he added.
By: Enoch Epelle
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