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“CAPIS 3C EDUCATION SERIES — EPISODE 2″”SO, WHAT EXACTLY IS 3C?”

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CAPIS 3C: Understanding the Commonwealth Card and How It Works

https://theatlanticbell.com/capis-3c-education-series-episode-2so-what-exactly-is-3c/

Access to economic opportunities remains a major concern for many Nigerians, even as commercial activities expand across different sectors of the economy.

From agriculture and renewable energy to transportation, commercial infrastructure and technology-driven businesses, new projects and markets continue to emerge. However, knowing about these opportunities does not necessarily mean having the means or a structured pathway to participate in them.

This gap between awareness and participation is the idea behind the CAPIS Commonwealth Card, popularly known as 3C.
In the second episode of the CAPIS 3C Education Series, the focus is on explaining what the Commonwealth Card is, how it is designed to work and the opportunities it seeks to make accessible to eligible clients.

What Exactly Is 3C?

The CAPIS Commonwealth Card (3C) Service is described as a non-deposit platform access service that provides eligible clients with access to CAPIS financing capacity and structured opportunities for economic participation.
In simple terms, 3C is designed to provide clients with a platform through which they can explore qualifying commercial opportunities and, subject to the applicable requirements, participate in selected economic activities facilitated through CAPIS.

The service begins with a one-time platform access fee of ₦35,000 under the Individual Plan.
Upon registration, clients receive a Financing Capital Voucher with a stated value of up to ₦30 million.

However, understanding what this means is important. The voucher represents access to stated financing capacity; it should not automatically be interpreted as cash paid directly to the client or as a guarantee that financing will be approved for every project. Participation and financing remain subject to the relevant terms, eligibility criteria and requirements.

Beyond the Card: Creating a Pathway to Participation

The idea behind 3C goes beyond the virtual card itself. Its central proposition is to create a structured pathway through which eligible clients can explore commercial opportunities and seek to participate in qualifying projects.

For example, commercial activities in agriculture may create opportunities across production, processing, storage and distribution. Renewable energy projects may require services, equipment and supporting infrastructure, while transportation and commercial developments may generate opportunities for qualified businesses and service providers.
Technology-enabled enterprises can also open up opportunities for innovation, service delivery and business expansion.

These sectors illustrate the range of commercial activities through which economic value can be created. The 3C platform is designed to connect eligible clients to qualifying opportunities within this broader commercial ecosystem, subject to the conditions governing each project.

The underlying proposition is straightforward: more people should have a structured route to explore economic participation rather than remain limited to observing commercial developments from the sidelines.

The actual opportunities available to individual clients, however, will depend on the projects listed, the applicable participation requirements and the terms of the platform.
Two Pathways to Explore
The 3C service features two principal pathways: Commercial Project Bidding and Contract Financing.

The Commercial Project Bidding pathway, which is the focus of the current education series, centres on opportunities for eligible clients to bid to participate in qualifying commercial projects.
The Contract Financing pathway addresses a different commercial need and is designed around financing requirements associated with contracts.

Although both pathways fall under the 3C framework, they serve different purposes. Understanding how each works is therefore essential for anyone seeking to explore the service.

Rather than present both pathways at once, the CAPIS 3C Education Series will examine them separately, using straightforward explanations and practical examples to help readers understand their features, requirements and potential applications.

The aim is to make the information accessible to people who may be unfamiliar with commercial project participation and structured financing arrangements.

What Comes Next?
The next episode will examine the Commercial Project Bidding pathway in greater detail, beginning with a fundamental question: What does it actually mean to participate in a commercial project through 3C?

The discussion will explore the meaning of project participation and explain the process in practical terms.

For anyone interested in understanding how the CAPIS Commonwealth Card is structured, the next episode will provide a closer look at the first of the service’s two principal pathways.

https://theatlanticbell.com/capis-3c-education-series-episode-2so-what-exactly-is-3c/

Next Episode: Project Participation — What Does It Actually Mean?

Dangote Refinery’s Price Cut To Trigger Petrol Price Reduction at Filling Stations

The Atlantic Bell
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Petrol prices at filling stations across Nigeria are expected to decline in the coming days following a reduction in the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

The refinery has reduced its gantry price of petrol to N1,215 per litre, a development expected to influence pump prices across the downstream petroleum sector.

Managers of filling stations operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and MRS Oil Nigeria have indicated that they would adjust their prices following the latest reduction.

An NNPCL filling station manager in Abuja, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the outlet expected to reduce its pump price this week.

“Our fuel price is expected to drop from this week following Dangote Refinery’s petrol price cut,” the manager said.

A manager at an MRS filling station also confirmed that a reduction was likely in the coming days.

The President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Abubakar Maigandi, similarly said members of the association would lower their prices once they received supplies reflecting the refinery’s latest pricing.

“Our members would cut fuel prices as soon as we receive Dangote Refinery’s petrol from this week,” he said.

The anticipated reduction comes amid a decline in international crude oil prices, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude reportedly falling by three and four per cent to $99 and $104 per barrel, respectively.

The movement in crude oil prices is an important development for the petroleum market, although domestic petrol prices are also influenced by factors such as exchange rates, distribution costs, transportation expenses and marketers’ margins.

Meanwhile, motorists in Abuja and surrounding areas are currently paying between N1,370 and N1,429 per litre for petrol at filling stations.

The expected adjustment could provide some relief to consumers facing rising transportation costs and other economic pressures, although the extent of any reduction will depend on the prices at which marketers obtain supplies and their individual operating costs.

With Dangote Refinery playing a significant role in domestic petrol supply, changes in its gantry price are closely watched by marketers and consumers for their potential impact on retail fuel prices.

However, the actual pump prices and timing of the anticipated reductions will depend on when filling stations receive the lower-priced product and implement corresponding adjustments.

Labour Crisis Deepens As Ajaero, Osifo Trade Blows Over N70,000 Allowance … TUC Chief Accused Of Being Absentee Leader

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The leadership crisis rocking Nigeria’s organised labour movement deepened on Monday as President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, launched a scathing attack on his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Festus Osifo, accusing him of being an absentee leader who resides in the United States and only returns to Nigeria for labour meetings.

The accusation, which came amid a disagreement over the authority of the NLC to negotiate workers’ salaries and allowances without the participation of the TUC, has exposed a growing rift between the two major labour centres.

While Ajaero questioned Osifo’s commitment to Nigerian workers, arguing that a leader who lives abroad could hardly understand their economic hardship, the TUC president insisted that his union could not be excluded from negotiations affecting its members.

The dispute centres on the N70,000 transport allowance recently approved by President Bola Tinubu following discussions between labour representatives and the Federal Government.

Osifo described the agreement as an aberration, insisting that the NLC lacked the authority to negotiate on behalf of workers represented by the TUC without consulting the union or securing its participation.

The two labour leaders aired their grievances on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, turning what had been a disagreement over labour representation into a public exchange of accusations over leadership credibility and workers’ welfare.

In a particularly damaging intervention, Ajaero accused Osifo of abandoning the workers he claims to represent, arguing that his alleged residence in the United States disconnected him from the economic realities confronting Nigerian employees.
“He is an absentee president of the TUC. He doesn’t live in Nigeria. He comes in from the United States to attend meetings and rush back,” Ajaero declared.

The NLC president questioned how Osifo could effectively lead Nigerian workers and negotiate their welfare while allegedly living outside the country.

He argued that a leader who did not experience the daily realities of the Nigerian economy could hardly appreciate the hardship workers faced in paying rent, school fees, buying fuel and providing food for their families.

Ajaero also contrasted the economic conditions he attributed to Osifo’s alleged life in America with the challenges confronting Nigerian workers, including high petrol prices, poor living standards and rising household expenses.
“How can you lead workers you don’t live with? How can you negotiate for people whose suffering you don’t feel? He has abandoned workers,” he added.

The NLC president further argued that his organisation, which has more than 60 affiliate unions, could not be expected to wait for the TUC’s participation before negotiating improved wages and allowances for workers.
However, Osifo countered that the size of the NLC’s membership did not confer on it the authority to negotiate on behalf of another independent labour centre.

Expressing disappointment with Ajaero’s position, the TUC president said the dispute raised fundamental questions about representation and consultation in organised labour.

“Listening to Ajaero again today, I really pity the labour movement and the quality of leaders that have been inflated on the NLC,” Osifo said.
He maintained that neither the NLC nor the TUC could unilaterally negotiate on behalf of the other where their respective affiliates and members were concerned.

According to him, the International Labour Organisation’s tripartite framework, involving labour, government and employers, does not establish that one labour centre can negotiate for another without its involvement.

Osifo acknowledged that the NLC had more affiliates than the TUC but insisted that this numerical advantage did not justify excluding the latter from negotiations affecting its members.
“We are not contesting the fact that NLC has more affiliates,” he said, adding that the two organisations should sit together and reach an agreement on matters affecting their respective constituencies.

He challenged Ajaero to produce any International Labour Organisation regulation that expressly authorised one labour centre to negotiate on behalf of the other without consultation.

The TUC president also disputed the suggestion that the meeting at which the N70,000 transport allowance was agreed upon constituted a valid meeting of the Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council (JNC).

Osifo argued that the meeting did not satisfy the requirements for a properly constituted council meeting, insisting that the council’s membership and quorum provisions had to be observed before decisions could be regarded as binding.
He further accused Ajaero of mishandling the consequential salary adjustments arising from the increase in the national minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000.

According to Osifo, the difference between the previous and new minimum wages was treated as a flat N40,000 adjustment across the board, rather than being subjected to the appropriate consequential adjustments through the established negotiating framework. He argued that this approach had contributed to what he described as the poor earnings of federal workers.

Osifo said he had confronted Ajaero privately over the matter, insisting that the process adopted was fundamentally flawed.
He also dismissed Ajaero’s invocation of the JNC, arguing that the NLC president needed a better understanding of the council’s constitution and mandate.

The public confrontation has raised fresh concerns about the unity of Nigeria’s organised labour movement at a time when workers are grappling with rising living costs and pressing for improved welfare.

Beyond the personal accusations, the disagreement exposes unresolved questions about the representation of workers by the two labour centres, the procedures for negotiating allowances and the extent to which agreements reached by one organisation can affect members of another.

With Ajaero questioning Osifo’s physical presence in the country and commitment to workers, and Osifo challenging the NLC’s authority to negotiate without the TUC, the dispute threatens to shift attention away from the welfare issues both organisations are expected to champion.

Whether the two leaders can resolve their differences through consultation or allow the public exchange to deepen the division within organised labour remains to be seen.

Ibiyeomie, VDM Trade Words Over Pastor’s Curse Threats

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Pastor David Ibiyeomie, founder of Salvation Ministries, and social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), have engaged in a war of words following the cleric’s claim that anyone he curses becomes useless for life.

While Ibiyeomie maintained that his prayers could render those who provoke him ineffective for the rest of their lives, VDM challenged him to name the people he had allegedly cursed and dared him to direct the same spiritual punishment at him.

The exchange began after Ibiyeomie, while speaking about his ability to pray against those who trouble him, claimed that people who incur his wrath suffer lasting consequences.
“Anyone who wants to trouble me, when I curse you, you are finish. Check all the social media, all the people I have cursed whether anyone is existing,” the pastor said.

He further asserted that his prayers could affect even people occupying positions of political authority. “I know what to pray that the person will be useless for life, even those that are in political powers, when I pray against them that’s the end,” he said.

However, VDM took issue with the claims, accusing the cleric of making unsubstantiated assertions about his spiritual powers and challenging him to provide evidence.

The activist demanded that Ibiyeomie identify those he had allegedly cursed, insisting that the pastor’s claims should not be accepted without scrutiny.

“All the social media people that you have cursed, call their names, I dare you. You are a liar,” VDM said.

He also accused some pastors of exploiting the faith of their followers by creating the impression that they possess supernatural powers capable of determining the fate of those who oppose them.

VDM argued that such claims could instil fear in worshippers, particularly mothers, who might be persuaded to believe that their religious leaders wield extraordinary influence over their lives and those of their loved ones.

The activist also questioned the practice of threatening church members with misfortune when they fail to pay tithes and offerings, arguing that such conduct conflicts with biblical teachings.
“The Bible say bless those who prosecute you, bless them and not curse. You people are not God,” he said.

VDM further challenged Ibiyeomie over an alleged claim that the pastor had given God $1 million, questioning the assertion in view of what he described as the cleric’s circumstances at the time.

He ended his reaction by calling Ibiyeomie a liar and daring him to curse him, turning the pastor’s declaration into a direct challenge.

The verbal confrontation has brought the two men into a public face-off over claims of spiritual authority, the influence of religious leaders and the place of biblical teachings in the exercise of pastoral power.

Horsfall’s Legacy Will Inspire Generations Yet Unborn, Says Fubara …As Late Security Guru Is Laid To Rest

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SSG, Dr Dagogo Wokoma consoling the widow of late Chief Albert Horsfall in Buguma on Saturday.

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has described the late Chief Albert Korubo Horsfall as a distinguished statesman whose contributions to national security, intelligence administration and Niger Delta development would remain a source of inspiration to generations yet unborn.

Fubara said Horsfall’s life of service, patriotism, integrity and commitment to humanity earned him a place in Nigeria’s history and brought honour to the Kalabari Kingdom and Rivers State.

The governor spoke through the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Dagogo Wokoma, at the funeral service of the elder statesman held on Saturday, October 31, in Buguma, Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.

He described the deceased as a patriotic Nigerian whose dedication to national development was reflected in the strategic positions he occupied during his public service career.

Fubara particularly highlighted Horsfall’s contributions as Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), pioneer Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and chairman of the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC).

According to the governor, Horsfall’s service in these capacities represented significant milestones in Nigeria’s national security architecture and efforts to promote development in the Niger Delta.

“Chief Horsfall was a distinguished statesman whose life was defined by service, patriotism, integrity and commitment to humanity.

“His contributions to our nation, particularly through his service as Director-General of the State Security Service, pioneer Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency and Chairman of OMPADEC, remain significant milestones in our national history,” he said.

The governor added that the late statesman’s legacy of leadership, national service and commitment to development would endure beyond his lifetime.

He urged the bereaved family, the Kalabari people and Nigerians to uphold the values of peace, unity and selfless service that characterised Horsfall’s life.

The funeral service attracted prominent dignitaries, including the directors-general of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), as well as representatives of the Bayelsa State governor.

Others included the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the chairman of PENDEF, the Regent of the Kalabari Kingdom, Rivers State commissioners for Education and Special Projects, government officials, traditional rulers and other stakeholders.

Fubara Pledges Equal Opportunities, Hails Women Judges’ Role In Justice Delivery

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L-R: Vice President,National Association of Women Judges Nigeria (NAWJN), Hon Justice Onyekachi Otisi; Head of the Civil Service of Rivers State, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi S. I. Brown; Chief Judge of Rivers State, Hon Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi and Chief Judge of Cross River State, Hon Justice Akon Bassey Ikpeme at the dinner in honour of the participants of the National Association of Women Judges Nigeria (NAWJN) South South Regional Conference held in Port Harcourt.

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to inclusiveness and equal opportunities, commending women judges for their contributions to justice delivery, good governance and national development.

Fubara gave the assurance on Friday at a dinner organised in honour of participants at the South-South Regional Conference of the National Association of Women Judges of Nigeria (NAWJN), held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Port Harcourt.

Represented by the Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr Inyingi S. I. Brown, the governor described the conference as an important gathering of accomplished women in the judiciary and congratulated the association on the successful event.

He noted that women judges had continued to demonstrate fairness, courage and integrity in the administration of justice, while serving as role models to young women aspiring to careers in law, public service and leadership.

Head of the Civil Service of Rivers State, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi S. I. Brown, delivering her address during the dinner in honour of the participants of the National Association of Women Judges Nigeria (NAWJN) South South Regional Conference in Port Harcourt.

According to him, their achievements underscore the fact that excellence, competence and integrity are not determined by gender.
Fubara stressed that no society could realise its full potential if women were denied equal opportunities to contribute to governance and development.

He said his administration remained committed to promoting fairness and inclusiveness in public service, adding that women’s participation in leadership was essential to building a just and progressive society.

The governor urged NAWJN to strengthen mentorship programmes, support young female lawyers and create opportunities for the next generation of women leaders to develop the skills and confidence required to excel in their chosen fields.

“I encourage this association to continue building strong mentorship networks, supporting young female lawyers and creating pathways through which the next generation of women leaders can develop with the confidence, competence and character required for leadership,” he said.

He added that the most enduring legacy of leadership was not merely personal achievement but the opportunities created for others to succeed.

Fubara assured the association that the Rivers State Government would continue to support initiatives aimed at strengthening the judiciary, advancing women’s leadership and consolidating democratic institutions.

Opinion: Between Tinubu And Predecessors, Who Is Truly Responsible For Poverty In Nigeria?

The Atlantic Bell
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Ask ten Nigerians who made them poor and you will hear ten different names. Ask the numbers, and the answer is more complicated than any campaign poster will admit.

Start with the simple facts. In 2018/19, the Nigeria Living Standards Survey put poverty at 40 per cent of the population, about 81 million people. By 2025, an estimated 139 million Nigerians were living below the poverty line, and that figure measures far more than empty pockets. Poverty in Nigeria has a money dimension, which is the share of people whose spending cannot cover a basic basket of food and necessities. It also has a human dimension that income alone cannot capture: children who never finish school or learn to read, families far from a clinic or unable to afford care, homes without electricity, clean water, decent sanitation or clean cooking fuel, and households with no steady work that live under the shadow of hunger, flooding and insecurity. The National Bureau of Statistics captured this wider picture in its multidimensional poverty index, which looked at health, education, living standards, and work and shocks. It found that a majority of Nigerians were deprived in several of these areas at once. A person can therefore be counted as poor because of what they earn, because of what they cannot access, or, as is common in rural Nigeria, both.

On the money measure, the World Bank projects and estimates Nigeria’s poverty rate at approximately 63 per cent for 2025 and 2026, affecting roughly 139 to 142 million people. It expects a gradual decline to about 58 to 59 per cent by 2028. That would be the first meaningful dip in nearly ten years, and the early part of it lands in an election cycle.

Now the part many politicians skip. The World Bank says three-quarters of the rise in poverty between 2019 and 2023 happened before 2023. That is before Bola Tinubu took the oath. It also found that average consumption fell by 6.7 per cent over those years. The ultra-poor, those who cannot afford enough food even if they spend everything on eating, jumped from 14 per cent to 27 per cent between 2019 and 2023. So the bleeding started under the last government.

The trouble did not begin with Buhari either. In 2018, the Brookings Institution said Nigeria had overtaken India as the country with the most people in extreme poverty, about 86.9 million. That same period saw unemployment climb from 7.5 per cent in early 2015 to 23.1 per cent by late 2018. The economy had also slipped into recession in 2016 and only exited in September 2017. Buhari’s government argued such reports were captured during the recession. Yet one researcher quoted by Africa Check traced Nigeria’s deep poverty back to the 1980s, when a global recession and oil price collapse made poverty endemic. Poverty in Nigeria is a very old wound.

Tinubu’s critics have their own strong facts. On his first day he removed the fuel subsidy and unified the exchange rates, measures that drove inflation sharply higher and squeezed household incomes. That hurts most where the poor feel it, because low-income households spend 60 to 70 per cent of their income on food. The World Bank’s April 2025 report also flagged Nigeria as home to the largest number of extremely poor people in the world.

His defenders answer that the pain was the price of repair. The president compared the old system to a cancer patient choosing between painful treatment or morphine that hides the disease while it spreads. The numbers he points to are real. GDP grew 4.43 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, up from 3.89 per cent in the first. Inflation eased to 14.45 per cent in November 2025. His government also rejects the poverty headcount, with a spokesman saying the World Bank figure should not be read as a literal, real-time count.

Here is the caution for readers. Lower inflation does not mean prices have gone back to what they were. A tin of tomatoes that doubled in price does not become cheap because it stopped rising. Some analysts also note that the statistics bureau’s rebasing produced a much smaller inflation figure that gives the impression of a crash. One research head says Nigeria would need 7 to 9 per cent growth to change the poverty picture, and today’s growth is about half that.

Then there is geography. More than 7 in 10 people in the north are poor, compared with about 3 in 10 in the south. No single president created that gap. It reflects insecurity, weak farming income and decades of neglect by governments at every level.

So who is truly responsible? The record shows poverty rising under both the last administration and this one, and the largest part of the climb coming before 2023. It also shows Tinubu’s reforms adding a heavy short-term cost, with the payoff still to be proven. Whether the promised recovery is real is what voters must weigh in 2027. Check the price of rice in your own market, ask whether your income buys more than it did three years ago, and then ask every candidate, from every party, what exactly they will do about it.

Faleye writes from Lagos

By Seunmanuel Faleye

RIVCHPP Implements Fubara’s Health4AllRivers Mandate, Says Agala

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The Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer of RIVCHPP, Dr. Vetty Agala, in the middle, and to her right is the Chairman of Obuama CDC, Prof. Sakiemi Idoniboye, while others flanked them.

The Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding health insurance coverage across the state, describing its activities as central to Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s Health4AllRivers initiative.

The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of RIVCHPP, Dr Vetty Agala, stated this on Thursday, October 29, 2026, when she received members of the Obuama Community Development Committee and the 1996 set of Bereton College Port Harcourt Old Students Association during separate courtesy visits to her office.

Agala said the agency was committed to ensuring that every Rivers resident without health insurance had access to its programmes, stressing that health insurance remained a more sustainable approach to healthcare financing than reliance on free medical services.

She explained that government, philanthropists, corporate organisations and other well-meaning individuals could sponsor health insurance coverage for vulnerable persons who might otherwise be unable to afford it.

Members of Bereton College, Port Harcourt (1996 set) flanking Dr. Vetty Agala ( in the middle), RIVCHPP’s Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer at the visit.

According to her, such collective efforts would expand access to healthcare while ensuring that vulnerable members of society were not excluded from essential medical services.

The RIVCHPP chief executive called on local government authorities, politicians, community leaders and well-meaning individuals to sponsor health insurance for people within their communities, describing the initiative as an investment in healthier families and communities.

She noted that since the agency became operational in 2024, it had improved residents’ access to healthcare services but acknowledged that greater public awareness was needed to maximise its impact.

Agala, therefore, urged individuals and organisations to become advocates of the programme by informing residents about its benefits and encouraging them to enrol.

She also expressed the agency’s readiness to collaborate with community groups, associations and other stakeholders committed to improving universal health coverage and promoting positive health-seeking behaviour among Rivers residents.

Speaking on behalf of the Obuama Community Development Committee, its chairman, Prof. Sakiemi Idoniboye, commended RIVCHPP for its efforts to improve healthcare access in the state.

Idoniboye said the committee was seeking a partnership with the agency to facilitate the enrolment of members of the Obuama community in the health insurance scheme and improve their overall health outcomes.

However, he urged RIVCHPP to ensure that its operations remained free from political considerations, warning that any perception of political bias could undermine public confidence and discourage community members from participating in its programmes.

He stressed the importance of maintaining an impartial approach that would encourage residents, regardless of their political affiliations, to embrace the scheme.

In a separate remark, the president of the Bereton College Port Harcourt Old Students Association, 1996 set, Gift E. Chidi-nma, said the association visited RIVCHPP to explore areas of collaboration as part of its plans to give back to the community hosting their alma mater.

She explained that the association intended to mark its 30th anniversary with initiatives that would benefit the community, adding that discussions with RIVCHPP were aimed at identifying opportunities to support healthcare access among residents.

The proposed collaboration reflects growing efforts by community organisations and alumni associations to contribute to public health initiatives through partnerships with government agencies.

NDDC Empowers Niger Delta Youths In Advanced Fashion Design To Stimulate Growth

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The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has empowered 30 youths with advanced fashion and garment design skills to promote entrepreneurship, tackle unemployment and stimulate economic growth in the Niger Delta region.

The beneficiaries were selected from 100 youths who participated in the commission’s fashion design training programme in 2025, based on their competence and passion for the industry.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Port Harcourt, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said the initiative was part of the commission’s commitment to youth empowerment, skills acquisition and economic self-reliance.

Ogbuku said the training had equipped the beneficiaries with advanced skills and provided them with opportunities to build successful careers in the fashion industry.

He urged them to put their newly acquired knowledge to productive use, stressing that public funds had been invested in developing their capacity to become self-reliant entrepreneurs.

The NDDC chief executive challenged the graduates to establish their own businesses, create employment opportunities and transfer their skills to others, thereby extending the benefits of the programme to more people across the region.

He also encouraged them to seek mentorship and professional guidance from their training consultant, Mr Greg Daniel, whom he described as a passionate fashion entrepreneur.

Ogbuku disclosed that the commission planned to extend its youth empowerment initiatives to artificial intelligence (AI) and other technology-related skills, noting that technological advancement offered significant opportunities to address unemployment and prepare young people for the future.

He urged the beneficiaries to think beyond their immediate environment and develop the confidence to compete in the wider fashion industry.

“Don’t be limited by your mind or where you come from. The people you see making progress today started somewhere. The dreams they nurtured have brought them this far. Do not be limited by your environment; believe that you can own a house through your fashion business,” he said.

In his address, the Executive Director, Projects, Dr Victor Antai, described the programme as an investment in human potential, economic independence and regional prosperity.

Antai said the initiative was designed to nurture entrepreneurs rather than job seekers, adding that the advanced training would create employment opportunities and strengthen the fashion industry in the Niger Delta.

He urged the graduates to embrace discipline, creativity, professionalism and integrity, while prioritising customer satisfaction, commitment and sound financial management in building sustainable businesses.

Similarly, the Executive Director, Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, said the programme was designed to equip participants with practical knowledge and skills to become productive and economically independent.

He urged the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunities provided by the commission and translate their training into viable businesses capable of supporting their livelihoods.

The Director of Commercial and Industrial Development, Mrs Lyna Okara, encouraged the graduates to develop distinctive fashion brands that could compete favourably in the industry.

Okara also urged them to expand their businesses beyond the Niger Delta and take advantage of opportunities in the wider Nigerian and international markets.

The training consultant, Daniel, commended the NDDC for investing in youth development and sustainable economic growth, noting that the beneficiaries had received training in advanced garment production and entrepreneurial development.

He expressed optimism that the skills acquired would enable the graduates to establish businesses and contribute to the growth of the fashion industry.

Fubara Commissions Corps Members’ Lodge In Nkoro, Backs Grassroots Development

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Chief of Staff Government House, Mr Sunny Ewule addressing the gathering during the commissioning ceremony on Thursday.

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to grassroots development, urging local government councils to prioritise projects that directly improve the welfare of residents.

Fubara gave the assurance on Thursday in Nkoro Town, Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, during the commissioning of the newly constructed Sir Siminalayi Fubara Corps Members’ Lodge.

The facility was built by the Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Council to provide accommodation for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in the area.

Represented by his Chief of Staff, Sunny Ewule, the governor said the project aligned with his administration’s commitment to ensuring that development was felt across the state’s 23 local government areas, rather than being concentrated in Port Harcourt.

“Today, we are not just commissioning a building; we are commissioning hope, hospitality and responsible leadership,” he said.

Fubara noted that corps members leave the comfort of their homes to serve in communities across the country, contributing to education, healthcare and other areas of development.

He said providing them with decent and secure accommodation was the least government could do to appreciate their contributions to society.
“The least we can do is give them a decent, safe and befitting place to lay their heads,” the governor said, commending James for aligning with his administration’s vision of people-oriented development.

He urged corps members serving in the area to make proper use of the facilities, respect the culture and traditions of their host community, and remain committed to their national service.
According to him, the lodge will improve the security and welfare of corps members, boost their morale and make Opobo/Nkoro more attractive for NYSC postings.

Fubara described the project as a strategic investment in human capital development, security and peacebuilding.

In his goodwill message, the Rivers State NYSC Coordinator, Moses Oleghe, identified accommodation as one of the major challenges confronting corps members, estimating that it accounted for 85 per cent of their difficulties.

Oleghe commended the governor for increasing the state’s monthly allowances for corps members to N35,000 for those serving in 21 rural local government areas and N20,000 for those posted to Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City local government areas.

He described the allowance increase as a morale booster, noting that improved welfare and adequate accommodation would enhance corps members’ experience and enable them to discharge their duties more effectively.

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