News
FG Approves 2% Quota Appointments for Youths
Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu has approved two initiatives aimed at fostering better inclusion and development opportunities for the teeming youth population of Nigeria.
Minister of Youths, Jamila Bio Ibrahim, made this known to State House correspondents.
Bio-Ibrahim said that the council has granted approval for the institutionalisation of a 2% youth quota and the restructuring of the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund (NYIF).
“Towards addressing the long-standing marginalisation of young people in decision-making processes, the council has approved a 2% youth quota, ensuring 30% representation of young people, including an equitable representation of young women, in all government appointments”.
She said the landmark decision is aimed towards encouraging youth participation in civic engagements and decision-making processes, thereby empowering them to contributing to Nigeria’s national development agenda.
“This will go a long way to address the long-term marginalisation and exclusion of young people in decision-making, and will also go a long way to encourage young people to participate in decision-making processes and in civic engagements.”
The youths minister further disclosed that the FEC equally approved the restructuring and institutionalisation of the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund, a fund initially established in 2020 to support youth-led and youth-owned enterprises in priority sectors.
Recognising the potential of this initiative, the administration has commissioned a technical committee to review and restructure the fund, leading to the establishment of the Nigerian Youth Fund through a legal framework.
She said the revamped Youth Investment Fund will receive immediate infusion of N25 billion from the 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Act, complemented by an additional N25 billion from the 2024 Appropriation Act’s Digital Development Fund.
“The Central Bank of Nigeria has approved a N60 billion release through the Agric Investment and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) scheme, providing a significant boost to the fund’s resources.”
The minister highlighted that the implementation strategy for the renewed Youth Investment Fund will involve the establishment of clusters, where young people will guarantee each other, focused on commodities with comparative advantages across the six geopolitical zones.
News
Legit.ng, Shade of Life Foundation Partner to Advance Autism Awareness in Nigeria
Legit.ng recently joined forces with the Shade of Life Foundation to become a voice of autism, and drive advocacy for improved media support during Autism Awareness Month.
Conversations around media support exploration was led by Joseph Omotayo, head of Department for Human Interest Stories at Legit.ng, and Dr. Eziafakaku Nwokolo, founder and CEO of the Shade of Life Foundation,
This partnership is a response to the concerns raised by organizations like the Shade of Life Foundation about the level of support received from the media in discussing autism as a disability.
While other disabilities may receive attention, autism, with its critical developmental implications often lacks adequate representation in mainstream media.
Recognizing the importance of addressing these concerns, Legit.ng took proactive steps by integrating itself into the essence of autism awareness.
It facilitated a one-hour workshop with Dr. Nwokolo, the founder of the foundation, to deepen our understanding of autism, its various spectrums, and the language boundaries associated with it.
Other steps we took in advocating autism awareness in the media, can be seen in our attached press release.
Legit.ng believes that by amplifying the voices of autism and advocating for better media representation, we can contribute to creating a more inclusive and accepting society for all.
News
As Nigeria Struggle, Tanzania Turns off Power Plants Due to Excess Supply
While 85 per cent of Nigeria is in darkness, Tanzania, an African country has shut down five hydroelectric stations in a bid to reduce excess electricity in the national grid.
Kassim Majaliwa, prime minister, Tanzania, has said the main plant, Mwalimu Nyerere Hydroelectric Station, alone generated enough electricity to power major cities, including Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial hub.
It is the first time Tanzania, which suffers chronic power shortages, has closed hydroelectric stations due to excess production.
“We have turned off all these stations because the demand is low and the electricity production is too much, we have no allocation now,” an official from state-run power company, Tanesco, said.
The 2,115MW Julius Nyerere Hydropower Dam is said to be almost filled with water following heavy rains that started early this year.
Meanwhile, while the country has an installed capacity of 1,938MW and the grid installed capacity of 1,899MW, Nigeria which has an installed capacity of 13,000MW is struggling to electrify 85 per cent of its electricity consumers.
News
President Tinubu Appoints Jim Ovia as Student Loan Fund Chairman
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Jim Ovia, renowned banker and businessman, as the Chairman, Board of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
Ovia’s appointment is contained in a State House statement titled, ‘President Tinubu appoints Jim Ovia as Chairman of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund,’ and issued on Friday by Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the President, Media & Publicity.
The statement noted that “Ovia is the founder of one of Nigeria’s leading banks and a respected business leader, with a surfeit of efforts and benefaction towards nurturing and empowering young Nigerians.
“He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana.”
The National Student Loan Programme is a pivotal intervention that seeks to guarantee sustainable higher education and functional skill development for all Nigerian students and youths.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the implementing institution of this innovation, demands excellence and Nigerians of the finest professional ilk to guide and manage.
“The President believes Mr. Ovia will bring his immense wealth of experience and professional stature to this role to advance the all-important vision of ensuring that no Nigerian student suffers a capricious end to their pursuit of higher education over a lack of funds,” the statement partly read.
Ovia’s appointment will also ensure “that Nigerian youths, irrespective of who they are, have access to higher education and skills that will make them productive members of society and core contributors to the knowledge-based global economy of this century.”
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