The United States has stepped up efforts to boost agricultural trade with Nigeria through the revitalisation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Export Credit Guarantee Programme (GSM-102). The programme offers U.S. government-backed credit guarantees, providing Nigerian banks and importers with improved access to financing for sourcing critical agricultural inputs from the United States. Officials say the move is aimed at strengthening U.S.-Nigeria agricultural trade, enhancing food supply chain reliability, and expanding commercial opportunities for both countries. Recent trade figures highlight growing economic ties between the two nations. Bilateral trade in goods and services reached nearly $15 billion in 2025, representing…
Author: Abdoulaye Kay
The 2026 Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walk, organised by Sheroes Rising for Development Initiative, was held in Kaduna on April 18, 2026, at Murtala Square. The event brought together women leaders, professionals, and emerging changemakers for a guided mentorship walk focused on leadership development and networking. The Global Mentoring Walk is an international initiative that uses structured walking conversations to connect experienced professionals with young leaders, creating an informal but impactful mentorship environment. Building on the success of the 2025 Abuja edition, this year’s Kaduna event expanded its reach, strengthening mentorship ties and promoting women’s leadership across Northern Nigeria. Held…
The President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has pledged to construct a ₦550 million students’ hostel at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO). Dangote made the announcement on Monday in Owerri during a public lecture he delivered at the university on the theme, “Enterprise, Leadership and Service to Humanity.” He said the gesture is aimed at addressing the institution’s accommodation challenges. The industrialist also donated ₦25 million to students through the Student Union Government (SUG) at the event. According to him, the planned hostel project will help ease the shortage of student accommodation on campus and improve students’…
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has debunked a purported Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) result slip circulating online, which claims a candidate scored 394 in the 2026 examination, describing it as entirely fake. The result, widely shared on X, alleged that a female candidate, Okon Winniefred Sampson, scored 394 out of 400. However, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, on Sunday, the board expressed concern that the fabrication is being widely circulated, even among otherwise well-informed Nigerians. According to JAMB, the result slip in circulation does not match its official format. https://twitter.com/FabianB58246501/status/2048358504667214071?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2048358504667214071%7Ctwgr%5Ee5ab6dab5249a90ae701d00f19d517a51f5e3ec5%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.channelstv.com%2F2026%2F04%2F26%2Fjamb-disowns-fake-396-utme-result-slip-circulating-online%2F The board explained…
The Chairman of Nigeria’s National Malaria Elimination Council (NMEC) and United Nations Malaria Ambassador, Aliko Dangote, has called on governments and the private sector to urgently scale up coordinated action to eliminate malaria, describing the moment as critical to ending one of the world’s most devastating diseases. Speaking to mark World Malaria Day 2026, Dangote emphasised that while progress against malaria has been significant, it remains uneven, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, which bears more than 90 percent of the global disease burden. Despite significant advances in prevention and treatment, malaria remains one of the world’s deadliest diseases, with sub‑Saharan Africa…
The President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, has underscored the importance of regional collaboration in tackling malaria, describing the ECOWAS Assembly as a critical platform for decisive action. Bio, who currently chairs the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States, was represented by Chief Minister David Moinina Sengeh. He spoke on Saturday at the 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Health Ministers of ECOWAS, held in Sierra Leone. The high-level meeting brought together health ministers from member states, senior government officials, development partners, and regional health experts…
The Federal Government has reassured Nigerians that ongoing economic reforms—including the removal of fuel subsidy, foreign exchange liberalisation, and fiscal restructuring—are designed to deliver long-term benefits for the country. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, gave the assurance on Friday in Lagos while receiving the ‘Image Maker Award 2026.’ Speaking at the event, Idris reiterated the government’s commitment to transparent and responsible communication, describing it as central to effective governance. “This award is a testament to the trust we strive to build with every Nigerian. Communication is at the heart of governance, and it must foster confidence,…
The Federal Government has approved a fresh round of allowances and welfare enhancements for civil servants, aimed at boosting take-home pay and improving overall working conditions across the public service. The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, announced the development during a press briefing in Abuja, noting that the decision received the backing of the Federal Executive Council as part of ongoing public sector reforms. According to her, the review affects employees under both the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS) and the Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS), ensuring a broad-based impact across…
Former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II has openly questioned Nigeria’s continued resort to heavy borrowing despite the removal of fuel subsidy, warning that the country may be failing to translate key reforms into tangible fiscal stability. Speaking during an interview on News Central TV, the former Central Bank of Nigeria governor acknowledged that ending the subsidy regime was necessary but raised concerns about policy sequencing and execution. Sanusi argued that while subsidy removal and exchange rate liberalisation were structurally sound reforms, their implementation may have lacked the necessary supporting measures…
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), Mr. Abba Bello, has held high-level talks with the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, as part of efforts to deepen collaboration aimed at driving Nigeria’s non-oil export sector and strengthening foreign exchange (FX) inflows. The strategic meeting, which took place on April 22, 2026, at the CBN headquarters in Abuja, centered on aligning monetary and development finance policies to unlock growth opportunities across key sectors of the economy. Issues discussed could not be far from the need to scale up export financing…