The Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has reaffirmed his administration’s support for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) through a range of youth empowerment programmes aligned with the Anambra Vision 2070 development blueprint.

Speaking through the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Development, Martin Agbili, at the opening of the 2025 Batch ‘B’ Stream I Orientation Course in Awka South, the Governor welcomed 1,433 newly sworn-in Corps members and urged them to uphold the values of patriotism, discipline, and national service.

Governor Soludo described the swearing-in as “a sacred commitment to live out the values of integrity, tolerance, and selfless service,” and said the Corps members’ presence “rekindles hope in our collective journey toward a better Nigeria.”

He highlighted several youth-focused initiatives already underway in Anambra, including the “One Youth, Two Skills”programme, Solution Innovation District (SID), Code Anambra, and Youth-in-Agribusiness.

The swearing-in of the 1,433 Corps members, comprising 658 males and 775 females, was administered by Justice S.N. Okoye on behalf of the Chief Judge of Anambra State at the Nnamdi Azikiwe NYSC Unity Permanent Orientation Camp, Umuawulu/Mbaukwu.

The Chairman of the NYSC Anambra State Governing Board and Commissioner for Youth Development, Patrick Agha Mba—represented by Mr Martin Ezeilo—described the Corps members as “symbols of unity and hope,” and urged them to reflect “discipline, integrity, and patriotism” throughout their service year.

In her address, NYSC Anambra State Coordinator, Mrs Pauline Ojisua, congratulated the Corps members on their mobilisation and described the Orientation Course as “the foundation of their service journey.”

“This course is tailored to develop your leadership, civic, and entrepreneurial capacities,” she said, noting their “impressive discipline and enthusiasm.”

Mrs Ojisua thanked the Anambra State Government for integrating Corps members into its development agenda but appealed for infrastructure upgrades at the orientation camp, including expanded accommodation and erosion control.

Dignitaries present at the event included Mr Ayodele Adegoke, Director, South East Area Office I, Enugu; Mr Leo Eze, State Director, NABTEB; Mrs Chika Ufelle of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE); Dr Joe Akabuike, Chief Medical Director of COOUTH Awka; and Kingsley Okafor, representing the Chairman of Awka South LGA.

Traditional rulers HRM Igwe Dr Joel Egwuonwu, Eze Udo II of Umuawulu, and HRM Igwe Dr Patrick Nwokike Anugwu also graced the occasion. The State Security Service was represented by Mr Morgan Ebohoho.

The newly inducted Corps members were urged to seize the opportunities of the Orientation Course and uphold the ideals of national service.

PIAK

Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim has empowered widows across six Area Councils of the FCT through Country Associates Network (CANET) Women Support Group.

In line with the Renewed Hope, Women Economic Empowerment Programme, 10 Widows across the six Area Councils of the FCT, received ₦50,000 in non-profit revolving loan.

This follows a N500,000.00 empowerment support, given by the Minister, to 17 beneficiary clusters during the International Widows Day Celebration, jointly hosted by Helpline Support Initiative and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in June 2025.

Speaking at the event, the Founder of Helpline Social Support Initiative, Dr Jummai Ahmadu charged the beneficiaries to ensure efficient utilisation and pay back, so that other batches could benefit.

“… as you are given the 50,000 Naira today, See it as a grant that you are going to pay. In paying back, you are empowering a woman that you are better off in businesses operations and management,” She charged.

While appreciating the Minister of Women Affairs for the innovative model of empowerment, she said that evaluators would avail the beneficiaries of business monitoring services and scale up advice.

“I want to thank the Minister of Women’s Affairs for bringing out this unique way of doing things. We are going to move across the 6 Area Councils. You have to ensure that it does not die with you, ” She stated.

She said the meeting is going to be periodic, with evaluators going around to evaluate the established businesses.

Ensure you meet periodically, if you have problems, advices will be given to you and do not ever ever underrate your capacity as a woman. You have more than you can imagine that you can do,” She said.

Ahmadu further charged:
“..I am charging us, CANET Women, because you have all what it takes to ensure that this non-profit revolving loan scheme does not end in Abuja. Please, as you are given this soft loan, no interest, please pay urgently so that others can also take like you. If you need to change a line of business, change it.”

CANET National Coordinator, Hajiya Safiya Muhammed in her remarks, appreciated the conveners for empowering grassroots women, noting that Abuja has set the pace for other States.

“I can’t thank you enough because you have given we the grassroots women, a place and a home to live.I have my little money, but not everybody has the idea to put it right but when you have somebody that is a mentor, that will hold your hand, pull you up, that is how we here are being prepared to face other women around the nation and around the world.”

She charged the beneficiaries; “Work hard, hard work always pays, if you work hard, you are going to achieve what you want”.

On the revolving soft loan, the National Coordinator said, “there is a soft loan for all of us here today. You all will be given up to 50,000, to pay  back in three months. So, please, as you are given this soft loan, no interest, please pay on time so that others can also benefit from it. By the time you don’t pay, other women cannot get this benefit and that is not what CANET stands for.”

In demonstration of it’s commitment, CANET mobilised an additional ₦400,000 from friends and associates at the event and increased the number of beneficiaries to 18 widows.

Reactions and Commendations

Speaking to Voice of Nigeria, a Philanthropist and donor, Hajiya Aisha Lemu, congratulated the organisers of the programme, calling for continuity and sustainability; “This is what we are saying that we should always support each other in whatever we are doing.”

Princess Nikki Onyeri, another contributor while commending the Minister of Women Affairs said: “This is something that I think women have been waiting for all these years, where women are formed in clusters,given the initial loan, and then as they are paying, other people are getting the same support.”

A gender and conflict transformation expert, Dr. Dayo kusa rated the effort as excellent, unique and impactful.

Pay back

” I advise the women not to renege on the payback.If you renege once, it becomes more difficult. So, please, be true to the monthly payback.” She advised.

Mrs. Comfort Akua, the National Newsletter Editor of the National Council of Women Societies said the empowerment would impact national development positively.

“This will put more food on the tables of many homes and also make the women to have a voice in the society as the empowerment will give them a stepping stone to move forward and become the pillars of their homes,” she said.

Rekiya Idris, a Consultant Nutritionist, working with women, children, and adolescents, and donor, noted that most women are the base of the family and nation.

“When you are a widow, it’s very difficult to pick up yourself because there’s no support around you that you used to have in terms of your husband and that has been the basis of my trying to also put in my little bit to also empower the widows here today,” she said.

Pledging her technical support to CANET programmes and women, she said; “I would advise them that what they have now, they should make sure that they multiply it, save some, and also try and empower others within their community.It’s not very easy, it’s difficult, but with determination and commitment, they could do that.”

The empowerment support to 18 indigent widows in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) aims to promote women’s participation in governance and leadership roles which is a testament to CANET’s dedication to championing women’s rights and development, aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The targeted intervention is part of CANET’s broader vision to replicate this widows’ empowerment initiative across the 36 States of the Federation and foster economic resilience, social dignity, and sustainable livelihoods for widows who are often among the most vulnerable in society.

CANET’s leadership also reaffirmed commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda vision of driving inclusive development and promoting economic growth in Nigeria by empowering women and promoting their participation in leadership and governance.

Strategic partnership

CANET also lauded the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim Honourable and Helpline Support Initiative for their strategic partnership and support, which continues to catalyse real impact in communities.

The presentation of revolving soft loan to 18 widows was also a testament of the impact of CANET’s work, as the women, empowered by the support pledged to build better lives for themselves and their families.

The FCT State Executive and Executives of the 6 area Councils of the Country Associates Network Women Support Group were also inaugurated at the event.

Lateefah Ibrahim

A collaboration between UNICEF and the Katsina State Government has transformed the lives of thousands of adolescent girls in the state as the adolescent girls REACH Programme has shown measurable impacts across six local government areas in the state.

Jointly implemented by UNICEF and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), the REACH initiative provided educational opportunities, life skills, and vocational training for out-of-school girls and those at risk of dropping out.

The programme is being hailed as a model of effective government-development partner synergy.

At a town hall meeting with girls and parents at Katsina College Katsina (KCK) in Katsina, the Unicef Adolescent Development Specialist, Ngozi Izuora-Songu said “We are here today in Katsina as part of ongoing efforts to assess and consolidate the gains of the REACH programme which has been implemented for the past 2 years.”

The engagements which were conducted across 6 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state provided a unique opportunity to evaluate the barriers to the transitioning of adolescent girls from Primary to Secondary School and to understand possible enabling factors that could support their journey, both in formal education and and alternative pathways such as vocational training and psychological support.

“These town halls served as inclusive platforms to dialogue among key stakeholders, including adolescent girls (both in and out of school), parents, principals, teachers, and education officials—allowing communities to reflect on the impact of REACH interventions such as mentorship, safe spaces, and life skills sessions.

“We are back to take stock and celebrate the wins in collaboration with the State Government,” specialist said.

She noted with appreciations the successes recorded through the collaboration and the number of girls that benefitted which demonstrated how far the Programme achieved its cause within the targeted Local government areas

“Today we are proud that more adolescent girls are said to be in school within these focus LGAs Girls who transitioned reported major improvements in reading, writing, hygiene, and confidence. As we have seen support from mothers and uncles been critical in overcoming cultural resistance and early marriage threats.

Since transitioning, the girls say they’ve seen real growth in themselves. They can now read and write much better and communicate more clearly — in both English and Hausa.

Inspire them

They also learned about personal hygiene and how to take care of themselves during their menstrual cycle, through the G4G sessions which also helped to inspire them to learn more.

A number of out-of-school adolescent girls, including GBV survivors, were equipped with financial literacy and vocational skills such as knitting, crochet, henna design, cap making, and throw pillow creation. These skills provided the girls with a foundation for income generation .

The vocational skills acquired by the girls align with local market demands, making their products (such as henna designs, caps, and throw pillows) highly marketable within their communities and in urban centers.

The Director planning and Statistics, State Universal Education Board, Katsina state, Tanimu Muazu was aimed following up the commitment so far made by the parents of the girl childs in ensuring the enrolment, retention up to the completion of their children’s education, especially from primary One to 6 and to transit to the secondary school up to the completion.

He said the collaboration is a testament to the commitment of the state governor, Dikko Umaru Radda in ensuring children in Katsina state get the best education they deserve.

“In an effort to give room for the out of school children to return back and transit to the required level, the state government encourages parent through various empowerments aimed at motivating them to enrol and retain their chidren’s education up to the meaningful level in order to achieve the desired result,” Mu’azu assured.

New skills

The programme has changed lives across the state. Halimatu Abdul’aziz, 17 who had dropped out of school, now supports her family through weaving and has returned to formal education. Aisha Musa 22, a young mother, regained her literacy and acquired new skills to support herself.

“I didn’t just go back to school, I found myself again,” Aisha said.

“We were skeptical at first,” said , a parent in Katsina. “But now we’ve seen our girls learn tailoring and baking, grow in confidence, and contribute to our household.”

For younger girls who stayed in school, REACH offered confidence-building and leadership development. One such beneficiary, 14-year-old Fatima Hamisu , now aspires to become a doctor.

“This programme gave me a voice,” she said. “Now, I know I can make a difference.”

Though REACH is concluding, the structures it has left behind—from trained teachers and mentors to active community support groups—promise sustained benefits.

Many communities have pledged to continue supporting girls’ education beyond the programme.

Officials say the partnership model between UNICEF and Katsina State could be replicated in other regions to tackle entrenched barriers to girl-child education.

As girls across Katsina move from the margins to the mainstream, the REACH programme stands as a powerful example of what is possible when international expertise meets local commitment.

Lateefah Ibrahim

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has officially launched a 620KW small hydropower-solar PV hybrid system for communities around Balanga Dam in Balanga Local Government Area.

The hybrid system combines small hydropower and solar photovoltaic technologies to deliver clean and reliable electricity to deliver clean and renewable energy aimed at stimulating local enterprise, raising living standards and contributing to national goals for green industrialisation.

It is funded by the European Union, EU, the Global Environment Facility, GEF and the Federal Government, through the Rural Electrification Agency, REA and being implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, UNIDO.

According to project officials, REA is scheduled to commence the solar PV component within two weeks, while UNIDO will complete the small hydropower component by January 2026.

Governor Yahaya, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, described the project as a major milestone in the journey toward energy security, rural electrification and industrial development in the state.

He emphasised that the launch was in line with his administration’s broader agenda of infrastructural development, economic empowerment and environmental sustainability.

“This project is timely and strategic. It speaks directly to our vision of self-reliance, sustainability and inclusive growth. Power is the backbone of modern development, and this system will transform lives, stimulate agriculture, create jobs and enhance the standard of living in Balanga and beyond,” the governor noted.

Various speakers at the launch describe the move as the first of its kind in Nigeria.

Ensure sustainability

The governor expressed deep appreciation to all partners for their commitment and praised the people of Balanga for their support, but urged the host community to take full ownership to ensure sustainability.

“You are the direct and immediate beneficiaries of this project. Protect it, use it wisely, and let it improve your lives economically, educationally and environmentally,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of the REA, Mr. Abba Aliyu, described the initiative as a model for clean energy deployment in rural Nigeria, adding that his agency will complete its component within one month.

He commended Governor Yahaya for positioning Gombe to benefit from the Federal Government’s $750 million rural electrification package.

Also speaking, the UNIDO Regional Director, Ambassador Philbert Johnson, highlighted the project’s potential to boost agricultural productivity and drive economic development, while noting that Gombe State is the first state in the country to benefit from this landmark initiative.

He also praised Governor Yahaya’s commitment and timely counterpart funding.

The Operational Focal Point of GEF, Nkechi Aneke-Agnes, who was represented by Mr. Kabiru Jidda, from the Federal Ministry of Environment, commended Gombe State for aligning with national renewable energy priorities and lauded the governor for consistently honouring counterpart funding obligations, a commitment he described as exceptional in today’s governance landscape.

Drive sustainable development

The Commissioner for Water, Environment and Forest Resources, Mr. Saidu Muhammed Fawu, called the project a shining example of what strategic partnerships can achieve, saying the project is expected to drive sustainable development, boost local economies and solidify the standing of Gombe State as a model of innovation and resilience in Nigeria’s energy transition.

Also speaking, Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Mr. Sanusi Ahmed Pindiga, thanked the governor for his steadfast commitment and political will to see the project through.

Chairman of Balanga LGA, Hon. Ibrahim Salisu and Member of the Gombe State House of Assembly representing Balanga North, Hon. Musa Buba in their separate remarks credited the project’s realisation to the governor’s strategic engagement with development partners.

The Royal Father Waja Chiefdom, the Bala Waja, His Royal Highness, Mohammed Danjuma Mohammed, hailed the launch as historic for a community long deprived of power.

He also pledged that the chiefdom would fully support the project in safeguarding it.

Lateefah Ibrahim

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Charles Anosike has officially closed the week-long Maproom Training Workshop held in NiMet Headquarters, Abuja, marking a key milestone in the lead-up to the launch of the Enhancing National Climate Services (ENACTS) initiative.

The training, which took place from July 28 to August 1, 2025, brought together participants from the agriculture, academia, and health sectors to build technical capacity on the use of NiMet’s Maproom platform, an interactive tool designed to enhance access to climate information in support of early warning systems, public health planning, disaster risk management, sustainable agriculture, and climate resilience.

The Maproom tool enables seamless access to meteorological data and supports improved coordination and understanding of weather information across sectors.

Its application is vital for promoting climate-smart practices and strengthening the interface between science and policy.

Professor Anosike commended the participants for their dedication, describing the workshop as a “vital step” toward mainstreaming climate data into national and sectoral decision-making processes.

“This workshop has created a network of empowered individuals equipped with the skills and tools to utilise climate information for smart, timely decisions,” he said. “Our goal is to ensure that early warning is matched with early action,” he said.

He reaffirmed NiMet’s mission to provide accurate, timely, and actionable climate services to support national development goals.

Professor Anosike also acknowledged the project’s implementing partners, Sahel Consulting, the International Research Institute (IRI), and the Gates Foundation for their collaborative role in advancing the ENACTS initiative in Nigeria.

The training sets the stage for the official ENACTS launch, scheduled to take place from August 19 to 20, 2025, in Abuja.

The two-day event will feature a high-level launch ceremony and technical session to highlight key project achievements and outline future activities.

The ENACTS initiative represents a transformative leap in delivering locally relevant, user-driven climate services, with the overarching aim of enhancing resilience and supporting sustainable development across Nigeria’s socio-economic sectors.

Lateefah Ibrahim