News

NGO Urges FG To Establish Marriage And Family Affairs Ministry

Published

5 years ago

November 14, 2020

Rev. Okafor Emefesi, the President of a Bauchi based Non Governmental Organization (NGO) known as ‘Couples Network International’ has called on the Federal Government to establish ‘Marriage and Family Affairs Ministry.

Emefesi made the call in Bauchi on Saturday while delivering his speech during a seminar tagged ‘Women’s Health Improvement Seminar on Osteoporosis and Arthritis- Natural ways to maintain and sustain strong bones’.

He explained that the establishment of this ministry would bring a perfect solution to the crises facing Nigerian families, adding that the survival of the Nigerian families is paramount to the survival of the nation.

“Concerning the stability and progress of Nigerian families, the federal government should establish a Ministry of Family and Marriage Affairs.

“This will bring a lasting solution to the crises facing Nigerian families. The survival of the Nigerian families is crucial to the survival of the nation at large” he said.

Emefesi further called on the federal government to establish Women Development Banks in order to empower women and to be economically self reliant, saying “women are the drivers of the economy who are also actively involved in family production”.

Rev. Okafor Emefesi, President, Couples Network International while delivering his lecture at the occasion.

The NGO president also noted that the major problem facing Nigeria was not religious or ethnicity but poverty.

He said poverty was the number one cause of most of the social ills in the country which has given birth to terrorism, kidnapping, corruption, Marital breakdown, ethnic and religious crises, unemployment, as well as youth restiveness.

“The solution to this monster of poverty is entrepreneurial revolution, agricultural revolution and family economic empowerment.

“We should bring back Cocoa plantations, Rubber plantations, Palm plantations, banana plantations and cassava plantations.

“Cottage industries should be established in all the plantations to process and package the products for export and domestic consumption.

“Millions of jobs will be created and Nigeria will become a production nation and not a consumption nation,” he noted

Emefesi concluded his speech by calling on President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to also establish ‘national policy on calcium supplement for all women and children in the country’.

Also speaking, Hajiya Aishatu Kilishi, President FOMWAN, Bauchi State chapter, said most of the issues that affect women were calcium related problems and a lot of bone issues.

She said bone problems were rampant among the women folk than in men, adding that women were taunted by bone issues because they engage in serious domestic and farming activities.

“Women should be given financial assistance always, because, in the farm, they are working, at home, they are still working. They labour in the farm, they still labour at home,” she said.

The seminar was organized by ‘Federation of Muslim Women Associations of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Bauchi state chapter in collaboration with ‘Couples Network International’.

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

6 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.