By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The European Union (EU) said it has concluded its Digital skills promotion programme targeting Women, Hard-to-Reach Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, following three years of targeted support to advance inclusive digital transformation and economic opportunity in Borno and Yobe States.

The programme that was aimed to reduce the digital gender divide and digital exclusion among women, youth, and persons with disabilities while strengthening community-level capacity in fragile contexts.

The closing ceremony, held in Maiduguri on 4 February 2026, brought together stakeholders, including representatives of the European Union, implementing partners, civil society organisations, and state government officials, to reflect on progress achieved and lessons learned from the initiative.

Funded by the European Union with €750,000, the programme was implemented by ZOA International from 2023 to 2026. It focused on narrowing the digital gender gap, expanding access to digital skills, and strengthening the capacity of grassroots civil society organisations across 30 communities in Borno and Yobe states.

Speaking at the closing ceremony in Maiduguri, the Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Massimo De Luca, underscored the programme’s strategic focus on inclusive, people-centred digital development.

“This project shows how well-targeted digital investments can deliver lasting impact—by empowering communities, strengthening local institutions, and supporting inclusive economic growth,” De Luca said.

“Through the Global Gateway strategy, the European Union is backing practical, people-centred digital transformation that responds to local realities and leaves no one behind.”

He emphasised the importance of digital inclusion in conflict-affected regions, noting:
“Digital inclusion is not a luxury; it is a necessity for resilience, innovation, and meaningful participation in today’s economy. For marginalised communities in conflict-affected regions, access to digital skills is essential to stability, opportunity, and long-term recovery.”

Highlighting the EU’s forward-looking approach, De Luca added:
“Looking ahead, the European Union wants initiatives like this to translate into real economic value. Our focus is on ensuring that skills, infrastructure, and innovation lead to viable enterprises, job creation, and durable economic resilience within local communities.”
Providing an overview of the programme’s outcomes, Godwin Dominic, ZOA Programme Manager, said the initiative delivered measurable results across target communities.

“Over the course of implementation, the programme trained 18,193 individuals, established 32 IT hubs, and supported the formation of a Digital Literacy Working Group to strengthen coordination and sustainability,” Dominic said.

“In addition, six schools were capacitated with access to IT services, expanding opportunities for digital learning and skills development across communities in Borno and Yobe states.”

Representing the Borno State Government, the Executive Secretary of the Borno Information and Communication Technology Development Agency (BICTDA), Engr. Mohammed Kabir Wanori commended the programme for complementing state development priorities, strategies, policies, and strengthening opportunities for women and youth.

As the programme concludes, partners reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining the digital infrastructure, skills, and local capacity developed through the initiative, ensuring that its outcomes continue to support inclusive economic participation and community resilience in North-East Nigeria.

By David Torough, Abuja

It was a moment of glamour as eminent Personalities converged on Abuja for the DAILY ASSET 9th Annual Awards to honour distinguished Nigerians who have made significant impact to the growth of the society.

The grand event, which was held at the NICON Luxury Hotel, Central Business District, pooled together people from all walks of life including Politicians,  the academia, businessmen, professionals and a host of other dignitaries.

The Governors of Adamawa State, Rt Hon. Ahmadu Fintiri and his Enugu counterpart, Dr. Peter Mbah as well as Edo, Senator Monday Okpebholo jointly received the award of Governor of the Year.

Also, the Executive Chairman, National Revenue Service, Dr. Zacch Adedeji bagged Man of the Year and Vice President (Oil and Gas), Dangote Industries Plc, Edwin Devakumar got Iconic  Corporate Achiever/ Person of the year Award.

The Minister of Livestock Development, Hon. Mukhtar Idi Maiha received award as Ministers of the Year for National Peace and Transformation of the Livestock Sector.

Similarly, Senator Abdulrahman Sumaila Kawu(Kano South – APC) was given Legislator of the year, while a frontline Businessman, Chief Peter Adejoh  bagged Philanthropist of the year. He shared the award with Chief Sami Charles, a former Presidential Aspirant and Europe-based business magnate and Philanthropist.

National Vice Chairman(North East), All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Salihu Mustapha was awarded as Politician of the Year with Dr. Kanyitor Chira Shakaa, Auditor General for the Federation(AuGF) as Public Servant of the Year.

On the corporate side, Fintech giants, OPay Digital Services Limited emerged as Brand of the Year, while Fidelity Bank Plc was named as Bank of the Year and the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas(Pi-CNG) won the award of Government Agency of the year.

Chairman of the occasion, who doubled as the Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Chief Mamman Mike Osuman, commended DAILY ASSET for instituting the annual awards, describing the recognition as a privilege that celebrates integrity, capacity, morality and ethical standards in public and private life.

Osuman, who also spoke on behalf of other award recipients, appreciated the organisers and urged Nigerians to uphold civic values in the interest of national unity and stability.

Chair Lady of the occasion and former National President, National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Chief Evelyn Onyilo, congratulated the awardees and stressed the need for Nigeria to get it right as a people.

The Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Asset Newspapers Limited and Proprietor of Asset Television, Dr Cletus Akwaya, said the 9th edition of the Annual Awards was held to celebrate individuals who have distinguished themselves in various fields.

Akwaya said the essence of the annual awards was to promote positive role models in a society where, according to him, the wrong set of people often receive public attention.

“We live in a country where we lack role models, and sometimes people become famous for the wrong reasons. At DAILY ASSET, we have chosen our own way of recognising those who have excelled in their various walks of life and presenting them as role models for upcoming generations,” he said.

He noted that many honest and hardworking Nigerians who contribute quietly to national development often go unnoticed, adding that the awards were deliberately designed to recognise such individuals based on the assessment of the newspaper’s editorial board.

Akwaya, a former Commissioner of Information in Benue state, also emphasised the critical role of the media in sustaining democracy, describing it as an indispensable partner in national development.

“The media has become an inevitable partner in our democracy. There is hardly any sector of our national life that can function meaningfully without the support of the media.

He urged public officials, professionals and institutions to embrace the media as allies.

Since its inception in 2017, the Daily Asset Annual Awards has become a frontline event on the social calendar of media houses in the country as it brings together top government functionaries, leading professionals, captains of industry, traditional rulers, politicians and philanthropists across the length and breadth of the country.

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By David Torough, Abuja

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has unveiled its 2026–2030 Strategic Plan and revived its Annual Lecture Series, with government officials, medical leaders, and health sector stakeholders stressing the need for strong implementation, policy continuity, and far-reaching reforms to reposition the association as a driver of national health transformation.

The event, held on Friday at the Ladi Kwali Conference Centre, Abuja Continental Hotel, drew senior government officials, policymakers, medical professionals, and leaders of the association.

Chairman of the occasion and Minister of State for Health, Dr. Isiak Adekunle Salako, congratulated the NMA on institutionalising the Annual Lecture Series and rolling out a long-term strategic roadmap, describing effective planning as the backbone of sustainable development.

Quoting the adage, “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail,” Salako commended the current NMA leadership for its foresight, professionalism, and commitment to continuity—qualities he urged future leaders of the association to uphold.

He reaffirmed that health occupies a central place in President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, recalling the President’s position that “the health of all Nigerians is a matter of urgent right.”

According to him, the Federal Government is prioritising the strengthening of primary healthcare and improving national health security to ensure swift responses to infectious disease outbreaks.

The minister also praised Nigerian health professionals who have chosen to remain in the country despite the growing wave of medical migration, describing their commitment as vital to the survival of the health system.

Earlier, former NMA President and immediate past Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Prof. I.A.O. Ujah, identified the lack of continuity in policies and projects as a major obstacle to progress in Nigeria’s health sector.

Ujah noted that although the NMA was established in 1952, it had no annual lecture series until his tenure, when he initiated the platform.

He expressed regret that the initiative was not entrenched in the association’s constitution at the time but voiced optimism that its revival would now make it a permanent feature.

In his keynote address, the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, described the NMA as more than a professional body, calling it a national institution with the moral authority and credibility to influence health sector transformation.

While applauding the NMA leadership for producing what he termed an “apt and timely” strategic plan, Kana warned that “plans do not save lives; implementation does.”

He observed that Nigeria’s health system shows both resilience and vulnerability, pointing to poor remuneration, weak financing, and workforce burnout as key drivers of the “japa” syndrome. He also noted that Nigeria bears a disproportionately high burden of global maternal deaths, challenging the NMA to take a leadership role in reversing the trend.

Kana outlined priority pillars for reform, including workforce empowerment and welfare advocacy, evidence-based policy engagement, strategic partnerships, strengthened primary healthcare, and sustainable financing through expanded health insurance coverage.

He urged the association to move from episodic advocacy to governance-focused leadership, backed by internal reforms and stronger collaboration with the government at all levels.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Dr. Pokop Bupwatda, Chief Medical Director of Jos University Teaching Hospital and Secretary of the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals, described the NMA as a critical stakeholder in Nigeria’s growth and development.

Dr. Bupwatda, who represented the committee’s chairman, Prof. Saad Ahmed, said the revival of the Annual Lecture Series and the launch of the NMA’s five-year Strategic Plan were highly commendable.

According to him, the lecture series, introduced during the tenure of Prof. Innocent Ujah, was conceived as an intellectual platform for members to brainstorm and generate solutions to pressing challenges facing the medical sector and other areas of national development.

He praised the current NMA leadership, led by Prof. Bala Muhammad Audu, for reviving the initiative, noted that sustained intellectual engagement and strategic planning were essential for meaningful reform in the health sector.