News

Reclaim Nigeria From Older Generation, Falana Tells Youths

Published

5 months ago

April 13, 2025

Renowned human rights lawyer and activist, Femi Falana, SAN has urged youths to reclaim the country.

Falana gave the advice on Saturday in Lagos, during sixth Annual Youth Leadership Conference, tagged ‘Resilience, Innovation, Social Responsibility and Entrepreneurship (RISE 2025),’ held at the University of Lagos.

Falana said things were not how they used to be, hence, the younger generation should reclaim the country and redefine it as it should be.

He said that youths were suffering as a result of what the country had become, hence, the need for the younger generation to ‘rise’.

“You will have to challenge those who are in power when you have access to them, because some of them in power today belong to our generation. We didn’t suffer what you are going through. We lived a life of dignity.

“My generation had dreams, genuine dreams, about this country becoming one of the best in the world, because we have abundant human and natural resources that should make us a leading country in the world. But what has happened?

“Your generation has a duty to reclaim the country, and please, when you are going to listen to songs in ceremonies of this nature, please try and listen to some of the great African musicians,” Falana said.

According to him, it is very important, because the youth will be inspired when they listen to them.

“You must also listen and be inspired to fight for justice in our country. You are often told that our country is poor. Quote me, ours is not poor. We suffer from material poverty because there is poverty of ideas in our country.

“They tell you you are leaders of tomorrow. You must be leaders of today first, so you must take back what is left,” he said.

The Convener of the programme, Mr Olusegun Odufuwa, said the theme the event – RISE – was more than an acronym, describing as a call to action.

Odufuwa said it was a declaration of intent, vision of the future all must build together.

“Nigeria stands at the critical juncture, our nation is rich in promise, bursting with talent and vibrant with diversity, yet we are confronted with complex challenges, economic uncertainties, infrastructure deficits, youth unemployment and questions of leadership and governance.

“But amidst all these challenges, lies a golden opportunity. A nation is built not merely by its policies, but by its people, especially its youth.

“If Nigeria is to rise, it must be on the shoulders of a generation that is resilient in the face of adversity, innovative in its thinking, socially responsible in its actions, and entrepreneurial in its spirit,” he said.

NAN

News

JUST IN: FG, NUPENG Begin Meeting Over Strike Threat

Published

56 minutes ago

September 8, 2025

Editor

The Federal Government is currently meeting with the leadership of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers.

The meeting which was earlier slated for 10:00 am started around 5:30 pm due to the delay in the arrivals of NUPENG officials.

The meeting currently ongoing at the conference room of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Productivity is aimed at stopping the nationwide industrial strike before it inflicts significant damage on the fragile economy.

NUPENG has accused Dangote and associates of pursuing “crude and dangerous anti-union practices, a monopolistic agenda, and indecent industrial relations strategies,” alleging the refinery pays some of the lowest wages in the sector and bars drivers for imported CNG trucks from joining industry unions.

The union says those recruitment conditions violate Section 40 of the Constitution, the Labour Act and International Labour Organisation conventions on freedom of association.

Details later…

News

Five Years After, Edo Govt Reconnects To BEDC As Ossiomo Shut Down

Published

3 hours ago

September 8, 2025

Editor

Five years after disconnecting from the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) Edo State Government has reconnected to the power distribution company for supply of electricity.

The Godwin Obaseki-led administration in 2020 broke BEDC monopoly in the state by supporting the construction of Ossiomo Power, an electricity generation and distribution firm.

The switch over to BEDC by the state government was due to the shut down of Ossiomo Power Plant since September 1st over ownership tussle between Ossiomo Power and its Chinese partners, Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology (CCETC).

Ossiomo Power generates 95MW of electricity which it supplied to government buildings, Edo Government House, Edo NUJ secretariat, private organisations, streetlights amongst others.

Director General of the Edo State Electrification Agency, Saturday Omozokpea Egbadon, who confirmed the switch over to the BEDC, said electricity has been restored to some streetlights and government buildings.

News

NSCDC Vows To Bring Killers Of Edo personnel To Justice

Published

3 hours ago

September 8, 2025

Editor

The Edo State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has vowed to fish out the killers of eight of its personnel in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of the state.

The personnel were killed last week Friday at around 10:00PM at BUA cement factory site
in an ambush by suspected kidnappers.

One out of five Chinese expatriates the personnel were providing cover for was taken away by the gunmen.

Reacting to the incident, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Efosa Ogbebor said investigation into the matter was still ongoing, adding and that the Corps National Headquarters was also handling the burial of the victims and welfare of their family members.

He said: “The National headquarters has taken over the issue, investigation is still ongoing and our men are still out there combing the forests because those men must be brought to book. The Corps is not taking it lightly in any way, those people who did that must and will be brought to book, there is no hiding place for them. We are doing the combing in collaboration with other security agencies.

“For the victims, communication has been established with families by the Corps Headquarters and the welfare of the families they left behind is being handled by the national headquarters.”

Speaking on the kidnapped expatriate, the imagemaker said he was not aware of any contact yet but vowed that he would be rescued.