News

NDE Pays COVID-19 Stipends To Over 1,700 Interns In Bauchi

Published

6 years ago

April 22, 2020

Editor

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in collaboration with the World Bank has paid a three months stipends to a total number of 1,709 interns under the Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO) programme of the agency.

Mr Lawan Yaya, NDE Bauchi State Coordinator who disclosed this to newsmen in Bauchi on Wednesday, said the gesture was done in order to lessen the hardship encountered by the beneficiaries as a result of the dreaded coronavirus in the state.

Yaya said that the Director-General of NDE, Mr Nasiru Argungu, despite the lockdown in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was working to ensure that all the beneficiaries received their stipends.

He also revealed that each of the beneficiaries was given N7,500 per month for the period of three months.

“Despite the lockdown in the FCT, the Director General of NDE, Dr Nasir Argungu is working from home round the clock to ensure that the interns and apprentices of YESSO have received their stipends.

“Not fewer than one thousand, seven hundred and nine (1,709) interns received their stipends in Bauchi state.

“Each of the interns were given seven thousand five hundred naira per month and they were paid for the period of three months.

“This gesture by the D-G was done in order to reduce the hardship encountered by the dreaded Coronavirus in the country, that is why we called it COVID-19 stipends,” Yaya said.

The state Coordinator further stressed that the interns were greatly complying with social distancing, making use of face masks, frequent hand washing with the use of hand sanitizers as well as other hygienic measures as advised by medical experts in the course of their internship programme.

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

4 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

6 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.