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COVID-19: FG urges women to apply for MSMEs grant

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The Federal Government has urged female entrepreneurs to apply for its ongoing intervention grant for Micro, Small and  Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to enable them overcome challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amb. Mariam Katagum, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment made the call at a news conference on the implementation process of the survival fund on Tuesday in Abuja.

Katagum, who is also the Chairperson, Programme Steering Committee, said the Project Delivering Office (PDO) for the scheme was receiving feedbacks from Nigerians since its registration portal opened on Sept. 21 for applicants.

According to her, the project, which will run for an initial period of three months, has provisions for 45 per cent female-owned businesses and five per cent for those with special needs.

She however noted that there had so far been low women enrolment on the scheme, and therefore called on state and local governments, and trade associations to mobilise women to apply for the grant.

The minister said: “There is need to mobilise more women because by the design of the programme, we are targeting 45 per cent of women beneficiaries and five per cent for those with special needs.

“I use this medium to encourage more women to apply, and we also urge associations to try assisting their members who do not have access to the internet.

“If you are a woman, apply and encourage others to apply because this money is there and we want to ensure that it gets to the targeted beneficiaries,” she said.

Katagum lauded MSMEs’ performances across the country and urged them to take full advantage of the scheme by applying for any category that suits their needs.

She said that although many Nigerians had applied for the grant but there was need for improved awareness creation for MSMEs, especially those in the grassroots to key into it.

According to her, the white list of beneficiaries fully verified for disbursement and payments to the approved block of beneficiaries has also started.

She said that disbursements had been approved for a total of 16,253 MSMEs businesses, accounting for a total of 101,567 beneficiaries.

“Also N30, 000 was paid to each of the 94,696 employees/beneficiaries, while N50, 000 was paid to each of the 6,871 employees/beneficiaries.

“And 2.6 per cent of the beneficiaries are people with special needs, while 43 per cent of the total beneficiaries are women in line with the guidelines on disbursement.

“The disbursements for payroll support commenced last week Wednesday, Nov. 18 and it is ongoing presently across the country.

“However, due to the inability of some states to meet their targets, the portal will be reopened to accommodate such states,” she said.

Katagum said that distribution of beneficiaries across the country so far to include Lagos – 25,000, Kano -17,000 and Abia – 16,000 beneficiaries, while every other state has 13,000 beneficiaries each.

The minister said that the Formalisation Support Scheme, which is simply the registration of 250,000 new businesses with CAC started on Oct. 26.

According her, the scheme has so far registered 9,084 MSMEs from Lagos State, 8,406 from Kano State and 7,906  from Abia, while other states have 6,606 beneficiaries each.

The minister said that prospective beneficiaries under the Artisans and Transport Grants scheme were being paid in three streams with each stream having 12 states.

“Under stream one, 29,000 beneficiaries (artisans) have been approved for payment across the following states, they are FCT, Lagos, Ondo, Kaduna, Borno, Kano, Bauchi, Anambra, Abia, Plateau and Delta.

“While disbursement to beneficiaries under the first stream was ongoing, enumeration of artisans in stream two commenced on Oct. 26 and concluded on Nov. 11.

“Beneficiaries under this stream have been fully verified and will start receiving payments from Tuesday Nov. 24.

“The states under stream two comprise Taraba, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Edo, Ogun, Ekiti, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Enugu and Ebonyi.

She said that enumeration of artisans under the third stream commenced on Nov. 13, and was concluded on Nov. 23 for Akwa-Ibom, Cross-River, Yobe, Sokoto, Nasarawa, Niger, Imo, Oyo, Osun, Jigawa, Gombe,  Benue and Zamfara states.

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Dangote Refinery, national asset every Nigerian must defend — BAVCCA President declares

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President of the Bloggers and Vloggers, Content Creators Association in Nigeria (BAVCCA), Ikechukwu Chukwunyere, has charged Nigerians on the need to protect Dangote Refinery, describing it as a “national asset that every citizen must protect, nurture, and defend against any form of sabotage or doubt.”

Chukwunyere made this declaration on Wednesday at BAVCCA’s National Secretariat in Abuja, following a visit by a 15-man delegation of the association to Dangote Industries in Lagos.

Adding that the visit to the Dangote Refinery was more than a familiarization tour but “a pilgrimage to witness firsthand the embodiment of Nigerian ingenuity, resilience, and vision.”

According to him, the team’s interaction with Dangote Industries’ Vice President, Mr. Edwin Devakumar, provided deep insight into the sacrifices and determination behind what he described as one of Nigeria’s greatest industrial achievements.

While recalling Devakumar’s powerful testimony about believing in Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s vision for the refinery, even when many investors doubted its feasibility.

“Despite the doubts from potential backers, Mr. Devakumar provided crucial support, backing Alhaji Dangote’s dream every step of the way,”

Chukwunyere said. “Alhaji Dangote himself made extraordinary sacrifices, selling most of his assets to fund the project amid those investor doubts.”

He said the refinery, valued at over $20 billion, was “a testament to this unyielding faith” and a model of how personal commitment can turn vision into reality.

Quoting Devakumar, he said Aliko Dangote’s motivation was rooted not only in business ambition but in a “deep prioritization of Nigerians’ well-being.”

“This passion fuels his endeavors, placing the welfare of our people at the heart of every decision,” he added.

The BAVCCA President noted that despite setbacks such as the closure of the Arewa Textile Industry in Kaduna, Dangote “persevered, keeping his vision alive against all odds.”

He described the refinery as the largest in the world, with the capacity to refine 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day, set to expand to 1.4 million barrels daily. The project, he said, has created over 65,000 jobs, saved billions in foreign exchange, and generated an estimated $55 billion in annual revenue potential.

Chukwunyere also highlighted the achievements of the Dangote Fertilizer Plant, which he said has “an impressive production capacity of 3 million metric tonnes per annum of urea,” positioning Nigeria as a key player in global agriculture.

During the visit, Chukwunyere said he personally expressed appreciation to the Dangote Group on behalf of BAVCCA and recounted the association’s efforts in defending the refinery against social media misinformation.

“We amplified the truth, countered misinformation, and rallied public support to ensure this vital project was not undermined,” he stated.

In response, he said, the Dangote Vice President “expressed his pleasure with the bloggers’ efforts and commended the good work being done by our community.”

The BAVCCA leader also announced that the association’s forthcoming national conference, scheduled for October 31 in Abuja, would highlight “the achievements of the Dangote Refinery, showcase the visionary behind it—Alhaji Dangote—and celebrate the transformative role of such initiatives in Nigeria’s development.”

He emphasized that content creators have a patriotic role to play in defending national investments.

“Dangote Industries is not just about refining petroleum; it’s about refining our nation’s future—creating jobs, boosting our economy, and reducing dependency on imports,” he said. “Every Nigerian—bloggers, vloggers, content creators, citizens—must rise to protect Dangote Industries.”

Chukwunyere reaffirmed BAVCCA’s commitment to “lead this charge, using our platforms to educate, inspire, and unite,” while calling on Nigerians to honor the sacrifices of Alhaji Dangote and the faith of leaders like Devakumar.

“Join us at our conference on 31st October, and let’s build a Nigeria where national assets like Dangote Industries thrive unhindered,” Chukwunyere concluded.

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Hon. Munira Applauds Governor Uba Sani for Signing Bill Establishing New College in Lere

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By: Fabian Apechihin

In a major educational breakthrough for Kaduna State, Governor Uba Sani has signed into law a bill establishing the Kaduna State College of Agricultural Technology and Environmental Sciences in Lere Local Government Area.

The landmark bill was sponsored by Hon. Munira Suleiman Tanimu, the member representing Lere East Constituency in the Kaduna State House of Assembly. The new institution aims to equip young people with modern skills in agriculture, technology, and environmental management — key areas for the state’s sustainable development.

Expressing her delight, Hon. Munira said:

“I am overjoyed to announce that Governor Uba Sani has signed my bill into law. This college in Lere will empower our youth with practical knowledge in agriculture and environmental protection. It will open doors to innovation and help our communities thrive.”

She noted that the college will serve as a hub for research and practical training, boosting agricultural productivity and addressing pressing environmental challenges in the region.

“Agriculture remains the backbone of Kaduna’s economy, and this institution will help modernize the sector while creating new opportunities for our young people,” she added.

Hon. Munira also reaffirmed her commitment to effective representation and progressive legislation:

“We will continue to champion laws that make real, positive impacts in people’s lives. The future is bright, and together, we will build a better, stronger Kaduna State.”

She extended her appreciation to Governor Uba Sani for his visionary leadership and unwavering support for education and rural development.

Residents of Lere and across Kaduna have welcomed the development with excitement, describing the new college as a beacon of hope for the youth and a catalyst for growth in the state’s agricultural and environmental sectors.

With the creation of this new college, Kaduna State takes another bold step toward improving education, empowering its citizens, and building a greener, more prosperous future.

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Soludo’s Alleged Threat to Jail Catholic Clergy After Re-election Sparks Controversy in Anambra

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By Fabian Apechihin

A report claiming that Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, plans to jail Catholic bishops, priests, and other clergymen after his re-election has stirred heated debate across the state.

However, Rev. Fr. Raphael Onyekwelu, PhD, Chaplain to the Governor, has dismissed the report as “baseless, ridiculous, and malicious,” describing it as the work of desperate political opponents trying to pit Soludo against the Church.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Fr. Onyekwelu said:

“Our attention has been drawn to a fabricated, malicious, and unsigned piece currently circulating on Facebook and other social media platforms, falsely alleging that His Excellency, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, intends to ‘take on the hierarchy of the Church, especially the Catholic Church,’ after winning the forthcoming November 8, 2025 governorship election.”

He said while such falsehoods would normally be ignored, the campaign season had created fertile ground for misinformation and propaganda.

“This is an election period, and desperate politicians are churning out fake news to deceive the public and cause division. It is laughable that they first admit Soludo is likely to win, and then try to manufacture lies to undermine his relationship with his Church — the Catholic Church,” he stated.

Fr. Onyekwelu noted that the alleged statement did not specify any wrongdoing by the Church to warrant such “imaginary arrests,” calling the entire report “a pitiable fabrication.”

He reaffirmed that Governor Soludo, a devout Catholic, holds the Church in the highest regard and recognizes its crucial role in promoting moral values, education, healthcare, and community development.

“Governor Soludo is a proud and practicing Catholic who cherishes the Church’s partnership in governance and social transformation, in line with Catholic Social Teaching. He deeply appreciates the clergy and their contributions to the moral and socio-economic progress of Anambra State,” he added.

Fr. Onyekwelu emphasized that the governor remains committed to working closely with all religious bodies to advance peace, development, and good governance in the state.

“Under Soludo’s leadership, Anambra continues to experience transparent, people-centered governance anchored on faith, service, and shared values. As the governor often says, ‘Government, Church, and People — together we shall continue to build a peaceful, prosperous, livable, and God-fearing Anambra State,’” he concluded.

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