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SMEDAN reveals FG’s huge plan to boost women- operated businesses

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The director-general of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Mr. Olawale Fasanya, has reiterated the federal government’s desire to boost women-owned businesses in the country.

He disclosed this at the opening of “Meet With the CEO” in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Abuja on Wednesday.

The director-general said that in order to ensure this, SMEDAN now has a gender desk and has reserved 50 percent of its intervention programs for women. Fasanya said that the objective of the event was to broaden and deepen the capacity of the MSME operators on regulatory issues. He said it would enable the agency to initiate need-based programs that would enhance MSMEs’ competitiveness in the global market.

He quoted the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) saying 40 percent of businesses in the country are female-led, and they contribute significantly to economic growth and job creation in the country. “These businesses led by visionary women entrepreneurs are emerging as pivotal drivers of Nigeria’s economic resurgence. And they are contributing significantly to the nation’s development across diverse sectors,” he added.

According to Fasanya, female-led businesses have continued to show resilience and a high level of optimism in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and economic downturn. He said, “Considering the impacts, female-led businesses continue to make progress in spite of the challenges they face.

The government and ecosystem players take a more intentional approach to supporting the demographic segment for greater impact, particularly since investing in female-led businesses produces ripple benefits that trigger employment generation, poverty reduction, and wealth creation.”

The director-general therefore urged the participants to interact with each other and with government officials, ask questions, and network on ways to forge ahead. He commended the ILO, their co-host, for the unwavering support towards the promotion of equal human rights, social justice, and sustainable development.

Meanwhile, the Founder of the Celina Unogwu Visioning Academy (CUVA), Celina Unogwu, reiterated the importance of having a balanced work-life as a woman entrepreneur. According to Unogwu, work-life balance refers to the intersection of work and personal life when there is equilibrium or balance between personal life and professional life. While stating the importance for entrepreneurs to be focused on their goal, she urged the participants to work hard and believe in their dream

 

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2027: Fubara declares support for Tinubu, Wike’s candidates, says time for war over

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River State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has reiterated his support for the second term bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the aspiration of Hon Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.

In what could be described as a public declaration of peace and total cessation of hostilities in the political arena in the state, Governor Fubara said that as a loyal member of the APC, he has also become a member of the Rainbow Coalition, the political group put together by his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike to advance the interests of the ruling party in Rivers State.

The Governor made his position known on Wednesday during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Riven Medical Industries Project in Port Harcourt and disclosed that the hitherto contending political forces in the state have resolved their differences and agreed to work together in the interest of the peace and development of the state.

According to Onwuka Nzechi, Chief Press Secretary to the River State Governor, Fubara charged his teeming supporters across the state to, without prejudice to the past, join him in supporting the ambitions of Tinubu, Chinda and all the other candidates of the APC in Rivers State during the forthcoming elections.

“We have made peace in the state and I am supporting our Rainbow Coalition. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is our president, and is the one we are supporting. OK Chinda is the governorship candidate that I am supporting and anybody who believes in me will support him and every other candidate that is under the Rainbow Coalition.

” I’ve gone back to our family. So, please, whoever you are, give your total support to the Rainbow Coalition. We need to move forward. The time of war is over. It is time for peace and this peace is taking us to another level.

“I want this to be made clear to every body. So, don’t go anywhere and say you’re supporting Fubara …. No. No. No. My position is this: I have said it here and clearly for everyone to hear. If you’re not hearing we’ll, use cotton wool to clean your ears and let it enter well. I’m not party to anything that will bring any form of disunity in this state. I’ve done what I need to do and we are moving forward,” he said.

Governor Fubara described the Riven Medical Industries Project as a positive development for the state, but warned against a repeat of the ugly experiences in the past where some investors were given the opportunity to operate in the state only to renege on some aspects of the agreement, leading to litigations.

According to Governor Fubara, his administration endorsed the project out of the conviction that the new investors have the capacity and commitment to deliver on the mandate to revive the project, create jobs and boost economic development in the state.

He charged the investors to endeavour to keep to the timelines and ensure that the first phase of the project will be successfully achieved in the next three months. He also appealed to the host communities and the leadership of the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, to give their maximum support to the project and avoid anything that could disrupt its smooth operation.

Governor Fubara pledged that his administration will continue to provide total support the project to ensure its success.

The Riven Medical Industries Project is a landmark Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between the Rivers State Government and Enbay Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, and represents one of the State’s most strategic investments in industrialization, healthcare, and economic development.

The project is being implemented through Riven Medical Industries Limited, the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) established by Enbay Pharmaceutical Industries Limited to revive and redevelop the former Integrated Medical Industries (IMI) into a world-class pharmaceutical manufacturing complex.

When completed, the facility will manufacture pharmaceutical formulations, gelatine capsules, intravenous (IV) infusions, and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), significantly expanding Nigeria’s local pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity, reducing dependence on imported medicines, strengthening the nation’s healthcare value chain, and enhancing medicine security.

The project is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities, stimulate technology transfer, attract local and foreign investment, and position Rivers State as the leading pharmaceutical manufacturing and healthcare investment hub in Nigeria and the West African sub-region.

The groundbreaking ceremony marks the beginning of a transformative journey that reflects the Rivers State Government’s commitment to sustainable industrial growth, economic diversification, improved healthcare outcomes, and strategic partnerships that deliver lasting value for the people of Rivers State and Nigeria.

 

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PDP, APM Alliance: The New Dawn

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The challenges we face today require more than just politics as usual; they demand a unified, strategic, and bold rescue mission. It is time to hit the reset button on our nation’s trajectory. It is time for the Reset Nigeria Movement.

To achieve the Nigeria of our dreams, we cannot walk alone. We need a synergy of vision, experience, and grassroots mobilization. This is why a powerful coalition has emerged: The Grand Alliance.

At the heart of this movement is the historic PDP and APM Alliance, a formidable partnership between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied People’s Movement (APM). This is not just a political coalition; it is a declaration of intent to rescue, rebuild, and restore the glory of our great nation, Nigeria.

The PDP and APM Alliance brings together the strength, structure, and localized reach necessary to unseat stagnation and bring true democratic dividends to the people.

The Reset Nigeria Movement is committed to policies that empower the youth, support local businesses, and alleviate the economic burdens facing everyday Nigerians.

This Alliance is built on the belief that every Nigerian voice matters. It represents a broad spectrum of our society, ensuring that leadership is accountable to everyone, not just a few.

The alliance is pooling our collective resources, intelligence, and political will to create a safer, more united Nigeria where citizens can thrive without fear.

Whether you are a student, a professional, a market woman, an artisan, or a patriotic citizen eager for a new dawn, there is space for you in this movement.

Stand on the right side of history.

Join the Reset Nigeria Movement.

Join the Alliance.

Join the PDP and APM Alliance today!

Together, we will rescue and reset Nigeria.

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First Lady donates N2b to promote Akwete in Aba, receives traditional title

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Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has Remi Tinubu, has donated N2b to support Akwete weaving industry in Aba, Abia State.

She said the gesture was to support the development of the Akwete production site, with a view to creating more jobs and boosting the state’s economy.

She made the donation in Aba on Tuesday, during her visit to the state to celebrate and promote the historic Akwete weaving heritage.

The President’s wife explained that the gesture was to support the development of the Akwete production site, with a view to creating more jobs and boosting the state’s economy.

‎Senator Oluremi Tinubu praised the uniqueness and the richness of the Akwete fabric, crafted on vertical looms by women in Abia, using cotton, raffia, and silk and famous for its vibrant colours and intricate geometric motifs.

“I am in awe of all the richness of what the Akwete fabrics stand for.

‎”I love traditional outfits because our tradition, our culture, tells us who we are. The moment we lose that, we won’t remember where we come from.

“The craft was transferred from generation to generation. It is a sacred craft done with love, patience, and endurance.

“The tradition of the Akwete handmade fabric is dear to the hearts of the women who make it, and they should be encouraged to pass it on to the next generation,” she said.

‎She Tinubu encouraged the younger generation to embrace their culture, particularly cultural attire that connects the young with the older generation.

According to her, people should be proud of their cultural heritage and wear the African traditional attires with pride.

‎”We should not let our children forget that.

“To the women of Akwete, I heard your cry. I am here to announce to all Nigerians and the Igbo people that it is time to take Akwete fabric to the national stage.

‎”Therefore, all the notable sons and daughters of Igbo land should rise to preserve this culture. On my part, I am donating N2 billion for the project,” she said.

She promised Governor Alex Otti that if President Bola Tinubu wins the 2027 presidential election for a second term, she would wear a wrapper and “buba” made from Akwete for the inauguration.

Responding, Otti and his wife, Mrs Priscilla Otti, thanked the first lady for the gesture, saying, “it will significantly transform Akwete fabric production in the state”.

Mr Otti also pledged total support to President Tinubu’s economic policies, stressing that the reforms were gradually setting the country on the path of sustainable growth.

The Abia Council of Traditional Rulers conferred the traditional title of “Ugo Nwanyi Abia” (the Pride of Abia Women) on the first lady.

 

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