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$618 MILLION I-DICE PROGRAMME TO PROMOTE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES LAUNCHED

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$618 MILLION I-DICE PROGRAMME TO PROMOTE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES LAUNCHED

By: Michael Mike

 A $618 million Investment in Digital & Creative Enterprises (I-DICE) Programme has been launched for the promotion of digital technology and creative industries in the country.

The Programme, according to a statement on Wednesday by the French Embassy was an initiative from the Federal Government of Nigeria and aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and innovation in the digital technology and creative industries.

According to the statement, The launching which took place on Wednesday was held at the State House in presence of the Vice-President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, with co-financiers representatives in attendance.

The statement said I-DICE Programme is part of efforts to create jobs for young Nigerians and support the development of these fast-growing industries. It is co-financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), French Development Agency (AFD), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) & the Bank of Industry (BOI) with respectively $170 million, €100 million (equivalent to $116 million), $70 million & $45 million in funding.

The statement added that the remaining financing is expected to come from the private sector and institutional investors. The funding will provide training, mentorship, and funding to young entrepreneurs and innovators in the digital technology and creative industries. The Implementing Agency, the Bank of Industry, will coordinate the day-to-day activities of the project.
 
Speaking at the launch of the program at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, the Vice President called on African governments and the private sector to do more to support the growth of innovation in the continent.

He said: “I think it is now imperative to commence a coordinated approach towards innovation on the continent, bringing together all stakeholders to coordinate efforts at scaling up investments and building programmes that provide the right enabling environment and produce talent pipelines that support the growth of innovation on the continent.”
 
In his remarks, the President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina said: “I am proud of the African Development Bank Group’s leading role in this initiative, which has the potential to generate millions of jobs for Nigeria’s youths.The urgency of leveraging the implementation of I-DICE sustainable job creation and economic transformation is now”


 
Speaking at the launch event, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs. Emmanuelle Blatmann, underscored the importance of the digital technology and creative industries to the Nigerian economy. “The digital technology and creative industries have enormous potential to create jobs and spur economic growth in Nigeria,” she said. “The I-DICE program, co-financed by AFD, AfDB, IsDB & the BOI, is designed to support the young entrepreneurs and innovators who are driving these industries forward.”The launch event brought together representatives from the Nigerian government, the private sector, as well as young entrepreneurs and innovators from the digital technology and creative industries. The event featured presentations and networking opportunities, and highlighted the opportunities and challenges facing these industries in Nigeria.
 
With a focus on enhancing access to finance for start-ups in the digital and creative industry and job creation, the I-DICE Programme is poised to make is a significant impact on the lives of young Nigerians, helping to create sustainable employment opportunities and contributing to the development of the country’s economy. The commitment of the co-financiers to supporting this initiative underscores their recognition of the importance of these sectors in driving economic growth and development in Nigeria, the statement said.

$618 MILLION I-DICE PROGRAMME TO PROMOTE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES LAUNCHED

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VP SHETTIMA AND THE ILLOGICAL PERMUTATIONS FOR 2027

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VP SHETTIMA AND THE ILLOGICAL PERMUTATIONS FOR 2027


By: Inuwa Bwala

As happened in 2023, when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was to name his running mate, vested interests are again up in arms, trying to hoodwink or armstwist him into doing their bids.
What people forget, however, is that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a master schemer and knows exactly what to do at the appropriate time. Contrary to what many people think, he has his own game plan and can not be compelled to play to the gallery.
In the last few weeks, I have read a plethora of writeups trying to give President Bola Ahmed Tinubu prescriptions on how to chart a new political course if he hopes to achieve his second term bid in the 2027 general elections.
Many of the write ups contain permutations in the event of the emergence of a perceived strong opposition and that unless he drops his Vice President for another person, he will have a difficult task.
As a student of political history, and given our experiences, I dare say that if Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kashim Shettima could win in the face of all the obstacles placed in their ways from within and from without there does not appear any threat to this same ticket in 2027.
I must confess that I have not yet met a shrewed political strategist in Nigeria like the President who against all permutations settled for Kashim Shettima neither am I aware of any politician who could be as loyal dedicated and determined to his Boss as Shettima has demonstrated over the years.
The game is already on, and the biggest threat to Tinubu in 2027 is indeed any attempt to shift the goalpost in the mu
middle of the game.
As far as I know, the combination has given a very good account of itself, and with the rays of hope beyond the immediate horizon, Kashim Shettima remains President Bola Ahmed Tinubu best choice
I am aware that people have been trying to drive a wedge between them by framing false narratives that are neither here nor there. So as not to embolden those who are heating up the polity unnecessarily, the silence maintained on political permutations remains the best by both the president and the vice president.
Silence on certain issues has paid off for both of them before, and it will again pay off.
When people thought Bola Ahmed Tinubu was sick and weak and may even die before the end of his first tenure, he maintained a golden silence on his health status and rather magnified it as real thereby tricking all Nigerians into believing it was true.
Now that he has proven to be healthy and strong, the voices that predicted a doom for the presidency are silent.

VP SHETTIMA AND THE ILLOGICAL PERMUTATIONS FOR 2027

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Nigerien Army Deserter Who Joined Boko Haram Surrenders in Diffa Region

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Nigerien Army Deserter Who Joined Boko Haram Surrenders in Diffa Region

By: Our Reporter

A deserter from the Niger Republic Armed Forces who reportedly joined the terrorist group Boko Haram has surrendered to local authorities in Kindjandi, located in the Diffa Region of southeastern Niger Republic.
The individual, identified as Abba Ibrahim, had been serving with the Nigerien Armed Forces since 2022 before deserting his post in Bosso on March 8, 2025, according to military intelligence sources. He fled alongside a fellow soldier, Bandam Dala, and subsequently joined a Boko Haram faction active in the Lake Chad area.
Security sources disclosed that Ibrahim surrendered on April 21, 2025, arriving in Kindjandi on horseback with a rifle. He was accompanied by an unidentified young man whose details are yet to be confirmed.
Ibrahim was taken into custody by the Nigerien Armed Forces on the morning of April 22, 2025, and is currently undergoing debriefing and interrogation by military intelligence.
The Diffa Region has remained a hotspot for insurgent activity due to its proximity to Lake Chad and border areas with Nigeria, where Boko Haram and other extremist groups operate.

Nigerien Army Deserter Who Joined Boko Haram Surrenders in Diffa Region

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ECOWAS @50: WADEMOS Commends Subregional bloc for Inviting Mali, Burkina-Faso, Niger to Launch

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ECOWAS @50: WADEMOS Commends Subregional bloc for Inviting Mali, Burkina-Faso, Niger to Launch

By: Michael Mike

The West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network (WADEMOS) has commended the initiative by ECOWAS to extend an invitation to the governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger for the official launch of ECOWAS’ golden jubilee in Accra.

The Network, in a press statement on Tuesday, said it supports the initiative by ECOWAS to ease tensions and foster diplomacy in a bid to sustain the common heritage, shared history, and longstanding socio-cultural ties of the peoples.

The statement read: “As ECOWAS opens its doors and extends an arm of friendship and collaboration to Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, the Network encourages the three countries to reciprocate the gesture, upholding the spirit of good neighbourliness and cross-border cooperation. Such
cooperation is necessary now more than ever, especially as we require a concerted effort to confront matters of common interest to the subregion, such as security and trade.

“WADEMOS maintains the position that the restoration of trust and confidence between
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, on the one hand, and ECOWAS, on the other hand,
remains critical to sustaining cooperation and enhancing the free movement of goods and people. Building trust and confidence, we believe, is also critical to effectively combat the growing threat of terrorism across the subregion.

“Considering the close ties that exist among the West African peoples, WADEMOS
continues to urge the three Sahelian countries to be reconciliatory in their engagements with ECOWAS.”

WADEMOS is an independent and non-partisan network of diverse national and transnational civil society organisations and civic groups working to promote and defend democracy, good governance, and inclusive development in the West Africa region.

It mobilizes, coordinates, and leverages the collective voice and power of civil society and other pro-democracy actors, resources, and opportunities within the West Africa region to advance its mission. The current membership of WADEMOS stands at 47 spread across West Africa.

The WADEMOS Secretariat is based in Accra, Ghana.

ECOWAS @50: WADEMOS Commends Subregional bloc for Inviting Mali, Burkina-Faso, Niger to Launch

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