News

Nigeria Goes No Where Without Functional System – Activist

Published

4 years ago

September 28, 2022

Editor

Without a system that works in place, Nigeria has missed it ahead of the 2023 Presidential election, Executive Director, Foundation for Good Governance and Social Change (FGGSC), Comrade Austin Osakue, has said.

Oaakue stated in Benin on Wednesday while speaking at a Colloquium to mark the 4th anniversary of Rural Development, Information and Legal Advocacy Centre (RUDILAC), and the 2022 International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) organised in conjunction with the Edo State Ministry of Communication and Orientation.

He explained that all those jostling to be president may not bring the desired change in the absence of a functional system in place.

“What is required is a system that works and unless a functional system is put in place, no individual can change Nigeria”, he stressed.

Osakue whose lecture was titled “Access to Information: A Building/Road Block For a Resilient Society”, said it is critical to deepen access to information in the country, pointing out that no society can survive for long concealing information.

He listed transparency and accountability as pillars of good governance, adding that Freedom of Information or access to information, is simply saying that citizens have a right to know what is happening within the governance system.

“Freedom of Information is at the heart of transparency and accountability. Instead of being a stumbling block, Freedom of Information is supposed to promote good governance”, Osakue said.

He canvassed collaboration as the way forward, saying individuals cannot do it alone and called on journalists, civil society groups, NGOs and Lawyers to close ranks to enable them make progress and achieve their common goals.

In his lecture “Toolbox for Access to Information Regime in Edo State”, Maxwell Kadiri, a Senior Strategic Litigation Officer, Open Society Justice Initiative”, noted that political elite and leaders across board appear to be uncomfortable when access to information is being discussed.

He explained that access to information is not necessarily tied to legislation, citing India which started allowing its people access to information, flowing from its constitution and Democratic practice 20 years before a formal legislation on the subject was passed.

“Governments across the country have obligation to allow citizens of access to information by virtue of the democracy we practise and the African and Peoples Charter of 1990”.

He stressed that government officials by the concept of democracy are only holding information in trust for the people, adding that the information is not their property.

“Public officers don’t understand the provisions of the FOI in their failure to allow the citizens proactive access to information”, Kadiri further stated.

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.