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‘We’ve Trained Over 6,000 Youths On Entrepreneurship Within 3 Years’ -NGO

Published

6 years ago

August 13, 2020

Editor

Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo, the Executive Director, Environmental Rights Action, ERA, has said that the non-governmental organisation has trained over 6,000 youths on business development model, renewable energy entrepreneurship, repair, and instullatins of solar gadget, atc, within 3 years.

He said ERA, also known as Friend of the Health, has also trained over 300 secondary school teachers and produced environmental education and renewable energy manual that is being deployed for training in 60 renewable clubs set up across the four states of Edo, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers by ERA.

Dr. Ojo who disclosed this in Benin on Wednesday, August 12, at the 3rd edition of Youth Environmental Camp Meeting with the theme ‘Extraction to Education’, noted that all trained youths are doing perfectly well in their respective fields.

He said, “ Some of our trained youths are now solar energy luminous lighting system, power bank and charging ports.

” I am pleased to present some of the products and to introduce to this august gathering DaNJAB Enterprises, piloted by young secondary school-leavers from Edo State. Others include youths organising and training on videography and environmental field monitoring and production of the maiden edition of the Earth Friends Magazine by our promising youths that we are launching in this event.”

The Executive Director who lamented that youths are mostly impacted by environmental degradation especially those from fence-line communities where extraction activities are frequent, however charged them to stand in the gap and see climate change phenomenon as an opportunity to address a national and global problem.

He further charged the youths to ensure Nigeria is not turn to a dumping ground for sub-standard renewable energy gadgets.

” As youths, I charge you to stand in the gap and see the climate change phenomenon as an opportunity to address a national and global problem. I challenge you, see environmental protection as your responsibility.

A cross section of participants at the meeting

” Young people should have a problem solving mentality towards poverty, environmental degradation and climate change and see them as opportunities for campaign and advocacy, generation of ideas, creation of jobs, provision of renewable energy solutions in mini-grids and off-grids system for rural electrification. The youths should be in the forefront in championing energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.”

On his part, Mr. Ahmed Bolaji Ngode, Director-General, National power Training Institute of Nigeria, NAPTIN, promised to collaborate with ERA to train more youths from the Niger Delta region.

He disclosed that his agency will train more youths from the region at a very subsidized rate.

Awards were given to students of higher institutions and secondary schoold who did excellently well in an essay competition organised by ERA.

The year’s meeting was attending by youths drawn across the four states of Edo, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

2 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

2 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.