By Rukayat Moisemhe

The African Guarantee Fund for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (AGF) has launched a training and mentorship programme for 80 youth-led start-ups and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in Nigeria.

The Group Communications and Public Relations Manager, AGF, Diana Aluga made this known in a statement on Friday in Lagos.

According to the statement, the programme was with the support of the African Development Banks Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Multi-Donor Trust Fund.

It added that the AGF was implementing the year-long training and mentorship series to provide capacity-building support and coaching to 80 youth entrepreneurs across the country.

Mr Constant Nzi, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer, AGF, said the Nigerian youths comprising over 50 per cent of the countrys population had a critical role to play in the development of the country.

He added that objective of the AGFs partnership with FRAGG Investment Management Ltd., the programme coordinating partner for Nigeria, was to build the capacity of youth entrepreneurs to access financing for sustainable growth.

Nzi said that FRAGG would match programmes participants with business coaches and mentors, as well as teach them the technical skills needed to submit bankable business proposals most likely to secure financing.

He added that the consulting firm also aims to link youth-led startup leaders to local financial institutions and private equity funds.

According to the Nigerias Ministry of Trade and Investment, more than 37 million MSMEs account for more than 84 per cent of jobs in the country, about 48.5 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product and about 7.27 per cent of goods and services exported.

The training and mentorship programme will boost MSMEs contribution to Nigerias overall economic growth and development.

The Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Multi-Donor Trust Fund Youth-led Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, Training and Mentorship Programme is rolling out programmes in Ghana, Mali, Togo, and Zimbabwe in 2022, he said.

Mr Franklin Odoemenam, FRAGG Managing Director, pledged the organisations support in equipping Nigerian youth entrepreneurs with training that would position their businesses to be investor-ready, in order to access financing.

Our team is committed to supporting the Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation initiative and this programme is in tandem with the values of FRAGG, which is entrenched in the triple bottom approach of people, profit, and the planet, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that AGF is a pan-African non-bank financial institution whose aim is to promote economic development, increase employment and reduce poverty in Africa by providing financial institutions with guarantee products and capacity to support SMEs in Africa.

FRAGG is an impact investment management and advisory company specialising in the mobilisation of funds targeting investments in the impact and climate domains. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Source: NAN News

By Fortune Abang

Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi, Publisher, Blueprint Newspapers Limited and aspirant in the just-concluded governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger state, has congratulated Mohammed Umar Bago who emerged as the partys candidate.

Addressing supporters at his residence in Minna, Malagi called on his supporters to remain calm and rally round the partys flag-bearer to ensure victory of the party in next years general elections as loyal party men and women.

We went through a primary election decided by delegates who are all members of our party.

We gave it our all but in the end only one person must win and I have since congratulated the winner.

We all must remain calm and work together for the party to win the governorship election in the state in 2023, he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

Source: NAN News

By Philip Yatai

No fewer than 49,669 poor and vulnerable will benefit from Kaduna State COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme (KD-CARES).

In addition, 2,787 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) will also benefit from the programme supported by the Work Bank, under the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme (N-CARES).

The Programme Coordinator, Mr Badamasi Musa, unfolded this at a One-day Media Breakfast with newsmen in Kaduna on Thursday.

It was organised in collaboration with Jalad Media Concept.

Musa explained that KADCARES was initiated by the World Bank to mitigate economic challenges caused by COVID-19 across the country.

He said the intervention was in three thematic areas namely, social transfers, food security and strengthening the capabilities of MSMEs.

He said of the 49,669 expected beneficiaries, 33,029 would come under result area one increased social transfers, basic services and livelihood support to poor and vulnerable households.

He said under the result, 1,460 would benefit from Social Transfers intervention, comprising the aged, physically challenged, chronically ill, and urban poor.

Musa said that each beneficiary would receive N10,000 bimonthly for two years, adding that the social transfer intervention would be implemented by the State Cash Transfer Unit.

He added that 2,839 poor and vulnerable would also benefit from the labour-intensive public works intervention, with payment of between N10,000 and N20,000 monthly stipends.

He added that 28,730 would benefit under the community and group investment in basic service infrastructure, with benefiting communities expected to receive a grant of between N10 million and N20 million in three tranches.

He explained that the Community and Social Development Agency would implement the labour-intensive public works and basic service infrastructure interventions.

The coordinator also said that 16,640 poor and vulnerable would benefit under result area two which would be implemented by the FADAMA Project Implementation Unit

According to him, the result area is designed to increase food production and safe functioning of food supply chains.

He explained that under the result area, the poor and vulnerable would benefit from agricultural inputs and services.

More than 11,000 people would benefit from laboor-intensive agricultural infrastructure, agricultural assets for production and mitigation of food loss and waste.

Other beneficiaries would be selected from other registers generated or built through a transparent and acceptable process in line with the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), he said.

Earlier, the State Commissioner, Planning and Budget Commission, Mrs Umma Aboki, explained that the main objective of the programme was to protect livelihoods and food security of poor and vulnerable families.

Aboki added that the programme was a loan facility to each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

She equally said that the programme was designed to facilitate the recovery of local economic activities affected by COVID-19 in Kaduna State.

The Executive Director, Jalad Media Concept, Mr Joshua James, said that media engagement was very critical to create the needed awareness and enlighten citizens on how they could benefit from the programme.

James explained that the objective of the meeting was to moblise journalists to work with implementing agencies, disseminate information about the programme and provide feedback to the coordinating unit. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Angela Atabo

A non-governmental organisation, Boys Quarters Africa, in partnership with Connected Development, has unveiled a boy-focused club with the aim of mobilising boys and men in ending all forms of violence against women and girls.

The club was launched at the third edition of the International Boy-Child summit organised and sponsored in Lagos by Voice Global with the theme: Redefining Masculinity 3.0 Raising Boys, Reshaping Men and Transforming the Society.

A statement by the organisers quoted the Executive Director of Boys Quarters Africa, Mr Solomon Ayodele, as saying that the organisation was championing the boy-child initiative to entrench the right values in the boys and ultimately ensure a better society.

Ayodele said the annual summit had birthed partnerships with some states Gender Affairs units including Lagos and Enugu.

He said: We have been able to engage 10,517 boys, we are mobilising 1,000 boys and men through Project SABI, with the focus of reaching men in the informal sector and also setting up gender-based violence desk in Parks.

Dr Ruby Onwudiwe, the Executive Director, Technology

By Ahmed Kaigama

Former Chief of Air Staff, retired Air Marshal, Sadique Abubakar, has emerged the All Progressives Congress (APC) governoship candidate for 2023 general election in Bauchi State.

Abubakar, who is Nigerias Ambassador to Benin Republic, polled 370 votes to defeat six other aspirants in the primary election held on Thursday in Buchi.

Announcing the result on Friday, the Returning Officer and Chairman, APC Election Committee, Alhaji Ali Birninkudu, declared Abubakar winner.

He said that 1,020 delegates were accredited and 1,012 votes casted in the exercise.

The returning officer said that Sen. Haliru Jika (Bauchi-Central), the runner up in the election polled 278 and Alhaji Nura Manu-Soro came third with 269 votes.

He said Musa Babayo polled 70 votes, Faruq Mustapha scored 26 votes, Mahmood Maijama 8 votes and Prof. Ali Pate got 0 votes, respectively.

I certified that Amb. Saddique Abubakar, having scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner.

He is, therefore, the standard flag bearer of the APC in the gubernatorial election that will take place in 2023 in Bauchi State, he said.

In his acceptance speech, Abubakar thanked Allah for his victory, commended delegates and the leadership of the party for the confidence reposed in him.

He promised to work together with other aspirants for the success of the party in the 2023 general election, adding that, your support is not taken for granted.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that one of the aspirant, Al-Amin Mohammed withdrew from the race few hours to the election.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali

Source: NAN News

By Joseph Edeh

Demba Mbaye, the Technical Director of FUS De Rabat Football Club, says only African coaches can change for the better the fortunes of African football.

Mbaye, while speakingon Thursday in Rabat at the ongoing training on sports journalism, said there is the need for Africans to have confidence in their own.

I am convinced that the future of African football lies in the hands of Africans and not in the hands of foreigners. There is a need for Africans to have confidence in their own, he said.

The Senegalese who handlesFUS De Rabat, a Moroccan professional division one clubside based in Rabat, noted that Europeans would not trust African coaches with their teams.

Unlike in Africa, no European nation will put the destiny of their national team in the hands of an African coach.

He also said that, with the abundant talents in Africa, any African country can win the FIFA World Cup if the right things were done.

Mbaye said further that Africa has a challenge of infrastructure which has to be overcome before Africa can be at the top of global football.

He expressed the belief that in all these the media has a critical role to play in the development of the round leather game.

There is a need for African sports writers to highlight the sport through sustained aggressive campaign, the technical director said.

He said the media must impress it on political leaders and sports administrators the need to engage local coaches in the management of the national teams.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training was organised by the Atlantic Federation of African Press Agencies (FAAPA) for journalists from African news agencies.

The traininghas the theme Mastery of Techniques for Good Practice of Sports Journalism.

A total of 23 participants from 20 African news agencies and experts in the sports sector are attending the training.

NAN is being represented at the training by Joseph Edeh, a Senior Editor on the Sports Desk in Abuja.

FAAPA was established in October 2014 as a professional platform to encourage exchange of experiences and to promote cooperation among news agencies in areas of common interest.

It also strategises to position news agencies to remain relevant with regard to the fast-changing trends in multimedia technologies, as well as championing professional ethics.(NAN)()

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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Source: NAN News

By Taiye Olayemi

The South Africa Tourism has urged Africans to focus more on building unique and formidable brands which can be patronised and admired globally.

Mr Thekiso Rakolojane, Regional Head, West Africa, South Africa Tourism, said this on the sideline of the 2022 edition of Brand Africa Award, held in Lagos on Wednesday.

Rakolojane said that Africa still had a lot to do in promoting patronage of locally made products across the continent.

I recall the founder of Brand Africa, Mr Thebe Ikalafeng, saying that 83 per cent of products Africans consume are western brands while only 20 per cent are from Africa.

This is a wake-up call for Africans to remain proud of their brands to enable them gain global attention, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the African brands that were recognised and awarded at the awards ceremony were: Cocacola, MTN, DSTV, Dangote Group, Channels Television and Innoson among others.

From all the awards tonight, we can see that Africa still has a lot to do in creating more brands that will gain global attention and admiration.

For South Africa Tourism, we are here to get insights to formulate our communication strategy, every single marketing we do is informed by insights to address the direct aspirations of Africans.

We expect everyone to do same and ensure Africa gains huge recognition because the continent is blessed and for us,we always aspire to be the best globally, he said.

Speaking on the just concluded INDABA Tourism Expo, held in South Africa, Rakolojane added that 36 countries across the globe attended, with over 67 Nigerian travel agencies.

He said that South Africa truly appreciated this, urging more Nigerians to visit the country for the forthcoming summer vacation as they would be exposed to lots of attractions.

He noted that the country was known for its interesting safari, classic African scenery, golden savannah, hauntingly beautiful deserts, great gaping gorges and more.

South Africa is open to business, summer is fast approaching, we welcome Nigerians and Africans generally to come visit, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Taiye Olayemi

The State chapter of the Creative Designers Guild of Nigeria (CDGN) in collaboration with the Lagos State Government, will host the maiden edition of Creative and Cultural Exhibition on June 10.

Mrs Joy Osawaru-Akinyemi, Chairman, CDGN, at a news conference on Thursday in Lagos,said that the essence of the exhibition was to familiarise the children and youths with the nations culture.

We observed that certain aspects of our culture are no longer practiced by the younger generation.

So, as a guild with the combination of costume designers, makeup artistes, hair artistes, props managers and location set designers, we will be enlightening our youths on certain aspects of our culture.

Our desire as CGDN is also to set culture as a tool in re-engineering our film industry and selling our nation to the world.

This exhibition will feature our creative design skills, as we represent our cultural diversity with each state chapter from 16 states making a display of what is authentic to their states.

For us as creative members of a legitimate enterprise, we believe one way to rejig our economy and build a better society is to come to terms with the role of culture as the creative capital that can be used to add economic value to the society, she said.

Osawaru-Akinyemi commended the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture for its cooperation in hosting the maiden edition of the programme.

Also, Mr Leo Omosebi, the Event Director, said that the theme of the programme would be: Exploring Cultural Creativity Through Entrepreneurship.

Omosebi said that the guild would take opportunity of the exhibition to educate Nigerian youths on the available entrepreneurship skills they could embrace for financial independence.

According to him, there will also be a discussion panel where issues of topical interest will be deliberated, with particular emphasis on how the youths can be productively engaged in the audio-visual industry.

We want the youths to know that there are aspects of the process of movie production that they can embrace to be creative and responsible.

The exhibition will hold at the Citiheights Luxurious Hotel in Ikeja. We call on the youths to make it a date with us, he said.

Mr Innocent Abah, a makeup artist, said that costumes of different tribes would be on display during the exhibition as well as display of some makeup appearances.(NAN) (nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The youngest presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Nicholas, says now is the time for the youth to take charge of governance in the country.

Nicholas, a 40 year-old US-based pastor, said this at an interactive session with youth leaders and Nigerian students organised by the Committee of Youth on Mobilisation and Sensitization (CYMS) on Friday in Abuja.

He said his conviction and understanding of the challenges of Nigeria prompted him to take another shot at presidential contest come 2023.

He said that the nations challenges were accountable with the right ideas and political will, saying that absence of industries were responsible for Nigerias economic woes.

On tackling corruption, Nicholas promised to grant 12 months window to those that had stolen public funds to return it and invest in the economy so that more money could be pumped into the economy.

On insecurity, he said the numerical strength of the Nigeria police personnel was abysmally low to secure the vast population of over 200 million.

The presidential aspirant said he would ensure that more personnel be recruited to ensure there were police officers on every street in the country if elected president of Nigeria.

On the economy, he said that he would ensure that industries were built in every state of the federation and ensure easy access to finance by the citizens to engage in businesses.

He, however, challenged the students to also do their part in ensuring that university lecturers do not embark on strikes, saying education would be given utmost priority.

On the choice of APC, Nicholas said he believed that joining the big political parties was the best way to take power from the older generation.

He dismissed insinuation that he could be sponsored by some politicians for strategic reasons, saying that he ran a multi million dollar business in the United States of America (USA).

They say politics is dirty but you dont expect dirty people to clean up the system and that is why those with clean hands must get involved, he said.

The Director General of CYMS, Mr Obinna Nwaka, said the interactive session was part of the groups pre-election activities with a view to promote the aspiration of the young aspirants.

Nwaka said that Nicholas had exhibited the needed capacity to run the highest office and bring the much needed change that the citizens were clamouring for.

He said the event was an opportunity for the youths to have one-on-one interface with the youngest presidential aspirant in all the political parties in Nigeria.

According to him, it is a an organised platform where political aspirants irrespective of political parties are giving opportunity to interact with electorates before both primaries or general elections.

He said that the presidential aspirant on the platform of the Young Peoples Party (YPP) would also be feature on the interactive programme. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Victor Okoye

Oyinlomo Quadri, one of Nigerias top female tennis players, says she has lost both the passion and motivation to play in tennis tournaments organised in the country.

Quadri who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja said she needed time to reflect on her performance and re-examine her goals and priorities.

NAN reports that Quadri lost to the tournaments number one seed Marylove Edwards in the womens singles event semi-finals at the 2022 CBN Senior Tennis Open Championships on Saturday in Abuja.

This was after she had taken an early lead and thoroughly dominated the first set which she won 6-1.

Edwards however bounced back from a set down to take the last two sets and knock out Quadri who was the tournaments number three seed 1-6 6-2 6-4.

Edwards eventually defeated number three seed Aanu Aiyegbusi 6-3 6-4 to win the tournament.

Quadri told NAN however that the game had made her to take some time out to reflect and think about her mental state.

She said she has lost interest and did not have any plans to play in the country anytime soon.

I dont have any plans to play in Nigeria again. I mean, I used to want to play here, especially after the first time I played here.

It was my goal to win a lot of tournaments in the country.

But I dont have those goals anymore. I think I have lost reasons to continue to play in this tournament for example.

For instance, you will find that other players here are way more motivated than I am in this tournament.

I think thats a mental issue I need to personally work on and hopefully next time when I do come to play in this tournament it would be because I want to and I am motivated to do so, Quadri said.

She revealed that a lot of things affected her performance in the CBN tournament, emphasising however that she didnt want to go into specific details.

Quadri nonetheless expressed her gratitude to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the tournaments sponsors, for their continuous and unflinching commitment in supporting the tennis game in Nigeria for such a long time.

Although we had some issues bothering on players welfare, which was one of the reasons a lot of things didnt go as planned, I will still like to thank the sponsors for putting this tournament together for the 44th time.

I could see what it meant to the players and I think I need to take a break and just try to find that reason to play here again, she said.

In terms of her national rankings, Quadri noted that it was difficult for her to actually prioritise that, noting that she was usually not in the country for most part of the year.

I am usually not available to play these tournaments in the country 80 percent of the time.

So, its not magic. I cannot maintain my number one position in the country any longer. But technically if you are looking at the rankings, I remain number one.

NAN also reports that the 19-year-old is currently the highest-ranked Nigerian in the Womens Tennis Association (WTA) womens singles category.

In the November 2019 WTA rankings, she was ranked number one in Nigeria, nine in Africa and 940 in the world in the womens singles category.

I am playing pro tennis now and presently ranked 1,000th in the WTA rankings.

So, I am hoping to play so many international tournaments this year so as to continue to improve my rankings at the world stage, Quadri said.
(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Source: NAN News