News

Wales launches drive to keep young people in their homeland

The Welsh government is launching a drive to persuade more young people to remain in their homeland amid growing concerns that the percentage of working-age citizens is dropping to worryingly low levels.

Ministers fear that unless the “brain drain” is stopped – and more talented people can be tempted in – within a few decades the country may struggle to pay the bills to look after its ageing population.

On Monday the economy minister, Vaughan Gething, will set out out a vision of the country’s economic future, with finding ways of retaining and bringing in talent at the centre of it.

Gethings said in an interview prior to the the launch: “It’s a really significant challenge for us. If we don’t have more people of working age in good work, we’ll end up with a smaller and smaller tax base.

“We need to persuade more people to stay in Wales, more people to come back to Wales and more people to make Wales part of their story. We want to make best use of the talent we have as well as attracting people to Wales. People move to Wales to retire but it’s a great place to work as well.

“It’s about having a more optimistic vision about the future – you don’t have to get out to get on, there’s a really good environment for you in Wales, not just for business or work but a good place to live.”

In 2020 the proportion of the population in Wales aged 16-64 was 61% in Wales, compared with 62% of the UK population as a whole. By 2043 this is projected to drop to 58% for Wales and 59% for the UK. Wales is expected to be particularly badly hit because its elderly population is, in general, sicker and poorer than England’s.

Another concern is that the loss of young people could lead to a decline in the Welsh language. One of the government’s aims is to have a million Welsh speakers by 2050 but Gething said that if this was to be achieved it was vital to hang on to youngsters, especially in language heartlands such as the west and north, where good quality jobs can be hard to come by.

Ministers are to work with colleagues in education, businesses, trade unions and local government to encourage people to stay. It will explore how to retain more graduates by building strong links with universities, and between universities and businesses. It also wants to offer more support for startups with specific incentives in some areas.

But the Labour-led government is also planning to work hard to make the case that Wales is a more inclusive, open and green nation to live in where workers are treated with respect.

Gething believes different attitudes to work following the pandemic may help. He said there had been a “shift” before Covid struck but the crisis had accelerated it.

“Three or four years ago people were thinking, where do I want to live? Where do I want to bring up a family? What do I want to do outside my working life?” Gething said Wales had cities that had an interesting offer but were not “as impersonal as big cities in England” – plus its lovely countryside and coasts.

The minister is setting out his vision at a summit in Pontypridd in south Wales.

News

Osun Commissioner denies sending fake soldiers to Ilobu over ongoing crises

Osun commissioner, Kolapo Alimi, has denied claim that he sent fake soldiers to Ilobu over the the ongoing communal clash between the community and neighbouring Ifon and Erin Osun towns.

The Commissioner said this while responding claim by one Tairu Babatunde, the Public Relations Officer of Ilobu Descendant Union (IDU) that he sent out fake soldiers to Ilobu to carry out killings.

“This is a lie taken to the extreme of great mischief,” Alimi said.

The Commissioner who decried the communal clashes said rather than politicise it, every right thinking person in the affected communities ought to strive for the avoidance of the carnage.

“The killings and destructions in the concerned communities are uncalled for because we are brothers and sisters.

“We have an age long relationship of inter marriages. This brotherhood and sisterhood is what we should promote as opposed to killing and maiming of ourselves. It is despicable and uncalled for.

“More unfortunate is the politicization of the conflicts, by using the conflicts to blackmail my humble self by some political jobbers hiding under the name of the conflicts.

“It started about a year ago when the conflicts between Ifon and Ilobu escalated. Quickly, some politicians from the opposition in Ilobu, hiding under the name of fighting for Ilobu interest started blackmailing Oluomo Kolapo Alimi as the one supporting Ifon against Ilobu.

“These baseless allegations reverberate throughout the length and breadth of Ilobu.

“It took Kolapo Alimi several efforts to disabuse the mind of right thinking people of Ilobu about these allegations.

The situation became worse now that Erin is involved, they reinvented their false claims that Alimi brought fake Soldiers to Ilobu.

“Before I delve into the issues, let’s inform those that might not know or remind those that have forgotten the contributions of Kolapo Alimi to the Development of Ilobu.

“My humble self, Kolapo Alimi , as a young boy, had a spell of almost ten years as a teacher in Ilobu Grammar School,Ilobu. I had a record of hard work which impacted positively on many Ilobu indigenes who are today doing well in their different areas of specialisation.

“Thereafter, when I ventured into public service as a politician and eventually, a Commissioner, I, Kolapo Alimi appointed an Ilobu indigene as my Personal Assistant, (an unprecedented step in our political development in our areas).

“In addition, I have records of facilitating the employment of many Ilobu indigenes into Local Govts, Lautech (now Uniosun teaching hospital) and Civil Defence among other key offices in various establishments in Osun and beyond.

“With all humility and modesty , I make bold to say that, I have assisted many Ilobu indigenes despite the fact that I am not an indigene of the town.
On politics, I stood firmly with Honourable Nasiru Olateju, an Ilobu indigene to become the member representing Irepodun/Orolu state constituency, in 2019. Let me stop at that for now.

“It is then quite surprising and astonishing that some people will deliberately be out as a result of mischief and other reasons, particularly politics, to malign my person and integrity.

“An example of such was a blackmail and malicious press release authored by one Tairu Babatunde, the Public Relations Officer of Ilobu Descendant Union (IDU) in which he alleged that I sent fake soldiers to Ilobu to carry out killings. This is a lie taken to the extreme of great mischief.

“Ordinarily,I wouldn’t have responded the way I am currently doing because, anybody holding a public position, more so, who is into politics, should from time to time expect such backlashes from the political opponents,” the Commissioner concluded.

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“I’m in charge” – Gov Alia dismisses calls for state of emergency in Benue

Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, has dismissed calls for a state of emergency in the state, describing them as politically motivated and a desperate attempt to undermine his administration’s progress.

The Governor was reacting to allegations made by the Centre for Judicial Integrity, CJI, which accused his government of attempting to buy off members of the judiciary.

Governor Alia, through his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, refuted the claims as baseless and unfounded.

He stated that those behind the calls for a state of emergency are disgruntled political elements seeking to destabilize Benue for their selfish interests.

“There is no crisis in Benue State. Governor Hyacinth Alia is fully in charge and committed to good governance,” the statement read.

He urged the people of Benue to disregard the falsehoods being spread by “crisis vendors” and focus on the transformational governance his administration is delivering.

“The call for a “state of emergency” in Benue State is not purely vexatious but also a flagrant display of political opportunism. It is evident that these irritated political operatives are sponsored by unscrupulous factions desperate and eager to capitalize on any situation for their advantage.

“Their motives are clear: to undermine a state that is presently going through effective governance and progress under Governor Alia’s leadership.

“There is no unrest in Benue State. Gov. Hyacinth Alia is fully in charge and control of the state,” he added.

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Tinubu inaugurates academy to nurture future leaders

President Bola Tinubu on Monday inaugurated the Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA) to empower young Nigerians and nurture the next generation of leaders.

Tinubu, represented by the Vice-President Kashim Shettima, said the academy would focus on skills development, employment, leadership and civil engagement.

This, according to him will be achieved through world-class training in digital literacy, technical skills, entrepreneurship and the creative industries.

Tinubu said his administration would ensure that the youth were equipped to compete on the global stage

He said initiatives like the Youth Investment Fund and the Presidential Initiative for Youth Enterprise Clusters would provide financial support, mentorship and resources for young entrepreneurs.

“The establishment of the National Youth Development Bank will ensure access to the capital needed to turn ideas into thriving businesses,” said the President.

According to Tinubu, Nigeria is a peculiar nation with a median age of 17 years, one of the youngest in the world.

“This demographic reality presents both extraordinary opportunity and a pressing challenge. The Nigerian Youth Academy is, therefore, our bold response to this reality.

“Over the next two years, this academy will train and empower millions of young Nigerians. It will equip them with the skills, knowledge and opportunities needed to compete with the rest of the world.

“This is not just an investment in their future, it is an investment in the future of our nation,” Tinubu said.

Earlier, Mr Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, said the academy would complement other transformative government initiatives that empahaised Tinubu’s commitment to young people.

Edun said the ministry of finance was fully committed to supporting programmes like NIYA that created real values, promoted service export and reduced youth unemployment.

“We will continue to work with the ministry of youth development and other partners to ensure that this platform succeeds and be integrated into the national economic strategy,” Edun said.

Also, Mr Ayodele Olawande, the Minister of Youth Development, said the academy would train, connect and empower the youth with skills needed for entrepreneurship.

“This initiative is for every Nigerian youth and is free. NIYA represents the determination of Mr President to help the youth to build their future, create opportunity for themselves and their family,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highpoint of the event was the presentation of N1 million start-up packs for six youths selected from each geopolitical zones. (PM/NAN)