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Women CEOs form Coalition to Advance Women’s Economic Empowerment in Nigeria
Women CEOs form Coalition to Advance Women’s Economic Empowerment in Nigeria
By: Michael Mike
Women CEOs and relevant stakeholders have met in Lagos to form a coalition to address the gender disparity in access to economic opportunities in Nigeria and to advance women’s economic empowerment.
The coalition, according to a statement by United Nations Women on Tuesday, has one goal, make life better for women and girls by pushing for improved implementation of economic policies that will enhance women’s access to public and private procurement as well as income generating opportunities.
Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of female entrepreneurs in the world, yet women-owned businesses do not secure procurement contracts, suggesting systematic gender disparities in the procurement systems of both government and private sector organisations.
The statement added that the consensus on the positive correlation between gender equality and the socio-economic environment of a country calls for incentives to ensure equal opportunities for women entrepreneurs and their male counterparts, for instance in the form of preferential treatment for marginalized groups when it comes to procurement of goods and services.
According to the statement, the UN Women is doing this under auspices of the project: Women’s Economic Empowerment through Affirmative Procurement Reform in West and Central Africa, with funding from African Development Bank and Women’s Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (WeFi), aimed at improving women’s economic empowerment through enhanced opportunities of women-led businesses to access public procurement and corporate supply chains.
The statement explained that the project was designed as a catalyst to support enabling environment for women to work and be financially independent as well as enhance capacities of government officials to formulate and implement gender responsive policies, noting that gender-responsive policies are crucial to achieving sustainable development, as they enable women and girls to participate fully in and benefit equally from socioeconomic opportunities, address the underlying causes of vulnerability including gender inequality.
The statement said in line with UN Women’s coordination mandate, and as part of project exit strategy, the coalition will work with existing state institutions to push for approval of the state policies, monitor government interventions and promote the economic rights of women entrepreneurs in the state. Also the coalition would be expected to push for the domestication of available legal frameworks that support women’s economic empowerment in the state. The coalition will in turn serve as key connectors to government and businesses and help to create a strong enabling environment for civil society organizations, democracy, and the rights of citizen action and participation.
UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms Beatrice Eyong,, who was represented by Women’s Economic Empowerment Specialist for UN Women,
Chukwuemeka Onyimadu,, stated that, “According to the National Policy on Women’s Economic Empowerment, 30% of all public procurement opportunities should be reserved for women-owned and women-led businesses”. However, this has not been realized due to socio-economic challenges.
Leading women CEOs and representatives of women associations including WISCAR, WIMBIZ, ANWBN, AWE, AWP, WACCIMA, JONAPED and others participated in the strategic meeting, including the Director General of Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, Fatai Onafowote.
Mr. Onafowote reiterated that Lagos State is committed to improving women’s access to pubic procurement.
Women CEOs form Coalition to Advance Women’s Economic Empowerment in Nigeria
Nigerian gospel artist, Oluseyi Solagbade storms London in August
By: Michael Mike
Nigerian gospel artist, Oluseyi Solagbade is expected to perform in London, on 15 August 2025.
The show is scheduled for Concord House, 23-27 Kemp Road, Dagenham, United Kingdom.
The praise concert which is organised by Bdot Music Empire and supported by Toxhann Concepts and events is Solagbade’s first outing in the UK.
The popular Sio cronny, is well known mostly among members of the Celestial Church of Christ and other denominations.
Apart from Sio, the legendary Celestial gospel artist has done other songs which include: Jehoval Alagbara, Ibamasepe and
idemija, among others.
Bdot Music Empire boss, Mr. Abidemi Adetunji said though it’s a gospel concert, it is however targeted at second and third generation Nigerians in the UK.
Adetunji said the essence is to ensure they are in touch with home even if they have not been to Nigeria before.
He said praising God in Nigeria tongue is something special in the UK.
This would be Solagbade’s first show in the UK and he is hoping that it would be the beginning of more to come.
He said: “ We would like Nigerians in the United Kingdom to know that Oluseyi Solagbade would be coming to the UK for his first ever UK edition of Oluseyi’s Christ Cafe.
He would be lighting the show alongside some other guests artist like Sammypee, Tiwalola shitu, Israel Ekundayo, Ebenezer Opalemo, Damilola (Dee’Reign), Tunde Stainless, MoShoba, Tosin Adisa and Danny Jazz.”
Adetunji pointed out that the idea behind the music concert is to celebrate the divine gift of music within the Celestial Church of Christ and to bring together believers for an evening of live music, worship, and spiritual reflection.”
Adetunji further said that the concert goes along with the Nigeria first agenda of President Bola Tinubu as Nigeria will be showcased all through.
“It is also part of promoting the culture. Praying and worshiping God in mother tongue,” he added.
Nigerian gospel artist, Oluseyi Solagbade storms London in August
Airstrike Hits ISWAP Enclave in Tumbuma Baba, scores Nutrialised
By: Zagazola Makama
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), under the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), conducted a successful Air Interdiction (AI) mission at a terrorists’ hideout in the Southern Tumbuns general area in the Lake Chad of Borno, killing scores of the terrorists.
Intelligent sources told Zagazola Makama that the precision air strike, which took place at about 2100 hours on 5 May 2025, targeted a major terrorists’ concentration camp located in the Tumbuma Baba axis of Lake Chad.
The sources said that the offensive was in continuation of a decisive Operation KALACHEN WUTA II, aimed at denying terrorists the freedom to execute large-scale attacks during the Eid el-Kabir period.
The sources said that Intelligence and Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) reports confirmed that several terrorists were neutralised during the strike, and key logistics under heavy foliage were destroyed.
The sources said that the strikes followed credible intelligence on planned coordinated attacks by the insurgents before, during, and after the Eid festivities. The mission was meticulously planned and executed to forestall such threats and sustain pressure on terrorist elements operating in the Lake Chad fringes.
“We observed significant secondary explosions, indicating the presence of arms and fuel storage. Multiple terrorists were seen fleeing the area, while several others were eliminated during the strike,” the source said.
The sources said efforts are ongoing to gather further feedback, as well as to assess the operational impact of the interdiction.
He added that preliminary signs suggest a high level of disarray and panic within the terrorists’ ranks, with reports of attempted regrouping under surveillance.
Airstrike Hits ISWAP Enclave in Tumbuma Baba, scores Nutrialised
Nigerian Air Force Neutralises Terrorists in Successful Air Interdiction at Maisani
By: Zagazola Makama
The Nigerian Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai have executed a coordinated strike on a major terrorist enclave located at Maisani in the Timbuktu Triangle general area of Borno State, killing several ISWAP terrorists.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the air interdiction mission conducted on May 4, 2025, at approximately 1800 hours, was informed by credible intelligence and sustained surveillance, targeted terrorists’ structures cleverly concealed and camouflaged under thick shrubs in the area.
The sources said that using advanced platforms, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) conducted a focused Air Interdiction (AI) mission, resulting in the destruction of the identified enemy hideouts and the neutralisation of an unconfirmed number of insurgent fighters.
According to the sources, Post-strike Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) obtained from our Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms confirmed that the airstrike achieved its intended objectives, dealing a significant blow to terrorists.
Nigerian Air Force Neutralises Terrorists in Successful Air Interdiction at Maisani
Nigerian gospel artist, Oluseyi Solagbade storms London in August
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