News

What I Discovered As Reason For Unemployment In Nigeria – Gov Alia

Published

3 years ago

June 8, 2023

Editor

The Benue Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, has expressed concern over the high level of graduate unemployment in the country.

He said lack of skill acquisition and entrepreneurship education remains the root cause of the high rate of unemployment in the country.

Alia spoke in Abuja on Thursday when he paid what he described as a solidarity visit to the Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sonny Echono.

The governor said that his administration would give education top priority in Benue as he sought partnership with the fund to boost the quality of tertiary education delivery.

He commended TETFund management for the huge intervention in public tertiary institutions in the state and the nation at large.

According to him, “What I discovered as responsible for the high rate of unemployment in Nigeria is that a lot of degrees have been acquired by youth in the country, but the skills are not attached to those degrees.”

He said this was responsible for the reasons why both graduates and those who had not obtained formal education roam the streets.

Alia said his administration would go back to the table to revitalise education in the state, saying that tertiary institutions in Benue were once known for quality and scholarship.

“We are here on a solidarity visit with my brother, the Executive Secretary of TETFund.

”I am honoured to be here, having understood how much he has been doing, promoting education nationwide and improving on the teaching and learning infrastructure, as well as making the educational wheel of the nation run smoothly.

“Benue is also a beneficiary of the projects from you and the good people of the state have conveyed our appreciation to your establishment.

”I am just eight days old as a governor, and I am looking forward to partnering with your establishment in the collaborative efforts to move education forward in our nation,” he said.

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.