₦airaland Forum

What is N-Power?
In 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari set up a scheme to address pressing societal issues, such as youth unemployment. The program was targeted at boosting the rate of social development in the country. He created the scheme as a part of the National Social Investment Program, to set up a reliable structure to aid large scale acquisition of work skills. The program also aimed at ensuring that every participant learned and truly practiced the acquired skills in order to create a stable source of employment for themselves.

One might wonder what drives an economy towards growth and development. Could it be politics, agriculture, or some other major factor? Well, according to N-Power’s website, skills and knowledge are the driving forces of economic growth and development. Even if a country such as Nigeria, is facing a seemingly high level of unemployment, inclusion and productivity can be achieved within the country by harnessing the talents that remain untapped all over the country by means of appropriate skill development.

The N-Power program is a platform that seeks to create a means of economic diversification. The program empowers and prepares young Nigerians for an economy where youths lead major spheres by becoming innovators, and dominators in both domestic and global markets. The program sees a Nigeria with a plethora of software developers, hardware service professionals, animators, graphic artists, artisans, and service professionals, among others. The scheme also has non-graduates in mind as it seeks to provide them with relevant and highly sought technical and business skills to enhance their livelihood and work outlook.

Like every great project, N-Power has a motto that rings true of all the scheme stands for, “Empowering Nigerian Youths for Prosperity.” The empowerment scheme was formed on the 8th of June 2016, and its headquarters remain in Abuja. There have been over 500,000 beneficiaries of the program. Although compared to the present number of Nigerian youths, this seems like such a small amount, the scheme has gained even wider popularity in recent times.

Who is Eligible for N-Power?
N-Power is a program targeted at Nigerian youths. This means that the basic requirement for the program is that you have to be a youth. The scheme defines youths as between the ages of 18-35, so those younger than 18 and those older than 35 are automatically deemed ineligible for the empowerment scheme.

The general selection of eligible participants depends on;

Your genuine interest in your specified field.
Your ability to excel in the relevant tests.
Your willingness to go beyond your comfort zone.
Your ability to easily develop the skills you need to live an empowered life.
To qualify for N-Power, you must also be a graduate of any higher institution. This includes any post-tertiary qualification, such as Ordinary National Diploma (OND), Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) or any other degrees as specified by the program.

When did NPower start?
The N-Power Programme was formed on the 8th of June in 2016 by President Muhammadu Buhari. In a bid to alleviate poverty and empower Nigerian youths, the N-Power Programme was created to meet a gaping need.

What to Prepare before Applying for N-Power Grants?
Understand the different categories offered by the empowerment program to know which suits you the most.
Have a printout of your accurate information, with your Bank Verification Number, and a recent passport photograph.
Sharpen your knowledge of grammar, general knowledge and if you’re applying for N-Power VAIDS, you’ll need to sharpen your basic numerical concepts.
What are the N-Power Programmes
The empowerment scheme offers a number of diverse programs, and these programs are divided into three. They are;

N-Power Volunteer Corps
The volunteer corps is the post-tertiary engagement initiative targeted at Nigerian youths between the ages of 18-35. The program is a paid volunteering program that spans across a 2-year period. Graduates will be required to undertake their primary tasks in reputable public services, and they’ll also be entitled to computing devices with information necessary for their particular engagements. The information will also include information for their continuous training and development. Programs grouped under N-Power Volunteer Programmes include; N-Power Agro, N-Power Health, N-Power Teach, and N-Power Tax.

N-Power Knowledge
The knowledge program is the government’s very first step towards achieving a diversified knowledge economy. The program is to work alongside the planned eight innovation hubs all over the country in order to provide acceleration of technology and creative industries. The N-Power Knowledge Programme is a “Training to Jobs” initiative, which seeks to ensure that all participants are adequately engaged in the market place in outsourcing capacities, or as freelancers, employees, or even entrepreneurs. N-Power Knowledge Programmes include; N-Power Creative, N-Power Tech Hardware, and N-Power Tech Software.


https://vantage99.com/n-power-news-everything-you-need-to-know-about-nigerias-n-power-grants/

APC wins Ekiti

Follow the election live (data visualisation) results

Pidgin:https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/resources/idt-57851b9b-078b-4e8e-956b-80e984630ff2
Yoruba: https://www.bbc.com/yoruba/resources/idt-516a2696-8342-4b92-8ce9-aaf46eb523ee
Hausa: https://www.bbc.com/hausa/resources/idt-b44969c9-b432-4a48-8b89-876d65be16e3
Igbo: https://www.bbc.com/igbo/resources/idt-52ea208d-1761-4957-b2be-3ca578969de4

Prince Martin Kunle Olateru-Olagbegi of Action Democratic Party (ADP) says the party was borne out of necessity.

He says his party believes strongly in inclusiveness for women and disabled.
ttps://www.bbc.com/pidgin/live/tori-47161132

Candidates currently present

AAC- Rabiu Ahmed Rufai
ADP - Kunle Durolagbege Martins
ANN - Khadija Abdulahi-Iya

The vice presidential debate is live. You can watch here: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewspidgin/videos/332394107391359/

and follow updates here: https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/live/tori-47161132

Dealing with unemployment:

Eniye Braide: We will look at other products we can extract from crude oil. We would also boost agriculture by building capable industries.

Isaac Nwonwu: We are blessed in Rivers state. We would establish micro industries for our youths. We would also establish technical training centers. We would also improvee agricultural business. We would empower business enthusiasts with loans. We would focus on women more as they are our mothers.

Victor Fingesi: Leverage lands in the rural areas to promote agriculture. We would invest in tractors by partnering with organisations and foundations. We are not going to borrow money to improve agriculture.

Precious Elekima: I would encourage every community to harness their raw materials. SOme communities have clay, ethanol and cassava. We are going to use ethanol to make perfumes and alcoholic drinks. We would partner with universities help these industries with research.

Q: Why you want to be governor?

Isaac Nwonwu: The past government have tried but if you vote me, I would do better. I would help mothers have enough money to train their home. I would make sure education is improved leveraging scholarships. I will improve on agriculture in all parts of River State. We would have mechanised agricultural business. We would create jobs for all our youths. I am experienced because I have public and private job experience. Labour party will protect everybody.

BBC Pidgin is hosting a governorship debate in

Gubernatorial candidates present:

Isaac Nwonwu . - LP
Eniye Braide . - ADC
Victor Fingesi . - ADP
Precious Elekema - SDP

Governor Wike - Absent
Dumo Lulu-Briggs - Accord


Watch on Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewspidgin/videos/349000829271871/

BBC Pidgin will host a debate for River State governorship candidates.

Governor Wike and other gubernatorial candidates are expected to answer questions bothering indigenes of the state. The event will happen at 10am tomorrow.

There will be a Twitter Live update here: https://twitter.com/bbcnewspidgin

His statement to BBC

'The choices we have in Nigeria today during the elections is between candidates of APC and PDP. The other smaller parties will always support one of them'

' So APC nominates Buhari and if PDP's choice is Atiku. From whagt I know about Buhari and what he has done so far, he does not know the job, he is evil and partial.'

'Atiku is two times better than Buhari'
'Atiku is not an angel but will still perform better'


Full interview:

https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-46948108
https://www.bbc.com/yoruba/afrika-46956245

In an interview with the BBC Yoruba, Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has spoken about his former deputy and Presidential candidate in the 2019 General Elections, Atiku Abubakar, Boko Haram and the Independence National Electoral Commission.

Watch here: https://www.bbc.com/yoruba/afrika-46942779
https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/sport-46948804

Ex-footballers Efe Sodje, 46, and Stephen Sodje, 43, and ex-rugby player Bright Sodje, 52, were found guilty and jailed for the fraud in 2017.

The case can only be reported now following the conclusion of a separate trial involving former Reading and Nigeria footballer Sam Sodje, 39.

Earlier on Monday, he was cleared at the Old Bailey of money laundering.

The fraud trial in 2017 had heard how the family set up the Sodje Sports Foundation (SSF) in 2009, ostensibly to help provide facilities in Nigeria.

https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/sport-46948434
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-46946503

PDP and APC candidates absent.

https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-46901783

My initial understanding of the concept totally revolved around selling stuffs on Facebook. I never really understood that I have been exposed to the digital world before the term became a household name. This was a few years ago and not until recently did my understanding of the digital marketing concept changed.
Understanding digital marketing as a business strategy is important for every business. More than 70% of businesses worldwide employ digital marketing strategies. It is fast driving traditional strategies into oblivion and businesses not willing to change along with it. Digital marketing is now an integral part of most successful businesses.

An example of the power and efficiency of digital marketing is the ‘share a coke with…’ campaign implemented by the Coca-Cola brand a few years ago. Coca-Cola, at that point was already a household name but that campaign skyrocketed their revenue by an unprecedented amount because the campaign was target audience-specific and everyone wanted to get onboard, Coca-Cola lovers or not. I can bet my last Naira that the person who came up with that idea got a raise, a promotion, and probably a nice house by the beach. The idea behind the campaign was simple. They got the most common Nigerian names, displayed them on the brand wrap found on the bottle with the simple line, “share a coke with…”

https://digitalpie.co/digital-marketing-in-nigeria-how-you-can-grow-your-business/

Nigerian kids are not lazy - Meet 7 year old, Nigerian celebrity photographer. Moyinoluwa Oluwaseun started photography at age 4.
Catching them young is always the best!!!



https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/media-46116057

Update

On already!

Latest happenings from Osun State.




Yoruba: https://www.bbc.com/yoruba/resources/idt-451441a7-13c0-49ed-aef6-b58005f1e38d
Pidgin: https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/resources/idt-dce930bf-8f21-4d92-bdd9-14245597389a
Igbo: https://www.bbc.com/igbo/resources/idt-1138547e-d3af-4102-be83-a06bcdf9704f

We are still waiting for INEC

I don't think it has been confirmed. INEC is yet to announce the winner.

confirmation should happen soon I guess.