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Macarthur Foundation Africa Director Visits PRIMORG

Published

3 years ago

May 4, 2023

…. gives thumbs up for good utilization of grants

African Director of Macarthur Foundation, Dr. Kole Shettima, has applauded the Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development, PRIMORG, for putting grants from the Foundation into good use over the years.

Shettima made the remarks on Wednesday during an official visit to PRIMORG’s newly completed office building in Pyakassa, Lugbe, FCT, Abuja.

He expressed excitement that PRIMORG has been able to build its own office space, noting that the development means the 29 percent overhead cost from the Foundation’s grant has been well utilized. He added that owning an office building is “one of the most important things every organization needs, and not worrying about annual rent, which usually for many people becomes a big problem.

“Having your own space is a very good idea, and I am happy that you (PRIMORG) have been able to use the resources that you have to have your own space as well.

“I wanted to say thank you very much for the opportunity to leave what I was doing to come to this place.

“From my perspective, 29 percent of the overhead cost is to sustain the organization, to institutionalize the organization, and to make sure that the organization continues to thrive, giving all the challenges of fundraising and others. We are hoping that this is going to galvanize every one of you to continue to do the work you are doing.

“We are very happy and very excited about the work you are doing and the fact that you are in your own space,’ Shettima stated.

Reacting to the visit, PRIMORG’s Executive Director, Okhiria Agbonsuremi, profusely thanked MacArthur Foundation for their unalloyed support to the organization for about five years and counting.

Agbonsuremi said that PRIMORG’s new office building was made possible by support from the Chicago-based Foundation while expressing the readiness of PRIMORG to continue to partner with the Foundation in the execution of more projects.

He praised Dr. Shettima and his colleagues at the MacArthur Foundation Africa Office for their support and assistance in ensuring PRIMORG met its objectives and deliverables.

“I am so happy that you (Shettima) found time to come because your schedule is very tight. It is the MacArthur Foundation funds that we have used. We are very excited and happy that within a short time, we were to get our own office complex

“We have internal joy that we have been able to apply the funds sustainably to promote our sustainability,

“It will help us work harder and move forward, and we will not be able to discount the support of the MacArthur Foundation and the Nigerian team in particular because we have had a lot of support from you.

“We are very excited that you are giving us all this support,” Agbonsuremi stated.

Agbonsuremi also praised the Chairman, PRIMORG’s Board of Directors, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, and other board members. He commended Mr. Ayo Ogundele, one of the board members, for assisting the organization in facilitating the acquisition of the new office building.

PRIMORG’s new office is at Plot C017 and C018 Phase 2 Kanma Homes, off Pyakassa Road, Lugbe Abuja – Nigeria.

The organization was established in 2017 to, among other mandates, promote good governance, accountability, participation and the strengthening of the media through community and media engagements, training and collaboration.

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AWESSA 2026: Customs Assures Border Cooperation for Women Entrepreneurs

Published

16 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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