HBM Nigeria Plc has commenced the 2026 edition of its Disability to Ability (D2A) programme, targeting 120 persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Alimosho and Epe, Lagos State, with vocational and entrepreneurial skills to promote economic independence. The six-week programme, organised in partnership with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), began with a joint orientation and launch. Participants will receive practical training in make-up and gele, wig and braids making, phone and laptop repairs, and shoe and bag making. The initiative also covers entrepreneurship, financial literacy, digital skills, business management, sustainable livelihoods, circular economy and green skills. Participants will undertake…
Author: Elvis Eromosele
A $50 million intervention by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) helped revive the Aba Integrated Power Project in Abia State after years of delays caused by policy inconsistencies, bureaucratic bottlenecks and financial constraints, according to Geometric Power Group. Mrs Agatha Nnaji, Group Managing Director of Geometric Power, disclosed this during a recent media tour of the company’s facilities in Aba, organised as part of Afreximbank’s Season 2 Impact Stories site visits. Geometric Power operates Geometric Power Aba Limited (GPAL), which handles power generation, and Aba Power Limited Electric (APLE), the distribution company serving the area. Nnaji said the project had…
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has urged Nigerian students to explore non-oil export opportunities and develop businesses capable of competing in international markets. Mrs Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of NEPC, gave the advice at the launch of the NEPC-National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Student Trade, Entrepreneurship and Export Programme (STEP-X), themed “From Campus to Global Market: Empowering Nigerian Students for Non-Oil Export and Global Entrepreneurship.” Ayeni said the initiative was designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to transform their ideas and businesses into export-ready enterprises. “Youths are not only the…
Nigeria could unlock more than ₦40 trillion in manufacturing opportunities by expanding local production, strengthening industrial value chains and improving competitiveness, according to the Nigerian Manufacturing Opportunity Report 2026 released by SEID. The report, unveiled at the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) 54th Annual General Meeting in Lagos, estimates that imports met 64 per cent of Nigeria’s demand for manufactured goods in 2025, representing a $29.4 billion market that domestic producers did not adequately serve. The findings highlight the scale of the opportunity for manufacturers and investors to reduce import dependence, expand production capacity and capture more value from Nigeria’s…
Dr Ike Neliaku, President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), and media personality Sulaiman Aledeh have called on journalists and public relations practitioners to play a more strategic role in rebuilding Nigeria’s reputation through credible reporting, constructive storytelling and evidence-based communication. They made the call at the monthly meeting and PR Clinic of the NIPR Lagos Chapter, held at LTV 8, Lagos, on the theme, “Rebuilding Nigeria’s Reputational Currency with Media as a Tool.” Neliaku, who joined the programme virtually, said Nigeria needed a deliberate and coordinated approach to reputation management rather than allowing negative narratives, stereotypes and…
Nigeria’s net foreign exchange reserves have climbed to a record $46 billion, while gross external reserves have surpassed $55 billion, strengthening the country’s capacity to meet external obligations and boosting investor confidence. Olayemi Cardoso, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), disclosed this on Thursday at the Nigeria-Asia Connectivity Dialogue, attributing the improved outlook to stronger reserves and relative stability in the foreign exchange market. “The gross foreign reserves are now at an all-time high of $55 billion. Our net reserves is at US$46 billion. In addition to that, the foreign exchange market is stable. These are the things…
Dr Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has urged staff of the Commission to improve service delivery by responding promptly to inquiries, communicating clearly and taking ownership of stakeholders’ concerns. Maida made the call on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, during the Commission’s commemoration of Customer Service Week 2026 at its headquarters in Abuja. The event was held under the theme, “Going the Extra Mile.” He said customer service remained central to the NCC’s mandate, stressing that the Commission’s policies, decisions and regulatory interventions should ultimately improve stakeholder experience and support the…
Professor Idowu Akanbi Sobowale, a renowned communication scholar and veteran member of Nigeria’s media community, has died at the age of 85. Sobowale died on Thursday morning, October 8, 2026, according to a statement issued by a member of his family, Akinniyi Sowunmi. The statement, titled “Transition to Glory,” described his death as a major loss to Nigeria’s communication and media community, particularly members of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals in Nigeria (ACSPN). “This is a very sad day for us in the Communication Community in Nigeria and especially for us at the Association of Communication Scholars &…
OpenAI’s annualised revenue is reportedly about $20 billion below earlier estimates, raising fresh questions about the pace of growth at one of the world’s most closely watched artificial intelligence companies. According to the Financial Times, OpenAI’s annualised revenue reached roughly $50 billion as of September, significantly below the $70 billion figure previously cited by investors and media reports. The sharp difference appears to have resulted largely from how investors calculated the company’s annualised revenue rather than from a sudden collapse in sales. Annualised revenue is calculated by taking revenue generated over a particular period and projecting it across a full…
The White House has barred Microsoft and seven other technology companies from processing new or pending applications under a US programme that allows skilled foreign workers to obtain permanent residency. US Vice President JD Vance accused the companies of abusing the H-1B visa system and related immigration processes, alleging that they were using foreign workers to displace American employees. Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL and Capgemini were named in the government’s action. “No company in the US has abused this system more than Microsoft,” Vance said on Thursday. US Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling said the Department of…