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Our Resolve To Protect SMEs Remain Unshaken – VP Shettima

Our Resolve To Protect SMEs Remain Unshaken – VP Shettima
Commissions SMEDAN headquarters in Abuja
By: Our Reporter
Vice President Kashim Shettima has said the federal government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s watch will never shift ground in its determination to protect businesses in Nigeria.
According to him, enterprises are not only the very bedrock of a society but also reflect the direction the government is heading to and the speed with which it is doing so.
The VP who stated this on Wednesday while commissioning the corporate headquarters of the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in Abuja noted that the Tinubu administration is strategically focusing on job creation, capital accessibility, economic growth, and poverty eradication to revamp the economy.
Shettima said, “Allow me to emphasise the importance of this moment: there is no more fitting time than now to reinforce the protection of enterprises in Nigeria. These enterprises not only stand as the very bedrock of our society but also reflect the direction the government is headed and the velocity with which we do so.
“This moment solidifies His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assurance to protect our enterprises. It resonates deeply within our economic revitalisation plan. His focus on job creation, capital accessibility, economic growth, and poverty eradication forms the very skeleton of our strategy to invigorate the economy. Inevitably, this path demands tough decisions, yet ones essential to our success.”
The VP also recalled that he had inaugurated the National MSME Council ten days ago, saying it was just the beginning that sets the stage for what is up ahead.
Explaining how President Tinubu intends to make sure businesses and other economic enterprises prosper in the country, VP Shettima said, “Notably, our partnership with the Bank of Industry to unveil a N75 billion, 9% interest loan accessible to Nigerian MSMEs as of January 2024 is a pivotal stride. This initiative is geared towards fostering a more conducive and enabling business environment.
“This government doesn’t just boast some of the nation’s finest talents; it champions those invested in ensuring our business owners have front-row seats in our journey towards progress. Our goal is to cultivate an ecosystem where Nigerian businesses become regular features in globally recognized publications such as Forbes, Bloomberg, and the Financial Times for the right reasons.
“We are all well aware that Mr. President’s readiness to take action has never faltered, and what we are witnessing here is just a component of the strategies in place to create a future brimming with endless opportunities”.
The Vice President congratulated the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, and the leadership of SMEDAN, saying they have proven that they are ready to transform “concepts into tangible actions.
“This initiative renews hope for a critical segment of our entrepreneurial community, and highlights our sensitivity to the economic clock of the nation,” he added.
Earlier in her remarks, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Uzoka-Anite, thanked Vice President Shettima for his unwavering support to MSMEs in the country.
She said the completion and commissioning of the new SMEDAN Complex is a clear demonstration of the commitment of the Tinubu administration to the development of the MSME space.
She also outlined other initiatives of the federal government targeted at building capacity and linking MSMEs to markets at home and abroad.
For his part, the Director General of SMEDAN, Mr Charles Odii, thanked the Vice President for his support and guidance in the actualisation of the project and leadership in the MSME space.
He said the agency and the entire MSME community in Nigeria have recorded significant achievements within a short period of time under the leadership of the VP.
He assured that the agency will continue to collaborate with sister organisations to ensure sustainable growth in the sector.
Other dignitaries at the event were the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Industry, Trade and Investment, Sen. Fadahunsi Anthony; Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta, Sen. Asuquo Ekpenyong; Chairman of the House Committee on Small and Medium Enterprises, Hon. Mansur Manu Soro; Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Evelyn Ngige, as well as heads of government agencies and parastatals.
Our Resolve To Protect SMEs Remain Unshaken – VP Shettima
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Gombe father submits son for measles vaccination after evading immunisation in school

Gombe father submits son for measles vaccination after evading immunisation in school
Delaying or refusing some or all vaccines for your child puts their health and life at risk, this is an old message that is rapidly being understood in Gombe State especially with the impressive turnout of parents bringing their children to participate in the ongoing 2025 Integrated Measles–Rubella and Polio Campaign, amongst whom is Malam Abdulkarim Bello.
Bello, a father of eight children, on Tuesday rode his nine-year-old son on his commercial motorcycle to Bolari West Primary HealthCare Centre to supervise his immunisation against measles.
Our Correspondent reports that the boy who ran away from school to evade taking the vaccine being administered to his colleagues by Community Health Workers who came to his school in Bolari West, was made to take the vaccine under the watchful eyes of his father.
Bello, a motorcyclist in Gombe said he came home to have a rest having worked for hours to earn some income to take care of his household, only to meet his son who left home earlier for school.
On probing the child, knowing full well that the school was yet to close for the day, “ I learnt that he ran away from school just to evade taking the vaccine.
“ I had to suspend my job and bring him here (to Bolari PHC) to get him vaccinated under my supervision.
“I am doing this because I don’t want to see him sick, I heard over the radio that the vaccine is available and good for them, that’s why I brought him.
“I brought him because his running away from school is like running away from what will protect him.
“As his father, I have the right to ensure that he is healthy because his elderly ones had also taken the vaccine,” he said.
He said with the damage that measles and other children-related illnesses had done to children, “I will not allow my son to reject the vaccine that should protect him against such life-threatening illness.”
Bello urged parents, particularly fathers to support the exercise by bringing their children out for vaccination as a way of protecting them from childhood killer diseases.
Bello’s conviction about the relevance of vaccines in improving the health of his children, has highlighted the positive role of the media in efforts at boosting the health of children in the state while reducing infant mortality.
Gombe father submits son for measles vaccination after evading immunisation in school
News
Police arrest soldier, vigilante commander over ritual killing in Adamawa

Police arrest soldier, vigilante commander over ritual killing in Adamawa
By: Zagazola Makama
The Police Command in Adamawa has arrested a serving soldier and a vigilante commander for allegedly killing a woman for ritual purposes in Mubi North Local Government Area of the state.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the arrest followed a distress call received by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Mubi North at about 12:00 p.m. on Oct. 21, reporting that an unidentified female corpse was found behind the Adamawa State University fence with multiple stab wounds.
“On receipt of the report, the DPO led a team of detectives to the scene, took photographs, and evacuated the corpse to the Federal Medical Centre, Mubi, for autopsy,” the sources said.
According to the sources , preliminary investigation led to the arrest of one Private Tanko Salihu, attached to 93 Battalion, Ada Barracks, Takum, Taraba State, and one Yahaya Idi Gadzama, a vigilante commander in Mubi North.
The police said both suspects confessed during interrogation to conspiring and killing the woman for ritual purposes.
The sources said that the Commissioner of Police, CP Dankombo Morris, has directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for discreet investigation and prosecution.
He condemned the heinous act and assured residents of the command’s commitment to bringing all perpetrators of crime and criminality to justice.
Police arrest soldier, vigilante commander over ritual killing in Adamawa
News
NHRC charge security agencies to respect rights of affected

NHRC charge security agencies to respect rights of affected
By: Bodunrin Kayode
The National Human Rights Commission has called on security agencies and government actors in conflict regions to respect the rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees and asylum seekers Nation wide.
The call was made recently by the Executive Secretary (ES) of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Dr Tony Ojukwu during a collaborative training session held in Maiduguri on the mainstreaming of human rights and humanitarian responses during daily operations by security and government actors.
Dr Ojukwu who was represented by his special Assistant, and head of monitoring of the organization, Dr Benedict Agu who flagged the two days training open for participants from both military and the civil society said the gathering was timely considering what goes on in various theatres of war in Nigeria.
Welcoming participants to the training, the ES noted that the meeting was an activity under the Project: ‘NHRC/UNHCR 2025 Project on the Protection of Human Rights of idps, refugees, asylum seekers and returnees through Information/Data Collection and Documentation in Nigeria’.
Dr Ojukwu noted that the Commission was implementing the project with the support of the Office of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and was going to make it a yearly activity until the apathy against these vulnerable people is reduced to the minimum.

Dr Ojukwu maintained that he appreciated the continuous support of UNHCR in providing the much-needed assistance towards the promotion and protection of the rights of these persons for whom the Commission and UNHCR works with.
“The plight of these people because of insurgency activities/armed conflicts, flooding and drought etc should be of concern to all, hence, the continuous intervention by NHRC with the support of UNHCR.
“This year’s project cycle commenced in January 2025 in the three most impacted LGAs in the 11 states of Adamawa, Akwa- Ibom, Borno, Benue, Cross-River, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.
“Human Right Monitors (HRMs) and Community Protection Action Group (CPAGs) members were trained and deployed to these selected LGAs where they work closely with the staff of UNHCR to gather and send reports regularly to the report harmonization team at the Commission’s headquarters.
“The HRMs and CPAGs visit the detention facilities in within their area of coverage in the different IDP camps, returned communities and host Communities in identifying and reporting protection/ human rights issues as well as referring these protection issues to different MDAs for appropriate response.”
Ojukwu hinted that the project has recorded a good number of targeted responses from the MDAs and humanitarian actors adding that the Commission, therefore, deems it necessary to engage with the security and government actors who may have one thing or the other with regards to the above stated populations under the Project for better coordination and understanding so as to continue to give positive human rights and humanitarian responses to matters concerning them.
“The identified protection issues are not just mere needs of these mandated population for NHRC, rather they are issues that may breach the enjoyment of their fundamental human rights. These issues must be seen as violations of the rights of these persons who have been made vulnerable through displacement due to the insurgency and other related conflicts.
“One of the purposes of this engagement is to highlight some of the protection issues and/or human rights/humanitarian concerns and encourage the responsible agency of government and relevant humanitarian actors to make efforts at resolving them early. ” He stressed.
The ES stated that the engagement with MDAs and humanitarian actors is also to promote and facilitate information sharing on areas of humanitarian activities in the states.
” It will also provide the needed link between the HRMs, CPAG members and the MDAs in relation to referral pathways to enable them respond in real time to the challenges faced by the NHRC mandated populations.” Said the ES.
Barrister Ojukwu posited that it was important that the meeting was held at this point in time to enable Protection and Humanitarian Actors identify potentials and future collaboration areas adding that the meeting will also present a learning opportunity for participant observers involved in protection and humanitarian interventions in war theatres nation wide.
In his presentation titled “Understanding UNHCR mandate and the humanitarian situation in the north East of Nigeria Dan Bisu said that 123.2 million humans are displaced worldwide with African having 38.1 million of that and Nigeria occupying a big chunk of that number
Out of this statistics, 73.5 million of them are IDP’s while 36.8 million are asylum seekers with the middle East and north Africa contributing to 32.9 million of that figure.
Meanwhile 3.45 percent of the globally forcibly displaced population in 2024 are said to be Nigerians.
It is a known fact that during the last 16 years of insurgency, human rights of these individuals have been badly abused especially by their camp managers at a time when the vulnerable needed protection and humanitarian interventions for their survival.
It expected that stakeholders after the training will strengthen collaboration that will counter the disturbing trend of human rights violations in the Northeast Hadin Kai war theatre which has witnessed thousands of deaths due to back and forth movement of IDP’s and refugees running for their lives across the bobby traps of improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in the savannah.
The training was attended by troops representatives of Operations Hadin Kai, civil defense, the Nigerian police, DSS, immigration, other paramilitary organizations, ministries, departments and agencies (MDA’s).
NHRC charge security agencies to respect rights of affected
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