By Atiku Sarki, Abuja The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has unveiled a N500 million zero-interest financing scheme for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as part of efforts to improve access to finance and stimulate business growth across the country. The Director-General of SMEDAN, Charles Odii, announced the initiative during the 2026 World MSMEs Day celebration held in Abuja at the weekend. Odii said inadequate access to affordable financing remains one of the biggest obstacles to the growth of MSMEs despite the sector’s significant contribution to Nigeria’s economy. He explained that the newly introduced Grow…
Author: Usman Usman Garba
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By Atiku Sarki, Abuja The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to promoting peace, security, and stability across Africa as it hosted the Induction and Orientation Programme for members of the Military Staff Committee (MSC) of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) in Abuja. A statement issued on Monday by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, represented by the Director of Search and Rescue, Defence Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal Idi Sani, welcomed delegates from member states of the AU Peace and Security…
By Shafi’u Yahaya A former APC Women Leader, Hajiya Maryam Kofarmata, has praised the developmental achievements of Kano State Governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, particularly his administration’s women and youth empowerment initiatives. Speaking with journalists at Meena Event Centre during a ceremony organised by the National Women Leader of the APC, Hajiya Salama Isyaku, to celebrate the empowerment of 1,000 women, Kofarmata described the governor’s programmes as impactful and beneficial to the people of Kano State. She specifically commended the governor’s monthly N50,000 empowerment support reportedly being provided to over 5,000 women across the 44 local government areas of the…
By Umar Abdullahi The APC House of Representatives candidate for Gada/Goronyo Federal Constituency, Hon. Sayudi Almustapha Gada, has donated over N1 million to participants from Gada and Goronyo Local Government Areas undergoing training at the Sokoto Marshal Training Camp. Hon. Sayudi made the donation during a visit to the camp on Saturday, June 27, 2026, as part of his continued commitment to youth empowerment and human capital development. Speaking during the visit, he praised the administration of Governor Ahmed Aliyu for establishing and sustaining the Sokoto Marshal Programme, describing it as a strategic initiative designed to equip young people with…
By Rabiu Sanusi The Kano State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling drug abuse and criminality as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) publicly destroyed over 12.2 tonnes of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances seized from traffickers across the state. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Umar Ibrahim Faroukh, gave the assurance on Monday during the public destruction of the seized drugs organised by the NDLEA Kano Strategic Command. Faroukh described illicit drug abuse as a major threat to peace, security and youth development, stressing that the state government remains…
By Ekaette Okon Joseph and Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar Akwa Ibom State has taken a major step toward transforming the economy of Southern Nigeria with the commencement of Ibom Air’s scheduled international commercial flights between Uyo and Accra, Ghana. According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to Governor Umo Eno on Media and Publicity, Mrs. Ekaette Okon Joseph, the inaugural scheduled commercial international flight on the Uyo–Accra route took off on June 28, 2026, marking a significant milestone in the state’s aviation development. She described the new route as more than just another airline service, saying it represents…
By Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has launched a N7.38 billion cooperative support fund aimed at strengthening women-owned businesses and promoting inclusive economic growth across the state’s 369 wards. The initiative, described as one of the administration’s biggest investments in women’s economic empowerment under the ARISE Agenda, will provide N20 million to registered cooperative societies in each ward. In a statement issued to journalists in Calabar by the Governor’s Media Aide, Ekaette Okon Joseph, the programme was designed to expand financial access, support small-scale businesses and position women as key contributors to sustainable economic…
By Usman Usman Garba The Association of Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries (AORHSPS), Kano State, is set to hold its fifth Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, as the association marks its seventh year in office. According to a statement issued by the association’s Publicity Secretary, Muhammad M. Danyaro, the meeting is in line with Article Six of the association’s constitution, which mandates an annual gathering for stock-taking, evaluation of progress, and deliberation on challenges affecting the organisation. The AGM is scheduled to take place at Ten-to-Ten Restaurant, No. 2 Alu Avenue, Nassarawa GRA, Kano,…
From Uji A. Iliyasu, Abuja The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), in partnership with Rite Foods Limited, is set to host the Maiden Academic Excellence Recognition Award Ceremony in Lagos on Tuesday, 30 June 2026, celebrating seven exceptional Nigerian students who distinguished themselves through outstanding academic performance during the 2025 admission exercise. JAMB’s spokesperson,. Dr. Fabian Benjamin, disclosed that the initiative, sponsored by Rite Foods Limited, underscores the shared commitment of both organisations to promoting academic excellence, rewarding merit and inspiring young Nigerians to pursue educational achievement. Each of the seven awardees will receive N5 million in recognition of…
By Joseph Asegba, Yola The Catholic Bishop of Yola Diocese, Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza, has called on the Federal Government to demonstrate stronger political will and take proactive measures to tackle the worsening insecurity across Nigeria. Bishop Mamza made the call while speaking to journalists shortly after the closing Mass of the 2026 Diocesan Pastoral Council held in Yola, the Adamawa State capital. Expressing deep concern over the continued killings, kidnappings, banditry, attacks on communities, and other criminal activities across the country, the cleric said the persistent insecurity has left many Nigerians living in fear and uncertainty. He noted that…