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Nigerian Youths Must Be Self-reliance Through Entrepreneurship, Says Ex-VC, UNIBEN

Published

2 years ago

April 5, 2023

A former Vice-Chancellor, University of Benin, UNIBEN, Emeritus Professor Richard Anao has called on Nigerian youths to embrace entrepreneurship with a view to getting out of “their present state of dilemma”, becoming self-reliance and overcoming the present economic challenges and unemployment.

The Emeritus Professor made the call in Benin Tuesday while delivering a lecture titled ‘Self-reliance for the Youths of Nigeria’.

The seminar, with the theme ‘Self-reliance’, was organised by Mere Production and held at Akindeko Hall, UNIBEN.

The former VC who lamented that Nigerian economy is in a deplorable state, insisted that the only way out for the youths is to be self-reliance through entrepreneurship.

He said: “The Nigerian youths must proceed along the entrepreneurial path if they want to become self-reliant.”

The VC added: “The Nigerian economy is historically stifled and its growth stunted. All indices of wellbeing point to the fact that the Nigerian economy is in a deplorable state, that it has been crumbling for a long time now, and has only descended to almost unbearable levels in recent times.”

The Emeritus Prof. who attributed Nigeria’s present economic woes to successive governments policies and incompetence, added: “Dire state of the economy is, of course,the result of bad governance, the deficient and inappropriate economic policies that were deployed by successive regimes to exploit for the benefit of the Nigerian citizens the enormous human and material resources with which the country is endowed. “

He added: “This is unfortunately the case in Nigeria. Nigeria does not utilise her ‘best eleven’ but instead settles for players who display unmitigated mediocrity. Only abysmal outcomes can therefore be expected!”

Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman of the occasion and Executive Director Health of Mother Earth Foundation, Arch. Nnimmo Bassey said the event and the topic of discussion was unique because of the present state of the nation and particularly the youths.

While stating that individual and nation must develop the right understanding, mindset and outlook to having a bearing, he said: “Today is a very unique day. topic for today Conversation is very significant because of where we are at this time.

“We are here today to look at our situation in a more fundamental way. We must strive to have understanding of issues. When we have the right understanding, the right mindset and the right outlook, definitely we can then come together to decide our bearing in life.

“We must take our position based on correct and adequate information.”

In his goodwill message, Barr. Chima Williams, Executive Director, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, opined that “what we need to do as a nation and youths is to unlearn those things that have brought us down, relearn the things that we did in the past that made us great and learn the new things that will move this country forward.”

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JUST IN: Tinubu Directs INEC Chairman Yakubu To Immediately Proceed On Leave

Published

19 minutes ago

September 26, 2025

Editor

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly directed the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to proceed on leave ahead of the expiration of his tenure.

Insider sources say the move comes in response to what they described as Mahmood’s “last-minute betrayal” of the All Progressives Congress government that appointed him.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma reportedly met with President Tinubu shortly after the president returned from a 12-day working vacation, alleging that Mahmood’s efforts to register new political parties at the end of his tenure had disrupted Tinubu’s preparations for a second term.

The governor also claimed that Mahmood was covertly backing a candidate in the Imo State governorship election.

Following this briefing, Tinubu reportedly requested that Mahmood suspend all official duties and proceed on terminal leave.

The decision has thrown the commission’s schedule into disarray, leading to the abrupt cancellation of Mahmood’s final quarterly consultative meeting with political parties, as well as a planned session with civil society organisations.

Tinubu is now expected to submit the name of a new INEC Chairman to the National Assembly in the coming days.

Mahmood was appointed to office by then-President Muhammadu Buhari on October 21, 2015, succeeding acting chairperson, Amina Zakari.

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400 Golfers Storm Abuja For Nigeria @ 65 Tourney

Published

1 hour ago

September 25, 2025

Editor

More than 400 golfers are set to compete in the Nigeria @ 65 Independence Golf Tournament at the Tukur Yusuf Buratai International Golf Resort and Country Club, Abuja.

The week-long tournament, organised to mark Nigeria’s 65th independence anniversary, will also honour retired and serving officers of the Nigerian Army.

The Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Dr James Agbonhese, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday that the tournament aims to promote unity, camaraderie and national pride.

“This is more than a sporting competition. It is a reflection of our national values; unity, perseverance, discipline and excellence,” Agbonhese said.

He said the event would also feature the commissioning of new facilities at the resort, including a midway hut, a modern golf practice range, a back nine starter shed and a golf cart bay.

Agbonhese commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, Grand Patron of the tournament, for his unwavering support.

The Vice Chairman of TYB Golf Club, Dr Ali Peters, who represented the Club Captain, Maj.-Gen. Samson Jiya, said the event was a symbolic tribute to the military’s role in safeguarding national unity.

“As we celebrate, we must reflect on the legacy of our founding fathers and the sacrifices that brought us this far,” Peters said.

He added that the new facilities would greatly improve the golfing experience for members and visitors.

Jummai Adamu, a member of the LOC, said more than 100 female golfers, including three professionals, would participate in this year’s tournament, reflecting golf’s growing popularity among women in Nigeria.

Tournament Manager, Mr Shola Adebayo, said the event would feature daily games, networking sessions and cultural showcases.

“It’s set to deliver not just top-level golf but an unforgettable experience for everyone involved,” he said.

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Fire On Board Forces Lagos-Atlanta-bound Aircraft Diversion To Ghana

Published

1 hour ago

September 25, 2025

Editor

A Delta Airlines flight en route from Lagos, Nigeria, to Atlanta, United States, was forced to make an emergency diversion to Accra, Ghana, following a fire incident in the aircraft’s oven.

According to the spokesperson for the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Michael Achimugu, on Thursday, the incident occurred on Tuesday, 23 September, affecting Flight DL055, which had departed from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

He said airline officials confirmed that while the fire was swiftly contained and posed no threat to passengers, the delay caused the crew to exceed their expected duty time, making them unable to continue the journey as scheduled.

Following the unscheduled landing in Accra, the airline initiated rebooking arrangements for stranded passengers. Some were accommodated on a Delta Accra-New York service the same evening, with further passengers rebooked on the following night’s flight.

He said, “However, some passengers were rebooked on the airline’s Accra-New York flight the same evening, and this effort was repeated on Wednesday night for additional passengers.

“Flight DL055 LOS – ATL finally departed from Accra today, 25 September 2025, at approximately 1200 hrs.”

In a related development, Delta Airlines also cancelled its inbound flight ATL-LOS (Atlanta to Lagos) for Thursday, 25 September.
Though passengers were said to have been informed in advance, “The airline provided hotel accommodations and ground transport for those who still reported to the airport.”

To mitigate the disruption, the airline rebooked 23 affected passengers on Air France, while others were scheduled to travel via British Airways, KLM, and Lufthansa.

The remaining passengers will be airlifted on Delta’s regularly scheduled flight tomorrow, 26 September, at 11:40 a.m.

He added, “Regarding today’s 25 September 2025 ATL – LOS arrival cancellation, although passengers were duly informed about the cancellation, the airline accommodated those who arrived at the airport by providing transportation to hotels as reported in the flight disruption this morning.

“Twenty-three passengers had been rebooked on Air France, while others would be airlifted on British Airways, KLM, and Lufthansa Airlines. The remaining passengers are scheduled to depart on the airline’s scheduled flight tomorrow, 26 September 2025, at 1140 hrs.”

Contrary to earlier reports, the Air France flight from Lagos has not been cancelled and is expected to operate at 01:30 a.m.

“Air France flight has not been cancelled as speculated, but would operate at 0130 hrs. Kindly note that I am attending meetings in Montreal, but I have had to constantly leave the hall to make calls and get feedback.

“Follow-up continues. While wishing you safe travels, do not hesitate to reach out to me if there is a further need to,” Achimugu added.