Curbing Youth Criminality and Social Vices Amidst Covid-19
The Nigerian Youth Compact on Covid-19 (NYCC-19) had there Zoom webinar “One Stop Youth Talk” on Thursday, 2nd July, 2020.
It was a very successful and interactive session with some guest speakers such as; the Executive director, Youth Advancement Initiative, Akure ‘Mr. Ado Mario Emmanuel’, President and Executive Director of Nigeria Female Youth Organization/ Michelle Youth Initiative for Sustainable Development ‘Princess Mimi’ and the immediate General Secretary for the Association of Resident Doctors, FCT Branch ‘Dr, Jumoke Olajumoke’.
The webinar centered on “Curbing Youth Criminality and Social Vices Amidst Covid-19”. The chairman of NYCC-19 giving his opening remark during the 4th Edition of this webinar said that criminality is interwoven with unemployment which is the major causal factor.
According to him, the youths are being deprived of basic necessities of life and hardly does anyone see it as much of a problem. However, the government is at fault by failing to fulfil the basic responsibilities towards a very significant percentage of the population but those who are in a position reprimand the government are also at fault for not considering that failure as a serious issue.
Still on remark, the Vice chairman ‘Prince Echem’ said “An Idle man is the devil’s workshop which is why the NYCC-19 is out to help to assist in curbing these criminalities.” He urged the Nigerians to live within the confirms of the law.
Princess Michelle speaking on social vices defined it as negative action against the norms in the society. She listed the various social vices like raping, pick-pocketing, drug abuse, exam malpractices, prostitution etc. and condemned it.
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She heads an NGO campaign against Rape. In her speech, She said “most people who indulge in the act of rape do that to take away the dignity of the victim.”
However, she stated that a bill has been passed against rapist which means a rapist gets the same punishment as a murderer. Her campaign has gotten to the ministry of women affairs and the presidency. She also stated the dangers of drug abuse and urge youth to use their talents wisely and abstain from social vices.
Doctor Jumoke Olajumoke speaking on the Medical implications of rape to its victim said;
“it may be a 5 mins for the rapist but a lifetime for the victim”.
She spoke about the genital laceration, internal injury, STDs and STI.
However, she stated that some victims find themselves doing drugs as a result of depression. Therefore, she suggested that victims should talk to someone like a psychologist instead of venturing into drugs.
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The Executive director, Youth Advancement Initiative ‘Ado Mario’ speaking on insecurity stated that 90% of police cases these days are home breaking while 60% of the culprits are as a result of hunger and joblessness due to unemployment.
He pointed out the effect of lockdown on the Nigerian youths and suggested that the government should liaise with NYCC-19 since they have the data of unemployed youths across the 774 L.G.A. in the 36 states and address the lacuna in the security structure in Nigeria.
Speaking further, He also suggested that government should provide more welfare for the security personnel who have turned beggars on the road. According to him, survey has shown that 60% of security personnel are culprits in supplying vital information to these criminals due to lack of proper welfare structure.
According to him “there is no thief in the community that the community members do not know but they have the fear of voicing out or getting someone arrested is their actual concern.”
“Most of these criminals have genuine pressing challenges which led them into these social vices.” He said.
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However, he is advocating for a welfare package restructuring for the Nigerian youth and as well engage them jobwise as this will help curb these criminalities.
Amb. Ikenna Nwaizu, a youth leader commended the NYCC-19 for organizing the “One Stop Youth Talk” Webinar. He suggested that youths should wake up and take responsibilities for their future. He urged youths to be strategic in the rightful application for the fight of the youth integration in politics and national leadership.
Pointing out the lapses in some government initiatives for the youths such as N-power, Engr. Matthew Oche suggested that the government should provide youths with a permanent job engagement so that the youths will not go back to the streets again as this will also help curb the issues of criminality.
Mr. Uzoh Ifeanyi, member of the Commonwealth Youth Alliance Association and Head of Advisory NYCC-19 urges the Nigerian youths to look inward to discover their inborn talents that will announce them in future.
In closing, the moderator gave some recommendation to the government which will go a long way to curb these social vices;
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Inclusion and collaboration between the government and youths
Youth engagement in local and public affairs including programs
Giving youths the opportunity to design the youth centric programs for the citizenry
Redesign new and affordable learning curriculum to accommodate the current realities.
Allow youths interact in open forum with their counterparts across the society
Relaxation of Government rules on youths’ access to opportunities
Set up Mentoring programs for youths headed by average age achievers
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced the completion of the sale of shares in Polaris Bank to Strategic Capital Investment Limited (SCIL), a new core investor.
In a statement signed by its Director, Corporate Communications Department, Osita Nwanisobi, the CBN said that SCIL has paid an upfront consideration of N50 billion to acquire 100% of the equity of Polaris Bank and has accepted the terms of the agreement, including the full repayment of the sum of N1.305 trillion, being the value of the bonds, which as part of its intervention, in 2018, to revoke the licence of the former Skye Bank Plc. and establish Polaris Bank to assume its assets and certain liabilities, the banking industry regulator injected into Polaris through the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and is to be repaid over a 25-year period.
The statement reads: “The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) are pleased to announce the completion of a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) for the acquisition of 100% of the equity in Polaris Bank by Strategic Capital Investment Limited (‘SCIL’).
“Polaris has been operating as a bridge bank since 2018 when the Central Bank of Nigeria intervened to revoke the licence of the former Skye Bank Plc. and established Polaris Bank to assume its assets and certain liabilities. As part of the CBN intervention, consideration bonds with a face value of N898 billion (future value of N1.305 trillion) was injected into the bridge bank through AMCON, to be repaid over a 25-year period.
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“These actions were taken to prevent the imminent collapse of the bank, enable its stabilisation and recovery, protect depositors’ fund, prevent job losses and preserve systemic financial stability. SCIL has paid an upfront consideration of N50 billion to acquire 100% of the equity of Polaris Bank and has accepted the terms of the agreement which include the full repayment of the sum of N1.305 trillion, being the consideration bonds injected.
“The CBN thus received an immediate return for the value it has created in Polaris Bank during the stabilisation period, as well as ensuring that all funds originally provided to support the intervention are recovered. The sale was coordinated by a Divestment Committee comprising representatives of the CBN and AMCON, and advised by legal and financial consultants. The Committee conducted a sale process by ‘private treaty’, as provided in Section 34(5) of the AMCON Act to avoid negative speculations, retain value and preserve financial system stability.
“In the process, parties who had formally expressed an interest in acquiring Polaris Bank, subsequent to the CBN intervention in 2018, were invited to submit financial and technical proposals. Invitations to submit proposals were sent to 25 pre-qualified interested parties, out of which three parties eventually submitted final purchase proposals following technical evaluation. All submissions were subject to a rigorous transaction process from which SCIL emerged as the preferred bidder having presented the most comprehensive technical/financial purchase proposal as well as the highest rated growth plans for Polaris Bank.”
The CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, was quoted in the statement as saying that: “This sale marks the completion of a landmark intervention in a strategic institution in the Nigerian banking sector by the CBN and AMCON. We commend the outgoing board and management for their vital role since the bridge bank was established; in stabilising the Bank’s operations, its balance sheet and implementing strong governance structures to address the issues that led to the intervention.
“This process has provided the CBN with an unprecedented opportunity to recover its intervention funds in full and promote financial stability and inclusive growth. We wish SCIL well as they implement growth plans to build the bank from the strong foundations that have been established.”
Media Intelligence agency Marks Six years of Operation in Nigeria.
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Media Intelligence agency Marks Six years of Operation in Nigeria.
P+ Measurement Services, Nigeria’s foremost Independent Public Relations measurement and evaluation agency, celebrates its sixth year of effective operation with qualitative offerings for its numerous clients, as it rebrands with a new business logo, website, and office to deepen penetration.
The leading company has in the past six years engendered the needed growth for its clients, and the rebranding is part of efforts aimed at sustaining its leading position in the sector, having worked with over 47 brands and 17 Public Relations agencies in Africa’s largest economy.
The logo with new colors depicts the innovation and creativity of the brand, as also shown on its new website with the agency service rate, to enable brands and agencies to make faster decisions in budgeting.
As the only AMEC Member in Nigeria, P+ has strong partnerships with the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and Reelforge Media Monitoring, the biggest media monitoring agency in the East African region, covering more than five countries.
Speaking on the company’s new development, the Chief Insights Officer, Philip Odiakose, said P+ is strongly positioned to effectively deliver on its offerings, with state-of-the-art structure, process and highly skilled media analysts in an exceptional and value-driven business model in line with global best practices.
“Our Measurement and Evaluation report is in-depth, robust, and flexible to accommodate valid metrics that brands desire to see reflected in their customized reports, and also based on the AMEC Standard in accordance with the Barcelona Principle 3.0. We deploy the P+MCA (media content analysis) methodology for media evaluation and analysis based on qualitative and quantitative metrics in analyzing media exposure,” Odiakose affirmed.
He said the new office would serve as a hub in the country and the West Africa sub-region, where the company will provide media monitoring, measurement, evaluation, and performance audit services for brands, media agencies, government agencies and NGOs.
Also as part of its efficient services, the measurement and evaluation company introduced “Get-Reports,” a novel product that allows the purchase of PR performance audit reports in key sectors.
The “Get-Reports” product spans across different industries which includes the 22 Commercial Nigerian Banks PR Performance Audit Report, Top Nigerian Insurance PR Performance Audit Report, Top Nigerian Digital Banks PR Performance Audit Report, and Top Online Streaming Services PR Performance Audit Report.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mallam Yusuf Ali, says it is not to late for members of the National Assembly to revisit the issue of electronic transmission of election results to ensure credibility.
Ali, who made the remarks while speaking in an interview with newsmen on Sunday in Osogbo, said the more credible elections were, the less litigations they will attract.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian Senate had on July 16, passed the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021, after division among its members on the electronic transmission of results.
The clause 52(2) of the bill gives the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the discretion to determine when, where and how voting and transmission of results will be done.
The Senate had ruled out the possibility of having results transmitted electronically when it voted that the NCC, with the National Assembly’s approval, would determine whether INEC could transmit results electronically or not.
Similarly, the House of Representatives, on July 16, passed the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, maintaining the controversial Clause 52(2) as presented amidst protests, especially by members of the minority caucus.
After the passage of the bill, the Speaker, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, criticised the proposed electronic transmission of election results, saying it was not feasible in the country for now.
According to Ali, since INEC had assured that it had the capacity to transmit election ressults electronically, it should be allowed to do so.
“For me, it is not too late for the National Assembly to revisit the matter, since the INEC said it has the capacity to transmit election results electronically.
“The legislature should do that which will assist in ensuring credible elections,” he said.
Ali also urged politicians to desist from “do-or-die” politics, adding that the electoral system was too moneytised.
“One major problem with our politicians is this do-or-die politics and the moneytisation of the political process.
“That is why we see so many litigations in the political process. It is all because people see political offices as an avenue to run away from poverty and not for service.
“I have said it before, if you are given an assignment for two or four years and you do it diligently, you will not want a renewal, you will just want to go home,” he said.
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