News

Bauchi One Of Most Educationally Disadvantaged States In Nigeria – Expert

Published

9 months ago

August 22, 2025

Hyeladzira James Mshelia, Assistant Director, Programmes and Community Engagement, Connected Development (CODE) says Bauchi state is one of the most educationally disadvantaged states in Nigeria.

She stated this during a one-day meeting on Roadmap to Equality Tools for Transforming Girls’ Education in Bauchi, organised by CODE and funded by MALALA Funds.

According to her, while the state government has placed education at the top of its budget priorities allocating over N40 billion across sectors, significant challenges still remained visible.

Mshelia, who is also the Girl-Child Education Project Manager of CODE, said some of those challenges included infrastructure gaps where many classrooms are held under trees.

“It also includes high dropout rates for girls driven by poverty, early marriage, cultural norms, and poor learning environments.

“There is also low enrollment and completion: Of over 538,000 school-age children, 12–14 years, nearly half are girls, yet many never enroll or complete school.

“Teacher quality concerns: 25% of teachers are unqualified, and only 31% are women, limiting female role models for girls in schools.

“There are also these gender-blind policies that fail to address the specific barriers faced by girls and other marginalized learners,” she said.

The expert further emphasized that for education to truly deliver on its promise as a pathway to a gender-just world, both girls and boys must benefit equally.

This, she said, was the reason Connected Development with support from Malala Fund, conducted a comprehensive Desk Review of Bauchi State’s education policies and legal documents
to assess their level of Gender-Responsive Education Sector Planning (GRESP).

She explained that their analysis revealed gender blind and critical gaps that hinder the achievement of gender equality in education across Bauchi State.

“While most policies reference gender, they lack clear, actionable strategies to address systemic inequalities affecting girls’ access to quality education.

“Insufficient Budgetary Commitment – Education budgets do not explicitly earmark funds for gender-responsive interventions, making implementation inconsistent.

“Teacher Recruitment and Training Gaps – Policies lack robust provisions for recruiting more female teachers, particularly in rural areas, and for integrating gender-sensitive pedagogy
into teacher training.

“Weak Monitoring and Accountability Systems – Existing frameworks do not collect or disaggregate education data by gender, disability, or vulnerability status, among others.”

She called on all stakeholders like the government agencies, civil society organizations, community leaders, development partners, and the private sector to adopt, adapt, and champion this plan, saying “together, we can ensure
equity, quality, and justice in education for every child in Bauchi State.

“With deliberate, gender-responsive policies and inclusive planning, we can create a system where every child,
especially every girl, has the opportunity to learn, complete school, and thrive”.

Responding, Dr Muhammed Lawal, the state’s Commissioner for Education, faulted an allegation that education projects are poorly executed in the state, insisting that the allegation was baseless and unfounded.

According to him, the State Government, through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), was ensuring effective monitoring and supervision of every project across the State.

He added that the state government is doing everything possible to take the education sector to greater heights in the state.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.

News

N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

Published

5 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.

Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.

Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.

“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”

“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”

Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.

Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.

Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.