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Group partners Oyo govt. on job creation.
A multinational youth entrepreneurship group named G20 Youths Entrepreneur Alliance (YEA) has promised to work with the Oyo State Government to create employment opportunities for the teeming youths in the State.
The Director General, Citizens Enterprises, Mr. Jean-Louis Gregoire, who led the Youths Entrepreneur Alliance members on a courtesy visit to the State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi averred that the group was in the State to foster sustainable ways that would help to set up youths empowerment schemes to reduce poverty among the young ones.
Gregoire stated , “Our objective is to look into how to set up the mechanism that will provide mass employment opportunities through entrepreneural-driven schemes.
“We would be taking from the pool of young undergraduates in the universities to benefit from the scheme and they would be empowered through entrepreneurial education, easy access to start up funds for small scale businesses”.
Speaking further, he said the empowerment scheme would be what he called ‘top-down microeconomic scheme’ which he believed would cater for 85 percent job creation in the first quarter of commencement year.
The DG stressed that female-youths would be specially focused in the programme as females, according to him played prominent roles in family building.
“This top-down microeconomic scheme will lead to the creation of 85 percent jobs in the first quarter of the starting year and our major focus would be the female-youths that will give multiplier effects to the society.
“We so much appreciate the gesture of Oyo State government for bringing forth so many programmes to help the youths overcome poverty and be self-sustaining”
In his remarks, Governor Abiola Ajimobi hinted that his government had done so much to alleviate the sufferings occasioned by unemployment in the State, saying that youths were trained and provided with materials needed to set them up in business.
The governor pointed out that the State agricultural empowerment scheme, named ‘Agric-Oyo’ was also set up for economic diversification having in mind the youths as major beneficiaries.
Ajimobi noted, “Oyo State is strategically positioned to gain from Youths Entrepreneur Alliance as we have the population that can better benefit from the scheme.
“In terms of economic diversification, Oyo State would reap so much gain as it has the largest landmass targeted at large scale agriculture.
“We are not in want of programmes and at the same time, we are in need of more, we want to encourage and teach our youths how to fish rather than give them fish, we pledge our support for this programme as we can see clearly, it will benefit our youths and the society at large,” the governor explained.
US car giant Ford on Wednesday announced 4,000 more job cuts in Europe, mostly in Germany and Britain, in the latest blow to the continent’s beleaguered car industry.
“The company has incurred significant losses in recent years,” Ford said in a statement, blaming “the industry shift to electrified vehicles and new competition”.
The move will affect 2,900 jobs in Germany, 800 in the UK and 300 in western Europe by the end of 2027, a Ford spokesman told AFP.
“It is critical to take difficult but decisive action to ensure Ford’s future competitiveness in Europe,” said Dave Johnston, Ford’s European vice-president in the statement.
The company also said it was adjusting the production of its Explorer and Capri models, resulting in reduced hours at its Cologne plant in the first quarter of 2025.
Europe’s car industry has been plunged into crisis by high manufacturing costs, a stuttering switch to electric vehicles and increased competition in key market China.
Germany’s Volkswagen has been among those hardest hit, announcing in September that it was considering the unprecedented move of closing some factories in Germany.
“The European automotive industry is in a very demanding and serious situation,” Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume said at the time.
Ford had already announced in February 2023 that it was planning to cut 3,800 jobs in Europe, including 2,300 in Germany and 1,300 in Britain.
The company said then it was planning to reduce the number of models developed for Europe, concentrate on the profitable van segment and speed up the transition to electric vehicles.
Ford currently has around 28,000 employees in Europe with 15,000 in Germany, according to the company’s works council.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, and the removal of the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, and Registrar, Mrs. Rosemary Ifoema Nwokike.
The council, chaired by Ambassador Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe, comprised five other members: Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Engr. Amioleran Osahon, and Rtd. Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin.
A statement released on Wednesday by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, revealed that the council was dissolved following reports of procedural violations in appointing the vice-chancellor.
According to the statement, the council had allegedly appointed an unqualified candidate, disregarding due process, which triggered tensions between the university’s Senate and the council.
The Federal Government expressed dismay over the council’s actions, emphasizing the need for adherence to the university’s governing laws in decision-making.
“The council’s disregard for established rules necessitated the government’s intervention to restore order to the 33-year-old institution,” the statement noted.
In a related development, President Tinubu also approved the dismissal of Engr. Ohieku Muhammed Salami, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State.
Salami was accused of suspending the university’s Vice-Chancellor without following the prescribed procedures, a move the Federal Ministry of Education had previously directed him to reverse.
Despite the Ministry’s directives, Salami reportedly refused to comply and resorted to issuing threats and abusive remarks towards the Ministry’s officials, including the Permanent Secretary.
The Federal Government reiterated that the primary role of university councils is to ensure the smooth operation of academic activities, strictly adhering to the laws establishing each institution.
Tinubu warned university councils against engaging in actions that could destabilize their institutions, as his administration remains committed to enhancing the nation’s education system.
The Ekiti State Government has reached an agreement with labour leaders in the state, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage approved by the Federal Government.
Addressing journalists at a brief ceremony in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, the Head of Service (HoS), Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, announced that the payment would commence immediately.
She lauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji for prioritizing the welfare of workers despite the state’s limited resources.
“This development demonstrates the governor’s commitment to improving the livelihood of our workers,” Dr. Olomojobi stated, highlighting the proactive measures taken by the administration to ensure prompt implementation.
In their remarks, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman, Comrade Sola Adigun, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman, Comrade Olatunde Kolapo, expressed their appreciation to Governor Oyebanji for fulfilling his promises to workers.
They confirmed that the new minimum wage would apply to all cadres, including employees in ministries, parastatals, agencies, and pensioners.
The Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), Comrade Femi Ajoloko, described the implementation as a fair and commendable adjustment.
“This decision reflects the governor’s magnanimity and his dedication to fostering a productive workforce in Ekiti State,” he said.
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