News Agency of Nigeria
Business

IKODIV Trade Fair: ICCI promises to support MSMEs

 

By Mercy Omoike

The Ikorodu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has reiterated its support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), in its annual Ikorodu Division (IKODIV) Trade Fair.

The chamber made this known at a news conference on Wednesday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the second edition of the IKODIV Trade Fair is scheduled to hold from March 26 to April 2, at the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Ikorodu.

The fair is expected to accommodate more than 100 vendors, with affordable exhibition stands between N20,000 and N90,000 based on exhibitors capacity.

The fair is a joint partnership of the ICCI and LASUSTECH, supported by the Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Industry and cooperatives.

The President of ICCI, Mr Rasheed Shoderu, said the aim of the fair is to promote continuous support for growth and improvements of MSMEs in Ikorodu Division.

According to him, the ICCI was established with the primary objective of promoting commerce, Industry and economic growth of Ikorodu Division.

“Over the years, we have worked tirelessly to create avenues of growth for businesses to thrive, and we are proud to say we have achieved significant strides in achieving this objective.

“Our IKODIV Trade Fair is one of the many ways to demonstrate our commitment to the economic development of our community.

“The fair provides a platform for MSMEs to showcase their products and services, network and engage in business transactions.

“As an organisation, we are convinced that promoting entrepreneurship and support for MSMEs is crucial to the economic growth of our community,” Shoderu said.

On his part, the Vice Chancellor of LASUSTECH, Prof. Olumuyiwa Odusanya, said support for MSMEs is the fulcrum for economic growth of any nation.

“As a university we are glad that our transmutation has added impetus rather than distraction to the gestation of chambers and the Trade Fair.

“The theme of this year’s fair is very important, MSMEs are really the most important part of any economy.

“Data have shown that we have not less than 41 million MSMEs in Nigeria. Even if one employs just one person, that is about 20 per cent of the Nigerian population employed.

“Anyone, who ignores this segment of the economy is ignoring the human capital and financial development of the country.

“As a university we know this is one of the critical components of developing an economy, and if Nigeria will improve, we must consider MSMEs.

“We, therefore, want to recognise the IKODIV Trade Fair starting next week and we encourage everyone to support it,” Odusanya said.

Promising a successful fair, the chairman of the IKODIV Trade Fair, Mr Seye Adedipe, lauded the immense recognition the fair had received so far.

“It is my pleasure to welcome us to the IKODIV Trade Fair, it is one of the most anticipated event of the chamber.

“As chairman of the Trade Fair organising committee, I am pleased to announce that we have gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that this year’s fair exceeds all expectations.

“The team has put in countless hours of hard work and dedication to bring an exceptional event that showcases the very best our local businesses have to offer.

“With over 100 exhibitors and counting from various industries and sectors, the fair promises to be a hub of innovation, creativity and economic opportunity.

“This year’s IKODIV Trade Fair has the full support of the Lagos State Government and we have the honour of hosting Gov. Sanwo-Olu at its opening ceremony.

“We thank and appreciate our sponsors, we appreciate your support in making the fair a reality,” Adedipe said. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Ifeyinwa Omowole

General News

Surveyors warn Nigerians against patronising quacks

 

 

 

By Olatunde Ajayi

The Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), Oyo State branch, has called on Nigerians to stop patronising quacks in order to tackle menace of land grabbing.

The call was made by the Chairman, NIS, Oyo state branch, Surveyor Waheed Lamidi, at an event organised to mark the 2023 Global Surveyors’ Day, on Tuesday in Ibadan.

The Global Surveyors’ Day celebration which started in 2018, takes place annually on March 21, to celebrate the impacts of surveyors globally and to bring to the front burner developmental issues underpinned by the profession.

Lamidi said that the NIS had put in measures to fight quackery while advising the general public to always engage the services of qualified surveyors.

He said that all registered surveyors had unique membership practicing numbers which distinguish one genuine surveyor from another.

Lamidi urged citizens to always verify with registered surveyors whenever they want to do anything partaining to land.

“We want people to be aware of the importance of carrying out a genuine survey on their land because without survey, there is no way government can plan well for the citizens.

“Members of the public should be watchful such that they will not patronise quacks, anybody that is not license by the Surveyors’ Council of Nigeria is a quack in the profession,” he said.

Lamidi appealed to the traditional rulers who oversee lands in their various domain in the state to cooperate, collaborate and patronise only registered surveyors to drastically reduce the issues of land grabbing.

He advised the members of the NIS both in public and private practice in the state to embrace its ethics in order
to protect the good image of the profession.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Association of the Private Practicing Surveyors of Nigeria (APPSN), Oyo State, Surveyor Olatunji Egberinde, said that surveying remains the bedrock of meaningful development of any nation.

“Citizens could only ascertain that a land is free from government acquisition, ascertain the size of the land and carry out a survey plan that has record copy by engaging the services of genuine surveyors,” Egberinde said.

He also enjoined surveyors to upgrade themselves with modern tools in line with evolving technology and innovations so as to be able to deliver a globally acceptable services.

Earlier, the Oyo State Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban development, Mr Emmanuel Olayiwola, said that the Surveyors’ Day calls for reflection on performance especially in the area of overall development of the state.

Olayiwola who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Mofoluwake Adeniyi, said that surveyors remain strong pillars in the national development due to the relevance of the Geographic Information System (GIS) in all sectors of the nation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event featured the inauguration of the Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) that enables surveyors to differentially correct static Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements at NIS State Secretariat, Ibadan, road shows and lectures.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

General News

Lawmaker says orientation key to tackle voter

Temitope Adewale, House of Assembly member of Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency I

 

By Itohan Abara-Laserian/Stellamaris Ashinze and Millicent Ifeanyichukwu

A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Temitope Adewale, representing Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency 01, has identified orientation as a means of curbing voter apathy in the country.

Adewale, who was seeking re-election, gave the advice on Saturday against the backdrop of the governorship and house of assembly elections and the poor turnout recorded during the exercise.

According to him, a lot of youths still fail to understand the full import of the elections.

“I have also realised that it is on the election day that we have our youth doing their own inter-house sports, that is when they decide to play football on the street.

“You know, it is a Saturday and you will be surprised that most of them do not even have Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), so they are not engineered to go out and vote,” he said.

Adewale stressed the need for more enlightenment of such youth on the reasons why they have to exercise their franchise.

He also expressed displeasure that the actual people that turned out to vote was a far cry from the number of PVCs collected in Lagos.

“ It is saddening because it is less than 10 per cent; moving forward, we need to continue to orientate our youth to get them involved in carrying out their civic responsibility,” he said.

Adewale also berated the propagation of ethnicity and religious bigotry by some people during elections, saying these had no place in politics.

“We should focus on what can be delivered in terms of the dividends of democracy to the people rather than going to religion and everything,” he said, while also kicking against promoting the ethnic card.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the polls witnessed low turn out in many areas of the state. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

 

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

 

Politics

APC to address complaints of aggrieved members in Lagos – Tayo Ayinde

 

 

By Adeyemi Adeleye/Olayinka Olawale

The Independent Campaign Council (ICC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), working for the re-election of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu  in Lagos State, says party leaders will address all concerns raised by its members ahead of the March 11 Governorship  election.

 

 

Mr Tayo Ayinde, the Director-General of the group, gave the assurance during a town hall with members in Alimosho, Oshodi and Mushin Local Government Areas, on Saturday in Lagos.

 

Ayinde, also the Chief of Staff to Gov. Sanwo-Olu, urged residents of these  areas to put all differences aside and unite for the success of the second term of the governor and his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat.

 

The meeting was organised by the ICC to find out why the opposition party won elections in some local governments  in the state and why members did not come out to vote.

 

He said the aim of the forum was to rub minds, listen to complains and provide possible solution.

Ayinde also said that the meeting was to find out why the areas performed very low during the presidential election and how it could be addressed.

 

He said that the forum was to get feedback of issues, problems and challenges among members of the party in the these areas.

“The reason why we called this meeting is because we can not sit down at the state level and know what your  problems are at the local government level.

 

“This is why we came to interact with you and also find out the reason why the party performed woefully during the presidential elections.

 

“We are happy that you won your house of representative seat and you did not disappoint Asiwaju.

“We want you to help the other areas, Isolo and Ejigbo to win the elections. Conduct door-to-door campaign so that Oshodi Local Government will deliver.

 

“We were surprised about what happened during the presidential elections. So, we are here to find out what we can do ahead of the March 11 elections so that the party will not fail again.

“This is about how we will return our governorship candidate for the second term as well as our house of assembly members,” he said.

 

He said that all complaints would be addressed before the elections assuring that the party would pay more attention to youths .

 

Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Special Adviser to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), urged residents of Alimosho to come out en masse to cast their vote for all APC candidates on March 11.

 

Orelope-Adefulire commended the residents of Alimosho and Lagos in general for their support for the President-elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu.

 

She said that the administration of  Tinubu would be beneficial to the masses as more jobs would be created especially for the youth.

 

“I want you all to relax as the new government of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will be peaceful, create more jobs  and empower youths.

 

“We want you all to troop out on March 11 to cast your votes for all candidates of our party,” she said.

 

 

Mrs Funmilayo Tejuosho, a former Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, urged market men and women to conduct door-to-door campaign in Mushin and Odi-Olowo area of the state.

Tejuosho said the leaders of the party had  heard their complaints and would work hard to address them.

 

According to her, their support will go a long way in helping the party to retain power in the state.

 

“We want you all to come out and cast your votes.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that participants included  youths, artisans, market men and women, religious bodies, traditional rulers, community development associations and people living with disabilities.

 

Majority of the participants had expressed displeasure and accused leaders of the party of neglect, poor leadership, and lack of financial mobilisation of its members during elections.

 

The meeting was very tensed in Alimosho and Oshodi LGAs as members accused the leaders publicly of antiparty activities.

 

A representative of the youth in Mushin, Mr Mutiu Adekunle, urged the government to carry the youths along in affairs of the state,  adding that they should be considered for political appointments.

Mr Adigun Olalekan, another youth representative, urged the government to reconcile all aggrieved youths before the next election.

 

He assured the leaders that youths in Mushin would embark on grassroots campaign.

Stakeholders at the meeting included Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro; Mr Bayo Oshinowo,Special Adviser to the Governor on Chieftaincy Matters; APC council leaders and council chairmen of Oshodi  and Mushin LGAs.

Also in attendance was Mr Musilu Akinsanya (MC Oluomo), Chairman, Lagos State Parks and Garages Management, among others. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Folasade Adeniran

Education

FGC Ijanikin wins African Coding Competition

 

By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu

 

Ten students of the Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos, have put the school in the map of academic achievement, winning a coding competition, contested by 178 schools nationwide.

Principal and students of Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos, African Coding Challenge winners.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the feat has also placed the school as the third best in the latest edition of the African Code Challenge, involving 30 African countries.

The Principal of the college, Ms. Tofunmi Akamo, confirmed the development in a telephone interview with NAN on Sunday in Lagos.

She expressed her excitement on the feat by the students, describing the development as heart-warming for teachers, students and former students of the college.

Akamo said that the youngsters had raised hope that Nigeria would eventually rule the world in the evolving field of coding and other aspects of information communications technology.

Principal of Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos, Ms. Tofunmi Akamo.

She lauded the Federal Government for creating a congenial environment that made it possible for students of the college to make their mark at the continental and national competitions.

The principal added that the school’s team worked on a project with theme “Chase N’ Recycle for the 2022 competition, assuring that the school would never relent in bringing honour to Nigeria.

She disclosed that the contest, staged late last year, saw Madagascar placing first, with Mauritius coming second while Nigeria, represented by two teams from the Federal Government Ijanikin, came third.

NAN reports that team one as fielded by the college is made up of Chidozirim Ejiogu, Praise Olugbenro, Ikram Babs-Lawal, Ayodeji Taiwo-Taiwo and Honourable Olutoye.

The school’s team two is made up of Adesewa Akin-Aina, Muhammad Elusogbon, Mustapha Adeboye, Joel Okafor and Daniel Oluwajuyigbe.

Federal Government College, Ijanikin, one of the unity schools in the country was established on Oct. 6, 1975. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

 

Edited by Silas Nwoha

Oil & Gas

MOMAN tasks downstream operators on service automation

 

By Yusuf Yunus

The Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) on Saturday urged operators in the Nigerian downstream sector to ensure  automation of their services.

According to the body, their services being automated will help them on data generation, improve product delivery storage utilisation and profitability.

Mr Clement Isong, the Chief Executive Officer of MOMAN, gave the advice while speaking during a virtual workshop on World International Data Day,  on Saturday.

Isong, who spoke on the importance of data and automation in the downstream business, said data on products demand on refined fuels and  lubricants could streamline operations, improve product delivery, storage utilisation, among others.

Isong said that the automation would also ensure transparency, excellent customer service, eliminate fraud, corruption and  boost the reputation of the industry.

The MOMAN boss urged the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to invest in infrastructure for data gathering.

Isong said, “ Our position in MOMAN is that we are looking for the automation of the entire supply chain. It meas everybody needs to invest in order to optimise their businesses.

“Eventually, the beneficiary is the customer. It is good for corporate governance. It removes people’s ability to steal.

“And the authority, NMDPRA, itself, has got to invest in infrastructure for data gathering and has got to do a preliminary analysis of that data.

“It has to put up that information on its website, which investors, marketers, operators and everybody can access.

“On that basis, optimise the business and make investment decisions. It is fundamental to a deregulated system.

“It improves the quality of decision-making as well as transparency and eliminates bad behaviour as well as fraud and theft.

“You have to shine your light and darkness and bad practices will disappear. This is very important,” lsong added.

The lead political analyst, Ikponmwosa Aikhionbare, said that Ghana launched the Bulk Road Vehicle Tracking System (BRVTS) to track the movement of petroleum products from depots to retail outlets.

“The system uses GPS technology to monitor the location, speed, and fuel consumption of trucks transporting petroleum products.

“In India, the government has implemented a system called the Automated System for Oil Movement and Storage (ASOMS), which tracks the movement of petroleum products through the supply chain.

“The system uses data analysis to monitor product quality and identify potential issues before they cause defects or safety hazards,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the virtual workshop was attended by energy journalists and stakeholders in the oil and gas industry. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

 

Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa

Politics

Yiaga Africa advocates legal timelines for testing new electoral technologies

 

By Angela Atabo

 

Yiaga Africa, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), has recommended legal timelines for testing new electoral technologies in Nigeria’s electoral legal framework.

 

The CSO made this suggestion in Abuja on Wednesday in its post-election statement signed by Dr Aisha Abdullahi, the Board Chair, and Mr Samson Itodo, the Executive Director, Yiaga Africa.

 

According to the group, the testing timeline will equip the commission more to use its adopted technology effectively during election.

 

It said that for the Feb. 25 presidential election, Yiaga Africa employed the Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) methodology.

 

The CSO explained said that the organisation deployed 3,014 observers in pairs to a representative random sample of 1,507 polling units, 822 mobile observers in all 774 local government areas (LGAs), 36 states and the FCT.

 

“This deployment strategy enabled Yiaga Africa to provide timely and accurate information on the election day process commencing from the set-up, voter accreditation, voting, counting and to independently assess the official results of the presidential election as announced by INEC.

“This statement is based on reports from 1,454 to 1,507 (97 per cent ) sampled polling units in Nigeria.

 

“The PVT statistical analysis was based on the number of registered voters and not on the number of PVCs collected.”

 

It said that Yiaga Africa’s findings on the election included: late arrival of INEC officials at the polling unit, challenges with locating polling units and insufficient election materials.

 

The organisation listed others as functionality of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), uploading and transmission of results, among others.

 

“Yiaga Africa expressed concerns about the delay in uploading polling unit results for the presidential election on the INEC Election Results Viewing Portal (IReV).

 

“Undoubtedly, the delay in uploading the polling unit-level results cast doubts on the credibility of the results management process resulting in broken public trust in electoral technology.

 

“Yiaga Africa notes that the delayed upload of the results on the IReV is a flagrant disregard of INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines, and it failed to meet citizens’ expectations.”

 

It said that Yiaga Africa also condemned the cases of violence and disruption of the voting and results collation process by thugs and hoodlums, especially the violence targeted at National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and INEC staff.

 

The group said that the creation of additional polling units was a positive and long-needed step by INEC, however the implementation failed to address overcrowding.

 

As a result, there were polling units with fewer than 10 registered voters and others with over 10,000. Some voters who were migrated to new polling units experienced difficulties locating their respective polling units.”

 

Yiaga Africa also recommended a comprehensive audit and investigation to unravel the factors that led to the delay in the upload of election results on the online portal as critical.

 

It said that persons found complicit in sabotaging the critical aspect of the election should be sanctioned.

 

The CSO also advised INEC to provide clarifications on its interpretation of key aspects of the legal framework on issues like results collation and transmission process.

 

It said that there should also be clarity on the threshold for determining the winner in an election and the commission’s power to review election results declared under duress or in contravention of the Electoral Act, INEC Guidelines and Manual.

 

Besides, Yiaga Africa urged INEC to sustain the uploads of polling unit results form EC 8A on its IReV portal. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General News

Oba Elegushi hails Police, others for violence-free election

Oba Saheed Elegushi while performing his civic rights in Lagos on Saturday.

 

By Aisha Cole/Mateen Badru
Oba Saheed Elegushi of Ikate Kingdom in Lagos State has commended the Police and other security agencies for ensuring peace and orderliness during the general election at Ikate-Elegushi area of the state on Saturday.
Elegushi said this while briefing newsmen after exercising his civic responsibility at Polling Unit 008 within the Ikate-Elegushi Palace in Lagos.
“Everything is going on well, I have been out earlier to exercise my own civic rights as a citizen of Nigeria. I voted for the candidate of my choice and I am back to my palace now.
“I was just visited by the Army Commander and the Police. They told me about the incident and the issue had been settled. I am not aware if any arrest was made,” he said.
He, however, decried the transferring of voters from their polling units to another without proper verification by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“I have one question to ask INEC. How can someone just go to your website, make a transfer and upload an address to vote without verifying it.
“We see lots of strange faces that don’t live in this vicinity coming here to vote. We can’t accept that because it’s a fraud.
“Definitely after the election, we have to take it up because it is not right. To see a lot of strange faces that they don’t even live within this local government and they are voting here.
“When you do a transfer, you must be able to verify the address,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that there had been fracas at some polling units outside the palace, where some voters claimed they were not allowed to vote.
NAN also reports that security operatives were on ground, following an allegation of destruction of voting materials at some polling units around the area.
Elegushi, however, said that the Army Commander had subsequently paid him a visit and that the situation had been put under control.
NAN also observed that normalcy had immediately returned to the polling units outside the palace after which security operatives with armoured personnel carrier patrolled the area. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa
Politics

Group appeals to technocrats to lead Nigeria’s politics

 

Some participants at a two hour interactive session organised by the Tinubu/Shettima and Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat Independent Campaign Council (ICC), Professional Women Directorate, Thursday in Lagos.

By Yemi Adeleye/Grace Alegba

The Directorate of Professional Women, Independent Campaign Council (ICC) of the APC Presidential Candidate Committee, Lagos State, on Thursday said technocrats were indispensable and should ensure credible elections.

Mr Tayo Ayinde, Director General, Tinubu/Shettima and Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat Independent Campaign Council (ICC), said this in Ikeja at a two-hour interactive session with 50 professional bodies.

The programme was organised by the TinubuShettima and Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat Independent Campaign Council (ICC), Professional Women Directorate.

Ayinde said before the first and second Republics, Nigeria’s founding fathers and nationalists like Late Herbert Macaulay, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Tafawa Balewa , Sir Anthony Enahoro were technocrats.

He said the vacuum left by the experts gave room for charlatans in politics and appealed to technocrats to take back their place through active participation and leading campaign against voter apathy.

Ayinde, who is the Chief of Staff to Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was represented at the meeting by Mr Tayo Orekoya, Director Lagos West 1, ICC.

He said the theme of the event, “Involvement of Professionals in Election and Electioneering Process” was apt.

Ayinde said that professionals, by their training, skills, exposure and expertise, were “positioned to play indispensable roles in the promotion of democratic ethos and furtherance of the democratic process”.

He said the Lagos State Government recognised their importance and had always engaged them positively.

Ayinde cited APC Presidential Candidate, Sen. Bola Tinubu as an example of first class technocrat and political master strategist who had never lost an election.

“He populated his cabinet as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 with professionals otherwise known as technocrats,” he said.

He commended female professionals for creditable performance, adding that, over 40 per cent of the ICC Directorate was headed by Women Professionals as Directors.

Ayinde listed achieving female technocrats in APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) leading national campaigns, including Dr Betty Edu, National Women Leader, Mrs Alike Dabiri-Erewa and Sen. Oluremi Tinubu.

He urged technocrats to massively vote and seek votes for Sen. Bola Tinubu as President and Sanwo-Olu as governor of Lagos State.

Earlier, while making her opening speech, Director, TinubuShettima/Sanwo-OluHamzat, ICC, Dr Atinuke Owolabi, said professionals should stop being passive and sensitise more people towards making right choices in the forthcoming elections.

Owolabi, an award winning engineer, thanked ICC elders for the opportunity to showcase 50 professional bodies in Lagos who now have a platform beyond elections to interface between government and the grassroots.

She said the directorate’s goal was to ensure all eligible voters participate and are educated on basic voting processes, how to locate polling units and other important information on accurate voting procedures.

She also urged Nigerians to vote APC at all levels, particularly its Presidential Candidate, Sen. Bola Tinubu and Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State for renewed hope and a Greater Lagos that is rising.

“Our target in Lagos State is to get five million votes. This we can achieve, this we will achieve.
“It only takes us working together,” she said. (NAN)

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

Politics

Election: Tinubu has capacity to salvage Nigeria – Group

 

By Olatunde Ajayi

The Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) Elite Group has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Sen. Bola Tinubu, has the capacity to salvage Nigeria.

The group made this known at the Special Youth Sensitisation and Election Awareness Programme tagged: Tinubu 2023: The Push to the Finish Line,” organised on Wednesday in Ibadan.

Speaking at the event, Mr Wale Oladiti, the leader of the group, said that the group believed that right policies for economic development could only be achieved when the most qualified candidate emerged as Nigeria’s president.

Oladiti noted that Nigeria needed a person with credentials, capabilities and experience, especially at this critical moment to bring the required social reform and development to the country.

He added that the track record of Tinubu as a former governor of Lagos State showed that he would bring the much-needed positive change, especially in the area of job creation for the youth.

“Imagine if we have the kind of progress we witnessed in Lagos State during the regime of Sen. Bola Tinubu in many states, that means there will be massive job opportunities for the youth.

“We want youths to vote according to their conscience by checking the track record of all the presidential contestants.

“We are not tribalistic, as a youth group, we are not supporting Tinubu based on tribe or religion but purely on his capabilities,” he said.

One of the guest panelists, Mr Laide Oduyemi, a business development expert, said that the manifesto of Tinubu had clearly showed that there would be reduction in overreliance on imported goods.

This, according to Oduyemi, will bring massive job opportunities for the youth.

“When we cut down importation and increase local production, many of our youths will get good jobs, reduce brain drain and boost our revenue as a nation,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Afeez Bolaji, the former Deputy National Youth Leader, APC, said that the programme sought to sensitise the youth to the need to vote for leaders that would salvage the nation’ economy, security, agriculture, education and other sectors.

Commenting, Mr Lanre Oyegbola, the special Assistant to Ogun State Governor on Housing, added that the manifesto of Tinubu had clearly shown that he had good plans for the youth.

“We can clearly feel the good spirits he has for the youth from the push and mentorship he has offered in the past, helping many youths to reach the top and fulfill their destinies,” he noted.

Another member of the panel, Mrs Mercy Adelabu, said that the move by the APC presidential candidate to ensure active participation of women in governance and policy formulation was commendable.

Adelabu noted that statistics had shown that women always perform creditably when given the chance to make input in policy formulation and governance.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sensitisation programme featured panel session, voter education and awareness campaign, among others.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

X
Welcome to NAN
Need help? Choose an option below and let me be your assistant.
Email SubscriptionSite SearchSend Us Email