President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina State, on Wednesday implored parents to inculcate right values in children, including deep fear of God, respect for constituted authorities and living a purposeful life through continuous education.
The President charged the youth to seek education, not for government jobs which are unavailable but to arm themselves with skill and ability to fight poverty and to meet the needs of the 21st Century.
The President, who was at the Emir of Daura’s Palace for the Sallah homage, said more time should be given to the coaching of the future leaders, with basic knowledge of moral values, as the fast changing world, driven by new technology, would be more competitive and demanding.
“I was locked up for more than three years, after leading the country. At that point, I realised and I told my children that your net worth is what is in your head, not what you have acquired in life.
“My focus has always been on training the children to be relevant wherever they find themselves. I told my children, particularly the girls, that they can only get married after getting a first degree.
“They already know that I am not leaving anything for anyone to inherit. My greatest legacy to the children is to ensure they are properly educated,” he said.
The President noted that the younger children should be guided and taught history, as they would find it hard to be patriotic, responsible and respectful, without a thorough understanding of their backgrounds.
“Whoever does not have a good sense of history will easily make mistakes.
“We should ensure the children get proper education. The knowledge they acquire should not be towards getting government jobs. We don’t have jobs in government anymore. With technology, governments are becoming more smaller, nimble and efficient.
“Emphasis should now be on skills acquisition and competence in creation and deployment of technology. During the Covid-19, we asked all level 12 downward to stay at home, and surprisingly the systems worked effectively, the President noted.
President Buhari told the Emir of Daura, Dr Faruk Umar Faruk, that he will be more regular in visits, preparatory to the handing over in May, 2023, adding that the prolonged absence was due to the demands of his office.
“This is the longest I have been away from home. Infact, the Emir took to the court of public opinion at the prayer ground, when he openly told everyone that I had not visited Daura for close to a year,” he added.
President Buhari said all Nigerians must make sacrifices to move the country forward, especially the public servants, calling for more selflessness and inclusion.
“At the end, it is only God that can reward your efforts, not man,” he said.
In his remarks, Governor Aminu Bello Masari listed the achievements of the President to include social security, which was created to cater for the poor, and ensure that they receive some money at the end of every month.
“No government in the history of this country has done more to reduce poverty like President Buhari’s administration. He asked religious and community leaders to bring enlightenment to bear on successful government programs such as the Social Investment Program, SIP through which 120,000 poor citizens in 12 Local Government Areas of the state receive a monthly payment of N5,000 and this is happening in all the states.
“Today, we have over 863,000 children in the state being fed under the school feeding program. This has created 10,000 jobs for women cooks, 14,000 young men and women enrolled in N-Power.
“We have food vendors who are engaged and earning their livelihood. All the foolish talk on social media is by those who only think of themselves. Our elites are never happy or appreciative until something gets to their pockets,” he said.
Masari said security in the country had improved considerably, compared to when the President came into power, reminding the Daura Emirate Council, title holders, political leaders in the state and citizens across the entire federation to remember the bombings if mosques and churches before 2015 that had hindered worship, problems which explained are no longer with us.
“Human beings forget easily. It is true that we have not reached where we want, but efforts are being made to ameliorate the situation. Look at the size of our security compared to the population, you will know we all have to be involved in securing the country,” he added.
The Emir of Daura thanked the President for the infrastructural and institutional developments in the state, saying generations will remember and remain grateful to President Buhari.
Dr Faruk urged the President to increase his patience and tolerance as he begins to countdown, knowing that the ultimate reward for all his sacrifice will come from God.
“All Nigerians, both good and bad, know you are doing your best. In life you will have people who like you, and those who do not like you. If you have many wives, or many children, they will not like you equally.
“Some are insulting you and belittling your efforts now. Don’t worry. They will do the same thing to the next president.
“Keep doing your best, and remain tolerant as a leader. In Daura here, even the blind or the leader of all the blinds know that you have made a great difference. We are grateful, and proud of you,” the Emir said.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
July 13, 2022
PRESIDENT BUHARI PARTICIPATES IN TRIAL CENSUS IN DAURA, CONGRATULATES NPC ON PREPAREDNESS
The first phase of Census 2023— the trial House listing and House numbering took off officially in selected local government areas of the country today, Wednesday with President Muhammadu Buhari blessing the exercise, urging officials to justify the confidence of the government by returning accurate, verifiable and dependable data.
To mark the commencement of the exercise, the National Population Commission (NPC) accredited President Muhammadu Buhari at his country home in Daura, Katsina State.
“I am happy you have started the process, and congratulations. I know this will require a lot of time, skill and stamina,” President Buhari told the team from NPC led by the Chairman, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra.
After the digital capturing, the chairman explained the modalities and technicalities of the Population and Housing Census to the President.
Kwarra said President Buhari had been designated number one on the list, from Daura, Katsina, and his house was also the first.
The chairman said the trial commenced with the President, followed the conclusion of the training of the field functionaries for the Trial Census exercise, who will begin the fieldwork of the Trial Census from 13th to 30th July, 2022 in the selected Enumeration Areas and Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the 36 States of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He said the Trial Census, also known as the “census dress rehearsal”, was one of the pre-census activities to evaluate all aspects of the census operation before the main census on a limited scale.
“It is a process in which all census operations are tested in a detailed and comprehensive manner to assess the level of preparedness of the Commission to conduct the 2023 Population and Housing Census.
“The Trial Census shall cover a total of 7681 Enumeration Areas (EAs) in the 36 States and the FCT. Six LGAs have been selected from the six selected States in the six geo-political zones of the country for full population enumeration while forty-five EAs in nine LGAs cutting across three senatorial districts were selected from each of the thirty States and the FCT for enumeration,” he added.
The Trial Census fieldwork includes, building numbering and household listing from 13th to 15th July, 2022; validation of EA frame from 16th to 18th July, 2022; person’s enumeration from 19th to 25th July, 2022; and enumeration mop up from 26th to 30th July, 2022.
As part of the exercise, Enumerators are expected to visit all residential and non-residential buildings within the selected Enumeration Areas and number the buildings and enumerate members of households in the buildings.
At the end of the trial census exercise, the NPC expects to take away lessons on their chosen methodology, work load, challenges of data collection in peculiar areas and the education as well as the adequacy of the preparation of their enumerators.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
July 13, 2022
July 13, 2022
Press Statement
PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu Resumes Duty After Vacation…Confident on PDP’s Victory in Osun Governorship Election
The National Chairman of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Dr. Iyorchia Ayu has officially resumed duties following his return from a short vacation abroad.
Already, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been duly informed on the return and official resumption of duty by Dr. Ayu as the National Chairman of the PDP.
Dr. Ayu who met with members of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) at the Party’s National Secretariat in Abuja today, commended the Deputy National Chairman (North), Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum, for effectively holding brief as Acting National Chairman for the period that he (the National Chairman) was on vacation, in line with the provision of the Constitution of the PDP 2017 (as amended).
He also applauded the members of the NWC, other Organs and critical stakeholders of the Party for the cohesiveness and unity of purpose that pervade the Party.
The National Chairman expressed confidence that with the prevailing overwhelming support of the people, the PDP and its candidate, Sen. Ademola Adeleke will emerge victorious in the Saturday, July 16, 2022 Governorship election in Osun State.
He also expressed satisfaction that the on-going consultations and efforts for the success of the PDP in the 2023 general elections are yielding very positive results.
The National Chairman therefore called on all members and teeming supporters of the Party to remain united and focused on the PDP’s mission to Rescue, Redirect and Rebuild our nation from the misrule of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Signed:
Hon. Debo Ologunagba
National Publicity Secretary