BREAKING: Man Held For Five Months In Kogi Prison Over Facebook Post Criticising State Accountant General

Despite appeals from family members, friends, and colleagues, Sadiq remains incarcerated, now going into his fifth month in detention. He was reportedly arrested in February 2025 following a Facebook post he made on February 13.  ArticlesRead More 

  • Related Posts

    Dangote Cement Marks Youth Day at Obajana

    Dangote Cement Marks Youth Day at Obajana

    The Dangote Cement Plc has marked the International Youth Day at its Obajana plant, Kogi State. 

    Speaking at the event, the Plant Director, Nawabuddin Azad, who was represented by the General Manager, Social Performance, Ademola Adeyemi, said the company’s policy is in alignment with the United Nations’ ideals of empowering the youth to enable them to play significant roles in social and economic development of societies. 

    Azad, who was speaking on the theme, “ Local Youth Action on SDG and Beyond,” said the youth has always in its job creation drives and empowerment programmes. 

    He noted that only recently, youths from the company’s host co-mmunities were empowered through initiatives in poultry farming, solar entrepreneurship, fashion design, and several other vocational skills. 

    “At our plant, we believe in shared value where business success goes together with social progress. 

    We are committed to supporting initiatives that empower the youth, uplift communities and promote sustainable practices,” he said. 

    Addressing staff and guests at the plant, the Chief General Manager and Head of Production, Mr. John Gwong, described the youth as the greatest asset of any nation, noting that their creativity, energy, and innovation remain critical for Nigeria’s future.

    He stressed that Dangote Cement views the youth not only as future leaders but also as present contributors to the company’s growth.

    “At Dangote Cement, we see the youth as the backbone of society. By mentoring them, building their capacity, and exposing them to new technologies, we are preparing a generation that will secure the growth of both our company and our nation,”  Gwong said.

    On his part, the Head of Human Resources, Mr. Azeez Adeniyi, emphasised the importance of instilling discipline, hard work, and integrity in young people.

    He noted that the youth population is central to Nigeria’s workforce and that their skills and values directly influence the productivity of industries such as cement manufacturing.

    “Our engagement with young employees goes beyond technical training. We prioritize ethics, teamwork, and responsibility, because these are the values that shape strong leaders and professionals. When the youth succeed, companies like Dangote Cement and the entire nation also succeed,”  Adeniyi remarked.

    Also speaking, Head, Technical, Dangote Academy,  Mr. Wale Adedeji, urged youths to embrace technology and innovation, stressing that the future belongs to those who are adaptable and forward-thinking. 

     Adedeji explained that Dangote’s continued investment in young professionals has strengthened its operations and positioned the company as a leader in Africa’s cement industry.

    “The world is changing rapidly, and young people must be equipped not only to take jobs but also to create them. The values of curiosity, resilience, and problem-solving are essential for them to remain competitive globally, and these qualities directly translate into the company’s ability to innovate and remain productive,”  Adedeji said.

    The officials collectively noted that industries, governments, and communities must create platforms that empower young people to maximize their potential. They warned that failing to invest in youth development could worsen unemployment and social vices, threatening national stability.

    Stressing its own contributions, Dangote Cement showcased initiatives such as its graduate trainee scheme, internship opportunities, and community empowerment projects, which have empowered hundreds of young people across its host communities and built a pipeline of skilled workers for the company.

    According to the management, the youth are not only vital to Nigeria’s future but are already playing an indispensable role in the day-to-day operations of Dangote Cement, bringing innovation, energy, and fresh perspectives to its workforce.

    The ceremony concluded with a call on young Nigerians to remain committed to lifelong learning and positive values, while stakeholders were urged to sustain efforts at mentoring, empowering, and involving youths in nation-building.

    The post Dangote Cement Marks Youth Day at Obajana appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.

    ​  

    The Dangote Cement Plc has marked the International Youth Day at its Obajana plant, Kogi State.  Speaking at the event, the Plant Director, Nawabuddin Azad, who was represented by the
    The post Dangote Cement Marks Youth Day at Obajana appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.

    Billions Spent, Poverty Persists: Unraveling Nigeria’s Relief Paradox and the Road Ahead

    Billions Spent, Poverty Persists: Unraveling Nigeria’s Relief Paradox and the Road Ahead

    By Ugo Inyama

    Nigeria’s federal government has announced plans to disburse ₦54.9 billion in August 2025 to more than 2.1 million households under the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme. Alongside this, the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) will extend ₦300,000 interest-free loans to about 21,000 smallholder farmers, with the aim of boosting food security through dry-season farming (Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, 2025). On paper, these interventions appear bold, compassionate, and timely—especially at a moment when inflation continues to squeeze households and hunger gnaws at millions.

    But behind the headline figures lies a familiar challenge. Since the introduction of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) in 2016 and the palliatives of the COVID-19 era, cash transfers and loans have been widely promoted as instruments of poverty relief (World Bank, 2021; IMF, 2022). Yet poverty levels remain persistently high. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS, 2023) reports that more than 133 million Nigerians—over 60% of the population—are living in multidimensional poverty. The World Bank (2024) further notes that rising inflation, food insecurity, and weak job creation continue to push millions below the poverty line, despite successive interventions.

    The challenge is not the absence of programmes but the way they are designed and sustained. Cash transfers, while important in easing immediate hardship, rarely bring about lasting change on their own. In many cases, they are distributed unevenly, exposed to political influence, or weakened by limited monitoring and evaluation systems (Transparency International, 2023). Similarly, credit facilities for farmers can provide short-term relief, but without reliable access to markets, storage, extension services, and irrigation, loans alone are unlikely to translate into sustained agricultural productivity (FAO, 2024).

    Scale is also a major constraint. Although ₦54.9 billion appears significant, when divided across 2.2 million households, it translates to just over ₦25,000 per family—barely enough to cover food needs for a household of five for a month under current prices (NBS Food Price Watch, 2025). This illustrates the difficulty of achieving durable poverty reduction at national level when resources are spread so thinly.

    Fiscal realities complicate matters further. In 2024, debt servicing accounted for 68% of federal revenues (DMO, 2024). With such limited fiscal space, social investments are often presented as temporary relief measures rather than as part of a long-term development strategy. At the same time, Nigeria receives more than $20 billion annually in diaspora remittances (World Bank, 2024), a flow that already surpasses foreign aid. Yet these funds are largely disconnected from official poverty-alleviation frameworks. If channelled through matched savings schemes or community investment initiatives, remittances could become a more stable complement to government programmes.

    The political economy of social interventions also shapes their impact. Relief packages are often introduced or expanded during electoral cycles, and in some cases, the process of identifying beneficiaries is influenced by partisan considerations rather than transparent, needs-based registries (BudgIT, 2023). This creates perceptions that welfare is a political tool rather than a social contract. Such dynamics reduce trust and undermine the legitimacy of otherwise valuable programmes. For interventions to be credible, they must be insulated from political manipulation and embedded within permanent institutions.

    To improve effectiveness, three broad shifts are necessary. First, targeting and transparency should be enhanced through digital identity systems, ensuring that assistance reaches the poorest households with minimal leakage (World Bank ID4D, 2023). Second, cash transfers should be complemented by sustained investments in education, healthcare, and nutrition to address structural drivers of poverty and prevent its transmission across generations (UNDP, 2024). Third, empowerment loans must be linked to wider reforms in agriculture and small enterprise development, enabling recipients to transform credit into sustainable livelihoods (African Development Bank, 2024).

    Nigeria’s social protection programmes are valuable in cushioning hardship, but their effectiveness should not be measured only by the billions disbursed. The more fundamental question is whether they create opportunities for households to move beyond subsistence. The way forward requires aligning short-term support with long-term structural transformation—so that poverty relief is not simply a cycle of temporary alleviation followed by renewed vulnerability, but a genuine pathway toward resilience and shared prosperity.

    *Ugo Inyama writes from the African Digital Governance Centre, Manchester, UK.
    www.africandgc.org

    The post Billions Spent, Poverty Persists: Unraveling Nigeria’s Relief Paradox and the Road Ahead appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.

    ​  

    By Ugo Inyama Nigeria’s federal government has announced plans to disburse ₦54.9 billion in August 2025 to more than 2.1 million households under the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme. Alongside
    The post Billions Spent, Poverty Persists: Unraveling Nigeria’s Relief Paradox and the Road Ahead appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Business & Economy

    ISA 2025: Nigeria’s capital market set to hit N300 trillion – SEC DG Agama to Tinubu 

    9mobile rebounds with first subscriber growth in 2025 after MTN infrastructure sharing deal 

    Imo doctors to earn N533,000 as Uzodimma approves N104,000 minimum wage effective August 2025 

    Lafarge launches another first into the market with EcoCrete, first low-carbon ready-mix concrete 

    EFCC vs POS merchants: Moniepoint joins N21 billion fraud battle in Court

    Nigeria among top drivers as Chinese exports to Africa surge past $122 billion in 2025 

    Hackers exploiting Google Classroom in massive global phishing campaign – Check Point 

    FG launches portal for Nigerians to report housing estate fraud 

    New Zealand closes Entrepreneur Work Visa, opens new immigration options for investors 

    Lagos Govt moves to regulate sprawling beach houses in Ibeshe, Ilashe along coastal corridor 

    Private Sector Credit Up 4.02% YoY to N76.14trn as Broad Money Supply Expands

    Amid Moderate Borrowing, Subscription to FGN Bond Shrinks to N4.94trn

    Rebuilding Trust in Contributory Pension Scheme

    FCMB Group Profit Before Tax Up 23% YoY to N79.3bn

    Stanbic IBTC Relaunches Promo for Private Banking Clients

    LAPO MfB Champions Youth Empowerment at NYSC Sagamu Camp

    ASUU members stage nationwide university protests over salary arrears and neglected agreements 

    PenCom recovers N4.57 billion from defaulting employers over five quarters, says PenOp CEO 

    CBN orders banks, fintech firms to make GPS tracking mandatory for PoS terminals

    CBN orders banks, fintech firms to make GPS tracking mandatory for PoS terminals

    Cross River moves to unlock its vast gas, solid mineral deposits

    Cross River moves to unlock its vast gas, solid mineral deposits

    Customs hands over N3.77 billion worth of expired drugs to NAFDAC 

    Why many of the 43 licensed MVNOs in Nigeria may not survive – Stakeholders  

    FCMB tops volume as Nigerian stock market recovers above 141,500 – See year-to-date performance

    NSIB begins investigation into Abuja–Kaduna train derailment, says six passengers injured 

    Nigeria emerges as Africa’s second-largest solar importer amid 60% surge across continent 

    Breaking: Tinubu orders temporary ban on export of raw shea nuts 

    Nigeria to expand pension investment scope in infrastructure and private equity 

    Alleged terror financing: Court approves IGP’s request for banks to release Sowore’s transactions

    Nigerian Air Force opens recruitment for graduates and postgraduates nationwide 

    Nigeria, Brazil to strengthen health sector cooperation with 5-Year Joint Action Plan 

    Foodelo: Leading food delivery in Lagos and Abeokuta 

    NGX Group CEO highlights opportunities for Nigeria–Brazil investment flows during Presidential visit to Brazil 

    Inventa marks a decade of protecting Nigerian innovation for global competitiveness  

    CBN sets October 31 deadline for Payment companies to comply with ISO 20022

    Air Peace secures Lagos–São Paulo passenger route under Nigeria–Brazil BASA deal 

    Nigeria records 46% drop in poliovirus cases as NPHCDA reports progress in eradication efforts