News
NEDC Inspects Ongoing Projects In Gombe
By RABILU ABUBAKAR, GOMBE
The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has inspected ongoing interventions provided in Gombe State.
The projects inspected included a mega secondary school hostel at Dadin-Kowa, housing units for low-income earners, a trauma center at the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH), Gombe, and the commission’s office along Bauchi Road.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to Governor Inuwa Yahaya, Chairman NEDC Governing Board Gen.Paul Tarfa (Rtd) said the commission would continue to come up with projects to rebuild the region as mandated by the federal government.
He expressed gratitude to Governor Inuwa Yahaya for his support, which contributed to the commission’s achievements in the state.
He also acknowledged the “Gombe Goes Green” initiative, which he noted has made the state a model for environmental sustainability in the face of climate change and global warming.
In his remarks, Governor Inuwa Yahaya who is the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, emphasized the need for a precautionary approach in safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria to address agitations threatening national unity.
He stressed the importance of unity in Nigeria, highlighting that the country has come of age at 63 years after independence and needs to work together to uplift social and economic well-being.
He praised the NEDC for its efforts in implementing social and economic programs to improve the lives and livelihoods of people in the North East region.
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.
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