Economy
UNICEF, GenU Empowers 200 Girls With Toolkits In Lagos
UNICEF, GenU Empowers 200 Girls With Toolkits In Lagos
UNICEF, GenU empowers 200 girls with toolkits in Lagos. Mr Abdul said the initiative showed the power of partnership in transforming lives.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Generation Unlimited (GenU) has empowered with toolkits, outstanding 200 girls who have completed a training under the Girls’ Education and Skills Partnership (GESP) programme.
At the Startup Toolkit and National Skills Qualification Certificate presentation at the Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) on Wednesday, Celine Lafoucriere, chief field officer of UNICEF, South-West Nigeria, identified Yabatech as a partner in driving skills development in Nigeria.
Ms Lafoucriere was represented by UNICEF’s social policy specialist, Muhammad Okorie.
The GESP programme was across four key skills areas – web application development, mobile application development, GSM and mobile phone repair, and computer hardware maintenance repair.
Ms Lafoucriere said that the partnership with Yabatech had created an enabling environment for providing thousands of girls and young women with an opportunity to develop market-oriented skills for employment and entrepreneurship.
She described the empowerment as a critical lever for economic and social development globally, saying that Nigeria’s youth population made it a pressing need.
“Today, the first and second cohorts gained credentials with certification of the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) Level Two,” she said.
The official added that the graduates were being given essential toolkits to acquire more advanced skills and excel in the labour market.
”UNICEF remains committed to serving the needs of children and youths particularly by scaling the evidence-based skills programme for most marginalised girls and young women, in partnership with Nigeria Government, UK Government and GESP partners,” she said.
In a keynote address, the wife of Lagos State governor, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, said the initiative was a laudable step toward nurturing a productive future for girls as they would begin to apply their newly-acquired skills in everyday life.
She was represented by Abimbola Odunmbaku, wife of the chairman of Ojodu Local Council Development Area of Lagos State.
Mrs Sanwo-Olu praised Yabatech, UNICEF and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for the programme, which she described as impactful.
“This collaboration reflects a strong commitment to empowering girls, while promoting, protecting and preserving their rights and overall wellbeing.
“Yabatech and its development partners have remained shining examples in fostering youth development.
“Their dedication to building the capacity of young people and supporting communities deserves our collective applause.
“When we come together to nurture and empower our youths, the task of nation-building becomes far less daunting,” she added.
Mrs Sanwo-Olu said that education would help young women to realise their full potential and make informed and independent decisions.
She described the training as an empowerment tool, which the beneficiaries would use to take control of their lives, uplift their families, and positively impact their communities.
“As stakeholders, we must intensify our advocacy for a holistic approach to education, one that not only prepares our children to excel academically but also equips them to be financially independent, emotionally resilient and socially relevant.”

UNICEF
She charged the girls to cultivate the right attitudes and pursue excellence, adding that they should allow integrity and hard work to define their journeys.
She gave the assurance that the state government would continue to formulate policies and programmes that would create an enabling, inclusive and safe environment for youths to thrive.
In his remarks, the rector of Yabatech, Ibraheem Abdul, expressed gratitude to UNICEF and other partners for support and collaboration.
He said that the distribution of the startup toolkits was a major stride in making the beneficiaries to move from learning to earning.
Mr Abdul said the initiative showed the power of partnership in transforming lives.
” We remain at the forefront of technical education, innovation and community impact through the GESP.
“We are aligning with our strategic vision to equip our youths particularly young women with demand-driven skills to position them competitively in the labour market and as change agents within their communities.
We remain deeply committed to initiatives that bridge the gender gap in STEM, digital innovation and skilled trades,” he added.
Earlier, Funmilayo Doherty, GESP project coordinator at Yabatech, said that the toolkits included 50 laptops to the best-performing girls in web application development and 50 laptops to those in mobile application development.
Ms Doherty said that 50 laptops were also distributed to those trained in computer hardware maintenance and repair, while learners in GSM and mobile phone repair also got 50 toolkits at the event.
”These young girls have not only completed their training in record time but have also demonstrated commitment, growth and resilience.
“Their work has stood out, their confidence has soared, their potential is clear.
” The startup toolkits is one of the most practical and meaningful ways to support their journey into the world of work and enterprise,” she added.
She noted that the initiative was launched in 2024 with the vision to empower 5,250 young women with relevant, quality, gender-responsive technical and digital skills, and ultimately connect them to better livelihoods in the informal and communication technology sector.
Faith Joseph, one of the beneficiaries who trained under GESP GSM/Mobile Phone Repair, thanked UNICEF and Yabatech for the opportunity to acquire the skill.
“I learnt the skill at CARLCARE training school through the help of GESP Yabatech, and today I work as a technician in 9s LIFE NICE.” she said.
Crime
Navy Dismantles Illegal Refining Capacity, Destroys Site With 3 Storage Tanks in Rivers
Navy Dismantles Illegal Refining Capacity, Destroys Site With 3 Storage Tanks in Rivers
The Nigerian Navy, through FOB BONNY, has dismantled an illegal refining site discovered in Promise Land Community along Nanabie Creek, Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, further denying criminal operators the infrastructure required to process stolen crude oil.
Eereporter.com
The site was discovered on 30 September 2026 following credible intelligence and comprised one large cooking pot and 3 large storage tanks intended for illegal refining activities. On 2 October 2026, the Commanding Officer, FOB BONNY, Captain SMC Umeh, led a team to the location, where the illegal refining site and associated equipment were destroyed in accordance with established regulations.
The intervention represents a further disruption of illegal refining capacity within the Bonny area, particularly by removing infrastructure that could be used to process and store stolen crude oil. It also follows recent operations by FOB BONNY under Operation DELTA SENTINEL that uncovered substantial volumes of suspected stolen crude oil and associated illegal refining infrastructure within its Area of Operations

Oil
The Nigerian Navy has continued to strengthen surveillance and monitoring across the area to prevent the establishment or reactivation of illegal refining sites and deny criminal operators the infrastructure required to sustain crude oil theft and related activities.
ABIODUN FOLORUNSHO
Navy Captain
Director Naval Information
Nigerian Navy
Eereporter.com
Economy
NNPC Ltd Offers N66 Fuel Discount Throughout the Nation
NNPC Ltd Offers N66 Fuel Discount Throughout the Nation
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has unveiled a nationwide ₦66 fuel discount promotion for customers using the NNPC Fuel App.
Eereporter.com
In a post obtained from its X handle on Friday, the promotion, which runs from October 1 to 7, is being held across NNPC stations nationwide as part of activities marking the period.
“The ₦66 Discount Promo is ongoing & the excitement is already happening across our stations nationwide!
“All over Nigeria, our customers are getting in on the action & there’s still time for you to benefit!
The promo runs from 1–7 October on the NNPC Fuel App,” the post read.
NNPC said customers across the country have already begun participating in the promotion, with highlights from the first day showing activities at several stations.
“Keep fueling, keep transacting and keep your eyes on our pages,” the post read.

NNPC
NNPC also shared moments from the first day of the promotion and said more pictures and activities from stations across the country would be released.
The company urged customers not to miss the opportunity to participate before the promotion ends on October 7.
The ₦66 discount offer is available through the NNPC Fuel App during the stated promotional period.
Eereporter.com
Economy
President Tinubu Tells EFCC: You Have Justified my Confidence in You
President Tinubu Tells EFCC: You Have Justified my Confidence in You
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has applauded the efforts and performance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in tackling economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption in the country, stressing that it has justified the confidence reposed on it.
Eereporter.com
He gave this commendation on Friday, October 2, 2026 in Awka, Anambra State at the commissioning of a new Zonal Directorate of the EFCC. The President pointed out that there are evidential proofs of the success of the Commission in convictions, recoveries and other landmark achievements
Represented by Honourable Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker, House of Representatives, Tinubu noted that “supporting the EFCC is not particularly difficult. The agency has consistently demonstrated that the confidence reposed on it is well founded. Without mincing words, the evidential proof of the EFCC’s success speaks loudly in convictions secured, assets and properties recovered”
He affirmed that the strides of the Commission are in tandem with the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration.
“When we came in three years ago, I highlighted nine major focal areas of my administration. Two of which are reforming the economy for sustained and inclusive growth and promotion of good governance. The anti-graft agency compliments this agenda as they are focused on accountability and transparency and appropriate deployment of resources”, he said.
At the commissioning, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede restated the commitment of the Commission to preventive frameworks in tackling economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption in the country.
According to him, the Commission will continue its focus on making corrupt practices difficult by blocking avenues through which they may happen.
“This new Directorate will not only enforce the law professionally and courageously, it will be high on corruption prevention. It will engage government institutions, businesses, financial institutions, professional bodies, schools, markets, civil society organisations, traditional institutions, religious bodies and communities. It will educate stakeholders, build relationships and mobilise the people to own the fight against all forms of corrupt practices in the zone”, he said
He assured Nigerians that the EFCC would not relent in the pursuit of its mandate, recalling the achievements of the Commission in the last 34 months and describing them as impressive progress.
“The pursuit of our mandate has been our dominant engagement and in the past few years, we have made impressive progress. Between October 2023 and July 2026, the Commission received 49, 673 petitions, investigated 39, 615 cases, filed 14, 476 cases in court and secured 10, 872 convictions. This gives a conviction-to-filing ratio of 75.1 percent. In the first half of 2026 alone, we recorded 1, 370 convictions from 1, 889 filings. The Commission also recorded recoveries of N1, 233, 612, 040, 411. 11, $684, 478, 457. 32, £373, 905. 78, €9, 343, 803. 66 inn addition to recoveries in other currencies”, he said.
He noted that at the institutional level, the Commission has made radical reforms that have been yielding optimal results as there are consequential improvements in the agency’s processes and procedures, which partly explains the impacts the EFCC has made and will continue to make in all the matrices of law enforcement.
“Reforms that have strengthened the Commission during the period include new guidelines on arrest and bail, a review of sting operations, the establishment of the Department of Fraud Risk Assessment and Control, the Security Department, the Immigration and Visa Section and the Cybercrime Rapid Response Centre”, he said.
While charging Ndi Anambra on whistleblowing, the anti-graft czar said that the Commission has established channels through which members of the public can submit petitions and provide information. He noted that the Commission’s Eagle Eye App allows citizens to provide details of suspected wrongdoing and makes the provision of an informant’s personal details optional. “However, whistleblowing must be responsible and based on facts. It must not become an instrument for settling scores”, he said.

EFCC
He thereafter said that Anambra and Imo States deserve effective and responsive institutional presence as they are renowned for enterprise, innovation, commerce and an extraordinary culture of industry, adding that these legitimate activities must be protected from fraud, cybercrime, money laundering, investment fraud, diversion of public resources and other forms of economic and financial crimes. “Therefore, our coming to Awka is beyond geographical expansion. It is about taking the mandate of the EFCC closer to the people and closer to the economic activities we are meant to protect”, he said.
In their remarks, His Excellencies, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of Anambra State and Senator Hope Uzodinma, Governor of Imo State said that they were pleased with the activities and management of the EFCC under the leadership of Olukoyede. They pledged their support to the Commission as it opened a new Zonal Directorate in their domain.
The commissioning of the new Directorate witnessed massive turn out of distinguished Nigerians, including members of the National Assembly, civil society organisations, community leaders, students, media among others.
Eereporter.com
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