Month: June 2024

Some beneficiaries of the World Bank-supported Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) say the project is equipping Nigerian youths with digital skills to tap from the nation’s digital economy.

The beneficiaries stated this on Tuesday during their graduation, inauguration of internship programme and unveiling of Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd in Suleja.

The beneficiaries were among the 460 youths trained on digital marketing, data analytics and cyber security by Ubelle Neo Cloud Technologies Consortium under the IDEAS project.

One of them, Khadijat Abubakar, a data analytics trainee, described the digital training as one of the best she had ever attended and thanked the organisers for the opportunity.

Abubakar said that the training had equipped her with the necessary skills to tap from the huge opportunities that the digital economy provides.

‘I now know how to clean, filter, sort and verify data among other data analytics skills.

‘I am looking forward to a v
ery bright future with my digital skills and hoping to become one of the best data analysts in the country by God’s grace,’ she said.

Similarly, Lateefat Abdulrazak, another data analytics trainee, said she had always wanted to become a data analyst but did not have the opportunity until now.

Abdulrazak said: ‘The IDEAS programme has provided me with the needed opportunity to achieve my long-time ambition of becoming a data analyst.

‘I will now use my new acquired skills to solve real life programmes in the digital economy space. I am very grateful to the World Bank, Ubelle Nig. Ltd and New Cloud for the opportunity.’

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Another beneficiary, Mr Olarin Shadrack, said that the training has equipped him with a digital marketing skill to be able to explore opportunities in the nation’s digital economy.

‘I learned a lot about digital marketing and now in the comfort of my home and my little space, I can market my prod
ucts and other people’s products in the digital space using digital devices.

‘I am into agro-farming and other businesses. With my digital marketing skill, I can easily advertise myself online, showcase my talent and make money,’ he said.

Cross section of some of the beneficiaries of digital training during their graduation and unveiling of Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd in Suleja on Tuesday.

Earlier, Dr Ali Onoja, the Project Leader of Ubelle Neo Cloud Technologies Consortium, explained that the 460 beneficiaries were selected from more than 900 applicants.

Onoja said that the beneficiaries went through rigorous digital skills development from December 2023 and were equipped with the tools and knowledge necessary to thrive in the digital age.

He explained that the Ubelle Nig. Ltd and Neo Cloud Technologies Consortium were among the 14 private sector organisations selected as grantees of the Innovation Grant Funding (IGF) under the IDEAS project.

According to him, the aim was to equip eligible you
ths, especially women, the disabled, and the vulnerable, with digital skills and certification.

He said that the digital marketing and digital entrepreneurship skills would enhance the capacity of the Nigerian skills development system to produce relevant skills for the formal and informal sectors.

‘However, learning alone is not enough. To turn their skills into successful ventures, they need resources, support, and opportunities, and this is where Fabsi Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd comes in.

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‘We understand that starting or expanding a business requires more than just knowledge; it requires capital, mentorship, and a network of like-minded individuals.

‘Fabsi Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd. is designed to provide the graduates and other interested members of the public with these essential resources,’ he said.

Also, IGF Consultant, Mr Ndem Ndiyo, National Project Implementation Unit, Federal Ministry of Education, sa
id that the IDEAS project was an ambitious and transformative initiative designed to enhance the quality and relevance of skills development in Nigeria.

Ndiyo described the project as one of the successful Public Private Partnership in the education sector in Nigeria, designed to leverage resources in the private sector for digital training.

He added that the beneficiaries would be certified in line with the National Skills Qualification Framework, to become employable, self-employed and employers of labour.

‘They will go through an internship programme where they will be engaged by the digital industry to put their skills to use after which we will look at job placement for them.

‘This in the long run will enable them to impact the nation’s digital economy,’ he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

A socio-political group, the Plateau Patriotic Front, has cautioned against call for the intervention of the National Assembly in the affairs of the Plateau State House of Assembly.

The group gave the warning on Tuesday, in Abuja in a statement by its Chairman, Mr Mani Imman.

He said the call for the leadership of the National Assembly to intervene in the affairs of the Plateau State House of Assembly was an invitation to stoke violence and disrupt governance in the state.

Imman said those calling for the intervention of NASS as lover of crisis.

He said that the development at the floor of the House of Representatives had come to the group’s notice as reported in the media that a motion was raised during Plenary.

‘The motion has called on the leadership of the National Assembly to intervene in the crisis surrounding the swearing-in of new members of the Plateau State House of Assembly.

‘We view this alarm as an attempt to stoke problems and disrupt governance and the peaceful atmosphere under the guise
of crisis in the State House of Assembly,’ he said.

He said those behind the call had been quoted as saying, ‘The Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly has refused to swear in all the new members.’

Imman said those behind the call had accused the speaker of demanding that they submit letters of resignation with accompanying court affidavits as a condition for swearing-in.

He said that instead of calling for the National Assembly’s intervention in the matter it should be resolved to avoid crisis in the state.

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‘Failure to address the delays and biases in the swearing-in of the new members poses a threat to security in the state and undermines the principles of justice, fairness, and democracy.

‘The Court of Appeal, hearing appeals arising from judgments of the Plateau State Election Tribunal made decisions that resulted in the nullification of Certificates of Return of 16 sitting members of the State Assembly.

‘The court has ordered the issuance of new Certificates of Return to the new members by the Independent National Electoral Commission,’ he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

In 1999, Nigeria embarked on a journey, saying goodbye to years of military rule and establishing the Fourth Republic.

For Africa’s most populous nation, the past 25 years of uninterrupted democratic governance were characterised by achievements, challenges and lessons that continue to shape its political landscape.

Analysts believe that challenges such as corruption, electoral malpractice, economic instability, security threats, ethnic and religious bigotry continue to test national unity but in spite of these, democracy remains consolidated.

Prof. Femi Otubanjo, a Research Professor at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), says Nigeria having democratic governance for the past 25 years is commendable.

‘We can congratulate ourselves that we are moving along democratic development,’ he says.

He, however, remarks that the country’s democracy is imperfect.

According to him, the quality of Nigeria’s elections over the years has been low, with the exception of the 2023 elections during whi
ch a bit of technology was introduced.

Otubanjo notes that election is an aspect of democracy that enables people to make choices.

‘If we don’t get this element of democracy right, the democratic process is undermined. The more technological our elections become, the more credible they will be,’ he argues.

He identifies ethnic and religious intolerance as a hinderance to effective democratic choices.

‘We have an imperfect democratic system but democracy is not a finished product; that is why it is called democratisation.

‘If it is nurtured well, it will grow,’ he adds.

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Prof. Joshua Bolarinwa, a Senior Research Fellow and Head, Security and Strategic Studies Division at NIIA, also lauds Nigeria for sustaining democratic rule for 25 years.

He is convinced that Nigeria has curtailed some challenges associated with democracy.

‘Democracy is not easy all over the world. It has challenges, and there is a new discourse about the democ
racy being practised in Africa.

‘This means liberal democracy is not working in Africa now because it does not fit into our way of life. Democracy in this part of the world has been too expensive.

‘We have enjoyed a long run of democracy. We have identified that it is expensive, and Africa needs to rethink its own democracy,’ Bolarinwa argues.

For Mr Chude Achike, a public affairs analyst and Deputy Chairman of Joint Action Front, the essence of democracy is better life for the people.

He strongly believes that Nigeria’s 25 years of unbroken democratic governance is a great achievement because of the tendency of the military to interrupt, which he describes as aberration to democracy.

According to him, coups are unconstitutional and have a way of setting countries backwards.

He, however, argues that when other indices of democracy are checked, Nigeria has not fared too well.

‘When you look at the engagement of the political elite, you see a level of high handedness, a level of military tendency.

‘They
have not imbibed the ethos of democracy because its essence is better life for the people.

‘Much needs to be done to address electoral issues in the country, basic infrastructure and intolerance.

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‘The population of the country has grown much but we have not put enough economic resources, we have not expanded the economy enough to be able to absorb the realities of a growing population,’ he says.

He notes that other democratic nations also have their peculiarities and challenges.

Achike says Nigeria has diverse ethnic groups which may not be fully comparable to other nations.

‘India, a multi-cultural country with different ethnic groups, has its own challenges even in terms of religious intolerance.’

He lauded India’s electoral process, describing it as an example.

‘India has over 1.4 billion people and yet it conducts elections much more peacefully.

‘India’s democracy has been able to bring about a lot of economic successes leading to it bein
g a well-developed industrial country with a much stronger industrial base,’ he says.

According to him, Nigeria should be playing at that stage, using its population strength and other resources.

Achike urges the political class to have a greater sense of patriotism and responsibility.

Analyst are convinced that sustainability of Nigeria’s democracy will require addressing structural issues, promoting inclusive economic growth, and ensuring electoral integrity.

They believe that resilience of the country’s democratic institutions and active participation of its citizenry will be crucial in navigating the paths ahead.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

As Nigeria marks Democracy Day, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says its demand for the new National Minimum Wage remains N250,000.

The Acting President of NLC, Mr Adewale Adeyanju, said this in a statement, while reacting to President Bola Tinubu Democracy Day speech on Wednesday, in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Federal Government had offered N62, 000 as the new national minimum wage, at the end of the tripartite committee meeting, involving the Organised Private Sector (OPS) .

According to him, the union appreciates the President’s commitment to those fine democratic ideals which allowed the work of the Tripartite National Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee to proceed unhindered despite some hiccups.

‘Our demand still remains N250,000 only and we have not been given any compelling reasons to change this position which we consider a great concession by Nigerian workers during the tripartite negotiation process.

‘We are, therefore, surprised at the submission of Mr President
over a supposed agreement.

‘We believe that he may have been misled into believing that there was an agreement with the NLC and TUC.

‘There was none and it is important that we let the President, Nigerians and other national stakeholders understand this immediately to avoid a mix up in the ongoing conversation around the national minimum wage,’ he said.

Adeyanju also noted that the union had not seen a copy of the document submitted to Mr President and it would not accept any doctored document.

He, however, reaffirmed the union’s belief that the president on whose table the Tripartite Committee’s report presently resides would prepare an Executive Bill which content would reflect the true demand of Nigerian workers.

‘We think that this is an opportunity for him to demonstrate his love for Nigerian workers and masses.

‘That is by shunning the pieces of advice that may be coming from those whose intentions are continuously focused on hurting the poor and struggling workers of Nigeria.

‘Mr President shoul
d not allow these individuals and groups to sabotage his promise of lifting Nigerian workers out of poverty,’ he said.

According to him, the president’s advisers obviously did not tell him the truth that the leaders of the trade unions were intimidated and harassed.

‘It is, therefore, important that Mr President understands that we were threatened severally by his operatives perhaps without his consent.

‘Series of media propaganda calculated to intimidate and harass us were, and, are still being waged against the trade unions by senior officials of this government.

‘Fully armed soldiers surrounded us while we were in a negotiation with the government,’ he alleged.

He added the NLC remained assured that the president’s democratic credentials will come to the fore in favour of Nigerian workers and masses.

He also noted that NLC never agreed on a five-year duration of the minimum wage Act though acknowledged that the president mentioned five years or less.

According to Adeyanju, the union also agreed that
inflation should be pegged at a level for certain amount to be agreed as minimum wage. This is to bring clarity to what the report should contain.

‘Once again, we reiterate that it will be extremely difficult for Nigerian workers to accept any national minimum wage figure that approximates to a starvation wage.

‘We cannot be working and yet remain in abject poverty.

‘We seek justice, equity and fairness for all Nigerians and this we hope would also drive the actions of Mr. President who promised a Living Wage to Nigerian workers.

‘This is an opportunity to show that he listens to Nigerians as he promised,’ he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Mrs Tinu Abiola, wife of late Chief MKO Abiola, has urged the National Assembly to enact a law that will prohibit military intervention in Nigerian politics.

Abiola made the call while fielding questions from newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja in commemoration of 25 years of unbroken democracy in Nigeria.

She, however, commended the military hierarchy for subjecting itself to democratic rule over the years.

Recall that in 2018 former President, Muhammadu Buhari, moved Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12 , to posthumously honour MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

Abiola’s wife called on Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu who contributed immensely to the survival of democracy in Nigeria.

‘We have to thank God that democracy has come to stay; without the June 12 event, probably, military rule will still have remained in Nigeria.

‘So, one of the major achievements of MKO Abiola, winning that election, even though he was not allowed to rule, was that he opened the
door; he opened the eyes of every Nigerian to democratic rule, and democracy has come to stay.

‘Now, as we move on, what I will advise Nigerians to do is to please cooperate with the present government of Tinubu, who himself, fought for June 12.

‘He was a staunch member of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and he did his best for the actualisation of June 12, unfortunately, all their best was not enough at that time; because some things are predestined by God.

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‘So, my happiness today is to see one of those fighters of that time becoming the president of Nigeria; it is so great.’

She implored Nigerians to be patriotic and imbibe the culture of making Nigeria great.

According to her, there is a need for Nigerians to love Nigeria at heart and do the right things at all times that will promote the image of Nigeria anywhere in the world.

She said that the National Assembly had a crucial role to play in preserving
Nigeria’s democracy.

‘Part of what I want the National Assembly to do is to enact the necessary law; especially a law that will prohibit coup d’état in Nigeria; it is very important.

‘We have had an unbroken democracy for 25 years but I think the National Assembly has not done enough; it should enact a law that will prohibit military intervention in Nigerian politics.

‘Look at what happened in Burkina Faso, it happened in Niger; it happened in Guinea-Bissau; so, both houses should come together and enact a law that will prohibit military intervention in Nigeria.

‘We are happy to have 25 years of unbroken democracy but it is not enough; until a law is enacted prohibiting military intervention.

‘I also want to commend the military hierarchy. Between 1999 and today, they have been wonderful; they have done well.

‘They have submitted themselves to democratic rule but we cannot rely on the fact that it will continue to be rosy; there must be a law and that will put everybody’s mind at peace,” she said.

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She advised the Federal Government to take some parts of MKO’s manifesto into its programmes.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Dayo Israel, the National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has urged Nigerian leaders to pay attention to the youth, as the future leaders of the country.

Israel made the call in Abuja, at the youth programme organised by the Federal Government, as part of activities to mark the 25th Democracy Day Anniversary.

The theme of the programme is: ’25 years of Enduring Democracy: Prospects for the Future’.

He described Nigerian youths as resilient, noting that in spite of the difficulties they were experiencing in fulfilling their future aspirations, they were still excelling in their various endeavors.

He said that the future of Nigeria’s democracy lies in the hands of the youth, who must be engaged in governance.

‘The future of our democracy is in our hands (youths), and so the leaders of today must be conscious of the attention they give our generation.

‘It is important to know that the Nigerian youths are ripe and ready for leadership, however we have to ensure, it is not by guns,’ he s
aid.

According to him, Nigerian youths have demonstrated a level of decorum by not using guns to force themselves into leadership, as seen in some other African countries.

He, however, said that leaders should not be complacent about the situation, but should be driven to providing enabling environment for youths participation in all their activities.

Also speaking at the event, Abdulmumuni Abiola, the son of the late MKO Abiola, winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 elections, said it was an honor for the date to be marked as Nigeria’s Democracy Day.

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He said that even at a young age, he knew his father was determined to make a difference in Nigeria, as he regarded the country as his special place.

In his presentation on the Prospects of the Future, a political consultant, Mr Samuel Martins, said that youth must be patriotic and be advocates of value reorientation to man the leadership of Nigeria.

Source: News Agency of Niger
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