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Umar Namadi, the Governor of Jigawa State, has congratulated the government and people of Nigeria on the occasion of the nation’s 65th Independence Anniversary, describing the day as a reminder of the unity, resilience, and sacrifices that built the country.

In his goodwill message, Governor Namadi said the anniversary is not only a time to reflect on the struggles of the nation’s founding fathers but also an opportunity to renew collective commitment to peace, progress, and prosperity. ‘Today, we celebrate Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary with pride and gratitude. This day reminds us of the sacrifices of our heroes past, whose vision and courage laid the foundation of our beloved country. As a people, we must continue to uphold the ideals of unity, justice, and service to humanity,’ the governor said.

This is contained in a statement by Hamisu Mohammed Gumel, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor and made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Duste.

He noted that despite challenges, Nigeria continues to make progress under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose policies are geared towards strengthening the economy, improving security, and providing better opportunities for citizens. ‘Here in Jigawa, our administration is committed to complementing the efforts of the Federal Government by prioritising the welfare of our people, investing in agriculture, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and creating opportunities for our youth and women. Together, we will build a stronger state and contribute to the greatness of Nigeria,’ he added.

According to the statement, Governor Namadi urged Nigerians to remain united and hopeful, stressing that the diversity of the nation is a source of strength rather than division.

He called on citizens to continue supporting government policies and programmes for sustainable development. ‘As we hoist our green and white flag today, let us be reminded that the responsibility of building a prosperous Nigeria rests on all of us. With unity, faith, and determination, we shall overcome our challenges and fulfill the dream of a greater nation,’ he concluded.

The rift between Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has pushed up cooking gas prices by 33 percent across Nigeria, leaving many households struggling to afford the essential commodity.

A kilogramme of cooking gas has risen from N1200 to N1600.

Across Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and other major cities on Tuesday, residents were forced to ration consumption or resort to alternative fuels such as kerosene, firewood and charcoal, further straining household budgets.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) retailers said they were battling acute shortages, as supply from both local producers and importers tightened significantly.

‘The situation is unbearable,’ said Chinyere Nwankwo, a mother of three who lives in Abuja. ‘I bought gas at N1,200 per kilogramme two weeks ago, but today it is N1,600. We can’t continue like this. Families are being suffocated.’

Industry sources blame the scarcity on disagreement between PENGASSAN and the Dangote Petroleum Refinery over pricing, supply channels and contractual terms.

‘LPG scarcity persists nationwide as PENGASSAN delays LPG discharge in Apapa,’ said LPG in Nigeria, a social enterprise that started in 2011 to grow the Nigerian LPG industry through advocacy.

Although the 650,000-barrel-per-day facility is expected to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imports, reports suggest that limited volumes are being released into the domestic market. This, combined with rising global gas prices and foreign exchange pressures, has worsened the crisis.

Retailers argue that the federal government has failed to intervene decisively to stabilise the sector. ‘We are left at the mercy of producers and middlemen as the scarcity continues,’ said Adam Sulaimon, a retailer in Lagos.

‘Every day since last weekend, the price has gone up, and we have no choice but to pass it to consumers. If the scarcity continues, it could hit N2,000 per kilogramme before next week.’

The surge in cooking gas prices has far-reaching implications. Beyond household hardship, it undermines Nigeria’s clean energy transition agenda, which aims to discourage the use of firewood and charcoal due to concerns about deforestation and the environment.

The issue may escalate without quick resolution

The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) warns that without a swift resolution between PENGASSAN, Dangote, and other key stakeholders, the crisis could escalate into a national emergency.

Olatunbosun Oladapo, NALPGAM’s president, said its members are on standby to get the supply. However, vessel discharge has been stopped on the back of the PENGASSAN strike.

He said: ‘There’s no loading in any depot as we speak now. Our members are there to pick gas, but there’s nowhere to pick. Virtually all the storage facilities are dry, and the vessel was not allowed to discharge.

‘There’s no Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and other officers to inspect because of this PENGASSAN strike.

‘So it’s a national issue, and we are seeing the effects. The earlier we solve this problem, the better for the country. Because if there is no gas supply for the next three days, then there will be problems.’

The NMDPRA has yet to issue a clear statement, though insiders say the government is weighing options that include emergency imports and stakeholder engagement.

For now, Nigerians remain in the grip of soaring costs. ‘Cooking gas should not be a luxury,’ said Nwankwo. ‘But right now, it feels like only the rich can afford to cook.’

Meeting continues after Monday deadlock

The mediation meeting to resolve the ongoing dispute between Dangote Refinery and PENSASSAN ended in a deadlock on Monday as both parties could not come to terms, after about nine hours of meeting.

The meeting, which was chaired by Muhammad Dingyadi, minister of Labour and Employment, had the leadership of PENGASSAN, Dangote Refinery, minister of finance, and key directors of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority in attendance.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting at the early hours of Tuesday, Festus Osifo, president of PENGASSAN, explained that the meeting could not resolve the issues at hand as the management of Dangote Refinery refused to reinstate the sacked staff.

He insisted that the demand of the association was the reinstatement of the 800 staff who were sacked, adding that the strike action would continue without their reinstatement.

‘Yes, as you could see, we’ve been here for about nine hours trying to find solutions. And we’ve had numerous deliberations from the larger team. We broke into a smaller team, trying to find solutions. But unfortunately, there is no solution tonight.

‘All we want is that we have 800 people plus that are at home. These people are fathers; they are mothers, and their careers are at stake. When you terminate people the way you’ve terminated them, it will be extremely difficult for them to find jobs anywhere.

‘ Some of these people are trainees and you said they have committed sabotage. So, if they go home like that, there is no other company they will get jobs to do again in Nigeria because they have seen them as saboteurs. So, these are careers that will be damaged if proper remedy is not put in place.

‘So, that is why for us, our position has been very clear, you have to reinstate these people. If you reinstate them tonight, we will call off our action tonight, but unfortunately, that reinstatement did not happen. And we were not able to reach conclusions on the subject.

‘So they have asked us to come back again by 2 o’clock. So, we will reconvene and we pray that God should touch the heart of the capitalists. God should touch the heart of the oppressors for them to call our people back to work,’ Osifo said.

Bolaji Balogun, CEO of Chapel Hill Denham, has shared strategic guidance for entrepreneurs aiming to build sustainable businesses in Nigeria and Africa.

He presented the growth strategies at a recent Worldwide Alumni Celebration of the London Business School (LBS), Nigeria chapter in Lagos, themed ‘Africa’s Builders: What it takes to start, grow and scale.’

He noted that Africa’s demographic advantage lies in its rapidly growing young population, which he says can boost economic growth by creating wealth through entrepreneurship.

Balogun shared the insights based on his 35 years of inspiring entrepreneurial journey and working with other successful entrepreneurs who built from scratch to big conglomerates on the continent.

In starting a business, he advised start-ups to have a big vision, clarity about the unique problems they intend to solve, discipline, financial prudence, and lots of experience.’

‘You must have a big vision and be clear about the problems you are solving when starting a business,’ he said.

‘The other thing that you’ll find common is that you need tremendous discipline around consistency in execution. It’s about financial prudence, operational rigour, and you will also need a lot of courage when you start,’ he explained.

He emphasized that starting a business requires experience, urging start-ups to have working experience before launching into entrepreneurship.

‘Experience is important as it helps you learn the business and the fundamentals properly. It helps you understand the structure, margins, customers and markets and how brands are built,’ he said.

In growing a business, Balogun says that growing a business in Africa requires the ability to identify, hire, and retain high-quality people over a long period. He noted that aggression is needed to grow any business, saying, ‘When you look at the entrepreneurs that have succeeded around here, they all have a mean streak around them, whether it’s Aliko, or Aigboje and the late Herbert of Access Bank, or Tony of UBA. Every single person who has built something here invariably has a bit of aggression.’

‘If you don’t have a bit of aggression, go home. Aggression is necessary for three simple reasons. It’s about the ability to make decisions quickly.’

‘It’s about the ability to process a lot of information and be clear-minded through that process and to be able to make the right decisions quickly.’

He stressed that having aggression ensures not making a mistake because it provides the ability to pivot when necessary and the swiftness to react to opportunities that are available all the time.

He urged startups to establish structures that promote accountability, transparency, ethics, and governance discipline.

In scaling a business, Balogun says the business must have had a significant community impact and now be focused on a broader stakeholder community.

He urged entrepreneurs who want to scale their businesses to ensure that their corporate governance is stronger, they understand the power of the capital market, they understand sustainability, increase employee training, reinvest in the business, think long-term, and continue the quest for excellence.

The event also included a panel discussion on what it takes to build a regional and continental business in Africa and practical advice on how to grow and scale businesses successfully was offered.

The panelists include: Adedotun Sulaiman, chairman, Parthian Partners Ltd; Roosevelt Ogbonna, group managing director, Access Bank; Kathleen O’Connor, clinical professor, LBS and Olumide Soyombo, co-founder, Bluechip Technologies and Voltron Capital. It was moderated by Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani, CEO, EnergyInc Advisors.

Africa’s venture capital firms (VCs) are increasingly taking the lead in funding rounds, marking a shift to greater local involvement in the continent’s rapidly expanding startup ecosystem.

In October 2024, Moniepoint achieved unicorn status after closing a $110 million Series C from Lagos-based Verod Capital, which joined Google’s Africa Investment Fund and Lightrock as investors.

In recent months, notable deals have highlighted how homegrown investors are backing innovation across fintech, clean energy, e-commerce, and human resource (HR) technology. These transactions underscore how African or Nigerian VCs are moving beyond seed bets to play a more decisive role in scaling startups.

‘While global investors often wait for signals before backing African startups, the real catalyst is local venture capital firms. Local VCs must take the first step, which is not just with mentorship or training, but with actual capital, to show that African startups are viable. Once that confidence is built, global funds will follow,’ said Frank Samuel, investment associate at Sahara Impact Ventures.

He cited the advantage local investors bring, which is their deep understanding of the context, noting that they know the networks, the government touchpoints, and the partnerships that can unlock growth opportunities for startups.

‘Unlike international funds, which add value when startups scale globally, local VCs are the ones that can navigate ministries, state institutions, and technical financing to support innovation on the ground. That’s why the next big funding wave in Nigeria and across Africa will be led by local venture capitalists,’ Samuel stated.

Abiodun Lawal, principal at Heave Ventures said, ‘While foreign investors come with cash and little oversight, local investors have the opportunity to ‘go beyond cash.’

‘Local investors can leverage their strengths such as domain and context awareness, nuances, introductions, policy influencing, and lobbying,’ Lawal said.

He noted that these ‘beyond cash’ activities improve returns as investments are de-risked. ‘The fine balance however is that investors should not get in the way of the entrepreneurs.

‘We believe Africa is not Silicon Valley. Our terrain is called the Tropical Savannah,’ Lawal stated.

Zone, a payment infrastructure startup, closed an $8.5 million seed round in March 2024, co-led by TLcom Capital, one of Africa’s most active early-stage funds. SunFi, a clean energy company, also secured $1 million in early 2025 with backing from Ventures Platform, Delta40, and Kaleo Ventures.

Accrue, a fintech platform, raised $1.58 million, led by Lattice Fund with contributions from other regional backers. The momentum has continued into mid-2025 as Solar energy provider, Arnergy, raised $18 million in a Series B round that included local participation, while construction e-commerce startup CutStruct and HR solutions company PaidHR each secured $2 million seed rounds with Zedcrest Capital among the investors.

Local VCs such as Microtraction and newer players like Future Africa are offering important lessons on how domestic capital can lead, shape, and sustain startup ecosystems.

Microtraction has built its reputation by investing early – often in pre-seed or seed round startups. It has actively provided small but meaningful checks to founders who are just getting started.

A recent example is Microtraction’s Community Fund (first close $15 million), which aims to write first cheques of $100,000 for about 7 percent equity in early-stage African tech companies, with options for follow-ups.

Future Africa describes itself as a ‘founding investor’ with check sizes in the $100,000-500,000 range. They build a community of founders, investors, advisors, corporates, and government partners to support portfolio companies from early on.

The network effect helps founders access more than just capital, but also advisory services, partnerships, institutional support, and so on.

Local VCs often invest in startups solving problems specific to Nigeria or Africa, ranging from fintech, edtech, healthtech, or logistics, rather than only chasing global tech export stories. For Microtraction, its portfolio spans fintech, health tech, SaaS, edtech, crypto, gaming, and mobility across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Rwanda.

Challenges

The challenges faced by local VCs are lingering structural and market challenges, which include limited pools of domestic institutional capital such as pension funds.

Sovereign wealth funds in Nigeria often have mandates, risk appetites, or regulatory constraints that make early-stage tech investments difficult.

Beyond capital, scaling companies needs legal, HR, compliance, operations, international expansion, and many local VCs are still building those support systems.

Local VCs also face competition from foreign VCs with deeper pockets, global networks, and the ability to write larger cheques.

By writing larger checks and co-leading rounds with global players, homegrown investors are positioning themselves as key drivers of the next wave of African innovation funding.

As Nigeria’s tech ecosystem expands rapidly, local venture capital (VC) firms are increasingly stepping up as key drivers of innovation, capital deployment, and sustainable growth.

Jensen Huang, Nvidia CEO, has warned that the United Kingdom (UK) and other major economies face a crippling shortage of skilled tradespeople like electricians and plumbers.

The deficit, according to him, could be best met by encouraging more workers from overseas.

The technology chief underscored the urgent need for a massive increase in the blue-collar workforce to keep pace with the accelerating global boom in data centre construction.

This fast-growing sector, essential for powering the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, requires a vast physical infrastructure, and Huang insists the required skills are not on track to be filled domestically. ‘If you’re an electrician, you’re a plumber, a carpenter we’re going to need hundreds of thousands of them to build all of these factories,’ Huang stated.

He projected an explosive demand in the sector, claiming, ‘The skilled craft segment of every economy is going to see a boom. You’ve going to have to be doubling and doubling and doubling every single year.’

The call for overseas labour

Huang’s comments echo the anxieties of other leading business figures who have highlighted immigration policies and a lack of interest among young people as creating a perfect storm for construction and manufacturing.

Earlier this year, Larry Fink, BlackRock CEO, voiced his concerns to the White House, specifically pointing to the negative impact of immigrant labour deportations on the ability to build essential AI data centres in the United States (US). ‘We just don’t have enough,’ Fink lamented, noting the shortfall in skilled workers like electricians needed for the construction drive.

This view was recently backed by Jim Farley, Ford CEO, who cited a gap between political ambitions to ‘reshore’ manufacturing and the reality of the domestic workforce.

According to Farley, the US is already short by over half a million construction workers and 600,000 factory staff, demonstrating that ‘there’s nothing to backfill the ambition’ of large-scale, national projects. The demand for these workers is not speculative. Industry analysts project that global capital expenditure on data centres will soar to $7 trillion by 2030.

Each large-scale data centre can demand up to 1,500 construction staff during its initial build, with many roles offering six-figure salaries without the requirement of a university degree.

Huang’s stance signals a shift, suggesting the most lucrative opportunities now lie in the physical side of technology rather than the software. When asked what he would study if he were a young man today, the Nvidia CEO confessed he would now choose disciplines rooted in the physical sciences.

With AI threatening a swath of traditional white-collar, entry-level roles, it is obvious that the future workforce needs to be ready to get its hands dirty, and a major influx of domestic and foreign talent is required to power the next industrial revolution.

The Lagos State government has announced a two-day traffic diversion to facilitate the smooth hosting of the Electric Powerboat Racing Championship E1 Series event.

The championship, which is Africa’s first electric powerboat race set to take place on Lagos Inland Waterways of Victoria Island Lagoon, will begin on Friday, October 3, and end on Sunday, October 5, 2025.

For this reason, there will be a total road closure at First Lekki Junction inward Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island.

A statement from the state’s Ministry of Transportation enjoins motorists on this route to use alternative routes, which have been marked out for that purpose.

Motorists from Ajah heading to Lekki will make a U-turn at Lekki First Junction by the Pedestrian Bridge to link Yesufu Abiodun to Maroko Police Station to access City of David to Ligali Ayorinde to connect Ajose Adeogun straight to Eko Hotel Roundabout to Ahmadu Bello Way to Independence Bridge and McEwen/Onikan to continue their journeys.

Alternatively, motorists from Ajah inward CMS can go through Abraham Adesanya to link Ogombo Road to access Okun Ajah Road to connect Coastal Road to Ahmadu Bello Way to Independence Bridge and McEwen/Onikan to continue their journeys.

Additionally, motorists from Lekki and its environs, going to Ikoyi/Mainland could go through Admiralty Way to access Lekki Link Bridge to Alexander Road/Bourdillon Way to connect Gerrard Road and Osborne Road to continue their journeys.

Alternatively, motorists from Lekki and its environs going to CMS can connect Yesufu Abiodun to link Oniru Road to access Aboyade Cole Road to Ligali Ayorinde Street to Eko Hotel Roundabout and Ahmadu Bello Way to continue their journeys.

In the same vein, motorists on the other side (from CMS/Independence Bridge and Ozumba Mbadiwe inward Lekki-Epe Expressway) will have a thoroughfare to Ajah and its environs.

Oluwaseun Osiyemi, the state’s commissioner for transportation, assured motorists of adequate parking made available for the event at Fidelity Bank, Access Bank, and Law School Premises, Victoria Island.

He also urged all participants to cooperate with officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), who will be strategically deployed along all event routes to ensure smooth traffic flow.

The commissioner assured further that during the period of the 2-day road diversion, the coastal road will be open to traffic.

He advised motorists to be patient as the diversion is part of the traffic management plans for the E1 Boat Race event to take place on the waterways at Victoria Island, Lagos.

Governor Abba Kabiru Yusuf of Kano State has described the action of the state’s commissioner of police, pulling out of the March Pass ceremony marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day, as an indiscretion and an affront to national unity.

Addressing crowds that gathered to mark the country’s 65th Independence anniversary, Sani Abacha Stadium venue of the ceremony, Abba accused the state commissioner, Ibrahim Adamu Bako, of deliberately withdrawing officers from the celebration, a move he said has embarrassed the state.

‘As you can see, on this historic and independent anniversary of Nigeria, he decided to pull out of the parade along with his own personnel.

‘This is for reasons pertinent to him and pertinent to his people. Let me say that Kano State’s Chief Security Officer, on behalf of the government, are not happy with this attitude of the Commissioner of Police.’, Governor Abba said. The governor’s remarks, made at the climax of the ceremony, underscored the fragile relationship between state officials and federal security institutions in Nigeria, where police commissioners report to the federal government rather than to governors, even though governors are constitutionally designated as their states’ ‘chief security officers.’ Abba accused the police of partisanship and warned that their absence risked undermining public trust in law enforcement.

‘Security agencies, in Kano in particular, shouldn’t be involving themselves in partisan politics, which will do no good to all of us in Kano State and in Nigeria, of course,’ he said. ‘I would like to seize this opportunity as a Nigerian, as a Kano citizen, and as the Chief Security Officer of Kano State, to condemn the unethical and partisan attitude of the current Commissioner of Police.

‘Today, every Nigerian is happy to celebrate the independence of this country,’ he said. ‘The good people of Kano are peace-loving people. They have been looking for this day, when we all gather here, to celebrate the independence of our country’, the Governor further stated.

He further described the commissioner’s last-minute decision to withdraw as politically motivated. ‘When our rights are written today in court, yet the Commissioner of Police decided to withdraw at the last minute,’ Mr Yusuf said. ‘This is unethical. This is disloyalty to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’

In concluding his address, Governor Abba commended other security agencies for attending. He emphasised his displeasure that the police, a central figure in such ceremonies, had absented themselves.

Saliu Mustapha, Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District has called for collective efforts by all and sundry to tackle insecurity in the State.

Mustapha in a statement signed and released to journalists in Ilorin, expressed deep disturbance by the recent security challenges in parts of Kwara South and Kwara North Senatorial Districts.

According to him, for decades, Kwara proudly enjoyed an enviable reputation as one of the most peaceful State in the Federation but sadly, the recent wave of banditry and kidnapping is capable of eroding that record, ‘thereby unfortunately drawing our dear State into the wider national security concerns.

‘I extend my heartfelt sympathy to fellow Kwarans and families who have fallen victim to this senseless carnage, especially those who have paid the ultimate price. I send my deepest condolences to the families of the vigilantes, forestry guards, and others who lost their lives during the recent attacks in Oke-Ode, Ifelodun Local Government Area, as well as in Edu and Patigi LGAs of our State.

‘I must acknowledge the immense efforts of the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR; the Kwara State Government under His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq, CON; and the gallantry of our security agencies who continue to put their lives on the line to protect us all.

‘This crisis is novel to Kwara, and this may partly explain why it has appeared intractable. I therefore urge the public to exercise understanding, patience and restraints while trusting in the capacity of both the Federal and State governments to overcome this menace.

‘More importantly, I call on all stakeholders across every spectrum political, traditional, communal, and religious to recognise this as a shared challenge requiring shared responsibility. If any part of Kwara is unsafe, then no part is truly safe.

‘I believe that we, the political class whether in government or opposition must rise above rhetoric and name-calling. This is a moment for unity, for collective action, and for prayers for divine intervention and for guidance for our leaders, whose decisions, in one way or another, affect us all as citizens.

‘We do not have another State apart from Kwara. Our future, our peace, and our prosperity depend on the choices we make today.

All hands must therefore be on deck to regain the peace and harmony Kwara State is known for.’

What began as crude phishing emails riddled with spelling mistakes has now evolved into a high-stakes battle against artificial intelligence-powered impersonations. From cloned voices to convincing video calls, cybercriminals are weaponizing AI to mimic reality so closely that even seasoned professionals struggle to tell the difference.

Cybersecurity expert, Okoli Ugochukwu, with over a decade of experience in security operations and incident response, has sounded the alarm: ‘Trust is no longer a starting point. It’s a reward that must be earned. In the AI era, we must verify first, then trust.’

According to him, traditional red flags like typos or suspicious email addresses have given way to sophisticated threats. Attackers now replicate a CEO’s writing style, voice, or even facial expressions in video calls to trick employees into releasing sensitive data or approving fraudulent wire transfers.

‘Imagine your CEO’s voice on the phone calmly asking you to authorize an urgent payment. Would you hesitate? That’s the new battlefield,’ Ugochukwu explained.

To combat this wave of AI-driven scams, he outlined five key defense strategies:

Multi-channel verification – Confirming requests across different mediums (e.g., email + phone call).

Contextual verification – Checking whether requests align with past behavior or tone. Zero-trust mindset – Treating every request as potentially malicious until verified.

AI-powered defenses – Using detection tools to flag anomalies in voice, video, or email.

Personal codes or safe words – Low-tech but effective human-only verification layers.

He emphasized that while the tools may be advanced, vigilance remains human-driven. ‘The landscape of trust has shifted. What can be faked in one channel is harder to fake across many. Habits of verification, not fear, will keep us resilient.’

With over 400 citations worldwide for his research on AI-driven cyber threats, Ugochukwu continues to push for a balance between human intuition and technology. His message is clear: as the line between truth and fabrication blurs, the key to digital safety is discipline.

Ugochukwu is a cybersecurity professional with 10+ years of experience in security operations, cloud security, and incident response. His research on AI and evolving AI-driven cyber threats has been cited over 400 times worldwide. He is committed to advancing cyber resilience through innovation, mentorship, and emerging technologies.

ýAs a way of encouraging start-ups floated by youths in the State, the Administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, has distributed the sum of N800 million to distributed to business owned by youths.

The special intervention programme flagged off on Tuesday, in Kano, is said to be designed at supporting young entrepreneurs to start and expand their businesses.

Governor Abba said that the disbursement of the money is with immediate effect, across the 44 Local Government Areas of the State.

Governor Abba gave the directive, while launching the programme that a total of 5,384 young men and women selected as beneficiaries of the programme are to received ?150,000, each.

He noted that the programme was initiated as part of the administration’s commitment to improving the lives of young people in the State.

ýGovernor Yusuf noted that the initiative was designed to help youths become active members of the business community and contribute to societal progress.

ýHe urged the beneficiaries to make the best use of the funds to grow their ventures and secure a better future.

ýHe also appealed to those who are still on the waiting list to remain patient, assuring them that the second tranche of the programme will be released soon.

ýThe governor reaffirmed that his administration would continue to prioritise policies and programmes that empower young people and create sustainable livelihoods across Kano State.

Sources told BusinessDay that the bulk of the beneficiaries of the programme were picked from among the hundred of youths that were rehabilited from being political Tmthugs across the State.

Kano, Nigeria ‘s most populated State has been experiencing escalation in youths restifuness in the recent times, due to what experts attributed to mounting unemployment among the youths in the state.

The disbursement of the money to the beneficiaries, who are mostly street boys, is expected to reduce the escalation in urban crimes, largely been driven by the unemployed youths