National News
N-Skill Programme: FG earmarks over N4.6 billion for training, others

N-Skill Programme: FG earmarks over N4.6 billion for training, others
The Federal Government has earmarked over N4.6 billion for the N-Skill training, buying of tools and or payment of monthly stipends to the Batch C beneficiaries of the programme.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disasters Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Farouq made this known at the closing ceremony of the N-Skill Training on Smartphone repairs and services in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the N-Skill Programme was based on a certification system and accreditation of practical training provided through the informal training system.
NAN reports that each of the 100 beneficiaries would go home with a rework soldering station (Soldering Iron), a digital multimeter, a set of precision screwdrivers, a repair tool kit and magnifying lamp.
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Farouq explained that the fund was a tremendous direct injection of resources to the youth at the grassroots.
She noted that the graduate and non-graduate components of the N-Power programme had been expanded to provide job opportunities for 12,981 unemployed youths in Lagos state under the Batch C.
The minister added that this followed the successfully exiting of 16,694 youths under Batches A and B.
Farouq noted that the programme was a clear demonstration of the commitment to collectively address youth unemployment in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s deliberate efforts to reduce poverty in Nigeria.
The minister said that while the training accommodated many skills-based enterprises, the Smartphone repairs were used to pilot the programme under the N-Power non-graduate component.
Farouq said the programme was consistent with the national aspiration of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
She said: “The programme was designed to train, tool and transit marginalised unemployed youths to be gainfully employed.
“The Ministry has worked with technical service providers to provide the N-Skills training services to 6,475 unemployed youths across the federation.
“For you the trainees, over the past six weeks, you have been given the opportunity to: learn and develop competencies in the smartphone repairs business.
“You have acquired life-long skills that would help you to develop an entrepreneurial understanding of the trade; be responsible citizens, take decisions and effectively manage interpersonal relationships.”
The minister said their participation would change their orientation and prepare them to optimise employment opportunities in the smartphone repairs and service market.
Farouq said that having completed this training, they would be attached directly to Master Craft Persons (MCPs) in the trade, for a six-month apprenticeship.
She noted that the MCPs were masters of smartphone repairs who were also trained and certified by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), adding that the attachment would enable them to have a work-based learning experience.
According to her, in the six-month attachment period, your performance would be assessed and examined by the NBTE and the National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB).
The minister said this would lead to the issuance of NBTE certificates to those that met the minimum requirements, urging them to work hard to meet the requirements.
Speaking, Mrs Yetunde Arobieke, the Lagos state Focal Person, NSIP and Commissioner for Wealth Creation & Employment in the state, urged the beneficiaries to become entrepreneurs, thereby creating jobs for the people.
Arobieke noted that the programme was one of the ways to train the trainers and before they know it, the country would be free from unemployment.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Rotimi Adeniyi, the Chairman, People Living with Disability, Lagos State Chapter, thanked the president for giving them the opportunity to participate in the programme.
NAN reports that the high point of the programme was the presentation of certificates and equipment to the beneficiaries.
National News
VP Shettima Departs Abuja For Dakar To Represent President Tinubu At Senegal’s 65th Independence Anniversary

VP Shettima Departs Abuja For Dakar To Represent President Tinubu At Senegal’s 65th Independence Anniversary
By: Our Reporter
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has departed Abuja for Dakar, Senegal, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the country’s 65th Independence Day Anniversary celebrations.
Senegal celebrates its Independence Day on April 4 each year, commemorating its freedom from French colonial rule in 1960. The day is marked by national pride, with ceremonies, parades and cultural events.
The Vice President’s attendance at the annual event is in honour of an invitation extended to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the Senegalese President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, following the strong mutual relationship between Nigeria and Senegal.
The independence Day celebrations will be held at the Place de la Nation in Dakar, with President Faye playing host to Vice President Shettima and other distinguished guests from across Africa and beyond.
The Vice President is expected to return to Nigeria tomorrow after the one-day event.
VP Shettima Departs Abuja For Dakar To Represent President Tinubu At Senegal’s 65th Independence Anniversary
National News
President Tinubu Laying Foundation For A Better Nigeria, Says Hajiya Nana Shettima

President Tinubu Laying Foundation For A Better Nigeria, Says Hajiya Nana Shettima
- Tasks Nigerians on constructive criticism of government actions, policies
By: Our Reporter
Wife of Nigeria’s Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, has scored the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu very high, saying the President is building a better Nigeria for Nigerians through his laudable economic policies, various empowerment initiatives and investments in key sectors of the economy.
And to help the President secure a better future for all Nigerians, the VP’s wife also encouraged the citizens not to relent in giving very useful advice to the government, urging them to be more constructive in their criticism of the administration instead of just attacking for political reasons.

Hajiya Nana Shettima spoke on Wednesday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, during the annual Ramadan feast, which had in attendance women groups and students
Emphasizing the determination of the Tinubu administration to leave a lasting legacy for generations to come, she said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is baking a new cake for us that are alive today, and for the Nigerian children and grandchildren that are coming behind us. It is who he is ably supported by our lovely First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.”

Hajiya Nana Shettima noted that the President means well for the people of Borno State as well as Nigerians in all parts of the country, even as she urged the citizens to always pray for President Tinubu and members of his cabinet.
“I can tell you that he (the President) means well, not only for Borno people but for the entire nation. We should not forget him and his subordinates in our prayers,” she added.
She further commended the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her contributions towards actualizing the agenda of the administration, especially through the Renewed Hope Initiative which she said has impacted many lives, including women, children and people with disabilities.
Also speaking at the event, the Director General of Maryam Babangida Centre for Women Development, Abuja, Dr Asabe Bashir, admonished women and the people of Borno State to imbibe the teachings of the just concluded Ramadan.
She also sought the people’s support and prayers for President Tinubu, thanking the President for picking his deputy from Borno State.
She said, “I always reiterate the importance of prayer because without prayers we can do nothing in life. We have just come out of Ramadan; let us imbibe that culture and lessons we received during the 29-day fast. We need to continue with the spiritual reflection.
“We should thank God and President Bola Tinubu for remembering the people of Borno State again by bringing the seat of the Vice President, not just to the North-East region but to Borno State after Ambassador Babagana Kingibe was elected along with the late Chief MKO Abiola so many years ago.
“We must continue to pray for the administration of President Bola Tinubu because if it succeeds, we succeed,” Dr Bashir added.
On his part, the Speaker, Youth Assembly of Nigeria, Tijjani Abubakar, thanked President Tinubu for his support to Nigerian youths through various youth empowerment initiatives.
Also, Dr Martins Ekunke, who spoke on behalf the South-South, Yoruba and Igbo communities residing in Borno State, commended the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for galvanizing support for people living with HIV/AIDS through her pet project, the Renewed Hope Initiative.
Among those that attended the annual Sallah feast hosted by Hajiya Shettima, were the wife of the Speaker of Borno State House of Assembly, Hajiya Maryam Lawan; wife of the Deputy Speaker of Borno State House of Assembly, Hajiya Laure Musa-Askira; female Commissioners and political appointees.
Also in attendance were women groups, members of the Borno State chapter of the Nationals Association of Nigerian Students, as well as the leaders of South-South, Igbo and Yoruba communities residing in Borno State, among others.
President Tinubu Laying Foundation For A Better Nigeria, Says Hajiya Nana Shettima
National News
UNILORIN Alumni Commences Tinubu on Appointment of Nandap, Omotowa, Aribisala

UNILORIN Alumni Commences Tinubu on Appointment of Nandap, Omotowa, Aribisala
By: Michael Mike
The National Headquarters of University of Ilorin Alumni Association has lauded President Bola Tinubu for appointing three of its members into various leadership positions in the country.
Those appointed were Comptroller General of Immigration, Mrs Kemi Nandap,, whose tenure was elongated till December 2026, Non Executive Director of NNPC, representing North Central, Mr Babs Omotowa- and the Pioneer Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin-Ekiti, Prof. James A. Aribisala.
In a congratulatory message to the trio, the National President, Prof. AbdulRasaq Kilani, and the National Secretary, Dr Barakat Raji, said the Association received the news of the appointments with excitement.
The Alumni, who commended President Tinubu for selecting the best for their various positions, assured him that the three alumni would not disappoint him in attaining the goals set for them to achieve.
While felicitating with the appointed members on their well-deserved appointment, the Association charged them to always show the excellence in them in surpassing the targets set for them by Mr President.
The Association who extolled the pedigrees of the appointed members in their various fields, implored them to live up to the expectations of the slogan of the institutions “better by far” in all ramifications.
The Alumni then prayed for their successful tenure and tasked them not to hesitate to reach out to them whenever their services are needed in any capacity towards national development.
UNILORIN Alumni Commences Tinubu on Appointment of Nandap, Omotowa, Aribisala
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