•Launches national design, innovation competition
•Says Tinubu passionate about enhanced healthcare delivery
Chigozie Amadi
Vice President Kashim Shettima, has lauded the pivotal role of youths and creativity in shaping the nation’s future, declaring that innovation was the driving force behind the nation’s manufacturing sector and its boundless potential.
Shettima, who spoke at the official launch of the National Design and Innovation Competition at the State House, Abuja, emphasised that, “the future belongs to the youth and the creatives.”
The National Design and Innovation Competition which aims to spur entrepreneurship and creative ventures among Nigeria’s burgeoning youth population was organised by the Interior Designers Association of Nigeria (IDAN) in partnership with the Bank of Industry (BOI), Wema Bank and other related industry sector players.
According to him, Nigeria’s youthful population, with an average age of just 19 years old, “is an age group that is pregnant with ideas for innovation and for the social and economic transformation of Nigeria.”
He said, “innovation drives manufacturing and Nigeria is brimming with possibilities and opportunities.”
The Vice President pledged the federal government’s support for youth aspirations and entrepreneurship, commending the financial institutions’ backing of the creative sector.
He announced plans to include young innovators in the government’s $617.7 million Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (i-DICE) programme.
“It’s not the size that matters but it’s the drive and commitment of the leadership. I want to assure you that we are going to capture you in the $617.7 million i-DICE programme. This is just the beginning of our partnership. We will continue the engagement,” Shettima stated.
Addressing economic concerns, the Vice President declared that, “the worst is over”, noting that the naira would continue to stabilize in the coming weeks and months, as the President Bola Tinubu-led administration tackles issues like food security, nutrition and insecurity.
He said: “President Bola Tinubu is making robust plans to see that all issues of insecurity are addressed.”
Earlier in her remarks, leader of the delegation and Founder of the Interior Designers Association of Nigeria (IDAN), Titi Ogufere, announced plans by IDAN and the Design Innovation Hub of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy to train one million youths in furniture, product and industrial design.
The initiative which aims to equip aspiring creatives with the necessary skills and access to training would feature design competitions and workshops where participants can showcase their prototypes and work with top Nigerian manufacturers like AFP by Julius Berger, TRT Aredo, Wood Styles, IO Furniture, and Nettetal.
Meanwhile, Shettima has identified enhanced healthcare delivery as a top priority in the Tinubu’s Renewed Hope administration.
Accordingly, he said the federal government would support the training of personnel in its teaching hospitals and other tertiary health institutions in the country to meet emerging challenges of healthcare delivery.
Shettima, gave the assurance yesterday, when he received in audience the management of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) led by its Chief Medical Director, Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo, at the State House, Abuja.
The Vice President who commended the current management of the institution for the giant strides recorded over the years said the current administration was committed to supporting human capacity development in hospitals across the country.
According to him: “Training is very essential; we will explore all available windows to support UMTH and other teaching hospitals in the country in the training of their personnel. We will see how our partnership with the private sector can be helpful in this regard.
“I want to commend the CMD and his team for providing quality leadership to the hospital and all of their subordinates. There have been remarkable improvements witnessed at UMTH since his assumption of duty.
“In terms of staff morale, capacity building and the general outlook of the teaching hospital, the improvements have been massive.
“The expansion of the hospital from a 600-bed to a 1305-bed facility and equipped with modern facilities. The CMD has been proactive and aggressive in all that he does, including sourcing for external funding.”
Earlier in his remarks, Ahidjo said the team was at the Villa to thank the Vice President for his support to the institution which spanned over 15 years, and to present the scorecard of the hospital as well as its future plans.
The CMD said with the support of the government and other stakeholders, the hospital has expanded from a 600-bed to a 1,305-bed facility equipped with state-of-the-art machines.
He said besides building new centres for Trauma, Dialysis, Cancer and Stroke treatment among others, the hospital boasts of over 100 professors in different areas of specialties.
Ahidjo, however, requested for more support from the Vice President to enable the institution to actualise its objectives of being an international centre of excellence in healthcare delivery and training of personnel through the construction of an electronic health institute to facilitate its digitalisation project.
