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Sapphittal Partners Ministry of Youth Development to Empower Young Entrepreneurs Through Nigerian Youth Academy
The Chief Executive Officer of Sapphittal, Mr. Amu Ogbeide, has reiterated the company’s unwavering commitment to empowering young Nigerians through innovation and entrepreneurship under the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA) initiative.
Sapphittal serves as the technical and implementing partner to the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, working closely with the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Hon. Ayodele Olawande, to create sustainable opportunities for Nigerian youth.
Speaking during the launch of NiYA Startup Phase 1.0 in Abuja, Mr. Ogbeide described the project as part of a broader youth empowerment ecosystem designed to train, fund, and mentor young innovators across the country
“Sapphittal is the technical and implementing partner to the Federal Ministry of Youth Development. Together with the Honourable Minister, we have built an ecosystem called the Nigerian Youth Academy,” he said.
He explained that the academy comprises several interconnected platforms — including NiYA Home, a Job Portal, and the NiYA Startup Hub — all designed to support young Nigerians with learning, employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
“What you witnessed today is one of our startup competitions, where we went out across the country to identify young Nigerians with brilliant business ideas. We are providing them with mentorship, digital tools, and some seed funding to help them thrive,” he said.
Mr. Ogbeide noted that the NiYA Startup Phase 1.0 selected 17 young Nigerians from diverse backgrounds whose business ideas showed promise and innovation. He emphasized that the selection process was transparent, credible, and completely merit-based, involving independent judges drawn from across the country.
“I must say this very clearly — we do not know any of the 17 beneficiaries. Neither I nor the Honourable Minister had any influence on the process. The judges did not see names or localities; they only assessed the ideas. It was a fair and objective process,” he stressed.
The CEO explained that the initiative welcomed business ideas from all sectors, reflecting Nigeria’s diversity and creativity.
“We told Nigerians to bring their ideas — whether in health, environment, or technology. One participant even came up with a ‘boy-boy technology’ concept to digitalize how errands are run in Nigeria. We are a nation full of ideas; what we need is a system that helps those ideas thrive,” Ogbeide said.
He further highlighted that the next phase of the programme will focus on helping the selected entrepreneurs grow their businesses with access to digital tools, mentorship, and additional funding opportunities.
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We are giving them digital tools, website builders, and funding support to go back to their communities and start building. We’ll monitor their progress and, in the next phase, select more participants for higher levels of support,” he explained.
According to him, the NiYA Startup 2.0 will expand to include targeted competitions for both male and female entrepreneurs, ensuring inclusivity and broader participation across Nigeria
“This is just the beginning — this is NiYA Startup 1.0. Watch out for 2.0. We will do special editions for female founders, for male innovators, and we’ll keep going. The Honourable Minister has given us the mandate to reach every young Nigerian and bring partners together to make this work,” Ogbeide stated.
He commended Honourable Ayodele Olawande for his passion and leadership in driving youth development initiatives and ensuring fairness, accountability, and transparency in the process
“ Nigeria belongs to all of us,” Ogbeide concluded. “It’s time we start doing things properly — with fairness, transparency, and purpose. Under the Minister’s leadership, we will continue to drive the growth and empowerment of Nigerian youth across all sectors.”
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Amb Lion Ogorry Files Landmark Lawsuit Against Sahara Reporters, Sowore For Misleading and Malicious Publication Endangering National Security
Ambassador Adebayo Lion Ogorry, a renowned public advocacy practitioner and activist, today announced the filing of a high-profile lawsuit against Sahara Reporters Ltd. and its publisher, Omoyele Sowore, in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The suit, numbered FCT/HC/CV/4767/2025, accuses the defendants of publishing a false, malicious, and reckless article that violates Nigeria’s Constitution, the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act 2015, and other laws protecting public discourse, national security, and public order.
The originating summons, filed on November 24, 2025, stems from a Sahara Reporters article titled
“EXCLUSIVE: How Tinubu’s Defence Minister Matawalle Maintains Contact With Bandit Leaders, Ordered Them To Compel Communities To Vote For APC—Former Aide,” published on November 19, 2025.
Ambassador Ogorry alleges that the publication contains grave, unfounded accusations against the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, claiming he maintains illicit contacts with bandit leaders, orders communities to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC), and engages in activities that undermine counter-terrorism efforts.
These claims, according to the suit, are not only false but also fabricated to incite alarm, hatred, and ill-will, while endangering national security and public safety.
In his affidavit supporting the summons, Ambassador Ogorry, a Nigerian citizen and resident of Abuja with a long-standing commitment to public order and lawful civic discourse, emphasized that the article was disseminated widely across Sahara Reporters’ website, social media channels, X.com (Twitter) account, Facebook pages, WhatsApp broadcasts, and other platforms. He described the publication as a blatant violation of Section 39(3)(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which prohibits speech that endangers public safety, national security, and public order. Furthermore, it contravenes Sections 24(1)(a) & (b) of the Cybercrimes Act 2015 by disseminating false, misleading, and harmful information capable of causing alarm or ill-will.
“The defendants’ reckless actions have not only tarnished the reputation of a dedicated public servant but have also compromised ongoing military operations against banditry and terrorism in Nigeria’s North-West region,” said Ambassador Ogorry. “This publication promotes distrust, exposes the Minister to risks, and undermines the morale of our armed forces engaged in counter-terrorism. It is a direct assault on our national security and the freedom of expression that must be balanced with responsibility.”
The lawsuit seeks the following reliefs from the court:
– A declaration that the publication is false, misleading, malicious, and not protected speech under Section 39(1) of the Constitution (as amended).
– A declaration that it falls within restricted speech under Section 39(3)(a), endangering public safety, national security, and public order.
– A declaration that it violates Sections 24(1)(a) & (b) of the Cybercrimes Act 2015 by prohibiting false, harmful, or misleading information.
– AN ORDER OF INJUNCTION restraining the Defendants, their agents, or privies from further publishing, distributing, circulating, or causing to be circulated the said false publication or any other malicious publication especially as it relates to and against the person of Defence Minister, Dr. Matawalle.
– An order directing the defendants to issue a public retraction of the publication and publish a full apology on their website and social media channels for 14 consecutive days.
– General and exemplary damages of N10,000,000,000 (Ten Billion Naira) for the frivolous, false, and malicious publication geared toward endangering public safety, national security, and public order.
Ambassador Ogorry highlighted that the article, based on unverified claims from an alleged “former senior aide,” lacks any official record or evidence, demonstrating the defendants’ disregard for truth and ethical journalism. He urged the court to address this as a matter of urgent national importance, citing precedents such as President F.R.N. v. ISA (2017) and Guardian Newspapers v. AIEH (2011), which affirm that freedom of expression does not protect reckless publications that threaten security.
“This lawsuit is not just about correcting a falsehood; it’s about safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy, protecting public officials from baseless attacks, and ensuring media accountability,” Ambassador Ogorry added. “Sahara Reporters and Omoyele Sowore must be held responsible for their role in spreading dangerous misinformation that could fuel terrorism and disrupt public order.”
The case is set for hearing in the Abuja Judicial Division, and Ambassador Ogorry expressed confidence in the judiciary’s ability to uphold justice and constitutional principles.
About Ambassador Adebayo Lion Ogorry
Ambassador Adebayo Lion Ogorry is a public advocacy practitioner, activist, and Nigerian citizen dedicated to promoting national security, public order, and lawful civic discourse. With a focus on protecting public discourse from malicious interference, he advocates for responsible journalism and governance.
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