News
EU to invest €5.4 million euros on teachers’ training
EU to invest €5.4 million euros on teachers’ training
…reiterates commitment to quality education in Northwest Nigeria
By: Michael Mike
The European Union (EU) has announced the investment of an additional €5.4 million euros in building the capacity of teachers in the Northwest.
This is in line with its commitment of reducing the high number of out of school children in the region by improving access to quality education and empowering youths in the region,
EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen made the disclosure in Abuja at the official launch of the €4O million intervention programme on education and youth empowerment in North Western Nigeria through the Global Gateway initiative.
She disclosed that the additional fund was to ensure teachers get the necessary and upgraded skills and learning needed to nurture students armed with requisite knowledge to become an army of solutions to the many challenges confronting Nigeria and the continent in general.
The EU Commissioner said: “Actually, this component is complemented by a €5.4 million euros separate programme that we signed today, which is dedicated to teachers for aiming to build their resilience and capacity in challenging environments. We have to remember that there is no education without teachers and that’s why we also have to invest in teacher training.
“The third objective of our programme is really that it empowers youth with the skills they need, providing vocational education as promoting behavioral change campaigns to challenge harmful social norms and empower girls.
Urpilainen also added that the European Union was set to provide vocational education and training for Nigerian youths in order to equip them with the necessary skills required to excel in the labour market.
She said: “This ambitious programme launched today has been designed with Nigerian authorities to ensure the ownership and an adequate response to the local needs. The EU is not only targeting the youth through this specific programme, it is also bringing the youth to the driving seat and this is why as the EU, we set up the Youth Sounding Board, also here in Nigeria, as well as in many countries to make sure that what we do is for the youth but also by the youth.
“We have to include young people in the decision making, we have to create spaces and structures where young people feel that they are visible and they watch this and this is precisely what the European Union is doing.”

Urpilainen while noting that Nigeria was not only the economic powerhouse on the continent and the most populous country in Africa, but the country was also a strategic partner of the EU in the West region, described education as the most transformative sector with ability to change the fortunes of a country.
She explained that the programme would focus on lifting out of school children off the streets to get the required education, especially girls through various components aimed at achieving one objective; access to quality education and youth empowerment.
She said: “Education is the most transformative sector in which we can invest and it is the cornerstone for creating resilient societies and finding solutions to the biggest challenges of our time.
“So the EU investment on access, skills and quality education and youth empowerment in Northwestern Nigeria brings actually all these different components together. It will be deployed in the Northwest Nigeria.
“The programme which we are launching today supports access to education for out of school children with a specific focus on bringing and keeping girls in schools. It also includes direct assistance to families cash, cash, transfers, social protection, income generation, gifts and indirect assistance through agricultural practices. I think it’s important that we are able to provide access to education each and every child in Nigeria so no one is left behind.
“Another talk and overall objective of our programme is that it really promotes validated teaching and learning in targeted schools. So it will support child centred medical, sexual reproductive health racial gender equality training and support community based and state level capacities to deliver on education.”
Speaking on behalf of the Northwestern states, Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi while appreciating the EU for helping the region tackle the menace of out of school children, said they were committed to making education in their respective states a priority and have decided to invest heavily in the sector.
He said: “The Northwestern states have the highest population in the country, we are more disadvantaged when it comes to education so this support is coming at the right time.
“For each of us education is a priority and we have decided collectively and individually to invest in education and we are ready to change the narrative in next four years.
“This support has come at the right time and I assure you that this support will go a long way in helping us to revamp education in our various states. This intervention we will utilize in the best way possible and I assure you that the outcomes would be something commendable to improve our educational system and other aspects of social development.”
On his part, Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, warned that any attempt to downplay education would cost the country a fortune in terms of welfare and security.
” If our youths are not properly catered for, trained and empowered, we are toying with the future of the country. Not catering for them will allow poverty to grow, insecurity to foster.”
Mamman who urged state governors to focus on prioritising education and youth empowerment, disclosed that the soon to be released education sector roadmap covers same objectives of the European Union in revamping the sector.
“Our focus is shifting to basic education, out of school children, adolescent girls who needs to be trained and empowered.
“Our government is ready to commit 25% of the budget on education, all the President needs according to him is policies that will justify that budget and that is what we are working on.”
EU to invest €5.4 million euros on teachers’ training
News
Inclusive Investment in Vulnerable Women Critical to Nigeria’s $1tn Economy Goal – Uzoka-Anite
Inclusive Investment in Vulnerable Women Critical to Nigeria’s $1tn Economy Goal – Uzoka-Anite
By: Michael Mike
Nigeria’s ambition to build a one-trillion-dollar economy will remain incomplete without deliberate investment in vulnerable women and girls, Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Doris Uzoka-Anite, has said.
The minister stated this on Tuesday in Abuja during a symposium organised to commemorate the 2026 edition of International Women’s Day and Women’s Month, where stakeholders called for stronger policies to address the challenges facing women with special needs across the country.
Speaking at the event themed “Rights, Justice, Action for Women & Girls With Special Needs in Nigeria: Exploring Strategies & Approaches for Acceleration and Impacts,” Uzoka-Anite stressed that targeted support for vulnerable women is not merely a social welfare responsibility but a strategic economic investment.
According to her, women living with HIV, persons with disabilities, elderly women and internally displaced persons remain among the most excluded groups in development planning despite their potential to contribute significantly to economic growth.
She explained that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is shifting Nigeria’s public finance framework from traditional expenditure-based budgeting to investment-driven planning aimed at producing measurable economic outcomes.
The minister said the proposed National Development Plan for 2026–2030 would prioritise inclusive growth as Nigeria works toward building a $1 trillion economy.
Uzoka-Anite noted that when vulnerable women receive economic opportunities and protection from violence, the impact extends beyond individuals to families and communities.
“When an internally displaced woman receives livelihood support and security, she does not remain dependent. She becomes a trader, an entrepreneur and a pillar for rebuilding her family and community,” she said.
She added that inclusive policies generate stronger economic returns and represent one of the most efficient uses of public resources.
According to her, the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning is strengthening gender-responsive and disability-inclusive planning within Nigeria’s national development framework, while also introducing systems to track whether government spending reaches the most vulnerable populations.
Earlier, the Representative to UN Women and ECOWAS, Beatrice Eyong, said the event was designed to spotlight women whose struggles are often overlooked in policy formulation.
She noted that women facing multiple forms of vulnerability—such as those living with HIV, women with disabilities and internally displaced women—frequently experience overlapping discrimination driven by poverty, stigma and social exclusion.
Also speaking, the Country Director of UNAIDS in Nigeria, Boonto Krittayawa, warned that progress toward gender equality remains slow globally and requires stronger political commitment.
She pointed to persistent gaps in political representation, economic participation and access to opportunities for women, stressing the need for targeted investments and legal reforms to accelerate progress.
Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, represented by her Special Assistant, Princess Joan Jumai, said the government is strengthening programmes designed to address the needs of women facing multiple layers of discrimination.
She highlighted initiatives such as the Renewed Hope Social Impact Intervention 774, which aims to expand social protection and economic empowerment for vulnerable women across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
In her remarks, Acting Deputy Representative of UN Women in Nigeria, Patience Ekeoba, said the symposium provided a platform for women with special needs to share their experiences and influence policies affecting them.
She added that the meeting would conclude with a communiqué outlining key challenges and policy recommendations aimed at strengthening protection, inclusion and economic participation for vulnerable women across the country.
Inclusive Investment in Vulnerable Women Critical to Nigeria’s $1tn Economy Goal – Uzoka-Anite
News
Nigeria Secures Strategic Role in Global Digital Economy at World Data Organization Launch
Nigeria Secures Strategic Role in Global Digital Economy at World Data Organization Launch
By: Michael Mike
In a landmark move aimed at cementing its influence in the global digital economy, Nigeria participated in the launch of the World Data Organization (WDO) in Beijing, China.
At the event, which held on Monday, the country was represented by Director-General and Global Liaison of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), Joseph Tegbe alongside Head of International Relations at NCSP, Judy Melifonwu.

The WDO, headquartered in Beijing, is the first international body dedicated to advancing data governance, enabling secure cross-border data flows, and promoting the inclusive growth of the digital economy. Its launch brings together global powers seeking to address the digital divide, enhance cybersecurity, and establish standards that ensure equitable benefits from data-driven development.
Speaking on behalf of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Ding Xuexiang outlined the organisation’s three strategic pillars: facilitating the free and secure flow of data across borders, promoting inclusive digital development, and establishing coordinated global frameworks to protect data from cyber threats.

For Nigeria, participation at the WDO’s founding stage represents a deliberate, forward-looking strategy under the Renewed Hope Agenda. Analysts note that it positions the country to influence global digital governance standards, accelerate access to emerging technologies, and participate in international research initiatives. Such engagement is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s digital infrastructure, enhance the competitiveness of startups and financial institutions, attract foreign direct investment, and generate high-value employment opportunities for the nation’s growing youth population.
Furthermore, the WDO platform allows Nigeria to deepen collaboration in cybersecurity, enabling the country to contribute to international frameworks that safeguard national data, combat cybercrime, and ensure digital sovereignty.
Observers said Nigeria’s involvement reflects a strategic evolution in the Nigeria–China partnership, which has moved beyond traditional infrastructure projects toward high-impact, technology-driven cooperation. By joining the WDO, Nigeria positions itself to harness the opportunities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, ensuring that technological innovation drives sustainable growth across critical sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, governance, and finance.
“The participation of Nigeria at the WDO launch is not only symbolic; it is a tangible assertion of the country’s intent to be at the forefront of global digital governance,” said a senior NCSP official. “It ensures that Nigeria has a voice in shaping rules that govern the digital economy while unlocking opportunities that directly benefit its citizens and businesses.”
The WDO’s establishment is being hailed as a critical step in bridging the global digital divide, offering developing nations like Nigeria an unprecedented opportunity to integrate into global digital networks while safeguarding national interests.
With its seat at the WDO table, Nigeria is now strategically positioned to influence global data policies, strengthen cybersecurity frameworks, and drive innovation-led economic growth in the emerging digital era.
Nigeria Secures Strategic Role in Global Digital Economy at World Data Organization Launch
News
FG, Benue, UNHCR Partner to Deliver Life-Saving Support to 100,000 Displaced Persons
FG, Benue, UNHCR Partner to Deliver Life-Saving Support to 100,000 Displaced Persons
By: Michael Mike
The Federal Government, the Benue State Government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have agreed on a coordinated intervention to deliver urgent life-saving and protection support to communities affected by violence and displacement in Benue State.
The agreement was formalised following a meeting witnessed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, during which letters were exchanged between the Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Iormem Alia, and UNHCR’s Country Representative in Nigeria, Arjun Jain.
The initiative, supported through the Nigerian Humanitarian Fund, is expected to directly benefit about 100,000 people in Guma and Makurdi Local Government Areas, with many more indirectly supported through improved protection systems and preventive security measures.
Speaking on the partnership, the Minister said the intervention reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting Nigerians affected by conflict and displacement.
According to him, the collaboration will ensure that vulnerable families receive urgent assistance while advancing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at restoring safety, dignity and stability to affected communities.
He added that the intervention will focus on three priority areas, including the provision of protection-based life-saving assistance for displaced populations, support for relocating families from camps to safer settlements, and the installation of solar-powered lighting systems to strengthen security in vulnerable communities.
The programme will also expand and digitise protection monitoring systems to enable real-time reporting, early identification of threats and integration into state and federal early-warning mechanisms.
Alia described the partnership as a critical step toward addressing the humanitarian crisis caused by persistent displacement in the state.
He noted that Benue has borne a heavy burden of forced displacement for years and stressed that the collaboration would help scale up immediate humanitarian relief while strengthening long-term systems to protect communities.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring displaced families regain access to safety, recovery and opportunities for rebuilding their lives.
UNHCR Country Representative, Arjun Jain, also underscored the importance of strong government leadership and coordinated action in addressing humanitarian challenges.
He said the collaboration would allow partners to rapidly expand protection services and deliver assistance to families facing severe risks while laying the foundation for sustainable solutions.
Implementation of the joint intervention is expected to begin in April 2026.
FG, Benue, UNHCR Partner to Deliver Life-Saving Support to 100,000 Displaced Persons
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