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Akuapem North NCCE engages Community

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Participants listening to the Akuapem North NCCE director with rapt attention

As part of activities to improve principles of governance among Ghanaians, the Akuapem North Municipal Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has held different fora to sensitize residents within its operational area on the 1992 Constitution.

The activities form part of the 2023 Annual Constitution Week celebration, which was under the theme“30 Years of Consolidating Constitutional Democracy: Building National Cohesion through Civic Education and Participation in Local Governance”.

Various Community Based Organizations (CBO), artisans, religious organizations and community members within the Akuapem North Municipality were separately engaged and taken through the pillars of the constitution as well as responsibilities of the citizenry.

The Municipal Director Ms. Benedicta Duvor took the participants to school on the history behind the 1992 Constitution and how the Commission derives its mandate.

She continued that the values of the 1992 Constitution are meant to ensure progress as one people and the additional provisions in the Constitution that point to the need to allow these Ghanaian values to motivate citizens’ actions to exhibit patriotism.

The Akuapem North Municipal Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) further touched on the qualifications and functions of Assembly Members, adding that district level election is non-partisan as stated in Article 248 of the 1992 Constitution.

She encouraged the participants to live harmoniously with their neighbours irrespective of their socio-cultural, political and educational orientation in an effort to foster national unity.

Ms. Duvor charged Ghanaians particularly women and young people to exercise their universal adult suffrage in the upcoming district level elections.

Jocelyn Fit appeals for accreditation ….for youth empowerment

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The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Joycelyn Fit Fashion Cake and decor, Madam Joyce Pechi-Anim

In the quest to find solution to the growing unemployment situation in the country, management of Jocelyn Fit, a Koforidua based Fashion Cake and decor training centre has launched a passionate appeal to the National Vocational Training Institute to give the centre the accreditation to run certificate programmes.

Cross-section of the graduands cutting the ceremonial cake

Speaking at the centre’s 4th graduation ceremony held in Koforidua, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mrs Joyce Pechi-Anim, hinted that graduands would effectively and efficiently be recognised if the centre is accredited.

She noted that her outfit’s contribution is to complement the mission of NVITI, which is to provide demand-driven employable skills and enhance the income generating capacities of basic and secondary school leavers, and other persons through competency-based Apprenticeship, Master craftsmanship, Testing and Career development.

Jocelyn Fit assists youths to gain practical experience in fashion designing, decoration, bakery, confectionery courses and other programs in their chosen career path to provide skills and training to the youths to be self-independent.

Mrs. Joyce Pechi-Anim appealed to the youth, especially those with low level of education, to enrol in the practical programs and also take skills and training seriously, as it plays a vital role in supporting economic growth and development at both the individual and community level.

The Eastern Regional Director of National Youth Authority (NYA), Mrs. Marian Mansa Minah commended Madam Joyce Pechi-Anim for providing skills training for the youth.

Mrs. Marian Mansa urged the unemployed youth to enrol in the various entrepreneurial programs.

She stated that NYA is mainly focused on its mandate to coordinate and facilitate youth empowerment activities in Ghana to ensure development of the Ghanaian youth as a whole.

Begoro PRESEC wins NOLF quiz competition

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Founder of NOLF Mr Nick Ochere in an interview with the media

Begoro Presbyterian Senior High School (SHS) in the Fanteakwa North district of the Eastern Region has been adjudged the overall winner of Nick Ochere Literacy Foundation (NOLF) maiden quiz competition.

The only SHS in the Fanteakwa North district beat Nsutam Senior High and Technical School and Osino Presbyetrian Senior High School, both schools in Fanteakwa South District Assembly.

The maiden Literacy quiz competition, which was organised by Nick Ochere, a publisher, philanthropist and resident of Begoro was to encourage the youth, mainly students, to cultivate the habit of reading to expand their knowledge.

The keenly contested competition, which was first of its kind, was mainly centered on one of three books published by Mr Nick Ochere titled: “Your Own People Volume 1”.

The book has been accepted by the Ghana Education Service to be used as a supplementary book in the various Senior High Schools in the country.

People from all walks of life, including academia, traditional leaders, clergy and students from the participating schools attended.

Speaking with The Chronicle shortly after the competition, the Founder of NOLF and Organiser of the competition, Mr Nick Ochere, expressed his general fulfilment and appreciation for a well-organised event.

He explained that the motive behind the quiz competition and the launching of the Foundation is to encourage the youth, mainly students, to cultivate the habit of reading to expand their knowledge.

To him, reading keeps people updated on what is happening, what has happened and what is about to happen because reading a book gives people life experience.

Mr. Nickolas Ochere disclosed that helping the people to build good literacy and to improve their educational standard is the main purpose of the quiz competition and the launching of the Foundation in the Fanteakwa North district.

The Publisher and Philanthropist stressed that, he visualises what seems to be a district based quiz competition transforming into a national program in the coming months to help equip the knowledge of the students in the country.

The Vice Chancellor of Pentecost University, Apostle Professor Kwabena Agyapong Kodua, who doubled as the chairman for the event paid glowing tribute to Mr. Nick Ochere for organising the competition.

According to the Pentecost University don, he was not surprised about the establishment of the good educational initiative by Mr Nick Okyere since it has always been his desire to inspire the youth and the younger generation.

He continued that, the maiden quiz competition which was based on the book, “your own people volume 1”, is an ample demonstration of humility and God fearing by Mr. Nick Okyere.

Apostle Professor Kwabena Agyapong Kodua said Mr. Nick’s prime objective is to help the younger generation to cultivate at the early stage desire to read, write and talk frequently to make their future brighter.

“Reading must be cultivated at the early stage because when it comes later, it comes with its own associated difficulties, it has been said that one of the greatest differences between human beings and animals, is human ability to write, read and communicate with sensible vocabulary,” he added

He explained that reading, writing and pronunciation is one of the distinctions between human beings and animals because animals don’t read and write, adding that human beings were created in the image of God, but animals were created differently.

He urged the students to spend their quality time studying books as it improves their focus, memory, empathy and communication skills.

MTN Group adjudged first in Africa brand for doing good business

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MTN

MTN Group has been named by Brand Africa as the number one African brand that is doing good for people, society and the environment, in a new category of its annual awards inspired by businesses shifting from profit to purpose.

Brand Africa also named MTN as the most admired African brand recalled spontaneously.

Ralph Mupita, MTN Group President and Chief Executive Officer who welcomed the Award expressed his joy and stated that MTN is greatly encouraged to receive the accolade, which recognises their work to deliver on their strategic priority to create shared value with ESG at the core.

According to him, it motivates them to keep focused on providing leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress and to ensure that everyone enjoys the benefits of a modern connected life.

The new award category acknowledges MTN’s contributions towards empowering people, supporting sustainable societal development and preserving the environment.

He stated that through their broad range of initiatives and alliances, MTN Group demonstrates dedication to making a positive difference in the lives of Africans.

He noted that understanding that commitment needs to translate into action, their advances in that regard in 2022 include ensuring greater digital inclusion by extending broadband (including rural) coverage to almost 88% of the population in their markets; contributing approximately R149 billion in economic value-added to society and reducing GHG emissions by around 13.9%^ as part of journey to achieve net zero emissions by 2040.

He noted that, the award would not have been possible without the support of the many stakeholders with whom they engage every day and commended their customers, employees, governments and regulators, and society at large across their 19 markets.

President Mupita acknowledged the role of the Group’s partners in its achievements in connecting the unconnected, uplifting communities and protecting the planet.

In April, Brand Finance assigned MTN the highest ‘sustainability perceptions value’ of all companies in its ‘South Africa 100 2023’ survey in which the Group retained the rank as South Africa’s most valuable brand.

The MTN Group which was launched in 1994 is a leading emerging market operator with a clear vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world to their customers.

The MTN are inspired by their belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life and listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code ‘MTN’. Their strategy is Ambition 2025: Leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress.

Over 30 structures illegally connected to one electricity meter

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Personnel of the Afienya District of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Limited, on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 discovered that one customer had connected electricity to thirty-three structures within the same vicinity at Gbetsile, a suburb of the Greater Accra Region.

Pictures from the Gbestile exercise

The discovery was made as part of the ECG’s phase two of its national revenue mobilisation drive, which started on Monday, May 29, 2023 and is expected to end on Friday, June 2, 2023.

Briefing the media, the District Manager for ECG Afienya District, Ing Daniel Mensah-Asare indicated that as part of the exercise, “we also check on the state of the meters to ensure that they are in good condition and working as they are expected to, and it was during one of such meter checks that the group discovered that the meter, which had been fixed to one of the structures, had wires connecting to surrounding structures.

“Further checks revealed that there had been an illegal connection in the form of a meter bypass, and so the customer was not paying the right amount for the power consumed.”

Unfortunately, the owner of the structure fled upon seeing the ECG personnel, however, because the meter was located outside his premise, it was accessible to the team.

Before disconnecting their supply from the service line, the ECG personnel first informed the other residents of the various infractions they had discovered. The company seized the cable.

After the disconnection, the ECG team engaged some of the residents who claimed to have been paying for the power they were using monthly to the owner of the meter.

Others said they had been paying an average of GH¢35 a month for several months now.

Another infraction the ECG team discovered in the same vicinity was the unlawful movement of fake and normal ECG meters from their original locations to new structures.

Addressing the media, Ing Mensah-Asare indicated that the revenue mobilisation and meter integrity checks were going on well, adding that they had not had any resistance from customers.

He said the customer who illegally connected power to the 33 structures would be pursued to face charges.

He, however, called on customers to ensure that all their meters would be accessible to ECG workers whenever necessary.

Ing Mensah-Asare said anybody engaged in power theft should know that ECG has the mandate to prosecute such customers and the court could fine or jail the potential culprit or suffer both sentences.

SHC new housing units commissioned at Adenta

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Minister Asenso Boakye cutting the tape to commission the buildings

Mr Francis Asenso-Boakye, Minister for Works and Housing, has echoed the government’s commitment to providing quality but affordable housing for the citizens.

According to him, the government is determined to partner with private developers through acquisition and provision of land, which will take care of 40 percent (%) of the overall cost the housing units.

Currently, he said the country has over 2 million housing deficit, yet data has it that only 60% of the population can have access to housing supported from the government, and 35% out of the same number will find it more difficult to access housing even with the government support.

Speaking at the commissioning of Seasons Court at Adenta, one of State Housing Cooperation’s (SHC) flagship projects, in Accra yesterday, the Minister added that only 5% of the general population can on their own access housing without the government support.

This, he proudly congratulated State Housing Cooperation for stepping in to continuously fill the gap, which is now dominated by private developers.

He described the ceremony as a very important event because it is about shelter, one of the three basic but most important needs of humans, saying “as you know state housing is a developer and it is competing very well with other private sector developers.”

Mr Asenso-Boakye added that although SHC is owned by the state, in principle it is a profit-making entity of the state, charged to provide affordable housing below the market threshold.

A group photograph of the Minister, management and board members of SHC

He argued that even though affordability is a relative term, the price tag of houses being provided by SHC under ‘affordable’ is still beyond the range that the government envisaged.

“The government has come up with a new revised affordable housing programme that seeks to support the private sector including SHC with land and horizontal infrastructure with the view to reducing the construction cost up to about 40%,” he stated.

He disclosed that two of the affordable housing projects will spring up at Pokuase and Dedesua in Accra and Ashanti regions respectively.

The minister was particularly happy about the drastic transformation of SHC, which was near obsolete to a flamboyant and vibrant state enterprise.

“I’m happy to be associated the state housing story, it is a story that gives meaning to the notion that leadership counts. We are talking about a company that was not developing, it was not able to pay its staff and it was in a deplorable situation, but since the taking over of this administration, we have brought in new management working hand-in-hand with the staff of SHC, and the fortune of this company has turned round,” he stated.

Kwabena Ampofo Appiah, Managing Director of State Housing Company Limited added that the Seasons Court is a 16-housing unit for at least 60 families.

It was constructed within 18 months at a site formally used for dumping refuse and each of the buildings bears the name of SHC hardworking and long serving employee.

Mr Appiah said although the building had already been sold out, there are similar ones also at Adenta at various stages of completion.

Stephen Asiedu on behalf of the Director-General of State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA) congratulated SHC for its steadfast commitment to provide affordable housing to the citizens.

He added that considering the strides that SHC had made with adequate capital injection, it can make great strides to close Ghana’s existing housing deficit.

Mr Asiedu also called on the private investor community to seriously consider collaborating with SHC in providing affordable housing.

Employers are not looking for graduates who will learn by rote … NACCA boss tells graduating students of CAUC

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Professor Edward Appiah, Director General of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NACCA) has revealed that the mode which employers used to recruit graduates has changed.

According to him, employers are now after graduates who can proffer solutions to challenges.

“We are not looking for graduate who will learn by rote, we are not looking for graduate who will always want to ask for solutions. The economy now looks for graduates who already have solutions and are ready to offer the solutions when needed,” he said.

Speaking at the 8th Congregation of Christ Apostolic University College(CAUC), where 262 students graduated with Bachelor Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates, he urged the graduands to broaden their horizon by climbing higher the academic ladder.

“The first degree is just the foundation, it is up to you to make use of the world that is in front of you,” he advised the students.

On the revision of the pre-tertiary curriculum, the Director General of NACCA revealed that indeed the pre-tertiary curriculum has been revise and that science and technology, mathematics and 21st century skills have been included.

The President of CAUC, Prof Clement Somuah, on his part stated that science and technology is crucial in Ghana’s quest to become an industrialised state.

According to him, investing in science and technology education is a harbinger for the economic development of Ghana, adding that technological investment is an investment in the future of a nation’s industries and overall socio-economic competiveness.

To him, accelerated industrial development is a sine qua non for Ghana to address challenges such as poverty alleviation, unemployment and improve the living standards of the people. This epic initiative, he stated, will require a comprehensive approach that considers all aspects of the problem.

“Science and technology education is vital for the industrial development of Ghana;It is time for us as a nation to prioritise Science and Technology Education to drive accelerated industrial development,” he said at the ceremony, which was under the theme: “Revamping the Educational System to Address Unemployment and Accelerated Economic Development.”

On life after university education, the President of CAUC, expressed worry that one of the biggest challenges facing Ghana is graduate unemployment, disclosing that each year over 100,000 students graduate from tertiary institutions in Ghana to seek for jobs.

However, less than 20% are able to find employment in the formal sector, with the rest starting some businesses of their own or join the unemployed graduates.

According to Prof.Samuah, the management of CAUC is not oblivious of this growing challenge university graduates face in finding employment after graduation in a nation with high unemployment rate. He added that at CAUC every student takes courses in management, accounting and entrepreneurship to prepare them to go into business for themselves.

Prof Somuah subsequently urged the graduands to make a lasting impact, which contributes to the socio-economic development of Ghana.

Quoting the words of Alvin Toffler, he said: The illiterate of the twenty-first century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearnand relearn.”

On his part, the Chancellor of CAUC, Apostle Samuel Amponsah Frimpong(ESQ), suggested that the current educational system should be tailored toward addressing Ghana’s peculiar challenges while at the same time growing the Ghanaian economy.

Referencing the Ghana Statistical Service’s (GSS) 2022 Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey (AHIES) Third Quarter Labour Statistics, Apostle Amponsah Frimpong underscored that the survey  highlights statistics on economic activities and unemployment rate in Ghana, adding that one worrying aspect of the survey was the unemployment statistics captured in the report.

“About 1.76 million persons were unemployed in the third quarter of 2022. Within this population, two out of every three unemployed persons were females.”

The CAUC Chancellor further expatiated on the GSS survey, noting that across the three quarters, about 157,000 persons experienced an unemployment spell thus they were unemployed in all the quarters in the year 2022. The report further puts the ratio of unemployment as 8.4%.

Apostle Samuel Amponsah Frimpong asserted that the challenges bedeviling the Ghanaian Economy makes one wonder whether the unemployment challenges could be addressed anytime soon.

Nevertheless,  Chancellor Amponsah charged the graduating students to help Ghana in reversing this unemployment trend.

“I, therefore, challenge you to dare the status quo and think about the possibilities to address this challenge confronting the nation.

“In doing so, you may not have to look for the job opportunities, but also have the initiative to create jobs through your own ingenuities.”

Okyereko accident: Afenyo-Markin commiserates with bereaved families

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Mr Afenyo Markin

Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Effutu, have expressed sadness about the death of about 16 people in an accident at Okyereko in the Central Region on Tuesday, May 30, 2023.

A Yutong bus with registration number GT 5866-L and a fuel tanker with registration number WR 2063-10 was reported to have collided head-on on Tuesday morning at Gomoa Okyereko, resulting in the death of 16 people.

The accident that claimed 15 lives

About 40 passengers were also reported to have suffered various degrees of injuries and were rushed to the Trauma and Specialist Centre in Winneba for treatment.

Commiserating with the bereaved families, Mr Afenyo-Markin, who is also the Deputy Majority Leader in a statement signed by him and issued to the Ghana News Agency said: “My heart is heavy. It is with a profound sense of sorrow and heartfelt sympathy that I extend my deepest condolences, sympathies, and well wishes to the families, friends, and loved ones affected by the tragic accident that took place at Gomoa Okyereko on the Accra-Cape Coast Road in the early hours of Tuesday.

“Today, my heart is heavy as we mourn the loss of 16 precious West African lives. In this time of immense grief, I extend my sincerest condolences to the bereaved families. May you find solace and strength in the cherished memories of your loved ones and may their souls rest in eternal peace. Please know that you are not alone in these trying times,” it said.

The statement further expressed the MP’s gratitude to the firefighters and staff of the Ghana Ambulance Service for their heroic efforts.

“I would like to extend my utmost appreciation and admiration to the valiant rescue teams from the Ghana National Fire Service and the Ghana Ambulance Service. Your unwavering dedication and selflessness in the face of adversity reflect the finest qualities of service and bravery,” it said.

The statement also wished the accident survivors a speedy recovery adding, “To the brave individuals who survived this harrowing incident and are currently undergoing treatment at the Winneba Trauma and Specialist Hospital, please accept my sympathies and well wishes for a speedy recovery. Your resilience and courage inspire us all.”

GNA

NDC, Finding Excuse for Imminent Defeat

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Opinion

It was on Accra FM, that he was heard loud and clear speaking gibberish. He was heard saying that during the recent Kumawu by-elections, the New Patriotic Party violated electoral laws, by giving out GH¢ 50.00to electorates to buy their votes. He stressed that it was robbery.

During his submission, he said President Nana Akufo Addo killed people in order to be president. That was about those who got killed during the 2020 General Elections.

Now look at the NDC talking. The recent primaries to elect flag bearer and parliamentary candidates were conducted with a register that was not credible. A register where a lot of the names of the delegates were removed and replaced by unqualified people. Dr. Duffuor, a presidential aspirant, took the issue to court and it was proven that the register was not credible to be used in any form of elections.

I suppose the NDC will no longer attack the EC on issues centred on electoral registers.

The recent NDC primaries was also full of vote buying. At least there were social media videos where an aspirant in Ejura Sekyeredumasi constituency, Madam Juliana KinangWassan, was seen standing in the bucket of a pick-up, spraying Ghana cedi notes on delegates.

Also, veteran politician Nana Oye Bampoe Addo was said to have dished out at least GH¢ 2,000.00 to each of the over 2,500 delegates.

Some media houses also alleged that during the recent NDC primaries, tens of millions of Ghana cedis found their way out of aspirant’s hands into the pockets of delegates. And with all this someone from the NDC is falsely accusing the NPP of dishing out money to voters at the just ended Kumawu by-elections.

Then he came out again to say H.E. Nana Addo, had to kill people to become president.

The founder and rock of the NDC, Jerry John Rawlings is known, on record, for murdering innocent full blooded-Ghanaians to become leader of this nation. Rawlings murdered Afrifa, Acheampong, Utuka, Kotei, Akufo, Amedume, Felli and Boakye in 1979 to establish himself as the only person to rid this country off corruption and all forms of malfeasances.

When in actual fact, Afrifa was a leader of a government that overthrew the Nkrumah regime and set this country on the path of economic recovery.

When the National Liberation Council took over from Nkrumah’s CPP in February 1966, Ghana’s external debt was $ 1 billion. And by the time, the NLC handed over to Busia’s Progress Party, it had reduced the nation’s external debt to almost half; $ 572 million, a decrease of 42.8%.

In 2000, Rawlings, who came to inherit an external debt of $1.5 billion in 1981, ended the longest single reign of a leader and increased Ghana’s external debt to $ 6.7 billion, an increase of 318.75%.

The whole of Rawlings’ nineteen years reign was shrouded with economic mismanagement and in the end, the cedi crushed from ¢2.75 to $1.00 in 1981 to ¢ 6,500.00, over 243,500% depreciation.

Here is a man who killed innocent people in 1979 and beyond, so that he can be leader of this nation. What evident is there, that H.E. Nana Addo killed even a fowl as sacrifice to win the presidency? Rawlings shed blood and in doing so targeted the pure and innocent.

It is on record that he confessed before dying that all the two former heads of state and six senior Armed Forces officers he killed were only sacrificed so that many other corrupt and guilty ones must live.

From the panellist on Accra FM, it became clear that the NDC knowing that it is going into a match in which it will be whipped mercilessly, decided to start making excuses and drawing the attention of Ghanaians to imaginary reasons that would spell defeat for the party in the Assin-North by-elections.

An NDC member appeared on social media and told Ghanaians, that as far as Assin North is concerned, the NPP will not have it easy as it had in Kumawu. He highlighted on moneycracy which he claimed was showcased by the NPP in Kumawu which made it win the seat.

The NDC is not admitting that it performed miserably in Kumawu but rather giving reasons to imply that the NPPrigged the by-elections. Everything the opposition party is accusing the NPP of, it did in its recent primaries.

Apart from adulterating the party’s register by removing many qualified delegates and replacing them with those not qualified to vote in the primaries,money was used to entice delegates to vote in a certain way. Money and loads of it descended like manna descending from Heaven.

The Juliana and Nana Oye’s cases were just minor issues used to throw dust in Ghanaians’ eyes and draw their attentions from the true nature of moneycracy during the primaries.

The NDC has promised to match the NPP boot for boot in Assin North, meaning what? If the NPP gives out GH¢5.00 the NDC will give out GH¢50.00, is that it? If the EC presents a voters’ register, the NDC will produce its own, is that it? Or, will it be Do-Or-Die, where the NDC will come out in its violent self to wreak havoc during the by-elections?

Ghana will reign supreme in Assin-North and those who cry for war will be humbled by peace and love.

By Hon. Daniel Dugan

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The Chronicle’s stance.

Vice President Shettima assumes office, rallies support for new govt

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Vice President Kashim Shettima

Vice President Kashim Shettima has assumed duties at the Office of the Vice President, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Mr Shettima was received at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday by members of staff of the Office of the Vice President and had a brief interaction with the staffers.

President Bola Tinubu and Mr Shettima were sworn-in on Monday at the Eagle Square, Abuja, by the Chief Justice of the Federation, Olukayode Ariwoola.

Shortly after taking his seat at the office, Mr Shettima fielded questions from State House correspondents.

He said that the new administration was committed to turning around the fortunes of Nigeria and solicited the maximum support of the citizens.

“To paraphrase the late John Kennedy, to whom much is given, much is expected; I believe this generation of Nigerians has a rendezvous with destiny.

“And my principal, Bola Tinubu, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is poised to redefine the meaning and concept of modern governance.

“I want to assure Nigerians that he is going to provide the leadership and we will rally round him and give him our unequivocal support and loyalty to see the realisation of the Nigerian dream.

A Nigeria where every black man in the world shall be proud of; this is the greatest black nation on earth; power to me is a humbling experience; it is all about how to make life better for the common man.’’

Mr Shettima assured that Mr Tinubu, would take Nigeria to high pedestal as he had the skillset, temperament, disposition, purity of mind and commitment to give service to the nation.

Credit: premiumtimesng.com

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