Nation
Research Institution Tasks States, LGs On Youth Empowerment
The African Heritage Institution has charged state and local governments to embark on aggressive youth economic empowerment to check restiveness and poverty in the country.
The Executive Director of the institution, Prof. Ufo Okeke-Uzodike, made the call yesterday while briefing newsmen in Enugu on the upcoming “Big Idea Podium Conference”.
Okeke-Uzodike said the institution expected state and local governments to invest more resources in projects to empower the youths.
“If possible, they should channel most of their resources to empowering the youths to check restiveness, crime and other vices.
According to him, Nigeria has the most youthful population in the world, with a median age of 18 years and one month.
“And most youths fall between the age bracket of 18 and 29.
He said that such a large population in a national population of at least 200 million people should not be ignored to remain jobless, idle and in poverty, if things must go right for the entire population.
“#EndSARS protest underscores the lack of serious commitment to the nation’s youths as reflected by the dearth of transformative youths development initiatives.
“Sadly, government programmes, such as N-Power, You-win, National Youth Development Fund and NYSC, among others, have largely failed to achieve their stated objectives.
“They are either terminated, unstable or comatose, while those that are still functional are far from fulfilling their objectives.
“So, there is a need for more sustainable and pragmatic approaches to youth empowerment to be championed by state and local goverments.
“This will help to ensure the programmes truly get to the youths in their localities and make the areas to be economically viable.
“Governors will do better to channel their monthly security votes to directly fund youth empowerment and provide job to thousands of them.
“This will definitely have multiplier effect on job and wealth creation.
“It will also help to reduce restiveness, crime and other social vices in our localities and communities,’’ Okeke-Uzodike said.
He said the conference would further X-ray other multi-sectoral approaches to get every Nigerian youth, whether educated or not, out of the street.
He said the conference would help to explore opportunities for gainful and sustainable employment, especially self-employment, for the youths.
“The country cannot afford to treat issues of youth unemployment, restiveness and lack of inclusiveness in governance with levity, if we hope to have peace in the country,’’ he said.
Okeke-Uzodike said that the conference would hold physically, by observing strict COVID-19 protocols, and virtually via zoom within and outside Nigeria.
The institution is socio-economic and political research-based and the theme of the conference is, “#EndSARS Protest: Rethinking Nigerian Youths and Government Policies’’.
Nation
Ekpeye People Urge TotalEnergies To Site Gas Treatment Plant In Their Domain
The people of Ekpeye Ethnic Nation in Ahoada East and Ahoada West Local Government Areas of Rivers State, have declared that the Ubeta Gas Project being proposed by TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited, must be located in their domain.
The company had proposed that gas from Ekpeye land would be piped to a treatment plant that would be located at Obite in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.
The declaration was contained in a communique signed by His Imperial Majesty, Eze (Dr) Kelvin Ngozi Anugwo, Eze Ekpeye Logbo III; Akalaka XII, His Royal Highness, Eze (Dr) Chigemerem David, Eze Emene Echi Ubie I, Secretary, Ekpeye Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs; and Dr. Michael U Nyemenim, President General, Uzugbani Ekpeye, on behalf of themselves and the entire Ekpeye people, after a meeting held on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at the palace of Eze Ekpeye Logbo III in Ula Upata Community.
The communique, which anchored on six points stated that, “The Ubeta Gas Project shall be built at Ubeta Community or elsewhere in Ekpeye Ethnic Nation.
“That Ekpeye people will not allow TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited in conjunction with few persons in Ekpeye Ethnic Nation to pipe the gas to Obite Community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
“Ekpeye people have proscribed all groups or individuals discussing or dialoguing with TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited as regards to the Ubeta Gas Project.
All discussions on the Ubeta Gas Project shall be discussed by the people of Ekpeye Ethnic Nation.Igbu Ubie is a part in Ekpeye and all companies operating in Igbu Ubie, or any other parts of Ekpeye Ethnic Nation shall be answerable to the people of Ekpeye Ethnic Nation. TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited shall meet with the people of Ekpeye Ethnic Nation to discuss the issue bordering on the exploration of the gas in Ubeta Community.”
The declaration, according to the communique, was not foisted on the people but was taken after much deliberations that followed democratic process, in the presence of some Kings of the Kingdom , heads of important traditional, socio-cultural organs, women groups and youths from all the seven Kingdoms that make up the ethnic nation.
Some notable individuals that were present were the Eze Igbus such as HRM Eze Joshua Eyiba, Eze Igbu Igbuduya II, HRM Eze(Dr) Felix Enene Otuwarikpo; Eze Igbu Upata III, represented by HRH Nye Udu Nnodi Micheal; HRM Eze Anderson Egbuluka, Eze Igbu Ugbobi II; HRH Eze Prince Ike Ehie, Eze Igbu Orlukwor II.
Others were Uzugbani Ekpeye President General, Dr. Michael U. Nyemenim; Ekpeye Youth President, Senior Comrade Justice Ewoh; the National Chairman, Ekpeye Oil and Gas Pipelines Host Families Association (EOG), Comrade Dogini Chidi; Vice Chairman, Ekpeye Oil and Gas Contact Committee, High Chief (Engr.) Samuel Ekiye; and Ada Ekpeye, High Chief (Mrs) Patricia W. Ogbonnaya.
The statement acknowledged the indivisibility of the people, anchored on filial cultural heritage and further declared that; “Ekpeye Ethnic Nation is one and all parts of Ekpeye Ethnic Nation are what constitutes the people and the place known as Ekpeye! Ethnic Nation. All the stakeholders spoke for the unity of the Ekpeye Ethnic Nation.”
Nation
Humanitarian Affairs Minister Calls For Inclusive Tax Reforms For PWDs
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has called for a more inclusive approach to tax reforms in Nigeria.
Yilwatda made the call in Abuja, yesterday at an Inclusive Tax Reform town hall meeting with leaders in the disability community.
The meeting was organised by The Albino Foundation (TAF) Africa, in collaboration with the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms.
Yilwatda emphasised the importance of providing better support for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) and other vulnerable groups.
According to him, there should be specific tax relief measures that will address the unique challenges faced by them.
The minister proposed that tax relief be introduced for disability-related expenses such as medical care, assistive devices, and accessibility modifications to existing structures.
He also suggested reviewing Value Added Tax (VAT) policies to reduce or exempt taxes on assistive technologies, mobility aids, and specialised healthcare services.
These measures, he said, would help ease the financial burdens often faced by PWDs, allowing them to live more independently and participate fully in society.
“We need to explore the possibility of tax reductions for disability-related expenses.
“Assistive devices and healthcare services can be very costly, and these tax exemptions or reductions will significantly reduce the financial strain on PWDs,” Yilwatda said.
The minister also emphasised the need for corporate incentives to encourage businesses to employ PWDs.
He proposed offering tax breaks or holidays for companies that exceeded a certain threshold of employees with disabilities, encouraging inclusive hiring practices and improving the economic standing of PWDs.
Yilwatda further called for a portion of tax revenues to be allocated to a National Disability Fund, which could provide long-term financial support for social protection programmes aimed at PWDs.
The Chairperson of the House Committee on Disability Matters, Rep. Bashiru Dawodu, highlighted the importance of tax reforms in strengthening the rights and social protection of PWDs.
He also mentioned the potential role of the Vulnerable Trust Fund in supporting PWDs in the future.
Mr Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a fair and inclusive tax system.
He stated that the ongoing tax reforms aimed to reduce economic burdens on vulnerable groups.
Additionally, the Founder of TAF Africa, Mr Jake Epelle, expressed support for the reforms and commended the government’s efforts to ensure accessible engagement platforms for PWDs.
The Tide source reports that the meeting aims to produce practical suggestions that will guarantee social justice, equity, and fairness in Nigeria’s tax policies.
Nation
GDP Growth Reflects Economic Recovery, Entrepreneurs’ Resilience-Expert
Economist, Dr Muda Yusuf, says the country’s 3.84 per cent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in the fourth quarter reflects a gradual economic recovery and the resilience of Nigerian entrepreneurs.
Yusuf, Founder of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprises (CPPE), stated this in a statement yesterday in Lagos.
He noted that in spite of the significant macroeconomic and structural challenges, private investors had continued to push forward.
He added that macroeconomic conditions began to improve in the second half of 2024, with the naira exchange rate stabilising.
According to him, inflationary pressures have slightly eased, and energy prices have also seen a marginal decline.
“Overall, the outlook for investors confidence has been positive over the past few months.
“These are the explanatory variables driving the modest GDP performance.
“One striking outcome of the Q4 GDP report was the recovery of the petroleum refining sector from decades of recession to a positive GDP growth of an impressive 9.6 per cent .
“This was one of the best sectoral performance among the strategic sectors of the economy,” he said.
Yusuf, however, noted that in the period under review, service sector continued to outperform the real sector of the economy.
This, he said, could be attributed largely to the legacy structural impediments to real sector productivity.
“The GDP report highlights the gradual recovery of the economy and the resilience of the Nigerian private sector.
“It also underscores the need to consolidate the stability gains in the macroeconomic environment and address the productivity challenges hindering real sector performance,” he said.
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