President Tinubu initiates a grassroots development initiative following the NEC's approval of the Renewed Hope Ward Programme.

 President Tinubu initiates a grassroots development initiative following the NEC's approval of the Renewed Hope Ward Programme.

A significant aspect of the program involves recognizing at least 1,000 economically active individuals in each ward, who will receive support to enhance local manufacturing and business operations.

On Thursday, President Tinubu presided over National Economic Council (NEC) session at the State House in Abuja. During the meeting, he received the backing of the Governors for the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme. This comprehensive initiative is designed to distribute recent macroeconomic benefits across Nigeria's 8,809 wards.

The program outlined at the NEC meeting, spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, aims to hasten local development by invigorating economic activities, alleviating poverty, and enhancing job opportunities and food security within communities.

After the meeting, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State told journalists that the President's involvement marks a significant change in strategy, aiming to ensure that the achievements at the federal level translate into tangible benefits at the local level.

He said, “We just concluded the National Economic Council meeting with Mr. President in attendance. The President came up with a programme that will fast-track the process of this additional money creating a bigger impact on Nigerians by making sure that it trickles down to the grassroots.

“The country is earning more money now, the subnational governments are also earning more money.

“A committee will be set up involving the Surveyor-General of the Federation and subnational governments to work together for the early actualisation of these projects.”

Reflecting these views, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, highlighted that the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme marks a historic advancement in the government's reform plans.

He said, “Having stabilized the macro economy, the next step is to drill down development to the lowest levels. We believe this will generate employment, reduce poverty, enhance food security, and even enhance social protection.”

Bagudu clarified that the foundation of the program lies in Chapter Two of Nigeria’s Constitution, which obliges every level of government to foster prosperity and encourage a self-sustaining economy.

Bagudu disclosed that a major aspect of the program involves pinpointing at least 1,000 economically active individuals in each ward. These individuals will receive support to enhance local production and boost commercial activities.

#ababajiks 

#NigeriaRising 

#RenewedHope 

#PBAT

 

FG Set To Pay N81bn N-Power Backlog — Senate Confirms

The Nigerian Senate has confirmed that the Federal Government is preparing to pay the ₦81 billion owed to N-Power beneficiaries as backlog of allowances from 2022 and 2023.

This follows a closed-door meeting facilitated by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, involving government officials, aggrieved N-Power beneficiaries, and their legal representative, Abba Hikima.

Speaking after the meeting, Senator Barau described the dialogue as productive, stating that the Federal Government has begun arrangements to clear the debt.

“The beneficiaries came to seek our intervention. I contacted the Minister, and he responded swiftly. After our discussion, they were assured that the payment is being processed,” Barau said.

“In light of the government’s commitment, they have agreed to suspend legal action.”

He emphasized that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, no citizen would be denied their rightful entitlements.

Also addressing the issue, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, clarified that the arrears stemmed from allowances captured in the 2022 and 2023 budgets but not funded, and were excluded from the 2024 and 2025 budgets.

“We secured an approval through the service-wide vote late last year, and now we’re working to activate payment within the current fiscal year,” the minister said.

“We are committed to resolving this matter before the end of the year.”

Legal counsel for the N-Power beneficiaries, Abba Hikima, confirmed the suspension of planned litigation, stating that assurances were given that payments would commence once the 2025 budget implementation begins.

Chairman of the N-Power beneficiaries, Kehinde James, thanked the Senate and relevant ministries for their intervention, expressing hope that the long-awaited funds would soon be disbursed.

The N-Power scheme, part of Nigeria’s broader social investment programme, has faced repeated challenges in funding, leading to protests and legal threats from affected participants in recent years.

We’re Removing All Bottlenecks To Improve Food And Agric Production In Nigeria, Says President Tinubu To Brazilian Leader

 

Skip to content

We’re Removing All Bottlenecks To Improve Food And Agric Production In Nigeria, Says President Tinubu To Brazilian Leader

• David Peter
 
• News, Policies, Politics, Stories 
 
• July 5, 2025
 
•  0 Comments

Spread the love

President Bola Tinubu has assured that all bottlenecks hindering the realisation of the agricultural sector’s potential, including livestock production, will be removed to enable food sovereignty and export.

In a bilateral meeting held at the Copacabana Forte with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva and some members of both countries’ cabinets, President Tinubu noted that bureaucracy contributes to delays in realising the agricultural sector’s potential.

The President informed the Brazilian leader and delegation that Nigeria was already undergoing reforms to reposition the economy for global competitiveness, particularly in agriculture, where it already has a competitive advantage.

President Tinubu stated that all technicalities in agreements between the two countries will be streamlined and fast-tracked in trade, aviation, energy transition, food and agricultural development, mining, and natural resources exploration.

The President stated that Brazil’s research and development services had been exemplary for most countries, with the country being one of the highest producers of food and agricultural products.

On livestock farming, President Tinubu highlighted the efforts of his administration to boost investments in poultry, cattle rearing, and fisheries, adding that the blue economy also holds potential for long-term partnerships between Nigeria and Brazil.

He said Nigeria was ready for a strong partnership and immediate action to stimulate food production.

The President said the subnationals have a pivotal role in food and animal production in Nigeria by complementing the federal government’s efforts to use agriculture as a significant source of employment and resource mobilisation.

President Lula assured that all agreements with Nigeria would be regularised, and the MOUs would be updated and signed without delay during President Tinubu’s next visit.

Da Silva noted that the lingering bureaucracy between the two countries must be removed to achieve quick results, adding that Brazil’s research and development institutions will collaborate with Nigeria to enhance livestock farming.

The Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, stated that President Tinubu had consistently insisted on food security for Nigeria, and the mandate would be actualised through local and global partnerships.

Kyari noted that Nigeria already had a competitive advantage in fertiliser production that could easily be enhanced.

The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, highlighted three areas of partnership with Brazil, including health and disease management, sanitary services, and research into genetic materials and new breeds.

The governors of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia; Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun; Niger State, Mohammed Umar Bago; Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori; and Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, attended the bilateral meeting.

The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, stated that the sub-nationals would support the federal government’s framework to revamp the agricultural sector.

Abiodun noted that both leaders’ decision to include a business forum during President Tinubu’s state visit to the country will inject fresh ideas and resources, enabling quick results in turning around Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mohammed Mohammed, also participated in the bilateral meeting.

 

Home

FG, YOTSI Launch $2.5B YEIDEP Donorship Drive to Tackle Youth Unemployment, Poverty, Food Insecurity

By

 Journalist101

 -

June 30, 2025

0

In a bold move to combat youth unemployment, food insecurity, and economic exclusion, the Federal Government in partnership with the Youths Off The Street Initiative (YOTSI) has launched the $2.5 billion YEIDEP Global Donorship Drive and Fundraising Campaign.

The initiative is designed to finance the Cooperative Youth Farmers and Allied Entrepreneurs Programme (CYFAEP)—a sub-scheme of the Youth Economic Intervention and De-Radicalization Programme (YEIDEP)—which aims to empower young Nigerians and women through agriculture, entrepreneurship, and self-employment.

YEIDEP, a flagship youth empowerment initiative spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and YOTSI in collaboration with global donors and development partners, was conceived to address urgent socio-economic threats including chronic youth unemployment, household poverty, food insecurity, and the growing risk of youth radicalization.

Speaking at the launch event, Comrade Kennedy Iyere, Coordinator-General of YEIDEP, disclosed that the programme has already registered about six million youths and young women as members and plans to build a national network of twenty million cooperative youth farmers and agro-allied entrepreneurs between 2025 and 2027.

“This initiative will drastically reduce youth and women unemployment, boost food production, ensure food security, alleviate household poverty, and foster youth economic inclusion and de-radicalization,” Iyere said.

He emphasized that YEIDEP will provide beneficiaries with financial assistance, technical support, training, mentorship, and access to markets, thereby giving them the tools to succeed in agribusiness and related sectors.

Iyere further announced partnerships with eight commercial banks—Keystone Bank, Fidelity Bank, Lotus Bank, Union Bank, Wema Bank, Zenith Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, and Providus Bank—to handle the receipt, warehousing, and disbursement of funds.

“The launch of the YEIDEP Global Donorship Drive and Fundraising Campaign marks a significant step towards addressing Nigeria’s key problems of chronic youth unemployment, economic exclusion, food insecurity, and youth radicalization,” Iyere stated.

He called on global donors, development partners, federal and state governments, private corporations, industry leaders, and influential individuals to contribute generously to the campaign.

“YEIDEP’s goal is to empower twenty million young Nigerians through entrepreneurship and self-employment in agriculture, food and beverage, agro-allied industries, agritech, renewable energy, and more—fostering economic growth, political stability, and national security,” he said.

Iyere warned of the potential dangers if Nigeria’s youth crisis is not urgently addressed:
“Unless these key social and economic problems are drastically addressed, Nigeria remains a fragile country dangerously sitting on a keg of gunpowder, as the time bomb of youth unemployment ticks daily toward a disastrous explosion. YEIDEP must be embraced and supported by all Nigerians, beyond political interest and affiliation.”

The campaign marks one of the most ambitious youth-targeted economic interventions in recent years, signaling a shift toward grassroots-driven, donor-supported development in Nigeria.