News

SMEDAN Empowers 80 Women In Agribusiness In Bauchi

Published

3 years ago

December 16, 2022

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has embarked on a 5-day entrepreneurship development training and empowerment of 80 women in agribusiness in Bauchi state.

The Director General of SMEDAN, Mr Olawale Fasanya, stated this in Bauchi on Friday at the closing ceremony of the training.

According to him, the programme was initiated under ‘Women in Self Employment Programme (WISE-P)’ of the agency with particular focus on women who are into farming and agribusiness (agro value chain) production.

Represented by Mr Mahmood Isa, Zonal Coordinator, SMEDAN, North-East, Fasanya said that a lot of women are into farming and many are willing to take up farming or Agri-business as a means of livelihood and self-employment.

However, they are limited in progress because they do not have the requisite skills and finance required to carry on successfully and even access markets, hence, the introduction of the programme by SMEDAN.

“The programme is designed to provide entrepreneurship training, vocational training, empowerment with common facilities and delivery of business development service to 80 participants per state across six selected states for phase one.

“Today, the first phase of the programme is commencing simultaneously in six states of Osun, Ebonyi, Katsina, Bauchi, Ekiti and Kwara.

“The WISE-P is designed basically to promote self-reliance amongst women and to empower them to achieve improved productivity and sustainability in businesses in terms of crop farming and agro- processing along the value chains.

“It is also to boost production of raw materials for industrial use,development because it is said that when you train a woman, you train a nation and when you empower a woman, you have liberated the nation,” said the DG.

He further explained that all the beneficiaries would be empowered with the necessary support and equipment necessary to ease their means of doing business.

Fasanya also said that one of the objectives of the programme was to facilitate and link women farmers to resources required to enhance their farming businesses so as to make it a sustainable occupation.

He added that the programme was also to expose the women farmers to practical hands-on training on the use of modern farming techniques as well as to build their capacities and inculcate the principles of value addition to farm produce.

Also speaking, Zainab Abdulkadir, one of the participants who spoke on behalf of others, appreciated the federal government and SMEDAN for the kind gesture.

She added that they got exposed to a lot of things they are supposed to be doing hitherto now but we’re being neglected by them.

According to her, they have acquired a lot of knowledge that would help them to improve their businesses and urged SMEDAN to help look into capital challenges faced by many women farmers across the country.

News

Idahosa Hosts NBA, Assures Of Government’s Collaboration

Published

3 hours ago

June 17, 2025

Editor

Edo State deputy governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, has assured of the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led administration’s desire to reduce crime and criminality in the state while also upholding the rule of law.

According to a press statement by Friday Aghedo, the Chief Press Secretary to the deputy governor, Idahosa gave the assurance when he played host to members of the Benin branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Benin on Tuesday.

During the interface with the body of lawyers, also referred to as “Lion Bar,” the deputy governor solicited their collaboration to help rid the state of violent crimes.

“Indeed, the state we met was plagued with security challenges such as kidnapping, cultism and its related issues, and other vices for which the governor needed to take decisive action to address these menaces which plagued society.

“To the glory of God and with your support, we have done reasonably well at reducing crime in Edo State,” he stated.

He informed the lawyers that their collaboration with the administration would assist at stamping out crimes and criminality and boost investors confidence in the state.

Idahosa also promised the government support to the lawyers in whatever capacity to assist in carrying out their functions efficiently.

Speaking earlier, the Benin NBA branch, Idemudia Osifo, congratulated and commended Governor Okpebholo, his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, on their inauguration and efforts at eradicating security challenges in the state.

He said the NBA maintained cordiality with the seat of power in order to form a solid partnership geared towards the delivery of dividends of democracy to the people of the state.

He further commended the Okpebholo-led administration for appointing members of the Bar to key positions of his government.

Speaking on the rule of law, Osifo said that the Bar believed that the administration would deliver, especially against the background of swearing in the three judges denied the same action by the immediate past administration

“That singular action showed the willingness of this administration to reposition Edo State in terms of Justice delivery and the rule of law,” he stated.

He expressed the willingness of the Benin Branch of the NBA to support the government to fight crime and criminality

News

Police Quiz Pastor Paul Adefarasin Over ‘Gun-like Object’ Video

Published

3 hours ago

June 17, 2025

Editor

The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed that Pastor Paul Adefarasin, founder of the House on the Rock Church, has turned himself in for questioning over a viral video that appeared to show him holding a gun-like object during a roadside encounter.

The Command, in a post shared via its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, stated, “No one is above the law!

“Pastor Paul Adefarasin has turned himself in at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja and is currently being interrogated by detectives who have commenced investigation on the case since a video surfaced online showing the pastor holding a gun-like object against another road user, while driving in an unregistered vehicle.

“The outcome of the investigation will be made public.”

The video, which surfaced earlier, shows Adefarasin holding a metallic object while speaking to a passerby who appeared to be recording him.

The clip has since gone viral, with several social media users alleging that the object was a firearm.

Responding to the allegations, Adefarasin in a message to his congregation posted on his verified social media pages, he denied brandishing a weapon.

He described the incident as a misunderstanding.

According to the cleric, the object in question was not a firearm, and at no point was it pointed at anyone.

News

How Trailer Sent To Kill Me Fell Flat, Dented — Iwo Monarch

Published

7 hours ago

June 17, 2025

Editor

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi, said the trailer that was sent to kill him upon hitting him fell flat and got extremely dented.

The Osun monarch made the revelation while testifying to the power of God in a now-trending video on Tuesday.

While Oba Akanbi didn’t give details or the location of the incident, he noted that after the trailer hit him, he saw some angels of God dragging it.

“A trailer that was sent to kill us, hit us and fell flat and extremely dented. It was dragged away by angels of God. Except you do not choose God. Don’t have doubts while trusting God.”