Economy
NEPC Graduates 7 Staff On Ginger Sustainability Project: CBI
NEPC Graduates 7 Staff On Ginger Sustainability Project: CBI
NEPC graduates 7 staff on ginger sustainability project: CBI. Ms Ayeni said that the NEPC collaborated with the CBI and inaugurated the project in 2021.
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has graduated its seven staff on the Nigeria ginger sustainability project, to establish a resilient and competitive ginger industry across the country.
Nonye Ayeni, director-general of the council, said this at the inauguration/graduation ceremony of Export Support Officers/Product Specialists (ESOs) in Abuja on Wednesday.
The ESOs, which are under the NEPC and Centre for the Promotion of Imports (CBI) from developing countries, graduated on the Nigeria Ginger Sustainability Project 2021 to 2025.
Ms Ayeni said that the NEPC collaborated with the CBI and inaugurated the project in 2021, with the vision to establish a resilient, competitive, and sustainable ginger industry to meet international standards.
“This vision was driven by the understanding that Nigerian ginger is not just a commodity; it is a global product with unmatched flavour, pungency, and medicinal properties, capable of competing in the most demanding markets.
“The project was structured to build the capacity of our ginger companies to consistently meet the requirements of the European Union and other international markets.
“Also to strengthen the role of Export Support Officers as specialised advisers and catalysts for growth within the ginger value chain,” she said.
The director-general said that 17 ginger companies and 10 ESOs were selected at the commencement of the programme, adding that 14 companies and seven ESOs have been able to complete the programme.
According to her, I understand the ESOs went through a rigorous training programme which was a combination of theory and practice delivered physically and virtually.
She said that the training was delivered over a period of three years with several hours of lectures, workshops, training, and individual and group assignments.
She added that the ESOs and all staff members of the NEPC, by virtue of this intensive programme, had now become sectoral experts in ginger.
Ms Ayeni said that they also had been managing the relationship with the main companies in the project, adding that the programme was a pilot that developed internal capacities specialised in the ginger sector.
She said the graduands provided a better service to exporting companies, both from the technical dimension of the product, the technical topics on export promotion, and the managerial competencies to adequately manage key clients.
She said that the market Orientation Mission to the Netherlands and France in 2022, and the forthcoming Food Ingredients Fair in Paris in November and December 2025, were organised under the project.
According to the director-general, these have not only opened new opportunities for exporters but have also showcased Nigerian ginger as a premium product on the global stage.

NEPC Graduates 7 Staff On Ginger Sustainability Project
Ms Ayeni said that participation in the events culminated in the signing and execution of several contracts by the participating ginger companies and that the sustainability aspect of the project would be taken over by the council.
She added that the curriculum developed in the training of the ESOs would be adopted for other product sectors with some slight modifications to suit current realities.
She said that the council intended to take full advantage and the utilisation of the ESOs in the area of product specialist development for other commodities
‘’This is in line with the council’s focus in the development and promotion of 20 priority products under the Export 35 redefined Initiative,” Ms Ayeni said.
The director-general said that the graduation was not the end of the journey, but the beginning of a new chapter.
According to her, the “product specialists”, our ESOs, are now equipped to provide targeted, professional guidance that will help our ginger exporters maintain quality, expand market share and secure long-term partnerships.
She, however, commended the CBI for their steadfast support, ESOs for their dedication, and the NEPC staff for their hard work in making the project a success.
“Together, we are building not only a stronger ginger sector but also a stronger Nigerian non-oil export economy.
“Congratulations to our graduates, and may your future contributions help Nigeria shine even brighter in the global marketplace,” she said.
In his remarks, Lawal Dalhat, director, policy and strategy department of the NEPC, said the project aimed at supporting the transition to a sustainable and high-quality ginger sector in Nigeria.
Mr Dalhat said that the project was designed to build the capacity of Nigerian ginger companies to export consistently to the EU and other international markets.
He added that the project would also strengthen institutional support systems for small and medium enterprises in the vital sector.
Adekunle Obatimehim, one of the graduands, said the knowledge gained from the project underscored the importance of a holistic value chain development from farm to export to achieve sustainable trade equity.
Economy
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.
The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.
Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.
He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.
“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly
“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”
Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.
Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.
He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.
Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.
Crime
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.
Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC
Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.
The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026
Economy
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.
Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.
Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.
Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.
She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.
“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”
Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.
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