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Nigeria’s economy requires effective youths, visionary leadership – Oyo Commissioner.
NIGERIAN youths and graduates of higher institutions across the country have been urged to make use of their creative talents and power to create an enabling healthy environment for the leaders to deliver good governance.
Oyo State Commissioner for Finance and Budget, Mr Abimbola Adekanmbi who made the call while delivering a lecture entitled ‘DEVELOPMENT, LEADERSHIP AND ROBUST ECONOMY: ROLE OF THE YOUTH’, organized by Oyo State Youth Restoration Team (OYSRET) held at the Assembly Hall of North Campus of The Polytechnic, Ibadan emphasized the roles of youth and the leaders in nation building.
Expressing concern, he charged the youths to wake up to their challenges in other to restore the country’s glory so as to maintain a promising economy. The commissioner maintained that the leaders are saddled with the responsibilities to help societies understand the problems that they face, to aid in the setting of goals and priorities, to work with others in finding paths to those goals chosen, to maintain public morale and motivation and to nurture a workable level of public unity.
Describing the youths as key stakeholders in ensuring the nation’s progress, Adekanmbi said, “our youths must recognize that they hold crucial roles in the development of the nation and live up to those roles expected of them. Youths are partners of today and leaders of tomorrow.
“Therefore, youths must be participatory in today’s happenings, thereby preparing themselves for the time when they will take charge”.
The commissioner continued, ” you do not have to become a President or Governor before you consider yourself a leader. Lead at whatever society, club, and group you find yourself as this serves as training ground for that desired ‘big’ platform. The help we desire, as a country, shall not come from abroad but from within”.
Revealing the efforts of the state government in its bid to reduce the alarming rate of unemployment in the state which has become a menace to society, Adekanmbi lauded the state governor, Abiola Ajimobi for charting way out of youth unemployment in the state through various programmes such as YES–O (Youth Empowerment Scheme of Oyo State), OYSAI – Oyo State Agricultural Initiative amongst others.
He added that the N–POWER programme, an initiative of the Federal Government is another veritable platform for unemployed graduates to be engaged.
He further claimed that the Abiola Ajimobi led administration has made more investments towards providing educational support to students and youths than any government in the history of the state.
The commissioner, however raised an alarm over addiction to social media which is having adverse effects, enjoining the youths to invest their time on educative materials, desist from unlawful activities, saying a law abiding youth will task the leaders in attaining a viable economic growth.
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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