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NYSC @ 50: DG Tasks Corps Members on National Unity, Development
Joel Ajayi
Corps Members have been advised to utilize the opportunities of the service year to contribute their immense quota to national unity and socio-economic development of the country.
The Director General of National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General YD Ahmed disclosed this while addressing Corps Members at the NYSC Cross River State Orientation Camp in Obubra and their colleagues at Ebonyi State Orientation Camp in Afikpo.
He commended the previous batches of Corps Members since 1973 till date, for their selfless services through the improvement of the education, health, agriculture, rural development, awareness creation on government policies and other critical sectors of the economy.
Ahmed urged the Corps Members to emulate their predecessors and also write their names in the anals of history as good ambassadors of the Scheme.
He advised them to embrace the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme of the NYSC, which was prepared to make them self independent and employers of labour.
“Be obedient to all the constituted authorities, have a free mind and be hardworking, the sky will be your limit.
Wherever you are posted to, try and respect the culture and tradition of your host communities and also be of good conduct within and outside the Orientation Camp”, he said.
Speaking further, the Director General warned the Corps Members against improper dressing with the NYSC uniform, adding that anyone caught would be sanctioned.
The NYSC Cross River State Coordinator, Mr Andrew Zemoh informed the Director General that a total of 1,696 Corps Members comprising 851 Males and 845 Females were registered in camp.
Similarly, the Ebonyi State Coordinator, Mrs Mercy Bamai disclosed that all the registered 1,353 Corps Members comprising 696 Males and 657 Females have adjusted to camp life.
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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