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APC remains best equipped party to lead Nigeria – AbdulRazaq

Published

1 day ago

March 28, 2026

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All Progressives Congress APC Plateau State 300x173 1.jpg

Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, says the All Progressives Congress (APC) remains the party to beat in future elections.

AbdulRazaq said this at the 8th APC National Convention on Friday in Abuja, adding that it is the platform best equipped to lead Nigeria through reforms and national renewal.

He said the APC’s strength was in its ability to manage diversity, build trust, and maintain a culture of dialogue and inclusion.

He said that political parties endured not because they won elections, but because they built trust, manage differences, and continued to offer direction in times of change.

“The APC has come this far because it has never been just an election platform, it is a party that has brought people together, managed diversity, and progressed steadily.

“The ability to listen, accommodate, and remain united has been central to our strength.

“As party members, we must continue to protect that culture of dialogue, inclusion, discipline, and collective responsibility,” he said.

The governor commended President Bola Tinubu for his courage in implementing tough but necessary decisions under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

This, he noted, reflected a clear commitment to long-term progress, even when the path was not easy.

He further noted that those reforms had significantly increased resources for the federation, allowing states to fund critical priorities.

“At the sub-national level, we understand this responsibility. Our task is to ensure that reforms translate into real improvements in the lives of our people.

“On fiscal matters, states have actively shaped reforms to ensure they are practical and balanced,” he said.

Abdulrazaq commended Tinubu for reforms that had increased resources for the federation and positively impacted sub-national policies.

“The tax reform bill has also been passed in our state assemblies and adopted.

“Through initiatives such as the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER), states are strengthening revenue systems, improving land administration, and enhancing public financial management to fund priorities more sustainably,” he said.

Abdulrazaq, however, said that revenue only mattered when it delivered results, adding that states were actively investing in improving living standards.

He also commended Tinubu’s initiative in agriculture and livestock sectors, including the establishment of Ministry of Livestock to support that industry.

He said that programmes such as the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRESS) and agro-climatic resilience initiatives had provided support for farmers while addressing climate challenges.

“In human capital development, initiatives such as Primary Health Care Under One Roof, the Health Compact, the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and the $5.1 billion MOU recently signed with the United States under America’s Global Health Strategy are improving health outcomes across states.

“We also appreciate the president’s commitment of three billion dollar toward this effort,” he said.

Noting that development can only succeed when lives and livelihoods are protected, Abdulrazaq said the governors were working closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser and security agencies to strengthen security coordination in the country.

He commended Tinubu’s efforts and investment in security, and expressed confident in his ability to address the country’s challenge.

He noted that the convention was a moment for the party to reflect on its responsibility to the country, adding that political parties endured only when they offered clear direction in times of change.

He expressed the need for the APC to move forward, stay focused, strengthen fiscal discipline, expand opportunities, invest in people, and ensure inclusion.

The governor said that human capital must remain at the centre of the party’s efforts, saying the strength of the nation depended on the strength of its people.

On his part, Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo, said the 31 APC governors were fully aligned with the President’s reform logic.

“ Under President Tinubu’s administration the direction is clearer, the reform logic is stronger and the prospects for long-term growth and development are brighter.

“What leadership requires is not merely the ability to manage the present, but the wisdom to prepare the future and in this regard, President Tinubu has shown statesmanship.

“We also acknowledge that the reforms are meaningful only when they touch lives. That is why the PGF remains fully aligned with the Renewed Hope agenda and deeply committed to its social progress,” he said.

Uzodimma pledged the governors commitment to continue to work with the Federal Government to advance policies and programmes that promote economic opportunity, and strengthen social protection.

He said the governors were also committed to expand infrastructure, improve security, support enterprise, empower young people and women, and restore confidence in public leadership.

The PGF Chairman stressed that the APC must remain broad enough to accommodate diversity and disciplined enough to protect its progressive values of justice and accountability.

“This is a moment for unity, not division; for discipline, not distraction; for service, not self-interest.

“Our party must remain faithful to the principles that define us: enterprise, inclusion, and national renewal,” Uzodimma said. (NAN)

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Business

SOLAP Enterprise Hub Produces First Winner, Awards N1.5m to Top Pitch Winner

Published

1 hour ago

March 29, 2026

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A young entrepreneur, Magaji Emmanuel, founder of MJ Farms, has emerged winner of the maiden edition of the SOLAP Enterprise Hub, Youth Entrepreneurship Program 2025, clinching a N1.5 million business investment grant at the grand finale held Friday at Ordlin Event Center, Jos.

Emmanuel outperformed nine other finalists in a competitive live pitch session, following a six-week intensive training programme that began with hundreds of applicants drawn from Abuja, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau and Kaduna States.

The SOLAP Enterprise Hub, Youth Entrepreneurship Program 2025, an initiative of SOLAP Group, is designed to nurture young entrepreneurs into wealth creators, job providers and drivers of community development. From over 100 applications received, 50 entrepreneurs were shortlisted and trained, with only 10 advancing to the final pitch stage.

Presenting his business model, Emmanuel, a Quantity Surveying student of Kaduna State University, showcased his integrated poultry farm which not only produces poultry birds but also converts poultry waste into organic hybrid fertilizer. His innovation, aimed at addressing rising fertilizer costs, earned him the top prize.

Speaking after his victory, Emmanuel expressed gratitude to God and dedicated the achievement to his late father, whose initial vision inspired the business. He noted that the grant would help scale production and expand access to affordable fertilizer for farmers.

Earlier, the Group Managing Director of SOLAP Group, Arc. Akosu Paul, said the initiative forms part of the company’s corporate social responsibility to support young entrepreneurs with viable ideas through training, mentorship and grants.

He explained that the programme aims to raise 100 millionaires within the next 10 years, stressing the importance of investing in youth who possess the energy, vision and fewer distractions needed to grow sustainable businesses.

The event also featured a panel discussion on “Thriving in Uncertainty: Building Resilience and Entrepreneurship,” with experts including Chief Samuel Adetunji, Mrs Theresa Gofwen and Mrs Mary Oyewole, who shared insights on navigating business challenges.

In a show of support, Chief Adetunji donated an additional N100,000 each to the top three winners, as well as to the best female contestant and another participant who pitched a fish farming business.

Speaking at the event, Mr Val Okafor of the Val Okafor Company, implementing partner of the initiative, described the programme as a structured intervention aimed at bridging the gap between ideas and sustainable enterprises.

According to him, participants underwent practical training in business development, market research, branding and revenue strategies, equipping them with the skills needed to build viable businesses.

Other winners at the event included Ani Nnaemeka Kingsley of NovelArts, who emerged first runner-up with a N1 million grant for his innovative use of waste materials in interior décor and art production.

Mom Terkaa Titus of Jumo Farms secured the second runner-up position, winning N500,000 for his Agri-Rentals concept, a farm mechanization hub for smallholder farmers.

The top female contestant, Egba Agnes of AG’s Creations, also received an additional N500,000 grant to support her fashion design business and training academy for aspiring designers.

Organisers described the maiden edition as a success, noting that the initiative will continue to expand opportunities for young entrepreneurs across Nigeria.

Business

Investors Applaud Plateau Government’s Agricultural Drive at Horticultural Festival

Published

2 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Preport

Investors and stakeholders in the agricultural sector have commended the Plateau State Government under Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang for its deliberate efforts to transform agriculture and boost food security.

The commendation came during the 2026 Horticultural Festival held in Jos, organised in collaboration with the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and other development partners. The event took place at the Crispan Suites and Event Center and attracted both local and international investors.

Leading the delegation of foreign investors, the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Nigeria, Bengt van Loosdrecht, praised the state government’s commitment to agricultural development, particularly in horticulture and potato production.

He noted that Plateau’s climate and soil conditions provide a strong advantage for large-scale agricultural production, especially potatoes, and expressed optimism about ongoing collaborations between Dutch companies and local farmers. He also revealed that new seed varieties are being tested and scaled up to improve productivity.

Representing the governor, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Samson Ishaku Bugama, described the festival as a strategic step toward positioning Plateau as a leading hub for horticulture in Nigeria and beyond.

Bugama emphasized that the state government is prioritizing agricultural excellence, improved seed systems, and increased yields, alongside creating investment opportunities across the value chain, including mechanization, processing, storage, and export.

He disclosed that the state is also developing Special Agro-Processing Zones to enhance export potential and attract investors, adding that Plateau aims to tap into a multi-billion-dollar market in potatoes and vegetables over the next decade.

According to him, Plateau produces about 90 percent of Nigeria’s Irish potatoes and possesses significant potential for expansion due to its favorable climate, fertile volcanic soil, and year-round production capacity.

Also speaking, the Executive Director of the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Chidozie Egesi, highlighted the importance of research and innovation in unlocking the full potential of the potato value chain.

He noted that while Nigeria remains a leading potato producer in West Africa, yields remain below global standards, stressing the need for improved seed systems, mechanization, and stronger partnerships between researchers, investors, and farmers.

The festival featured exhibitions of crop varieties, fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants, alongside cultural performances showcasing the rich heritage of Plateau communities.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Yilkudi Nengak Elisha, appreciated partners and participants, assuring investors of sustained collaboration and improved outcomes.

The event reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to agricultural transformation, with stakeholders expressing confidence that Plateau is well-positioned to become a major hub for horticulture and agribusiness in Nigeria.