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Woodhall Finance House Launches the Creative Currency Podcast with ₦1.5 Billion Sector Fund

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Woodhall Finance House Launches the Creative Currency Podcast with ₦1.5 Billion Sector Fund

By: Michael Mike

In a landmark collaboration to advance Nigeria’s creative economy, Woodhall Finance House, in partnership with the UK Government’s Department for Business and Trade, Polaris Bank, and the Lagos State Government have launched The Creative Currency Podcast, an initiative designed to serve as both a media platform and an economic catalyst for Nigeria’s creative economy.

Hosted by the British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Jonny Baxter, at his Lagos residence, the launch brought together senior policymakers, investors, development finance institutions, high-net-worth individuals, and leading creatives from across Africa. By weaving together capital flows, policy frameworks, and compelling narratives, the initiative seeks to unlock sustainable growth within Africa’s most vibrant export ecosystem.

Positioned at the nexus of finance, culture, and diplomacy, The Creative Currency Podcast aims to drive investment, strengthen cross-border partnerships, and reinforce the UK-Nigeria creative network as a catalyst for economic transformation.

The British Deputy High Commissioner Mr. Jonny Baxter emphasized the UK’s commitment to creative collaboration, he said: “The UK is proud to support Nigeria’s creative economy through long-term partnerships that combine innovation, investment, and cultural exchange. Through the Creative Industries Technical Working Group – a direct outcome of the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) – and platforms such as The Creative Currency Podcast, we are deepening our commitment to creative collaboration. This is about creating real opportunities, building lasting partnerships, and empowering the next generation of African talent to thrive on the global stage.”

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu represented by the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Folashade Bada Ambrose, delivered a keynote address that underscored Lagos’s position as Africa’s creative capital.

A panel on financing Africa’s creative economy featured Executive Director, Polaris Bank, Mrs. Abimbola Ozomah, MD/CEO Helios Investment Partners, Sola Carrena, and President of Woodhall Capital, Mrs. Mojisola Hunponu-Wusu. The discussion emphasized the need for innovative financial instruments, including blended finance, factoring, and creative bonds, to unlock the sector’s economic potential.
As a bold commitment to Nigeria’s creative industry, Woodhall Finance House announced a ₦1.5 billion Creative Sector Fund aimed at supporting export-ready creative enterprises and growth-oriented SMEs across fashion, film, music, beauty, and digital arts.

This milestone was accompanied by a fireside chat exploring “UK-Nigeria Cultural Synergies to Drive Global Innovation and Transformation,”featuring Veekee James Atere, Creative Director Veekee James and Shoperikan, Shaffy Bello, Nigerian Film Actress and Singer and Mark Smithson, Country Director, UK’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT), who shared valuable insights on how cross-cultural collaboration can unlock new creative possibilities.

Commenting on the sector fund, Woodhall Capital Founder and President Mrs. Hunponu-Wusu stated: “Creativity is no longer an abstract asset, it is a bankable commodity and must be treated as such by policymakers, investors, and financiers. Nobody can tell the Nigerian story like we Nigerians, and nobody is coming to save us. If we want to see real change, we must build our own table, design our own systems, and finance our own narratives. Our ₦1.5 billion Creative Sector Fund is our commitment to doing just that: backing bold ideas, scaling creative businesses, and turning cultural capital into economic power.”

The evening culminated in a cultural exchange under the UK’s Jollof and Tea campaign, a symbolic fusion of Nigerian and British identities through cuisine, conversation, storytelling, and high-level networking. Guests connected over shared heritage and future ambitions, engaging in dynamic discussions around identity, investment, and the evolving global narrative of African creativity.

The Creative Currency Podcast is redefining the future of Africa’s creative economy, serving as a diplomatic instrument, transaction hub, and catalyst for structural reform. As global demand for African creativity continues to rise, platforms like this are essential for transforming visibility into viability and turning culture into capital.

Woodhall Finance House Launches the Creative Currency Podcast with ₦1.5 Billion Sector Fund

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Teenage girl arrested over death of woman in Kaduna altercation

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Teenage girl arrested over death of woman in Kaduna altercation

By: Zagazola Makama

An 18-year-old girl, Faiza Abdullahi, has been taken into custody following the death of a woman, Hajara Bashir, during a domestic altercation in the Kabala Costain area of Kaduna metropolis.

Zagazola Makama report that the incident occurred on Friday night during a dispute involving Faiza and a 13-year-old boy, Khalifa Abubakar Bashir, a resident of the same Kamfanin Kobo neighbourhood.

During the altercation, Hajara Bashir, the mother of the teenage boy, intervened in an attempt to defend her son. In the process, Faiza reportedly held Hajara by the neck, leading to her sudden collapse.

She was rushed to a nearby clinic for urgent medical attention, but was pronounced dead by a medical doctor at about 10:14 p.m.

Following the incident, Faiza was arrested and detained by the police while the deceased’s body was released to her family for burial in accordance with Islamic rites, after they declined a post-mortem examination.

Police say further inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the altercation are ongoing.

Teenage girl arrested over death of woman in Kaduna altercation

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Illegal arms factory uncovered in Kaduna, four arrested

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Illegal arms factory uncovered in Kaduna, four arrested

By: Zagazola Makama

An illegal firearms fabrication site has been uncovered in Giroji Village, Makarfi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, leading to the arrest of four individuals suspected to be involved in the production and distribution of locally made weapons.

Zagazola Makama gathered from security sources that the discovery followed credible intelligence on suspicious activity around a residential building in the area, which prompted swift action by surveillance operatives.

Two suspects, Shuaibu Abubakar, 35, and Ismail Shuaibu, 18, both from Unguwar Mani Danshoshiya in Kiru Local Government Area of Kano State, were caught in the act of fabricating firearms and cartridges.

A search of the premises resulted in the recovery of: Three locally made firearms, three skeletal gun frames, 14 cartridges, five T.06 live ammunition, Bench vice machine, Filing machine, Welding machine, Binding wire, Several iron rods and pipes and a bunch of keys.

Further investigation led to the arrest of two others Hassan Ibrahim, of Giroji Village, and Murtala Yakubu, of Kari in Makarfi. Both men were identified as members of a local vigilante group.

The four suspects have reportedly provided useful information regarding the extent of their operations, and the matter has been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and prosecution.

The discovery is expected to boost ongoing efforts aimed at curbing the proliferation of illegal weapons and addressing security challenges in the region.

Illegal arms factory uncovered in Kaduna, four arrested

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Nigeria’s Revenue from Royalty in Mining Sector now N38 billion, Says NSCDC

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Nigeria’s Revenue from Royalty in Mining Sector now N38 billion, Says NSCDC

By: Michael Mike

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has laid claim to increasing the revenue base of the country in the mining sector from N6 billion to N38 billion from payment of royalty.

The Corps, while rolling out its score card in its performance of statutory mandate of protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure, said over 1000 illegal mining sites across the country have dismantled leading to increase of the revenue base of the country in the mining sector from N6 billion to N38 billion from payment of royalty.

The Commandant General of the NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed Audi, disclosed this in a keynote address delivered during a second CG’s Quarterly Conference held in Abuja.

The CG’s quarterly Conference comprises very Principal Management Staff Officers which includes: Deputy Commandant Generals, Assistant Commandant Generals and Commandants of Corps.

The CG also announced the decentralisation of mining operations from national to zonal commands and commissioned 10 operational vehicles to boost mining operational activities.

He charged the six Zonal Commanders to work in synergy with the National Mining Commander in order to ensure safety of licensed operators and provide security around mining sites.

They are also to arrest, investigate and prosecute illegal operators for violation of mining laws as Nigeria is not a dumping ground and must be cleared of activities of illegal miners, he added.

On food security, the NSCDC helmsman tasked participants to the meeting to ensure adequate deployment of personnel for security of farming activities, noting that Agro Rangers duties is a responsibility which must be carried out in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ‘renewed hope agenda’ in order to enhance food sufficiency.

While conveying Mr President’s commendation on the performance of the Corps through the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, he urged personnel of the Corps to buckle up and redouble their efforts in delivering on the agency’s mandate.

He affirmed that the NSCDC remains resolute in the safety and security of schools in the country saying more reporting channels have been established with more plans to enhance performance of the National Safe Schools Response Coordination Centre (NSSRCC) domicile the National Headquarters of the Corps.

NSCDC quarterly meeting according to the CG was meant to evaluate, asses and commend performance of the Corps as well as to appraise challenges and chart the way forward, noting that the role of the Corps in national security is very critical in order to tackle emerging threats.

Nigeria’s Revenue from Royalty in Mining Sector now N38 billion, Says NSCDC

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