Metro

Group organises conference on tackling unemployment, crimes in Niger Delta region

Published

10 months ago

July 25, 2023

The Niger Delta Young Professionals (NDYP) moves to organise a youth conference on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) to combat unemployment and crimes in the region.

Convener of the summit, Mr Moses Siasia, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, said “the event is a sustained initiative that has been creating enormous opportunities and growth for young MSME owners in the region.”

According to him, the organisers of the Niger Delta MSME Summit are desirous to enable MSMEs achieve growth and address the persistent problems of unemployment, crimes and other vices in the oil-rich region.

“The beneficiaries of past editions, many of whom have received grants to grow their businesses, have been able to grow a huge business capital and create employment opportunities for other prospective MSMEs.

“At the inaugural edition of the summit held in 2021 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over 400 Niger Deltans benefited from the NIRSAL Intervention Loan for small business owners in the area of agriculture.

“Also the NDYP gave out grants to innovative businesses,” he said.

Siasia said that there was a clear evidence that crude oil would not be the driver of economic growth in the future, hence, the need to focus on emerging areas with new opportunities and potentials like agriculture, renewable energy, information technology, and the knowledge-driven economy where MSMEs could thrive and provide enabling platforms for prosperity and sustainable development.

“This year’s event will feature product exhibitions, grants, main-stage keynotes, panel discussions, interactive master sessions, style breakout, business-to-business meetings, mentoring sessions, networking opportunities featuring outstanding line-up of successful entrepreneurs, innovators, strategists and business leaders from top brands.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the occasion, titled: “Building the Culture of Entrepreneurship and Competitiveness Beyond Oil,” would be held on Aug. 12 in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom.

Participants, according to the organisers, are expected to be between the ages of 20 and 45 years.

Metro

Ex-Sports Minister laments after hospital neglected him for hours over N80000 deposit

Published

4 days ago

May 11, 2024

Ifunaya Emeka

A former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has recounted how a hospital in Plateau State did not attend to him because of the non-payment of the admission deposit.

Dalung said he fell ill on Wednesday, May 8, and went to the unnamed hospital for treatment but that the hospital refused to give him treatment because he had yet to make an admission deposit despite holding his medical records. The former minister said he regained partial consciousness later and transferred the deposit before he was attended to.

“I took ill on Wednesday, arrived at the hospital & shortly became unconscious after doctor’s interviews. Was ferried into emergency ward but abandoned for over 4 hrs due to non payments of admission deposits. Regained partial consciousness later did the transfer of deposit.

After that, I fell into unconsciousness again for about 7 hours. To God be the glory, I have been discharged after 3 days & recovering. Were it not for partial consciousness to pay the deposits, I would have been Mr. late. Many Nigerians have gone this way. Where is our humanity?

I was then admitted into the ward and given medical attention. This is the hospital that has my medical records. The last medical checkup I did about 2 months ago was there, but suddenly, I became a stranger because of non payments of deposits even with the so-called name. Hmmmm”

Metro

Osun Poly Student, Olanrewaju Olatona killed by hit-and-run one-way driver

Published

4 weeks ago

April 18, 2024

Ifunaya Emeka

A Student Of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Osun State, has died after being hit by a trailer driver on Monday, April 15.

The Accident was said to have occurred when the driver, who was reportedly driving against traffic, collided with the motorcycle conveying a student named Olanrewaju Olatona and another passenger along the Ikirun-Osogbo road area of the state.

Due to the severe impact, Olanrewaju Olatona, a National Diploma 2 student, suffered fatal injuries. He died at the scene.

Olatona, who was the Financial Secretary of the Department of Mass Communication, was preparing for the one-year Industrial Training programme.

The driver fled the scene after the accident and has not been apprehended.

Subsequently, Osun State Polytechnic students organised a procession in front of the school gate and blocked the expressway for several hours.