FCT news

Make Use of Your Structures To Fight COVID-19, FCT Minister Charges Political Leaders

Published

7 years ago

April 2, 2020

Joel Ajayi

As community leaders, political leaders and our elected representatives, it is your duty to use your existing structures, your tentacles, within all the communities to sensitize and inform the general public of what every person needs to do because without this joint effort and community participation, there is no way the medical efforts alone will be successful”.

These were the words of the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello following a meeting held with the political leaders in the FCT on Thursday, 2nd April.

Present at the meeting were the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, Senator Phillip Aduda, Senator representing the FCT, Hon. Micah Jiba representing AMAC Bwari Federal Constituency, Hon. Hassan Sokodabo, representing, Kuje, Kwali Gwagwalada and Abaji Federal Constituency, the FCT Chairmen of APC and PDP, the FCT Commissioner of police, other security chiefs as well as senior members of the FCTA bureaucracy led by the Permanent Secretary, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa.

The Minister reminded the political leaders that should the virus reach the grassroots level and attain community wide spread, it will become extremely difficult to fight. He therefore appealed to them to resuscitate their political structures and influence to sensitize the populace in the fight against the virus.

Malam Bello said “…that’s why I’m appealing to you to reactivate all your political structures in the 62 wards of the FCT. Use all your men and women that you used during your campaigns; use them now to help us all fight this pandemic because it is crucial and that is why we call upon you to support us”.

The Minister reiterated that COVID 19 can be defeated using a two pronged approach of heeding to medical directives and the distribution of palliatives to help the most vulnerable in society.

He therefore urged the political leaders to sensitize their people on the need for personal discipline and hygiene consisting of constant hand washing, maintaining social distancing and abiding by all other medical measures.

Speaking on the flouting of the stay at home directives, by some residents, Malam Bello directed the security agencies not to hesitate to arrest anybody found to be disobeying.

He said “we also emphasized the need for the security agencies to be very firm with anybody, individual or group that flouts the regulations enunciated by the Federal Government and the Presidential Task Force on COVID 19”

While appealing to the people of the FCT to come together and collectively fight the pandemic, Malam Bello said that was the only way it could be defeated. He also acknowledged the support the FCT Administration has received from the political leaders of the FCT.

In her own remarks, the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, once more reminded residents to obey the anti COVID 19 measures put in place and stay at home. She also said that while fumigation of public areas have intensified, there was the need for residents to play their part by remaining indoors and stop the spread of the virus,

Speaking on the distribution of palliatives, Dr Tijjani Aliyu said that adequate arrangements have been put in place to ensure that only those who were entitled to the palliatives actually receive them. She said that the FCTA was working with the grassroots leaders made up of councilors, ward leaders, civil society, youth groups as well religious organisations in this regard.

She also said that several volunteers in the FCT have been donating their time and resources in the fight against the Coronavirus revealing that so far about seventy vehicles have been received and ready to be deployed along with vehicles from the FCTA and Area Councils to transport food stuff from five stores where they were currently being warehoused.

In his remarks, Senator Phillip Aduda commended the FCT Minister and Minister of State for the proactive measures the FCTA has taken in the battle against COVID 19 and pledged the support of all the political leaders of the FCT, regardless of political affiliation.

The Senator donated 1000 bags of rice and over 150 cartons of hand sanitizers for the fight against the virus.

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FCT news

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

Published

5 days 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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