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NEC Targets Economic Stimulus for over 8.8m People in 8,809 Wards Across Nigeria

NEC Targets Economic Stimulus for over 8.8m People in 8,809 Wards Across Nigeria

•Set to pick at least 1,000 beneficiaries per ward nationwide

•Tinubu: Economy recovering, working, but we must stimulate growth in rural areas

Deji Elumoye and Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The federal government yesterday unveiled plans to roll out targeted economic stimulus aimed at improving the livelihoods of more than 8.8 million Nigerians spread across the country’s 8,809 electoral wards nationwide.

The initiative, which seeks to deepen grassroots impact, marked one of the most ambitious attempts yet to align economic planning with Nigeria’s local governance structure, to ensure that no community is left behind in national development efforts.

Also yesterday, President Bola Tinubu said the nation’s economy was working and on the path of recovery, but said the government at the state level needed to stimulate growth in the rural areas.

On the fresh entrepreneurial intervention, the National Economic Council (NEC) at its monthly meeting endorsed a new ward-based development strategy, Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme (RHWDP).

The initiative is to actualise double-digit economic growth through direct intervention in Nigeria’s 8,809 administrative wards across all 36 states.

The RHWDP, aimed at achieving double-digit economic growth through direct intervention in Nigeria’s 8,809 administrative wards across all 36 states.

The RHWDP, presented by Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, during the council’s 150th meeting, received full endorsement as a collaborative undertaking between federal, state and local governments.

It was anchored on President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to achieve a $1 trillion economy by 2030, requiring a growth rate of 15 per cent, while the current rate sat below 4 per cent.

The RHWDP drew its legal framework from the 1999 Constitution and the Fifth Alteration Act, which mandated state policy toward ensuring food security and improved production methods.

Its key targets included sustainable support for economic activities with minimum thresholds of 1,000 economically active individuals for smaller wards and 2,000 for larger ones.

A National Steering Committee comprising representatives from all six geopolitical zones is expected to oversee the implementation, with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning as secretariat.

Explaining the rationale for the initiative, Bagudu said: “Today Mr President attended the NEC meeting and he commended the state governors for the cooperation they have extended to him and to the federal government. And today, in a very historic next step, Mr President witnessed the presentation of the memo on Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, which is a strategy to support the macroeconomic reforms being undertaken by the administration.

“Having stabilised the macro economy. The next step is to drill down development to the lowest levels so that we can in the 8,809 wards of the country simulate economic activity, which we believe will generate employment, reduce poverty, enhance food security and even enhance social protection.

“And this is in line with our Constitution. Chapter 2 of our Constitution demands the government, federal, state and local government to harness the resources of the nation and promote national prosperity and efficient, dynamic and self reliant economy. This can only be done cooperatively.

“Mr President as an ardent believer in federalism today, presented Renewed Hope Ward based development programme as a collaboration between federal state and local governments, a Federation project and to be funded with the increased revenues accruing to the Federation Account, as well as other programmes that the federal government and states are undertaking.

“Equally, it is to identify in each ward at least 1000 economically active persons that will be supported so that economic activity will be boosted in each ward of the Federation. The idea is to utilize this unique feature of our economy to generate double digit growth in most of the wards as we march towards a $1 trillion economy.”

According to him, the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning will be the Secretariat of the programme, highlighting that in the most recent report about Nigeria, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the 2025 article four consultation precisely encouraged Nigeria along this path.

He stated that the IMF acknowledged that the  bold reforms have improved stability and enhanced resilience, liberalising and strengthening the function of the foreign exchange market, removing foreign subsidies, ending monetary policy, strengthening revenue administration and raising hydrocarbon production, which all have all contributed to improve macroeconomic stability.

“Mr president that always believes that to reduce poverty and food insecurity, we must invest collaboratively with federal and state in the creative energy of Nigerians and the geographical wards and having achieved the successes at the macroeconomic level, that is why this programme is unfolded today at the National Economic Council, which graciously approved the programme,” Bagudu stated.

In the same vein, the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma,  acknowledged improved government revenue, spurred by key reforms, but stressed that the real test lies in delivering measurable impact to communities nationwide.

“We acknowledged Mr. President’s efforts in driving increased revenue generation and the positive results already being recorded. But the real challenge now is how this additional income will improve the lives of people at the grassroots.”

Uzodimma explained that the programme is designed to decentralise development, empower local communities, promote entrepreneurship, and create jobs directly within local economies.

“The meeting presented an opportunity for him to brief the governors and the need for the national government and subnational government to work together for the overall interest of our people and country, Nigeria.

“Well, we acknowledged his triumphs for revenue  generation and the results already recorded as a result of the various reform policies of his administration. The country is earning more money now, the subnational governments are also earning more money.

“The president came up with a programme that will fast-track the process of this additional money creating a bigger impact on Nigerians by making sure that it trickles down to the grassroots. For that reason, they brought a programme to stimulate economic activities at the ward level,” the governor said.

Tinubu, who for the second time in days, advised governors to prioritise the welfare of Nigerians, said “We know the situation in the rural areas. Let us collaborate and do what will benefit the people.”

He urged the governors to invest more in the future of Nigerians, putting more money in rural electrification, agricultural mechanisation, poverty eradication and improved investment in infrastructure.

Tinubu’s charge to the governors, according to a statement by Media Assistant to the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, followed a presentation on the RHWDP by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, at the 150th meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) held at the State House Council Chambers, Abuja.

The president implored the governors to do more to positively impact the lives of Nigerians in the grassroots, saying, “I want to appeal to you. Let us change the story of our people in the rural areas.

“The economy is working. We are on the path of recovery, but we need to stimulate growth in the rural areas. We know the situation in the rural areas, let us collaborate and do what will benefit the people.”

Tinubu urged the governors to collaborate with the federal government to drive economic development in rural areas across the country.

“We have to embrace mechanisation in agriculture, fight insecurity and improve school enrolment through school-feeding,” he said.

Accordingly, he directed NEC to set up a committee to enhance the actualisation of legacy projects, especially the Lagos-Calabar and the Sokoto-Badagry  Super Highways.

He also ordered the transfer of the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation from the Ministry of Works to the presidency to enhance the seamless actualisation of his administration’s legacy projects across the country.

NEC also directed the strengthening of State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) across all 36 states of the federation and asked the Federal Ministry of Finance to release emergency funds to address impending flood effects.

Council’s resolution came following a presentation by Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar, on the country’s 2025 flood preparedness and response initiatives during the council’s meeting.

NEMA’s presentation detailed the agency’s progress since 2024, including production of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy and Action Plan (2024-2027) with United Nations support, and ongoing validation of the Nigeria Hazard Risk Countrywide Analysis for 2024.

The agency has also improved civil-military coordination on disaster risk reduction and relief operations through partnerships with military disaster response units, the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigeria Red Cross.

Key preparedness actions undertaken in 2025 included expert review and analysis of meteorological forecasts, with NEMA communicating flood predictions to state governments between May and June.

The agency has strengthened SEMAs and established Local Emergency Management Committees, while activating the Emergency Coordination Forum involving military, police and civil defence disaster response units.

The Emergency Operations Centre was activated on May 29, 2025, with national and zonal centres now operational. NEMA has deployed search and rescue equipment to high-risk states and continues downscaling early warning messages across all 36 states to local communities through the National Preparedness and Response Campaign.

NEMA, however, identified persistent challenges hindering effective flood response to include weak drainage infrastructure, delayed data reporting from states, insecurity in flood-prone areas, limited functionality of SEMAs and inactive Local Emergency Management Committees.

Additional concerns included poor compliance with urban planning and building codes, alongside inadequate environmental hygiene and waste management systems.

State governments were urged to fully strengthen SEMAs, operationalise Local Emergency Management Committees, enforce physical planning laws and building code compliance, and institutionalise monthly environmental sanitation while prioritising disaster preparedness funding in annual budgets.

Local government areas and communities were specifically directed to take ownership of local risk mitigation efforts, engage actively in awareness campaigns, and report early signs of flood risk to appropriate authorities.

To this end, council directed the Federal Ministry of Finance to release funds to each state of the Federation, the FCT and some Federal Agencies for this year’s flood preparedness.

Govs Lament Challenges in Education Sector, Say They Are Facing Serious Crisis

Governors of the 36 states of the federation, yesterday, lamented serious challenges confronting them in the education sector. The governors said the foundational skills were critical building blocks for achieving educational objectives.

Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, disclosed this during the State-Level Workshop on Foundational Learning and Out-of-School Children.

AbdulRazaq, in his speech read by NGF Education Advisor, Leo The Great, said,  “Nigeria is faced with a crisis. We are dealing with some out-of-school children. However, enrollment in school for most children does not translate into actual learning.”

He disclosed that nationwide data indicated a 66% out-of-school rate among primary school-age children in Nigeria, noting that the poor quality of education has led to high dropout rates, as well as low transition and completion levels.

*”Foundational skills are not merely the end goal of an educational system; they are also critical building blocks for achieving other educational objectives, including retention and progression from one level to the next.

*“As critical stakeholders in the education ecosystem, we understand that there is now a focus standing on the provision of quality education, especially for foundational learning, to enhance the success of globally tested learning methodology and technology,” he said.

*As part of the challenges, the chairman of the governors forum expressed concern that the education sector’s workforce was both insufficient and undervalued.

“Specifically, basic education and the course of national governance in Nigeria are underfunded. Lack of characterisation of the issues of conditional training, absence of appropriate learning materials and independent training and literacy, lack of familiarity with recent research in the operations of conditional training and digital literacy skills.

•”Also, weak local capacity and monitoring and evaluation of conditional training disruptions and outcomes, insufficiency of available points, low level of awareness and support from families and communities for conditional training skills, and lack of commitment among state and non-state actors in addressing these challenges are key factors in developing the education sector and in feeding on basic proficiency in numeracy and literacy in Nigeria.

“The Nigerian Governors Forum expects this workshop to strengthen motivation for federal and state policymakers in driving and sustaining evidence-based reforms to improve implementation of foundational learning and reduce the out-of-school children challenges across the states of the federation.”

In his remarks, the UBEC Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba, said despite ongoing political and systemic barriers, Nigeria’s education system is still battling deep-rooted challenges.

•Garba, represented by UBEC Deputy Secretary, Technical, Rasaq Akinyemi, stressed the need for Nigeria to build on existing achievements and ensure inclusive education, affirming that every Nigerian child has the right to quality education.

NewGlobe’s Vice President for Policy and Partnerships, Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, also acknowledged that while notable progress has been made in expanding access to education across the states, much remained to be done to close the learning gap.

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•Set to pick at least 1,000 beneficiaries per ward nationwide •Tinubu: Economy recovering, working, but we must stimulate growth in rural areas Deji Elumoye and Chuks Okocha in Abuja The
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Elumelu: Africa Must Lead Own Devt, Bridge Infrastructure, Energy Gaps

Elumelu: Africa Must Lead Own Devt, Bridge Infrastructure, Energy Gaps

Nume Ekeghe 

The Group Chairman of Heirs Holdings, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Transcorp Plc, and founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, has reiterated that Africa must take full ownership of its development journey, urging leaders on the continent to prioritise infrastructure, invest in young people, and build partnerships based on equality.

Elumelu made the remarks while delivering the keynote address at the African Caucus Meeting of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), held in Bangui, Central African Republic, yesterday, where African leaders converged to discuss this year’s gathering, “Resilient Infrastructure, Human Capital, and Green Assets.”

In his call to action, he said: “Africa’s development is our responsibility. No one else will do it for us. Africa’s future is in our hands. No one will build this continent for us. We must lead.

“Power is everything. No industrial revolution can happen without electricity. We must prioritise energy. Without power, there can be no progress. We must invest in our youth. They are not just our future – they are our present.

“Together, by working across public and private sectors, and in partnership with institutions like the IMF and World Bank, we can build an Africa that is resilient, inclusive, and full of opportunity.

He cautioned against continued dependence on global systems that have historically failed to prioritise African interests.

“We live in a highly volatile, complex world. It is a world where the rules-based order has been challenged, where we need to reaffirm our commitment to the idea of a global community. But as an African, I must be frank. This global community has not always served Africa’s interests, ensured that Africa’s voice is heard or delivered for Africa. And Africa’s voice not only needs to be heard, but has to be heard.”

Elumelu stressed the continent holds solutions to many of the world’s pressing problems if only it chooses to harness them.

His words: “Africa has solutions to so many of the world’s problems. Our young people are the answer to the world’s demographic crisis, our minerals power the extraordinary technological changes we are experiencing, our fields can feed the world.

“But these African solutions, this African opportunity, must be on African terms, benefit African people, catalyse true value creation on the African continent. And it must be based on true partnerships, partnerships of equality and mutual respect.”

He stressed that no meaningful development can take place without solving Africa’s energy deficit, which remains one of its most urgent infrastructure needs.

“Energy access remains the biggest enabler or barrier to our progress. Up to 70 per cent of our people lack electricity. My home country, Nigeria, generates less than 7,000 MW for over 200 million people.

“If we are to industrialise, create jobs, and participate meaningfully in the global AI revolution, we must invest aggressively in energy from renewables to cleaner gas-based solutions. Imagine what Nigeria’s economy could become with 100,000 megawatts of reliable, affordable energy. That is the scale of transformation we need. And the story is not different across Africa.”

Through his Group’s investments in power and oil and gas, Elumelu illustrated what private capital can achieve when focused on public challenges. “Through our investments in Transcorp and Heirs Energies, we are working to solve this challenge generating power, exporting it through the West African Power Pool, and using gas from our oil operations to power our plants. This is Africapitalism in action: private capital solving public challenges.”

At the core of his Africapitalism philosophy is a belief in the power of entrepreneurship and the need for governments to play an enabling role. “Africapitalism is the belief that the African private sector must take the lead in driving economic development. It is about long-term investments in key sectors that create both economic returns and social impact.”

“To succeed, we need strong partnerships. Governments must create the right environment. Private sector must bring capital and innovation. And our development partners must support Africa’s realities including recognising gas as a viable transition fuel on our path to clean energy.”

Elumelu also stressed the importance of investing in Africa’s most valuable resource, its youth. “No resource is more valuable than our people – especially our youth. Africa is the youngest continent on earth, with over 60 per cent of our population under 35. This presents both our greatest asset or our greatest risk.”

He referenced the undertakings of the Tony Elumelu Foundation as a practical intervention. “At the Tony Elumelu Foundation, we have empowered over 24,000 young entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries. Each with a non-refundable seed capital of $5,000. Trained 1.5m youth. Catalysed 1.2m jobs. These entrepreneurs are creating jobs, building businesses, and changing lives.”

Elumelu praised current multilateral focus on Africa, noting, “I commend the growing focus of global institutions on Africa. I sit on the IMF Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth, and I’m pleased with our emphasis on job creation as a path to lasting growth. I also applaud Ajay Banga’s ‘Mission 300’ initiative at the World Bank, an ambitious goal to connect 300 million Africans to power.

“Africa is ready. Let’s seize this moment and build the prosperous, empowered continent our people deserve.”

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Nume Ekeghe  The Group Chairman of Heirs Holdings, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Transcorp Plc, and founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, has reiterated that Africa
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Positive Macroeconomic Indicators Push Market Cap by N12.47trn in July 2025

Positive Macroeconomic Indicators Push Market Cap by N12.47trn in July 2025

•Market cap gains N25.66trn in seven months

Kayode Tokde

The positive macroeconomic indicators in Nigeria have trickled down to the stock market segment of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), lifting the market capitalisation by N12.47 trillion in July 2025 to close at N88.425 trillion.

Macroeconomic indicators such as Nigerian crude price moving towards the federal government benchmark of $75 per barrel, steady rise in foreign reserves and stability in the foreign exchange market contributed to the stock market N12.47 trillion gain in July 2025.

Investors reacted to these positive indicators to position in large and medium-capitalised stocks.

Specifically, the market capitalisation gained N12.74 trillion from N75.951 trillion at the beginning of the month of July 2025 to close at N88.425 trillion at the end of July 31, 2025. 

With the N12.74 trillion in July 2025, the market capitlisation has appreciated by N25.66 trillion in seven months of 2025 from N62.763 trillion it closed in 2024.

Similarly, the NGX All-Share Index (ASI) rose by 16.58 per cent from 119,978.57 basis points on June 30, 2025 to 139,863.52 basis points on July 31, 2025, while in seven months of 2025 added 35.9per cent from 119,978.57basis points it closed for trading 2024.

Sectoral performance was broadly bullish throughout the month under review. NGX Industrial Goods index recorded a growth of 26.19 per cent for the month of July. NGX Banking index followed with a month gain of 22.17 per cent, while NX Insurance appreciated by 18.84 per cent month-on-month.

Also, NGX Lotus II, NGX Pension, NGX 30, NGX Consumer Goods and NGX Oil & Gas indices up by 16.44 per cent, 14.25 per cent, 11.52 per cent, 9.93 per cent and 0.45 per cent respectively in the month under review.

Analysts added that Nigeria’s stock market sustained its positive trajectory through July 2025 amid positive corporate earnings for the first half (H1) of 2025 by listed firms on NGX and possible interim dividend payout.

Speaking on market performance for the month of July 2025, the managing director of Global View Capital Limited, Mr. Kebira Aruna, said the All-Share Index experienced a significant gain of 16.58 per cent in July 2025 and this impressive rise can be attributed, in part, to corporate reports that exceeded market expectations.

He explained that “historically, profit growth figures have hovered around 20 per cent to 50 per cent, but now there are instances of extraordinary recoveries, such as a company moving from a loss of N8.9 million to profits of N2.9 million and ultimately to N5.5 million, demonstrating growth in the vicinity of 100 per cent.

“With the anticipation surrounding dividend declarations, the market remains focused on companies that consistently perform well. However, the timeline for these results may vary, as the auditing process typically takes a couple of months, meaning we might see these announcements in mid-August or September.”

Aruna also said that “liquidity within the market remains a vital topic. While the government has been borrowing, there is a noticeable shift in appetite. For example, when the market offered $300 billion, the government only accepted $2.5 billion. Currently, the market’s offerings are reduced to $200 billion, with the government borrowing in smaller amounts, indicating a desire to negotiate better rates.”

The vice president of Highcap Securities Limited, Mr. David Adnori, noted that with such a substantial rally to take place, investor confidence must have been remarkably high.

According to him, several factors contributed to this surge in confidence. Firstly, the positive expectations surrounding half-year disclosures played a crucial role. Many listed companies reported impressive H1 results, with some, like Unilever Nigeria, surprising the market by announcing interim dividends after years of not doing so.

This flow of strong financial results undoubtedly supported the market’s upward trajectory.

Adnori added that “also, a decline in interest rates for short-term benchmarks, such as treasury bills and bonds, encouraged a shift from debt instruments to equities. Despite heavy oversubscription, the yields on these debt instruments saw a decrease, further enhancing investor confidence in the broader Nigerian economy.

“Additionally, macroeconomic developments, such as a GDP growth of 3.13 per cent in the last quarter and a modest inflation rate of around 22.3 per cent, reinforced investors’ optimism. This positive outlook not only attracted domestic investors but also garnered interest from foreign investors, helping to sustain the equity market rally.”

On the August outlook, he noted that, “while the market has already reacted to various price-sensitive events and corporate disclosures, it is essential to acknowledge that market responses can sometimes exhibit exuberance, leading to potential corrections in the near future.”

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•Market cap gains N25.66trn in seven months Kayode Tokde The positive macroeconomic indicators in Nigeria have trickled down to the stock market segment of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), lifting
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MOFI Boss: Single-digit Interest Funding Has Unlocked Mortgage Opportunities for Nigerians

MOFI Boss: Single-digit Interest Funding Has Unlocked Mortgage Opportunities for Nigerians

•Plans non-interest option, targets Nigerians in diaspora

James Emejo in Abuja

Chief Executive, Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), Dr. Armstrong Takang, yesterday said hundreds of Nigerians had taken advantage of MOFI’s single-digit interest funding to own mortgages under its housing initiative, MOFI Real Estate Investment Fund (MREIF).

Under the housing initiative, funding was reduced to 9.75 per cent from the initial interest rate of 12 per cent, further expanding access to mortgages for Nigerians. 

Speaking at the Africa International Housing Show (AIHS) in Abuja, Takang also disclosed plans to roll out a Shariah-compliant non-interest option, which would allow Nigerians in the diaspora access mortgage opportunities in the country.

He said through innovative financing, the federal government was committed to radically bridge the housing gap in the country, under a scheme designed for sustainability and wide-ranging impact.

The MOFI boss pointed out that MREIF, which was designed to transform Nigeria’s housing sector by bridging the mortgage financing gap through flexible terms, was already being embraced by Nigerians.

He stressed that MREIF was a much-needed, long-overdue intervention in the housing sector with real capacity to radically transform the entire housing value chain, and deliver long-term impact.

According to him, the initiative is designed to hedge against liquidity challenges, corporate governance issues, accessibility barriers, and the perennial challenge of sustaining initiatives for the long-term. 

He said the country’s mortgage landscape was characterised by about 20 million housing deficit, prohibitive mortgage rates, and low mortgage tenors, including limited refinancing options and shallow secondary markets.

Takang explained that MREIF was conceived as a timely, bold, and innovative solution to cure existing limitations in the housing sector.

He said the initiative consisted of N1 trillion Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved and regulated fund designed to expand homeownership and strengthen Nigeria’s housing sector. 

He also stated that the fund’s structure was designed to achieve the best corporate governance standards possible, replicating proven market-aligned success models. He said to achieve this, MOFI served only as the sponsor of the fund, while MREIF enjoyed the full status of a regulated market instrument with a fund manager and was open to institutional investors.

Takang stated that with N250 billion already raised, including mortgage finance disbursements across three geographical zones so far, “MREIF is demonstrating its prowess as a key driver of investment in long-term housing finance in Nigeria”.

He added that with an AAA rating from Agusto and AA rating from GCR, “MREIF had established itself as a highly credible, market-driven investment platform to address Nigeria’s housing finance gap by issuing out single-digit mortgages through eligible financing institutions, over a period of 20 years.”

He said the fund also provided offtake guarantees to qualified developers, ensuring sale of their properties by providing mortgages to qualified homebuyers.

In a statement, Takang commended President Bola Tinubu for the Renewed Hope Housing Initiative that inspired MREIF, and the fund’s private sector partners for steering the initiative towards sustainable impact.

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•Plans non-interest option, targets Nigerians in diaspora James Emejo in Abuja Chief Executive, Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), Dr. Armstrong Takang, yesterday said hundreds of Nigerians had taken advantage of
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Oando Foundation Inaugurates Green Youth Upskilling Programme to Bridge Climate, Employment Gaps

Oando Foundation Inaugurates Green Youth Upskilling Programme to Bridge Climate, Employment Gaps

Funmi Ogundare

Oando Foundation, yesterday, inaugurated the Green Youth Upskilling Programme (GYUP) in an effort aimed at tackling youth unemployment, climate change and equipping young Nigerians with practical green skills to create pathways into Nigeria’s emerging circular economy.

Speaking at the launch in Lagos, Ms. Tonia Uduimoh, Head of Oando Foundation, explained the initiative is designed to equip a new generation of change makers with the tools, mindset and vision to lead Nigeria into a more sustainable future and driving climate action.

 She cited a recent statistics saying that 12.5 per cent of Nigerian youth aged 15 to 24 are currently not in education, employment, or training, and the green economy is projected to generate over two million jobs by 2030.

Selected from a pool of over 8,000 applicants, Uduimoh stated the first cohort of 25 participants tagged ‘Green Champions’, will undergo 9 months of intensive training in renewable energy, sustainable waste management, climate tech, and green enterprise development.

Participants will also receive mentorship and seed funding to launch climate-smart businesses and community-based projects.

“This program is not just about training,” Uduimoh said. “It’s about creating leaders of tomorrow who will protect the environment and drive inclusive economic growth.”

The GYUP, she added, is part of the foundation’s broader LEARNOVATE strategy, particularly its PLANET pillar, which focuses on climate-sensitive education and skills development.

“Implemented in collaboration with the Nigeria Climate Innovation Center, the program is designed to be scalable and replicable across the country,” she stated, adding that the foundation, known for its commitment to improving basic education since 2011, is now expanding its reach to youth empowerment through sustainability-focused initiatives.

  Uduimoh described the launch as the beginning of a greener, smarter, and more inclusive future for Nigeria, while appealing to the participants to embrace innovation, think entrepreneurially, and lead with purpose carrying forward the responsibility of creating jobs, protecting the environment and inspiring their peers.

In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC), Bankole Oloruntoba, explained that the key obstacle preventing green startups and SMEs from thriving is the shortage of technical expertise, especially in operational and maintenance roles across renewable energy and circular economy value chains.

“We have worked with startups and emerging companies, and the bridge between managing and becoming a successful green business is the lack of technical skills. This project aims to fix that,” he stated.

The GYUP, he noted, is a strategic, demand-driven project designed to equip Nigerian youth with hands-on skills that are directly applicable to the labor market.

The program is organised in three major phases; sector mapping and stakeholder engagement, technical training and apprenticeship, as well as post-training grant support.

The NCIC, he said, is working with several technical partners and foundations to deliver the training, with a strong focus on sustainability.

 According to Oloruntoba, this isn’t just about creating new jobs, it’s also about sustaining existing ones and enhancing operational efficiency to reduce overhead and management costs for businesses in the green sector.

“We cannot just talk about unemployment, we must act. The green economy presents an alternative and growing economic pathway, and Nigeria must build early systems to take advantage of that,” he said.

The training and apprenticeship phase of the project, the CEO noted, will begin in the coming weeks, and participants will be selected based on clear performance metrics including consistency, commitment, responsiveness, and people management skills during placements.

His words: “A grant support phase will follow after 9 months, with details on how beneficiaries will be selected to be released soon.

“This is not just training for training’s sake. We want participants to learn at every point along the value chain and emerge employable, entrepreneurial, and impactful.”

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Funmi Ogundare Oando Foundation, yesterday, inaugurated the Green Youth Upskilling Programme (GYUP) in an effort aimed at tackling youth unemployment, climate change and equipping young Nigerians with practical green skills
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US-CDC: How AI-Powered Screening Device is Improving TB Diagnosis in Nigeria

US-CDC: How AI-Powered Screening Device is Improving TB Diagnosis in Nigeria

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The United States. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (US-CDC) has said that Nigeria is witnessing significant progress in the screening, detection and treatment of TB among the people living with HIV across the country.

The Centre said that of the 467,000 new TB cases reported in Nigeria in 2023, approximately 140,000 were among people living with HIV.

A Senior Programme Specialist at the US-CDC in Nigeria, Dr. Flora Nwagagbo, in her presentation at a Media Roundtable in Abuja titled: “Expanding the use of portable X-ray machines to improve tuberculosis diagnosis among PLHIV in Nigeria” said that Nigeria is currently making significant progress in screening for TB in people living with HIV across the country

She said the US-CDC is supporting the federal government in expanding the use of AI-enabled Portable Digital X-ray machines for the early detection of Tuberculosis, especially among people living with HIV.

She the intervention is helping Nigeria to expand the use of portable x-ray machines with artificial intelligence (AI) to improve screening for TB in people living with HIV.

“Systematic screening is an essential first step in TB diagnosis and treatment in eligible populations.

“For instance, in the area of early detection of TB and the start of treatment, the equipment can improve health outcomes and prevent severe complications and death,” she said.

According to Nwagagbo, screening is being carried out on people who are at higher risk of TB.

She added that screening may be conducted using portable chest X-ray with artificial intelligence (AI), or a recommended molecular rapid diagnostic tests, either alone or in combination.

“PDX machines are an effective tool for screening for TB, even when people do not show symptoms and can help diagnose TB in people living with HIV who face a unique diagnostic challenge with traditional TB tests because they may not have typical immune responses to the TB bacteria, making it harder to detect and diagnose,” she explained.

“AI-enabled x-ray for TB screening can supplement decision-making, potentially improving on human reader performance Increase the usability of chest X-rays for screening where there is a scarcity of trained human readers or no human readers.

“It can reduce reader variability and produces consistent results, thus saving time and resources needed for resolution when conflicting interpretations are provided”.

The Team Lead of the Programme Management Unit at the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy, and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme, Dr. Emperor Ubochioma, commended the CDC, the U.S. government, implementing partners, and the media for their support in Nigeria’s fight against TB and HIV.

Ubochioma, represented by the Programme Manager for TB at the NTBLCP, Dr. Shadrach Dimang, spoke of the importance of awareness and media involvement in dispelling myths and misinformation surrounding TB and HIV.

He said that breaking the cycle of transmission is key to addressing infectious diseases, adding that early diagnosis and treatment are most critical in dealing with diseases.

“The AI-aided PDX machines help to improve TB early detection in Nigeria, with their efficiency, objectivity, and ability to reduce human error in diagnosis, especially for difficult cases like those involving immunocompromised patients or children,” Ubochioma stated.

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Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The United States. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (US-CDC) has said that Nigeria is witnessing significant progress in the screening, detection and treatment of TB
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