News
AWESSA 2026: Customs Assures Border Cooperation for Women Entrepreneurs
By James Samuel, Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service has said the nation’s borders must become gateways of opportunity for African women entrepreneurs, not obstacles that kill their businesses.
This was disclosed at the African Women’s Economic Sovereignty Summit and Awards (AWESSA) 2026 held at the Customs House, corporate headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service in Abuja.
Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, his representative, an Assistant Controller, said hosting the summit inside Customs premises was deliberate.
“That this summit holds within the Customs premises is no accident. It is a statement of intent,” he said.
“The border is where the promise of every African trader either comes alive or dies quietly. And the men and women of this Service have resolved that for every woman entrepreneur of this continent, that promise will never die.”
He said women account for an estimated 70% of informal cross-border trade in Africa and over half of agricultural labour, yet they face documentation, standards, finance and harassment challenges.
“Too often she meets the border as an obstacle rather than a gateway. Because she trades in small volumes, in cash, in informality without formal papers, capable business women are now trapped in informality, invisible to trade statistics,” he noted.
He added: “AfCFTA will not be delivered by treaties alone. It will be delivered at border posts, in conference halls, and in market stores.”
Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, represented by a Director, said women are central to Nigeria’s non-oil export sector.
According to her, NEPC’s focus is now on building export- ready competitive enterprises through programmes like the Women in Export Initiative, Export Clinic, and Zero to Export.
“Our focus is no longer on encouraging exports alone, it is on building competitive export-ready enterprises. We are supporting women to move beyond production into value addition, quality assurance, standard compliance, branding and market positioning,” she said.
She said AfCFTA offers a market of over one billion people, but women need knowledge, certifications and institutional support.
“Empowering women economically is one of the most effective tools for achieving poverty reduction, food security, job creation and inclusive growth,” she stated.
The Convener, Helen Okon, who is the Publisher of Business Review Africa & Africa Today Magazine, as well as representatives of NAFDAC DG and NEXIM Bank MD, reaffirmed commitment to supporting women-owned businesses access standards, certification and finance.
The summit, with the theme of positioning women as drivers of trade and sustainable development, is part of activities marking the International Year of the Women Farmer.
News
Ex NANS President Remanded in Keffi Prison Over Alleged Criticism of Gov. Sani
There is a growing concern over repression of dissenting voices ahead of the 2027 general elections starting with the January 16, 2027 Presidential and National Assembly polls.
The latest victim of attempts at silencing opposition voices, who is now being detained at Keffi Correctional Facility, is the immediate past President of National Association of Nigerian Students, Comrade Abubakar Atiku Isa.
Comrade Atiku was arrested in his house in Kaduna for allegedly criticising Governor Uba Sani for non-performance, though the police claim he was being held for cybercrimes.
He was detained at one of the police stations in Kaduna among criminals where he was allegedly badly brutalised leaving him with swollen eyes and bleeding from the ears.
Investigations by VDCInsights revealed that the former NANS President had criticised the governor over non-performance in one of his media appearances and predicted defeat for the governor at the forthcoming Governorship elections in the state come February 2027.
After his detention in police custody in Kaduna for one week without arraignment in court, he was subsequently moved to Abuja for questionable arraignment, from where he was transferred to Keffi Correctional Facility last Friday, October 23, 2026.
Wife of Comrade Atiku, Hauwau, told VDCInsights that she was worried about the safety of her husband after his brutalisation before the family like a common criminal and subsequent disappearance for more than a week now.
She said his whereabout is unknown to the family which further raises fears about his safety, especially at a time when people are being abducted and never seen again.
Hauwau argued that in a democracy people have freedom of speech and her husband only exercised his fundamental rights as a citizen, and wondered why he should be dehumanised for sharing a contrary view.
She appealed to the Inspector General Of Police, Olatunji Disu to intervene in the matter and compel his men to release her husband unhurt or arraign him before a court of competent jurisdiction for trial.
Comrade Atiku is described as a very vocal person once it bothers on injustice which has made him a target by those who abhor criticisms.
The former NANS President was one of those who had stood publicly for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu after meeting him in custody in Abuja and hearing his side of the story., and has also visited Kanu in Sokoto, where he is serving his prison term.
Our correspondent reports that there is a disturbing development in Kaduna where opposition parties and individuals are being intimidated and suppressed for sharing opposing views
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