Youth Bureau Seeks More Empowerment, Inclusion Of Young People In Governance

A prominent youth group in Nigeria, Youth Bureau has urged governments at all levels to leverage the potential of the teeming population of young people in Nigeria to develop the country.

Youth Bureau’s Advisory Chairman, Razaq Olokoba made the call during the group’s inaugural conference held virtually on Tuesday with the theme: “Nigeria’s Democratic Future: Unlocking the Potentials of Youths”.

Olokoba in his remark said the importance of unlocking the potentials of young people cannot be overemphasized, adding that more integration of youths in leadership as well as other forms of empowerment will be beneficial for the society at large.

He maintained that including more young Nigerians in leadership and governance structure cannot be toiled with given the current population of young people and their untapped capabilities, urging the government to prioritize skills acquisition, and genuine empowerment programmes to address youth unemployment and foster national development.

Olokoba stressed that the time has come for the Federal Government and the 36 state governments to be intentional in developing the youths. Adding that “the essence of the Bureau is to find meeting point for older leaders to mentor the youth for their potentials to be fully utilized in all facets of national development, as well as getting the youths more involved in governance.

“We need to invest our time and efforts in Nigerian youths who are passionate about making an impact in their communities and whose contributions will paint a different picture of the country.

“I believe President Bola Tinubu and the 36 state governor must align with the broader vision of nurturing untapped talents among Nigerian youths irrespective of region, gender, age, background, or literacy level,” He stressed.

Other speakers and participants during the conference drummed support for the government to take youth development more seriously as it has enormous potential to develop the nation’s democracy, economy, and social well-being, amongst others.

They averred that challenges to unlocking the potential include unemployment, underemployment, skill gap, political exclusion, and social inequality, urging the government to take urgent steps to bridge the existing gap.

Adding that unlocking the potential of Nigerian youths relies on connecting young people through involvement in mechanized agriculture, infrastructural development, mining, and leadership recruitment.

Northern Group Eulogize Dr. Emmanuel Musa, Recommends Him for National Honours

Concerned Northern Forum, a prominent civil society organisation (CSO), compromising over 73 CSOs across Northern Nigeria has eulogized the Founder and President of Enmamu Foundation, Dr. Emmanuel Musa for his philanthropy and humanitarian services.

In a widely covered press conference attended by both the print and electronic media giants in Nigeria at Protea Hotels Abuja, the spokesperson of the group, Comrade Abdulsalam Moh’d Kazeem praised Dr. Emmanuel for his tireless efforts in providing basic services such as water and shelter to victims of insecurity in his home town of Adamawa and elsewhere.

According to the spokesperson, “we are thrilled to identify with a young man who is so passionate about positively touching the lives of the less privileged around him. At just 34 the age, Dr. Emmanuel has demonstrated an astonishing and unprecedented generosity which has bettered people’s livelihoods as well as enhanced their welfare. He remains the only person of his age in Nigeria without political exposure who has impacted Nigerians this much.

“With hundreds of boreholes scattered across the North East and the provision of shelters for displaced persons as a result of Boko Haram insurgency, Dr. Musa has become a pillar of hope for widows, orphans, indigent students, youths and the aged. The ‘Humanitarian Dr.’ , as he fondly called recently donated roofing sheets, timber, cash and other relief materials to 50 victims of a rainstorm in Pella, Hong LGA of Adamawa State. Indeed, his exemplary life is worthy of emulation and commendation”.

While calling on other Nigerians to emulate the seasoned philanthropist, the Northern youths praised the courageous virtue of Dr. Emmanuel Musa who has taken it upon himself to improve the quality of education in his home state of Adamawa through scholarships and other educational interventions. The group however, appealed to him to extend his generosity to other states as they prayed God to bless and prosper him in all his endeavours.

“Just recently, Dr. Emmanuel Musa in his capacity as the Founder and President of Enmamu Foundation donated over ₦200 million to 200,000 Pupils under the Adamawa Pupils Welfare Scheme. This is highly commendable and we urge other Nigerians to borrow a leaf from this humanitarian who is sacrificing his personal earnings and making giant strides to improve the lives of others in a world marred by greed and self-centeredness.

“It is also our earnest prayer and hope that this great philanthropist will extend his generous hand of fellowship to other states and communities that are ravaged by insecurity, lack of basic services and the impact of natural disasters. We pray too that Almighty Allah should prosper him and give him the wisdom and resources to carry out his humanitarian services not just to the northern Nigeria but the whole country and Africa as a whole,” the statement added.

The group finally called on the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to as a matter of patriotic urgency, bestow on Dr. Emmanuel Musa a befitting national honour which will spur him and others to greater service to their communities.

“What Dr. Musa has done at such a young age needs to be encouraged. As a group representing the interest of Northern Nigerian youths, we are convinced that honouring Dr. Musa will encourage other Nigerians both young and old to also emulate him. We therefore, recommend him and appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately commence the process of not just honouring this philanthropist but also giving him a position of responsibility that will enable him reach out to more Nigerians”, the statement concluded.

AI industry sees prosperous future in China

By Wang Yunshan, People’s Daily

The application of rubber seal strips onto a car roof was accompanied by a captivating display of a huge robotic arm picking it up and rotating it mid-air. This interesting scene was unfolded at a 5G-Advanced (5G-A) flexible production line in a factory of China’s carmaker Great Wall Motors (GWM) in Baoding, north China’s Hebei province.

Thanks to the integration of 5G-A and artificial intelligence (AI), this efficient production line has slashed 60 hours of downtime per year, thus avoiding potential losses of over 800 million yuan ($110.36 million) that could have been incurred by delayed deliveries.

In recent years, China has made significant strides in AI development, marked by steady growth in industrial scale, robust infrastructure, and a rapid increase of innovative products.

“The vast application scenarios, huge market, and massive talent pool have laid a solid foundation for the vigorous development of China’s AI industry,” said Yu Youcheng, deputy secretary-general of the Chinese Association for Artificial Intelligence (CAAI).

According to Yu, a large number of new breakthroughs, technologies and applications are rapidly emerging across different application scenarios in China.

Gradual improvement in infrastructure — In 2023, the total size of China’s data center racks reached 8.1 million and the scale of computing power reached 230 EFLOPS. In particular, the scale of intelligent computing power has reached 70 EFLOPS, an increase of over 70 percent.

Steady growth in industrial scale — The total scale of China’s core AI industry has reached 500 billion yuan, and the number of related enterprises has exceeded 4,400. According to a report released by CCID Consulting, a market research firm affiliated with China Center for Information Industry Development (CCID), the market scale of China’s AI industry will reach 1.73 trillion yuan by 2035, accounting for 30.6 percent of the world’s total.

Continuous expansion of integrated applications — So far, large-scale AI models developed by China have shown tremendous potential in areas such as smart mining, drug research and development, meteorology, government services, finance, intelligent manufacturing, and railway management. The integrated application of the industrial internet in China has expanded to 49 major categories of the national economy, and generative AI has been widely applied in chatting robots, intelligent search, and text generation.

At the general cargo terminal of Rizhao Port in east China’s Shandong province, a diverse array of general cargo items came together before making their way to different parts of the world, including steel plates made in Handan, north China’s Hebei province, excavators from Zhuzhou, central China’s Hunan province, and drainage pipes from Zhengzhou, the capital city of central China’s Henan province.

In the past, the complex loading and unloading procedures for these items, which varied greatly in shape and size, resulted in low operational efficiency. Now, with an AI-enabled planning system, the port has boosted its overall operational efficiency by 10 percent and yard throughput by 20 percent.

Apart from assisting intelligent manufacturing, AI technology can also make typhoon forecasts, develop new drugs, identify faults, and formulate production plans. These remarkable breakthroughs are paving the way for an era of intelligence.

The application of AI technology in the transportation sector has enhanced operational efficiency and raised safety levels.

In Changsha, the capital city of Hunan province, buses have been connected to an intelligent traffic control system managed by the traffic police. When a bus approaches an intersection, the traffic signal will automatically switch to green, allowing the bus to have priority passage.

“Smart public transportation saves commuting time by 30.7 percent on average compared to regular transportation modes,” said Liu Gao, a project leader of Xiangjiang Smart Tech Innovation Center. So far, 75 routes in downtown Changsha have gone through intelligent transformation, Liu added.

AI technology has also made scientific research more efficient. Chinese software company Kingsoft has unveiled a one-stop office productivity platform powered by AI, which can analyze data as well as reading and recognizing Chinese characters, serving as a “well-rounded” digital employee.

While applied in experiments, AI technologies can significantly save the time needed for scientific research. For instance, Baidu AI Cloud and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have jointly developed an open-source platform for scientific data, which can accelerate the entire chain of chemical synthesis, ranging from molecular design and reaction design to condition generation and reaction testing. This platform can reduce the time required for designing potential functional molecules, such as drug molecules and their synthesis plans, from several months to just dozens of minutes.

In the face of the booming development of the AI industry, many experts and business leaders have highlighted the importance of accelerating AI-related sci-tech innovation and promoting high-quality development and high-level application of AI in order to foster new growth drivers.

Moving forward, China will continue to enhance AI infrastructure, expand AI applications, and advance key and core AI technologies to bring its AI industry onto a higher level.

Rizhao in E China improves greenway construction to bring greater sense of happiness to residents

By Li Rui, People’s Daily

Along the sunny coast of Rizhao city in east China’s Shandong province, bordering the Yellow Sea, there is a scenic greenway that stretches 28 kilometers long. Hugging the shoreline, it weaves through mountains, forests, and villages. To locals, it is not only a scenic route, but a route to happiness.

On a morning, Li Xiaoshu and her friends from a cycling club set off from a square in Donggang district of Rizhao, biking northward along the greenway, which is known as the Sunny Coast Greenway.

They stopped to admire the vast sea at the Wanpingkou scenic area and visited an ocean aesthetics museum on Taigong Island, marveling at the breathtaking scenery along the way.

Continuing onwards, they rode into a towering metasequoia forest. “We just arrived at the ‘forest oxygen bar,'” Li said, calling this her favorite spot – the Rizhao Seaside National Forest Park.

Over 300 tree species like metasequoias, black pines, and oriental oaks flourish in the park, covering 78 percent of its area. Besides, the park is also a habitat for more than 200 bird species, including azure-winged magpie.

Li’s destination was Wulian Mountain. After passing through the Liangcheng Estuary National Wetland Park, the cycling group switched to another greenway – the Mountain and Sea Scenery Greenway.

Relevant authorities have worked to interconnect the Sunny Coast Greenway with the Mountain and Sea Scenery Greenway into a 61.8-kilometer route, which is adorned with mountains, sea, rural guesthouses, and villages.

As a Rizhao native, Li recalled how different this greenway looked years ago. “The shoreline was dotted with shabby houses and aquaculture ponds. The vegetation wasn’t this lush, and there was no spot worth a stop,” she told People’s Daily.

Striking a balance between conservation and development, Rizhao has launched a coast enhancement project to restore its coastlines in recent years, and kicked off the development of the Sunny Coast Greenway.

According to Zhang Bo, an urban planner at Rizhao Planning and Design Institute Group Co., Ltd., no natural landscape was changed during the development of the Sunny Coast Greenway, which started five years ago, in attempt to reduce interference with nature to the absolute minimum and maximize protection of the natural environment.

Besides, ecologically vulnerable areas were prioritized for restoration and enhancement, with an aim to preserve the integrity of the marine ecosystem as much as possible, Zhang added.

Rizhao Xinghai Construction and Development Co., Ltd. also joined the development of the Sunny Coast Greenway. According to the company’s chairman Qin Xujian, over 10 expert meetings were organized to determine the materials to be used for an important section of the greenway as the construction began, and ceramic granular material was finally selected as it reduces vibration caused by cycling and well blends into the surrounding environment.

In the Taigong Island Park, the slopes on both sides of the greenway are covered by oyster shells. The entire greenway keeps natural undulation, while the intersections are designed with curved and user-friendly features that allow for barrier-free access for wheelchairs and strollers. A total of 27,000 trees and 280,000 shrubs have been planted along the route, expanding the green area by 490,000 square meters.

Zhang said that every aspect of the greenway was meticulously planned, from quality and safety to ecological conservation, and from the linkage of scenic spots to landscape design, which resulted in a vivid portrayal of harmonious coexistence between human and nature.

“It feels good to ride a bicycle on the greenway to my office, to go home, and to have fun. It gives me a sense of happiness and improves my living quality,” Li said.

The greenway not only brings lasting happiness to people’s lives but also paves a new path for the city’s green development. Authorities in Rizhao have introduced a series of cultural and tourism projects based on the Sunny Coast Greenway, which have gained increasing popularity. According to statistics, Rizhao received 53.33 million tourist visits last year, generating tourism revenue of 35.37 billion yuan ($4.97 billion).

The Sunny Coast Greenway, built according to world-class standards, has emerged as a prime location to hold hiking, cycling and other sporting events. In 2023, more than 90 provincial and higher-level competitions took place there, helping the city embark on a development path that leverages sports, culture and tourism sectors.

Digital technologies contribute to Great Wall conservation, studies

By Shi Fang, Shi Ziqiang, People’s Daily

Spanning 15 provinces, the Great Wall is the largest cultural heritage site in China. In recent years, regions across the country have vigorously leveraged digital technologies to advance the protection and studies of the Great Wall, making it accessible for virtual tours. With great care, this unique and precious treasure is being meticulously safeguarded.

At the Urban Big Data Application Research Center (UBDARC), Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, there are two computers showing the meteorological and vibration data at eight points along the Great Wall in real time.

“Monitoring the deformation and damage of the Great Wall enables timely detection and assessment of the extent of wall damage, providing strong support for protection efforts,” said Liu Fei, associate professor at the UBDARC. The monitoring data can also be used to develop preventive measures, Liu added.

Over the course of thousands of years, the Great Wall of China has been subjected to various factors such as natural erosion, human activities, and historical changes, resulting in significant damage to many sections.

Over the course of thousands of years, natural erosion, human activities and historical changes have resulted in significant damages to many sections of the Great Wall. Some parts are on the verge of collapse, while some have lost a significant portion of their ground structure or foundation.

To treat these damages, it is important to identify the causes. Over the past four years, Liu and his team have launched an environmental vibration disaster monitoring project for the Great Wall in Huairou district and Changping district of Beijing. They have also carried out a research-based restoration project along the Dazhuangke section of the Great Wall in Yanqing district, collecting digital information of the section.

Additionally, the team utilized drone-based oblique photography technology to capture high-resolution images along a 352-kilometer stretch of the Great Wall in Beijing. These images were used to create orthophotomaps and real scene three-dimensional models, forming a database of the damages in an approximately 100-kilometer section of the Great Wall.

By employing deep learning algorithms, the team has developed an intelligent model for identifying damages, which features an accuracy of over 80 percent.

“More and more technologies are applied to help the Great Wall ‘live longer’,” said Liu. According to him, his team is currently working to improve the database, and it is expected that by the end of this year, aerial monitoring and digital 3D modeling of the brick and stone sections of the Great Wall in Beijing will be completed.

The utilization of digital technologies strengthens the protection of the Great Wall, shifting the approach from reactive rescue efforts to proactive preventive measures. It has also created more possibilities for visitors to virtually experience the Great Wall through “cloud tourism.”

The Jinshanling Great Wall, located in Luanping county, Chengde, north China’s Hebei province, is a pilot Great Wall national cultural park. Since 2020, the Jinshanling Great Wall has been presenting its apricot blossom festival online, allowing netizens to appreciate the beauty of its sceneries.

The hashtag “Virtual Tour of Jinshanling” has attracted over 130 million views annually for four consecutive years, said Guo Zhongxing, director of the Jinshanling Great Wall cultural relics protection center.

A national research center for ancient mural and earth site conservation engineering technology has been established in northwest China’s Gansu province under the joint efforts of the Dunhuang Academy and other institutes.

This center has mastered a series of key technologies for the protection of earthen Great Wall and developed a mature set of protection theories and technical specifications, becoming an important technical support for the preservation of the Great Wall. Since 2015, Gansu province has undertaken and initiated a total of 12 research projects at the provincial level and above in this field.

A team led by professor Zhang Yukun from the School of Architecture at Tianjin University  initiated a project in late 2018 that involves the use of the latest technology as drones to collect “the most complete possible real-scene three-dimensional images of the Great Wall”.  During the four-year project, the team collected over 2 million real-scene images and established an three-dimensional database of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty. .

In early 2023, the team organized an exhibition in Tianjin Museum showcasing the digital outcomes of their efforts through immersive multimedia displays, 3D printed objects, and historical scene restoration.

“The exhibition aimed to digitally showcase to the public the entire Great Wall in a realistic and immersive way,” said Li Zhe, a distinguished research fellow at the school of architecture, Tianjin University.

The resources, unique remains, and scenic views along the Tianjin section of the Great Wall were all showcased through dynamic surrounding imagery on five screens, accompanied by professional commentary, creating an immersive experience for the public as if they were “flying over” the Great Wall, Li explained.

China steadily enhances ability to ensure livelihood during development

By Ren Ping, Zhang Fan, People’s Daily

“The Chinese people’s aspiration for a better life is the goal we have been striving for, and the ultimate purpose of advancing reform and promoting development is to improve the livelihood of the people,” Chinese President Xi Jinping said. Xi is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission..

Xi made the remarks while chairing a symposium attended by representatives from businesses and academia in Jinan, east China’s Shandong province on May 23.

The essence of modernization is the modernization of people. Chinese modernization is a cause of the 1.4 billion Chinese people. Since entering the new era, China has achieved two miracles – rapid economic growth and lasting social stability. Putting livelihood issues in an important position is exactly one of the significant reasons to this success.

The country has won the largest battle against poverty in human history and achieved moderate prosperity, the millennia-old dream of the Chinese nation. It has built the world’s largest networks of high-speed railways and expressways. Besides, it has built the largest education, social security, and healthcare systems in the world. The splendid development of China is exactly a perfect answer sheet to livelihood problems.

Livelihood progress is an important standard measuring economic and social development. Over 70 percent of China’s government expenditures went toward ensuring the people’s wellbeing. This year, the country has set aside 66.7 billion yuan (about $9.39 billion) for employment subsidies, 408.5 billion yuan for transfer payments for shared fiscal powers in education, and 76.5 billion yuan for subsidies for basic public health services.

Minzhucun community of Xiejiawan neighborhood, Jiulongpo district in southwest China’s Chongqing municipality was once troubled with poor housing conditions, outdated infrastructure, excessive sewage, and inadequate supporting facilities.

Today, this place has transformed into a vibrant community with a spacious community reception hall, a multifunctional service center, and a community canteen where delicious meals are served.

By addressing deficiencies in facilities, enhancing community functions, and improving the quality of living, old communities have become new homes for residents in the new era.

China is always working to address the needs of the people, from their basic necessities to reform and development, in an attempt to improve their wellbeing and create a better life for them. This fully embodies the people-centered philosophy followed by the country.

China has strengthened its efforts in renovating old urban residential communities and ensuring the supply of affordable housing, so as to allow more families to be able to have a decent and secure place to live in.

China has raised the thresholds for special additional deductions in personal income tax for taking care of children and the elderly, which benefits 66 million taxpayers. Besides, medicines covered by the medical-insurance system saved over 200 billion yuan for patients nationwide in 2023.

Ensuring and improving people’s livelihood helps build a better future.

In Xicheng village, Lujiang county, Hefei, east China’s Anhui province, villager Tao Youbao has installed household photovoltaic equipment on his rooftop, which he calls a “solar bank.” According to him, the “solar bank” generates electricity for his family, and the surplus can be sold to the power grid, which earns him a few thousand yuan per year.

As of 2023, China’s installed capacity of distributed photovoltaic power generated by households exceeded 115 million kilowatts, equivalent to the capacity of approximately five Three Gorges power stations. It is predicted that nearly 27.3 billion square meters of total roof areas covering more than 80 million rural households can be installed with photovoltaic power generation equipment.

The widespread adoption of household photovoltaics will not only contribute to rural vitalization, but also play a pivotal role in driving the green transformation of the energy sector.

China works to meet people’s aspirations for a better life, with an aim to provide them with more stable jobs, higher incomes, better education, and more reliable social security.

Regions and departments across China have been making sustained efforts and taking more measures to strive for greater achievements in improving people’s wellbeing. By focusing on the concerns of the people and addressing practical issues related to their livelihood, China will steadily enhance its ability to ensure livelihood during its development and continuously improve  people’s sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security.

Concern Staff Of ITF Drags DG , Oluwatoyin Ogun Before EFCC


… How Hundreds of Millions of Naira is being Siphoned
…Operates as Sole Administrator

Concern Staff of the Industrial Training Funds, ( ITF ), might have concluded arrangement to drag Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC), for an alleged Financial infraction since his appointment.

Sources at the Headquarters of ITF, in Jos who pleaded anonymity told our Correspondent that against extant law Mr. Oluwatoyin since he assumed office had acquired official accommodation instead of one, in Lagos, Jos and Abuja for his three wives.
” The DG is entitled to one Guest House, but when he took over he paid for three Houses in Lagos, Jos and Abuja” said our sources.

Continue the sources disclosed that
” You could imagine a retired Director of Finance in ITF still making payments”

” The DG when he assumed office inherited a good number of vehicles , but as we speak, he abandoned them purchased new ones and he is in the process of purchasing another ones with plans plan to acquire a new jeep used by the FCT minister for the Edir Fitr as a status symbol ‘”

While the allegations of financial infractions hangs on his head like the swords of Damascus, the allegations of abuse of procurement procedures against Oluwatoyin stinks to high heaven.
A senior staff in the Maitama office told our Correspondent that” apart from the retired deputy Director ( name withheld), who the DG is using as conduit, several contracts awarded since he assumed office , he did not adhere to the procurement Act, in fact he just a sole administrator “
” He said he is Tinubu’ boy and nobody can touch him, in fact he threatened Staff with transfer”

Apart from the petition to the anti graft commission, the staff are on the verge of staging a massive protest for the removal of the DG.
His appointment as DG did not come without reservations and apprehension as our checks revealed that he lacked requisite qualifications to manage such agency.

Our checks at the headquarters of the industrial Training Funds (ITF) in Jos and corporate office in Maitama, in Abuja paint a picture of once bubbling institution going down the drain with staff morale on the edge.

The development has turned the once bubbling organisation into one of despair, just as staff morale and attitude to work have hit the lowest mark so far since the establishment of the Fund by the military regime of General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) in the 1970s.

Seven months after his appointment and takeover of the Fund’s leadership, multiple sources in Jos and Abuja told our reporter they are aware that there are grumblings within the organisation.
These are not unconnected with the new leadership style and certain ‘reforms’ and policy tincturing that have amounted to high-level administrative missteps that have dampened the cognate mood of the personnel, and set the Fund on the course of collapsing from within.

According to the staff, “the transfers have led to queries by the Fund’s workforce’’ concerning the plans of the DG for the future of the organization.
According to the insider source, “in the latest round of transfers released on May 13, 2024, by the Administration and Human Resources Department of the agency, several top officials of the Finance and Procurement Departments were redeployed to other departments in an exercise that has been condemned by workers within the organisation as a serious infraction of the organization’s career policy”.
The redeployments indicate that “top Directors in the Finance and Accounts Department were moved to Departments other than their fields of specialization. For instance, Mr. Steve Ivarave, an ICAN chartered accountant was moved from finance and accounts to Administration and Human Resource Department to head General Services”.
The source also stated that “Yusuf Abdulmajid was moved to the Corporate Planning Department while Ibrahim Ahmed Bakori was moved to the Estate Management unit to head Project Management, while Ocheme Linus Agbo was redeployed to the Technical and Vocational Skills Training Department just as John Etim was moved from revenue to Internal Audit with no assigned portfolio”.
Our checks indicated that the haphazard transfers have striped the Finance Department of competent professionals in the leadership of the division.
This was as it was gathered that the redeployment exercise was based on a pattern that is completely alien to laid down rules and career progression in addition to being inconsistent with established rules of assignments and redeployments.
Further checks indicated that on April 3, 2024, 16 officers were redeployed to various offices of the Fund.
What especially stood out in that exercise was the redeployment of the Area Manager of one of the Lagos Offices, a Senior Deputy Director, who was posted to Sokoto Area Office, where he was expected to serve under an Assistant Director who is his junior officer.
Similarly, barely two months into office in December 2023, the new Director General who is hardly on the seat, reshuffled his Management team in an exercise that effectively put square pegs in round holes in an apparent effort to entrench his tribesmen in departments perceived to be lucrative.
A source said; “in that exercise, the Director General transferred Fulera Dikki, a career Administrative officer to the Business Training Department while Suleyol Fred Chagu, a career Public Relations officer was redeployed to the Corporate Planning Department just as Chioma Ogbonna, an ICAN Chartered Accountant was moved from Revenue Inspectorate and Compliance Department to the Research and Curriculum Development Department.
When our reporter visited the ITF headquarters, there was melancholy amidst apprehension as a result of fears of more deployments in the coming weeks.
The Director General could not be reached as he was said to be away from the office even as calls to his phone did not go through.

Concern Staff Of ITF Drags DG , Oluwatoyin Ogun Before EFCC


… How Hundreds of Millions of Naira is being Siphoned
…Operates as Sole Administrator

Concern Staff of the Industrial Training Funds, ( ITF ), might have concluded arrangement to drag Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC), for an alleged Financial infraction since his appointment.

Sources at the Headquarters of ITF, in Jos who pleaded anonymity told our Correspondent that against extant law Mr. Oluwatoyin since he assumed office had acquired official accommodation instead of one, in Lagos, Jos and Abuja for his three wives.
” The DG is entitled to one Guest House, but when he took over he paid for three Houses in Lagos, Jos and Abuja” said our sources.

Continue the sources disclosed that
” You could imagine a retired Director of Finance in ITF still making payments”

” The DG when he assumed office inherited a good number of vehicles , but as we speak, he abandoned them purchased new ones and he is in the process of purchasing another ones with plans plan to acquire a new jeep used by the FCT minister for the Edir Fitr as a status symbol ‘”

While the allegations of financial infractions hangs on his head like the swords of Damascus, the allegations of abuse of procurement procedures against Oluwatoyin stinks to high heaven.
A senior staff in the Maitama office told our Correspondent that” apart from the retired deputy Director ( name withheld), who the DG is using as conduit, several contracts awarded since he assumed office , he did not adhere to the procurement Act, in fact he just a sole administrator “
” He said he is Tinubu’ boy and nobody can touch him, in fact he threatened Staff with transfer”

Apart from the petition to the anti graft commission, the staff are on the verge of staging a massive protest for the removal of the DG.
His appointment as DG did not come without reservations and apprehension as our checks revealed that he lacked requisite qualifications to manage such agency.

Our checks at the headquarters of the industrial Training Funds (ITF) in Jos and corporate office in Maitama, in Abuja paint a picture of once bubbling institution going down the drain with staff morale on the edge.

The development has turned the once bubbling organisation into one of despair, just as staff morale and attitude to work have hit the lowest mark so far since the establishment of the Fund by the military regime of General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) in the 1970s.

Seven months after his appointment and takeover of the Fund’s leadership, multiple sources in Jos and Abuja told our reporter they are aware that there are grumblings within the organisation.
These are not unconnected with the new leadership style and certain ‘reforms’ and policy tincturing that have amounted to high-level administrative missteps that have dampened the cognate mood of the personnel, and set the Fund on the course of collapsing from within.

According to the staff, “the transfers have led to queries by the Fund’s workforce’’ concerning the plans of the DG for the future of the organization.
According to the insider source, “in the latest round of transfers released on May 13, 2024, by the Administration and Human Resources Department of the agency, several top officials of the Finance and Procurement Departments were redeployed to other departments in an exercise that has been condemned by workers within the organisation as a serious infraction of the organization’s career policy”.
The redeployments indicate that “top Directors in the Finance and Accounts Department were moved to Departments other than their fields of specialization. For instance, Mr. Steve Ivarave, an ICAN chartered accountant was moved from finance and accounts to Administration and Human Resource Department to head General Services”.
The source also stated that “Yusuf Abdulmajid was moved to the Corporate Planning Department while Ibrahim Ahmed Bakori was moved to the Estate Management unit to head Project Management, while Ocheme Linus Agbo was redeployed to the Technical and Vocational Skills Training Department just as John Etim was moved from revenue to Internal Audit with no assigned portfolio”.
Our checks indicated that the haphazard transfers have striped the Finance Department of competent professionals in the leadership of the division.
This was as it was gathered that the redeployment exercise was based on a pattern that is completely alien to laid down rules and career progression in addition to being inconsistent with established rules of assignments and redeployments.
Further checks indicated that on April 3, 2024, 16 officers were redeployed to various offices of the Fund.
What especially stood out in that exercise was the redeployment of the Area Manager of one of the Lagos Offices, a Senior Deputy Director, who was posted to Sokoto Area Office, where he was expected to serve under an Assistant Director who is his junior officer.
Similarly, barely two months into office in December 2023, the new Director General who is hardly on the seat, reshuffled his Management team in an exercise that effectively put square pegs in round holes in an apparent effort to entrench his tribesmen in departments perceived to be lucrative.
A source said; “in that exercise, the Director General transferred Fulera Dikki, a career Administrative officer to the Business Training Department while Suleyol Fred Chagu, a career Public Relations officer was redeployed to the Corporate Planning Department just as Chioma Ogbonna, an ICAN Chartered Accountant was moved from Revenue Inspectorate and Compliance Department to the Research and Curriculum Development Department.
When our reporter visited the ITF headquarters, there was melancholy amidst apprehension as a result of fears of more deployments in the coming weeks.
The Director General could not be reached as he was said to be away from the office even as calls to his phone did not go through.

Over 70 CSOs Join Sanwo-Olu To Oppose Lagos Inclusion In LG Autonomy Suit

No fewer than 70 Civil Society Organizations have joined the Lagos State government to oppose the Federal Government’s inclusion of the state in a suit instituted against the state government over local government autonomy.

The Federal Government had instituted a legal action against the governors of the 36 states of the federation at the Supreme Court over alleged misconduct in the administration of Local Government Areas.

In a statement made available to newsmen, the Convener of Campaign for Dignity in Governance & Coalition of 70 Civil Society Organizations, Razaq Olokoba expressed dissatisfaction over the inclusion of Lagos State in the suit despite operating autonomous local government administration over the years.

The Coalition noted that it was disappointing the government at the center failed to take cognizance of the system of local government administration in Lagos State but chose to lump them up in one place.

“It is appalling that the Federal will lump Lagos together with other states stifling their local government areas over the years, it clearly shows the Attorney General or his handlers did not do their homework very well, so we are disappointed.

“That’s why we are opposing the inclusion of Lagos in that suit, and if you watch closely you would have noticed that the local government system in Lagos ran freely before now and since the emergence of Babajide Sanwo=Olu as the Governor of Lagos state that tier of the government has become far better in administrative independence.

“The Federal Government should as a matter of urgency expunge Lagos state from that suit. We also support our performing governor, Mr. Sanwo-Olu for frowning at the inclusion of the state in the suit. The government at the center must be seen to do the right thing at all times,” Olokoba stressed.

Meanwhile, speaking on the suit, Governor Sanwo-Olu said it was a legal anomaly for the federal government to join Lagos in the Supreme Court matter, decades after the local governments in the state had been enjoying full autonomy.

The governor who spoke in support of the suit, however, said the attorney-general of the federation should have identified those that were not in compliance with the law before filing a blanket lawsuit against all states.

The governor spoke at the ongoing Justice Reform Summit organized by Lagos State Judiciary with the theme: “Enhancing the Administration of Justice for Economic Growth, Investment Protection and Security in Lagos”.

The summit, attended by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, is being held at Marriott Hotels, Ikeja.

Sanwo-Olu said infringement on the local council autonomy was an affront to the spirit of the constitution to which the judiciary must make a clear interpretation for equity and fairness. He said a better justice system would protect the interests of parties and discourage actions limiting the efficiency of any government entity.

Alleged Fake Lawyer Arrested For Impersonation, Fraud

An alleged fake legal practitioner, Mr. Olakunle Oladimeji Olawale, has reportedly been arrested for allegations of fraud and impersonation in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

Olawale who allegedly claimed to be a lawyer deceiving and defrauding unsuspecting members of the public allegedly used ‘Barrister’ as a prefix to his name during an event in Abuja, which called for suspension, investigation, and eventual arrest.

Meanwhile, according to investigation by the legal counsel to ALJAZIRAH NEWSPAPER, Mr. JJ Usman (SAN), who also wrote to the Supreme Court to verify the enrollment of lawyers, and the Court’s response indicated that there was no one by the name of Olakunle Oladimeji Olawale registered as a practicing lawyer, which the Court challenged Olawale to present his call to Bar Certificate and Qualifying Certificate for enrollment.

The investigation revealed that Mr. Olawale had been allegedly masquerading as a legal advisor and agent to landlords in Abuja.

He also addressed himself as a civil society leader where he had been presenting himself as the leader under the cover of being a barrister to defaming members of the public over unfounded claims that cannot be substantiated.

He is currently facing the full wrath of the law at a Magistrate Court in Abuja with case number CR/39/2024.

Therefore, several cases of impersonation by individuals masquerading as lawyers make it imperative to sensitize Nigerians on how they can detect a fake lawyer based on the information the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, will give to Nigerians.