FCT news

COVID-19: FCT Minister Commission 500 Bed Isolation And Treatment Center

Published

7 years ago

May 11, 2020

…Warns Against Complacency

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has commissioned 500 bed COVID-19 Isolation and Treatment Center located at the Idu District of Federal Capital City has as the facility was handed over to the FCTA by the Ministerial Expert Advisory Committee chaired by the former Minister of the FCT, Dr Aliyu Modibbo Umar.

In his remarks during the handing-over ceremony, the FCT Minister said that the Advisory Committee which comprises entirely of individuals from the organized private sector was established with the realization that the galvanization of all human and material resources was necessary for the fight against the disease.

The Minister said that apart from the work done at the Idu Isolation Center, the Committee also provided one 350KVA generators each at the isolation and treatment center of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital in Gwagwalada and the Karu General Hospital. This is in addition to the donation of substantial amount of palliatives, PPEs and other ancillary equipment.

While expressing the gratitude of the FCTA to the Committee, in Abuja on Monday, Malam Bello said that the Committee also worked tirelessly with all the relevant FCT agencies in providing much needed advice, interventions and suggestions and this, has contributed to the containment of the virus to a large extent in the Territory.

Minisiter said that, FCTA was also in discussion with the Committee for the establishment of more isolation centers in the Territory.

He however charged residents of the FCT not to be complacent in dealing with the virus saying that failure to comply with the established guidelines of social distancing, face covering while in public and maintenance of physical hygiene, may lead to the 1000 bed spaces available in the FCT not being enough to contain the spike that might follow.

Malam Bello, therefore charged residents to view the fight against COVID-19 as a personal fight for survival.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the Ministerial Expert Advisory Committee, Dr Aliyu Modibbo Umar said that the FCT Minister charged the Committee of 28 members to mobilize human, financial and material resources to augment and support what the FCTA was already doing in the fight against COVID-19 in the Territory.

The Committee, he said was broken into four sub-committees comprising Medical, Logistics, Resource Mobilization and Public Affairs and Media and also co-opted several volunteers and other experts who all worked pro-bono. Their reward he said is the pleasure of having to serve Abuja, the city they all love and cherish.

He also reminded residents of the FCT that COVID-19 is indeed real and that everyone should be committed to fighting the dangerous and debilitating disease and thanked the FCT Minister for granting them the opportunity to serve and pledged the willingness of members of the Committee to continue to work hard until the disease is eradicated in the FCT and the nation as a whole.

Also present at the event were the Honourable Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Borno, officials from the NCDC and the WHO as well as senior members of staff of the FCTA.

Companies and individuals that contributed to the establishment of the Idu Isolation and Treatment Center include; Future Assured Foundation under the leadership of Her Excellency, the Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, Polaris Bank Limited, Fate Foundation, Julius Berger Nig. PLC, HIS Towers, CCECC, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Salini Nig. Ltd, HITS Furniture Ltd, Yaliam Press, Senator Aishatu (Binani) Dahiru Ahmed, Mohammed Jibrin and Dr Aliyu Modibbo Umar.

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FCT news

Beyond Displacement: How Vocational Training Is Empowering Over 100 Women and Girls in Abuja

Published

2 weeks ago

October 27, 2026

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

For women and girls living at the New Kuchingoro Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Abuja, rebuilding their lives requires more than shelter and basic necessities. The opportunity to acquire practical skills, earn an income and provide for their families can also play a crucial role in restoring confidence and creating a pathway towards economic independence.

This aspiration informed the five-day Life Skills Bootcamp organised by GLIDE Media Foundation in partnership with the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), which provided more than 100 displaced women and girls with vocational training and start-up funding.

The programme, which culminated in a grand finale on Saturday, October 24, 2026, was designed to equip participants with practical knowledge, entrepreneurial skills and financial management techniques to help them establish small businesses and improve their livelihoods.

For the participants, the initiative offered an opportunity to explore income-generating activities that could help them support their families while navigating the economic difficulties associated with displacement.

Turning Skills into Opportunities

At the heart of the programme was the recognition that practical skills can open doors to economic opportunities, particularly for people facing difficult living conditions.

The bootcamp combined classroom-style sessions with hands-on vocational training, allowing participants to learn both the principles of running a business and the practical steps involved in producing goods for sale.

During the practical sessions, participants received training in making beaded slippers, baking, producing soap and preparing petroleum jelly.

They were divided into three groups, with specialised trainers demonstrating production techniques and supervising their activities.

Beyond learning how to make the products, participants received guidance on packaging, marketing and selling their goods. These additional skills were intended to help them understand how to turn their newly acquired abilities into viable small-scale businesses.

The provision of start-up funds at the conclusion of the programme was another important component, offering participants financial support to begin applying what they had learnt.

By combining vocational instruction with initial funding, the organisers sought to bridge the gap between acquiring skills and putting them to productive use.

Building Financial Confidence

The programme also recognised that earning money is only one part of running a successful business. Knowing how to manage income, control expenditure and save for future needs is equally important.

Consequently, the theoretical sessions covered budgeting, saving, expenditure planning and the need to keep personal finances separate from business funds.

Participants were encouraged to understand how financial decisions could affect their businesses and household welfare.

Facilitators also introduced digital financial services, including OPay and Moniepoint, highlighting their potential to support transactions and the management of small businesses.

The sessions provided an opportunity for participants already engaged in business to share their experiences, including the challenges of managing earnings and attracting customers.

Discussions also explored how social media could help entrepreneurs promote their products beyond their immediate communities and reach a wider customer base.

For aspiring business owners, these lessons offered a foundation for thinking beyond production to the practical demands of operating a business in an increasingly competitive environment.

Confidence, Parenting and Personal Development

While economic empowerment remained central to the initiative, the bootcamp also addressed personal development, decision-making, leadership and wellbeing.

Participants were encouraged to build confidence, identify achievable goals and recognise their capacity to contribute to their families and communities despite the challenges associated with displacement.

Parenting and child protection also featured prominently during the sessions.

Discussions covered positive parenting practices, children’s emotional wellbeing, school attendance and the difficulties of balancing childcare responsibilities with income-generating activities.

Facilitators emphasised the importance of supportive home environments and explained how parental behaviour could influence children’s development.

The inclusion of these subjects reflected the programme’s broader focus on helping participants navigate both their economic responsibilities and family obligations.

For women and girls managing several demands, the combination of livelihood training and personal development offered a more comprehensive approach to building resilience.

A Pathway Towards Economic Independence

GLIDE Media Foundation said the initiative was designed to equip displaced women and girls with practical skills that could support their families and reduce their dependence on external assistance.

The partnership with the NRS provided support for a programme that combined entrepreneurship, financial literacy, vocational instruction and start-up funding.

The foundation expressed hope that participants would continue developing their skills and translate the training into sustainable businesses capable of improving their economic circumstances.

However, the long-term impact of the initiative will depend partly on participants’ ability to establish businesses, attract customers and manage their earnings effectively.

Continued guidance, access to markets and opportunities to strengthen their skills could further support their efforts to build sustainable livelihoods.

For the more than 100 women and girls who participated, the bootcamp represents an opportunity to move from learning to action.

Ultimately, its success will be reflected not only in the skills acquired during the five days but also in how effectively participants use their training and start-up funds to generate income, support their families and build greater economic independence.

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