News

Edo Deputy Gov Blames Govt For Unfavorable Environment For Young Entrepreneurs

Published

4 years ago

August 14, 2022

Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, on Sunday attributed the challenges facing Nigeria to the government’s inability to provide the enabling environment for enterprising Nigerians to thrive.

Speaking at the empowerment programme of Olere Women Empowerment Initiative (OWEI) in Benin City, Shiabu said developed countries have been able to get to the level they are because their governments have been able to provide the needed environment for the private sector to prosper.

He urged recipients of the empowerment to translate their training into not just earning a living but employing people.

He said: “We must continually educate ourselves and create awareness that the private sector does things better. God given talents in our young men and women have to be harnessed and in doing that, programmes like this have to be encouraged. For us to get out of the situation we are in now, some of us that God has blessed must emulate the Olere group to get our young ones out there.

“You must not sell these items because we have had experiences in the past where people will go back and sell their packs to the sellers at half the price.

“Many of us travel out and see that most of the economies of these countries we visit are driven by the private sector. We are not doing well in Nigeria because the government is not providing the enabling environment for people to flourish.”

On her part, the initiator of the programme, Hajia Maryam Abubakar, said the best security that can be provided is engaging youths, women and children.

“If you don’t look after our people particularly youth, women and children, there will be a problem, and you will not have peace. It is easier to take care of our youths than to hire security to protect us. If I am able to hire security to protect myself, what about my four children, what about my family members so the best security is to provide and take care of these people,” she said.

One of the guest lecturers at the event, Emmauel Usoh speaking on “Leadership development skills for women and youths” said “Your benefactor has spent so much to put you where you are today but you need to do more to put yourself where you want to be tomorrow.”

The supervisor of the training and empowerment programma, Mrs Amidat Ilegar Okoh, said 34 people benefited from the empowerment and they were selected from the three senatorial districts in the state and they were trained in various fields like bag making, sewing and other skills.

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.