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Youth Minister Calls For More Youth Mentorship
The Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio-Ibrahim has called for mentorship of students so as to enable them to navigate the issues of life.
The Minister made the call in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the Association of Nigerian Taxation Students (ANTAS) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) led by the President, Mr Samuel Agbeluyi.
Dr. Bio-Ibrahim noted that one of the major components of society is mentorship because the young ones need guidance and direction as they strive to make a positive contribution to life.
The Minister, who expressed her desire to see more youths, occupy positions of leadership thanked President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for appointing youths, especially women into his cabinet and committes that will drive the economy of the nation.
Speaking on the proposed collaboration between the Ministry and ANTAS-CITN to reduce the ongoing high spate of brain drain among the youth, Dr. Bio-Ibrahim underscored the need to find an elaborate area for such collaboration.
“In a couple of weeks, we should be able to consolidate this relationship and be able to find an elaborate area for our collaboration.” She said.
The Minister expressed her gratitude for being decorated as the Technical Advisor of ANTAS by its president, Mr. Opeyemi Babatunde. “Thank you for choosing me to be an advisor. It is a privilege that I am not taking for granted. I am ready for whatever it takes for me to be part of the process as long as my schedule permits.” She added.
Earlier, leader of the delegation, the 16th President of CITN, Mr. Samuel Agbeluyi, in his remarks, said that the youths are inspired when they see a youth leader that they can relate with. He disclosed that the Institute trains the young ones to be confident by giving them the opportunity to speak for themselves.
He stated that with the efforts of the Institute, the nation has 32 tertiary institutions that are offering taxation as a main course at various levels such as ND, HND, BSC, Masters, and PhD.
“It shows the imperative of taxation and that we need the manpower who can actually handle things either as revenue officers, tax participants, and even as taxpayers.” He said.
Also speaking, the Chairman CITN committee on student affairs and tertiary education relations, Dr. Abiola Adimula stated that the association has three proposed areas of collaboration and partnership with the Ministry, amongst which is a high level stakeholders roundtable meeting tagged, “Youth Convening: Exploring opportunities for youth empowerment in Nigeria towards diminishing JAPA syndrome whereby relevant stakeholders will be invited to discuss plans and opportunities available to the youth, to reduce the high spate of ongoing brain drain in the country.
Dr. Adimula further stated that ANTAS-CITN through its network can facilitate the presentation of the Ministry’s activities at its United Nations Headquarters to open up better visibility and partnership with UN international agencies and other funding organisations.
The President of ANTAS, Mr. Opeyemi Babatunde later decorated the Honourable Minister as the Technical Advisor of the association, which, according to him, was
based on the constitutional provisions of the association.
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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