News
UK Government Convenes Working Group Dialogue Under the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership
UK Government Convenes Working Group Dialogue Under the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership
By: Michael Mike
The United Kingdom and Nigeria have launched the UK-Nigeria Economic Diversification Dialogue, a strategic follow-up to the recently concluded Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) Roadshow in Kano and Lagos States.
Convened under the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP), the event which held on Thursday brought together senior government officials, trade experts, and private sector leaders from both nations. The discussions focused on unlocking Nigeria’s non-oil sectors: agriculture, manufacturing, and digital services; with the UK offering support through trade facilitation, investment promotion, and capacity building initiatives.
Opening the event, British Deputy High Commissioner Mr. Jonny Baxter reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to deepening bilateral trade relations, which was valued at £7.9 billion in the12 months ending March 2025.

He also reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting Nigerian exporters through the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), which provides generous tariff reductions and simplified trade rules. Under the DCTS, over 3,000 Nigerian products stand to benefit from enhanced market access. These include produce such as ginger, cocoa, sesame seeds, cashew nuts, soya beans, and textiles, among others.
The British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Jonny Baxter, further said: “Today’s dialogue marks a significant milestone in the UK-Nigeria partnership. It reflects our shared commitment to driving inclusive, sustainable economic growth through strategic exports diversification. By working together, government to government and with the private sector through our market development programmes like Propcom+, we are unlocking new opportunities for trade, investment, and innovation across key sectors.
“The UK remains a steadfast partner in supporting Nigeria’s ambition to stimulate economic growth. Through initiatives such as the Developing Countries Trade Scheme (DCTS) and our joint efforts with the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment (FMITI), on standards and export readiness, we are laying the foundation for long-term prosperity that benefits both our nations.”
Also speaking, Director of Trade and Investment, representing Ambassador Abba Nura Rimi, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Orji Gertrude said “This DCTS initiative comes at a critical time when Nigeria is intensifying efforts to diversify its export base beyond oil and strengthen its participation in global value chains. However, to fully harness these benefits, stakeholders must have a clear understanding of the rules of origin, documentation requirements, product standards, and trade facilitation measures under the scheme. Through partnerships like this with the UK’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT), we aim to reduce barriers to trade, improve competitiveness, and ensure that Nigerian products meet international market standards.”
Looking ahead, both countries reaffirmed their shared commitment to building resilient, diversified economies. The dialogue concluded with a call to action for continued collaboration, knowledge exchange, and policy innovation to drive future trade and investment between both our countries.
UK Government Convenes Working Group Dialogue Under the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership
News
Centre lauds Kaduna Govt over life skills, gender education policies approval
Centre lauds Kaduna Govt over life skills, gender education policies approval
By Aisha Gambo
The Centre for Girls’ Education (CGE) has commended the Kaduna State Executive Council for approving the Kaduna State Life Skills Policy and the State Policy on Gender in Education (SPGE 2026–2030).
The Executive Director of the organisation, Habiba Mohammed, made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday in Kaduna.
She said the approval marked a transition from donor-supported, time-bound interventions to a sustainable, government-led framework for delivering life skills education and promoting gender equity in schools.
According to her, the Life Skills Policy will equip young people with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values required to succeed in education, employment and life, while the Gender in Education Policy providzbves a framework to promote equity, inclusion, participation, retention, completion and improved learning outcomes.
“The approval moves life skills and gender equity from the margins of the classroom into the core of Kaduna State’s education system,” she said.
Mohammed said CGE contributed to the development and validation of the policies through its system-strengthening project supported by Co-Impact, OASIS Initiative and the Malala Fund, in collaboration with the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) and the Kaduna State Ministry of Education.
She said the policies built on more than 18 years of the organisation’s Safe Space model, which independent evaluations showed had helped reduce child marriage, increase school enrolment and delay early marriage.
According to her, the AGILE programme in Kaduna has reached more than 127,319 girls and 6,250 boys between the ages of 14 and 18, while over 1,400 female and male teachers have been trained as mentors.
She added that institutionalising the model through public policy would ensure that life skills education became a permanent component of the state’s education system.
Mohammed said the policies would address barriers to school access, retention and completion, particularly for girls and other vulnerable learners.
She added that they would also institutionalise life skills as a co-curricular programme, strengthen evidence-based decision-making across the state’s 23 local government areas and guarantee continuity beyond donor-funded programmes.
The executive director commended Gov. Uba Sani for providing the leadership that made the policy approval possible.
She also appreciated the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Abubakar Sani Sambo, the Kaduna State Ministry of Education, the AGILE State Project Implementation Unit, the World Bank and other stakeholders for their contributions to the process.
Mohammed reaffirmed CGE’s commitment to supporting the Kaduna State Government with technical assistance during the implementation phase, including teacher training, gender-responsive education sector budgeting and monitoring.
She said the ultimate goal was to ensure that every girl and boy in Kaduna State had the opportunity to learn, develop and thrive.
Centre lauds Kaduna Govt over life skills, gender education policies approval
News
Troops Kill Six ISWAP Fighters, Wound Seven in Failed Attack on Borno Military Base
Troops Kill Six ISWAP Fighters, Wound Seven in Failed Attack on Borno Military Base
By: Zagazola Makama
Six fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) were reportedly killed and seven others seriously wounded during a failed attack on a Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Logomani in Borno State, credible intelligence sources have disclosed.
The sources told Zagazola Makama that the terrorists launched the attack on the military position in the early hours of July 7 but suffered significant casualties after troops mounted a fierce resistance.
According to the intelligence assessment, the attackers had assembled at Garal before advancing on the military base.
Following the failed assault, surviving insurgents were reportedly seen regrouping at Chukun Gudu, where they buried six of their fighters killed during the encounter.
Among those reportedly buried was a senior fighter identified as Munzir, also known as Ba Alayi, who was said to be an indigene of Wulgo.
The development comes as troops of Operation HADIN KAI continue sustained clearance operations aimed at dismantling terrorist enclaves and disrupting insurgents’ logistics and mobility across the Lake Chad region.
Troops Kill Six ISWAP Fighters, Wound Seven in Failed Attack on Borno Military Base
Health
Cholera Outbreak Kills Nine ISWAP Terrorists in Timbuktu Triangle
Cholera Outbreak Kills Nine ISWAP Terrorists in Timbuktu Triangle
By: Zagazola Makama
A cholera outbreak has reportedly claimed the lives of nine fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the Timbuktu Triangle, a known terrorist stronghold in Borno State, intelligence sources have disclosed.
The sources told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the outbreak had spread through the group’s enclaves, highlighting deteriorating sanitary conditions and limited access to medical care within the insurgents’ camps.
According to the intelligence, two additional ISWAP fighters infected with the disease were allegedly executed by fellow terrorists after attempts to manage their condition at Kimba village proved unsuccessful.
The sources said the development pointed to the worsening health conditions within the terrorist hideouts, where sustained military pressure has disrupted logistics, including access to medicines and treatment facilities.
The sources added that commanders had also been urged to intensify efforts to intercept medical supplies and pharmaceuticals intended for terrorist camps in order to further degrade ISWAP’s treatment capability and operational resilience.
The reported outbreak comes amid sustained offensives by troops of Operation HADIN KAI, who continue to target terrorist enclaves and logistics networks across the Lake Chad region in a bid to degrade the insurgents’ fighting capacity.
Cholera Outbreak Kills Nine ISWAP Terrorists in Timbuktu Triangle
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