NYSC tasks 5m ex-corps members on national unity Buhari congratulates newly elected NUJ Executives Hand washing can reduce infections by 50% – Minister Nigeria spends $300m annually on barite importation Agriculture lifts 4.2m Nigerians out of poverty in 2 years – Minister There is hope; Northeast is at turning point – UN Top 50 Women in African Businesses Revealed After Data-Driven Research Insurgency: There is hope, Northeast at a turning point– UN UNMISS and Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare organize workshop in Juba on service delivery to communities Agric sector has lifted over 4.2m Nigerians out of poverty in 2 years – Minister Unlocking the potential of the African free trade area for rural women Bitcoin tops $60,000 on US fund approval hopes Nigerian Army to detonate expired explosives, alert Calabar residents High Commissioner of Seychelles accredited to the Republic of South Africa Shun violence, embrace peace, group advises Nigerians Nigerian govt to pay gratuities of 102 ex-Biafran soldiers – Magashi UNDP Africa Director calls for increased investment in new approach to accelerate Nigeria’s development Nigeria’s inflation rate drops to 16.63% – NBS EU military training mission in Mozambique to start operations APC state congress: Bauchi stakeholders reject Adamu Adamu’s anointed candidate TİKA Landscapes Tomb of Ottoman scholar Abu Bakr Effendi in Cape Town Nigerian Army buries Artillery School commandant in Abuja Arrest warrants issued for over 200 terrorism suspects in Turkey Hatch to Showcase Canada-Africa Solutions at Africa Accelerating 2021 Free movement of people a top priority, according to West African nations Italy not harassing law-abiding Nigerians – Unions Coronavirus: Peace Corps helps launch vaccination campaign in Mantasoa commune Eid-ul-Maulud: Nigerian govt declares Tuesday as public holiday Earned Allowances: Nigerian govt to pay varsity workers N22bn October ending – Ngige Nigerian govt flags-off distribution of Agric inputs to 7,386 Borno farmers Food ration cuts loom for those affected by crisis in northeast Nigeria as famine hits highest level in five years 9 out of 10 schools in Nigeria have no hand-washing facility for children – UNICEF Oyo Govt Set to Revoke contracts from 22 Firms COVID-19: 19 months after restriction, India reopens for foreign tourists Centre for Ethics rewards commissioner, others for Sterling performance Chinese yuan strengthens to 6.4386 against USD Friday Britain: Over 43,000 may have been given wrong COVID test results UK, Nigeria hold Sixth Ministerial Meeting for Economic Development Wema Bank Hosts High Net-worth Customers in Northern Nigeria, Reaffirms Commitment Teenager in court for alleged N2,000 phone robbery Douglas Ryder: Team Update Akeredolu backs constitutional roles for traditional rulers Valedictory Service: Follow footprints of remarkable predecessors — FCE (Technical) tasks graduating students Excellence NCPWD urges government, private organisations to consider employment of PWDs Lagos PDP state congress should be family affair – Spokesman UK Conservative MP David Amess stabbed ‘multiple times’ — News — – Nigeria and World News Farmers urged to embrace improved post-harvest storage technologies Senegal is preparing to become a major gas producing country in the MSGBC region (by Miguel Artacho) Indian hemp farmer, others bag 75 years imprisonment each ARC-P’s promise for Nigerian children
"MSME News"
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Economy2 days agoNBTI, NASME to deepen synergy on MSMEs training, development
By Emmanuella Anokam The Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) called for deep synergy with the National Council for Technology Incubation (NBTI) on training and development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME). The Association also requested the active participation of the NBTI in its commitments, in particular during the next NASME MSME summit, scheduled for December 7-8 in Abuja. NASME President Dr Abdulrashid Yarima made the appeal Wednesday in Abuja when he led a delegation of NASME officials on a courtesy visit to NBTI Acting Director General Taiwo Somefun. The Nigeria News Agency reports that NASME aims to promote the empowerment of MSMEs by creating sustainable jobs and economic development in the country. Yarima, who is also the chairman of the NASME board, said the association intends to partner with NBTI for specific training in NBTI incubation centers at affordable rates. According to him, the new Board.
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Africa3 days agoIndustrialization, manufacturing and regional value chains top the agenda of the twenty-seventh session of ICSOE hosted by Malawi
The twenty-seventh session will focus on the reasons for the continued dependence on commodity exports and the lack of manufacturing development in the sub-region. BLANTYRE, Malawi, October 12, 2021 / APO Group / – The twenty-seventh session of the Intergovernmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts (ICSOE) for Southern Africa on the theme ‘Building back better from COVID-19 in Southern Africa: fostering industrialization, manufacturing and supply chains regional values based on commodities, ”begins Wednesday, October 13, 2021 with remarks by Honorable Felix Lafiel Mlusu, Minister of Finance of Malawi; Honorable Thabo Sofonea, Minister of Finance of the Kingdom of Lesotho, President of the 26th ICSOE; Ms. Chileshe Kapwepwe, Executive Secretary of COMESA; Mr. Elias Mpedi Magosi, Executive Secretary of SADC; Ambassador David Claude Pierre, Permanent Representative of the AU Regional Office for Southern Africa (AU-SARO) and Ms. Vera Songwe, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic.
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Africa3 weeks agoYabx Expands Operations and Service Offerings As Digital Lending Gains In Africa Region
Africa continues to be the backbone of our business as we have a comprehensive understanding of the land in terms of the credit ecosystem. NAIROBI, Kenya, September 22, 2021 / APO Group / – appoints Eunice R. Gatama, expert in the telecommunications industry, as director of business in Africa; aims for continued growth, as digital lending services are expected to grow rapidly in Africa. Yabx (www.Yabx.co), a financial technology company offering credit products in 12 African countries, today announced the appointment of Eunice R. Gatama as Director of Business in Africa. This is a strategic move by the company that is aggressively expanding its market share in the digital lending space in Africa. Offering some of the best performing portfolio returns for its partner banks, Yabx has seen significant momentum in its existing loan portfolios. With partnership agreements signed with leading banks and portfolio operators in several countries in East,.
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Features4 months agoRepositioning Nigerian MSMEs for AfCFTA
By Rukayat Moisemhe The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) officially entered into force on January 1, 2021 to deepen economic integration on the continent. This followed Africa’s low volume of intra-regional trade compared to other continents such as America, Europe and Asia. The agreement also aims to eliminate tariffs on 90% of goods while allowing micro, small, medium and large enterprises to enter new markets and establish strong cross-border supply chains with trading partners on the market. continent. Recent reports from the World Bank indicate that the deal would increase regional income by seven percent, raise women’s wages and lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty by 2035. The AfCFTA National Action Committee in the first quarter of the year launched an awareness campaign to enlighten Nigerians on the benefits of the trade deal and the need for full participation. Six months after the launch of AfCFTA, however,.
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Business4 months agoOLOP Programme: SMEDAN reviews MFBs admin charges to 8 per cent
By Emmanuella Anokam The Nigerian Agency for the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEDAN) reports that the administrative costs of microfinance banks (MFB) under its One Local Government, One Product (OLOP) project have been revised upwards to 8% . Ms Safiya Ballah, Director of Special Tasks Department, SMEDAN, revealed this Thursday in Abuja during her OLOP stakeholder meeting. OLOP is a flagship program of SMEDAN which promotes the development of at least one product identified by local government area (LGA) in Nigeria, empowering micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME). The program which offers 70 percent interest-free loans and 30 percent grants adds value and evolves these identified raw materials into a branded and certified product with expanded market potential (including export). The service charge rendered by SMEDAN to MFBs under the OLOP program for its services to cooperative banks (beneficiaries) was five percent. Ballah noted that the eight percent.
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Business5 months agoSMEDAN reaffirms its support for MSMEs
By Muhammad Nur Tijani The Nigeria Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (SMEDAN) reaffirmed its commitment and support to the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria. SMEDAN Managing Director Dikko Radda assured Kano on Friday during the 2021 board / management retreat of the agency. According to him, MSMEs remain the engine room for critical economic growth and poverty reduction in the world. Radda said the retreat would provide them with another solemn opportunity to chart a new roadmap towards repositioning the MSME sub-sector in a restructured and more efficient way. “Since the last retreat held in Lagos in 2019, our roles and functions as Nigeria’s leading entrepreneurship development agency have not only become huge, but also more responsive in a vibrant and dramatically changing global economy. “It is in this regard that we have carefully selected you all to come and deliberate and further strategize.
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Africa5 months agoAUDA-NEPAD and Ecobank Group partnership move to funding phase of 100,000 MSME Initiative
The African Union Development Agency NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) (https://bit.ly/3w9P1aI) and the Ecobank Group (www.Ecobank.com) its strategic partner on the development of 100,000 Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME)), Should launch the financing component from May 27, 2021. AUDA-NEPAD launched the 100,000 MSME program to accelerate Africa’s economic transformation, provide necessary skills and build resilience in the face of the economic shock triggered by the global pandemic. The 100,000 MSME initiative aims to build the capacity of 1,000,000 businesses in Africa through entrepreneurship and business training to improve access to finance and new markets while building networks of support and incubation to enhance their success. “Around the world, MSMEs are the biggest and best driver of innovation, social transformation, and economic development and growth. AUDA-NEPAD strongly believes that Africa’s structural transformation will be driven by businesses and innovations led by youth and women. »Declared Amine Idriss Adoum AUDA-NEPAD, Director of the Program.
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Economy5 months agoForum tasks FG on MSMEs growth
Forum of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Business Membership Organisations of Nigeria (BMO) has called on the Federal Government to remain committed to the growth of the MSMEs for economic development. A delegation of the Forum made the call on Friday during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Richard Adebayo in Abuja. According the Forum, the visit is to brief the minister on its plans and programmes as well as to seek support and areas of possible collaboration towards creating enabling environment for MSMEs operators. Dr Albert Akinyemi, Chairman Board of Trustees of the Forum, said that MSMEs could create the needed succour as Nigeria looked toward economic recovery from the current economic challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He explained that the Forum seeks to institutionalise the MSME subsector in Nigeria as it is being done in developed economies of the world..
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Business5 months agoNEPC tasks SMEs on modern product packaging for exports
By Evangeline Opara The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has charged Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to embrace modern packaging of their products to make required impact on both domestic and export markets. The Executive Director of NEPC, Mr Segun Awolowo, gave the charge at the Capacity Building programme for SMEs held in Owerri on Tuesday. The programme had the theme, “Strengthening Technological Skills of SMEs to Produce for Export.” Awolowo, who was represented by Mr Anthony Ajuruchi, NEPC Chief Trade Promotion Officer, said that production of agricultural products had gone beyond mere assembling of the products. He said that SMEs were recognised globally as instruments for economic growth, development and poverty reduction and provides employment to a large number of citizens in a given economy. As such, he said, there was need for a well-planned intervention to raise the technological skills of the SMEs in a way that those.
- Economy6 months ago
The FG declares its readiness to support women farmers in MSMEs
By Joshua Olomu Amb. Mariam Katagum, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, says the federal government is willing and committed to supporting women-owned micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria. The minister made this known on Thursday when a delegation from the Federation of Women’s Associations in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (FEDWIM) led by its national coordinator, Mr. Anne Ugbo, paid her a courtesy visit in Abuja. . The Minister said that Nigerian women entrepreneurs, through their ingenuity, have always contributed their quota to the national economy and therefore should be encouraged for an increased contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP). She reaffirms that Nigerian women formed a very important part of the federal government headed by President Muhammadu Buhari. Katagum reiterated that women-owned businesses were allocated 45% and 5% for people with special needs under the federal government’s MSME Survival Fund program to cushion.
- General news6 months ago
How we have spent the COVID-19 funds so far – FG
By Angela Aatabo Prince Clem Agba, Minister of State, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, gave a breakdown of COVID-19 spending in the country on Thursday. Agba revealed this during the COVID-19 Transparency and Accountability Project (CTAP) conference organized by Connected Development (CODE) in partnership with the civil society organization BudgIT in Abuja. According to Agba, of the $ 500 billion in COVID-19 funds, $ 288 billion has been released to implementing agencies to support programs and the federal government, while the ministry is currently in the process of releasing additional funds to ministries, departments and agencies (MDA). “The total package includes, in the budget, 500 billion naira of stimulus from a special account of the federal government and 1.8 trillion naira through financial institutions. “Of the 500 billion naira in the revised 2020 budget, 126 billion is planned to strengthen the resilience of the health system in Nigeria to.
- Business6 months ago
Empowering Women Through Financial Services
By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma World Vision, a humanitarian organization that focuses on women and children, says it’s important for women to have a sense of self-worth. This corresponds to the ability to determine one’s own choices and to one’s right to influence social change for economic development. This closely aligns with the empowerment of women – a basic human right that is also essential for achieving a more peaceful world and economy. In addition, gender equality is seen as a fundamental human right, and also fundamental to having a prosperous world. However, the fact that girls and women continue to face significant challenges around the world is of great concern to many, so that women are generally under-represented in roles of power and decision-making. In addition, the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is significant, with the hardest-hit women losing their livelihoods as they are exposed to difficult economic sectors. A.
- Africa6 months ago
Across the pandemic and beyond: new report reveals regional partnerships key to recovery from COVID-19 in Africa
A new report from the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and UNDP presents the main results of the evolution of the partnership between the two organizations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With over 3 million people infected and nearly 100,000 lives lost across the continent, the report highlights societal resilience across sectors, Africans’ sheer determination to minimize the impact on health, as well as disruption. social and economic consequences of the pandemic. From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the African Union was one of the first regional institutions to adopt a common continental strategy for the COVID-19 outbreak (https://bit.ly/39Kb6E7). As part of the Strategy, and in line with UNDP’s institutional offer to help countries prepare for, respond to and recover from COVID-19, the Regional Office for Africa has established a strong partnership with the Africa CDC. Dr. Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, Deputy Director of Africa.
- Africa6 months ago
Verdant Capital raises $ 9.9m in Series A capital for Tugende, a leading MSME lender in East Africa
The transaction is the most recent for Verdant Capital’s award-winning FinTech and Financial Inclusion investment banking franchise (www.Verdant-Cap.com). Partech Africa, part of the Partech Group, a leading global technology venture capital fund, and Enza Capital have invested in the USD 3.6 million extension round – agreed and structured in 2020 – bringing the total volume of the Series A at $ 9.9 million. This comes in addition to the first close led by Mobility 54, the Africa-focused venture capital entity backed by the Toyota Group, as well as $ 12 million in debt financing raised over the past 18 months, by through institutional investors from the UK, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands and South Africa. Verdant Capital acts as financial advisor and arranger to Tugende for its increases in equity and debt. The MSME credit deficit in sub-Saharan Africa is over US $ 331 billion per year, with a gap of.
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AMA7 months agoBoost Ghana and KudiGo Selected as First Cohort of Catalyst Fund’s Inclusive Digital Trade Accelerator
Both companies enable informal micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in Ghana to grow their businesses and take better advantage of digital commerce. ACCRA, Ghana, March 15, 2021 – / African Media Agency (AMA) / – The Catalyst Fund’s Inclusive Digital Commerce Accelerator, managed by BFA Global, in partnership with the Foundation’s COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Program Mastercard and the Meltwater Business School of Technology (MEST) today announced the first cohort of digital commerce companies to scale, aiming to improve the livelihoods of informal MSEs in Ghana. Boost Ghana and KudiGo are enabling small retailers to grow by facilitating business management, digitizing operations, improving access to working capital, and reducing the cost of doing business, while providing suppliers with efficient access to customers. of MSE in the field. Both companies will receive up to US $ 120,000 in equity funds, along with: ● In-depth, personalized, and expert-led business acceleration support; ●.
- Africa7 months ago
Canada World Youth and Africa Skills Hub partner to launch Women’s Entrepreneurship and Livelihoods Initiative (WELI)
The Africa Skills Hub (www.AfricaSkillsHub.com), a youth employment organization and business incubator in Ghana, will partner with Canada World Youth – Canada World Youth (JCM-JCM) with the support of ‘Global Affairs Canada (GAC) to implement Women’s Entrepreneurship and Livelihoods Initiative (WELI) (www.AfricaSkillsHub.com/weli). The project addresses the challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic through an innovative, youth-centered and gender-sensitive economic empowerment approach. “COVID 19 has threatened the survival of many women’s businesses, there is still a lot of hope to build back better. There is a recovery ahead, and while Covid may have disrupted so much, it has also provided huge alternative opportunities to branch out and do gender responsive programming in a new way ” said Daniel Antwi, executive director of Africa Skills Hub. Africa Skills Hub officially launched various activities in Ghana and Senegal. In Ghana, the project is taking place in two (2) peri-urban councils in the district.
- Africa11 months ago
Nestlé partners with Nomanini and Standard Bank to empower informal retail traders across the Eastern and Southern Africa Region
Informal retail Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) across the Eastern and Southern Africa Region (ESAR) are set to receive a technological and operational boost for their businesses, thanks to Nestlé, Nomanini (www.Nomanini.com) and Standard Bank. Announcing the project today, Bruno Olierhoek, Chairman and Managing Director of Nestlé ESAR, emphasised that the region’s economic growth is interdependent on strong partnerships amongst various stakeholders, including the informal retail sector. “As one of the fastest-growing consumer retail markets in the world, Africa is full of economic potential. This potential lies firmly within the informal retail sector, which constitutes the vast majority of the retail market in Africa. To give impetus to this positive outlook, we have leveraged Nomanini’s technology to unlock business opportunities, drive economic growth, create jobs and improve ways of doing business.” The vast majority of retail transactions in Sub-Saharan Africa are cash-based and occur in informal channels, according to IFC.
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Economy11 months agoOPSN seeks collaboration with government’s regulatory agencies, entrepreneurs
The Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN) says a collaborative interface with government’s regulatory agencies and entrepreneurs on regulatory processes will improve Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) operations. Mr Soji Apampa, Co-founder, Convention on Business Integrity (CBI), spoke at the Public Private Dialogue/Survey Launch hosted by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) on Thursday in Lagos. Apampa said a survey was done on 501 businesses comprises 376, 76 and 49 for Lagos, Abia and Kano respectively. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Dialogue was entitled: ” Transactional Accountability, Process Consistency, and Operational Transparency of the National Agency for Food, Drug, Administration and Control (NAFDAC)”. Apampa said the survey’s key findings revealed that 65 per cent of respondents experienced cost differentials in cost learnt and actual cost paid with 82 as percentile value for informal and non receipted payments. He said that.
- Economy11 months ago
MSMEs: FG inaugurates committee for professional services
The Federal Government on Thursday inaugurated the National Steering Committee of National Business Development Services Providers (BDSPs) certification and accreditation framework to ensure professional support to Micro Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (MSMEs). Amb. Mariam Katagum, the Minister of State for Industry Trade and Investment, while inaugurating the committee in Abuja said the certification and accreditation framework would set standard for business development service interventions. The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and MAFITA, a UK aid funded intervention in Nigeria had worked assiduously to develop the framework for MSMEs development in Nigeria. Katagum said that the committee was apt considering lack of access to affordable and credible business development services which had been one of the major challenges militating against MSMEs growth and development in Nigeria. The minister, while commending SMEDAN and its partners said that the accreditation would standardise curriculum for deployment of relevant business development.
- Features11 months ago
Why FG is repackaging social intervention programmes
By Rotimi Ijikanmi The Federal Government says it will repackage its social intervention programmes to ensure it reached more people at the grassroots. Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed disclosed this when he featured on Nigeria Television Authority programme, “Good Morning Nigeria.” Speaking on the programme monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, the minister said the decision was sequel to the complaints by Nigerians that the social intervention programmes were not trickling down to the grassroots. He said the reports from the ministers when they interacted with the people in their states as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari was that the programmes were not reaching as many people as they ought to. The minister said the same complaint was made when the presidential delegation led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, met with traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the.
