News
Tinubu’s 4-D Agenda: DTAC Commences 4-Leg Administrative, Monitoring, Evaluation Excercise For Volunteers in East African Sub-Region
Joel Ajayi
Officials of the Directorate of Technical Aid Corps, led by the Agency’s Director-General, Rt. Hon. (Dr.)Yusuf Buba Yakub, arrived in Kampala, Uganda, on Monday, to commence a 4-leg tour of the East African nations hosting TAC Scheme Volunteers.
In a press statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the DTAC DG. Nkem Anyata-Lafia Tuesday, DTAC boss, said the monitoring and evaluation exercise was a necessary means of familiarizing himself with the stakeholders of the TAC Scheme in the Sub-Region since assuming office about two months ago.
During this visit, Rt.Hon.Buba is also expected to assess the condition of the Volunteers and the level of compliance of recipient countries and the Volunteers with the tripartite agreement entered into with the Federal Republic of Nigeria on one hand and the Volunteers on the other.
The DTAC DG is on this visit with the Director of Programmes in the Agency, Amb. Mohammed Mohammed; the Ag. Director, Finance and Accounts, Mr. Saidu Idris as well as Hajiya Rahila Ayuba, the Ag. Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, among others.
The delegation is expected to meet with officers of the Nigerian Missions in countries being visited, the Volunteers, and as well as other stakeholders contributing to the realization of President Tinubu’s Foreign Policy initiatives through the DTAC mandate.
Monitoring and evaluation visits have been scheduled for such countries as Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Seychelles where DTAC retains several Volunteers. The visit will terminate early next week with a return to Abuja.
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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