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Saraki, Urges Stakeholders To Synergies And Fix Nigerians Roads

Published

4 years ago

September 18, 2020

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of State for Transportation, Sen. Gbemisola Saraki, has called on stakeholders to synergize and come up with solutions that will help to fix Nigerian roads.

Sen. Saraki, who made this call on Friday in Abuja when she received a delegation of the Nigerian Transportation Commissioners’ Forum (NTCF), charged them to call a meeting of the Governor’s Forum, the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Transport Unions and the Federal Ministry of Transportation to brainstorm and come up with solutions on how to fix the bad roads across the country.

Similarly, she suggested that the NTCF should institute a biannual meeting of the Forum and the Ministry as an avenue to discuss the challenges of the sector with a view to formulating a National Policy that will provide succor for road workers and operators.

She also informed the NTCF delegation that the ministry is working on the National Transport Policy that will among other things address the issue of unregulated movement of articulated vehicles.

Regarding the issue of considering tricycle operators in the intervention fund, the Minister promised to see how they can be captured as they form a major nucleus in the provision of transportation in the city centers.

On his own, the leader of the delegation Ramatu Yar’ Adua, the Commissioner of Niger State, in the company of Transport Commissioners from Borno, Dr. Abubakar Tyjani, and Adamawa, Jika Mustapha, said the visit to the Honourable Minister of State was an extension of an early one paid on the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, with a view to calling attention to the imminent collapse of roads across the country.

Yar’ Adua disclosed that Niger State has the largest network of roads but that this has not brought about development as the journey from Minna to Bida which is supposed to be 45 minutes, now takes 3 hours.

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FG to Harness the Digital Economy to Empower Youth

Published

2 days ago

April 17, 2024

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Honourable Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande has disclosed that the Federal Government is making efforts to harness the potentials of the digital economy in empowering the youth and creating sustainable jobs.

He made this disclosure in Abuja when he received the participants of the Senior Executive Course 46, 2024 of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, Plateau State who were on study tour to the Ministry.

Mr Olawande said over 50% of the population below the age of 30 have a significant demographic advantage in the digital age.

“Our youths are tech-savvy, innovative and eager to contribute to the country’s economic growth. However, they face numerous challenges including limited access to quality education, skills training and job opportunities.

The digital economy offers a unique opportunity for Nigeria to leapfrog traditional development challenges. With the rise of e-commerce, digital payments and remote work”. “Our youths can assess global markets, skills training and job opportunities like never before,” he added.

According to the Minister, challenges hindering the growth of the digital economy in Nigeria must be addressed.
He explained that to overcome the challenges, the Ministry has implemented initiatives such as digital skills training programs for youths, focusing on areas like software development, data analytics and digital marketing especially in the NYSC.

This, he disclosed is alongside partnering with Galaxy Back Bone to improve infrastructure, Internet connectivity and alternative electricity supply as well as funding opportunities such as grants, loans and venture capital for startups of small businesses with launching of the National Youth Investment Fund.

The Honourable Minister who hinted that the Ministry’ s goal is to create an ecosystem that supports entrepreneurship and employment opportunities for youth stated: ” We recognise that sustainable job creation is critical to Nigeria ‘s economic growth and stability”

”I urge you all to join us in this journey to harness the potential of the digital economy for youth empowerment and sustainable job creation in Nigeria.”, he added.

Mr Olawande further said that the opportunities and challenges underscore the need for a collaborative effort from all stakeholders to harness the potential of the digital economy for sustainable development.

The Minister who observed that there is a gap between the Government and the young people expressed his heartfelt desire for the Youths of the nation to feel the Government. He opined that the country has the most intelligent youths in the world.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation from NIPSS, Barrister Nima Salman Mann, mni said they are in the Ministry to research, proffer solutions, recommendations and strategies to help Government chart its course for the the year, with the theme : ‘Digital Economy, Youth Empowerment and Sustainable Job Creation in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities’.

.She also added that Ministry of Youth Development is very germane to this year’s theme .” We are with the Ministry of Youth to listen to what you are doing to help the youth, how you are doing it, strategic plans and way forward as well as how we can use the digital economy to chart the goal for sustainable job creation,” she concluded.

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