News
Sapphittal Partners Ministry of Youth Development to Empower Young Entrepreneurs Through Nigerian Youth Academy
The Chief Executive Officer of Sapphittal, Mr. Amu Ogbeide, has reiterated the company’s unwavering commitment to empowering young Nigerians through innovation and entrepreneurship under the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA) initiative.
Sapphittal serves as the technical and implementing partner to the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, working closely with the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Hon. Ayodele Olawande, to create sustainable opportunities for Nigerian youth.
Speaking during the launch of NiYA Startup Phase 1.0 in Abuja, Mr. Ogbeide described the project as part of a broader youth empowerment ecosystem designed to train, fund, and mentor young innovators across the country
“Sapphittal is the technical and implementing partner to the Federal Ministry of Youth Development. Together with the Honourable Minister, we have built an ecosystem called the Nigerian Youth Academy,” he said.
He explained that the academy comprises several interconnected platforms — including NiYA Home, a Job Portal, and the NiYA Startup Hub — all designed to support young Nigerians with learning, employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
“What you witnessed today is one of our startup competitions, where we went out across the country to identify young Nigerians with brilliant business ideas. We are providing them with mentorship, digital tools, and some seed funding to help them thrive,” he said.
Mr. Ogbeide noted that the NiYA Startup Phase 1.0 selected 17 young Nigerians from diverse backgrounds whose business ideas showed promise and innovation. He emphasized that the selection process was transparent, credible, and completely merit-based, involving independent judges drawn from across the country.
“I must say this very clearly — we do not know any of the 17 beneficiaries. Neither I nor the Honourable Minister had any influence on the process. The judges did not see names or localities; they only assessed the ideas. It was a fair and objective process,” he stressed.
The CEO explained that the initiative welcomed business ideas from all sectors, reflecting Nigeria’s diversity and creativity.
“We told Nigerians to bring their ideas — whether in health, environment, or technology. One participant even came up with a ‘boy-boy technology’ concept to digitalize how errands are run in Nigeria. We are a nation full of ideas; what we need is a system that helps those ideas thrive,” Ogbeide said.
He further highlighted that the next phase of the programme will focus on helping the selected entrepreneurs grow their businesses with access to digital tools, mentorship, and additional funding opportunities.
“
We are giving them digital tools, website builders, and funding support to go back to their communities and start building. We’ll monitor their progress and, in the next phase, select more participants for higher levels of support,” he explained.
According to him, the NiYA Startup 2.0 will expand to include targeted competitions for both male and female entrepreneurs, ensuring inclusivity and broader participation across Nigeria
“This is just the beginning — this is NiYA Startup 1.0. Watch out for 2.0. We will do special editions for female founders, for male innovators, and we’ll keep going. The Honourable Minister has given us the mandate to reach every young Nigerian and bring partners together to make this work,” Ogbeide stated.
He commended Honourable Ayodele Olawande for his passion and leadership in driving youth development initiatives and ensuring fairness, accountability, and transparency in the process
“ Nigeria belongs to all of us,” Ogbeide concluded. “It’s time we start doing things properly — with fairness, transparency, and purpose. Under the Minister’s leadership, we will continue to drive the growth and empowerment of Nigerian youth across all sectors.”
News
Eagle Times Newspaper Will Be Voice for Nigerians – Publisher Chukwunyere Vows
Joel Ajayi
The Publisher of The Eagle Times Nigeria, Sir Ikechukwu Chukwunyere, has pledged that the newspaper will promote accountability, credible journalism and public-interest reporting in its coverage of national affairs.
Chukwunyere made the commitment on Thursday, October 1, 2026, during the official unveiling and launch of The Eagle Times Nigeria.
He said the new media organisation was established not merely to add another newspaper to Nigeria’s media landscape, but to provide a platform committed to serving the public interest.
According to him, the newspaper’s guiding philosophy, “The Voice for the People, The Watchdog for the Nation,” places a responsibility on the organisation to listen to Nigerians, tell their stories, highlight issues affecting their daily lives and scrutinise those entrusted with public responsibilities.
“To be a voice for the people means that we must listen to Nigerians, tell their stories, highlight their concerns and give visibility to issues that affect their daily lives,” he said.
The publisher added that The Eagle Times would be guided by accuracy, fairness, professionalism, credibility and responsible journalism, stressing that the newspaper would not publish stories merely because they were sensational.
“We will verify. We will investigate. We will seek the other side. We will correct our mistakes when we make them,” he said.
Chukwunyere further stated that the newspaper would endeavour to give individuals and organisations the opportunity to respond whenever allegations were made against them.
“Our commitment is not to any political party, government or individual. Our primary commitment is to journalism, to truth and to the Nigerian public,” he said.
He noted that the newspaper was launching at a time when the media industry was undergoing rapid transformation, with audiences increasingly consuming news through digital platforms, including websites, television, podcasts and social media.
He said The Eagle Times would therefore operate as a multimedia organisation, combining its newspaper with digital platforms and The Eagle Times TV to reach audiences across different channels.
According to him, the organisation also intends to create opportunities for young journalists, writers, photographers, producers, digital creators and other media professionals to develop their skills and contribute to journalism and national development.
Chukwunyere said the newspaper’s coverage would include politics, governance, business, economy, security, judiciary, education, health, technology, sports, entertainment, lifestyle and international affairs.
He, however, said the organisation intended to distinguish itself not only by the subjects it covered but by the quality and approach of its journalism.
We want to tell stories that matter, we want to investigate issues that require investigation, we want to highlight Nigerians who are making a difference, and we want to give communities that are often ignored an opportunity to be heard,” he said.
The publisher acknowledged the challenges involved in establishing a newspaper, saying the venture required investment, commitment, professional discipline and the courage to pursue an idea.
He expressed appreciation to the management, editorial, reporting, production and digital teams, as well as families, friends, partners and supporters who contributed to the establishment of the organisation.
Chukwunyere also assured readers, viewers and the newspaper’s digital audience that The Eagle Times would strive to earn their trust and remain accountable to the standards it had set for itself.
He said the newspaper’s success would not be measured only by circulation figures, website traffic or social media followers, but also by the confidence Nigerians placed in its journalism.
“Today, we spread our wings. Today, The Eagle Times takes flight,” he said, reaffirming the newspaper’s commitment to its slogan: “The Voice for the People, The Watchdog for the Nation.”
-
Featured7 years agoLampard Names New Chelsea Manager
-
Featured6 years agoFG To Extends Lockdown In FCT, Lagos Ogun states For 7days
-
Featured7 years agoChildren Custody: Court Adjourns Mike Ezuruonye, Wife’s Case To April 7
-
Featured7 years agoNYSC Dismisses Report Of DG’s Plan To Islamize Benue Orientation Camp
-
Featured5 years agoTransfer Saga: How Mikel Obi Refused to compensate me After I Linked Him Worth $4m Deal In Kuwait SC – Okafor
-
Featured7 years ago
Board urges FG to establish one-stop rehabilitation centres in 6 geopolitical zones
-
Sports4 years ago
TINUBU LAMBAST DELE MOMODU
-
News2 years agoZulu to Super Eagles B team, President Tinubu is happy with you
