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International Youth Day: Support Health Future For Yourself, Youth Urged

Published

3 years ago

August 12, 2021

Youths have been called to be in the forefront of supporting a healthy future for themselves and others.

Stakeholders made the call in Benin, Thursday, at an enlightenment programme organised by the Edo State Technical Working Group on Adolescents and Youth Health Development, as part of activities to mark the 2021 International Youths Day.

This year’s Youth Day, with the theme: ‘Transforming Food Sytems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health’, was organised in collaboration with the National Youths Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Oredo chapter.

The programme held with the aim of enlightening youth on how to identify existing agricultural and healthcare structures in the state and using them to improving their living conditions, was part of efforts to reducing poverty and enhancing large scale production of healthier food, social inclusion, biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation.

Various speakers who took turn to speak at the event observed that there could be no future without youths; and a healthy future without healthy youth.

The participants at the gathering equally called on governments, Non-Governmental Organizations and individuals to support system that engages and rewards young people who venture into agriculture and other endeavors.

Speaking, chairman, Edo State Technical Working Group for Adolescent and Youth Health Development, Doctor Bright Oniovokukor, observed that despite the wealth of ideas and talents possessed by the Nigerian youths, there were some in-actions relegating them to the background.

He, therefore, called on youths to maximize their potentials by being creative and taking advantages of existing structures available to them.

A cross section of participants at the event.

“We are marking this day to draw the attention of the youths to what is in it for them and how they can get involved. When they are involved their innovative ideas can be brought to bear.

“We brought here today various resource persons to speak on existing structures that the youth should know about, key into it for them to bring on board their highly innovative ideas”, he stated.

Representative of the World Health Organization, Mrs. Kate Ogiugo emphasized that the importance of food and health to individuals and the society at large cannot be over-emphasized.

She pointed out that a healthy youth population would boost food production and assured that her organization would continue to support activities that promote the health of all, including the youths.

On his part, chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Oredo Chapter, Mr. Aghedo Hillary, while giving an overview on how the international youths day celebration came about, stated that the celebration has had much positive impact in the life of young people and the society at large.

He further observed that the theme of this year’s International Youth Day was an indication that the success of such a global effort will not be achieved without the meaningful participation of young people.

Resource persons who spoke on the sub-theme “Identifying Existing Agricultural and Healthcare Structures for the Edo Youth” called on youths to improve on their living conditions through various sponsored agricultural programs by government and others.

They equally called on youths to seek reproductive and clinical health care from government accredited health centers rather than patronizing road side chemists to guide against unwanted pregnancy and reduce unsafe abortion; where it is necessary to undergo such treatment.

Some youths at the event thanked the organizers , noting that the event has broadened their knowledge on how they could take advantage of various existing structures by governments and various organizations to better their lives.

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Man, 38 Escapes Assassination Attempt In Benin

Published

9 months ago

July 22, 2023

Editor

Innocent Omoruyi

By Omokha Andrew

A 38-year-old activist, Innocent Omoruyi, narrowly escaped assassination in the early hours of Wednesday, July 19, 2023 as his residence at Obe Community,Sapele Road in Benin city was attacked by yet to be identified gun men.

The attack which eye witnesses say was viciously executed on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 bore the markings of a dreaded cult group terrorizing Benin City, the state capital.

The Obe, Sapale Road incident, it was learnt, happened soon after Omoruyi left the house to attend to matters of interest some few metres away from his home.

The assailants were said to have shot sporadically in their frustration as residents scampered for safety.

However, Omoruyi escaped unharmed.

One of the eye witnesses who craved anonymity said: “The felons apparently went for the kill, weilding guns and other dangerous weapons. “We are shocked that they didn’t see Innocent Omoruyi who was just some few metres away from home when they arrived”.

“How that happened, only God knows and it was obvious that it wasn’t his time to die yet and just before that not long ago his business place on Lagos Street, Benin City was burnt down in the middle of the night by unknown arsonists.

“This sequence of events is not ordinary. We know it’s politically motivated due to the role he played in the last general elections. He has been advised to go into hiding at the moment for his personal safety”, he concluded.

When contacted, the police Public Relations Officer Chidi Nwabuzor said he was yet to get any information as regards the latest incident. He promised to feed our correspondent with relevant details as soon as they become handy.

Our information source however revealed that the matter has already been incidented at the Love World Police station on Sapele Road, Benin city.

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Nigeria To Earn Over $4bn Revenue As FEC Okays Concession Of Abuja, Kano Airports

Published

12 months ago

May 18, 2023

Editor

Nigeria will earn over $4 billion in nominal revenue as the Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday okayed the concession of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, to the Corporacion American Airport Consortium, a Luxembourg-based company.

James Odaudu, the Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the Minister of Aviation, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

According to him, the Council also approved that the Federal Ministry of Aviation would be renamed the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace.

The statement noted that the company would make combined upfront payments of $8.5 million for the concession of NAIA and MAKIA.

He added that the development would spur evidential growth within the Nigerian aviation industry.

“In alignment with the Aviation Roadmap, approved by Mr President on 18th October 2016, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace is delighted to inform all stakeholders, both local and international, and the media, that the concession of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano has been approved by the Federal Executive Council,” the statement said.

In December 2022 and January 2023, Corporacion American Airport Consortium was announced as the preferred bidder for the airport’s concession after scaling through a series of evaluations of technical and financial bids.

Nominal revenues mean income not adjusted for inflation and decreasing purchasing power.

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Russia Expelled From Council Of Europe Amid War With Ukraine

Published

2 years ago

March 16, 2022

Editor

The Council of Europe says it has expelled Russia with immediate effect after 26 years of membership because of the Ukraine war.

The Committee of Ministers took the decision in a special session, the rights body announced in the French city of Strasbourg on Wednesday.

Earlier, Russia had already declared its withdrawal from the Council of Europe after it had taken steps to exclude it.

On Tuesday evening, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe voted unanimously in favour of Russia’s exclusion.

Russia joined the Council of Europe on Feb. 28, 1996.

Together with the formal notification of the withdrawal, the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe also received information from the Russian Federation on Tuesday about its intention to denounce the European Convention on Human Rights.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, the leaders of the Council of Europe once again condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

They expressed their solidarity with the Russian people, who continue to belong to the European family and share its values.

The body said it would continue to stand by Ukraine in the fight against the aggressor.

The Council of Europe monitors the observance of human rights in its 46 member states and is not part of the European Union.

The body reacted to the Russian invasion of Ukraine two weeks ago by suspending Russia’s membership, this decision was considered historic.