News

Youths Remain Priority Of Okpebholo Administration — Edo Deputy Gov

Published

1 month ago

August 14, 2026

Editor

Edo Deputy Governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, has said youths remain a major priority of the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led administration, citing the appointment of 4,800 youths into various positions as evidence of the government’s commitment to youth development.

Idahosa stated this on Wednesday when he received executives and members of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) from Ovia North-East and Ovia South-West local government areas, who paid him a courtesy visit.

According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Friday Aghedo, the NYCN delegation was led by Comrades Aigbangbee Emmanuel and Givens Edionwe.

The youth council presented demands bordering on youth empowerment, skills acquisition, employment, appointments and the growing challenge of drug abuse among youths in the Ovia Federal Constituency.

The deputy governor said the administration had demonstrated strong commitment to empowering young people and creating opportunities for them to participate meaningfully in governance and the development of the state.

“Governor Monday Okpebholo has graciously approved the appointment of 4,800 youths,” he said.

Idahosa said youths in Edo had not had it so good since the advent of the current democratic dispensation in 1999, adding that the administration would continue to explore opportunities for youth development.

He assured the youth leaders that he would work with the governor to expand opportunities in skills acquisition, employment and empowerment.

The deputy governor also disclosed plans to revamp the moribund Iguobazuwa Skills Acquisition Centre to equip young people with practical skills and enhance their capacity to become self-reliant.

He further announced plans to engage youths through town hall meetings across the constituency, saying such engagements would enable the government to better understand their needs and improve the dissemination of information on available employment and empowerment opportunities.

On drug abuse, Idahosa expressed concern over its growing prevalence among young people, warning that the trend could undermine the future of Edo youths and fuel other forms of criminality.

He said he would approach Okpebholo with a request to lead a state task force dedicated to combating drug abuse and sensitising young people across the state.

“Let us get our minds right and think positively towards the development and upliftment of our state. Our elders will also see and empower you to do that. Get your priorities right. Position yourself to be blessings of your generation,” he said.

Idahosa added that the government would not tolerate the destruction of the state’s youths through drug abuse.

“Our youths are being destroyed. Before, it was cultism, kidnapping. Now, they have shifted to drug abuse. We will not tolerate it. As a state, I am assuring you we are going to deal with them,” he said.

He urged the youth leaders to embrace responsible leadership, positive thinking and good role modelling, stressing that young people had an important role to play in determining the future of the state.

Earlier, the two NYCN chapter leaders presented their demands and pledged their support for the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

They also expressed support for Gov. Okpebholo’s target of securing 2.5 million votes for President Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.

News

Six Corps Members Receive N10m Grants To Boost Agribusiness

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Six members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have received a total of N10 million in grants to expand their agribusiness ventures under the Farmers for the Future Programme.

The programme was organised on Monday by the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage young Nigerians to embrace agriculture and develop sustainable businesses.

Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries in Abuja, the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, urged Corps members to maximise the opportunities provided by the service year by venturing into commodity marketing and other viable businesses.

Nafiu said agribusiness remained a viable avenue for young people to build sustainable enterprises, create employment and generate wealth.

He also stressed the importance of value addition to the success and sustainability of business ventures, while commending BATNF for placing Nigerian youths at the centre of its entrepreneurship initiatives through value-chain development, employment creation and its partnership with the NYSC.

“I charge you to spread the news around. We have seen the outcome, and it is a good idea,” he said.

The beneficiaries are Dominic Olufemi (FC/25C/1143), who received N3 million; Temitope Adewole (ED/26A/2251), N2 million; Abdulwaheed Bala (ED/25B/1402), N2 million; Olanike Mayungbe (OG/26B/1037), N1 million; Kingsley Udoeyen (KG/26A/1735), N1 million; and Lorember Lorsue (JG/25B/1742), N1 million.

Speaking on the selection process, the Acting Director, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), Mrs Winifred Shopeka, said the programme began with an online registration portal through which Corps Members engaged in agribusiness submitted their business plans.

She said nearly 3,000 Corps members applied and underwent a rigorous selection process that produced 20 finalists.

According to her, the finalists participated in a boot camp and a final pitching session, which produced the 10 best presenters before the six ultimate winners were selected.

Shopeka said the beneficiaries had also been mentored and attached to established market operators to assist them in marketing their products.

She added that Corps Members who did not make the final stage of the competition were also trained by BATNF.

The BATNF Team Lead, Mr Oludare Odusanya, congratulated the beneficiaries and urged Corps Members engaged in agribusiness to master the fundamentals and acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed.

“We are happy with our collaboration with the NYSC, and it will continue,” he said.

Odusanya explained that BATNF was an independent organisation established to contribute to poverty reduction in Nigeria through sustainable agricultural practices and other interventions.

He said the Farmers for the Future Programme was instituted in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage Corps Members to venture into agribusiness and become job creators.

He added that the beneficiaries would be attached to mentors who would guide them towards achieving success in their respective businesses.

According to him, the programme has, since its inception, continued to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of Corps Members.

News

CBN Reduces Interest Rate To 23%

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday announced the reduction of the interest rate, also known as Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 23 percent.

Briefing the media in Abuja, the Governor of the CBN, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, said at the 307th MPC meeting held on September 22, 2026 agreed the resetting of the MPR and recaliberation of the monetary policy market.

According to Cardoso, the committe is satisfied with the disinflation progress, adding that members noted stable banking sector following successful recapitalisation.

Meanwhile, according to Nigerian Tribune, reports that that the MPC, at its 306th meeting in July 2026, disclosed its resolution to retain the interets at 26.5 percent.

According to the Governor of the CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, “the Committee’s decision to maintain the current policy stance followed a thorough assessment of the balance of risks. Although headline inflation moderated marginally in June 2026, global uncertainties have heightened, due mainly to the renewed hostilities in the Middle East.

“In view of the evolving developments, maintaining a cautious monetary policy stance remains appropriate. In arriving at its decision, the Committee noted the recent resurgence of hostilities in the Middle East, with particular attention to its spillover effects on global energy prices and the potential pass-through to domestic inflation.”

News

NURTW: KWAM1 Settles Long-time Rift Between MC Oluomo, Tafa Sego

Published

3 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Nigerian Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1, has brokered a peace deal between the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) National President, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, and the Lagos State Chairman of the union, Mustapha Adekunle, aka Tafa Sego.

The reconciliation took place at Ojusagbola in Ijebu, Ogun State, where several NURTW chieftains gathered for the meeting.

The development was announced on Tuesday on KWAM1’s digital media page on Instagram, alongside photographs from the meeting.

According to the post, the two union leaders have resolved their differences after years of strained relations.

“After years of an age-long rift, MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego have finally settled their differences. And from what we know now, this is final,” the post said.

The musician was said to have intervened as the Mayegun of Yorubaland, with the aim of bringing an end to the longstanding disagreement between the two NURTW figures.

“K1 acted in his role as the Mayegun of Yorubaland by seeking an end to the long-standing rift, once and for all,” it said.

The post also described the meeting as a significant step beyond previous public displays of reconciliation.

“This time, it was not just another handshake for the cameras. The two old friends and colleagues came together at Ojusagbola, with King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1) playing the peacemaker.”

Both MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego were reported to be pleased with the outcome of the intervention.

“Both parties are delighted about the new development,” the post said.

The two men had previously been allies and prominent figures within the Lagos NURTW before their relationship became strained amid disagreements linked to leadership of the union in the state.