By Raphael Atuu, Abuja

The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has trained 200 sheep and goat farmers in Kano State on improved production practices as part of efforts to raise livestock productivity, strengthen food security and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for small-scale farmers.

The three-day training programme brought together beneficiaries from Fagge, Tarauni and Gwale Local Government Areas, who were trained in animal management, feeding, breeding, healthcare and other husbandry practices aimed at improving productivity and reducing losses.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr.

Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, who was represented by the Director, Department of Ruminant and Monogastric Development, Victor Egbon, said livestock development required more than the provision of animals, stressing the need to equip farmers with the knowledge and skills to manage their livestock effectively.

According to her, interventions of this nature are designed to strengthen farmers’ productive capacity, improve household livelihoods and support the Federal Government’s efforts to increase livestock production and food security.

“The sheep and goat subsector occupy a particularly important position within Nigeria’s livestock economy. Small ruminants are accessible to a wide range of households, require comparatively modest start-up investment, adapt to diverse production environments, and provide meat, milk, skin and other products that contribute to household nutrition and income. Their relatively short reproductive cycles also make them an important instrument for improving household assets and livelihoods.

“The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development therefore considers small-ruminant development a strategic component of national food security, employment generation, poverty reduction, women’s economic participation, youth entrepreneurship and economic diversification,” she explained.

Dr. Akujobi added that the training combined theoretical sessions with practical demonstrations to enable participants to understand how proper feeding, breeding, animal health and general husbandry could contribute to healthier animals, improved productivity and increased income.

On her part, the Permanent Secretary, Kano State Ministry of Livestock Development, Hajiya Rabi Ibrahim Waya, commended the Federal Ministry’s intervention, saying the state would also undertake similar initiatives to strengthen livestock production and support farmers.

She stressed that Kano State would continue to explore opportunities to help farmers translate the knowledge acquired and productive inputs provided into sustainable economic activities.

The programme also featured contributions from relevant stakeholders, including the National Sheep and Goat Development Association of Nigeria (NASHGODAN) and the Africa Women in Animal Resources, Farming and Agribusiness Network, represented by Aisha Maidawa.

One of the beneficiaries, 33-year-old Afrahsiyya Idris, a person living with disability, was among the participants, demonstrating the potential of livestock farming to provide inclusive livelihood opportunities.

At the end of the training, the 200 beneficiaries received sheep and goats, animal feeds and stipends to support them in applying the knowledge acquired.

The intervention is expected to support beneficiaries in improving their farming activities, raising household income and contributing to increased sheep and goat production in Kano State.

The World Bank Group said it mobilised a record 112 billion dollars in private capital in fiscal year (FY) 2026, more than tripling the 35 billion dollars recorded in FY22.

Combined with the Group’s own financing, the mobilisation brought total financing and mobilisation in developing economies to well above 200 billion dollars during the fiscal year.

The bank announced this in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja.

According to the statement, the bank mobilised more private capital in fiscal year 2026 than in any year in its history.

It said that the bank issued a record volume of guarantees, delivering on a goal shareholders and clients have pressed for years.

“This has put more private capital to work alongside its own financing and expertise in developing economies,” the statement said.

It said Private capital mobilisation to lower-middle-income countries rose from 14 billion dollars in FY22 to 37 billion dollars in FY26, while upper-middle-income countries increased from 12 billion dollars to 50 billion dollars.

The statement said that in low-income countries, private capital mobilisation remained at about three billion dollars.

“Mobilisation across Africa increased from approximately nine billion dollars to 22 billion dollars, representing an increase of nearly 150 per cent,” it said.

It attributed the increase to reforms introduced over three years to make the World Bank’s operations faster and simpler, and strengthen collaboration between its public and private sector arms.

“We brought the Group together in each country, with a single point of contact across our public and private sector work, and began developing integrated strategies for each country based on its needs and development priorities.

“The Private Sector Investment Lab complemented that effort, helping to identify the practical barriers holding back investment in developing economies and developed a work plan to address them.

“The group has pursued that agenda across the institution: improving the business and regulatory environment, expanding guarantees and local-currency financing, and addressing foreign-exchange challenges.

“It is also increasing equity tools, and advancing new ways for institutional investors to participate at scale,” it said.

The statement said that the World Bank Group issued no fewer than 25 billion dollars in guarantees during FY26, exceeding its annual target of 20 billion dollars by 2030, four years ahead of schedule.

It said the growth was led by the bank’s Guarantee Platform, established in 2024 to provide clients and investors with simpler access to guarantee products across the institution.

The statement said job creation remained a central priority for the bank, with 1.2 billion young people expected to reach working age in developing economies over the next 10 to 15 years.

It said only about 420 million jobs were projected to be created during the period, while the private sector currently provided nine out of every 10 jobs in developing economies.

The statement said the group’s jobs strategy was focused on investing in human and physical infrastructure, creating business-ready regulatory environments and helping the private sector scale.

It listed infrastructure and energy, agribusiness, healthcare, tourism, and value-added manufacturing as five sectors with the potential to generate investment and employment at scale.

It said in FY26, 55 per cent of total financing, including the group’s own account and mobilised capital, went to those five job-rich sectors.

“Private investment is also reaching lower-income economies, where regional and local investors are increasingly complementing global capital in financing businesses and supporting job creation.

“The World Bank is seeking to expand the number of investors participating through its originate-to-distribute(O2D) initiative, which aims to package and distribute investments to institutional investors.

“The initiative is intended to connect more long-term institutional capital with investment opportunities in developing economies, while broadening the sources of financing available for development,” it said.

It said that the objective was to mobilise more capital from more sources and direct greater amounts towards job creation and economic opportunities in developing economies.

Meanwhile, Ajay Banga, World Bank Group President, said that the FY26 achievements were made possible with the encouragement of the bank’s shareholders and clients.

“Three years ago, our shareholders and clients were clear: utilise World Bank Group financing and knowledge to mobilise more private capital and become a better partner to the private sector.

“We changed how we work to do that-faster, simpler, and as one World Bank Group.

The result is 112 billion dollars mobilised this year, more than three times where we started.

“But the number only matters if the capital goes where it can create opportunity and jobs, while continuing to remove barriers and expand the investor base and driving more capital into developing economies, ” Ajay said.(NAN)

 The Nigerian stock market extended its positive momentum on Wednesday, marking the fifth consecutive bullish session.

 The market’s upward movement was driven by gains in equities like: Sovereign Trust Insurance, Champion Breweries, Livestock Feeds, Learn Africa, Mutual Benefits and 29 other stocks.

 The market capitalization increased by 0.

20 per cent, adding N315 billion to investors’ portfolio as the market opened at N158.399 trillion and closed higher at N158.714 trillion.

 Similarly, the All-Share Index (ASI) rose by 0.20 per cent, advancing by 487.

28 points to close at 244,791.79, compared to 244,304 51 recorded on Tuesday.

 Consequently, the market’s Year-to-Date return improved to 57.31 per cent.

 Also, the market breadth closed positive with 34 gainers against 26 losers.

 On the gainers’ chart, Sovereign Trust Insurance led by 9.69 per cent, closing at N2.15, Champion Breweries followed by 9.50 per cent, finishing at N10.95 while Livestock Feeds increased by 9.42 per cent, ending the session N7.55 per share.

 Similarly, Learn Africa gained by 9.09 per cent, settling at N8.40 and Mutual Benefits advanced by 8.93 per cent, closing at N3.05 per share.

Conversely, Industrial and Medical Gases led the losers’ chart by 9.93 per cent, settling at N27.65, John Holt trailed by 9.88 per cent, finishing at N7.30 while Livingtrust Mortgage Bank lost by 9.84 per cent, ending the session at N2.84 per share.

Also, Fidson Healthcare declined by 9.19 per cent, closing at N72.65 and Royal Exchange dipped by 9 per cent, finishing at 91k per share.

Market activity strengthened during the session, with total volume traded rising by 27.23 per cent to 662.43 million shares, valued at N37.45 billion in 63,271 deals.

Sterling Nigeria led trading volume with 142.04 million shares, accounting for 21.44 per cent of the total.

 Guaranty Trust Holding Company recorded the highest value traded at N5.27 billion, representing 14.07 per cent of the day’s total. (NAN)