The Federal Government has launched a new digital platform, the Happy Woman App, as part of efforts to deepen women’s economic inclusion across Nigeria.

According to a statement from the Presidency, the platform is a secure digital interface designed to connect Nigerian women to finance, skills development, markets, essential services, and government support.

The launch coincided with President Bola Tinubu’s announcement of the expansion of the Nigeria for Women Programme (NFWP) to reach 25 million beneficiaries nationwide. The scale-up builds on a pilot phase implemented in six states, which benefitted more than one million women.

Speaking at the presidential launch of the programme’s scale-up at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, President Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said Nigeria’s development aspirations could not be achieved without placing women at the centre of national planning.

“A nation that relegates its women is a nation bound for implosion,” the President said, noting that women play a critical role in national productivity, family stability, and community resilience.

President Tinubu described the target of reaching 25 million women as ambitious but achievable, and called on the World Bank to strengthen its financing, technical support, and innovation partnerships to support the nationwide expansion of the programme. He also underscored the importance of technology, stating that digital inclusion has become central to effective service delivery and national competitiveness.

As part of the administration’s broader social agenda, the President designated 2026 as the Year of Social Development and Families in Nigeria, directing coordinated action across federal, state, and local governments. The declaration follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed during his official visit to Turkey in January, aimed at strengthening family cohesion and improving social welfare systems.

In 2024, the Federal Government appealed to the World Bank to extend the deadline of the $100 million Nigeria for Women Project, originally set for March 29, 2024, to June 30, 2024. The request, contained in a letter dated January 23, 2024, marked a second restructuring attempt to allow for the completion of livelihood activities and the disbursement of unutilized funds under the Livelihoods Programme component.

The NFWP, approved on June 27, 2018, through an International Development Association (IDA) credit of $100 million, is designed to improve women’s livelihoods by engaging them in sustainable economic activities and business ventures.

The project is structured around four components: building social capital through Women Affinity Groups, providing livelihood support for individual and collective enterprises, fostering innovation and partnerships, and strengthening project management, monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems.

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The Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association of Nigeria (MWFAAN) has teamed up with PRNigeria, a subsidiary of Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR) and publishers of Economic Confidential, for strategic communications around the association’s inaugural Pan-African Legacy Conference. The conference will mark MWFAAN’s 10th anniversary and is scheduled for November 21-22 in Abuja.

Speaking during a visit to PRNigeria Centre Abuja, the MWFAAN President Farida Yahya disclosed that Vice President Kashim Shettima would inaugurate the conference while Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye would deliver the keynote address to lend a continental perspective to the event’s theme of sustainable development and youth engagement.

She also announced that “Ubuntu Trade App,” a platform designed to facilitate cross-border trade across Africa, would be launched during the conference.

“The conference offers young Africans a unique platform to discuss the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 for sustainable development,” Yahya stated. “We expect approximately 1,000 young leaders from across the continent to gather in Abuja to discuss the fellowship’s impact over the past decade and chart a course for the next 10 years.”

The conference agenda includes the launch of the Ubuntu Trade App, breakout sessions by the African Union, and a hackathon at Nile University on November 20, organized in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and other entities.

In his response the Chief Executive Officer of PRNigeria, Mallam Yushau Shuaib praised MWFAAN for its contributions to empowering young African leaders and pledged PRNigeria’s support for the conference.

“I am deeply impressed by MWFAAN’s dedication and the transformative work you’re doing for young leaders in Nigeria and across Africa,” Shuaib remarked. “PRNigeria is fully committed to supporting your initiatives as you prepare for this impactful event.”

MWFAAN previously announced that the 10th Anniversary Legacy Conference will feature youth ministers from Ghana and Morocco, senior parliamentarians, and young delegates from Zimbabwe and over 20 African countries. The event promises to be a significant milestone in fostering collaboration and visionary leadership among Africa’s emerging young leaders.

By PRNigeria

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The Nigerian Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ericsson to establish a framework of cooperation on 5G technology development, deployment and innovation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 5G is the fifth generation of cellular networks. Up to 100 times faster than 4G. 5G has created never-before-seen opportunities for people and businesses

The Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, signed the MoU on behalf of Nigeria while Mr Peter Olusoji Ogundele, Country Manager, Ericsson Nigeria, signed for the company.

The MoU, which was signed at Ericsson’s Global Headquarters Research and Development lab in Kista, North of Stockholm was witnessed by the Vice-President, Kashim Shettima.

Similarly, the signing of the MoU was witnessed by Mr Patrick Johansson, Ericsson Senior Vice President and Head of Business Area Middle East and Africa.

Earlier, the company conducted Vice-President Shettima on a demonstration tour of its mobile communications infrastructure solutions.

The company also made a presentation to Shettima about its 5G technology evolution, radio spectrum matters and standardisation as well as Cyber and Network Security by Ericsson professionals.

Speaking after the presentation, Shettima asked the company on the possibility of deploying its 5G technology to help Nigeria improve the security of its oil facilities.

” What value can you add to us? Security of oil facilities, and oil pipelines. How can you come in with 5G to secure the oil pipelines, address the issue of oil theft and vandalisation of the pipelines

“The quantum of oil theft that is lifted is very crucial for economic planning and everything,” he said.

On his part, Tijani explained that the signing of the MoU would enable Nigeria to make the most use of 5G technologies in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

” So we signed the MoU to set up an innovation lab with Ericsson, and the focus of that lab will be to come up with applications that is based on 5G technology.

” For things in agriculture, mining and in some cases in education as well for the general usage of connectivity to improve the quality of lives for our people.

” The Renewed Hope Agenda, in particular, goes into what we are trying to do with the reforms.

” The aim of the reforms is to diversify our economy and it is clear that we cannot diversify our economy without digital technology.

” With this MoU we can strengthen the state of connectivity, particularly 5G, you know Nigeria is already one of the few countries with 5G on the continent.

” With the MoU, we can continue to ensure the spread of 5G across the country not just in key locations and this is how we can ensure that we see the growth that we want to see in our economy,” he said.

Tijani described the visit of Vice-President Shettima to Sweden as ” extremely important to the growth and development of Nigeria’s digitisation drive process.

” But I have to speak to the strength of Sweden as a country and how the visit of the Vice-President is extremely important.

” This is a country that built the use of technology to lift front development. It’s a country that is extremely powerful in technology and business.

” They have significant brands like Volvo and Ericsson, they are global brands.

” And I think for the reforms that is going on in the country and ambition to raise the level of productivity and make our economy more competitive.

” It is important that we used the strength of the VP and this visit, to truly deepen the relationship and that is what the VP has done with all the meetings that he had,” he said.

Dignitaries that witnessed the signing of the MoU were; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, Executive Vice-Chairman (EVC), Nigerian Communication Commission, Aminu Maida, Gov. Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau.

Others are Mr Khalil Halilu, Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Malam Kashifu Abdullahi, Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Charge d’affaires, Nigerian Embassy Sweden, Malam Aliyu Mahmud; among others. (NAN)

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The Federal Government of Nigeria has taken a bold step toward redefining the nation’s digital and creative landscape with the inauguration of a technical committee to oversee the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (i-DICE) Program.

With a budget of $617.7 million, the program aims to drive innovation and creativity in the country, and support startups in the digital and creative industries.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who presided over the inauguration on Wednesday in Abuja, expressed confidence in the committee’s ability to deliver on the program’s objectives.

The I-DICE Programme is a collaborative effort between the government and international partners, including the Bank of Industry (BoI), African Development Bank (AfDB), French Development Agency (FDA) and Islamic Development Bank (IDB), aims to nurture and empower enterprises in the digital and creative sectors.

According to the report, the National Economic Council (NEC) had, at its last meeting in March, endorsed the implementation of the program in the 36 States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Vice-President, described the development as the dawn of a new era in Nigeria, and also revealed that the Ministry of Finance had been mandated to ensure the expeditious disbursement of funds for the iDICE Programme. This, according to him, will pave the way for its swift implementation.

He said “We’ll embark on a journey of innovation, collaboration, and boundless opportunities. A journey that holds the power to redefine the trajectory of our nation’s digital and creative landscape.”

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By Abbas Badmus

Miss Rahama Sadau, a prominent actress in Nigeria’s Kannywood industry, has been appointed a member of the Technical Committee of Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprise (IDICE).

The announcement, made by the IDICE board recently, marks a pivotal moment in Sadau’s career and underscores the growing recognition of the entertainment industry’s economic potential in Nigeria.

Sadau, known for her acclaimed performances in numerous Kannywood films, expressed her enthusiasm for the new role, stating on her official X page(@Rahama _ Sadau):
“I am pleased, honored and humbled to accept my appointment to serve on the technical committee of the IDICE (INVESTMENT IN DIGITAL AND CREATIVE ENTERPRISE) PROGRAM. This is indeed a humbling experience to witness.

“My warmest appreciation to my principal, His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima for the recognition and inclusion.

“This appointment reflects the importance of the creative industry in driving economic growth and innovation in Nigeria.”

The IDICE initiative, established by the Nigerian government, aims to foster investment and growth in the digital and creative sectors, which have shown remarkable potential in recent years.

The committee’s mandate includes advising on policies, strategies, and initiatives to stimulate investment and development in these industries.

The IDICE Programme is geared to provide strategic, technical, and operational support to the PCU and Fund Advisory Board of the $617.7m IDICE programme.

Sadau’s appointment highlights her not only as a talented actress but also as a voice for the creative community, advocating for its recognition and support in the broader economic landscape.

Observers have praised the move, citing Sadau’s industry experience and commitment to promoting Nigerian culture through film and entertainment.

They anticipate that her involvement in the committee will bring fresh perspectives and insights to the table, ensuring that the interests of artists and creators are effectively represented.

As Nigeria continues to embrace digital transformation and invest in its creative economy, Sadau’s appointment serves as a symbol of the sector’s growing influence and potential to drive sustainable development and prosperity.

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