News

Let’s Come Together And fix Nigeria – Olawande Urges The Youth

Published

1 year ago

January 17, 2024

….Unveils his plans for the youth.
Joel Ajayi

The Honourable Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande has urged Nigerian youth to rally together to fix the nation, as the country belongs to them.

Mr. Olawande made this call in Abuja when the leadership of the National Youth Leaders forum of all political parties in Nigeria led by the chairman of the forum ambassador Muhammed Awwal Musa paid him a courtesy visit.

Olawanded revealed that there are plans on the ground to strengthen the Nigerian youth to ensure that they are equipped to fix the country.

The Honourable Minister lamented that the majority of the youths in the country are not skillful, a situation which according him, has given room for foreigners to take up jobs that Nigerians would have taken in private companies in the country.

He emphasized that it is time to kick start a youth campaign with the theme, “One Youth, Two Skills.”

“Let’s come out with this campaign that it is unacceptable and an injustice for a youth in this country not to have a skill, and it is going to be a project that everyone must key into.” He added.

Speaking on his planned programmes for the youths, he disclosed that these will include: Engagemen with Inspector General of Police to avoid a recurrence of End SARS protest in 2020 which was in reaction to police brutality of the youth, a situation which he noted is still on.

The establishment of Nigeria Youth Academy, where youths will be trained, engagement with Borno youths, estsblishment of Nigerian Youth radio and television, organisation of Nigerian Youth job fair, engagement with Nigerian youths in diaspora and youth startups as well as Nigerian Youth conference where Youths who have made a major impact in their carrier will be given recognition and required to encourage others to emulate them.

Earlier in his remarks, Amb. Mohammed Awwal Musa, the Chairman National Youth Leaders Forum of all political parties in Nigeria, commended the Minister’s commitments on the progress of Nigerian youths.

He said that the major purpose of their visit was to let the Minister know that the forum had agreed to work with the present government irrespective of their political differences.

Speaking also, the Chairman, Young Parliamentarian in the House of Representatives Honourable Ishaya David Lalu, appreciated the Minister ‘s open door policy, which, according to him demonstrates that he is ready to work.

He reminded the minister that he can not afford to fail, as uniting the Nigerian youth is one task that must be done.

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Business

Stakeholders Push for Stronger Labor Polices to Protect Jobs in Energy Transition

Published

17 hours ago

March 27, 2025

The Gleamer

…Unveil ‘Workers’ Charter of Demand’

By Joel Ajayi

In a bid to strengthen labour laws and safeguard Nigerian workers from job losses amid the country’s transition to a low-carbon economy, stakeholders have called for equitable policies that protect employment and workers’ rights.

***Presenting the Workers’ Charter of Demand, Tunde Selman, Researcher and Team Lead at GGT-Nigeria, outlined key labour concerns in Nigeria’s evolving energy landscape***.

The call was made at the public presentation of the Workers’ Charter of Demand and Stakeholders’ Engagement held on Thursday in Abuja.

The event, organized by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) in collaboration with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Nigeria, also marked the launch of the Justice Department Transition Project, aimed at ensuring a just and sustainable shift to renewable energy.

In his remarks, Lennart Oestergaard, Resident Representative of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung FES Nigeria, emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between trade unions, the private sector, and the government to develop policies that protect jobs and equip workers for employment in the renewable energy sector.

“As Nigeria moves towards cleaner energy sources, we must ensure that workers are not displaced or exploited,” he stated. “A just transition means that no one is left behind. This requires deliberate policies that promote job security, social dialogue, and economic fairness.”

Presenting the Workers’ Charter of Demand, Tunde Selman, Researcher and Team Lead at GGT-Nigeria, outlined key labour concerns in Nigeria’s evolving energy landscape.

“The charter is a call to action, advocating for fair labour practices and worker protections,” Selman said.

Some of the key demands highlighted in the charter include: Job Security: Preventing mass redundancies in the energy sector.

Social Protection Measures to Ensuring access to pension schemes and health insurance for workers transitioning from fossil fuel jobs; Fair Wages and Improved Working Conditions to Address labour rights in both traditional and renewable energy sector.

Also, Equipping workers with skills in clean energy technologies, Stronger Labor Union Involvement: Ensuring labor unions play a role in policymaking related to energy transition amongst other.

In her goodwill message, Executive Secretary of the Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN), Dr. Tosin Akande, thumbed FES and its partners for their advocacy efforts in protecting labor rights during the energy transition.

However, She stressed the need for stronger policies to prevent unemployment and low wages. “Without strong policies, many workers could face job losses or poor working conditions,” Dr. Akande warned.

Meanwhile, the event also featured a panel discussion on “Just and Clean Transition for Trade Unions in Nigeria,” where experts examined challenges and opportunities in the energy transition.

Discussions focused on: Expanding the renewable energy sector while protecting workers’ rights; The role of government and private sector investment in job creation and Vocational training for green economy jobs.

Stakeholders therefore reaffirmed their commitment to advocating for policies that ensure a fair transition for Nigerian workers, ensuring that no one is left behind as the country moves toward a greener future.

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