The Chairman of Calabar South Local Government Area, Hon. Ndabu Robert Hogan has been given an award as one of the Best Local Government Chairmen in Nigeria by the Senate Committee on State and Local Government Administration in Collaboration with Global Gold Consult Ltd.
Ndabu Robert Hogan got the award in the just concluded Nigerian Local Government Development Summit and Awards Night with the theme, Security and Youth Employment Challenge in Nigeria, held at Nicon Luxury Hotel from 10th to 11th May 2023.
Ndabu Robert was also given a Certificate of Confinement of Nigerian Local Government Development Award and a Certificate of Participation.
Receiving the award, Hon. Ndabu Robert Hogan stated that he dedicates the Award to all those who in one way or the other helped create positive impact and change in Calabar South Local Government Area.
In his welcome address, the Chairman, Senate Committee on States and Local Government, Sen. Olalekan Mustapha, warmly welcome all Local Government Stakeholders from the 774 Local Government Areas to the summit.
Sen. Olalekan stated that the LGAs represent a significant tier in the Country’s desire for Socioeconomic transformation and development.
He said the Summit will serve as an avenue to collectively sensitise the Local Government Stakeholders on the objective of other programmes and activities of the Senate Committee and those anchored by third-party consultants.
He bid them a refreshing and rewarding deliberations and journey mercies back as he declared the Summit open.
Prof. J.O. Alabi, the keynote speaker who delivered his keynote address on the theme; “Security and Youth Employment Challenge In Nigeria Leveraging On Local Governments”, stated the reasons for rising unemployment to include;
• High population growth rates which have aggravated youth unemployment.
• Inadequate education curriculum which has rendered graduates unsuitable for available jobs.
• Inadequate infrastructure to sustain the growing population and create jobs which leads to:
– Low capacity utilisation of existing industries and
– Inadequate labour market information to prospective employees on available opportunities.
Prof. Alabi opined that research has shown that there exists a nexus between security challenges and the endemic unemployment situation in Nigeria. Adding that, “it is widely believed that Nations security will be greatly enhanced if youths are productively engaged”.
“Therefore, improved resource allocation to LGAs and the right mix of human material resources: the Local Governments are strategically positioned to provide the enabling environment for job creation for these teaming youths”.
He further stressed that good governance and indeed development at the local level is cardinal to the attainment of the nation’s development agenda as expressed.
