Health
FG launches Ultramodeen fashion Hub in Borno, Targets 48,000 jobs

The federal government has launched one of Nigeria’s largest ultramodern fashion manufacturing hubs in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital with a target of generating over 48,000 jobs through the facility in the state.
In continuation of the disbursement of its N75 billion support package for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the government also announced unconditional grants of N300,000 for outstanding MSMEs participating in the 6th Expanded National MSME Clinics programme.
Speaking on Tuesday when he launched the fashion hub and the Expanded MSMEs Clinic in Maiduguri, Vice President Kashim Shettima restated the commitment of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to fostering innovation, upskilling the workforce, and ensuring equitable wealth distribution across the nation.
“The strength of any nation lies not in its natural resources but in the hands of its skilled and enterprising citizens. You are the surest means of distributing wealth equitably across the land. You are the crucial link to securing a prosperous future,” he declared.
The N75 billion MSME Intervention Fund is being administered through the Bank of Industry, offering loans up to N1 million at 9% interest to 75,000 businesses nationwide.
Announcing the N300,000 grant for each business owners, VP Shettima said, “I am pleased to announce on behalf of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that an unconditional grant of N300,000 will be awarded to each outstanding MSME exhibiting at today’s clinic”.
According to him, the intervention represents yet another fulfillment of the promise made by President Bola to provide access to capital and expand opportunities for all Nigerians.
“Every business empowered is a step closer to eradicating poverty, and we do not take for granted the critical role you play as the buffer of our economy, particularly at the informal level,” he added.
On the MSME Clinic, Senator Shettima explained that it provides “a unique platform for business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, and innovators in Borno State to interact directly with regulatory agencies, financial institutions, and business support organisations.
“It is an avenue to receive practical, on-the-spot solutions to the challenges you face in running your businesses,” he pointed out.
The Vice President also announced the successful completion of the second cohort of the FGN-ALAT Digital Skill inovation Programme in Borno State, a partnership with Wema Bank that has trained over three million Nigerians in digital skills.
“The FGN-ALAT programme has trained over two million Nigerian youths and one million MSMEs in digital skills and resources critical for thriving in today’s technology-driven economy,” the VP noted.
He further stated that the fashion hub is among the largest ever established by the federal government, furnished with state-of-the-art equipment to support the fashion manufacturing cluster in Borno State.
He continued: “It has the capacity to boost production, achieve economies of scale, and align with global standards.
We anticipate that this facility will be managed by a competent private sector entity, with federal and state governments providing vigilant oversight.
“Our vision is for this hub to become a reference point for excellence, enterprise, and training—not only for Borno State but for the entire nation.”
Commending the state government for its support, the Vice President expressed gratitude to the government of Borno State, under the stewardship of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, for partnering with the federal government to bring the Expanded MSME Clinic and the fashion hub to the people of the state.
He reiterated the administration’s commitment to grassroots economic development, noting that “without skills, innovation stalls. Without accessible capital, dreams wither.
“This is why we are committed to standing with you, supporting you, and ensuring that your most ambitious ideas are transformed into flourishing enterprises instead of being forgotten in the cupboards of dreams not realised,” he added.
In his remarks, Governor Zulum regretted that MSMEs had suffered “untold hardship in the state due to decade-long insurgency and the prevailing economic situation in the country.
”He expressed optimism that the launch of the MSME Clinic will revive business activities, small and medium enterprises, provide employment opportunities and sources of income for individuals in Borno State.
Assuring that the government is committed to creating more opportunities for the population, Governor Zulum said in recognition of the importance of MSMEs, his administration has made several policies to encourage the citizens to build expanded sources of income.
Also, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, stated that the launch of the MSME Clinic and the Fashion and Innovation Hub marks another milestone of success in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said that going around the exhibition with the Vice President, he observed that “everything speaks to the 8-point agenda of Mr. President.”
He highlighted the agenda to include food security, poverty reduction, job creation, inclusion of women and youths, provision of security, access to capital and rule of law.
On his part, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Sen John Owen Eno, said the MSME Clinic is a transformational programme being led by the Vice President and is responsible for unlocking a lot of economic opportunities, empowering small businesses and encouraging innovation.
He said that coming to commission MSME in Maiduguri underscores the legacy of diversifying the economy, contributing to job growth as well as trying to be competitive.
Giving a recap of the MSME Clinics across the country, especially in Borno State, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MSMEs and Job Creation, Mr. Tola Johnson, expressed appreciation for the commissioning of the Clinic in the state.
While thanking the Governor and his team for a cordial working relationship, he said that the MSME Clinic organizes an award ceremony every June 27, and any state that the Vice President attends for the MSME Clinic prior to the award ceremony is qualified to win either the male or female MSME award.
Health
Father’s Day: LAAF Acknowledges Men’s Daily Challenges, holds Conference in Lagos (Photos)

A globally recognized women-led non-profit organization, the Life After Abuse Foundation (LAAF), has organised a conference for men, with the theme: “The Dear Men”,which focuses on the struggles and silence of men after facing some sort of emotional bullying/trauma.
The event was held on the 14th of June, 2025 in Lagos State.
According to the convener, Halima Layeni, Founder & Executive Director, the group aims to create a more inclusive and supportive global community where the well-being of men is prioritized and supported.

First speaker: Paul Oyewusi (Founder of Circle Men)
He spoke on “Understanding Trauma in Men”.
He said, “though the society has made the men not to speak up about their daily trauma and emotional stress, but it is imminent for such men to start speaking up and stop being shy. He said, no man planned the trauma they pass through while growing up, which has made most men to live the way are currently living.
He however urged such men to man-up, speak up and change the narrative, instead of bottling up the anger, the hatred and the negative character which was born out of their life experience.

Second speaker: Samuel Joseph
He spoke on how Drug and substance abuse affects mental health.
He said “the use of hard drugs and other substances are a major reason why most men are subjected to suicide. He said such drugs affects their mental health and drain them to the state of being unwanted. He also urged the men to speak up whenever they are in such state.

Third Speaker: Shola Adigun (Founder of Father Figure Initiative)
He spoke on Healing the father wound, understanding the impact of an absent father.
He urged the men to fix the issues fathers face in life. Issues which includes backlash from their father, mother or step-father and step-mother which has gravely affected their life as they advance in life.
He also joined other speakers to urge such men to man-up, speak up and change the narrative, instead of bottling up anger, hatred and negative character.

Fourth Speaker: Mustalpha Adeyemi (President KB Club)
He spoke on Emotional Vulnerability in Men.
He stressed that men should open up, engage with someone, explaining what they are going through. According to him, the men are seen as super humans who hardly show their feelings, which makes the society feel they are less vulnerable.
Mustalpha also said, at least 40 percent of men face series of maltreatments but are shy to speak up due to condemnations or being seen as a weakling.

Fifth Speaker: Barr. Dare Asobele, Founder and coordinator of Anti Suicide prevention squad.
He addressed the men on Toxic Masculinity and Healthy Masculinity.
He encouraged the men not to allow trauma take the best part of them. In his words, he said: “do not bottle your emotions”, Find a safe space to take, get help, do regular exercise, find an enabling environment, seek a therapist, do not allow trauma to define who you are, let go of the past, forgive yourself, forgive your parent or whomever that have caused you trauma, and see how you can become a better man in the society.
Other photos:




Health
Bill Gates ambitious to end malaria in Nigeria in the next 20 years
Malaria, one of the most dreaded diseases, especially in Nigeria, has for several years defied solution, with Nigeria accounting for nearly 31% of global deaths.

Bill Gates has said that his Foundation is working to end Malaria in Nigeria within the next twenty years (2045).
Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and chairman of the Bill Gates Foundation, gave the assurance shortly after being conferred with one of Nigeria’s highest national honours, the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic CFR, by President Bola Tinubu in Lagos, on Tuesday.
Gates, who described the project as ” ambitious”, however, assured that it will be achieved.
“Some of our goals will seem ambitious; for example, in the next twenty years, we hope to eradicate malaria.”
Malaria, one of the most dreaded diseases, especially in Nigeria, has for several years defied solution, with Nigeria accounting for nearly 31% of global deaths.
The death toll from the disease was estimated at 194,000 in 2021 in Nigeria alone, making it the country with the highest Malaria burden.
Health
In search of cheap cooking oil, many families consume red oxide unknowingly

Unless something is urgently done to arrest the sliding economy, which has skyrocketed the price of everything in the market, many households in Nigeria may soon suffer one form of food poisoning or the other.
It may not be that they intended to do so, but the search for cheaper alternatives to goods and services whose prices are on the rooftop will drive the unfortunate development.
Without any pride in doomsday prophecy, the families that are likely to suffer this unfortunate health hazard will most likely contact it through consumable food items.
Most prominent among them is the palm oil – a cooking oil, popularly known as red oil.
In the past few years there has been a gradual increase in the price of palm oil, but most recently the increase has jumped beyond 100 per cent.
Yet, it is even hardly seen to buy.
Apparently as a result, many families are not only looking for one to buy but also where to buy it at a cheaper rate.
This scramble has resulted in many dubious business people indulging in the adulteration of an item which is almost indispensable in preparing a good meal, especially the African soup.
It was discovered that the most common ingredient used in adulterating the palm oil is a dangerous chemical known as red oxide – a reddish pigment from Iron (III) oxide.
A palm oil dealer said: “Some sellers mix a chemical called red oxide with original palm oil to become more red to increase profits.
Twenty-five litres of palm oil is now over N50,000So to increase profits, some greedy sellers add the substance to some brands of palm oil that are not very good, to make it look reddish and sell it like the real palm oil.
However, the adulteration results in the sudden change in the color and taste of the oil when it is left over, a day or two.
A palm oil dealer said: “Some sellers mix a chemical called red oxide with original palm oil to become more red to increase profits.
Meanwhile, the implications are telling on people’s lives.
Mrs. Yemisi Oloyode, a fashion designer, complained to us: “Recently everyone in my house has been complaining of a runny stomach . I was really bothered and decided to stop using the palm oil I bought from the market recently.
I bought that oil outside my usual customer who supplies me original palm oil, because she ran out of stock.
“At first, I suspected the colour of the oil and the taste was also different.
“Another reason I fell for it was because it was cheap. “But, from the day I started cooking with it, every member of my household was complaining of stomach bite and runny stomach. However, when I stopped using it, the complaints stopped. “It was then I knew the problem was from the palm oil. I assessed it again and discovered it looks weird.
“It is only God that will save us in this country,” she added. Mrs. Gladys Douglas, a teacher, said: “I have been very cautious with whatever I buy in the market these days.
“Few weeks ago , I bought red oil and poured some inside a bowl. After cooking, I took the bowl outside for washing. But within a few minutes, the remnant of the oil in the bowl had turned to pink.
“I had to return the gallon of oil to the seller. She was pleading with me, explaining that what she sold was what she was supplied.
”Palm oil has become so expensive that a 5 litre keg that used to cost N5,000 is now N12,000. That is even depending on the location one is making the purchase.
Another palm oil supplier who only identified himself as Mr Jay confirmed that the adulterated oil has permeated almost all markets where food items are sold, and that it takes very vigilant and experienced customers to know the difference between them and the original palm oil.
He said: “It is very rampant in the market now and many people hardly know.
“It is not only the retailers that are indulging in the adulteration, even suppliers do such to increase profits.
“I buy my palm oil from a credible source and let my customers know why my product is more expensive than others.
“But you know Nigerians love awoof. They prefer patronizing the fake palm oil sellers.
“Only a few people can identify the original palm oil. ”Red oxide is a common name for iron(III) oxide (Fe2O3), a reddish-colored pigment. It is naturally found as hematite, a major iron ore, and is widely used in paints, pigments, and other industries.
Mr. Adeolu Aderibigbe, a Science Laboratory Technician, warned that the chemical is very dangerous to human health and can lead to food poisoning if consumed in large quantities.
“Human ingestion of red oxide is very dangerous to health because this chemical is used in some industries to manufacture products like paints. “It can cause food poisoning and impair the kidneys, liver, and central nervous system.”
-
Entertainment2 days ago
Multichoice: BBNaija Season 9 Reunion Starts June 23
-
News3 days ago
Court Grants Senator Natasha N50m Bail, Trial Set for September 23
-
Sports2 days ago
LASG Donates Sports Equipment to 1,664 Public Schools
-
News3 days ago
Former Vice President, Sambo Denies Defection to APC, says he remains with PDP
-
News3 days ago
Trump’s $499 Smartphone Coming
-
Entertainment2 days ago
R. Kelly serving 30 years prison sentence for sex trafficking
-
International3 days ago
Netherlands returns over 100 Benin Bronzes looted from Nigeria
-
News3 days ago
JUST IN: Ibas Appears Before Senate to Discuss Rivers State Budget