News / politics / Security

Ex-NHIS boss urges youths to unite against insecurity, bad governance

A former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Usman Yusuf, has called on Nigerian youths to unite against insecurity and bad governance.

Yusuf gave the charge, Saturday night, during a virtual youths summit organized by the Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Americas (NIDO) and Nigeria Diaspora Network (NDN).

The event, which was monitored by newsmen in Abuja, was titled: “Youth and National Development in Nigeria.”

Yusuf said the recent Abuja-Kaduna bound train attack was a mortal existential threat to the country, saying that it was disheartening that the elders are disconnected from the youths. The ex-NHIS boss, who recalled the bond of love and understanding that existed among Muslim and Christian students while growing up, charged the youths to unite together irrespective of religious, ethnic, language or political barrier.

“This country, Nigeria, has given my generation so much that we can never give back.

“I am an optimist and wherever I go, I tell the youths my history.

“I attended a Catholic school and I was the only Muslim in my class.

“We went into the world and competed favourably. The so-called village school we went were better than the best school presently.

“This was the Nigeria of my time. We had bond of relationship between Christians, Muslins and different tribes,” Yusuf said.

The former NHIS boss who decried the rate of insecurity in the country, called on the youths to unite against it, recalling the time he went with Sheik Ahmad Gumi into the forests to persuade the bandits to change from their bad ways.

He expressed concern at the rate the youths in Nigeria now get involved in criminalities like the Boko Haram, ISWAP, IPOB and the destruction that followed the #ENDSARS protest, among others.

“Nigeria has changed,” he said.

According to him, public service is seeing as a way to enrich our pocket and not for the interest of the country.

Yusuf, who emphasized the importance of youths’ involvement in nation building, urged them to be ready to actively participate in the political process.…

Crime

Police Officers nabbed for manhandling youths, bundling one into car boot + Video

Four policemen, led by an Inspector, have been ordered arrested by the Commissioner, Edo State Police Command, Philip Ogbadu, for manhandling some youths in the state.

The spokesman of the Command, Bello Kontongs, confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday.

This was shortly after the video in which the policemen were seen bundling one of the youths into the boot of a Mercedes Benz went viral.

The incident, which occurred in the PZ area of Benin, the Edo State capital, drew the ire of Nigerians. Kontongs, in the statement titled: “Viral video of unprofessional conduct of policemen,” said: “The attention of the Edo state police command has been drawn to a viral video capturing the unprofessional conducts of its personnel’s at PZ area along Benin-Sepele road, Benin city.

“The team made up of an Inspector and three others who were involved in the unprofessional conduct and incivility against two young men as seen in the viral video, have been identified, arrested and subsequently defaulted.

“The Commissioner of police frowns and unreservedly condemns the act and has ordered a full scale investigation and assuring that the outcome of the investigation would be carried out to the latter and as well communicated to the Public without reservation.

“The CP further assures members of the public of their safety and employs them to make it duty bound to always report unwholesome/ unprofessional conduct of personnel of the command.”

…

News / politics

Osinbajo advocates for strategy to transform Africainnovation based society

Africa into knowledge-based and innovation-led society.

Osinbajo made the call through the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Maryam Katagum, who represented him at the maiden edition of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) Young CEOs Summit.

He identified Africa’s vibrant human resources as its greatest hope for development.

“Young people make up the bulk of Africa’s population with an estimated 75 per cent of the continent’s population below the age of 35 years. “From a demographic point of view, this calls for a paradigm shift towards the recognition and support of young people to harness their potential.

“Therefore, to accelerate Africa’s transition to an innovation-led, knowledge-based economy, our human resources must be empowered with requisite skills.

“Greater emphasis must be placed on innovation, including appropriate adaptation of technology,’’ Katagum said on behalf of Osinbajo.

She emphasized the need to promote creativity and innovative technologies to process the continent’s abundant resources locally in addition to creating more wealth and jobs for the continent.

She said there was the need to develop internal capacities and marketing of new or improved products and services through engagement with end users.

Following this, VP disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology had been rebranded to meet future technology demands.

“This will create new opportunities for value-added employment and the nation’s GDP will improve as a result of innovation and technological development,’’ Katagum added.

She expressed hope that Africa would continue to develop capacities to take advantage of relevant technologies to facilitate e-commerce and leadership excellence.

“Leaders are expected to think creatively and facilitate the creative work of others, but traditional approaches to developing leaders have not fully addressed this need.

“A key problem with regards to developing creative and innovative leadership capacity is the low leverage on technology.

“Young leaders must explore and leverage on technology means such as e-mentoring, multisource feedback, social media, and succession planning programs,’’ she said.

She also reiterated that the FG’s commitment to create an enabling environment to facilitate the actualization of innovative …