NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
Katsina partners PEBEC to accelerate business enabling reforms
Economy/Business

Katsina partners PEBEC to accelerate business enabling reforms

180 total views today

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

146 total views today

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

158 total views today

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

Nigeria, British govt partner to enhance Nigeria’s counter-terrorism capabilities
Defence/Security

Nigeria, British govt partner to enhance Nigeria’s counter-terrorism capabilities

195 total views today

 

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA), has announced efforts to bolster Nigeria’s counter-terrorism capabilities through partnership with the British High Commission.

The National Coordinator, NCTC-ONSA, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, made this known on Monday in Abuja, at the opening of the Silver, Gold, Intelligence Analysis and Train the Trainer Aviation Security Courses being conducted by the centre.

Laka said the four courses were being hosted simultaneously and are part of the transitioning of NCTC to a Regional Centre of Excellence for Counter Terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel.

This, according to him, implies that the centre will continue to conduct capacity-building programmes to West African and Sahelian States.

He said the partnership with the British High Commission, was part of the enduring strategic cooperation in building resilient security institutions and promoting regional stability.

“This is why we deeply value the continued support of our partners, as well as the dedication of participants drawn from various agencies, in advancing our shared goal of a safer Nigeria and region.

“The Silver and Gold Commanders training courses are follow-ups to the Strategic Commanders’ Course that was conducted in February.

“It is designed to equip commanders at various levels with the necessary skills to respond effectively to incidents.

“This training will undoubtedly play a critical role in preparing us for the upcoming Exercise Rapid Response,” he said.

Laka said the Gold Incident Commanders Course was specifically designed for those working at the strategic command level, while the Silver Incident Course targets those at the operational command level.

He said that the Train the Trainer Aviation Security Course was designed to equip trainers with the knowledge and skills to deliver effective security culture training, enabling them to develop Nigerian-specific training materials and tailor security culture programmes to its unique needs.

This, according to him, will enhance Nigeria’s aviation security and contribute to a safer aviation ecosystem.

“Similarly, the Intelligence Analysis Course is aimed at providing participants with essential skills to identify individuals, understand intelligence assessment, conduct analysis, and recognize patterns.

“These skills will be invaluable in enhancing our national security.

“Our goal is to build a robust intelligence analysis capability that supports decision-making at the strategic level,” he added.

The representative of the British High Commission, Lt.-Col. Ian Tyler, said that the UK had brought in some experts comprising military instructors and former police officers with wealth of experience that would deliver the strategic command training, along with the operational level training.

Tyler urged participants to ask questions and tap from their experiences.

He said the training was geared towards increasing Nigeria’s operational output to be able to deal with the threat of terrorism. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Yakubu Uba

Zimbabwe advances knowledge-driven industrialisation with strategic China partnership
Foreign

Zimbabwe advances knowledge-driven industrialisation with strategic China partnership

208 total views today

 

Zimbabwe has called on Chinese investors and partners aligned with China’s global development vision to help accelerate its transition to a knowledge-based, resource-driven industrial economy.

Prof. Amon Murwira, the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, outlined the policy shift,  according to a report by The Herald, a partner of TV BRICS.

“Zimbabwe is open for business. Under this transformative vision, we are ready to engage and foster robust socio-economic partnerships with the People’s Republic of China,” Murwira said.

The Zimbabwean foreign minister reaffirmed the strong diplomatic and economic ties between Zimbabwe and China, which have been elevated to “five-star ironclad” status, signifying a deepened strategic alliance and shared development objectives.

This elevation follows the consensus reached between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and President Xi Jinping during their meeting in September 2024.

To facilitate deeper economic cooperation, Murwira highlighted several bilateral frameworks already in place.

These include a Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement and Memoranda of Understanding on economic development cooperation, trade facilitation, and investment coordination.

These instruments aim to improve regulatory clarity, streamline procedures, and enhance investor confidence.

Officials also detailed plans to establish a vertically integrated industrial cluster that includes coal mining, power generation, and steel production.

The goal is to create the largest and most advanced metallurgical hub in Africa. (TV BRICS/NAN)

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

ECOWAS Court, ICC, ICJ, PCA pledge to enhance global jurisprudence
Foreign

ECOWAS Court, ICC, ICJ, PCA pledge to enhance global jurisprudence

244 total views today

By Mark Longyen

The ECOWAS Court of Justice, International Court of Justice (ICJ), International Criminal Court, (ICC), and Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), have pledged to deepen their cooperation to enhance global jurisprudence.

They made the pledge during a working visit by a high-level ECOWAS Court delegation, led by its President, Justice Ricardo Gonçalves, to the institutions’ headquarters at The Hague, Netherlands.

The four international judicial institutions all agreed to establish inter-institutional partnerships, initiate staff exchange and training programmes and research.

“These steps are expected to contribute to the continued growth and modernisation of the ECOWAS Court’s judicial operations.

“The mission aimed to deepen inter-institutional cooperation and enhance the Court’s exposure to international judicial practices,” a statement by the court’s spokesman, Felicien Hounkanrin, said.

He said that the visit included strategic engagements with the three major international legal institutions.

“Discussions focused on jurisdictional frameworks, prosecutorial processes, legal research tools, and opportunities for collaboration in areas such as training, legal staff exchange, and library development.

“At the ICC, the delegation was received by Judge Reine Alapini-Gansou, Second Vice-President of the Court.

“A key highlight included a lecture by Mamadou Racine Ly, Advisor to the Prosecutor and Legal Officer, Dr Ania Salinas Cerda, on admissibility criteria and prosecutorial mechanisms,” Hounkanrin said.

He also said that the PCA hosted the delegation at the Peace Palace, where its Secretary-General, Dr Marcin Czepelak, welcomed the delegation.

The Community Court’s spokesman said that legal officers of the PCA delivered a session on the institution’s history, mandate, and current caseload, emphasising its unique role in inter-state and investor-state dispute resolution.

“At the ICJ, the ECOWAS judges held a judicial dialogue with the President of the Court, Judge Yuji Iwasawa, and other sitting judges, exploring both courts’ complementary roles in the international legal order,” he added.(NAN)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Indonesia, Ethiopia to strengthen economic partnership through BRICS
Foreign

Indonesia, Ethiopia to strengthen economic partnership through BRICS

219 total views today

 

Indonesia and Ethiopia are considering ways to expand bilateral cooperation, as well as interaction in the BRICS bloc, according to a report by Antara News Agency, a partner of TV BRICS.

The report indicated that the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Sugiono held a meeting with Ethiopian Ambassador to Indonesia Fekadu Beyene Aleka during which the two sides discussed the approach to engage in expanding the partnership.

The Indonesian Foreign Minister outlined national priorities, including poverty alleviation through better utilisation of resources.

He noted the high potential for the development of trade and economic ties with Ethiopia and expressed readiness to increase exports of competitive goods – primarily in the agricultural and pharmaceutical sectors.

Sugiono said the volume of bilateral trade between the countries reached 98 million dollars in 2024, up 55 per cent year-on-year.

He added that Indonesian companies are already present in Ethiopia in the sectors of household chemicals, food, and textiles.

The meeting focused on the prospects of signing a bilateral investment treaty, as well as food and energy security.

It is noted that the development of coconut, sugar cane and seaweed production is a priority.

The Ambassador also expressed interest in mastering Indonesian technologies for sugar cane cultivation.

The two sides agreed to intensify cooperation in the fields of education, science and training, as well as resume the work of the joint commission on bilateral cooperation.

At the end of the meeting, the Indonesian minister invited Ethiopia to participate more actively in joint initiatives in BRICS. (TV BRICS/NAN) 

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

Russia remains reliable partner contributing to Africa’s sovereignty – Lavrov
Foreign

Russia remains reliable partner contributing to Africa’s sovereignty – Lavrov

227 total views today

 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that Russia remains a reliable partner to Africa and will continue to contribute to the continent’s sovereignty.

The Russian Foreign Minister said this at a reception held in Moscow on the occasion of Africa Day, as published by the official website of the Russian Foreign Ministry, partners of TV BRICS.

The event was attended by Lavrov and the Ambassador of the Republic of Cameroon to the Russian Federation, Mahamat Paba Sale.

“Russia remains a reliable partner contributing to Africa’s sovereignty,” the Russian minister said.

Lavrov also underscored the importance of Africa in international politics and the historical process.

“Our country is invariably in favour of expanding traditionally friendly relations with African partners,” he added.

He emphasised Russia’s support for strengthening education and economic development of African countries.

Responding, Sale noted the “special importance” of Russian-African relations.

“Russia has played a key role in the process of independence of African countries, supporting the aspiration for progress of their peoples,” the Cameroonian diplomat said.

According to him, Russian universities train qualified personnel who are in demand in Africa, while the expansion of trade ties brings tangible benefits to local economies.

Sale expressed confidence that the partnership between Russia and Africa will only get stronger.

He expressed gratitude to the Russian side for the attention and support it is giving to Africa. (TV BRICS/NAN) 

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

SON, IEC commits to partnership on global electrical standards in Nigeria
Economy/Business

SON, IEC commits to partnership on global electrical standards in Nigeria

338 total views today

By Lucy Ogalue

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration on electrical and electronic standardisation in Nigeria.

The Director-General of SON, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, said this at a Stakeholders Forum organised by SON in collaboration with IEC and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in Abuja.

The Forum was organised as part of the 2025 African tour and official visit of the Secretary-General and Chief Executive of the IEC, Mr Philippe Metzger, to Nigeria.

Okeke, described the visit as historic and a major boost for Nigeria’s standardisation efforts in the electrical and electronic sector.

“Today is a memorable day for us in the standardisation fraternity. We are honoured to host the IEC secretary-general, which signifies Nigeria’s growing influence and commitment to international standards,” Okeke said.

He said that Nigeria became an affiliate member of the IEC in 2006 and attained full membership in 2017, adding that the country, through SON, now mirrored 23 IEC technical committees locally.

According to him, Nigeria’s involvement in IEC activities has led to the adoption and nationalisation of international standards, with a direct impact on local production quality.

“One of our major achievements is the improvement in the quality of Nigerian electrical cables, which are now globally competitive,” Okeke stated.

The SON D-G urged Nigerian manufacturers to leverage the IEC Conformity Assessment Schemes to gain international certification for their products, boost exports, and reduce rejections in global markets.

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NERC, Mr Sanusi Garba, also welcomed the IEC team, stating that the visit was timely, given the ongoing power sector reforms following the enactment of the Electricity Act 2023.

Garba said that with states now empowered to regulate electricity within their jurisdictions, there was an urgent need for alignment and adherence to robust national and international standards.

“Standards are essential for safety, efficiency, and reliability in the electricity market. We must ensure operators comply with them to avoid unnecessary accidents or system failures,” he said.

Also speaking, the IEC secretary-general urged Nigeria to fully embrace international standards in the fields of clean energy, digital technologies, and smart grids.

According to Metzger, this will help to boost the country’s integration into global supply chains and accelerate industrial innovation.

He emphasised the IEC’s commitment to safety, efficiency, and sustainability through cutting-edge technologies such as IoT, artificial intelligence, digital twins, and smart energy systems.

According to Metzger, these technologies are tools to enhance productivity and innovation, not mere trends.

He reiterated the importance of standards in safeguarding quality and preventing unsafe products from entering the Nigerian market.

He further stressed the role of IEC in enabling smart grids that manage multi-way power flows and integrate renewable energy effectively.

The secretary-general also underscored IEC’s work on emerging energy solutions, including certification for low carbon hydrogen and robust cybersecurity standards tailored for industrial environments, critical to Nigeria’s growing energy sector.

On sustainability, Metzger reiterated recent IEC initiatives such as carbon footprint verification and circular economy services, aimed at supporting Nigeria’s ambitions for environmentally responsible industrial growth.

He called for increased participation of young Nigerian engineers and experts in IEC’s programmes, noting the essential role of digital natives in shaping the future of standards and innovation.

“Nigeria has incredible know-how and talent. Your young professionals must be empowered to inject new ideas into global standards,” he said.

Metzger expressed optimism about the ongoing partnership with Nigeria and encouraged stakeholders to deepen collaboration through the national committee to harness the full potential of clean energy and digital transformation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that participants at the forum include academia, manufacturing sector, regulators, and consumer groups.

The aim of the forum was to enable the stakeholders engage with the IEC delegation and discuss ways to further deepen Nigeria’s role in global standardisation efforts.(NAN)

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

SGBV: Women Affairs ministry, foundation partner to enhance healthcare services
Health

SGBV: Women Affairs ministry, foundation partner to enhance healthcare services

318 total views today

By Justina Auta

The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs (FMoWA) has partnered with Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), an NGO, to enhance Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) healthcare services for survivors nationwide.

The partnership was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on Tuesday in Abuja.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, highlighted WARIF’s expertise in establishing and operating Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs).
“The initiative aims to provide survivors with immediate access to professional, compassionate, and comprehensive care.
“The partnership will focus on capacity building for healthcare providers, case managers, and frontline responders, as well as drive policy reforms, survivor-centered service delivery, and nationwide awareness on SGBV.”
Sulaiman-Ibrahim emphasised that strong partnerships were crucial in creating systemic change to address SGBV.
Dr Kemi DaSilva-Ibru, Founder and President of WARIF, reiterated their commitment to bringing expertise to the partnership, particularly through its health pillar and pioneering work in establishing SARCs.
The WARIF founder added that he partnership aimed to reduce SGBV cases and ensure survivors had access to healthcare services to cope with trauma.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Augusta Uchediunor/Abiemwense Moru

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