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74 micro businesses get NDE loans in Plateau

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The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) on Thursday, disbursed loans to 74 people in Plateau, under its Micro-Entreprises Enhancement Scheme, MEES.

Speaking at the disbursement ceremony, the Ag. State Coordinator of NDE in Plateau, Mrs. Asabe Lassa, urged the beneficiaries to use the loans judiciously, to become self reliant.

She said that the N20, 000 loan for each beneficiary was to enable them to grow their businesses, which would have multiplier effects on the economy.

“Do not despise the days of little beginning,” the coordinator said.

She said that the scheme would expand their businesses, which would enable job creation for the unemployed.

Lassa said that in spite of the paucity of resources in the country, NDE was determined to create jobs through its programmes and projects.

The NDE official urged the beneficiaries not to use the loans to cater for their personal needs , but to establish and build their businesses.

“Do not see the loan as a gift or a means to solve issues on the ground, but it is meant to help you , so that you do not only solve the problem of today but also tomorrow,” she said.

In his remarks, the Head of Department of the Small Scale Enterprises, Mr. Victor Otukpa said that the loan had a moratorium of two months.

He said that after the period, beneficiaries were to pay ₦1,000 monthly, adding that the loan had nine per cent interest rate.

Otukpa told the beneficiaries that they would be monitored, to ensure that the loan was being used in line with its purpose.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, one of them, Mrs Felicia Nuhu, thanked NDE for the loans, and assured them that they would make judicious use of the facility.

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Governor Mutfwang Meets Ex-Govs Amid Rising Insecurity in Plateau [PHOTOS]

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Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State on Wednesday held a high-level meeting with former governors and key stakeholders in response to escalating security concerns across the state.

The gathering focused on addressing the long-standing insecurity that has led to the deaths of hundreds of people, including women and children, in several communities.

Sources indicate that the meeting may be connected to the recent attack in Anguwan Rukuba and subsequent violence in parts of the state, where dozens were reportedly killed.

Held at the Government House in Little Rayfield, Jos, the meeting was attended by former governors Simon Bako Lalong, Jonah David Jang, Joshua Chibi Dariye, as well as former military administrator, Rear Admiral Samuel Bitrus Atukum (retd.), among other notable figures.

In a statement shared on his verified Facebook page on Thursday, Mutfwang noted that the closed-door session thoroughly examined issues affecting the welfare, well-being, and development of Plateau residents, with particular attention on the recent surge in violent attacks in rural areas.

Participants at the meeting reviewed the security situation and expressed deep concern over the recurring loss of lives and destruction of property over the years.

They resolved to work together to curb the violence by promoting lasting peace, strengthening unity, and fostering peaceful coexistence among residents.

The leaders also agreed on the need to pursue justice for victims and to establish strong frameworks that reflect the values of courage, discipline, and patriotism associated with Plateau State.

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New leaders, new fund: Sequoia has raised $7B to expand its AI bets

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Few venture firms have bet more aggressively on AI than Sequoia Capital, and it isn’t slowing down.

The Silicon Valley stalwart has raised roughly $7 billion for a new fund, according to Bloomberg. Sequoia declined TechCrunch’s request for comment. The money will go toward what the firm calls its “expansion strategy” — essentially its late-stage investing arm, focused on the U.S. and Europe — and it’s nearly double Sequoia’s last comparable fund, a $3.4 billion vehicle raised in 2022.

That growth in fund size reflects something bigger: late-stage investing has taken on an entirely new meaning in the AI era. Companies can now scale at a speed and cost that would have been unimaginable a decade ago, and the firms backing them have to keep pace.

The money signals where Sequoia sees the future: deeply embedded in AI, from the giants building the underlying technology to the startups putting it to work. The firm has backed two of the most prominent players in the AI race — OpenAI originally and, more recently, Anthropic — both of which are reportedly eyeing public listings in 2026. The development that could mean a significant payday for the firm.

Sequoia isn’t only swinging for the foundational AI heavyweights, however. It has also placed bets on other buzzy startups, including Physical Intelligence, the Bay Area robotics startup, and Factory, which builds AI agents for enterprise engineering teams.

The fundraise is also the first major capital raise under Sequoia’s new leadership, with Alfred Lin and Pat Grady now serving as co-stewards of the 54-year-old firm.

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