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Education bedrock for economic development – Tinubu

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President Bola Tinubu on Saturday in Owerri emphasised the need for quality education to speed up Nigeria’s economic development.

Tinubu, in a goodwill message to the 36th Convocation of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, said that his administration places much premium on educational growth.

His message was read by Florence Obi, Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar.

The president said that his administration had repositioned federal universities to enable them conduct researches to solve the nation’s challenges.

“Education is a major fulcrum for national development; it is a catalyst for alleviating poverty and promoting economic growth and development.

“This fact remains sacrosanct for my administration hence the inclusion of education among the eight priority areas that include economy, security, agriculture, energy, infrastructure and health.

“To further underscore the Federal Government’s commitment towards tertiary education, we established the Nigerian Education Loan Fund dedicated to granting students fees and personal upkeep loans.

“A total of N33bn was made available to start the programme which commenced this year with six pilot universities from each of the geopolitical zones,” he revealed.

Tinubu further advised young graduates to embrace farming and vocational training, in addition to their academic qualifications.

“The period white-collar jobs were readily available has faded away. I urge you to harness the potentials in agriculture, vocational skills and Information Technology to add value to yourself and the nation.” he counseled.

Tinubu further said that the Federal Government had made substantial interventions in FUTO to upgrade its facilities and infrastructure.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo, and his Borno counterpart, Prof. Babangida Zulum, were conferred with honorary doctorate degrees at the ceremony. (NAN)

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Over 300 Gets NDE Loan, Starter Packs Resettlement In Sokoto 

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Over 300 persons in Sokoto state will get loan and starter packs from the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) Renewed Hope Employment Initiative Lukman Abubakar has said.

Lukman, who is the acting Sokoto state Coordinator of NDE, made the disclosure Wednesday while reassuring that, the agency is committed to achieving it’s mandates.

Speaking on behalf of the Director General of NDE, Silas Agara, the acting state coordinator, Lukman said the Renewed Hope Initiative is designed to create employment opportunities, support establishment of small scale enterprises, promote agricultural productivity and improve rural infrastructure that will forster economic empowerment of communities.

While appreciating the Minister for Labour and Productivity, Maigari Dingyadi and the Director General of NDE, Silas Agara for their sustained dedication to the cause of NDE, Lukman noted that a total of 5537 nationwide will benefit from the resettled loans and starter pack gesture that will enable them establish their own businesses.

“”Today marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to address unemployment and promote economic development. This initiative underscores our commitment to creating a brighter future for all, where everyone has access to meaningful work and opportunities for growth”, Agara submitted.

Earlier, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar 111 represented by the Sarkin Fulani Aliyu warned beneficiaries against reselling whatever given to them, saying they should rather use them judiciously towards becoming self employed.

On her part, Mary Sunday from NDE headquarters Abuja who monitored the process in Sokoto said, they are committed to ensuring that beneficiaries become not only self reliant but meaningful employers of labour in the nearest future.

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In his advise, one of the resource persons, Samaila Isa Rikoto said you can only be valued by your services or product to make wealth.

Registering their appreciation on behalf of beneficiaries Muhammed Ibrahim and Maimuna said NDE is doing a great job to close the gap of unemployment.

 

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JUST IN: Justice Egwuatu Recuses Self From Natasha’s Case

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Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court Abuja has recused himself from the case filed by the Senator Representing Kogi Central District, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

At the proceedings on Tuesday, Justice Egwuatu announced his decision to withdraw from the matter after the usual court appearances.

He cited the allegation of bias from the third defendant in the case, Senate President Godswilll Akpabio, as the major reason for his decision.

It was gathered that the Senate President had expressed a lack of confidence in the ability of the court to do justice on the matter, hence the reason for the development.

Justice Egwuatu further added that the case file will be returned to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, for reassignment to another judge.

Justice Egwuatu had earlier granted an ex-parte order, restraining the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from conducting disciplinary proceedings against Akpoti-Uduaghan.

She had prayed that the court grant an order restraining the Senate and the ethics committee from “proceeding with the purported investigation” against her.

The female federal lawmaker was involved in a seat arrangement dispute with Akpabio. The lawmaker accused Akpabio of sexual harassment and abuse of office. Senate subsequently suspended her for six months for misconduct.

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Democracy has failed in Africa , says Obasanjo

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said Africa needs a democracy of its own context that delivers to all people.

Obasanjo said this on Monday in Abuja, while speaking at a Colloquium to mark the 60th birthday of former Imo Governor, Emeka Ihedioha.

He said that to sustain democracy in the continent, Africa needed one that delivers to all people, not to few section.

He noted that the Greek model of democracy, ensured that all citizens participated directly in their affairs, adding that what was praticable now was a representative system, that does not taken care of everybody.

He added that before the colonial rule, Africa practiced democracy, a system of government which attended to the needs of her people.

Obasanjo lamented that in Africa, democracy was becoming a system of government by a small number of people over a large population.

“Is democracy failing in Africa? Are we talking of democracy or western liberal democracy?

“Abraham Lincoln describes it as a government of the people, by the people and for the people. But what do we have today?

“The Greek democracy affects everyone, but democracy has now become representative democracy and it doesn’t taken care of everyone.

“Democracy in Africa has failed because it’s not African, it doesn’t have our culture and way of lives.

“Democracy is dying in Africa and to save it, it should be made in the context of Africa,” Obasanjo said.

Similarly, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Bishop Hassan Kukah, described democracy in Africa as a work in progress.

“We Africans inherited a system that’s not ours, but we can’t say its not relevant to us.

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“There are differences between democracy in Asia and that of Africa. What do you make of the tenets of democracy in Africa?

Kukah noted that democracy was about equity and justice, adding that there must also be a mechanism for measuring the growth of democracy.

“The democratisation of development leads to the development of democracy. That is if you decide to equitably democratise development, and not take every institution, university, medical school whatever to your village and if all the roads are done

“If we do not have a mechanism by which we are measuring our growth, our chase for a democratic society becomes an empty chase.

“Democracy and its principle are endless contestation of ideas, opportunity and privileges. Those who are privileged want to hold on to their privileges and those who are victims want to insist that life can be better,” Kukah said.

In the same vein, the Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the 2023 Presidential election, Peter Obi, urged Nigeria to imbibe the Indonesian democracy, which endures a proportional representation system of government.

Also, the former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, said that Nigeria could get rid of the crises which impede her development, through stable democratic governance.

Anyaoku said that Africa and Nigeria in particular, have the responsibility to get a stable democracy and change the Eurocentric narrative.

“True federalism is the answer to the management of national issues. The recent coup in Mali, Niger tend to take us back.

“The nature of our politics and the conduct of our politicians is another problem of our democracy. They have become instruments of capturing political power,” he said.

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In his remarks, Ihedioha commended the guests for celebrating him at 60.

He urged Nigerians to continue to defend the country’s democracy.

According to him, my father told me that the most expensive habit is having friends. I have lived my life pursuing the cause for democracy.

“We should all rise to defend democracy. I urge all men to always speak truth to power and protect democracy.

“There’s life after money. I will remain who I am. For me and democracy, it is till God do us apart,” Ihedioha said. (NAN)

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