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Haj Mairo Drums Support For Hon Yusuf Gagdi in Race for speaker, House of Reps

Published

4 years ago

April 15, 2023

As the battle for the speakership of the 10th National Assembly heats up, Hajiya Mairo Mohammed, a civil society activist under the aegis of Women Progressive Movement and President of the Group from the North East, has leant her weight behind Rt. Hon Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, serving Member and Member-elect for the 10th National Assembly in the Green Chambers for the coveted position.

Speaking to newsmen in Abuja over the weekend, Hajiya Mohammed said Rt. Hon Gagdi has acquired the status of a Ranking Member of the House of Representatives having been elected to the House for two consecutive times representing Pankshin, Kanke and Kanam Federal Constituency from Plateau State as well as being the Chairman, House Committee on Navy.

Hajiya Mairo pleads for support of his fellow members-elect to rally round Gagdi and give him their votes for purposeful leadership of the House of Representatives that will give proper legislative direction and harmonious working relationships with other arms of government (Executive and Judiciary) for the peaceful coexistence, economic prosperity and social cohesion of Nigeria, noting that Gagdi’s simplicity, compassion, philanthropism, modesty and love for humanity has endeared him to his people whom he has served creditably as their representatives for over a decade in his political career.

She said the kind of political leadership that Nigeria requires in the Green Chambers is one with resilience in leadership coordination and prowess devoid of sectional, regional, religious and ethnic bias and that which allows public participation and inclusiveness in nature, qualities she asserts Hon Gagdi possesses and which places him over and above his fellow contenders.

It will be recalled that Rt. Hon Yusuf Adamu Gagdi had indicated interest to join the race for the Chief Lawmaker of the House of Representatives in the 10th National Assembly having had quality experience in the Nigerian political space, first as Legislative Aide to the Speaker, Plateau State House of Assembly, Deputy Speaker, Plateau State House of Assembly, before joining the National Assembly as an elected member in 2019 wherein he became the Chairman, House Committee on Navy and now member elect for two consecutive times.

Hajiya Mairo who maintains that public agitation by progressive women groups is gaining ground across the world in the efforts to entrench popular democracy that has the capacity to bring the desired societal change for the generality of the people, has equally come to stay in Nigeria and that it is on this premise that she is canvassing for Rt. Hon Yusuf Adamu Gagdi to occupy the position of the speakership of the House of Representatives come June 2023 when members elect of the 10th National Assembly will be sworn in and subsequently elect leadership of both the red and green chambers.

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AWESSA 2026: Customs Assures Border Cooperation for Women Entrepreneurs

Published

10 hours ago

October 25, 2026

The Gleamer

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.

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