IF there is one problem giving an average Nigerian sleepless night, it is the issue of unemployment and youth restiveness. More worrisome to them, especially the parents, is that most graduates today after their graduation end up becoming professional applicants, not because there are no jobs to absorb them but because they are unemployable, due to wrong choice of career.

Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Business Women Group (NAWORG), has implored the Federal Government to ensure that issues affecting women development are tackled through effective legislation and policies, saying that there is need to establish a Women Bank to enable women get access to credit facilities without hurdles, to provide an enabling environment to boost entrepreneurship among Nigerian women.

Kenya wants the United Nations World Tourism Organization to intervene and help end travel conditions by western states that act as barriers to growth of the tourism industry in developing countries. Tourism minister Najib Balala said the West is suffocating the developing countries through discriminatory taxes.

The first phase of the development of the former Durbar Hotels, now Golden Tulib Hotel, Festac, that has gulped about N18billion was commissioned weekend by the Lagos State governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola.

Lagos House to assist S-West legislatures on capacity building

PRISON congestion is nothing new in Nigeria. It has sadly become a way of life, indeed a tradition in the country. Owerri Federal Prisons, which was built by the colonial masters, was initially meant to accommodate about 500 inmates. Today, it is housing over 1600 persons, majority of whom are awaiting trial.

The Nigeria Football Federation has said that the August 9 international friendly between the Super Eagles and the Black Stars of Ghana in Watford, England would be a launch pad for the Eagles to strategise ahead of the crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar in September.

Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of an Ikeja High Court, Lagos, yesterday, ordered the release of the travelling documents of Mr. Deji Abiola, second son to late politician, Chief M.K.O. Abiola, to enable him travel abroad for medical treatment.

COORDINATOR of Women In Export Development Programme, WEP, of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, Mrs. Evelyn Obidike has said that the vision and growth strategy of the export agency is to envision the primary group as a global class of successful business women, providing entrepreneurial leadership and role models in export activities in the nation’s non-oil sector and shared prosperity for all, adding that part of “our stategic objectives is to create conditions for Nigerian women-owned companies in export business to play key roles in the country’s non-oil expoprtsector.”

LAST week, I recalled an article written in 2002 from my book entitled THE AGENDA. The conclusion was that any government wishing to pursue a policy of FULL EMPLOYMENT should embark on massive public works – activities which would stimulate effective demand. The mechanism would be through a budget deficit that is, spending more than the normal income generated during the period.

Oil prices rose slightly, supported by data showing China, the world’s second largest oil consumer after the U.S., are growing faster than expected. This offset worries prompted by lingering concerns about the spreading European debt problems.

Tragedy struck, weekend in Ikotun area of Lagos after a woman and her two children were roasted to death in a fire that engulfed their apartment. The cause of the inferno which also destroyed property which monetary value is yet to be estimated, could not be immediately ascertained, but unconfirmed report said it could have been caused by a lit candle which the woman identified as, Mrs Ojo, left before retiring to bed.

Before the Congress for Progressive Change, (CPC) led government under Governor Tanko Almakura took over the helm of affairs in Nasarawa state, there was calm between the State Executive and the State House of Assembly. The calm was because the State House of Assembly was heavily dominated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The relationship between the House and the ex-governor, Akwe Doma was so cordial except for the challenge that was put up by the four opposition members in the House. That opposition was at that time mainly spearheaded by the only Labour Party, LP member in that house, Innocent Lagi. The three other oppositionists in the house belonged to the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP.

Southern Africa Tourism Services Association has admitted Peacock Travels and Tours Limited South Africa as a member just as the parent body in Nigeria bagged Delta Airlines’ platinum award in Lagos.

A new United Nations report released Tuesday on development in Africa calls for increased manufacturing on the continent to reduce poverty.