News

Street Begger, Roadside Mechanic, Others Laud FG’s N-G CARES Programme

Published

3 years ago

May 24, 2023

Editor

A street begger, Auwalu Usaini on Tuesday, lauded the Federal Government’s Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (N-G CARES) Programme.

Usaini made the commendation in Bauchi during a one-day Ministerial town hall meeting on N-G CARES Programme for stakeholders in Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina and Plateau states.

According to him, he would remain eternally grateful to the federal government as the programme succeeded in bringing him out of street begging business and he is now a shoe maker and orange seller at the same time.

Usaini who hails from Jigawa state recounted how he filled a form without putting his mind but was surprised to have been shortlisted and received the sum of N80,000.

“To the glory of God, I was able to utilise this money to establish a shoe making business as well as orange selling.

“I hope the federal government can extend this kind gesture as many people in my shoes as possible,” he said.

Also speaking, another beneficiary, Abdullahi Adamu, a roadside mechanic from Gombe state, said the programme had positively impacted on his life.

He explained that after the COVID-19 pandemic, his business was grounded and all his savings in the bank were exhausted without any means of earning money.

Adamu, however, expressed joy as he was fortunate to have been selected when the N-G CARES programme came to existence.

“Apart from the fact that I was given the sum of N100,000, which enabled me to expand my business and add more apprentices, I was also trained on how to keep record of my business,” he said.

Also, Esther Wakatlagan from Jos South, Plateau state who is an Irish potato seller, appreciated the N-G CARES programme of the federal government for all the support rendered to the people in her area.

“My business increased because I was given a sum of N128,000 to expand my Irish potato planting and selling business.

“In our area, they normally bring a lot of forms for us to fill but we have never benefited anything from them.

“However, after filling the form for the N-G CARES, sometime later, I was called to come to an address and the rest was history without knowing anybody.

“This is the most transparent programme I have ever seen,” she added.

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

3 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

5 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.