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

By George Odok

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), a non-profit organisation providing medicine and healthcare to individuals living with or affected by HIV/AIDS, partnered University of Calabar (UNICAL) to have a safe space at the Youth-Friendly Centre for students.

The foundations Prevention Programme Manager, Mr Taofeek Adeleye, who led a team on a courtesy visit to the UNICAL
Vice Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi on Friday in Calabar, said the organisation was coming on board to implement a young peoples programme
at the centre.

Adeleye said that the centre would enable students to have access to information and services about sexual and preventive health.

According to him, young people face a lot of challenges beyond the classrooms, hence the need to guide them properly through intensive counselling.

He added that we will provide counselling services, HIV/AIDS testing, sexual transmission infection screening, cervical cancer screening, among others,
to students.

If need be and there is room for other support, we will render such accordingly to make sure that young people get the right information
and services to develop.

He added that when operational, the centre would serve students of the institution and young people within the university community.

Responding, Obi said young people needed thorough counselling and advocacy on preventive health because they were faced with a lot of challenges.

According to the vice chancellor, the coming of AHF to the institution is timely and most parents are shy to discuss certain sensitive issues with their children.

She said students would be free to talk to experts from AHF, since most of them relied on peer groups and the social media in learning new things.

She thanked the organisation for the choice of UNICAL, maintaining that the institution was ready to speed up the implementation process.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation is a Los Angeles-based organisation operating outpatient healthcare centres and pharmacies. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Source: NAN News

By Suleiman Shehu

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Oyo State Command, has warned parents and motorists in the state to stop putting children below 12 years in the front seat of vehicles.

The FRSC Sector Commander in the state, Uche Chukwurah, gave the warning during the Childrens Day celebration organised by the command at its office in Eleyele on Friday in Ibadan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the celebration is: A Greater Future For Every Child.

According to Chukwurah, it is against the law to put children under the age of 12 in front seat of vehicles because wherever there is a crash such; children may be throw out of the vehicles.

She said that it was better to put the children at the back seat of the vehicles to avoid putting their lives in danger.

Some people think it is love to put the children in the front seat while some even breastfeed their children while on the wheel, all these are wrong and FRSC is speaking against it, she said.

The sector commander said the essence of the gathering was for the command to be able to talk to the children on road safety tips and be cautious while crossing the road.

She said that the aspiration of the command was for the children to have a better future which could only be achieved when they are alive.

Chukwurah urged the children to always look at both left and right sides of the road before crossing in order to avoid being knocked down by vehicles.

The Chairperson of Road Safety Officers Wives Association (ROSOWA), Oyo State Chapter, Mrs Oluwasola Familoni, said as parents, they believed in the children and want them to have greater future.

Earlier, the Deputy Corps Commander (Operations), DCC Olalekan Morakinyo, called on parents and motorists to always obey traffic rules and drive to stay alive.

Morakinyo advised the children to always caution their parents not to speed while driving them to school.

Highlights of the event were: games, dance, riddles and presentation of gifts to students of various schools.(NAN)

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Doris Esa

The Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Credit Agricole Du Maroc (CAM), Morocco, toward the promotion of sustainable agriculture of both countries.

The Head, Corporate Communication, NIRSAL PLC, Anne Ihugba, said this in a statement on Friday, in Abuja.

Ihugba said this would be through the facilitation of finance and investment, trade and support systems across agricultural value chains with emphasis on smallholder farmers.

She said the Managing Director/CEO of NIRSAL Plc, Mr Aliyu Abdulhameed and Mr Tariq Sijilmassi, the Chairman of the Management Board of Credit Agricole Du Maroc (CAM), signed the MoU on behalf of their institutions.

She said that by this MoU, they were committed to the mutual prospecting and implementation of agriculture-oriented projects that benefit both organisations and their host countries.

Speaking at the event, Abdulhameed elaborated on NIRSAL Plcs areas of need to include the development of financing products that suited the seasonality of agriculture and other farming contexts, and the difficulties smallholders experience in keeping to the terms of conventional bank financing products.

Abdulhameed expressed confidence that innovative financing products that speak to the peculiarities of agricultural primary production would be of immense benefit to the agriculture financiers.

He said that it would help financiers to maximise the benefits and incentives in the 75 per cent Credit Risk Guarantee (CRG) issued by NIRSAL Plc for primary production projects.

According to him, it will also help diligent borrower to enjoy Interest Drawbacks (IDB) of up to 40 per cent.

He said that leveraging NIRSALs CRG facility commercial lenders in Nigeria have injected over N152.8 billion into the agriculture sector in the last six years, with credit crystallization rate still below one per cent NIRSAL Plc.

A pacesetter in the modern, innovative use of blended finance to spur the growth of agriculture, has been a reference point for emerging Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) across Sub-Saharan Africa, he said.

According to Abdulhameed, CAM is a more experienced institution from which NIRSAL Plc is eager to learn.

Established in 1961, CAM is a universal bank that finances all sectors, with agricultural expertise as a particular vocation within the framework of national investment programs.

CAM works to enhance agricultural activities and stabilise rural populations by sustainably improving their standard of living beyond its agricultural expertise.

It is also involved in several other financing projects, particularly in rural areas, through its network of 543 branches across the Kingdom of Morocco.

In his remarks the Chairman of the Management Board CAM, Sijilmassi lauded the MoU, which he said would be beneficiary to to both countries. (NAN) ().

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Kazeem Akande

The Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly,Mr Mudashiru Obasa,has securedthe All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket to run for the sixth term in the 2023 Lagos State House of Assembly Election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obasa, representing Agege State Constituency 01, contested against another aspirant, Mr Dada Olusegun, at the primaries held on Friday at Maternity Centre, Iloro, Agege.

Twenty-five delegates voted with five delegates from each of the five wards in Agege Local Government.

Mr Yinka Durosinmi, the partys Electoral Officer, who announced the result, said Obasa secured 25 votes to emerge winner of the election.

Durosinmi said that five delegates represented the five wards in the local government to make the 25 delegates who voted.

Twenty-five of them were accredited before voting and we ensured that the voting exercise was conducted peacefully.

Though we had two candidates, Mudashiru Obasa and Dada Olusegun, but we only saw one agent representing Obasa. The other aspirant did not show up, he said.

On his part, Obasa, while addressing newsmen after the exercise, described the victory as proof of acceptance by his constituents.

He said he won the primary election because of the belief the constituents had in him as their true and passionate representative.

I thank the constituents for the trust they have in me, as I am confident that I will win in the main election.

Through this victory, we can continue with the dividends of democracy we have attracted to Agege, he said. (NAN)

Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Martha Nyam

Mr Caleb Mutfwang, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)s governorship candidate in Plateau, has said that there was hope in the horizon for the North-Central state.

Mutfwang stated this in an interview with newsmen in Jos on Thursday shortly after he defeated 14 others to clinch the ticket.

It is quite humbling to be entrusted with the responsibility of being the flag bearer of the PDP in Plateau state. I do not take this for granted.

I want to assure the people of Plateau that there is hope in the horizon; by the grace of God, when PDP returns to power, we will lift the state to a higher level than where it is today.

I believe the people of Plateau are yearning for the return of PDP. We will work to ensure this happens, he said.

Mutfwang said that the outcome of the primaries would be best described as a no-victor no-vanquished contest, while calling on other contestants to work with him toward ensuring victory at the polls in 2023.

He added that the primaries, which he described as free and fair, represented a sign of good things the state would soon experience.

He called on the Plateau PDP family to unite and go into the 2023 election as a united force. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by AbdulFatai Beki and Ephraims Sheyin

Source: NAN News

By Angela Atabo

Principal Officers of State Childrens Parliament and Girl Ambassadors have called on the Federal Government to make them part of the decision-making process in Nigeria.

They asked the authorities to always allow them to air their views on issues affecting them.

The children made the call on Thursday in a communiqu at the end of a two-day Capacity Building Training for Principal Officers of State Childrens Parliament and Girl Ambassadors.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training was organised by Save the Children International (SCI) in Abuja for the SCI implementing states of Benue, Borno, Cross River, Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina and Yobe .

Others are members of the Child Rights Advocacy Club of GJSS Gwagwalada, FCT.

The communiqu jointly presented by Mr Ibrahim Sunoma, Speaker, Borno State Childrens Assembly and Miss Etukudo Abasi, also said that positive behaviours and decision-making should be taught in families and schools.

The children said that the call became necessary because of some identified challenges affecting them which included child labour, child marriage, out-of-school children, insecurity, healthcare, mental health and child abuse.

Others are gender inequality, limited access to education, school dropouts and discrimination .

They tasked the government on provision of medical supplies and compensation for doctors to address health challenges of children.

They also called for a child-friendly justice system and an increase in budgetary allocation for childrens healthcare.

The children called for stronger laws against children sexual abuse while rehabilitation should be provided for affected ones.

They urged the government and NGOs to campaign against all forms of abuse on children to help prevent molestation.

The children said that report centres should be effective so children could talk about abuse that affected them and there should be intervention for children who were victims of abuse, neglect and exploitation.

They said this would strengthen child protection systems, including childrens homes where they could receive care.

There should be legislation and implementation of the Child Rights Act (CRA) and free education for all.

Awareness on the consequences of early marriage which alters the course of a girls life and her potential should be raised.

Parents should be encouraged to take their children to school and false myths on western education should be shunned.

Leaders should create an enabling environment for education and government should invest more in education for out-of-school children.

The children said that quality of education should be improved while parents needed to improve knowledge and commitment to contribute to enrolling their children in school at the right age and time.

They said that security agents should be equipped with tools to protect children from attack and stronger security strategies should be carried out in affected areas.

They added that to help in preventing attacks on schools, cattle ranching policy should be implemented to prevent cattle-herder crises and more security personnel should be deployed to affected areas.

The children said that there was need to raise awareness in rural areas and religious leaders about educating girls with the provision of enough schools for girls to attend .

They called for free education and adequate teaching personnel to be provided as well.

They also said that an agency should be directed to ensure attendance of children in schools during school hours while there should be provision of disability care canters and discrimination should be discouraged.

They appealed to the Nigerian government to fulfill its commitment to increase education funding and ensure that states and their local government also invested in education.

Mr Amanuel Mamo, Director, Advocacy and Campaigns, SCI, Nigeria said that Childrens Day celebration was another opportunity for the organisations to celebrate children.

Mamo called upon stakeholders at Federal, State and Local Government Areas (LGAs) to renew their commitments to protect, respect and fulfil the rights of the child as articulated in the Child Rights Act (2003).

Having the opportunity to listen to these children over the last two days is a reason, more than enough, to celebrate children.

If the future is at hand, therefore, we are given historical opportunity and responsibility to shape and paint the futures as bright as we want it to be.

The smart thing to do to paint the future is to invest in children.

Mamo called upon the states yet to pass the Child Protection Bill to prioritise the adoption and enforcement of the Child Rights Act (2003).

He called for a stronger collaboration, coordination and cooperation between all relevant stakeholders, including the government, the private sector, donors, civil society organisations, NGOs, communities and the media.

This is to ensure no child is left behind or excluded from the opportunity to survive, learn and be protected from all forms of abuse and violence, simply because of gender, disability, cultural practices or other structural barriers.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Oboh Linus

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended the State House Assembly primaries in Nasarawa state over alleged tampering with the authentic list of delegates in the state.

Dr John Mamman, Nasarawa state APC Chairman, in a press conference on Friday in Lafia, said the party was sad after discovering that the authentic list of delegates sent the national Secretariat for the party primaries has been tampered with.

Mamman said following the development, the national Secretariat had directed the primary committee to stop the state Assembly primaries in the state.

The state chairman said that the party would not tolerate this unwarranted distortion of the official delegates list sent to the national Secretariat.

He also warned that the party would not accept any list outside the authentic list of delegates.

Mamman enjoined the national Secretariat, in the interest of peace, unity, harmony and the progress of the party, to ensure that wishes of the law-abiding party members are respected.

The numbers of delegates across Local Government areas in the state were doctored or completely changed.

we consider this undemocratic, and this is capable of breeding disaffection, tension and disunity in the party.

The APC in Nasarawa should not be made to lose its status and prestige as a model, he said.

Mamman, however, called on relevant party organs, members and supporters to remain calm, noting that necessary steps are being taken towards addressing the matter.

He commended the national Secretariat, under the leadership of Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, for setting machinery in motion for the conduct of primaries across the country. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Douglas Okoro

Chief Elias Mbam, former chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), has emerged winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election, held on Thursday in, Abakaliki, Ebonyi.

Mbam polled 741 votes to defeat Mr Francis Nwifuru, Speaker of the Ebonyi House of Assembly, who polled seven votes, Sen. Julius Ucha four votes, Mrs Rosemary Ofoke who polled one vote.

Mr Egwu Inya, Returning Officer (RO) who announced the results, said that the election was peaceful, credible, free and fair, adding that a total of 22 invalid votes were recorded.

He added that the process met all the required guidelines prescribed by the partys constitution, the Electoral Act and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

With these results, I hereby declare Chief Elias Mbam, who polled 741 ballots, winner of the election and is hereby returned as the APC gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 governorship election in Ebonyi, Inya said.

Mbam, in his post-election speech, thanked the delegates for the peaceful election and for finding him worthy to bear the partys governorship flag in the 2023 general election.

The former RMAFC chairman promised to lead the party to victory in the forthcoming general elections.

I thank party members and delegates from the 171 wards in the state for finding me worthy to fly the partys flag.

I want to assure you that I will not disappoint you, I will carry this flag to victory; I want to assure you that in 2023, APC will emerge winner in this state.

I want to thank you for the peaceful conduct of this primary and I want to say with full humility and honour that I accept this mandate happily.

We will all work together to lead the party to victory not only in the gubernatorial election but also in all the elections, Mbam said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

==============
Edited by Vincent Obi

Source: NAN News

Rafael Nadal recorded his 300th grand slam match win by easing into the third round of the French Open, beating Corentin Moutet in straight sets on Thursday.

The King of Clay is in search of a record-extending 22nd major title at Roland Garros, where he was dethroned by Novak Djokovic last year.

On this evidence, Nadal is in the form to re-establish his dominion of the tournament.

He overcame a spirited home hope, who enjoyed the benefit of vocal support from the crowd on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Wednesday evening.

Nadal will see room for improvement having failed to serve the match out in the third set, but a 6-3 6-1 6-4 win was never in doubt.

The tone for a procession was established when Nadal raced into a 3-0 lead in the opening set, and Moutets dream of playing his idol soon appeared to be turning into a nightmare.

Nadal won the second set in commanding fashion behind an excellent first serve, but found Moutets resistance more stern in the third.

That spirit was exemplified by Moutet breaking Nadals serve with the Spaniard ahead 5-3.

However, Nadal immediately responded in kind, dominating Moutet from the back of the court.

He wrapped up a landmark victory when the Frenchman sent a lob long at the end of an entertaining rally.

Nadal will face Botic Van De Zandschulp in the third round.

Data Slam: Nadal 107-3 opponents

As well as being his 300th grand slam match win, Nadals triumph was his 107th at Roland Garros.

He has still only tasted defeat in Paris three times.

The fifth seed won all 11 of his first-serve points in the second set of another impressive display.

WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS
Nadal 27/22
Moutet 16/24

ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS
Nadal 1/2
Moutet 0/3

BREAK POINTS WON
Nadal 7/12
Moutet 2/4 (dpa/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

==========
Edited by Olawale Alabi

Source: NAN News

By Rotimi Ijikanmi

The Federal Government says the conducive business environment created by President Muhammadu Buharis administration has led to formation, flourishing of more than five indigenous blue chips companies.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said this on Thursday during a media tour of the five-million tonnes per annum (mtpa) BUA Cement Factory in Sokoto.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister is touring the facility in company of more than 30 journalists drawn from the print, electronic and social media.

The minister said the blue chips businesses included the BUA Cement Factory being inspected and the 2.5 billion dollar Dangote Fertilizer Plant expected to produce three million tonnes of Urea every year.

Others are the Dangote 650,000 barrels per day oil refinery due to open later in the year, the Lekki Deep Sea Port, one of the most modern sea ports in West Africa and the 5,000 barrels per day Modular Refinery in Ibigwe, Imo.

Mohammedsaid the indigenous business ventures established or whichbecame flourished during the tenure of Buhari were stable, profitable, long-lasting and safe for investments.

All these projects are beneficiaries of the conducive business environment created by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, under the auspices of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).

PEBEC has implemented more than150 reforms since 2016, as well as the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 (CAMA 2020) Nigerias most significant business legislation in three decades, he said.

Specifically, the minister noted that the conditions that made BUA cement to flourish since 2015 when the Buhari administration assumed office included the pioneer status granted to the company.

According to him, the ban on importation of cement, governments divestment from the cement industry and backward integration policy helped the company to flourish.

Thanks to these conditions, BUA Cement has recorded a 300 per cent increase in production between 2015 and now.

Thats from 3.5 million Tonnes per annum in 2015, to 11 million tonnes per annum presently.

For its part, the Sokoto plant is operating at over 90 per cent of installed capacity.

Because of its location, which is just 100 kilometers to Niger Republic, the plant exports to Niger and Burkina Faso, earning Nigeria much needed forex, he said.

Mohammed, however, clarifiedthat only excess of the cement production were exported, especially during the raining season whilemajority of the product were for local consumption

He said the cement factory produced all year round, loading between 250 and 270 trailers per day, while the plant had 700 trucks fordistribution of its product.

The three million tonnes per annum line (IV) of the BUA Cement facility that we have just visited was commissioned by Buhari in January this year.

This is one of the most modern cement plants anywhere.

The plant is the first cement plant inNigeria to use Liquefied Natural Gas to generate 50MW of power, thereby, replacing coal in its kiln.

This has made the plant environmentally friendly to also curb climate change, he said.

Mohammed said the plant was also a job creator with 443 permanent members of staff and, together with all other ancillary jobs, totaling 10,000 workers.

He commended the Chairman of BUA Cement, Alhaji Abdul-Samad Rabiu and his entire team for their undying belief in Nigeria.

Corroborating the ministers position, the Managing Director of BUA Cement, Mr Yusuf Binji said the factory, which foundation was laid by Late Sir Ahmadu Bello, started production in 1967 with installed capacity of 100,000 metric tonnes per annum.

He said as at 2015, before the Buhari administration took over power, the installed capacity of the factory was 3.5 million tonnes per annum.

Binji said following the conducive business environment created by Buharis government, the company as at 2022 had grown to installed capacity of 11 million tonnes per annum.

He said of the total 11 million tonnes annual installed capacity, five million tonnes of cement was produced in Sokoto factory while six million tonnes was produced in Edo state.

This is a 300 per cent increase over the last seven years and it is by no means a small increase.

We have invested close to two billion dollars in this Sokoto factory alone and today, we are the second largest cement manufacturer in Nigeria with about 25 per cent market sharing, he said.

According to Binji, BUA Cement is one of the biggest companies listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange with a market capitalisation of N2.4 trillion as at March 2022.

He, on behalf of the chairman of the company and other management staff thanked the Buhari administration for its vision and the minister for the visit. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Source: NAN News