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Kogi Deputy Speaker, advocates For Youth Participation In Leadership, Decision Taking

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The Deputy Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon Ahmed Mohammed has advocated for a narrative change in Nigeria where Youths should be given opportunity to participate in leadership and decision taking of their immediate society.

Hon Ahmed Mohammed also urged youths across the country to see themselves as future leaders who should strive to shun thuggery, violence, cultism and other forms of social vices and embrace meaningful ventures that could make them self-sustaining.

The Deputy Speaker gave the admonition over the weekend, while speaking at a Youth Forum organised by the Youth Development and Empowerment Initiative to further mark this year’s International Youth Day Celebration in the North Central Zone of Nigeria held in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital.

The Programme with the Theme: “Youth Engagement Through Building and Strengthening of Democratic Institution” was put in place in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria and Youth Employment and Social Support Operation(YESSO).

The Deputy Speaker hinted that the focus of the present administration in Kogi state has been on how to make youths productive by providing them with opportunities that would make them self-reliant.

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“We have put in place skills acquisition programmes for the Youths. We have involved the youths in governance of the state through appointments into various positions. Our focus has been on how to see that the youths stands tall in all ramifications

” Security challenges in Kogi have been at a low level as a result of government attention on youth empowerment

“A lot of empowerment programmes have been carried out by the present administration to ensure that youths were effectively engaged to better their life” Hon Ahmed Mohammed disclosed.

The Senior Special Assistant on Security in charge of Igalamela/Odolu Local Government Area, Onoja Ignatius who also spoke at the event, challenged Nigerian Youths to embark on meaningful ventures that could enable them become responsible citizens to qualify in leadership roles.

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“Youths should be placed on the top to enable them use their God given talents to champion the progress of their father land. There is need for a narrative change not only to involve the elderly in leadership but extend such opportunity to the youths as well” the SSA advised.

He therefore, appealed to youths across the country not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to carry out dirty jobs such as killings and perpetrating evils in the society.

The Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Ene Obi in her contribution through online, called on government at all levels to encourage girl child education and participation in governance like their male counterparts.

“Government should endeavor at all times to embark on intensive sensitization of citizens to embrace extending equal opportunities to both male and female folks in every activity” Ene Obi appeals.

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She however, urged Nigerian youths to always imbibe hard work and honesty in every aspect of their life describing positive attitude as the only way out to achieve greatness and worthy living.

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Organ Trafficking: Ekweremadu, Wife, Doctor Sentenced To Various Prison Terms

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The duo of Ekweremadu, former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, his wife Beatrice, and Doctor Obinna Obeta has been senenced to various jail terms for bringing a 21-year-old Lagos street trader to London to exploit him for his kidney.

A judge at The Central Criminal Court, [ Old Bailey], announced the sentence friday.

At a sentencing hearing on Friday, Ekweremadu was jailed for nine years and eight months, his wife Beatrice was sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment while Obeta received a 10-year prison term.

The sentencing follows their conviction in March for organ trafficking, The Ekweremadus’sick daughter, Sonia was cleared of any wrongdoing.

1rem;">The three were found guilty after arranging or facilitating a young Nigerian man’s travel into the United Kingdom in a bid to obtain his kidney on behalf of Sonia.
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The jury said Ekweremadu, his wife and their doctor criminally conspired to bring the 21-year-old Lagos street trader to London to exploit him for his kidney.

The conviction is the first under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act 2015.

The sentencing comes after pleas from multiple prominent personalities and institutions, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

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Other petitioners included both chambers of the National Assembly, the Chairman/CEO, Nigeria in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Erewa Dabiri, and the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC).

The charges were preferred on the Ekweremadus on June 23, 2022, when their arrest was announced. Obeta was later arraigned on July 13, 2022. While his wife was granted bail, the senator was refused.

After months of a pre-trial, the trial commenced on January 31, 2023 and lasted about six weeks, culminating in a guilty verdict against Ekweremadu, Beatrice, and Obeta.

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Reps Seek UK Government Clemency for Ekweremadu

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The House of Representatives  has write to the government of the United Kingdom seeking mercy in sentencing the embattled Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice.

This is contained in a resolution reached following a motion moved by Toby Okechukwu, a lawmaker from Enugu State.

A UK court found the duo guilty of conspiracy of organ harvesting of another Nigerian. The Ekweremadu couple will be sentenced in the coming days.

Moving the motion, Okechukwu said diplomatic intervention in this kind of case is normal.

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“It is a common practice in international relations for nations, including the UK, to seek relief for their citizens involved in situations such as that of the Ekweremadus,” he said.

Speaking on the motion, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House, said intervention by the House is not a justification for the charges against the Ekweremadus. He urged the UK government to consider Ekweremadu’s years of public service.

Consequently, the House resolved to urge the UK government and the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing Ekweremadu, his wife and the doctor.

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Also, they urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to take all diplomatic steps and other necessary interventions regarding the travails of the Ekweremadu family.

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Abdulrahman Obaje
Abdulrahman Obaje
Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media and ICT Consultant, Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.
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HYPPDEC Donates Food Stuff, Clothing to Locals in Kogi to Tackle Cashless Policy Effect

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By Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

The Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPDEC), on Tuesday, donated 400 bags of rice, 250 gallons of vegetable oil and some packaged women rappers to ten Local Government Areas in Kogi State under the agency to cushion the effect associated with the new cashless policy.

Making the presentation to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State at the Lugard House, Lokoja on Tuesday, a Board Member of HYPPDEC, Alhaji Isah Ozi Salami, said that the gesture is part of the agency’s intervention in times of natural disaster or any hardship situation on citizens.

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Salami expressed the commitment of HYPPDEC in tackling the prevailing economic hardship on Nigerians as a result of the Cashless Policy.

“We owe it as a duty to take adquate care of the people in the 10 Local Government Areas belonging to HYPPDEC communities in Kogi

“Our concern under the present economic hardship is to alleviate the sufferings of the people within HYPPDEC communities in Kogi” Ozi Salami told Governor Bello.

He commended Governor Yahaya Bello for the provision of logistic supports that have facilitated smooth operation of the agency in Kogi.

He also told the Governor that HYPPDEC will soon begin the construction of 50 housing units in Kogi for resettlement of last year’s flood victims in riverine communities.

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“I appreciate Governor Bello’s magnanimity in providing land for the housing project. The Governor is expected to perform the foundation laying ceremony of the project” Ozi Salami disclosed.

The Chief of Staff to Governor Bello, Jamiu Asuku who received the food stuff on behalf of his boss, hinted that Kogi will key into HYPPDEC’s intervention initiative in the areas of provision of food and security of lives and property for citizens.

Governor Yahaya Bello appealed to HYPPDEC to focus more on Ibaji Local Government Area in its intervention programme as a result of the bad terrain of the area.

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