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United Nations is proud to be your ally – UN Resident Coordinator Fall assures youths
United Nations is proud to be your ally – UN Resident Coordinator Fall assures youths
By: Michael Mike
At the sixth edition of the Lagos Secondary Schools Model United Nations (LASSMUN) conference in Lagos, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, assured young people that the UN was proud to be their ally.
He said: “The United Nations is proud to be your ally. And we count on you to be a force for positive change, now and in the future.”
He added in a video message to the LASSMUN 2025 General Assembly, convened by the six Lagos Education Districts; the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Nigeria; and the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) on 8 April 2025, that: “Young people are not just the future; you are the present. Your voices matter. Your ideas can shape policies, transform communities, and drive progress.”
Referring to the LASSMUN 2025 theme, “UN@80 – Dismantling barriers and charting a pathway to meaningful youth engagement for SDGs achievement” as timely in view of the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, the Resident Coordinator noted that the Pact for the Future was clear about the need for young people to be at the table, not as guests, but as decision-makers.
“Your journey starts now. Learn. Debate. Connect. And when you leave this conference, carry this fire forward.” He charged the LASSMUN delegates who were students of Lagos publicsecondary schools.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs Abisola Khadijat Dokunmu-Adegbite, who was also the Special Guest of Honour, urged the delegates to channel their energies in the right direction to make a difference in the society.
“Be bold, but not aggressive; be confident but not unruly. Don’t get tired. Don’t give up. Don’t flow with the tide, I charge you to stand out.” She further said that life would not give them what they deserved, but what they decided to achieve in their hearts.
Addressing the delegates and dignitaries, the President of theSixth Session of the LASSMUN General Assembly, Grace Ogungbamigbe, identified some of the barriers facing young people as economic disparity and limited opportunities, persistent digital divide, social and cultural inequities, and limited access to education and skills development.
“As we approach the UN’s 80th anniversary, we must commit to dismantling these barriers and charting new pathways for meaningful youth engagement.” She said, “This requires a paradigm shift in our approach, moving beyond tokenistic gestures to genuine partnerships that empower young people to lead and innovate.
The President, therefore, called on member states, international organisations, civil society and the private sector to prioritise investments in youth education and skills development to equip them for the 21st century workforce.
The Tutor General and Permanent Secretary of Lagos Education District III, Dr (Mrs) Idowu Oyetola, commended the United Nations for designing Model UN to broaden the horizon of participating students and to create more awareness of real life issues affecting the world today.
The Secretary General, LASSMUN Sixth General Assembly, Peter Alademehin, emphasised that the journey towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was a collective task with youth at the forefront.
In the resolution presented at the end of the session by the rapporteur, Al-Amee Sowemimo, the LASSMUN General Assembly Called for inclusion of youth in decision-making and reminded the Member States that while education is a human right, millions of children of primary school age are still out of school around the world.
They further called on member states to give due consideration to advancing family-oriented policy development to fully benefit future generations.
“We, therefore, urge member states to play a central role in ensuring meaningful youth participation and leadership that makes young people and young people-led organizations have opportunities, capacities, and benefit from an enabling environment and relevant evidence-based programmes and policies at all levels.” The resolution stated.
United Nations is proud to be your ally – UN Resident Coordinator Fall assures youths
Bandits kill two, rustle cattle in Kaduna community
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits have attacked Unguwan Namaje, Lukora village in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing two residents and rustling an unspecified number of cattle.
Sources said the attack occurred at about 2:50 a.m. on Friday when the bandits stormed the residence of one Abdullahi Yunusa.
According to the sources, three victims were shot during the attack.
“Those fatally injured were identified as Audu Yunusa, 15, and Salisu Yunusa, 23. They sustained gunshot wounds to the stomach and were later certified dead by a doctor.
“Another victim, Isiyaku Yunusa, 25, also sustained serious gunshot injuries and is receiving treatment at Saint Gerard Hospital, Kaduna,”said the sources.
Nigerian troops were immediately mobilised to the scene, while efforts were intensified to track down the perpetrators and recover the stolen cattle.
Bandits kill two, rustle cattle in Kaduna community
Police rescue eight kidnapped victims, confirm one dead in Katsina
By: Zagazola Makama
The Police Command in Katsina State says its operatives have foiled a kidnapping attempt, rescued eight victims and confirmed the death of one person in Dandume Local Government Area.
Zagazola Makama learnt that on Friday night, yet-to-be identified armed men laid an ambush along Funtua–Mahuta road and opened fire on a moving Golf vehicle with registration number EDT 693 AA, apparently intending to kidnap the occupants.
Sources said that the driver lost control of the vehicle which veered into a farmland.
“APC patrol teams promptly responded, cordoned off the area and engaged the hoodlums in an exchange of fire, thereby rescuing eight victims unhurt,” the sources said.
The sources dded that three other passengers sustained various degrees of gunshot injuries and were rushed to General Hospital, Dandume, where one of them was later confirmed dead.
The sources further said that search and rescue operations were ongoing to trace other passengers who might have scattered into nearby farms during the attack.
Police rescue eight kidnapped victims, confirm one dead in Katsina
Troops neutralise terrorist, recover AK47 in ambush near Buni Gari
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 2, Operation Hadin Kai, in collaboration with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), have neutralised a terrorist in a long-range ambush around Ndoksa village near Buni Gari, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama on Saturday that the ambush was conducted following intelligence on the movement of terrorists in the axis.
The source said the troops killed one terrorist during the operation and recovered an AK-47 rifle and two motorcycles.
“The successful ambush is part of the ongoing aggressive operations to deny terrorists freedom of movement, disrupt their logistics, and safeguard communities in the North East,” the source said.
Troops neutralise terrorist, recover AK47 in ambush near Buni Gari
Bandits kill two, rustle cattle in Kaduna community
Tanker explosion kills one in Kaduna workshop
Police rescue eight kidnapped victims, confirm one dead in Katsina
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