By Raphael Atuu, Abuja

A non-governmental organisation, Regy and Henry Amazing Grace Foundation, in conjunction with the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education Initiative, is set to empower residents of Kabusa District, Abuja, through a three-week skills acquisition and intervention programme at Gbuduwyi.

The empowerment programme, which will run from August 11 to 28, will focus on skills acquisition, vocational training, literacy development, psychological support and other interventions aimed at improving the social and economic well-being of residents.

Speaking with Daily Asset correspondent, the national coordinator of the NGO, Regina Duru, said Kabusa District was selected for the programme because of its growing population and the need to provide residents, particularly vulnerable members of the community, with opportunities to become economically self-reliant.

She said the organisation had been involved in empowerment programmes across various districts and communities in Abuja and would continue to expand its interventions to areas where there was a need for such support.

 “We have been empowering districts and communities in Abuja for some time, and we shall continue to do our best to support people and improve their livelihoods,” Dr. Duru said.

According to her, the programme is designed not only to provide participants with practical vocational skills but also to promote literacy, confidence, mental well-being and personal development.

She explained that beneficiaries would be exposed to different areas of training that could enable them to establish small businesses, secure employment or improve their existing sources of livelihood.

Duru further disclosed that the foundation’s partners include the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the Mental Health Initiative, among others.

She noted that the involvement of the various partners would strengthen the programme by addressing not only economic empowerment but also issues relating to drug abuse, human trafficking, mental health and other social challenges affecting communities.

The founder also called on government agencies, private organisations, development partners, philanthropists and other well-meaning individuals to support the initiative, stressing that more partnerships would enable the foundation to reach a greater number of people.

She said the organisation’s doors remained open to additional partners who were willing to contribute resources, expertise or other forms of support towards the success of the programme.

The initiative is expected to provide participants with practical knowledge and skills that can translate into sustainable sources of income, while also encouraging adult literacy and greater community participation.

Residents of Kabusa District have therefore been encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity by participating actively throughout the three-week programme.

Organisers expressed optimism that the intervention would have a lasting impact on beneficiaries and contribute to reducing unemployment, poverty and social vulnerability within the community.

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

The Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA) has accused Kenule Nwiya, CEO of Ken-Eva, of attempting to scuttle its 2026 Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit.

The summit is scheduled to be held in September 2026.

The allegation was contained in a statement issued by the Secretary of the NDCCITMA Board, Chief Solomon Edebiri, and made available to newsmen.

Edebiri said the Chambers initially resolved not to join issues with Nwiya over what it described as baseless claims concerning alleged indiscriminate use of his trademark.

He, however, said it had become necessary to set the records straight and draw public attention to the facts surrounding the dispute.

“Contrary to an advert placed on AIT and circulating on some media outlets, NDCCITMA did not at any time approach the claimant to seek permission to use the purported trademark name,” he said.

According to him, following the conception of the name and acronym “Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit,” the Chambers commenced the necessary registration process.

He said NDCCITMA’s application was received and approved by the relevant department of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Industry on Aug. 16, 2025.

Edebiri added that the application purportedly filed by Nwiya was received by the relevant agency on Sept. 3, 2025.

The Chambers therefore questioned the basis of Nwiya’s claims, saying there was no credible evidence of an earlier approval of his application by the relevant government agency.

NDCCITMA described the allegations as blackmail and an affront to the aspirations of Niger Delta people.

It said the summit was conceived to promote economic development, investment, trade and regional cooperation across the Niger Delta.

The Chambers further alleged that despite interventions by prominent personalities from the region, Nwiya had continued actions capable of undermining the summit.

It said such actions could weaken the collective aspirations of the people and derail efforts to attract investments and promote regional economic development.

NDCCITMA urged members of the public, particularly Niger Delta stakeholders, to disregard what it described as Nwiya’s claims and assertions.

The Chambers challenged him to produce valid documents establishing an earlier application and approval for the disputed name.

It said such documents must predate NDCCITMA’s application and the acceptance document dated Aug. 16, 2025.

NDCCITMA reaffirmed its commitment to successfully hosting the 2026 Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit.

It described the summit as a collective initiative aimed at advancing economic opportunities, investment and sustainable development in the Niger Delta.

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama, has outlined how the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) can leverage Nigeria’s capital market to raise long-term funds for critical infrastructure projects instead of relying solely on annual budgetary allocations.

Speaking at the Abuja Business & Investment Summit and Expo (ABIE 2026) in Abuja, Agama said the capital market offers the FCT a sustainable financing model for roads, rail, housing, water, transport and other infrastructure through instruments such as infrastructure bonds, green bonds, real estate investment trusts (REITs), asset recycling and tokenised municipal securities.

He argued that Abuja’s development demonstrates that economic growth is driven by investment, stressing that “cities are not built by budgets alone. Cities are built by capital markets.”

According to him, the FCT should establish a long-term infrastructure bond programme backed by dedicated revenue sources such as ground rents, tenement rates, tolls, parking fees and land-use charges, noting that this would enable the territory to finance major projects without overburdening annual budgets.

“A budget can only spend what a single year has collected. A bond can spend what 30 years will collect,” Agama said, explaining that infrastructure projects generate long-term economic value that can be used to service debt over time.

The SEC boss said the territory could also access cheaper financing through green and sustainability-linked bonds for projects including mass transit, light rail, solar-powered street lighting, waste-to-energy facilities and water infrastructure.

He further proposed the creation of an FCT Real Estate Investment Trust to unlock value from Abuja’s extensive property portfolio while giving ordinary Nigerians an opportunity to invest in the city’s real estate market.Agama also urged Abuja Investments Company Limited (AICL) to consider listing some of its businesses or establishing a listed infrastructure fund, saying this would raise capital without increasing government debt while improving corporate governance and transparency.

On the long-abandoned Millennium Tower project, he said the estimated over N400 billion completion cost should not be viewed as a budgetary burden but as an investment opportunity that could be financed through a special purpose vehicle and offered to investors via the capital market.

“The question is not whether Nigeria can afford the Millennium Tower. The question is whether we will let ordinary Nigerians own it,” he said.

Agama further proposed an asset recycling programme under which completed income-generating public assets, including terminals, markets, commercial properties and the International Conference Centre, could be securitised or concessioned to institutional investors, with proceeds reinvested in new infrastructure.He also called on the FCT to pioneer a regulated tokenised municipal bond programme that would allow citizens to invest as little as ₦10,000 through mobile phones in specific infrastructure projects.

According to him, the recently enacted Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2025 has strengthened the legal framework for sub-national governments to access the capital market while providing enhanced investor protection and clearer regulation of digital assets.

Agama disclosed that Nigeria’s capital market has grown significantly, with total market capitalisation exceeding N217 trillion as of May 2026, comprising about N160.5 trillion in equities and N56.7 trillion in bonds.He said recent reforms, including the migration to a T+1 settlement cycle and regulatory measures to deepen market participation, have improved market efficiency and strengthened investor confidence.The SEC Director-General assured the FCTA of the Commission’s readiness to provide technical support for structuring and registering capital market instruments, saying the commission would work closely with the territory to unlock financing for infrastructure projects.He added that Nigeria’s capital market remains critical to mobilising domestic savings for national development, insisting that “money is not scarce; delivery capacity is scarce, and financing follows delivery capacity.”