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Katsina Gov approves N677.5M for student bursaries and scholarships

Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has approved the release of ₦677,572,815 for the payment of bursary allowances, academic excellence awards, and special needs scholarships to Katsina students studying in tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

The approval reflects Governor Radda’s firm belief in education as a key driver of empowerment, growth, and social inclusion, aligning with his Building Your Future Agenda, which prioritizes human capital development at the core of governance.

Out of the total approved sum, ₦283,521,639 will be allocated as bursary allowances to newly admitted Katsina students in tertiary institutions across the country. In addition, ₦15 million has been approved for the Katsina State Government Award of Academic Excellence, which recognizes graduates who achieved First-Class Honours in their respective fields. A further ₦7 million will go to the Annual Special Scholarship Programme designed to support students with special needs.

This latest approval follows the earlier release of ₦372,051,176 in September 2024 for continuing students, bringing the total disbursement for the 2024/2025 academic session to ₦677,572,815.

Since assuming office, Governor Radda has consistently placed education at the center of his administration’s priorities, investing massively in scholarship and bursary initiatives. Previous disbursements include ₦637,924,516 for 47,935 students during the 2020/2021 fresh and 2021/2022 continuing sessions, ₦544,207,748 for 37,802 students in 2021/2022 fresh and 2022/2023 continuing sessions, ₦744,102,352 for 50,438 students during 2022/2023 fresh and 2023/2024 continuing sessions, and ₦372,051,176 for 2024/2025 continuing students.

With this latest release, the total investment by the Katsina State Government in student support has now reached ₦2.6 billion. The programme has directly benefited tens of thousands of students across different levels, reaffirming the state’s leadership in advancing education in Northern Nigeria.

The Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Scholarship Board, Dr. Aminu Salisu Tsauri, described the governor’s approval as a “landmark decision that reflects the administration’s unwavering commitment to human capital development.”

“His Excellency has once again demonstrated that he sees education not as an expense but as a long-term investment in the future of Katsina State,” Dr. Tsauri said. “This gesture brings renewed hope to thousands of students, especially those from low-income families, who depend on government support to achieve their academic dreams. The Governor’s vision continues to inspire excellence, inclusion, and opportunity.”

Dr. Tsauri further expressed gratitude to Governor Radda for making education a cornerstone of his leadership, emphasizing that “this is not just about figures, but about vision and purpose. The Governor has shown that young people remain at the heart of Katsina’s transformation. He has given them a reason to believe that hard work and merit will always be rewarded.”

He also commended the Governing Members of the Scholarship Board for maintaining transparency and professionalism, assuring that every kobo of the approved funds would be used effectively to benefit deserving students.

According to the Executive Secretary, award letters will be distributed to beneficiaries in their respective institutions beginning Tuesday, 28th October 2025. Newly admitted Katsina students currently in the Nigerian Law School are expected to visit the Scholarship Board Headquarters between Monday, 27th and Thursday, 30th October 2025 for documentation and further processing.

Beyond local bursaries, the Radda administration has expanded its educational agenda to include international opportunities. Several Katsina students from all 34 local government areas are currently studying abroad through the State’s foreign scholarship programme. The programmes cover specialized fields such as Artificial Intelligence at Xi’an Shiyou University in China, Bioengineering at Xuzhou University of Technology in China, and Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) at Nahda University in Beni Suef, Egypt.

These international study initiatives highlight Governor Radda’s determination to empower Katsina youth as global citizens equipped with modern skills to contribute to innovation, healthcare, and economic development both locally and internationally.

Through these sustained educational interventions, the Radda administration continues to strengthen the foundation for academic excellence, ensuring that every Katsina child, regardless of background, has access to quality education and opportunities to succeed.

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Edo State Gov promotes job creation, agribusiness at Udomi farm

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Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has restated his government’s commitment to practical and result-driven governance, with a focus on diversifying the state’s economy through large-scale agriculture.

The Governor made this known during an inspection tour of the State-owned Farm located in Udomi, Edo Central Senatorial District, where he led top government officials to assess ongoing agricultural projects aimed at boosting food production and economic growth.

Speaking at the site, Governor Okpebholo said the Udomi Farm is a direct reflection of his administration’s dedication to turning policies into visible achievements that improve the lives of Edo people. “It is a practical farm by my administration that delivers on practical governance. That is what you are seeing here. We do not just talk; we do it for you to see,” he stated.

He commended the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for its efforts in ensuring the success of the farm and reaffirmed that his administration remains focused on achieving food security, job creation, and economic diversification through modern agricultural practices. The Governor noted that projects like the Udomi Farm mark a shift from paper promises to measurable results, adding that his government is committed to empowering local farmers and supporting agro-industrial development across the state.

During the visit, the Director of Agricultural Services in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ogunbo Osarobo David, who conducted the Governor and his team round the facility, revealed that the maize cultivated on the farm had reached the harvesting stage. He disclosed that the farm is currently achieving between six to seven tons of maize per hectare across 400 hectares, with the Prime Flour Mill in Ewu serving as the major off-taker.

Earlier in the day, Governor Okpebholo inspected ongoing construction work at the Benin Flyover in Ramat Park, Benin City, to assess the progress before proceeding to the Udomi Farm.

Lagos State Govt to relocate Computer Village soon

The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed that the long-awaited relocation of Computer Village, Ikeja, to the new ICT and Business Park in Katangowa, Agbado-Oke-Odo will soon become a reality.

Permanent Secretary, Office of Urban Development, Arc. Gbolahan Oki, made this known during a recent stakeholders’ meeting held in Alausa. He explained that the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration remains committed to completing the relocation after several unsuccessful attempts over the years.

“The current site, originally a residential area, has been adversely affected by unplanned development, displacing many residents,” he said.

Arc. Oki added that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in line with his vision for sustainable urban development, has directed that the new Katangowa site meet international standards to ensure a smooth transition. “The government will provide a 15-hectare site equipped with facilities such as trailer parks, hotels, banks, a police station, fire station, and other community amenities,” he noted.

He urged all stakeholders to work hand in hand with the developer to achieve a seamless and orderly move to the new, well-planned environment.

Responding after the meeting, Mrs. Abisola Azeez, Iya Oloja of Computer Village, expressed satisfaction with the government’s plans. “All my fears have been allayed. I urge the developer to adhere strictly to design specifications and timelines so that the relocation can be completed in its entirety,” she said.

Mr. Sam Ajose, the project developer, appreciated the Lagos State Government and market leaders for their cooperation and assured that a flexible payment plan would be introduced to make the relocation process easier for traders.

YEIDEP postpones batch A grants, to reopen portal for batch B recruitment

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The Youth Economic Intervention and De-Radicalization Programme (YEIDEP) has officially announced the postponement of its business grants disbursement to Batch A applicants, which was earlier scheduled to begin on October 20, 2025.

According to a statement released by the programme’s Coordinator-General, Comrade Kennedy Iyere, the delay became necessary due to complexities in ensuring that the disbursement process remains transparent, accountable, and accurate. He stated that the team is working to guarantee that every applicant receives their benefits without irregularities.

Comrade Iyere also used the opportunity to caution applicants and the general public against the spread of fake news on social media platforms claiming that the disbursement has already started. He warned that internet fraudsters are circulating false information to deceive and extort money from unsuspecting individuals.

“We warn and caution all our registered applicants and potential beneficiaries to ignore the fake news which have flooded different social media platforms falsely reporting that YEIDEP’s business grants disbursement has taken effect. Internet fraudsters are the ones peddling these fake news, in their desperate attempt to misinform innocent Nigerians, and make them to become gullible to their tricks of financial extortion,” he stated.

He further added that every benefit or gain related to the programme is completely free of charge, and urged the public to remain vigilant. “Please be conscious not to allow anyone to deceive you. Every benefit or gain relating to YEIDEP is offered free-of-charge. We therefore advise everyone to be well guided, and be smart enough to ignore criminal elements who may want to extort money from the public by peddling fake news to aid their criminal ambitions,” Iyere said.

YEIDEP reassured applicants that a new date for the disbursement of the Batch A business grants will be communicated through verified media channels once the process is finalized.

Meanwhile, the programme has confirmed that the registration portal will reopen on Monday, October 27, 2025, for Batch B recruitment. “We are also delighted to announce to the general public via this medium that the registration portal will be re-opened on Monday 27th October, 2025 for the Batch B recruitment,” the statement read.

Previously, Nigeriastartupact.ng reported that social media, especially Facebook, has since been flooded with fake YEIDEP payment screenshots meant to mislead applicants. YEIDEP is now advising candidates to ignore such claims as payment updates will be communicated officially.

Oyo residents get free automotive skill upgrade, certification

The Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Youth Initiatives (Delivery and Monitoring), in collaboration with the National Automotive Design and Development Council, has announced a Skill Upgrade and Certification Opportunity in the automotive sector for residents of Oyo State.

According to the organizers, the program is designed for individuals already involved in motorcycle or tricycle repair who want to take their skills to a professional level. “This program will equip participants with advanced technical knowledge and connect them to certified partnership opportunities nationwide,” the statement said.

Participants will receive free training aimed at enhancing their automotive repair expertise and will also be certified upon completion. The program targets artisans seeking to improve their income potential and career growth in the automotive industry.

Applicants must have basic experience in motorcycle or tricycle repair and must be residents of Oyo State. Registration closes on October 30th, 2025. Interested persons should send their full name and phone number to +2348129808759.

Nigerian Army University Biu announces 2025 recruitment for staff

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Nigerian Army University Biu, located in Borno State, has announced a new round of recruitment for academic and non-academic positions across several faculties and departments. According to the Registrar’s office, the university is seeking “suitably qualified candidates for employment into various faculties and departments of the institution.”

Positions available include Graduate Assistant, Assistant Lecturer, Lecturer II, Lecturer I, Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, and Professor. The requirements differ across categories, with the Graduate Assistant position requiring a first degree with a first class or second-class upper, while Assistant Lecturer applicants must hold an academic master’s degree. For Lecturer II, a PhD or a master’s degree with relevant experience and professional certifications is needed.

The announcement further stated that “a Lecturer I must have a PhD with at least five publications and three years post-qualification experience, or a master’s degree with seven publications and five years of cognate experience.” A Senior Lecturer requires a PhD with ten publications and six years of experience, while an Associate Professor must have 15 publications and nine years of cognate experience, serving as the lead author in at least eight. For Professor, candidates need a PhD with 20 publications, 12 years of experience, and must be lead author in at least ten.

The university’s academic vacancies cover six major faculties: Arts and Management Sciences, Social Sciences, Natural and Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Computing, and Environmental Sciences. Departments range from Accounting, Criminology, and Computer Science to Mechanical Engineering and Urban and Regional Planning.

The library department is also hiring for roles including Assistant Librarian (Conuass I) up to Senior Librarian (Conuass 5). Non-teaching positions are open for medical doctors, nurses, technologists, and administrative staff with the necessary qualifications.

Applicants are instructed to submit their applications through the email address HRM@naub.edu.ng. The Registrar confirmed that “the closing date for submission is two weeks from the date of this advertisement, October 24, 2025.”

Grey List Exit: FATF President congratulates Nigeria, praises Tinubu

President of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Elisa de Anda Madrazo, has congratulated Nigeria for being officially removed from the grey list after more than two years of consistent efforts in strengthening its anti-financial crime framework.

Speaking at the FATF plenary session held in Paris, France, Madrazo commended the Nigerian government under President Bola Tinubu for demonstrating strong political will and effective inter-agency collaboration in combating money laundering, terrorist financing, and other financial crimes. She also announced that three other African countries—Mozambique, Burkina Faso, and South Africa—have been removed from the grey list.

“Nigeria has demonstrated strong political commitment to fight financial crimes. However, let me be clear: it is not only that we have seen a political commitment to exit the grey list… It is because we have seen the change and the political measures put in place,” Madrazo said.

She further highlighted that the FATF’s decision was based on concrete progress recorded on the ground. “In Nigeria, we have seen that political commitment that has translated to the change we have seen on the ground. After sustained efforts of just over two years, Nigeria has demonstrated a stronger capacity – this is fundamental – to investigate and prosecute. This is crucially helping Nigeria to focus resources to fight crimes that harm its community the most, such as drug trafficking and terrorist financing,” she added.

Madrazo also praised Nigeria’s government for implementing wide-ranging policy reforms that enhanced transparency and improved coordination among agencies. She noted that “we have seen an important enhancement in the transparency of the beneficial ownership structure. On the supervisory side, we have seen stronger supervision in the non-financial sectors, particularly in real estate agencies.”

According to her, Nigeria’s completion of its FATF action plan and the visible political measures in place led to the unanimous decision to remove the country from the list. She urged the Nigerian authorities to sustain their efforts, stating, “We have seen that Nigeria has fully addressed the action plan and exited the grey list. I urge Nigeria to continue its good work for the benefit of the Nigerian people.”

She further pointed out that the presence of three Nigerian ministers at the FATF events in Paris reflected the seriousness of the country’s commitment to global financial integrity and transparency.

The Nigeria Interministerial Committee on Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism, and Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/PF) is chaired by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN). The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Ojo, serve as alternate chairs.

In a speech presented on behalf of Nigeria, Finance Minister Wale Edun expressed appreciation to the international community for its consistent support. “Nigeria is honoured to be allowed to contribute its expertise and experience to the global fight against serious crimes that threaten the shared security and prosperity of the world,” he said.

He acknowledged the assistance received from international partners, including France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the European Commission, throughout the reform process. “With the resolve and dedication of the men and women back home, we will continue to work towards a safer and more secure Nigeria,” he added.

MDCN opens Federal housemanship vacancies October 28, 2025

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The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has announced that new vacancies for housemanship placements in federal institutions will be available on the MDCN portal starting Tuesday, 28th October 2025. The Council made this known in an official statement released on Thursday, 24th October 2025.

According to the statement, “All Medical and Dental Practitioners seeking housemanship opportunities are advised to check the MDCN portal for available slots in federal hospitals.” The Council emphasized that the update applies strictly to the 46 federal hospitals approved for housemanship placements across the country.

MDCN further noted that registration on the official Housemanship portal is mandatory for all new medical and dental graduates. “Upon the receipt of your provisional registration certificate during the induction ceremony, you must create your profile on the Housemanship portal (www.housemanship.mdcn.gov.ng),” the management stated. The online profile will allow applicants to apply for housemanship positions in any of the 46 approved federal training institutions under the MDCN.

The Council strongly warned applicants against contacting hospitals or sending application letters directly. “It is important to refrain from directly contacting or sending application letters to federal institutions and to MDCN, either personally or through proxies, as this is considered a contravention under the Centralized Housemanship Placement System,” the statement added. MDCN said any applicant found violating this rule risks being denied access to the portal.

The announcement clarified that each federal hospital has a limited number of slots based on approved training capacity. “If a hospital of your choice is not showing, it is because no vacancy exists in that hospital,” the Council explained.

In addition, MDCN disclosed that there are 70 non-federal hospitals where housemanship placements are available. Interested applicants are encouraged to directly approach these institutions for inquiries about available opportunities.

For transparency, MDCN directed applicants to visit its official website to view the list of approved housemanship centers and details of how the centralized housemanship scheme works through the links provided on the portal.

The Council reminded all applicants that this exercise is strictly for Medical and Dental practitioners and urged them to stay informed for further updates.

Niger State to partner AUDA-NEPAD for socio-economic growth

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Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has expressed the readiness of his administration to collaborate with the Africa Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) to promote socio-economic growth in the state and across Nigeria.

The governor made this known when he received a delegation from AUDA-NEPAD, led by its National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer, Jabiru Salisu, at his official residence in Government House, Minna.

Governor Bago, who is widely referred to as the farmer governor, appreciated the delegation for their visit and assured them of his administration’s full support toward achieving the agency’s development objectives. He congratulated the National Coordinator on his appointment and commended him for assembling a diverse and competent team.

According to the governor, “There is a need to fully engage the African Peer Review Mechanism as it is an important tool for progress. The lack of its application in Nigeria has allowed many smaller African countries to surpass us in several areas, especially in agriculture.”

He emphasized that the adoption of the peer review mechanism would help fast-track the implementation of the African Free Trade Agreement and strengthen economic development across the continent.

In his remarks, the National Coordinator of AUDA-NEPAD, Jabiru Salisu, explained that the team was in Minna to condole with the farmer governor over the death of the father of Abdullahi Yunusa, a close friend to Governor Bago and Special Assistant for Special Duties to the AUDA-NEPAD National Coordinator.

Salisu commended Governor Bago for his developmental strides in Niger State and expressed the agency’s interest in partnering with the state government for sustainable growth. He added that approval had been granted for Niger State to host the AUDA-NEPAD North Central Zonal Office and thanked the governor for creating employment opportunities for residents through various empowerment and agricultural programs.

Ondo civil service begins recruitment for cultural, tourism officers

The Ondo State Civil Service Commission (CSC), Akure, has announced the recruitment of qualified candidates for the position of Cultural and Tourism Officer, Grade Level 08, in the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Alagbaka, Akure.

According to a public service announcement from the Commission, “Interested candidates are invited to apply through the official portal at www.ondocivilservicecomm.org.ng.” The registration portal will be open from Thursday, 23rd October to Thursday, 30th October, 2025.

The Commission stated that applicants for the post of Cultural Officer must possess a degree in Fine Arts, Music, Theatrical Arts, English Literature, Linguistics, or Journalism from a recognized University. For the post of Tourism Officer, candidates must hold a degree in Arts, Tourism, or Social Science from an accredited institution.

“All candidates must have completed the mandatory NYSC programme, must not be more than forty-five years of age, and must be physically and mentally fit,” the notice added. Applicants are also required to present a Certificate of State of Origin duly signed and submit a Birth Certificate or Affidavit of Declaration of Age.

The Commission emphasized that the recruitment portal, www.ondocivilservicecomm.org.ng, will close on Thursday, 30th October, 2025.