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Olawande Kickstarts youth engagement, harps on skill development

Published

8 months ago

January 21, 2024

Joel Ajayi

The Honourable Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande has emphasized the need for Nigerian youths to prioritize skill acquisition, especially in areas that are relevant to the demands of the 21st century labour market.

The Minister, who made the call during a youth engagement visit to Borno State, said the youths can only contribute to the development of the country when they possess skills that enhance their productivity as citizens.

Olawande who also paid a courtesy visit on the state governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum on his arrival, disclosed that he was in the state to interact with youths on the plans of the Ministry so as to solicit their inputs.

During the interaction that lasted for over three hours, with youths, drawn from diverse youth and student organizations in the state, including young entrepreneurs, farmers, and those from the informal sectors, the Minister said, “I believe that we can not sit back in Abuja and assume that we know what you want. Yes, we have our own plans and programs, but we also want to listen to your demands based on your peculiar experiences and local realities. This would help us to target our interventions to address specific challenges you may have.”
In response to the plans presented by the Minister, the youths offered suggestions on the implementation modalities as well as new ideas for consideration.

Prior to his arrival at the youth engagement session, the Minister had earlier visited one of the Internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in the state to solidarize with inhabitants where he donated about one thousand, five hundred school bags, lunch packs and some other items to youths in the camp on behalf of the federal government.

He also paid a ‘thank you’ visit to the young soldiers in the headquarters of Operation Hadin Kai, where he extended the appreciation of the government to the soldiers for their sacrifices. He also visited some injured soldiers at the military hospital in Maimalari barracks, headquarters of 7 Division of Nigerian Army, where he prayed for the recuperating soldiers.

The Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai, Major General G.U Chibuisi appreciated the Minister for identifying with them at the command, saying the Minister’s visit would boost the morale of the troop. He disclosed that the security situation is improving every day in Maiduguri as a result of the ongoing operation to counter terrorism in the state.

The Minister was also at the National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC) orientation camp in Maiduguri where he encouraged Corp Members to think positively and follow what is right rather than following what is trending so that at the end of their service they will be productive to themselves and the country at large.

He further admonished them against crime and violence while encouraging them to engage themselves in innovative skills and ideas that will enable them to contribute meaningfully to society.

He promised that the condition of NYSC orientation camps would be improved.
Earlier in his address, the chapter chairman Borno state National Youth Council of Nigeria, comrade kaka Lawan Bundi eulogised the minister for coming and called on the Ministry of youth to support the youth to access funds in the form of loans to boost their businesses. “This will be useful for ensuring sustainable businesses” He said.

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Nigeria Will Take Good Shape In No Distant Time- Olawande

Published

3 days 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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