Nigeria News (Standard)
Zamfara Assembly Speaker Leads Push for Unified Human Capital Blueprint in Northern States
Moriki tables proposal at Abuja summit, citing high out-of-school rates and poverty across North-West and North-East
Moriki tables proposal at Abuja summit, citing high out-of-school rates and poverty across North-West and North-East
The Speaker of Zamfara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bilyaminu Ismail Moriki, has called for the adoption of a single Human Capital Blueprint for Northern Nigeria to address persistent challenges in education, health, and youth employment. Moriki made this call on Wednesday at the Summit on Enhancing Human Capital Development in Northern Nigeria, held at the NAF Conference Centre in Abuja.
According to a statement released by Comrade Suleiman Ahmad Tudu, Senior Special Assistant to the Secretary to Zamfara State Government on Media, the proposal was submitted by a delegation led by Moriki on behalf of Zamfara State Government. The summit, which focused on “Reversing the Decline, Unleashing Potential for Northern Nigeria,” was organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in partnership with the Northern Governors’ Forum.
Moriki highlighted that the northern region continues to record Nigeria’s highest proportion of out-of-school children. He also pointed to ongoing multidimensional poverty, maternal mortality, youth unemployment and insecurity as factors undermining productivity and economic growth in both North-West and North-East zones. “These issues have continued to drag our region backward despite various interventions over the years,” Moriki said in his written submission.
He urged northern states to collaborate on a unified blueprint that would serve as a roadmap for coordinated investments and reforms across health, education and job creation sectors. The speaker said such a framework would help bridge developmental gaps between the North and other regions of Nigeria. He also emphasised that only collective action would ensure meaningful improvement in living standards for millions of northerners.
Stakeholders at the summit agreed on the need for greater regional cooperation but noted that implementation must be backed by strong political will from governors and legislative assemblies. No official opposition response was immediately available as at press time.
Nigeria News (Standard)
Fubara Submits 2026–2028 Fiscal Framework as Rivers Assembly Reconvenes After Months
Lawmakers resume plenary in Port Harcourt, receiving multi-year budget proposal amid ongoing political tension in Rivers State
Lawmakers resume plenary in Port Harcourt, receiving multi-year budget proposal amid ongoing political tension in Rivers State
Governor Siminalayi Fubara has presented the 2026–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework to the Rivers State House of Assembly, marking the first plenary session held by the lawmakers in several months. The assembly reconvened on Thursday in Port Harcourt, South-South Nigeria, where members received the fiscal strategy document from the executive arm.
The development comes after a prolonged period of inactivity in the state legislature, which had been dogged by political disagreements and leadership disputes. At Thursday’s sitting, Speaker and other principal officers were present as the assembly formally acknowledged receipt of Governor Fubara’s proposed spending plan for the next three financial years.
The Medium-Term Expenditure Framework is a statutory requirement that outlines projected government revenue and expenditure, providing a basis for annual budgets. Its submission signals preparations for next year’s appropriation bill and is seen as a step towards restoring normal legislative business in Rivers State, following recent tensions between factions aligned to different political interests.
While details of Fubara’s spending priorities were not immediately disclosed at plenary, observers say the resumption of legislative activities may help douse anxieties among stakeholders about governance stability in the oil-rich state. Attempts to reach opposition lawmakers for comment were not successful as at press time.
The assembly is expected to deliberate on the framework in coming weeks before its adoption, paving way for formal budget presentation later this year. Political analysts note that sustained engagement between the executive and legislature will be key to unlocking delayed development projects and addressing constituents’ concerns across Rivers State.
Nigeria News (Standard)
Expert Warns SME Growth in Nigeria Needs More Than Capital Injection
Stakeholders urged to address infrastructure, policy bottlenecks as financial support alone fails to drive sustained expansion
Stakeholders urged to address infrastructure, policy bottlenecks as financial support alone fails to drive sustained expansion
Efforts to boost small and medium enterprise (SME) growth in Nigeria must go beyond simply providing capital, a leading industry expert has advised. Speaking in Lagos on Thursday, George Ogbonnaya stressed that entrepreneurs continue to face major hurdles despite increased funding opportunities, pointing to issues such as poor infrastructure, inconsistent policy and limited access to markets.
Ogbonnaya highlighted that while government and private sector interventions have made more funds available for SMEs in recent years, many businesses still struggle to survive or scale up. “The reality is that capital alone cannot solve the challenges facing Nigerian SMEs,” he said during a stakeholder meeting. “We must also address electricity supply, transportation, and regulatory barriers if we want real growth in this sector.”
SMEs account for an estimated 48 percent of Nigeria’s GDP and employ over 80 percent of the country’s workforce, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). However, the sector continues to face persistent challenges ranging from unreliable power supply and high logistics costs to frequent policy changes. These factors often undermine the effectiveness of loan schemes and other financial initiatives aimed at supporting business owners.
Ogbonnaya called for a coordinated approach involving federal and state governments, development agencies and private investors. He urged policymakers to streamline regulations and invest in infrastructure projects that would lower operational costs for SMEs. “If we focus only on giving money without fixing these underlying problems, we will keep seeing high failure rates,” he cautioned.
He also encouraged SME owners to seek out training and mentorship opportunities while leveraging digital tools to expand their reach. The expert’s remarks come amid renewed calls for economic diversification as Nigeria seeks new engines of growth beyond oil revenue.
Nigeria News (Standard)
Nigerian Social Worker in Washington Jailed for Diverting ₦25m Meant for Orphaned Autistic Child
US court orders Akeatha Akintola to repay stolen funds after fleeing to Togo with false passport
US court orders Akeatha Akintola to repay stolen funds after fleeing to Togo with false passport
A Nigerian woman, Akeatha Diane Akintola, who worked as a social worker in Washington State, United States, has been sentenced to five months in jail for stealing over $17,000 (about ₦25 million) in Social Security benefits meant for an orphaned autistic child under her care. The sentencing took place before Magistrate Judge Kate Vaughan at a US federal court on June 18, following Akintola’s guilty plea and immediate remand.
According to records from the US Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, Akintola began working with the Snoqualmie Tribe in January 2023. In September that year, she applied by phone to become the Social Security representative payee for a minor with intellectual disabilities who was under tribal care—a role that tribal policy specifically barred social workers from holding over children assigned to them. Prosecutors revealed that Akintola used the child’s Social Security number alongside her own details to fraudulently secure the appointment, then redirected benefits into a bank account she controlled. The funds were subsequently spent on personal expenses instead of the child’s welfare.
The theft came to light in July 2024 when Akintola and her supervisor approached the Social Security Administration to inquire about missing benefits. Officials disclosed that Akintola was listed as the representative payee; she denied this allegation but resigned from her position the next day. She later missed a scheduled court appearance on May 22, 2026. Investigations showed she had left the US two days earlier, travelling to Togo using a passport issued under another surname.
At sentencing, Judge Vaughan noted that Akintola’s actions targeted a highly vulnerable victim. A representative of the Snoqualmie Tribe told the court that Akintola had abused her position and exploited a grieving child for financial gain, saying: “In our profession, a social worker is meant to be a safekeeper… Ms Akintola did not just fail in that duty; she weaponised her position of power to systematically steal from a grieving, autistic child.”
Akintola was ordered by the court to pay $17,638 (about ₦25 million) in restitution to the Social Security Administration and has been permanently barred from serving as a representative payee again. The case has drawn attention among Nigerians abroad regarding professional ethics and trust issues within diaspora communities.
Fubara Submits 2026–2028 Fiscal Framework as Rivers Assembly Reconvenes After Months
Expert Warns SME Growth in Nigeria Needs More Than Capital Injection
Nigerian Social Worker in Washington Jailed for Diverting ₦25m Meant for Orphaned Autistic Child
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