Lifestyle

Tinubu Launches Fresh ₦1.9 billion Disability Empowerment

By Web News 269

By ‎Oluseyi Olarinde

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has unveiled a new round of financial empowerment for persons with disabilities, PWDs, in Oyo State under the nationwide Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Economic Empowerment Programme, held to mark the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

The event, held at the Local Government Training School, Secretariat, Ibadan, took place simultaneously across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

A total of 250 persons with disabilities in Oyo State received ₦200,000 each as business recapitalization grants, while the state also received a ₦50 million support fund for wider distribution within its disability community.

Represented in Ibadan by the wife of the Oyo State governor, Chief Tamunominini Makinde, Senator Tinubu said the initiative demonstrated the government’s commitment to building an economy that gives every Nigerian a sense of belonging.

“Our nation grows stronger when every individual is empowered to contribute meaningfully,” she said.

She announced that 9,500 persons with disabilities nationwide would receive a total of ₦1.9 billion, describing it as one of the largest empowerment interventions targeted at Nigerians with disabilities.

Quoting American disability rights advocate Helen Keller, she added, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. A truly inclusive society is built when we stand together and create opportunities that empower everyone to contribute their unique gifts.”

Senator Tinubu emphasised that the programme aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises inclusive growth, social protection, and sustainable livelihoods for vulnerable Nigerians.

She highlighted earlier RHI interventions, noting that more than 100,000 petty traders and small business owners, including persons with disabilities, had received direct cash grants over the past two years.

“Our Social Investment Programmes have supported victims of floods, communal clashes, disasters, the elderly, widows, and orphans of our fallen heroes,” she said. “Through our Monthly Food Outreach Scheme, food items have been delivered to 22 states and the FCT. We remain committed to doing even more.”

She further announced that the RHI Governing Board had approved that the Economic Empowerment Programme for Persons with Disabilities will now hold annually on December 3.

Senator Tinubu also expressed appreciation to Governor Seyi Makinde and his wife, Mrs. Tamunominini Makinde, for their continued support for disability inclusion.

In his welcome address, Director-General of the Oyo State Agency for Persons with Disabilities, Mr. Ayodele Adekanmbi, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to inclusive governance.

“Today reminds us that disability is not inability. Every individual, regardless of physical or cognitive differences, possesses immense value,” he said.

He noted that the state maintains a deliberate quota system across education, health, employment, infrastructure, and social welfare to prevent the marginalisation of persons with disabilities.

“The Agency for Persons with Disabilities remains a hub for policy implementation, empowerment, and advocacy. Our goal is a state where every person can thrive without barriers,” Mr. Adekanmbi added.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr. Kayode Lawal thanked the First Lady and the government for the support, promising that recipients would use the funds responsibly to grow their businesses and improve their livelihoods.

Edited by Maxwell Oyekunle

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Economy

Abiodun Announces Grants for Business-Oriented Youths

By Web News 404

By Abimbola Bamgbose

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has emphasized his administration’s commitment to involving youths in governance to help them harness their talents and prepare for future leadership roles.

Speaking at the first Annual Youth Summit and Empowerment Programme organized by the Ogun State Chapter of the City Boy Movement, held at the Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, the governor announced grants ranging from N500,000 to N1 million. Under the Ogun YES Empowerment and Entrepreneur Program, these grants aim to support business-oriented youths in the state.

Represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Dr. Oluwatoyin Taiwo, Governor Abiodun stated that youth engagement is crucial for societal progress. “We are committed to ensuring that the youth are not just participants but leaders in shaping decisions that affect their lives. Empowering our youth today guarantees a brighter tomorrow,” he said.

The governor also underscored the importance of the summit’s theme, “Renewed Hope Agenda: A Concrete Foundation for a Prosperous Nigeria,” describing it as a rallying cry for young innovators and leaders to build a better future. He praised the Abeokuta chapter of the City Boy Movement for its dedication to youth development and called on stakeholders to support initiatives that empower young people as future leaders.

Governor Abiodun reiterated that his administration’s “Building Our Future Together” mantra aligns with the federal government’s vision for a prosperous Nigeria.

In his opening remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital Communication and New Media, Mr. O’tega Ogra, highlighted the federal government’s initiatives to support young Nigerians. He noted that the National Student Loan Scheme, which has benefited over 300,000 students, reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to youth development. He also assured that the federal government is addressing the nation’s economic challenges and that small and medium-scale entrepreneurs would no longer pay taxes under the forthcoming Tax Reform Law.

Similarly, Mr. Kamorudeen Yusuf, Personal Assistant to the President on Special Duties, urged youths to embrace the ongoing national reforms and actively contribute to building a progressive Nigeria.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Citizenship and Leadership, Ms. Rinsola Abiola, commended Governor Abiodun’s youth-focused initiatives, noting that they align with President Tinubu’s goal of empowering young Nigerians to secure a brighter future.

The summit served as a platform to reinforce the vital role of youth in driving innovation, leadership, and sustainable development in Ogun State and across the nation.

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Economy

Oyo Unveils Plans to Train Youths

By Web News 219

By Iyabo Adebisi

Oyo state government has rolled out a mega empowerment programme to train and equip 500 youths with basic entrepreneurship and business management skills across 33 local government areas in the state. 

The commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Miss Wasilat Adegoke announced this during a press conference at the Governor’s office, Ibadan.

She stressed that beyond development of sporting activities, other aspects of economic development of youths for self-reliance has always been prioritized by the current administration. 

Miss Adegoke also explained that the pilot scheme would target young graduates from tertiary institutions with a starter pack provided for them by the state government upon completion of the programme, noting that a link would be provided for them to apply online.

A Director of Youths Development, at the ministry of Youths and Sports, Mrs Kudirat Mustapha disclosed that 15 beneficiaries would be selected in each of the local government areas of the state through a transparent, credible process for the programme. 

An implementing partner for the programme, Dr. Jasper Ezenwaka assured that their firm would provide technical support cutting across financial and business sustenance skills, skills to boost their employability as well as leadership and mentorship tutelage amongst others 

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Agriculture

FG, Ogun Government Empower Cassava Farmers

By Web News 835

By Oluwatoyin Adegoke

The Federal Government is working with the Ogun State government and other relevant stakeholders to support Cassava farmers with knowledge-based trainings and provision of farm input.

The collaboration, anchored by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is also aimed at reducing the loss of resources occasioned by the adverse effects of climate change on farming activities.

The Ministry’s Director in Ogun State, Dr Ayo Ajayi and a representative from Abuja, Mrs Esther Moyo made these known in Abeokuta at a training on promoting climate resilient practices among Cassava farmers.

Dr Ajayi and Mrs Moyo explained that the training and empowerment for both the cassava farmers and agricultural extension workers were necessary to enable the farmers to adopt smart initiatives to improve their yields for enhanced rural and national economy.

Also, the Acting Programme Manager, Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme, OGADEP, Mrs Solape Awe and the Programme’s Director of Extension Services, Mrs Abiola Sobukonla said the agency would reach out to cassava farmers across the state through the participants, identified as early adopters of new trends.

In the course of the training, the resource person, Dr Modupe Abidemi encouraged the cassava farmers to brace up to the challenge of working with weather forecasting tools, ensuring proper management of soil and water and sticking to the use of high quality planting materials.

Religion

PFN Empowers Inmates in Ibadan

By Web News 958

By Blessing Adesanya

As part of efforts in empowering inmates to become responsible citizen, Prison Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN in partnership with a church abroad have donated ten laptops to the Agodi Correctional Custodial Centre to enhance learning. 

Delivering the items at the centre, the Chairman of the PFN, Prophet Boyede Sule said they were moved to complement the effort of the government towards educating the inmates.

He stressed that their impressive academic performance needed to be encouraged.

“We have discovered that over the years people will just come and bring food, eat food, after leaving this place and they get to the society if they are not empowered they will come back here.

So we felt the best thing is to educate and empower them so that when they move out, they will be useful to the society and to their families too”.

Prophet Boyede who was of the view that, if the inmates were not empowered with any skill, they could go back to their old ways when they were released, called for more support from Nigerian citizens and Corporate bodies in giving them a good life. 

Expressing gratitude for the kind gesture by PFN, Assistant Controller of Corrections (in-charge, Agodi Correctional Centre), Mr Samuel Ayodele, promised that, the items would judiciously be utilized by the inmates.

” In fact, today’s gesture is a very wonderful one because, in this part of the country, we hardly find people who will be helpful to us, so when we see people who come to show this kind of gesture, we feel appreciated and we are happy.

‘‘At the moment we have inmates who have written NECO and had brilliant results that, they cannot go out to further their education, this made us seek the assistance of an Open University.

One of their conditions was to get about 25 laptops and the prison fellowship of Nigeria has been able to donate ten laptops which they promised to bring the remaining 15 later in the year. ‘‘We say thank u’’.

Mr Ayodele who noted that the correctional centre needed more assistance enjoined Nigerians not to relent in their efforts in making life better, adding that, they should show more love and care for the inmates.

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Economy

Over 3,000 Benefit From FG Empowerment Scheme In Osun

By Web News 664

Over three thousand beneficiaries of the Federal Government N-Knowledge, N-Tech scheme from the South West have received their tools of the trade.

The tools, which included Laptop Computers and Workstations were handed down to them after the closing of the three months intensive coaching at the Osun State College of Education, Ila Orangun.

Presenting the tools to the beneficiaries, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouk explained that the N-Knowledge, N-Tech were components of the N-Power programme focused on equipping young Nigerians with relevant skills and certification to become competent workers, innovators and entrepreneurs prepared for both the domestic and global digital job market.

Represented by an Assistant Director in the Ministry Mr Olufemi Popoola, the Minister stated that the (N-Knowledge) programme would upskill twenty thousand young Nigerians on the global radar as exporters of world-class services and content in the creative and information technology sectors.

She said the training component was targeted at developing competencies of the youth in software development and Hardware training which would be catalyzed as well as the groundwork to make Nigeria compete in the outsourcing market for software development.

Hajia Farouk added that the programme would develop the skills and capacities along the skills set in the value chain of mobile apps and website development and start the talent development effort for the growth of the information technology industry in Nigeria.

The Minister stressed that the participants who had been in centralized in-camp training for 3 months would also undergo a 6-month apprenticeship during which they would be exposed to more practical details

Also speaking, one of the facilitators of the programme, Mr Bolarin Oyetunji explained that during the three months intensive training, the participants were exposed to Software development, Animation and Scriptwriting.

Mr Oyetunji said the six months period of apprenticeship would enable them to have more field work exposure and mentorship, while he added that they would be connected to film production organizations that may require their new skills.

Persons with Disabilities were not left out of the programme. One of them, Mr Adewuyi Omotoso who was full of appreciation to the Federal Government, affirmed that such a programme had rekindled the hope of a better tomorrow for people in his category.

Similarly, Miss Ayinde Temitope also received appealed to the government not to rest on its oars in ensuring that Nigerian youths were skillfully empowered.

Participants in the programme who were majorly graduates of intermediary education programmes were drawn from all states in the South West.

Adenitan Akinola

Economy

Ogun Osun River Basin Empowers 40 Youths with Poultry Equipment

By Web News 815


Forty youths and graduates from four south west states have been trained in Poultry, Hatchery Management and Artificial Insemination skills by the Ogun Osun River Basin Development Authority, OORBDA.
Beneficiaries the training under the Skills Acquisition and Empowerment of Youths In Agric-Business Improvement Programme will also be provided with the equipment needed to start the businesses.
Managing Director of the authority, Mr. Olufemi Odumosu while declaring the programme opened in Abeokuta called on the youths to make the best out of the opportunity provided for them to be self sufficient.
The Skills Acquisition and Empowerment of Youths In Agric-Business Improvement Programme is part of the process for opening – up Governance and Economic Activities by the Federal Government, under the 2021 Budgetary Appropriations covering Ogun, Osun, Oyo and Lagos states.
According to the Managing Director of Ogun Osun River Basin Development Authority the Federal Government’s programme was aimed at moving over ten million Nigerians out of Poverty to Prosperity within the next 10 years.
The benefiting youths are expected to engage in Farming, using modern technology to boosts production of eggs, day old chicks and feeds.
A resource person at the training and empowerment Programme, Dr. Olufunmilayo Odejinmi who trained the youths on Poultry management urged youths to embrace poultry business which had the potential of investment returns within four to six weeks of commencement.
Some of the beneficiaries including Mr. Ajibade Ibrahim a graduate of food science and technology and Ogidan Ayobami a graduate of animal nutrition while commending the federal government for the programme also called for the expansion of the opportunity.
They expressed optimism that the training programme and empowerment centred on Poultry Management with focus on Table egg production, Broiler’s Production and Turkey Production as well as Hatchery Management and Artificial Insemination skills would enable them to contribute positively to the process of nation building.

Wale Oluokun

Economy

Oyo Government Empowers Women Across State

By Web News 790

About three thousand people have benefitted from the Empowerment programme organized by the office of the wife of Oyo state governor, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde.

The beneficiaries were drawn from across the thirty-three local government areas of the state.

The empowerment programme was held in towns across the three senatorial districts of Oyo state, including Ibarapa, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Saki, Iseyin and Ibadan zones. 

The beneficiaries, who were selected randomly promised to make good use of the equipment they received during the programme.

While receiving the working tools, some of the beneficiaries who commended the initiative affirmed that the facilities would boost their businesses.

One of them, an orphan, Mrs Olufunke Olusola explained that she had learnt tailoring years ago but could not afford the sewing machine gifted her. 

 In an interview with Radio Nigeria in Ibarapa Zone, the Chairman Ibarapa Central local government, Mr Adeoye Adedoyin said the beneficiaries were carefully selected after a thorough evaluation of their economic condition.

Also speaking, the chairmen Iseyin local government and Ibadan North local government, Mr Osuolale Abilawon and Mr Saheed Oladayo pointed out that the empowerment programme was timely, as the tools would help to uplift the beneficiaries living conditions.

Commissioner for local government and Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Bayo Lawal said the programme was borne out of a passion to empower the people of the state in phases.

The initiator of the programme and wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde implored women in the state to live a purposeful and impactful life.

Mrs Makinde, who noted that women could become successful entrepreneurs and employers of labour through determination, advised the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the materials for an improved life.

Dignitaries At The Program Were Commissioner For Special Duties Mrs Joke Sanni, Commissioner For Women Affairs And Social Inclusion, Mrs Kafilat Olayiwola former commissioner for Special Duties Mrs Funmilayo Orisadeyi, Special Adviser To The Governor On  Diaspora Matters, Mrs Bolanle Sarumi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry Of Women Affairs And Social Inclusion, Mrs Christianah Abioye.

The program featured the distribution of Sewing Machines, Hair Dryers, Gas Cylinders, Burners and Generators to women across the state.

Seyifunmi Olarinde

Lifestyle

Ekiti Government Empowers Women Against FGM

By Web News 669

No fewer than one hundred and seventy persons engaging in female circumcision in Ekiti State have been given two hundred and fifty thousand nairas each to start another business and stop genital mutilation.

At the disbursement of the grants in Ado Ekiti, which was tagged “Drop the Blade Imitative” the wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi told the beneficiaries of the gesture to ensure they engage in meaningful businesses for self-reliance.

She maintained that the grants would not be refunded while no compensation must be paid to anyone for registering them.

“We are empowering these women today so as to take them away from the illegal business. If what they were gaining from female circumcision was why they could not let go of the job, we are ready to empower them” She said.

Erelu Fayemi noted that this would be the second time empowering those engaging in female circumcision to discourage the continuation of the dastardly illegal business.

The governor’s wife expressed regret that the state was one of the top three states practising such act hence all hands must be on deck to stop the menace outrightly.

Earlier in an address, the commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Alhaja Mariam Ogunlade reminded the beneficiaries that there are laws in place banning female circumcision saying anyone caught would be made to face the legal action.

The commissioner who reaffirmed the government’s zero-tolerance for female genital mutilation called for stakeholders’ involvement in stamping it out in all communities across the State.

The Director-General, Micro Finance and Enterprise Development Agency, MEDA Otunba Kayode Fasae cautioned the beneficiaries of the fund against frivolous spending but engage in self-reliant businesses.

Other stakeholders including, the President of Iyalaje/Iyaloja Ekiti State, Chief Waye Oso among others urged expectant mothers to patronise government health facilities adding that there is no benefit in female circumcision.

The high point of the event was the collection of blades, scissors, cotton wool and other instruments used for circumcision from the beneficiaries.

One of the beneficiaries of the grants, Mrs Funmilayo Adedeji thanked the government for putting up such an initiative to assist them.

Busuyi Ogidiolu