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5th WenA Conference: FG pledges reforms to boost women-owned businesses, inclusive growth
5th WenA Conference: FG pledges reforms to boost women-owned businesses, inclusive growth
By: Michael Mike
The Presidency has lauded the invaluable contributions of Nigerian women and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to national development, describing them as the lifeblood of the country’s economy.
Speaking at the 5th Women Enterprise Alliance (WenA) Conference held in Abuja, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Entrepreneurship Development and Innovation in the Digital Economy, Ms. Chayla Shagaya, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening the ecosystem for women entrepreneurs through targeted reforms that reduce the cost of doing business, expand access to finance, and promote gender-responsive policies for inclusive economic growth.
Themed “Policy Reforms and Resilience Strategies for Small and Medium Enterprises in a New Economy,” the conference brought together key policymakers, development partners, financiers, and entrepreneurs from across Nigeria.
Shagaya noted that under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, women-led SMEs remain “the quiet economists of every household” and a central pillar of Nigeria’s economic resilience.
She said d: “Across Nigeria, women entrepreneurs are doing the hard work of keeping our economy alive — innovating, employing, and solving local problems with global relevance. About 70 per cent of public submissions on SME policy reforms came from women.”
She highlighted ongoing government reforms such as the Presidential Power Initiative, digital financing pathways, and tax harmonisation frameworks, all aimed at lowering operational costs for SMEs, most of which are women-led.
She further revealed partnerships between the Bank of Industry and other financial institutions aimed at improving access to affordable credit for female entrepreneurs, who often face challenges related to collateral.
“You no longer need to bring your grandmother’s land title to secure a loan,” she added humorously.
According to her, a digital feedback call recently hosted by her office received over 100,000 submissions, with more than 70 per cent coming from women business owners.
“This is no longer a time for policy on paper; it is time for policy that reaches people where they are — especially the women at the heart of our enterprise sector,” she affirmed.
In her address, the Founder of WenA, Aisha Babangida, described the conference as a platform to accelerate the translation of national and global policy commitments into measurable outcomes for women-led enterprises.
She underscored the need for continuous advocacy, lamenting that many women still lack access to information, capital, and markets, and are often constrained by rigid and complex regulatory frameworks.
She said: “When I founded WenA, I thought passion was enough. But it wasn’t. The paperwork, the tax codes, the licensing rules — these were heavy even for those of us with networks. Imagine what it’s like for a woman starting a micro-business in a rural town with little support.”
Babangida commended UN Women Nigeria for its Affirmative Action Procurement Reform Initiative in Kaduna State, which has introduced female representation on procurement boards, waived registration fees, and reserved a portion of public contracts for women-led enterprises.
“Inclusive procurement is not a concession to women; it is an economic strategy,” she emphasised.
She announced that WenA will soon launch a National Certification Programme to help women entrepreneurs qualify for public contracts through enhanced documentation, compliance, and capacity building.
She disclosed that: “Our goal is not to highlight problems but to unlock solutions. Today, we move from policy talk to practical tools — from exclusion to empowerment,” Babangida declared.
During the pre-conference policy workshop, Ms Aisha Bendo-Alkali of UN Women Nigeria highlighted the urgent need to address unpaid care work, a significant barrier limiting women’s participation in the economy.
Supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi), the initiative promotes care-responsive policies and the integration of women’s economic empowerment into national planning.
“Reducing the burden of unpaid care is not just a gender equality goal — it is essential to unlocking national productivity,” she said, calling for the scale-up of inclusive procurement policies nationwide.
In his goodwill address, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr Zach Adedeji, unveiled key fiscal reforms designed to ease tax burdens on small businesses, especially those run by women.
He announced that, effective January 2026, businesses earning not more than ₦100 million in annual turnover will be exempted from corporate income tax — a measure he described as “a deliberate strategy to incentivise growth, not penalise enterprise.”
“Taxation should support the formalisation and scaling of small businesses — not stifle them,” he stated.
Adedeji also revealed the introduction of a Unified Tax Identification Number (UTIN), integrated across the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), FIRS, and other agencies to simplify compliance for SMEs.
He added that the FIRS is transitioning to fully digital tax filing and correspondence systems, eliminating paper-based bureaucracy.
The 5th WenA Conference attracted participation from senior government officials, development agencies, private sector leaders, and entrepreneurs — all reaffirming the central role of women in driving inclusive growth, job creation, and national resilience.
In her closing remarks, Aisha Babangida emphasised that real reform must be measured by tangible impact, not policy statements.
She said: “A real reform is when a woman in Kaduna, Aba, or Makurdi feels the change in her daily hustle — when she can register her business in minutes, access capital without fear, and supply to the government without discrimination.”
The event, supported by FIRS, FCMB, and UN Women, concluded with a collective pledge to advance a gender-inclusive economic framework that leaves no woman behind.
“Empowering women entrepreneurs is not charity,” Ms Shagaya asserted. “It is a national strategy — and the path to building a resilient and inclusive Nigerian economy.”
5th WenA Conference: FG pledges reforms to boost women-owned businesses, inclusive growth
Troops Repel Terrorist Infiltration in Kanama, Neutralise Four Insurgents
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have repelled a Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist infiltration into Kanama town, neutralising four insurgents during a swift response operation in Borno State.
Security sources said the incident occurred at about 6:00 p.m. on April 22 when troops of 159 Battalion, deployed in Kanama, responded to sounds of gunfire within the town.
On arrival, the troops reportedly discovered that terrorists had infiltrated parts of the community.
The troops immediately made contact and engaged the attackers with disciplined fire, forcing them to retreat in disarray.
Subsequent exploitation of the general area led to the neutralisation of four terrorists.
One member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) sustained injuries during the encounter and has been evacuated for medical attention.
No military equipment was lost during the operation.
Items recovered from the terrorists include two torchlight mobile phones and the sum of ₦21,000.
Security sources said the general situation across the theatre remains calm but unpredictable, while troops’ morale and fighting efficiency remain high.
Troops Repel Terrorist Infiltration in Kanama, Neutralise Four Insurgents
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Dramatic Testimony Rocks Nwaukoni Terrorism Trial In Asaba — Doctor Confirms Gunshot Wounds In Palace Attack Case
Dramatic Testimony Rocks Nwaukoni Terrorism Trial In Asaba — Doctor Confirms Gunshot Wounds In Palace Attack Case
The high-profile terrorism trial in Charge No. FHC/ASB/18C/2024 took a dramatic and gripping turn this week at the Federal High Court, Asaba, as explosive evidence and powerful witness testimonies continue to unfold against Mike Nwaukoni (aka “Supu”) and his alleged accomplices.
Standing trial alongside him are prominent figures including Barrister Francis Okolie, Secretary of the Ogwashi-Uku Development Association (ODA), and Mazi Elue Adigwe, the association’s Secretary-General, among others accused in connection with the violent October 12, 2023 attack on the Palace of the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku.
🔴 Doctor’s Testimony Leaves Court in Silence
In what court observers have described as one of the most chilling moments of the trial so far, Dr. Ezeike Ugochukwu Godwin took the witness stand and delivered a clinical yet deeply emotional account of the injuries sustained by a vigilante operative assigned to protect the Palace.
The doctor confirmed that the victim suffered multiple gunshot wounds, including injuries to the head and upper limbs, describing in precise medical terms the severity of the trauma.
According to his testimony, the victim was brought into the emergency unit in a state of intense pain and critical distress, alongside several others wounded during the attack.
Dr. Ezeike further told the court that the patient was referred from the Divisional Police Headquarters in Ogwashi-Uku, reinforcing the official chain of response following the violent incident.
🔴 Police Investigator Details Chaos and Destruction
A day earlier, on April 21, 2026, the court heard from Inspector Ijeoma Ovat, the initial Investigating Police Officer (IPO), who painted a harrowing picture of the aftermath of the attack.
She testified about the widespread chaos, multiple casualties, and destruction that followed the invasion of the Palace during the controversial Ineh Festival. Crucially, she tendered photographic evidence showing heavily damaged police and vigilante vehicles, corroborating claims of a coordinated and violent assault.
Sources within the prosecution confirm that the damage to the vehicles was extensive and consistent with armed aggression.
🔴 Witnesses Tie Defendants to Armed
AssaultEarlier testimonies in the trial have reportedly identified the defendants as active participants, alleging they were armed with guns and other dangerous weapons during the attack. Witnesses have also pointed to Mike Nwaukoni as a central figure who allegedly instigated and coordinated the operation.
🔴 Passport Request Sparks Legal Firestorm
In a fresh development that has further intensified proceedings, lead prosecutors in the case including CSP Samuel Mallum Esq and A.I Aminu Esq from the Police Legal Directorate in Abuja have strongly opposed an application by Nwaukoni’s legal team seeking the temporary release of his international passport for overseas travel.
According to sources, the prosecution argued that granting such a request poses a serious flight risk, warning that the defendant could attempt to evade justice, seek asylum, or acquire foreign citizenship.
The prosecution also suggested that the move may be a deliberate tactic to delay the trial, particularly as significant portions of the case have already been established.
The matter has been adjourned for further consideration, with hearings expected to resume in late May, continuing into early June 2026.
🔴 Calm Returns to Ogwashi-Uku Amid Trial
Meanwhile, community sources in Ogwashi-Uku report a notable return of peace and stability since the commencement of the trial. Residents have expressed hope that the judicial process will be seen through to a swift and just conclusion, bringing lasting closure to one of the most serious security incidents in the Kingdom’s recent history.
Dramatic Testimony Rocks Nwaukoni Terrorism Trial In Asaba — Doctor Confirms Gunshot Wounds In Palace Attack Case
Troops Intercept Suspected Terrorist Logistics Supplier, Seize PMS in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have arrested a suspected ISWAP/JAS logistics supplier and intercepted a large quantity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) concealed in a tricycle in Borno State.
Security sources said the suspect was apprehended at about 9:10 a.m. on April 21 by troops of 159 Battalion at a checkpoint within Sector 2 Area of Responsibility.
The suspect was reportedly conveying PMS concealed in 15 sacks, disguised with bags of sachet water in an attempt to evade detection.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the consignment was being transported to Kanama town and neighbouring communities around Dikwa and Bultuwa, areas believed to be within terrorist influence.
Items recovered from the suspect include a mobile phone and the sum of ₦34,950.
The sources said the suspect and recovered exhibits are in military custody for further investigation and necessary action.
They added that the interception forms part of ongoing operations aimed at disrupting terrorist logistics networks and denying them access to critical supplies across the North-East theatre.
Troops Intercept Suspected Terrorist Logistics Supplier, Seize PMS in Borno
Troops Clear Terrorist Enclaves, Recover Items in Katsina Operation
Troops Repel Terrorist Infiltration in Kanama, Neutralise Four Insurgents
Troops Respond to Attack in Zamfara, IED Incident Recorded Without Casualties
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