Federal Character Commission (FCC) has urged Enugu youths to stop disqualifying themselves from federal employment and other opportunities through fear, misinformation and the erroneous belief that government jobs are already reserved before they are advertised.

The Commission’s Executive Chairman, Hon. Hulayât Motunrayo Omidiran, gave the charge on Thursday at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Enugu, during the Peter Eze Enugu Youth Connect 2026, themed “Beyond Quotas: Unlocking Opportunities for Enugu Youths Through the Federal Character Commission.”

Declaring the event open, the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ossai, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, challenged the youths to prepare themselves for opportunities, stressing that government could open doors but individuals must possess the capacity to walk through them.

Onyia said the time had come to stop viewing young people as merely “leaders of tomorrow,” noting that they were already playing critical roles in the development of society.

He urged the youths to acquire knowledge, develop relevant skills, build competitive Curriculum Vitaes and take advantage of every opportunity to improve themselves.

According to him, opportunities would not always be available to people who were unprepared, stressing that preparation was an important part of succeeding in a competitive environment.

He encouraged the participants to listen carefully, take notes and continuously improve their knowledge and skills, noting that “no knowledge is wasted.”

The SSG also emphasised the importance of confidence and self-knowledge, urging the youths to understand their strengths and continually ask themselves what they could do to improve their circumstances

.He said government had a responsibility to create an enabling environment where young people could learn and apply their skills, while the youths themselves must take responsibility for preparing for the opportunities that would come their way.

Onyia commended the organisers of the youth-focused programme, saying initiatives that connect young people with opportunities were important to the development of Enugu State.

He said the state government was committed to investing in young people because of their central role in driving innovation, productivity and economic transformation.

In a Keynote address, the Federal Character Commission Executive Chairman, Omidiran, said the Federal Character principle should go beyond numerical representation to ensure that qualified Nigerians had a fair opportunity to participate meaningfully in national development.

She urged Enugu youths to prepare themselves, acquire relevant skills, embrace technology and actively pursue legitimate opportunities, stressing that equity and merit must work together in building a progressive society.

She said an opportunity might open a door, but competence, character and performance would determine how far an individual could advance.

The FCC chairman also warned youths against fraudulent recruitment schemes and deceptive offers, urging them to authenticate opportunities before applying.
She charged the youths to “dream boldly, prepare intelligently, work diligently, lead responsibly and serve selflessly,” while encouraging them to think nationally and compete globally.

Earlier, the FCC Commissioner representing Enugu State, Hon. Peter Ogbonna Eze, said the programme was organised to bridge the information gap preventing many young people from accessing employment, scholarships, grants, fellowships, training and other legitimate opportunities.
Eze said there were more than 700 Federal Government ministries, departments, agencies, commissions and other establishments providing employment and other opportunities across the country.

He explained that the FCC had the constitutional responsibility to promote equitable representation and ensure that federal institutions complied with the principles of federal character.
According to him, many Enugu youths had missed opportunities because of the erroneous belief that advertised federal jobs had already been shared or given to people before public advertisement.
He urged the youths not to allow such assumptions to discourage them from applying.

“No player has ever won a football match outside the pitch. You can barely get an opportunity you do not apply for,” Eze said.
He further warned that nobody should pay for a legitimate government job, stressing that anyone demanding money in exchange for federal employment should be reported through the appropriate channels.

“You do not need to buy a job; you need to prepare yourself,” he said.
Eze said the Peter Eze Youth Connect initiative was designed to connect young people with credible information, institutions and opportunities, rather than create dependence on godfathers and middlemen.

He said the initiative would expose participants to opportunities in federal employment, grants, scholarships, fellowships, training programmes, entrepreneurship and other areas of personal and economic advancement.
He disclosed that a full scholarship opportunity would be offered through the programme, with five persons to be selected from the participants.

Eze said his vision was to make the programme a continuing platform through which information about opportunities would reach young people across Enugu State.
“If I know that something can change the life of a young person from Enugu State, I believe that the young person should hear about it. If I can open a door, I should open it. If I can connect someone to the right person, I should make the connection, ” he said.
He urged participants to become “ambassadors of opportunity” by sharing useful information and helping others benefit from opportunities they discover.

Participants at the event
The commissioner said true empowerment was not about merely handing someone assistance and taking photographs, but about providing people with the knowledge, skills, information, access and opportunities required to stand on their own and build sustainable futures.
He called on the youths to improve their CVs, acquire relevant skills and remain prepared for opportunities, noting that technology and the job market were constantly changing.

The programme brought together young people and stakeholders across Enugu state to deepen understanding of the mandate of the Federal Character Commission, federal representation and pathways to employment, education, skills development and other opportunities.

The organisers said the initiative was built on the conviction that a young person cannot pursue an opportunity they do not know exists, with the broader vision of producing informed, confident and opportunity-ready youths capable of competing and contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s development.

The event’s central message was clear: connect, learn, prepare and pursue opportunities rather than wait for them.

Rabiu Kwankwaso, vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has urged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, citing his age and health.

Kwankwaso, who is the running mate to NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi, made the appeal on Monday during a meeting with members of the Fulani Farmers Association at his residence in Abuja.

The former Kano State governor asked the group to approach Atiku and encourage him to focus on his traditional title rather than pursue another presidential bid.

“Go to the Wazirin of Adamawa’s house and tell him in Fulani that he needs to focus on his traditional title of Wazirin, given his age and health,” Kwankwaso said in Hausa.

He further assured Atiku that he and Obi would look after him if their political platform succeeds in the 2027 presidential election.

“If Allah grants us success, we will take good care of him, especially since you all come from Adamawa. An apology should be offered to him,” he said.

Atiku, who will turn 81 next year, has contested the presidency multiple times and has appeared on the ballot as a presidential candidate in 2007, 2019 and 2023. In April, he said the 2027 election would be his final attempt to become president.

The former vice-president was conferred with the traditional title of Wazirin Adamawa in June 2017 following the death of Muhammad Abba, the previous holder. He had earlier held the title of Turaki of Adamawa from 1982, before it was passed to his son, Aliyu.

The Wazirin Adamawa is a senior traditional position in the Adamawa Emirate, with the holder traditionally serving as the emir’s prime minister, senior councillor, kingmaker and close adviser.

However, the Adamawa State Government introduced a policy in 2025 requiring kingmakers and members of traditional councils to be indigenes of the emirates or chiefdoms they represent. The policy was reported to have affected Atiku’s position as Wazirin Adamawa because he is from Jada in the Ganye Emirate.

Kwankwaso’s appeal comes as political parties and alliances position themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with Atiku yet to abandon his stated intention to make another bid for the presidency. (Daily Sun)

Mbah: “I’ve never accepted the limits of my inherited circumstances”

…Harps on education, service, disruptive innovation

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, was on Thursday conferred with a Doctor of Law Degree, honoris causa, by his alma mater, the University of East London, UEL, in the United Kingdom.

Presenting Mbah’s citation during the graduation ceremony at the Docklands Campus of UEL, Vice-Provost (Business) and Executive Dean, Royal Docks School of Business and Law, Prof. Fatima Ana-Diab, recalled his academic and leadership excellence as a student, which, she said, he had also translated to resounding success as an entrepreneur and governor of Enugu State, Nigeria.

“More than two decades ago, Peter Mbah walked these halls as a law student, developing the knowledge, determination and leadership that would take him from UEL to the Nigerian Bar, the world of business and ultimately to public office as Governor of Enugu State.

“Peter’s leadership was already evident during his time at UEL. As President of the Students’ Law Society, he helped transform the society into one recognised as the University’s Most Productive Society of the Year.

“He represented his fellow students on the Students’ Representative Council and School of Law Board, won UEL’s Mooting Competition and went on to represent the University at the International Negotiation Competition.

“After graduating with his Bachelor of Laws in 2000, Peter returned to Nigeria, where he attended the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Nigerian Bar.

“His pursuit of knowledge continued through a Master’s degree in Maritime and Commercial Law from Lagos State University, an MBA from IESE Business School in Spain, executive education at Lagos Business School and postgraduate study in Strategy and Innovation at the University of Oxford.

“Peter went on to build a distinguished career spanning law, entrepreneurship and public service. As the founder of Pinnacle Oil and Gas, he demonstrated how ambition, innovation and enterprise can transform an organisation and contribute to economic development. His career in government has included service as Chief of Staff and Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development in Enugu State.

“In May 2023, Peter Mbah took office as Governor of Enugu State, bringing his experience across law, business and public administration to the leadership of millions of people,” Prof. Ana-Diab stated.

“At the heart of his approach is a belief in the transformative power of education. His administration has made significant investment in education and skills, seeking to move learning beyond traditional models and equip young people with the knowledge, competencies and confidence to participate in a changing global economy,” the citation added.

The university hailed Mbah’s investment in education and his philosophy that education is fundamentally the cornerstone of human progress, the bedrock upon which the future stands, which resonates strongly with the institution.

“Peter’s journey from UEL law student to lawyer, entrepreneur and Governor demonstrates the possibilities that education can unlock and the responsibility that comes with using those opportunities to create change for others.

“His commitment to development extends beyond education. Through public service, business and philanthropy, Peter has championed investment, innovation, infrastructure, healthcare and community development, bringing together the disciplines that have shaped his own career to pursue a wider vision for economic and social progress.

“For our graduates today, his journey offers a powerful example of where a UEL education can lead. It reminds us that leadership is not defined simply by the positions we hold, but by what we choose to do with the knowledge, opportunities and influence entrusted to us,” Ana-Diab concluded.

Meanwhile, in his acceptance speech, Mbah reiterated his firm belief in disruptive innovation, the power of education, service, and dreaming beyond one’s inherited circumstances.

“One quality has always mattered to me: the willingness to disrupt. I have never been particularly interested in accepting the limits of my inherited circumstances.

“But imagination is not enough. There must be purpose. For me, that purpose is service, because there will always be mornings when ambition alone will not get you out of bed; and moments when the road becomes difficult and the rewards seem far away. At those moments, it matters to have something that transcends self.

“Education enlarges our capacity to transform the world. I believe that deeply. What we are given must somehow enlarge the possibilities available to others.

“That is why, today, we invest 33 per cent of our state budget in education. We are building schools, tech hubs and opportunities for young people to participate in an economy that is increasingly driven by knowledge, innovation and technology,” he stated.

He thanked his alma mater profoundly for the honour and its immense contributions to the man he is today.