News

Bauchi Youth Laud NDE’s Renewed Hope Employment Programmes

Published

1 year ago

January 14, 2025

Editor

Some youth in Bauchi state have commended the National Directorate of Employment (NDE)’s renewed hope mass employment programme in the state.

A cross session of the youth who are beneficiaries of NDE’s various empowerment programmes, commended the Director General of NDE, Silas Agara for coming up with such a ‘life saving’ initiative on Tuesday, when a training supervisor visited the centres for inspection.

Muhibah Abdullahi, one of the trainees under Fish Production and Feed Formulation Techniques Scheme, said that the training was way above their expectations.

She said, “initially, we never thought it would be this well organised, well structured training and the resource persons we have are well skilled and knowledgeable.

“We have learned a lot already under this scheme such as hatching, sorting, raring, even smoking of fish.

“Even for feed formulation, we have been taken to some of the production companies and we have seen how they formulate the feeds and we have been given the explanation in detail.

“Words cannot express our appreciation for the Director General of NDE but we can only say thank you to him and the federal government for this training”.

Abdullahi however, wished for the programme to be expanded so as to reach a large number of unemployed people across the country.

Just as she expressed gratitude to the NDE, she called on the federal government to help them with starter packs which would allow them to put what they have learned into practice.

Also, Musa Baraya, another trainee, commended the NDE for selecting them to be part of the training as well as imparting in them the necessary skills and techniques needed for fish production and feed formulation.

“I want to call on other trainees across the state to be focused and have the mindset of putting what they have learned into practice.

“I know we can’t do it by ourselves and that’s why I’m calling on NDE to help us with the necessary resources to help us put it into practice and also to become employers of labour,” he said.

Also, a trainee under Community Based Agricultural Training Scheme of the NDE, Ahmed Jubrin, said that the trainers have been doing everything possible to ensure they learn all the farming skills.

According to him, they have been taught site selection techniques, cultivation, as well as plant monitoring among others.

“All of us here are willing to go into agriculture and we are hoping to get capital to start our farming business.

“Looking at the agriculture sector, it’s contributing a lot to the country’s economy and this is the right time that we need this agriculture for the whole nation’s growth,” he said.

In his reaction, Mr Mohammed Gwaza, a supervisor from Rural Employment Promotion of the NDE headquarters, said the training was the modest short term effort of NDE at checking the scourge of unemployment in Nigeria.

He explained that the move is part of the Director General’s commitment and President Bola Tinubu’s charge to overhaul the Directorate with a view to repositioning it for optimised employment creation.

He lauded the commitment, diligence, self determination and punctuality of both the trainees and the trainers.

It could be recalled that NDE flagged off a three-month skills acquisition training for 2,156 youth on December 5, 2024 in Bauchi state.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

2 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

2 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

4 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.