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The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in partnership with VARELIS Global Company Ltd., successfully trained 200 youths from Adamawa and Borno states in renewable energy technologies and electrified six primary healthcare centres with hybrid solar mini-grid systems.

The initiative, titled ‘Powering the Future: NCDMB and VARELIS Global Electrify Clinics and Train 200 Northeast Youths,’ aimed to build a skilled indigenous renewable energy workforce while expanding access to clean, reliable electricity in underserved communities across the Northeast.

The training was conducted in two states: Adamawa and Borno. The Adamawa State programme ran for 10 days, from June 29 to July 9, 2026, while the Borno State training was held from July 13 to July 23, 2026.

A total of 200 participants, comprising 100 youths each from Adamawa and Borno states, received intensive practical training in solar photovoltaic (PV) system design and installation, battery storage systems, mini-grid applications, and clean-energy entrepreneurship.

At the conclusion of the programme, participants received certificates after successfully completing hands-on technical training designed to improve their employability, encourage entrepreneurship, and promote sustainable livelihoods.

As part of the intervention, six primary healthcare centres across Adamawa and Borno states were equipped with hybrid solar mini-grid systems to provide uninterrupted electricity for vaccine storage, emergency medical services, and round-the-clock healthcare delivery.

The project also promoted gender inclusion by encouraging strong female participation, with women making up a significant proportion of the trainees.

Stakeholders said the initiative would help reduce youth unemployment, strengthen local technical capacity in renewable energy, expand access to clean energy, lower carbon emissions, and support post-insurgency recovery and economic development in Nigeria’s Northeast.

They noted that the successful completion of the programme demonstrated NCDMB’s commitment, in collaboration with VARELIS Global Company Ltd., to developing local content in the renewable energy sector while improving critical public infrastructure and creating sustainable economic opportunities for young people in the region.

An Islamic scholar, Alhaji Siraajudeen Adegboye, has urged parents to raise their children in accordance with Islamic teachings, drawing lessons from the counsel of Luqman to his son as contained in the Holy Qur’an.

Alhaji Adegboye gave the advice on Thursday, July 23, while delivering a lecture at the end-of-year prize-giving and graduation ceremony of As-Siddiq Schools, Iyase, Kosofe, Lagos State.

Speaking on child upbringing in Islam, he emphasised the need for parents to instil faith, good morals, discipline and respect in their children, citing the guidance in Surah Luqman (31:13-19).

Quoting from the Qur’an, he recalled Luqman’s advice to his son: ‘O my son! Do not associate anything with Allah. Indeed, associating others with Him is a great injustice’ (Qur’an 31:13).

He also highlighted the injunction on kindness to parents: ‘And We have enjoined upon man care for his parents’ (Qur’an 31:14), while noting that children should maintain respect for their parents even when they differ in matters of faith.

Alhaji Adegboye further referred to Luqman’s exhortation: ‘O my son! Establish prayer, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and be patient over what befalls you. Indeed, that is of the matters requiring determination’ (Qur’an 31:17).

He also cited the verses on humility and good conduct: ‘Do not turn your cheek in contempt toward people, nor walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful. Be moderate in your pace and lower your voice. Indeed, the harshest of sounds is the braying of a donkey’ (Qur’an 31:18-19).

According to the scholar, these teachings provide a timeless framework for raising children who are spiritually conscious, morally upright, disciplined and respectful.

In his welcome address, the proprietor of the school, Alhaji Tijani Mikail Taiwo, thanked Allah for a successful academic session and appreciated parents for their continued trust and support.

He also commended members of staff for their dedication to the academic and moral development of the pupils.

Addressing the graduating pupils, Alhaji Tijani congratulated them on reaching another milestone in their educational journey and urged them to uphold the values of honesty, diligence, respect and faith in all their endeavours.

He said the prize-giving ceremony was organised not only to celebrate academic excellence but also to recognise leadership, creativity, resilience and service.

According to him, As-Siddiq Schools remains committed to producing pupils who are academically excellent, morally upright and socially responsible.

The proprietor added that the school would continue to invest in quality teaching, improved learning facilities and a conducive learning environment to help pupils realise their full potential.

He further noted that the school distinguished itself in several extracurricular activities during the academic session, winning honours in various competitions.

The event featured the presentation of awards to outstanding pupils and the graduation of learners to the next stage of their education.

With bank recapitalization completed, the financial institutions must now focus on support for the productive sector, Central Bank of Nigeria said yesterday.

The apex bank governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, said: ‘With recapitalisation now completed, our focus has shifted towards ensuring that stronger capital translates into improved governance, enhanced risk management and support for productive economic activities.’

Cardoso spoke when he briefed the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions on the activities of the CBN since the beginning of the year.

His last meeting with the Senate panel was December 25.

Speaking during the open time before the meeting went into closed session, Cardoso highlighted the launch of the Payments System Vision 2028, improvements in Nigeria’s sovereign credit ratings by Fitch, Moody’s and SandP, stronger fiscal-monetary policy coordination and other reforms aimed at sustaining financial system stability.

He expressed confidence that inflation would continue to moderate in the second half of the year, while the apex bank would intensify post-recapitalisation supervision, deepen foreign exchange reforms, strengthen digital payment systems and reinforce the resilience of the financial sector.

Cardoso added that the CBN had set a target of increasing monthly diaspora remittances through official channels to $1 billion before the end of the year.

He said this is part of the efforts to strengthen foreign exchange inflows and consolidate macro-economic stability.

The Senate committee subjected the bank’s management to extensive questioning on inflation, bank recapitalisation, foreign exchange reforms, consumer protection, the CBN’s audited accounts and the handling of the Federal Government’s Ways and Means advances.

Cardoso, who led the CBN delegation, said recent monetary and financial sector reforms had strengthened investor confidence, stabilised the foreign exchange market and positioned the economy for sustainable growth despite persistent global economic challenges.

He said the first half of 2026 witnessed consolidation of the macro-economic gains achieved in 2025 through sustained monetary reforms and closer coordination between monetary and fiscal authorities.

According to him, despite heightened global uncertainties arising from geo-political conflicts, trade fragmentation and supply chain disruptions, Nigeria’s economy had remained resilient, supported by improving business conditions and stronger private sector confidence.

He said inflation had resumed its downward trend after the temporary spike caused by the Middle East crisis, easing marginally from 15.93 per cent in May to 15.91 per cent in June.

‘This outcome demonstrates the effectiveness of our monetary policy stance in containing second-round inflationary pressures and anchoring inflation expectations. We remain fully committed to restoring price stability and achieving single-digit inflation over the medium term,’ Cardoso said.

The CBN governor said reforms introduced in the foreign exchange market had enhanced transparency, improved investor confidence and curtailed speculative activities.

He listed the launch of the fourth edition of the Foreign Exchange Manual, implementation of the Nigeria Foreign Exchange Code and deployment of the Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System as major reforms driving stability in the market.

Cardoso disclosed that the average exchange rate appreciated to N1,375.40 to the dollar in the first half of 2026, while diaspora remittances through official channels rose from about $200 million to over $600 million monthly.

‘Our target is to increase diaspora remittances to $1 billion monthly before the end of the year,’ he said.

Cardoso added that Nigeria’s external reserves had climbed to $52.73 billion as of July 9, 2026, reflecting improved foreign exchange inflows and stronger external buffers.

He described the CBN bank recapitalisation as one of the most successful in the country’s banking history.

He said banks raised N4.65 trillion in fresh capital, with 72.55 per cent contributed by domestic investors and 27.45 per cent by foreign investors.

According to him, 33 banks had met the revised capital requirements, while discussions were ongoing, with the few institutions yet to comply to protect depositors and preserve financial system stability.

The engagement was chaired by Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru (Lagos East).

Abiru acknowledged improvements in key macro-economic indicators since the committee’s last meeting with the CBN.

He noted that inflation had moderated to 15.06 per cent in February 2026, prompting the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to lower the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) from 27 per cent to 26.5 per cent. However, inflation later rose to 15.93 per cent in May, following geo-political tensions in the Middle East.

While commending the CBN for restoring stability to the foreign exchange market and successfully implementing the banking sector recapitalisation programme, the committee chairman said the banking reform would only achieve its objective if banks increased lending to productive sectors of the economy.

Abiru identified agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, technology and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as critical sectors expected to benefit from stronger bank capitalisation.

The committee also expressed concern over reports that private sector credit remained below expectations despite the substantial capital raised by commercial banks.

Lawmakers further sought clarification on the CBN’s 2025 audited financial statements, particularly the sharp rise in Open Market Operations (OMO), whose outstanding balance increased from about N24.3 trillion in 2024 to N48.7 trillion in 2025.

They also demanded explanations on rising liquidity management costs, operating expenses, monetary stability expenditures and the decision to offset the Federal Government’s Ways and Means advances against the bank’s operating surplus instead of remitting cash.

The Olofin of Isheri Mole and Adimula of Awori Kingdom, Oba Sulaiman Adekunle Bamgbade, has begun enjoying uninterrupted 24-hour electricity supply following the completion of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) project by WIHU International Ltd.

The company completed the installation after inspecting the palace and deploying the necessary equipment to provide a stable power supply.

Chief Executive Officer of WIHU International Ltd., Mr Peter Adeola Williams, said the project fulfilled the company’s commitment made during the commissioning of the initiative and reaffirmed its resolve to ensure continuous electricity supply to the palace.

Oba Bamgbade commended the company and its chief executive for what he described as an exemplary demonstration of corporate social responsibility.

According to the monarch, the intervention extends beyond providing electricity to the palace and underscores the role the private sector can play in supporting traditional institutions and advancing community development.

‘This noble gesture by WIHU International Ltd. goes beyond powering the palace. It is a shining example of how corporate organisations can partner with traditional institutions to drive meaningful community development.

‘We deeply appreciate this investment in our kingdom and pray that God Almighty grants the company greater success, expansion and prosperity,’ he said.

The monarch called on other corporate organisations, development partners and public-spirited individuals to emulate WIHU International Ltd. by investing in projects that improve the lives of residents of Isheri Mole and other Awori communities.

He identified education, healthcare, youth empowerment, infrastructure, environmental sustainability and technology as critical sectors where collaboration between the private sector and traditional institutions could accelerate development.

‘Our communities are rich in culture, heritage and human potential. Through purposeful collaboration between the private sector and traditional institutions, we can deliver sustainable projects that improve the lives of our people.

‘I encourage more organisations to partner with us in areas such as education, healthcare, youth empowerment, infrastructure, environmental sustainability and technology. Together, we can build stronger and more prosperous communities,’ Oba Bamgbade said.

He reaffirmed the kingdom’s commitment to supporting organisations that make meaningful contributions to community development, describing such partnerships as essential for achieving sustainable growth and shared prosperity.

Happy Woman Solutions Limited and Mayden Microfinance Bank have unveiled the Happy Woman Match Fund, to help women entrepreneurs acquire the business equipment to expand their enterprises and increase their earnings.

The initiative is aimed at addressing one of the biggest challenges confronting women-owned businesses-limited access to productive equipment due to financial constraints. While many women possess the skills, entrepreneurial drive, and customer base required to grow, the inability to purchase essential tools often delays or limits their progress.

Women entrepreneurs are required to save 50 per cent of the cost of the business equipment they need, while Mayden Microfinance Bank finances the balance.

The scheme covers sewing machines, bakery equipment, salon tools, catering equipment, freezers, and printers, among others.

Happy Woman Solutions said the programme reflects its commitment to supporting women in building sustainable businesses and achieving long-term financial independence.

‘The Happy Woman Match Fund is more than a financing programme. It is an investment in the dreams, resilience, and economic potential of women entrepreneurs. By making business equipment more accessible, we are helping women increase productivity, create employment opportunities, improve household incomes, and contribute to stronger communities,’ the the two firms said.

The firm noted that the programme is being introduced first to members of the Happy Woman community in Lagos and Abuja, where the first cohort of beneficiaries will be selected.

Mayden Microfinance Bank, the funding partner for the initiative, reaffirmed its commitment to providing innovative financial solutions that promote entrepreneurship and financial inclusion, particularly among women-led businesses.

Eligible women entrepreneurs were urged to apply to access equipment that would strengthen their businesses and accelerate growth.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the move by the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, to tender an uncertified document in support of his defence in his ongoing trial for alleged criminal defamation.

The Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting Sowore for alleged criminal defamation against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who he referred to as a ‘criminal’ in posts made on his official X and Facebook accounts.

In the course of yesterday’s proceedings, Sowore’s lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), applied to tender, through the third defence witness (DW3), Wayne Chikezie Elijah, a copy of court documents, which the witness claimed he onced received on behalf of the defendant.

Elijah, led in evidence by Olumide-Fusika, told the court that he was a member of the defendant’s former legal team when he accepted the service of some court documents from the prosecution, on behalf of the defendant.

On the prompting of the defence lawyer, Elijah brought out a copy of the document, which Olumide-Fusika applied to tender in evidence, a move the prosecuting lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), objected to.

Ruling, Justice Mohammed Umar overruled Olumide-Fusika’s argument that it was a court document that emanated from the prosecution and so, required no certification.

Justice Umar said: ‘The document is coming from the custody of a counsel who claimed to be a counsel in the matter before. The reason for certification is to be sure the document has not been tampered with.

‘Having been in the custody of the said counsel, how is the court sure that the document has not been tampered with? The document is rejected and marked as such.’

While Kehinde cross-examined him, Elijah confirmed that he was present in the courtroom while the second defence witness (DW2) testified earlier in the proceedings yesterday.

Elijah said: ‘My lord, I was in and out of the courtroom. The CCTV of the court can confirm that I was indeed in and out of the courtroom.’

Earlier, while being led in evidence by Olumide-Fusika, the DW2, Uwem Davies, an official of the DSS who featured as a subpoenaed witness, described himself as Principal Officer, General Services at the DSS.

Davies said he was subpoenaed to testify in the case at the instance of the defendant.

He confirmed writing, upon the directive of the Director General of the DSS, a letter, requesting the defendant to take down his post on his X and Facebook platforms because it was generating tension in society.

The witness said the letter, dated January 22 was the only letter he wrote, asking the defendant to retract what he had posted on his social media handle on President Tinubu.

When shown a letter, dated September 7, 2025 and addressed to the MD, CEO of Meta, the parent body of Facebook, the witness said the letter contained his name, but was not authored by him.

He said B. Bamigboye, who was also subpoenaed, was his colleague in the same department, but has since retired.

The witness said he did not interface with Sowore before writing the defendant but acted on the directive of the DG of the DSS.

On whether the DG of the DSS and himself were supporters of President Tinubu in view of their claim that Sowore’s post infuriated a number of the President’s supporters, the witness said he did not know.

He insisted that as a lawyer in the employment of the DSS, he was instructed by the DG of the DSS to write Sowore to retract his alleged false post about the President.

Asked if he interacted with the supporters of the President before writing the letter, Davies said he did not but did the letter as directed by his employer.

At that point, Fusika told the court that he would have no option than to subpoena the DG of the DSS, because Davies had been unable to answer his questions the way he desired.

When Kehinde cross-examined him, Davies said all he did on the case was in his official capacity, not personal capacity.

He said the subpoena, which he tendered earlier, was served on the Service (DSS) and that the subpoena was passed on to me in his official capacity.

The witness confirmed that he and B. Bamigbose worked in the same department, but that Bamigboye has retired from service and his present location was unknown to his employer.

He said Bamigboye authored the letter to the Chairman/CEO X Corp on behalf of the DG of the DSS on the case, adding that Bamigboye authored the letter in his official capacity just as he did his own.

Davies said he had a copy of the letter and a copy of the subpoena served on Bamigboye.

Kehinde then applied to tender both documents in evidence, but Olumide-Fusika objected to the move, which the judge upheld.

Although Olumide-Fusika told the court that he had 20 witnesses to call, he applied for an adjournment to enable him to prepare his application for the issuance of a subpoena on the DG of the DSS.

Olumide-Fusika said he had also applied that a subpoena be issued on the spokesman to President Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, but was told by the court’s bailiffs that they were unable to serve Onanuga with the subpoena.

Justice Umar subsequently adjourned till July 28 for the continuation of the defence.