By Elvis Eromosele Nigeria faces a glaring socio-economic paradox. It boasts one of the youngest, most energetic populations in the world, yet its manufacturing corridors grapple with a severe, systemic industrial skills gap. Conventional academic tracks produce thousands of graduates annually; nevertheless, major employers routinely lament a shortage of ready-to-work technical talent. To bypass this friction, a self-sustaining private-sector model has quietly risen to bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world industrial demands. The recent graduation of 20 trainees from the Abaji Factory Technical Training Centre (TTC), following a matching cohort celebration at the Flowergate Factory in Sagamu, marks…
Author: Elvis Eromosele
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed its commitment to building an inclusive digital economy by dismantling barriers to employment, education, and public services for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). Speaking in Lagos at the opening of the Digital Citizenship Training for Persons with Disabilities, Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman emphasised that digital transformation must be people-centered, accessible, and inclusive. Represented by Helen A. Obi, Director of the NCC’s Digital Economy Department, Maida noted that technology must create opportunities rather than new obstacles for vulnerable groups. Addressing the theme “Empowering Persons with Disabilities Through Digital Citizenship for an Inclusive Digital…
The Federal Government, in collaboration with international development partners, has launched a master trainer program in Dutse, Jigawa State, to train 100 agricultural extension specialists who will, in turn, train frontline agents to reach 500,000 farmers nationwide. The initiative, organised by Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and the Jigawa Agricultural Transformation Agency (JATA), targets long-standing extension gaps, including manpower shortages, funding deficits, logistical limits, and poor access to digital advisory tools. Target Coverage: 100 master trainers across Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara states. Core Curriculum: Climate-smart agriculture, soil…
Nigeria spent N3.30 trillion on food and beverage imports in the first half of 2026, driven by a sharp uptick in foreign purchases in the second quarter. Data compiled from the National Bureau of Statistics Foreign Trade Reports shows that while import expenditure stood at N1.39 trillion in the first quarter, it expanded to N1.91 trillion in the second quarter. Despite the strong second-quarter rise, the total half-year spend represents a 3.1 per cent decrease compared to the N3.40 trillion recorded in the first half of 2025. The surge in second-quarter imports was distributed across both raw agricultural commodities and…
The Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC) has officially granted an operational licence to Elektron Energy Development for its 40MW Victoria Island Power project. The approval moves the embedded gas-fired plant closer to its scheduled commercial launch in December 2026, when it will begin delivering dedicated, uninterrupted electricity to corporate headquarters, banking, hospitality, and telecommunications firms across Victoria Island. Developed in partnership with Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), the facility is engineered around Wärtsilä generation engines and is built to scale up to 70MW at full capacity. Power will be distributed directly to corporate off-takers through a dedicated 12.6-kilometre underground…
Nigerian manufacturers must move beyond importing foreign machinery and begin developing indigenous technology to remain competitive in the global market. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), delivered this charge at the opening of the Propak West Africa Exhibition in Victoria Island, Lagos. Represented by Mrs. Oluchi Odimuko, Director of Sectoral Regulatory Affairs, Ajayi-Kadir stressed that importing equipment for display and adoption is no longer sufficient for sustainable industrial growth. Addressing the event’s theme on unlocking growth in food processing and packaging, the MAN leadership highlighted these sectors as central pillars of the manufacturing economy rather than…
Oil prices surged to $100 a barrel on Wednesday for the first time since July as escalating military attacks involving the United States, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Yemen raised fresh fears over energy supplies from the Gulf. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, climbed 2.83% to $100.70 a barrel by Wednesday afternoon, its highest level since late July. The latest surge followed a new round of attacks on oil tankers and military targets across the Gulf region, alongside renewed strikes between Saudi Arabia and Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen. The developments have heightened concerns about the security of one of…
In furtherance of its mandate to ensure that communications devices imported, sold and used in Nigeria meet applicable technical and regulatory standards, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is strengthening the monitoring and enforcement of its Type Approval requirements through a technology enabled framework. The initiative is intended to make Type Approval compliance more efficient, consistent, and effective by enabling the Commission to electronically determine Type Approval compliance of SIM enabled devices. The Device Management System (DMS) will serve as the technology platform supporting this automated compliance framework, allowing the commission to improve oversight of the device ecosystem. Under Section 132(2)…
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has facilitated the establishment of 20 factories and developed more than 40 products in two years, as part of efforts to move Nigerian research and innovation from the laboratory to the marketplace. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, disclosed this in Abuja while leading the agency’s management and winners of its Innovation Assessment and Award Competition on a visit to George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). According to Halilu, NASENI has shifted from a conventional focus on research and product…
Four Nigerian banks invested about N120 billion in infrastructure and technology development in the first quarter of 2026, as lenders move to strengthen resilience and expand support for businesses. Oliver Alawuba, Chairman of the Body of Bank CEOs, disclosed this at the 19th Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) Annual Banking and Finance Conference in Abuja. Alawuba said the investments were aimed at strengthening the banking sector’s resilience while creating the capacity to support the real sector of the economy. He said the banks were also working to translate the investments into more affordable credit for Micro, Small and…