News
NYSC To Strengthen Partnership With SMEDAN For Corps Members Empowerment
Joel Ajayi
The National Youth Service Corps has said it would continue to strengthen its existing relationship with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) towards creating enabling environment for more Corps Members in the growth of small and medium scale enterprises in the country.
The Director General of National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General YD Ahmed stated this on Wednesday while playing host to the Director General of SMEDAN, Mr Charles Odii, who paid him an advocacy visit at the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters in Abuja.
The NYSC Director General said the Scheme would continue to encourage Corps Members to develop their talents and skills for self empowerment.
Ahmed, who appreciated SMEDAN for it’s roles of assisting small and medium scale enterprises to overcome poor infrastructure in the management of business operations and accessing financial services described Corps Members as versatile youths with good potentials that should be helped to develop themselves.
“We will set the ball rolling and we want to assure you of every support that you need for the benefit of the Nigerian youths”, the DG said.
Speaking earlier, the SMEDAN DG, Mr Charles Odii said there is the need for a more robust partnership with the NYSC in line with Federal Government’s drive towards job creation and youth empowerment.
He stated further that school leavers should be assisted on how to look inward in their environments to create jobs, start small businesses in order to grow national economy.
“We are here to renew our partnership with NYSC and revamp the SAED programme to make it more lucrative”, the SMEDAN DG said.
Foreign news
Algeria’s Glorious Revolution: Embassy Marks 72nd Anniversary in Abuja
Joel Ajayi
The Embassy of Algeria in Nigeria has commemorated the 72nd anniversary of the country’s Glorious Revolution of November 1, 1954, with a reception in Abuja, highlighting Algeria’s liberation struggle and strengthening diplomatic relations with Nigeria.
The event, held on November 9, 2026, at Continental Suites Hotel, attracted prominent personalities, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Tajudeen Abbas, members of the Federal Government, senior government officials, heads of diplomatic missions and other friends of Algeria.
Speaking at the reception, Algeria’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Hocine Mezoued, welcomed guests and paid tribute to the country’s freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives during the struggle for independence.
He described the November 1, 1954 revolution as the foundation of modern Algeria, noting that the sacrifices of the nation’s martyrs made it possible for the country to reclaim its sovereignty.
On Algeria’s development agenda, Mezoued said President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s administration had continued to pursue economic reforms, diversification and national development under its New Algeria vision.
He noted that the country was recording progress in non-hydrocarbon exports, while improvements in the business environment had boosted investor confidence and attracted significant foreign investments.
On foreign policy, the ambassador reaffirmed Algeria’s commitment to non-interference, respect for national sovereignty, peaceful conflict resolution and the right of peoples to self-determination.
Addressing security challenges in the Sahel, he stressed that lasting peace could not be achieved through military measures alone, insisting that economic development, inclusive dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes remained essential.
Turning to Nigeria-Algeria relations, Mezoued described the partnership as one founded on shared values and the commitment of both countries’ leaders to advancing African development.
He identified the Trans-Saharan Highway, Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline and Trans-Saharan Fibre Optic Backbone as major strategic projects receiving attention from both countries.
The ambassador also disclosed that Algeria had continued to provide scholarships to Nigerian students to strengthen human capital development and capacity building.
He further announced that Air Algérie expanded its Nigerian operations on October 26, 2026, with the introduction of two weekly flights to Lagos, expressing confidence that the service would boost trade and tourism.
Looking ahead, Mezoued said 2027 would offer fresh opportunities to deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly through the fifth Joint High Bi-National Commission scheduled to hold in Abuja.
He expressed optimism that the meeting would provide an opportunity to assess existing partnerships, identify new areas of cooperation and move Nigeria-Algeria relations towards a more practical and results-driven phase.
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