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Portal to Access N110 billion Youth Investment Fund Will Be Accessible in the Coming Days – Jamila Ibrahim.

Published

2 months ago

July 24, 2024

Joel Ajayi

Minister, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim, has announced that the Portal for the Restructured Youth Investment Fund of N110 billion will be accessible in the coming days.

The Minister made this announcement during a courtesy visit from the Middle Belt Youth Council to her office in Abuja.

She emphasized that the fund is designed to provide crucial support for businesses owned by young entrepreneurs who are currently experiencing financial challenges. She said the fund aims to offer financial assistance, mentorship, and resources to help these businesses overcome their struggles so that they can thrive.

“We are working very hard so that the portal can be opened to allow young people to register to access the fund. When the portal is opened, we will continue to inform and guide young people on how to access the N110 billion committed by the Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

“This fund will prioritize existing businesses. We understand that they are already established and have their clients. What they need is a little push to avoid sinking due to the current state of the economy,” she explained.

According to her, within one year, the current administration led by President Bola Tinubu has achieved numerous milestones which include the approval of a 30% youth quota for government appointments, the implementation of the Presidential Initiatives on Youth Enterprise Clusters, the establishment of a 70,000 minimum wage for Civil servants ,the introduction of CNG buses to transport citizens, direct purchase and distribution of food items to the most vulnerable families across the nation, plans to resume local production in refineries to reduce the cost of fuel, and the rehabilitation and commissioning of the Abuja Metro Stations. The government is also committed to providing free services by the end of 2024, as directed by Mr. President,she added.

She further informed that the recently passed North Central Development Commission bill is a testament that the President is very supportive of that Region.

Earlier in his remarks, the President of the Middle Belt Youth Council and the leader of the team,Hon. Emmanuel Zopmal, stated that the purpose of the visit was to engage with the Federal Government regarding the policies that affect the youth and to discuss how they can contribute to governance.

On behalf of the middle belt youths, Zopmal also made it known that the Youth from his region,the middle belt are not in support of the planned protest against the government.

He stressed the importance of understanding government’s initiatives designed for the youth through constructive engagement.

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Nigeria Will Take Good Shape In No Distant Time- Olawande

Published

5 hours ago

September 16, 2024

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande has urged the citizens of the country to be patient with the Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in transforming the lives of its citizens through various policies and programs of the federal government.

The Minister made this submission while delivering his speech at the Joint Union Negotiating Council’s week of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development branch. This is the first edition since both Ministries of Youth and Sports had been damaged. The JUNC week which was held at Atiku Hall, Office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation in Abuja had its theme: “The working people in a volatile, uncertain, and complex economy”

In the words of the Honourable Minister: “I urge you to be patient with this administration. In no distant time, the country will take good shape and the lives of its citizens will be transformed”.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not a pauper, he is an acknowledged epitome of wealth, and so it cannot be said of him that he desires to loot the treasury of Nigeria. He has seen money and as a result of this, he is not interested in looting the nation’s treasury”, Olawande explained.

He emphasized that “leadership is all about being committed to serve. If you are a Minister now, tomorrow you will be addressed as a former Minister, likewise a Director because there is no permanent position but the impact that you made while in that office will speak after you”, the Minister reiterated.

Olawande expressed his gratitude to the workers of the Ministry for being supportive of the government policies and programs. He promised that the welfare of the staff would not be compromised, adding that workers deserve remuneration for being hardworking.

Earlier in his address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya admonished the staff of the Ministry to put in their best as “Performance Management System” which replaces APER is the criteria to be used for promotion effective next year. This, according to him is because the Performance Management System (PMS) records the best efforts and input of each staff which will in turn be used to grade such staff.

Olusanya who disclosed that the welfare of the staff is his priority as workers deserve the best for the services rendered. He opined that “the hungry man is angry and as a worker, if you are not treated fairly and properly, it is impossible to get the best out of you. As a result, all staff will be treated properly as motivation to propel the best in you”, he concluded.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Esther Didi Walson-Jack, OON, MNI, in her address, informed that the activity to reinvigorate the Civil Service in a bid to ensure that Civil Servants carry out their duties with much diligence to have efficient and incorruptible civil service is currently on course. She advised workers to wake up and be committed to the service of the nation.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Jerry Akume, the General Secretary of the Union expressed his delight in celebrating this year’s edition of the Union week, while highlighting the achievements of the union so far. These include:

Upward review of staff welfare, prompt payment of repatriation allowances, payment of first 28 days allowance, assistance to the sick, general training of staff, and sending forth/retirement package for retired staff.

He also appealed to the Management of the Ministry, saying that irrespective of the aforementioned achievements, a lot still needs to be done in such areas as procurement of staff buses, upward review of welfare payment for festive periods, consistent general staff training, and procurement of office and work materials.

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