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Flying Eagles lose to USA, render Ukraine game crucial

Published

6 years ago

May 28, 2019

Flying Eagles lose to USA, render Ukraine game crucial

An unimpressive Flying Eagles side was well beaten by Team USA in Bielsko-Biala on Monday night, meaning they must earn a result against table –toppers Ukraine on Thursday to be sure of a place in the Round of 16.

Looking already good for the knockout stages following a commanding 4-0 win over Qatar in Tychy on Friday, the two –time runners –up were taken to the cleaners by a smooth –playing American side that was vastly superior in pace, technical hue, all –round play, awareness, guile and marksmanship.

Having beaten Qatar easily, the Flying Eagles were expected to find their range against USA and get their two feet into the knockout rounds. But that looked a mountain to climb right from kick –off as the nifty Sebastian Soto, who scored both goals, combined well with Alex Mendez and Timothy Weah to rip through the Nigerian defence at will.

Soto came close to getting the first goal after only nine minutes, but missed with goalkeeper Olawale Oremade beaten. In another nine minutes, he got it right, as he was strangely allowed a free header from a corner inside a box that had about eight Nigerian players.

It would have been two-nil three minutes later but Oremade charged out Weah’s close-range shot. Nine minutes later, it should have been that exact scoreline but the ever-dangerous Soto was ruled offside after rifling into the net, as four Nigerian defenders made a complete hash of clearing the ball from a corner kick.

In the closing stages of the first half, Aniekeme Okon’s fierce shot was palmed away by goalkeeper Brad Scott, but right from the recess, the threatening 2-0 score on the board became a reality as Soto, again, ran cleverly behind a stiff Nigerian rearguard to snap the ball past Oremade.

Even as they improved in the second period, the Flying Eagles failed to show any attacking fluency or clinical efficiency, and it was rather the Americans who put on display excellent footwork and and cohesion now and again to threaten at will.

Nigeria must now earn a result against group leaders Ukraine – who pipped Qatar 1-0 earlier in the day – on Thursday to advance to the Round of 16.

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Ministry of Youth Working with Relevant MDA’s to Curb Irregular Migration in Nigeria-Minister

Published

4 days ago

December 19, 2024

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led Administration through the Federal Ministry of Youth Development is working tirelessly, collaborating with relevant MDAs to curb irregular migration in Nigeria.

The Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande disclosed this during a 2-day Awareness Programme on “The Effects of Irregular Migration of Young people”, organised by the Ministry in Katsina, Kastina State.

The Minister explained that the Ministry has designed various empowerment programmes like the vocational trainings in garment and clothing making, beads making, waste management (waste to wealth creation), digital employability, entrepreneurship and leadership training (DEEL), work experience program (WEP) and the proposed establishment of Youth House across the 774 local government secretariat nationwide.

According to him, “In recent years, we have recorded numerous needless and avoidable deaths of irregular migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe. Additionally, we have witnessed countless incidents of organ harvesting, rape, child labor, kidnapping, and prostitution inflicted upon illegal migrants in desert regions,
“Unfortunately, Africa and the Middle East have reported the highest numbers of illegal migrants trying to leave their continent or country for Europe and America.

He stated that other measures include the relaunch of the National Youth Investment Fund, which aims at supporting young entrepreneurs with a budget of ₦110 billion, adding that the initiative will focus on training in agriculture, providing tools such as drones to facilitate farming, and offering start-up grants to trainees.

“Additionally, there will be the construction of youth development centers nationwide to host various youth empowerment activities and programmes as well as the implementation of a 30 percent affirmative action to encourage youth participation in government”, he affirmed.

Comrade Olawande, who was represented by Deputy Director, Youth Centres & Camp (YCC) Division at the Department of Education and Youth Development in the Ministry, Mrs. Grace Leleh, noted that factors like conflict and civil unrest, unemployment as a result of worsening economic situation, famine, national disaster among others contribute to the growing trend of irregular migration among youth.

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, stressed that migration is a natural aspect of human behavior. However, he added,the recent trend of irregular migration is a new phenomenon marked by complexities, uncertainties, dangers, and, in some cases, untimely death.

He said: “It is also perplexing to observe that many of the young people engaging in irregular migration are educated and skilled professionals in various fields.” He concluded by highlighting that this situation has led to the troubling phenomenon of brain drain in our country”

In his goodwill message, Jean Nahesi Kutumbakana, Program Manager & Head of Sub-office, International office for Migration in Northwest region, said that there are various significant problems emerging due to the socio-economic vulnerabilities and security challenges that often drive irregular migration. He added that the northwest is a critical region for both internal and cross-border migration flows.

“We at IOM strongly support the principle of partnership and collective actions for a comprehensive approach towards addressing the root causes of irregular migration”, he stated.

The Katsina State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Aliu Lawal Zakari emphasised that Katsina State government is leaving no stone unturned to curb irregular migration as it shared boundaries with other countries.

He advised the youth to cooperate with the government at all levels to make this country conducive for them to get their livelihood.

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