Metro
FG, Access Bank Commit N30bn to Support 4m MSMEs, Women

Access Bank P.lc., has partnered with the Office of the Vice-President to provide N30 billion to support four million Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), women and youths businesses in Nigeria.
The Group Managing Director of the bank, Mr Roosevelt Ogbonna, made this known in an interview with newsmen after a meeting with the Vice-President, Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, on Friday in Abuja.
Ogbonna, who explained that the money would be provided to the MSMEs at discounted rates, said the bank had been supporting MSMEs and women over the last 16 to 17 years.
He said that the vice-president had directed the bank to give priority to women, saying, ” Shettima has a biased for women as we do.
” It was a very interesting meeting with the Vice-President,Kashim Shettima, we spoke about how we can begin to impact the lives of women and youths in Nigeria as well as how we can support the MSMEs.
” We spoke on broad range of issues. We want to change the lives through the Office of the vice-president of small businesses of women and youths.
” We do agree and determine that about 66 per cent of MSMEs in Nigeria are owned by women and youths. And I think one of the challenges that they faced is access to finance.
” Working with the Office of the vice-president we agreed today that Access bank will provide about N30 billion towards supporting MSMEs and youths.”
He said that the bank had designed four different programmes to benefit no fewer than four million MSMES in the country
” This is not just about lending, we are building capacity by training the youths. We are ensuring that we can empower them through financing.
” We are also ensuring that we can find a new market for this MSMEs, so that any product or service they come up with they can find an outlet for it.”
Ogbonna also revealed that the bank would organise training programmes that would take them beyond the shores of Nigeria.
He added, ” So that they can be better when they return. Financing we expect that about 700,000 to a million people will be impacted but overall the programme will impact about four million MSMEs, youths and women.”
Ogbonna thanked the vice-president for granting them the opportunity to partner with the Federal Government.
He said, ” We are excited to be part of that process and we thank the office of the vice-president for giving us this opportunity to be a partner to his office.
” It will start from today, we just have to look for the deserving MSMEs. As we all know Access bank has been a bank that has supported SMEs and women for the last almost 16 to 17 years.
” All we are doing with this partnership is to give us significant impetus to do more. The vice-president has charged us to do less talking.
” We are now going to be on the streets to try and ensure that we get this off the ground immediately.”
On his part, Mr Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, Office of the Vice-President, reiterated the readiness of the Federal Government to partner with the private sector to support SMEs.
He said, ” President Bola Tinubu has told the entire world that Nigeria is ready and truly we are ready. Our doors are open for business and partnership.
” And you cannot thrive in this economy without the private sector and nor can the private sector thrive alone with the public sector.
” So for us it is a partnership that has come to at the right time. They have pledged to their own N30 billion for the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) at a discounted rates of between 15 to 17 per cent.
” This is a viable opportunities for MSMEs and it not a programme that we will need to have another conference or a meeting for, it starts now.” (NAN)
Metro
First Lady Urges Nigerians to Embrace Cultural Diversity, Promote Unity

The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has urged Nigerians to embrace their cultural diversity and promote unity and respect within the diverse nation.
The first lady made the call in her message on Wednesday in commemoration of the 2025 World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.
“The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, highlights the profound strength that lies our differences and the shared humanity that connects us all.
”There is indeed strength and unity in diversity.
“Nigeria for example is blessed with over 250 ethnic groups, each speaking a different language, but it is through our dialogue, our interactions, and our mutual respect that we find true identity and unity.
“On this day, I encourage every Nigerian to celebrate our cultural richness, to listen with empathy, and to lead with understanding.
“Let us embrace this journey together and shape a brighter future for Nigeria and the world,” Mrs Tinubu said.
The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is celebrated every year on May 21, to raise awareness on the role of Culture in sustainable socio-economic growth and development. (NAN)
Metro
FCTA Approves Contract For Construction Of Access Roads, others

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Executive Committee has approved the award of contract for the construction of access roads in Durumi and Mabushi Districts and other infrastructural projects.
Mr Richard Dauda, acting Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday, while briefing journalists after the 14th committee’s meeting, chaired by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
Dauda said that a contract was approved for the construction of access roads in Durumi District.
He explained that the contract would involve the construction of several access roads, drainages and culverts totalling about 1.7-kilometres in Durumi, around the Apostolic Church.
He added that the committee also approved the provision of access roads and infrastructure to parts of Mabushi District, particularly the Kez Udezue street, and other roads in the area.
He said that the scope of that project involves the provision of access roads, underground drainage services, street lighting, and other facilities like water and sewage collectors.
Also approved, according to the acting FCDA boss, is an emergency contract for erosion control affecting water pipelines.
He explained that the erosion affected a major water pipeline from Lower Usuma Dam through Kubwa to Airport Road and down to Gwagwalada.
“Erosion had taken place on the major pipeline feeding the various tanks up to Gwagwalada and it was a threat to the major water supply to all these areas.
“So, a Chinese company, CGC Nigeria Ltd. was invited to carry out the emergency work on the sites and the approval at the committee’s meeting was to finalise the emergency repair,” he said.
Dauda also said that the committee equally approved the award of contract for the complete renovation, furnishing and technical installations at the Department of State Security Headquarters.
“Another memo was for the construction of one block of a Magistrate Court in Jabi,” he said.
Earlier, the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Mr Chidi Amadi, explained that 13 memos were submitted for consideration, out of which nine were examined and approved.
Amadi added that the nine memos were approved to deepen the infrastructural development and upgrade of the capital city and its environment. (NAN)
Metro
Infrastructure: We Have Renovated, Furnished 60 Schools in FCT – Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says the FCT Administration has renovated and furnished more than 60 public schools across the territory.
Wike stated this after inspecting some ongoing projects in Gwagwalada and Kwali Area Councils of the territory on Friday.
He explained that beyond road projects, the FCT Administration had invested hugely in improving critical infrastructure in the health and education sectors among others.
According to him, every sector will receive the needed attention, and no one will be left behind.
“We have done a lot of work in schools. The schools we have renovated and furnished are more than 60 so far.
“I can tell you that no sector would be left abandoned, every sector will be focused on.”
The minister, however, pointed out that “good road network is what brings development.
“When there are no roads, which school will you go to?
“When there are no roads, which hospital will you go to?
“So first of all, the key thing that drives development is a good road network all over the world.
“If you’re talking about agriculture, how will you go and harvest your produce when there is no road?”
Wike said that the farming communities along the A2 to Pai road would be happy that they now have a road network to take their farm produce to the city and markets to sell.
He added that good road networks also impacted positively in reducing insecurity.
He explained that when people commit offences and there was no road to chase them, it would become a problem.
“But when you see this kind of road with streetlights, you will have to think twice before you commit any offence,” the minister said. (NAN)