News
NYSC DG Decorates Military Assistant with New Rank Of Lieutenant Colonel
NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim has decorated his Military Assistant with the rank of a Lieutenant Colonel in the Nigerian Army.
In a press statement signed by the Scheme’s Deputy Director Press and Public Relations Emeka Mgbemena revealed that during the decoration at the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters in Abuja, the DG described Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Rufai as an intelligent, hardworking, dedicated, loyal, indefatigable, pragmatic and articulate officer.
He commended his calm mien and expertise in calming the protesting youths during the invasion of NYSC FCT Orientation Camp in Kubwa, Abuja, by hoodlums in the wake of EndSARS protest last year.
General Ibrahim advised Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu to remain focused and steadfast in his duties, adding that, in NYSC teamwork is the watchword.
“Keep it up, maintain your calmness, continue your hard work and take care of your family. l assures you that the sky will be your limit”, the DG said.
NYSC Directors including serving and retired military officers that graced the decoration ceremony equally commended Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu for his commitment to duty.
Mrs Safiya Aliyu, the wife of the Military Assistant joined the Director-General to decorate her husband.
In his vote of thanks, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu expressed gratitude to the Chief of Army Staff for finding him worthy of the elevation.
He equally commended the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim for his mentorship and the fatherly role he plays in his life.
“My history in the Nigerian Army cannot be complete without mentioning General Shuaibu Ibrahim and his family. I will always be loyal and obedient to you sir’, Aliyu said.
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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