News

P-YAEP: 500 Plateau Youths Begin Agribusiness Journey Under State Empowerment Initiative

Published

4 months ago

June 14, 2026

The Plateau Youth Agricultural Empowerment Programme (P-YAEP) has officially commenced the orientation and project briefing for 500 successfully shortlisted beneficiaries, signaling a major step forward in the Plateau State Government’s commitment to youth empowerment through agriculture. The programme is designed to equip young people with the skills, resources, and opportunities needed to participate actively in the agricultural value chain while contributing to food security and economic growth across the state.

The orientation exercise, held at the Azi Nyako Youth Centre in Jos, brought together beneficiaries from various local government areas, government officials, youth leaders, project managers, and stakeholders in the agricultural sector. The gathering served as an opportunity to familiarize participants with the objectives of the programme, the expectations of beneficiaries, and the responsibilities required to ensure the successful implementation of their agricultural projects.

Speaking during the event, officials emphasized that P-YAEP is more than just an empowerment scheme, describing it as a strategic investment in the future of Plateau’s youth. Beneficiaries were encouraged to approach the programme with dedication, discipline, and a commitment to learning, noting that agriculture remains one of the most viable pathways for job creation, wealth generation, and sustainable development in the state.

Project managers also used the briefing session to provide detailed insights into the operational framework of the initiative, including project timelines, monitoring mechanisms, and support structures available to participants. They highlighted the importance of accountability, transparency, and proper resource management, stressing that the success of the programme depends largely on the commitment and active participation of the beneficiaries.

As the programme moves into its implementation phase, expectations remain high that the initiative will create meaningful opportunities for young people, boost agricultural productivity, and strengthen rural economies across Plateau State. With 500 youths now set to embark on their agribusiness journey, P-YAEP is being widely regarded as a bold and practical step toward reducing unemployment and fostering a new generation of agricultural entrepreneurs in the state.

Related Topics:Agribusiness empowerment Initiative Journey plateau PYAEP State youths

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Business

The Extra Mile: PenCom marks 2026 Customer Service Week

Published

2 hours ago

October 6, 2026

PlateauReports

BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has joined in the celebration of Customer Service Week, aimed at celebrating retirees and workers in the country.

According to PenCom, day one of the week kicked off on a high note as staff celebrated their colleagues, customers and the commitment to going “the extra mile” in delivering exceptional customer experience.

From engaging conversations and interactive sessions to team spirit, smiles and celebrations, the opening day set the tone for a week focused on putting the customer at the heart of the Commission’s work.

This year, the Commission is reminded that great customer service is not just about meeting expectations; it is about exceeding them, creating value and making every interaction count.

The highlight of the event was the cutting of the cake by the Director-General of PenCom, Ms. Omolola Bridget Oloworaran, and her management team.

The post The Extra Mile: PenCom marks 2026 Customer Service Week appeared first on Business Today NG.

News

Lucid Motors’ EV output falls to lowest level in almost 2 years

Published

2 hours ago

October 6, 2026

PlateauReports

Lucid Motors built 2,954 electric vehicles (EVs) in the third quarter of this year, a 54% drop from a year ago, as the company purposely limits production to better meet demand for its EVs.

This was the third straight quarter in which the number of EVs Lucid built has declined. It’s also the lowest quarterly output since the first quarter of 2025, which was just after Lucid Motors started production of its second EV, the Gravity SUV.

Lucid delivered 3,806 EVs in the third quarter, roughly flat with the second quarter and down about 200 vehicles from the third quarter of 2025. The company has struggled to find buyers for either of its first two luxury EVs. In five of the last six quarters, it built more vehicles than it delivered.

Lucid’s new CEO, Silvio Napoli, has spent the last few months leading an effort to “simplify the company.” That effort has included laying off around 1,500 employees, streamlining the company’s leadership, and eliminating a second shift at its factory in Arizona in a bid to reach cost savings of $1.4 billion. Lucid also delayed the release of its third EV, the Cosmos. That model is supposed to be much cheaper, starting at under $50,000.

The third-quarter figures, released Monday afternoon, come just a few days after rival EV upstart Rivian posted its best quarter in history on the back of the R2, its new, more affordable SUV. Although Rivian didn’t break out specific delivery figures for the R2, the company shipped nearly 20,000 vehicles in the third quarter, the first full quarter with the R2 in production, up from 12,194 in the second quarter.

Lucid’s failure to find a large market of buyers for its EVs is even more stark when compared with the promises the company made when it went public in 2021. That year, Lucid Motors merged with a special purpose acquisition company and estimated it would ship as many as 90,000 EVs in 2024 alone. The company raised $4 billion in the transaction.

On Lucid’s second-quarter earnings call in August, Napoli spoke about why he thinks the company has failed to make a dent in the EV market.

“While there is no question that Lucid brought leading innovations and outstanding products to the market, we have disappointed on several fronts, and for far too long,” he said. “We have not executed consistently. We missed commitments, launched products before they were ready, underinvested in service, responded too slowly to quality issues, and allowed complexity to slow decisions down.”

The Cosmos’ lower price could, in theory, let Lucid access a wider market, but Napoli cautioned shareholders that rushing the new EV out could create more trouble.

“We will not repeat the mistakes of the past by bringing a product to market before it is ready,” Napoli said on the call.

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