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Soludo’s wife unveils Oluremi Tinubu’s empowerment programme in Anambra

Published

1 month ago

August 6, 2025

The wife of the President, Oluremi Tinubu, has empowered women in Anambra State with recapitalisation grants and other support to boost their business, economic status and financial independence.

The Women’s Economic Empowerment programme, a N50,000 grant for each beneficiary, was done under the auspices of the First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative in collaboration with the Tony Elumelu Foundation.

It is a programme designed to support 500 women in each of the 36 states of the country, including the Federal Capital Territory.

Wife of the Anambra State governor, Nonye Soludo, who handed over the empowerment to the women, at the Light House, Awka, on Wednesday, said the initiative was a testament to the President’s wife’s dedication to empowering women in sustainable business and ensuring food security.

Soludo, who represented the President’s wife and read her speech before the beneficiaries, stated that the empowerment would enhance financial independence and help the women unlock their full potential.

She stressed that the empowerment showed that the government embraced the pivotal role of women in Nigeria’s economic diversification.

She said, “This economic empowerment is about supporting the entrepreneurial spirits of our women. By empowering women in their various crafts, we are not only enhancing their well-being but also promoting economic growth and sustainability in their homes.

“We recognise and deeply appreciate the noble objectives of this empowerment initiative, which is aimed at unlocking the immense potential of our women, fostering their economic independence, and creating sustainable opportunities for growth and prosperity.

“By equipping our women with these essential tools, we are strengthening their ability to build lasting livelihoods, thereby enabling them to contribute meaningfully to the inclusive and sustainable development of our nation.

“It is not a loan, it is a renewed seed to enable you to invest in your business to make it more sustainable. I thank the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which donated N1bn for 500 women in each of the 36 states of the country.”

Soludo, however, said in support of the President’s wife’s programme, she has also selected an additional 500 women to be empowered, thereby bringing the total figure of beneficiaries to 1,000.

“To support our first lady, I am also presenting N50,000 each for an additional 500 women, thereby bringing the total number of women to 1,000. I hereby flag off the programme for the benefit of the people.

“Starting a business is about good management and skills. In business, seed capital is very key, you know. It’s about mindset. See this grant you have received as a ‘seed’ that can turn into millions if well invested.

“I believe that this money will work wonders in your life and do good things for you. But what is more important is to ensure a healthy living, eat well, eat clean and exercise well, take care of yourselves,” Soludo added.

Earlier on, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Ify Obinabo, advised the women to ensure they put the money to good use for the benefit of their families.

“This is not the first time we are experiencing this show of love from Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, knowing full well that with this empowerment, different women are sure of three square meals.

“Our first lady is not just giving it; she is also adding her own and doing it effortlessly. We have a rare privilege of having someone like her.

“This money is not to go and buy ‘aso ebi’, it is a seed money that should be invested to boost your businesses and whatever craft you are doing,” Obinabo added.

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News

Tinubu sacks aide on digital, creative economy

Published

56 minutes ago

September 8, 2025

Newsbreak365_Admin

President Bola Tinubu has sacked the Special Assistant to the President on Digital and Creative Economy in the Office of the Vice President, Fegho Umunubo.

According to a statement issued on Monday by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye, Umunubo’s disengagement takes immediate effect.

The statement further clarified that Umunubo no longer represents the Tinubu administration in any capacity.

“Henceforth, anyone who interfaces with him in the name of President Tinubu’s administration does so at his or her own risk.

“We urge all stakeholders and constituents of the digital and creative economy to be so guided, the statement added.

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UN demands probe after 17 protesters killed in Nepal

Published

1 hour ago

September 8, 2025

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The United Nations demanded a swift and transparent investigation on Monday after a rights group accused police in Nepal of firing on people protesting against a social media ban, killing at least 17.

“We are shocked by the killings and injury of protesters in Nepal today and urge a prompt and transparent investigation,” UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement.

Thousands of young Nepalis took to the streets of Kathmandu to register their anger at a ban on social media.

Police used rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannon and batons when the demonstrators pushed through barbed wire and tried to enter a restricted area near parliament.

A police spokesman told AFP that 17 people had died.

Amnesty International and a protester said they were fired on with live ammunition.

Shamdasani said her office had received “several deeply worrying allegations of unnecessary or disproportionate use of force by security forces” during the protests.

“We call on the authorities to respect and ensure the rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression,” she said, insisting that “all security forces must comply with the basic principles on the use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials”.

Monday’s demonstration erupted after several social media sites — including Facebook, YouTube and X — became inaccessible last Friday, following a move by the government to block 26 unregistered platforms.

“Nepal enjoys a lively democracy and active civic space, and dialogue is the best means to address young people’s concerns,” Shamdasani said.

“We urge reconsideration of measures to regulate social media to ensure they comply with Nepal’s human rights obligations.”

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Speaker Abbas cautions on Nigeria’s borrowing, calls for urgent reforms

Published

1 hour ago

September 8, 2025

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Nigeria’s mounting debt crisis has triggered a strong warning from the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, who cautioned that the nation’s borrowing has breached its statutory ceiling and now poses a threat to fiscal stability.

The Speaker raised he alarm on Monday at the opening of the 11th Annual Conference and General Assembly of the West Africa Association of Public Accounts Committees, held at the National Assembly in Abuja.

The conference, which drew parliamentarians, development partners, and financial experts from across West Africa, is focusing on the theme “Strengthening Parliamentary Oversight of Public Debt: The Role of Finance and Public Accounts Committees.”

In his speech, Abbas expressed concerns that Nigeria’s debt had reached “a critical point” and called for urgent reforms in borrowing practices and oversight.

“As at the first quarter of 2025, Nigeria’s total public debt stood at N149.39 trillion, equivalent to about US$97 billion. This represents a sharp rise from N121.7 trillion the previous year, underscoring how quickly the burden has grown.

“Even more concerning is the debt-to-GDP ratio, which now stands at roughly 52 per cent, well above the statutory ceiling of 40 per cent set by our own laws.

“This is not just a budgetary concern but a structural crisis that demands urgent parliamentary attention and coordinated reform,” the Speaker warned.

The revelation comes at a time when debt servicing continues to gulp a significant portion of government revenue, leaving little room for critical spending on infrastructure, health, and education.

According to fiscal experts, Nigeria now spends more on repaying loans than on social services, raising fears that the economy may be edging toward unsustainable levels.

Abbas described the breach of the debt limit as “a signal of strain on fiscal sustainability,” stressing the need for “stronger oversight, transparent borrowing practices, and a collective resolve to ensure that tangible economic and social returns match every naira borrowed.”

He drew parallels with the wider African debt landscape, where several countries are trapped in spiralling debt service obligations.

To mitigate fiscal risks, the Speaker announced that Nigeria is ready to champion the establishment of a West African Parliamentary Debt Oversight Framework under WAAPAC.

The framework, he explained, would harmonise debt reporting across the sub-region, set transparency standards, and empower parliaments with timely data to scrutinise borrowing practices.

In addition, he unveiled plans for a regional capacity-building programme for Public Accounts and Finance Committees, designed to equip members with modern tools for debt sustainability analysis and fiscal risk assessment.

While acknowledging that borrowing remains an important tool for development, Abbas warned against reckless debt accumulation.

“Borrowing should support infrastructure, health, education, and industries that create jobs and reduce poverty. Reckless debt that fuels consumption or corruption must be exposed and rejected.

“Oversight is not just about figures but about the lives and futures behind those figures,” he stressed.

The Speaker further reiterated the 10th House’s commitment to transparency and accountability in public finance. He said under its Open Parliament Policy, all major borrowing proposals would be subjected to public hearings, while simplified debt reports would be made available to citizens.

Abbas urged participants to approach deliberations with dedication, noting that the resolutions would play a vital role in strengthening fiscal responsibility and accountability across the continent.

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