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2024 WYSD : We’ll Uplift The Youths Through Initiatives – Minister of Youth

Published

2 months ago

July 16, 2024

Joel Ajayi

Federal Government yesterday re-assured that, it will do all within her strength to lift many Nigerian Youth out of unemployment cycles through its numerous initiative put in place to bring prosperity to the youths.

The Minister of Youth Development, Jamila Bio-Ibrahim gave the assurance in Abuja at the occasion of 2024 World Youth Skills Day celebrations, she said that, Nigerian youths are potentially the greatest investment for a country’s socio-economic, political and technological development.

She expressed that the Federal government knows the importance of youths in the present government. This has inspired the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to graciously approved a total of N110 billion to be released for the operation of the newly restructured Youth Development Fund and the investment in agricultural Small and Medium Enterprises instead of 75billion earlier approved.

2024 WYSD with the theme Youth Skills For Peace and Development , “Upskilling Youthful Peace” , “Skill Up Youth For Development.”

It will be recalled that United Nations General Assembly daclared that all member states to celebrate the Word Youth Skills Day on the 15th July of every year, it was on this that, put in place program in collaboration with other critical stakeholders in youth employment and empowerment to commemorate to celebrate the day.

According to her, the aim of the commemoration is to appreciate and celebrate the contributions of skills acquisition and development to nation building with the primary objective of reducing restiveness and poverty, encourage and support job creation, and most Importantly reduce the high rate of unemployment among the youth in developing economies.

“Federal Ministry of Youth Development recognizes the high level of the commitment of various stakeholders in this event. The designated day seeks to generate greater awareness of discussions on how important skills acquisition are in promoting national economic growth and personal success. It is believed that skill acquisition will contribute to reducing unemployment among the youth across the globe. The day highlights youth skills development and draws attention to the critical needs and the importance of technical, vocational, entrepreneurial and modern agricultural education and training to both national and global economics.

“Millions of youth worldwide are loved and therefore unengaged with any meaningful and sustainable livelihood and the worrisome part of the scenario is that majority bracket live in developing countries where young people are ed and continuously exposed to lower quality level jobs, or market inequality, longer and more insecure school to work s. In fact young people in their twenties (20) are not just bored, they are frustrated at how they are locked out of local decision making processes as well as economic and life opportunities. These disengaged, disenfranchised and frustrated set of youth are a growing concern of the present admistren.

“World Skills Day is set to bring in the required ergy among the critical actors in youth development. Therefore at end of the dy believe that the programme would have successfully achieved increadeshusiasm for skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development in Nige challenge all the stakeholders for enhanced commitment to skill development and create a laudable platform to launch a new project on skills acquisition and developmeht that aligns with the RENEWED HOPE AGENDA.

“It is worthy to note that the youth is one of the greatest assets that any nation can have and are legitimately regarded as the future leaders and partners of today. They are potentially the greatest investment for a country’s socio-economic, political and technological development.”

“On our part, the Ministry shall continue to initiate and implement youth employment programmes and activities that will take our youth off the streets. In response to the high rate of unemployment among the youth and in line with its core mandates, the Ministry recently organized a scale up capacity building programme in Fashion design and Tailoring business with the establishment and equipping, by the Ministry, of a tailoring Hub in National Youth Development Centre, Odeomu, Osun State with modern fashion and tailoring machineries where interested youth entrepreneurs can access the centre to acquire and develop their skills in fashion design and allied businesses amongst others.”

She called on all well-spirited Individuals, groups and existing partners present here that there is urgent need for multidisciplinary collaboration and team work in Identifying and catering for the need of the skilled youth.

In his welcome addressed, permanent Secretary to the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Dunuoma Umar Ahmed appealed to all youth in the country not to engage in any social devices, drugs or any action that will jeopardize their future.

Also speaking, the Director Enterprises Development and promotion of Ministry Mr Momoh Olugbenga stated that 2024 WYSD remains a clear demonstration of determination and commitment of all to promote skills acquisition, peace and socio-economic development of the country.

No doubt, Millions of youth worldwide are unemployed, uneducated and unengaged with the majority living in developing countries. Young people are underemployed and continuously exposed to lower quality level jobs, greater labor market inequality, longer and more insecure school to work transitions. In fact, young people in their twenties (20) are not just bored, they are frustrated at how they are locked out of local decision making processes as well as economic and life opportunities. These disengaged, disenfranchised and frustrated set of youth are a growing concern of the government.

He said that; the 2024 World Skills Day with the theme ‘Youth Skills For Peace and Development’ is all set to bring in the required synergy among all critical actors in jobs and employment creation for socio-economic development and peace of the country.

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How Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso Repositioning the Raw Materials Sector For Economic Diversification

Published

4 days ago

September 3, 2024

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

As we embark on a journey, we always pray for an able, experienced, and courageous driver, pilot, or sailor depending on the means of transportation.

This is because the captain will have enough experience and boldness to navigate out of turbulence and to bring all the passengers and crew to the intended destination.

Interestingly, these fine qualities of ability, experience, boldness, and many more, abound in the man, Prof. Nnanyelugo Martins Ike-Muonso, who we all are pleased was appointed the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, RMRDC, the Director General/CEO by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a few months ago.

This is because he has brought his knowledge, ability, experience, and doggedness to bear in carrying out his assignment in charge of the Council.

The RMRDC, operating under the Federal

The Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, is pivotal in driving Nigeria’s industrial growth by optimizing local raw materials exploitation, development, and utilization. RMRDC, ab initio, was conceived as a child of necessity when Nigeria was reeling from the throes of global recession and plummeting crude oil prices.

Without an iota of doubt, today, the council is experiencing a transformation with massive innovation in raw material exploitation, development, and utilization, supporting business and industrial growth, and contributing to Nigeria’s economic prosperity.

Speaking this during a press briefing on Tuesday, in Abuja to commemorate his 100 days in office said the council is laying a solid foundation through numerous innovations that will further enhance growth in the country.

According to him, in the past 100 days, my strategic pursuits have been to lay solid foundations for enduring success in these goals.

“Upon assuming this position, I set five crucial deliverables which include, refocusing the Council as a premier research institution; Strengthening the Council’s productivity and operational efficiency; Significantly improving the staff welfare to be the best in the class of similar organizations;

“Others include, Boosting the Council’s visibility and instituting remarkable culture change that encourages ownership and productivity as well as Strengthening and deepening the Council’s place in the international arena.”

While speaking on his Achievements so far, the DG revealed: “My first task, therefore, was to implement a strategic goal-setting for the Council’s staff to define and set out clear objectives and targets to be achieved by the Council within a specified period towards refocusing on this historical mandate. We unleashed five significant initiatives in that regard.

“The nationwide raw material data collection exercise that focused on technical and investment information. erships to drive our mission forward.

“The restructuring and renaming of the former Technology Innovation Complex (TIC) at the Obasanjo Space Center at Airport Road, Abuja, to a Research and Demonstration Plants Complex (RDPC). This complex will be Africa’s first center of excellence in raw material research, featuring state-of-the-art laboratories, technology development workshops, and proof of concept demonstrations.

“We have reactivated the Council’s Journal and repositioned it internationally. The repositioned Journal of Raw Material Research [JORMAR] will host RMRDC’s researchers’ publications, which are crucial in promoting awareness, facilitating knowledge sharing, and informing stakeholders about the opportunities and challenges in Nigeria’s raw materials sector.

“The collaboration with universities and academies will strengthen our capacity for conducting market-guided research, ensuring sustained workforce training while deepening our orientation in science.

The council has reformulated a new template for all our research proposals to ensure and sustain a clear departure from the old culture of blue-sky and deliberately endless research.

Speaking further, Prof Nwanyelugo Martins Ike-Muonso stated that Staff welfare remains a top priority as an issue of unpaid salaries is settled as well as set up a comprehensive welfare program.

“Similarly, we established the RMRDC Training School to sustainably build our staff and stakeholders’ capacity to further the staff welfare improvement goal.

“We are committed to openness, inclusiveness, and performance management and have initiated steps to continuously improve staff ownership, orchestrate transformative culture change, boost our corporate visibility, and enhance

“To further strengthen our visibility and communication strategies, we are upgrading our media infrastructure, which includes the launch of the RMRDC online media platform, The RMRDC TV Online.

“Additionally, we are working hard to effectively enhance the intellectual property and patent portfolio of RMRDC from its current 40 to approximately 200 new patents within the next 24 months. This proactive approach secures valuable IP assets and positions the Council as a leader in innovation within the raw materials sector, contributing to Nigeria’s overall economic growth.

“As well as launching an e-registration and certification portal to enhance transparency in the raw materials sector,” DG revealed.

He however reaffirmed his commitment to reshape the future of research, technology, and innovation, driving Nigeria towards an industrially vibrant and technologically resilient economy.

“As I mark 100 days in office, I boldly say that the Council is on the verge of rewriting its history.

“I believe that in no distant future, RMRDC will play a leading role in enhancing raw materials’ development to boost raw materials’ industrial trial processing and attain sustainable industrial growth in Nigeria.

DG, however, applauded the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, for his unwavering support and mentorship, saying the Minister’s leadership has been instrumental in the progress made so far.

In his opening remarks, the Directorate of Corporate Affairs, Mr Chucks Ngaha commended the hard-working DG who has weathered the storm further to put the Council on the ladder of more prosperity.

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