News Agency of Nigeria
FRSC, EFCC partner to tackle economic sabotage, road crashes
Defence/Security

FRSC, EFCC partner to tackle economic sabotage, road crashes

By Ibironke Ariyo

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have entered into a strategic partnership to curb economic sabotage and reduce road traffic crashes (RTCs) in the country.

The agreement was made when the FRSC Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed led his team on a courtesy visit to the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede on Tuesday in Abuja.

Speaking during the strategic engagement, the FRSC boss amplified the urgent need for the strategic partnership between the agencies to confront the twin threats of reckless driving and its attendant fatalities.

This, he said, were as well as the financial hemorrhage resulting from such recklessness.

Mohammed maintained that road safety was not merely a transport issue but a national security and economic imperative.

He said that it required a multi sectoral approach to safeguard human lives and stabilise Nigeria’s economic trajectory.

He, however, said the alliance between the two institutions signalled that unlawful transport practices and road carnage would no longer be tolerated.

He added that the partnership represented integrity, law enforcement and public safety, while setting a new standard for institutional collaboration to protect lives, preserve resources and secure the future.

“With this partnership, Nigerians can expect a tougher, more coordinated crackdown on economic crimes linked to the transport sector.”

He said it would be a renewed offensive against the culture of impunity that has long endangered lives and undermined national progress.

“The message is clear. Economic sabotage and reckless endangerment of lives on our roads will be confronted with the full weight of the law as FRSC and EFCC.

“We believe that together, we are determined to raise the bar of strategic partnership,” he said.

Responding, the Executive Chairman of EFCC, Olukoyede, emphasised that the two organisations share strikingly similar mandates.

Olukoyede maintained that both agencies interface directly with the Nigerian public in ways that deeply affect lives, safety, and national prosperity.

He stressed that beyond combating economic crimes, the EFCC was also charged with addressing economic sabotage.

This, he said was an area where transport operators who flout regulations cause devastating ripple effects on national growth and citizens’ welfare.(NAN)

Edited by Yakubu Uba

NAN, FRSC deepen partnership on road safety in FCT
Defence/Security

NAN, FRSC deepen partnership on road safety in FCT

By Ibironke Ariyo

The Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Ali Muhammad Ali, says the agency will continue to support the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in its mandate of ensuring safety on Nigerian roads.

 

Ali said this on Thursday in Abuja when the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Sector Commander of FRSC, Mr Felix Theman, paid a courtesy visit to the agency.

 

Ali congratulated Theman on his recent appointment as the new sector commander in charge of the territory.

 

He said it was good that the sector commander hit the ground running since his assumption of office in Abuja, noting the daunting task of managing traffic in the FCT.

 

According to him, Abuja poses peculiar challenges because “everybody here considers himself an important personality” leading to indiscipline on the roads.

 

Ali said that NAN had always been a dependable partner in promoting road safety education.

 

He described the Corps as “visible everywhere and bringing discipline to the roads despite a few black sheep”.

 

The NAN MD urged Theman to intensify public enlightenment campaigns, particularly in motor parks, against reckless driving, drunk driving, and driving against traffic.

 

“I think it is time we enacted a law against driving against traffic, because only an unstable person would do such a thing. Unfortunately, in Abuja, we see this all the time.

 

“We will support you. It is important that we give you all the necessary media support to rid our road of insanity. We wish you best of luck,” he added.

 

Earlier, Theman said that FRSC bore the huge responsibility of ensuring safety on Nigerian roads, a task requiring not only enforcement but also public education, enlightenment, and advocacy.

 

He described the media as a fundamental partner in road safety management, stressing that FRSC messages could only reach the wider public effectively through collaboration with organisations like NAN.

 

Theman recalled that on Wednesday, gridlock along the Giri-Gwagwalada axis was compounded by indiscipline and lack of patience among motorists after truck drivers blocked the road over an altercation.

 

He appealed for more public cooperation, noting that without discipline and support from road users, the Corps would be handicapped in fulfilling its mandate.

 

The commander said since assuming office in the FCT, his team had identified major violations, including driving against traffic, overloading, beating traffic lights, and drunk driving.

 

“In just two weeks, we have apprehended over 500 offenders with close to 1,000 violations. These included those driving against traffic, overloading passengers and goods, and even drunk drivers.

 

“In one instance, a commercial driver was found drunk as early as 10 a.m., and his passengers didn’t even know.

 

“He was prosecuted and had his licence suspended for six months, while his vehicle was impounded,” Theman said.

 

The sector commander said that the command was working with FCT magistrates to ensure consistent prosecution of traffic offenders, as enforcement had to complement public education.

 

He further expressed concern over pedestrian recklessness, noting that in spite of footbridges, many still risk their lives crossing highways, leading to avoidable deaths.

 

He assured that the command would sustain daily operations to restore sanity on the roads while deepening its partnership with NAN to escalate safety messages.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

ICA/ YMU

Edited by Yakubu Uba

Delta govt., REA sign MoU to drive renewable energy
General News

Delta govt., REA sign MoU to drive renewable energy

By Constance Athekame

The Delta Government on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to expand electricity access in underserved communities and boost renewable energy adoption.

The agreement was signed in Abuja during the REA State-by-State Roundtable Engagement with Delta, themed “Unlocking Distributed Energy Investments for Industrial Growth and Inclusive Access”.

Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori, who signed on behalf of the state, reaffirmed Delta’s readiness to partner with the agency on impactful energy programmes.

“We view these programmes not only as energy access initiatives, but as powerful tools for inclusive economic growth, enterprise development, and rural transformation.

“Access to renewable energy is a cornerstone for unlocking productivity, attracting investments, and improving the livelihoods of our people, particularly in communities that have long been underserved,” he said.

The governor said the state would leverage the partnership to accelerate the delivery of energy solutions in line with its Medium-Term Development Plan (2024–2027) and MORE Agenda.

He noted that renewable energy had become a global driver of growth, citing the International Energy Agency’s 2024 report, which showed that renewables now account for 90 per cent of global power capacity.

“Delta has already enacted the State Energy Power Sector Law 2024 to address electricity challenges, improve access, boost investor confidence, and promote sustainable energy development,” he said.

Oborevwori added that the state had established an 8.5-megawatt independent power plant in Asaba to power government institutions, with plans to replicate the model in tertiary institutions.

He also disclosed that the government had invested heavily in rural electrification projects aimed at rehabilitating weak networks, extending coverage to unserved communities, and deploying solar mini-grids, solar farms, and hybrid systems in rural and coastal areas.

“The goal is to widen access to energy assets for both urban and rural communities through renewable solutions. Delta is irrevocably committed to expanding investments in the energy sector,” he assured.

The governor commended the World Bank, REA, renewable energy service providers, and investors for supporting the initiative, pledging the state’s readiness to collaborate on viable projects.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of REA, Mr Abba Aliyu, said off-grid electrification in Delta could attract 158 million dollars in investments, add 2.9 billion dollars annually to Nigeria’s GDP, and create over 31,000 jobs in the state.

He said REA had identified 471 potential mini-grid sites in Delta, with Ndokwa East Local Government Area alone accounting for 83 locations.

“These sites have the potential to power over 386,000 people and 120,000 buildings across the state. With an average of 255 connections per village, Delta is highly attractive for mini-grid investments,” he said.

Similarly, Mr Frank Nwaebo, Director of Renewable Energy at the Delta Ministry of Energy, said the state had strong solar potential, with an annual average solar radiance of 4.53 kilowatts per hour, the highest in the South-South.

He said rising fossil fuel prices had made diversification urgent, stressing that Delta’s Renewable Energy Policy Roadmap (2023–2028) was designed to guide the transition to clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (NAN)

Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Kevin Okunzuwa

AU, Nigeria partner to revitalise agriculture, boost food production
Agriculture

AU, Nigeria partner to revitalise agriculture, boost food production

Partnership

By Doris Esa

The African Union (AU) and Nigeria are collaborating to transform, revitalise agriculture and boost food production across the continent through the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) initiative.

CAADP,  a road-map for the continent’s agricultural sector, was adopted by the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government in 2003 as a continental framework to stimulate accelerated growth and transformation in Africa’s agricultural sector.

Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, stated this on Monday at the validation workshop of the 2022 – 2024 Agricultural Joint Sector Review Report and the 3rd National Agrifood Systems Investment Plan 2025 – 2027 in Abuja.

He said that the major focus of the validation was to evaluate the performance of Nigeria in achieving the parameters of the African Union.

Ogunbiyi said that CAADP is a transformative initiative aimed at revitalising agriculture across the African continent.

He said that the African Union Commission (AUC) had established a standard process to periodically review CAADP.

” The primary focus of the CAADP is to transform African agriculture to achieve food security, reduce poverty, and stimulate economic growth with a commitment of six per cent growth rate and 10 per cent budget allocation to agriculture from the national budget.

“The essence is to boost agricultural productivity, increase public investment in agriculture, and promote sustainable and inclusive growth in the sector,” he said.

Ogunbiyi urged stakeholders to embrace CAADP as a blueprint for action and one that empowers farmers, enhances food security, and drives economic growth.

” Together, we can transform agriculture in Africa, making it a pillar of resilience and prosperity,” he said.

Ogunbiyi said that Nigeria had committed substantial investments in the agricultural sector through various initiatives.

”  This is ranging from the launch of the Special Agro-Processing Zones in some states of the federation, namely Kaduna, Cross Rivers and Oyo State.

” These initiatives were designed to increase production and productivity, enhance the commodity value chain,  create jobs, improve livelihood, and reduce post-harvest losses.

” The initiatives also aimed to promote inclusivity and resilient agriculture to foster economic growth and food security in the country,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Ibrahim Tanimu, Director, Planning and Policy Coordination, said the workshop aimed to chart a path forward for Nigeria’s Agri-Food System

” As you are aware, agriculture is the backbone of our economy and a critical element in achieving food security, enhancing livelihoods, and promoting sustainable development.

 ”Together, we can identify actionable solutions that will strengthen our agricultural frameworks and improve the livelihood of farmers and communities across the African continent,” Tanimu said.

In a Goodwill message, Blessing Akhile, Food and Agriculture Programme Advisor, ActionAid Nigeria, states that the validation workshop is a critical step in strengthening ownership, accountability, and joint action.

She reaffirms ActionAid’s commitment to supporting inclusive agricultural development and ensuring that policies and investment frameworks truly respond to the needs of smallholder farmers, particularly women and youth.

Akhile said the National Agrifood Systems Investment Plan is a tool for transforming Nigeria’s agrifood system, in line with the AU Malabo commitments ending in 2025 and the Kampala declaration that would commence in 2026.

“The joint sector review report is key in assessing our progress and to inform future interventions in achieving inclusive food systems transformation in Nigeria.

“We commend the Ministry and partners for driving this process and assure you of our continued collaboration towards building a resilient and sustainable food system for Nigeria,” she said. (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

NAN, Xinhua discuss capacity building, improved media co-operation
General News

NAN, Xinhua discuss capacity building, improved media co-operation

Capacity

By Abujah Racheal

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and China’s Xinhua News Agency are deepening discussions on expanding their partnership, with a focus on content distribution, capacity building and media cooperation.

During a courtesy visit by Xinhua to NAN headquarters on Monday in Abuja, the Managing Director, Malam Ali Muhammad Ali, highlighted NAN’s stature as the largest news agency in Africa with extensive global reach.

Ali said that beyond content exchange, the partnership could boost staff training and professional development.

Recalling past collaborations, the managing director said that several NAN staff had previously participated in Xinhua and Chinese media fellowship programmes, receiving training in China for periods ranging from three months to one year.

“Capacity building is an area we value highly.

“We have had staff benefit from Xinhua’s training in the past, and such opportunities can help strengthen African journalism,” he said.

Ali, who previously served as Chief Executive Officer of People’s Daily Nigeria, also reflected on his visit to People’s Daily of China a decade ago.

He said that its massive print run of two million copies underscored the scale of Chinese media operations.

He expressed confidence that, together with Xinhua, it would be possible to make global changes in building a fair international media space.

“The partnership would also foster greater co-operation and collaboration between Nigeria and the BRICS countries through promoting mutual understanding and respect.

“Furthermore, we believe that the co-operation will result in mutually beneficial practical projects beyond content exchange,” he said.

Mr Zhou Nan, Marketing Director of Xinhua Africa Regional Bureau, said that he was in Nigeria to take over the marketing role from the outgoing Chief Correspondent and to deepen co-operation with NAN.

“NAN is the most prestigious news agency in Nigeria.

“We already have a content exchange agreement from Mr Ali’s visit to China, and now we want to establish more substantial commercial co-operation,” Zhou said.

He explained that Xinhua produced over 2,000 photographs daily and translates some stories into multiple languages.

“The Africa Regional Bureau covers 48 sub-Saharan African countries, making it a key player in the continent’s media landscape,” he said.

According to him, Xinhua’s content is distributed to major global outlets, including the BBC, CNN and The Times.

“Currently, we have no distribution partner in Africa, a gap we hope to bridge with NAN as an entry point into the continent,” he said.

NAN reports that the meeting also discussed the upcoming African Media Summit scheduled to take place in Nigeria in the first quarter of next year.

The event will bring together African media leaders, information ministers and key government officials, with invitations extended to top African leaders, including the Chairman of ECOWAS.

The summit aims to deepen Africa–China media collaboration beyond news content into institutional and governmental partnerships.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman

We’ll continue partnership to address oil spill in Nigeria- NOSDRA DG
General News

We’ll continue partnership to address oil spill in Nigeria- NOSDRA DG

By Nana Musa

The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) says it will continue to partner relevant stakeholders toward addressing oil spills in the country.

 

NOSDRA Director-General, Chukwuemeka Woke, disclosed on Monday in Abuja when he met with a delegation of the Green Clean Innovation Hub, led its Chief Executive, Mr Promise Amaha.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the occasion is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a joint hosting of an International Oil Spill Summit and Expo.

 

The summit is expected to serve as a high-level platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaboration among industry players, government agencies, community leaders, and environmental experts.

 

It will bring together local and international stakeholders to address the environmental, economic, and social impacts of oil spills, as well as to showcase new technologies, policies, and strategies for spill prevention, detection, and response.

 

Woke said that the partnership with the organisation has been beneficial to NOSDRA and the country as a whole since the collaboration started in 2012.

 

“This is a very critical conference that will bring together all key stakeholders in our environmental space. We will have operators from the oil and gas industry, host communities, traditional rulers, civil society organizations, security agencies, and the media in attendance.

 

“This platform will help bridge existing gaps, resolve challenges, and foster better understanding among all parties,” he said.

 

Woke added that the forthcoming summit was in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which prioritises sustainable development and environmental stewardship.

He noted that the gathering would play a key role in advancing Nigeria’s environmental protection goals by fostering collaboration, promoting innovation, and strengthening the country’s capacity to respond swiftly and effectively to oil spill incidents.

 

“If we have a one-stop platform that unites all stakeholders, I believe many of the issues affecting our mandate will be addressed, and all sectors will work together more effectively.

 

‘’This decision is in the right direction, and I am confident we will achieve what we have set out to do.”

 

Also speaking, Amaha thanked NOSDRA for the partnership, describing it as a “giant step” in the right direction.

 

“The Expo will mark the launch of the first-ever Oil Spill Host Communities in Renewed Hope Initiative.

 

‘’We will also unveil strategic measures to provide a strong platform for greater climate stakeholder engagement, with communities integrated into surveillance, reporting, and capacity building to drive NOSDRA’s mandate on oil spill detection and response,” he said.(NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Nigeria, China partnership key to industrialisation- NCSP
General News

Nigeria, China partnership key to industrialisation- NCSP

By Angela Atabo

The Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening bilateral collaboration between Nigeria and China as part of efforts to drive Nigeria’s industrialisation and economic growth.

 

NCSP Director-General Joseph Tegbe made this known in a statement issued in Abuja after a media interactive session.

 

He underscored NCSP’s role as a critical enabler, fostering productive partnerships between Nigerian stakeholders and Chinese business leaders.

 

Tegbe also highlighted the NCSP’s ongoing commitment to coordinating investments, facilitating stakeholder engagements, and ensuring due diligence to guarantee that Nigeria and China collaborations yield tangible, long-term benefits.

 

He reiterated NCSP’s mandate to steer the implementation of projects under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, while also pursuing additional partnerships beyond the formal agreements.

 

“Our focus is to ensure that Nigeria not only implements Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) — a platform for strengthening political and economic ties between China and African nations established in 2000.

 

“We are paving the way for Nigerian products to gain access to Chinese and broader Asian markets while accelerating the execution of strategic, game-changing national development projects later this year.

 

“Following the elevation of Nigeria-China relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership and the establishment of the NCSP, Nigeria has recorded significant milestones in key sectors,” he said.

 

According to Tegbe, recent engagements have secured more than 20 billion dollars in investment commitments, focusing on critical sectors such as agriculture, automotive manufacturing, mining, steel production, and energy.

 

He said these investments were set to boost food security, create jobs, and drive a new wave of industrial development in the country.

 

He also said that the NCSP’s activities aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at fast-tracking national development and positioning Nigeria as Africa’s industrial powerhouse.

 

He said his desire is to continue to bridge policy and execution by coordinating efforts across government agencies, the private sector, and diplomatic entities.

 

This, Tegbe said, was to ensure Nigeria maximises its trade and investment relations with China for sustainable economic advancement.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kayode Olaitan

Katsina partners PEBEC to accelerate business enabling reforms
Economy/Business

Katsina partners PEBEC to accelerate business enabling reforms

By Abbas Bamalli

The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) and the Katsina State Government have engaged business leaders to access and accelerate business enabling reforms in the state.

The business leaders and other stakeholders were engaged at the State Action on Business-enabling Reforms (SABER) Technical Session and Statewide Town-Hall Meeting in Katsina.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event which brought together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors was organised by PEBEC in collaboration with the state government.

Gov. Dikko Radda, in his remarks, said the event aimed at assessing the state’s performance on business, enabling reforms and strengthening alignment with national economic initiatives.

Radda, represented by his Deputy, Mr Faruk Lawal, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to tackling bottlenecks and fostering a conducive environment for businesses to thrive in the state.

He added that the state had made significant progress in implementing actionable and revolving business reforms, which had helped to attract investors and promote economic growth and sustainability.

The Governor emphasised that the ease of doing business had become a top priority of the state government and would remain steadfast in achieving the desired goals.

Radda added that the state government had restructured its business framework and created the Katsina Enterprises Development Agency (KASEDA).

According to him, the aim of creating the agency was to support nano, small and medium businesses with resources and tools to grow.

“My administration is creating an enabling environment for business, especially small and medium enterprises, to operate and succeed, and we know the role of the government in creating such an enabling environment for businesses.

“As a government, therefore, we first began our journey by strengthening leadership around the Ease of Doing Business agenda.

“We appointed the Deputy Governor to chair both the Ease of Doing Business and the MSMEs,” Radda said.

In her remarks, the Director-General of PEBEC, Princess Zahrah Audu, explained that the ongoing nationwide sub-national tour was aimed at strengthening state-level ownership of the reform initiatives.

She explained that the PEBEC works closely with state governments to improve the business environment and deepen the implementation of SABER for the sustainability of ease of doing business in the country.

Audu virtually told the  participants that PEBEC was a World Bank-funded project aimed at promoting economic growth and development in Nigeria.

Earlier, the Director-General of the Katsina State Investment Promotion Agency (KIPA), Ibrahim Tukur-Jikamshi, said the meeting was a step towards deepening ease of doing business and economic reforms.

He said that Radda had embraced the SABER reforms framework not just as a compliance requirement, but as a strategic instrument for state transformation and economic inclusion.

He stated that the Radda-led government had waived all Right of Way (RoW) charges for fabric optic development and granted ‘interest-free loans’ to MSMES to simplify business support schemes in the state.

“We have exempted qualifying businesses from selected fees and levies to reduce start-up costs.

“We continued to prioritise transparency and public feedback, with all MDAs now publishing all timelines and costs,” he added.

Tukur-Jikamshi stressed that the government had taken proactive steps in mainstreaming reforms into the fabrics of the state by establishing a high-powered reforms implementation committee to deliver results across all reform sectors. (NAN)

Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Bashir Rabe Mani

VON targets 500m Swahili listeners through partnership with Tanzania
General News

VON targets 500m Swahili listeners through partnership with Tanzania

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

 

The Director-General, Voice of Nigeria (VON), Malam Jibrin Ndace, says VON is targeting about 500 million Swahili language listeners in South and East Africa “with contents that tell the African story.”

Ndace made this known when he received the Tanzanian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Selestine Kakele in his office on Friday in Abuja.

He said that this objective would be achieved by bolstering VON’s Swahili language partnership with the Tanzanian Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) to boost the exchange programme between them.

According to him, VON will also send a reporter to TBC in a matter of weeks to boost and accomplish the objectives of the exchange programme between them.

He also promised that the sole Nigerian foreign broadcasting organisation would send reporters to cover the Tanzanian elections scheduled to hold later in October.

Ndace disclosed that the organisation was already broadcasting in four foreign languages; French, Arabic, English and Swahili, and four indigenous languages; Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Fulfude.

He added that VON would soon begin broadcasting in China’s Mandarin, Portuguese and Indonesia’s Bahasa.

“This partnership is to solidify our broadcast in Swahili to enable us service Africans in Southern and Eastern Africa with contents that tell the African story.

 

“However, we intend to strengthen it more, because it is a memorable encounter in the sense that we never had agreement with any African country aside yours.

 

“On exchange of content, that is one of the core benefits in this partnership, and it cannot be over-emphasised, we have to be deliberate in using our content to share our stories and achievements,” Ndace said.

He assured Kakele that with President Bola Tinubu’s support and the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, the partnership would be positively strengthened to benefit Nigeria and Tanzania.

“I want to assure you that we are just a call away, call us anytime you have an event, we will be happy to cover and share content with TBC,” Ndace added.

Speaking earlier, the High Commissioner said that Tanzania and Nigeria had enjoyed good relationship over several decades, stressing that Nigeria had assisted Tanzania to gain some positions on the global stage.

 

He said Nigeria and Tanzania had come a long way in their relationship, noting that a certain Nigerian soldier by name Yakubu Pam assisted Tanzania in building its Army in 1964.

 

“We have been working to support the use of Swahili because the language is spoken by about 500 million people; and also, 1400 media organisations including VON broadcast in Swahili.

”We want to strengthen the partnership more, on the exchange programme that is captured in our MoU, extend the flow of content. It is our duty as Africans to tell our own stories by ourselves not from outside.

“On behalf of the people and government of Tanzania, we will continue to support VON and others to promote the use of Swahili language,” Kakele said.

 

The envoy told his host that July 7 every year is the International Day of Swahili Language, and invited him to be a guest during the celebration in Abuja.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that VON’s top management staff and some staff members of the Tanzanian High Commission in Abuja were present at the meeting.(NAN)

Edited by Mark Longyen

Embroidery expert, Chinese firms partner to boost Nigeria’s fashion sector
General News

Embroidery expert, Chinese firms partner to boost Nigeria’s fashion sector

By Akpan Glory

A leading embroidery expert and Chief Executive Officer of Embroidery Chief, Mr Lukman Abdulsalam, has unveiled a national initiative to transform Nigeria’s fashion industry through skills training and access to modern embroidery technology.

The initiative, unveiled in collaboration with two Chinese firms, Beijing Dahao and Futong, was announced during a stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja on Thursday with the theme “Stitching the Future: Building Sustainable Embroidery”.

Abdulsalam said the initiative seeks to raise awareness about the untapped potential in Nigeria’s fashion sector while empowering aspiring designers through affordable access to embroidery machines and technical training.

“This gathering is all about creating awareness, We want people to understand the opportunities in fashion, identify what is missing, and connect with the right people who can help them grow”.

He said the plan includes the establishment of embroidery hubs in 10 states, beginning with Lagos and Kano.

Each hub, he noted, would be equipped with 50 embroidery machines available to users at subsidised rates.

According to him, the initiative also includes comprehensive training in software design, machine operation, and technical maintenance.

“We are not just distributing machines; we are training people, from creating designs to troubleshooting and maintaining equipment. This is about empowerment,” Abdulsalam stated.

He explained that the training programme will be divided into three categories: software design (one month), machine operation (two weeks), and technical repair (one month), to ensure both theoretical and practical competence.

The embroidery expert added that the intervention is expected to support economic growth by promoting entrepreneurship, job creation, and export opportunities.

“This can boost Nigeria’s GDP,” he said. “Once people are trained, they’ll be able to design on shoes, bags, clothes, and decorative frames for both local use and export”.

He identified lack of digital design skills as a major gap the programme intends to address.

“We are only doing one per cent of what the fashion industry is capable of. With the right tools and training, we can do more,” he added.

A representative of Beijing Dahao, Mr Michael Zhou, said the company is exploring investment opportunities in Nigeria’s growing fashion and textile market.

Zhou, who spoke at a similar event in Lagos, said Dahao, a global manufacturer of control systems for embroidery machines is partnering with Embroidery Chief to deepen its presence in Nigeria.

“This is my first time in Nigeria, and I see a lot of potential, we plan to present our findings to our headquarters to establish a branch office in Nigeria for better after-sales service”.

Zhou said Nigeria’s embroidery business is large and promising, noting the country’s over 20-year history in the sector.

“I like Nigeria. I like the business atmosphere here,” he said.

Also speaking, Dr Tayo Bashir, Technical Adviser to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industrial Training and Development, said the Presidency is interested in supporting the initiative.

He said the engagement provided useful insights into areas where the government could collaborate with private stakeholders to promote industrial skills and economic development.

“Embroidery is no longer just a craft; it is becoming a viable sector for job creation and entrepreneurship,” he said.

Bashir encouraged young Nigerians to take advantage of the opportunities the initiative offers, calling the sector a “million-dollar industry”.

“This is a great opportunity for Nigerian youth, anyone with vision who gets involved now stands to benefit greatly as the industry grows,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

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