News

France Invests €600,000 To Boost French Language In Nigeria

Published

3 years ago

June 25, 2023

Editor

France says it has earmarked €600,000 to invest in Nigeria with the bid to make French a language of communication in the country.

The Embassy of France in Nigeria has officially set in motion projects that would place French as the language of communication in secondary schools and the Nigerian public space.

This was disclosed by French Ambassador to Nigeria, Emmanuella Blatmann, at the launch of the Solidarity Funds for Innovative Projects (FSPI in French), in Abuja.

According to VANGUARD, at the FSPI, Blatmann said the project was meant to strengthen French teachers in the country through a special fund known as the uja.

She said the FSPI project would make it easy to deploy the programme in 50 schools in five states in which local partners have expressed the desire to intensify educational cooperation actions in Enugu, Plateau, Oyo, Lagos and Abuja.

The ambassador said, “The Embassy of France in Nigeria officially sets in motion a new project entitled ‘French in Nigeria, the language of communication and capacity building,’ financed by a special fund called ‘Solidarity Funds for Innovative Projects (FSPI’ in French) to the sum of €600,000.

“This project, with the slogan “À toi le micro, Naija” (the mic is yours, Naija), aims at positioning French as a real language of communication in secondary schools and in the Nigerian public space, by supporting the training of secondary school teachers in Nigeria and creating a network of media platforms using the French language.

“In line with the foregoing, this FSPI project will make it possible to deploy a program for 50 schools in five States in which local partners have clearly expressed the desire to intensify educational cooperation actions: Enugu, Plateau, Oyo, FCT, and Lagos.

“These schools will benefit directly from a pilot initiative involving teacher training in France and in Nigeria, and the purchase of books and computer equipment.”
VANGUARD

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

5 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

5 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

8 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.