Wednesday, 24 October 2018

Education that can’t create jobs is useless –Ngige

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, says education that is not directed towards job creation is useless.

Ngige, therefore, said there was a need for schools to revise their current curricular to reflect modern challenges and development, according to a statement by the Director of Press at the Ministry of Labour, Samuel Olowookere.

The minister said this in Abuja on Tuesday while addressing a breakfast session of the ongoing National Economic Summit (#24) in Abuja with the theme, ‘Multi-Sectoral Roundtable on Job Creation and Skills Development in Nigeria’.

He said, “With a working population of over 80 million, the majority of who are unemployed, we have to do something radical, the narrative must change. School curriculum must change to include new and emerging skills. Education is power but it is useless when it is not in the right direction. We, therefore, must collaborate to solve this problem.”

The minister emphasized the need for a paradigm shift in approach to job creation as the current efforts might not be sufficient to create the jobs needed to gainfully engage over 80 million people.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, expressed the readiness of the commission to partner with organisations and groups to transit Nigeria into a knowledge-based society, thereby facilitating a knowledgeable economy.

Earlier, in his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Mr Laoye Jaiyeola, stated that individual efforts would not produce the much-needed result on job creation as each organisation was doing something in bits and pieces.

NITDA: Cybercriminals defraud Nigerians

The National Information Technology Development Agency has said, Cyber-Criminals are now using a variety of ways, like swapping of mobile phone SIM cards, to defraud Nigerians of their hard earned money.

In a statement made available to our correspondent in Abuja on Tuesday, the Director General, NITDA,  Dr Isa Ibrahim, said given the increasing incidences of fraud through the cyberspace, it had become imperative to enlighten Nigerians on how the criminals were operating.

He listed a number of ways through which the criminals obtain information from their potential victims, including swapping of SIM cards to ensure that victims were not alerted when their funds were being stolen through online banking transactions.

Ibrahim said, “There has been a tremendous increase in the number of incidences where Nigerians have lost money and data through vulnerabilities arising from lack of knowledge on how to manage their online presence and personal details.

“The cyber-criminals use social engineering, phishing mails, and probably specific to Nigeria, the use of text messages pretending to be sent from banks, requesting for PIN or re-validation of Bank Verification Numbers.

“To the unaware, such are the sources where vital information needed for making unauthorized withdrawals from victims’ bank accounts occur. A more worrisome and recent trend is the SIM swap cases where the victim’s SIM card is swapped; an operation that makes the victim’s phone inaccessible while funds are transferred.”

He added, “Cyber security has attracted the attention of governments, enterprises, groups and individuals owing to the myriads of potential for business growth, damage, national security and sovereignty.

“To nations, the negatives could cripple a nation’s economy should critical infrastructure be affected. The International Telecommunications Union has evaluated nations in the Global Cyber-security Index, placing Nigeria on number four in Africa.”

The NITDA boss noted that given the increasing activities of cyber-criminals in the country, the agency would be holding workshop in cities across the country in order to arm citizens with the information and knowledge required to move ahead of criminals.



Sunday, 21 October 2018

NNAMDI KANU’S WORLD BROADCAST IN JERUSALEM. FULL TEXT.

"I promised that I will be coming to Biafra and I came, I do not recognize the court of the Zoo, I want the people of the Middle Belt to rise and join IPOB.

"IPOB Military intelligent evacuated me from my compound when the Army of the Zoo attacked me, I am in Israel and the efficiency of MOSSAD will be replicated in Biafra, we shall hunt everyone down to avenge the death of IPOB members.

"The Governor of Abia State directed the assault on my Father who is a Monarch, I thank @realDonaldTrump and the government of Israel who stood by IPOB in our time of need, I thank Prof Ben Nwabueze who stood by me.

"I want to send my solidarity to @GovAyoFayose and assure him that Biafra will stand by him in time of need, we will have a special place for him in Biafra, I thank all my sureties that stood by me, my unavailability was forced on me.

"The Army of the Zoo killed my dog Jack and 28 IPOB members in my compound including my Cousin Adaku, I am sorry for what my sureties are passing through but I want to assure them that they will have a special place in Biafra. I shall not be honouring the Court.

"The notion that I jumped bail is a fallacy in Law, I did not jump bail, on the 14th of September 2017 the terrorists of the Zoo came to kill me, they know if I go to court Nigeria will burn and I was forced to leave, I did not jump bail.

"The Zoo called Nigeria can not jail me. I will fight until the last day. Binta Nyanko court fails to ask @HQNigerianArmy why they invaded my home. Nigerian court is a Kangaroo court. I did not jump bail, I left because the court fails to protect.

"I am not a Nigerian. I already renounced Nigeria in 2015. I am a Biafran with a British Nationality. I cannot be tried by a court I do not recognize. I do not recognize Nigeria. I can only come to the court with UN supervision.

"IPOB will liberate Biafra and we will not take part in any election until we get a referendum and this is not negotiable, we will achieve this by every necessary means, we thank Isreal for all the contributions they made to IPOB.
"I owe my survival to the State of Israel.

"I decree that there is no longer South East or South-South Nigeria, it shall be known as Biafra, without referendum nothing will happen in Nigeria. IPOB will not participate in any election and that position will never change.

"IPOB is the largest mass movement in the whole world, we will not stop until Biafra is fully restored.

"Chukwu Okike Abiama has assured me that Biafra shall come, all collaborators will feel the full weight of the anger of the Biafran people.
"I am coming back to Biafra land soon and I will bring hell with me, the way it has never been seen before.

Wednesday, 17 October 2018

IMO APC GUBER - HOPE UZODINMA, APC, INEC AND UCHE NWOSU

An Abuja High Court has adjourned till Tuesday October 23rd, 2018 a case instituted by Senator Hope Uzodimma asking the court to restrain the APC and INEC from processing or forwarding any other name as the Imo state governorship candidate of the party except that of himself which came up for mention today Wednesday October 17th at the FCT High Court, Abuja.

Senator Uzodinma, in suit No FCT/HC/BW/ CV/306/18, had sought five reliefs from the court, presided over by Justice A.O. Musa, among which is an injunction restraining APC from conducting fresh primary in Imo, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The senator, who was declared winner of the APC governorship primary by Alhaji Ahmed Gulak panel, also sought order restraining INEC from monitoring another primary in Imo for the governorship election.
He also sought an order of the court directing APC, as the first defendant, to forward his name to INEC (second defendant) as the duly elected candidate of APC for the governorship election in Imo State.
The lawmaker equally sought an order restraining INEC from accepting or processing any other name except that of himself (Uzodinma) as the APC candidate in Imo state, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

Finally, he sought the court’s order for INEC to continue to process his name (Uzodinma) as the duly elected governorship candidate of APC in Imo State until the matter is determined.

After hearing the prayers, Justice A.O. Musa of the High Court in Bwari gave both APC and INEC 48 hours within which to show cause why the reliefs sought by Uzodinma should not be granted.
He also ordered the defendants to make appearance in court within five days. Justice Musa, in addition ordered that the matter should be given an accelerated hearing.

In today's court session, lawyers to Uche Nwosu claimant to the Imo APC Governorship Candidate and that of Governor Rochas Okorocha, claimant to Orlu Zone (Imo West) Senatorial candidate sought to be joined in the suit as interested parties.

Also, an Abuja based lawyer, Barrister Kingdom Okere asked to be joined in the suit as he argued that he represents the interest of Owerri zone people in the contest.

Also was an argument by a Lagos based lawyer, Mr. Oluwatosin who sought the disqualification of Hope Uzodimma from holding any public office as a result of his pending trial in an Abuja High Court over which a Warrant of Arrest has been issued against him, was turned down by the Judge, as he argued that the case does not concern election matter, which is before him.

Lawyer to Uche Nwosu also called the attention of the presiding judge to an existing order by a court of concurrent jurisdiction which affirmed his candidature for Imo governorship and as well restrained the APC and INEC from tampering with the outcome of the Ibrahim Agbagbiaka report which conducted the rescheduled primaries of the Party on the 6th of October, 2018.

The judges who went on break after listening to the brief of both parties including that Ahmed Gulak, the APC Electoral Officer who was in court physically returned to the court floor and adjourned the matter to Tuesday 23rd of October, 2018, when parties in the suit are expected to commence argument on the matter.

INEC REMAINING ACTIVITIES FOR 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS

• COMMENCEMENT OF CAMPAIGN BY POLITICAL PARTIES FOR PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 18TH NOVEMBER 2018

• COMMENCEMENT OF CAMPAIGN BY POLITICAL PARTIES FOR GOVERNORSHIP AND STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY 01ST DECEMBER 2018.

• LAST DAY OF SUBMISSION OF FORMS CF001 AND CF002 AT INEC HQ (FOR ALL ELECTIONS)

PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 18TH OCTOBER 2018.
• GOVERNORSHIP AND STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY 02ND NOVEMBER 2018.

• PUBLICATIONS OF PERSONAL PARTICULARS OF CANDIDATES (CF001)
PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 25TH OCTOBER 2018

• GOVERNORSHIP AND STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY 09TH NOVEMBER 2018.

• LAST DAY OF WITHDRAWAL BY CANDIDATES/REPLACEMENT BY POLITICAL PARTIES. 

PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 17TH NOVEMBER 2018

• GOVERNORSHIP AND STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY 01ST DECEMBER 2018.

• LAST DAY OF SUBMISSION OF NOMINATION FORMS BY POLITICAL PARTIES.
PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 03RD DECEMBER 2018

• GOVERNORSHIP AND STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
17TH DECEMBER 2018.

• SUBMISSION OF NAMES OF PARTY AGENTS FOR ELECTION TO ELECTORIAL OFFICERS OF THE LOCAL GOVT AREAS.

PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY - 01ST FEBRUARY 2019

• GOVERNORSHIP AND STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY - 16TH FEBRUARY 2019.


• LAST DAY OF CAMPAIGN. 

PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY - 14TH FEBRUARY 2019
• GOVERNORSHIP AND STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY - 28TH FEBRUARY 2109.

DATE OF ELECTIONS. 

PRESIDENTIAL AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY - 16TH FEBRUARY 2019

• GOVERNORSHIP AND STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY - 28TH FEBRUARY 2019.

Wednesday, 10 October 2018

GOV OKOROCHA CONFUSE, LURES YOUTHS TO PROTEST AGAINST REMOVAL OF SON-IN-LAW AS GUBER CANDIDATE

NASARAWA LAWMAKER, KASIMU, GTC SAMUEL, JEFF NWOHA TO MOBILIZE "YAN" MEMBERS ACROSS IMO, NORTH CENTRAL IN ABUJA

There is a strong indication that Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has mobilized hired youths from Imo and north central to protest in Abuja against the removal of his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu as Governorship candidate of APC for Imo State.

An insider source who disclosed this said that a lawmaker in the Nasarawa state House of Assembly and member of Uche Nwosu's "Youth Ambassadors of Nigeria (YAN)", Hon Kasimu Muhummed Kasimu is leading youths from the North Central while one GTC Samuel and Jeff Nwosu are in charge of others from Imo.

According to him, Governor Okorocha could not hold his breath after noticing that the name of his son-in-law was removed and substituted with another one as Governorship candidate for Imo State, adding that the protest was to show the leadership of APC in Abuja that Uche Nwosu has much supporters not minding that they were hired youths.

The source therefore queried why Governor Okorocha could engage youths for protest after parading himself as the most connected and closer person to the Presidency, pointing out that the decision of the "Abuja power play" to expunge Nwosu's name from the original list was to allow the party to win election in 2019.

He further revealed that after weighing the chances of APC in Imo State having seen that major political parties, PDP and APGA have given their tickets to Ihedioha (Owerri) and Ararume (Okigwe) respectively, the source said that APC leaders in Abuja resolved to eject Nwosu's name from the list citing his inexperience and zone as possible impediment that would work against him in the 2019 elections.

He therefore summed up that due to Governor Okorocha's resolve to engage youths for protest against leaders of APC, it appears that his connection and popularity in Abuja has been cut to size to pave way for the victory of the party in 2019.

Monday, 1 October 2018

Sen Ben Muarry Bruce Withdraws From Seeking Re-election.

Letter of withdrawal from the Bayelsa East Senatorial Race.

I thank God and the good people of Brass, Bayelsa East Senatorial District who offered me the golden opportunity four years ago to represent them and the state in the Senate, Nigeria’s highest lawmaking chamber.

It is without doubt that I have tried to discharge my duties as a legislator and representative of my people creditably to the best of my ability so far.

My voice has been very loud on the issues that matter to our people and our country at all time.
My support to our party, my people and state government is unquestionable. I am humbled that the national leadership of my party supported by the State chapter in appreciation of my efforts offered to support my reelection to the senate to continue my service.

I have also intensified consultations in the last couple of week in the course of which I have come to realize an existing local rotational arrangement of over 20 years beginning with the late Great Chief Melford Okilo, by which arrangement the Senatorial seat rotates per local government area among the three councils for four years in the Senatorial District.

Even with the support of my party at the National and state levels with the full backing of my state government and leadership, as a man of honour interested in the well being of my people, I hereby announce my withdrawal from the Senatorial race.

I do not want whatever reason to appear to have used my privileged
position and influence to do anything that other than the well-being and the stability and the good of the people.

I am in all of these for the people, not for my self.
Once again, I thank the former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebelo Jonathan, the National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, my colleagues in the Senate and Governor of Bayelsa State, the Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson for their support and encouragement.

I also thank the leadership of my Senatorial District and state, for for being there for me.
I thank Specially the people of my constituency for their trust and confidence in me to serve and represent them in the Senate.

By trusting me with this mandate, I have come to know them and our people even better, an experience I will never forget for the rest of my life.

I am indeed grateful to My darling wife, my children, other members of my family for their support and prayers. I appreciate the efforts of my hardworking campaign staff for their support and dedication.

Again, I thank the leadership of the party for their continuing support. I also assured the party of my availability and readiness to serve at any capacity when the opportunity comes.

Best Regards
Senator Ben Murray Bruce.