Business
RURCON Empowers Youth in Crisis-Affected Communities With Skills Training, Startup Packs
The Rural Development Counsellor for Christian Churches in Africa (RURCON) has concluded its 2024 entrepreneurship and skills acquisition program with the distribution of start-up packs to beneficiaries drawn from crisis-affected communities in Plateau and Kaduna states.
The closeout event, held on December 5, marked the end of a multi-year intervention funded by Friends of RURCON, under which youths were trained in various vocations for one to two years, depending on the skill.
Executive Director of RURCON, Mrs. Dinatu Ayenzat, said the project supported youths who were negatively affected by crises and needed economic empowerment to contribute to rebuilding their communities.
“Today is the graduation of the trainees. Some trained for two years, some for one year, depending on the skill. They are being given start-up packs to establish their businesses,” she said.
Ayenzat, who earlier gave a moral and spiritual charge to the beneficiaries, added that RURCON’s work is rooted in holistic ministry.
“We demonstrate the love of Christ and proclaim it. I encouraged everyone to make their lives right with God because at the end of it all, we will face God in judgment,” she said.
She explained that Friends of RURCON came into the project through a former donor partner, after which the organization approached them directly with a proposal that was approved.
Director of Programs at RURCON, Seth Yashim Gado, said the initiative was designed as a humanitarian response to support rebuilding in communities affected by violent conflict.
“We enrolled youths from five crisis-affected communities—Myanga in Bokkos, Darwat and Horop in Barkin Ladi, Doka in Kaduna State, and the Pejim community. The idea was to help them acquire skills, reduce idleness, and prevent drug and substance abuse,” he said.
He explained that the training followed four intervention arms: trauma healing for church leaders and elders, peacebuilding for security actors, a community peacebuilding component, and the youth-focused entrepreneurship arm.
“The youth arm was designed to empower them with livelihoods so they can sustain themselves and support their households,” Gado added.
The items distributed to beneficiaries included:
- 28 hairdressing sets (hair dryers, combs, wash basins)
- 7 barbing kits (clippers and barbing accessories)
- 2 laptop computers
- 48 sewing machines
- 8 welding kits
- 4 mechanic toolboxes
- 1 panel-beating gas cylinder and gas tank
- 5 shoemaking grinders and filing machines
- 5 carpentry toolkits
- 4 driving licenses (support)
- 1-ton liquid soap production chemical set
Trainers and trainees from various communities expressed appreciation for the intervention.
Mrs. Sandra Andrew of Haipan, who trained two girls from Mahanga in hairdressing and makeup, said the trainees performed exceptionally well.
“They were among the best five in my shop. I thank the NGO and pray God opens more doors for them to train others,” she said.
Another trainer, Mrs. Felicia Jidahuna from Barkin Ladi, who trained three girls in hairdressing for over a year, said the program brought joy to their community.
“These NGOs, we thank them because they brought so much joy to us. May God bless them,” she said.
Beneficiaries from Kaduna State also shared their experiences.
Gwazel Barnabas, enrolled in a three-year furniture-making program, said he is over a year into his training.
“I am very happy. We cannot pay them, but God will pay them,” he said.
Ruth Payious, also from Kaduna, said the program transformed her life.
“Even the cloth I am wearing is a product of the RURCON program. I can now sew for myself and children in my area. Before this, I was only a student, but now I have my sewing machine,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Patrick Marcus Elia from Hurum, Barkin Ladi, who completed a three-month computer diploma, said his new laptop has boosted his education.
“It helps me do assignments and projects. Sometimes when I help others, they appreciate me with money. My work has become easier,” he said.
Parents, community leaders, trainers and recipients all expressed gratitude to RURCON and Friends of RURCON for supporting youth empowerment and promoting community recovery.
BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), has revoked the certificate of registration for Royal Exchange Prudential Life Insurance PLC over its failure to meet the statutory minimum capital requirement under the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025.
The cancellation, which took effect on Plc August 3, 2026, The regulator also ordered the immediate winding up of the firm’s operations.
The action was executed under the legal powers granted to the regulatory authority by the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIRA) 2025.
According to a notice signed by Deputy Commissioner (Technical) Decent Jankara, titled “Notice Of Cancellation Of Certificate Of Registration Of Royal Exchange Prudential Life Insurance Plc”, the regulator appointed Titilayo Akinlawon (SAN)as Receiver and Provisional Liquidator to oversee the winding up of its affairs.
The notice added that “The appointed Receiver is mandated to take control of the company’s affairs, liquidating its assets and settling its outstanding liabilities in strict accordance with NIRA 2025 regulations and extant insurance guidelines.”
“Relevant stakeholders and financial institutions have been instructed to cooperate fully with the Receiver during the official takeover and winding-up proceedings.”
This development comes days after NAICOM announced the completion of the insurance sector recapitalisation exercise and published a list of 43 insurance and reinsurance companies that met the July 31, 2026 compliance deadline.
The post Recapitalisation: NAICOM Revokes Royal Exchange Prudential Life Insurance License appeared first on Business Today NG.
The Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Chris Najomo, has cautioned against any further reduction in the regulator’s statutory funding, warning that such a move could weaken Nigeria’s aviation safety oversight.
Mr Najomo spoke on Thursday at a public hearing by the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation on the proposed review of the allocation of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) and Cargo Sales Charge (CSC) at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
He said the NCAA supported adequate funding for all aviation agencies but warned that changing the existing revenue-sharing formula without considering the regulator’s responsibilities could affect its ability to discharge its statutory mandate.
According to him, the TSC accounts for about 85 per cent of the NCAA’s revenue, making the charge critical to the authority’s operations.
He contrasted this with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), which generates a substantial portion of its revenue from commercial charges paid by aircraft operators for air navigation services.
Mr Najomo cited the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Policies on Charges for Airports and Air Navigation Services, Doc 9082, which provides guidance on how costs associated with air navigation services should be recovered.
He said the cost of such services should principally be recovered from aircraft operators that use them rather than through passenger-based charges such as the TSC.
He explained that any further reduction in the NCAA’s statutory funding could have implications for the authority’s ability to maintain effective safety oversight across the country’s civil aviation industry.
He told lawmakers that the authority could not responsibly guarantee the same level of safety oversight if its funding was reduced without an alternative and sustainable source of revenue.
The warning comes as lawmakers consider proposals to review the distribution of the five per cent TSC and CSC among aviation agencies.
The debate has also attracted concerns from airline operators, who argue that the TSC has become a financial burden on domestic carriers and have proposed replacing the percentage-based charge with a fixed levy.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), represented at the hearing by former Managing Director of NAMA, Roland Iyayi, urged the National Assembly to abolish the five per cent TSC and replace it with a flat-rate charge similar to the Passenger Service Charge collected by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.
Mr Iyayi argued that the percentage-based system places additional pressure on airlines at a time when operators are grappling with high fuel, maintenance and other operating costs.
The AON also proposed increasing NAMA’s share of aviation revenues and establishing a dedicated Aviation Development Fund to finance infrastructure and other sectoral needs.
Other aviation experts oppose equal funding treatment
Mr Najomo, however, said any additional funding required by NAMA should first be pursued through improved collection of its statutory commercial revenues, greater operational efficiency and stronger corporate governance.
He added that targeted government support could be considered for strategic capital infrastructure where necessary, in line with ICAO policies and international best practice.
Other aviation experts at the hearing also warned against treating the regulator and aviation service providers in the same way under a revised funding arrangement.
Musa Nuhu, a former Nigeria representative on the ICAO Council and immediate past director-general of the NCAA, said the regulator had a distinct responsibility that should not be weakened by changes to the funding structure.
Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to ICAO, Mahmud Ben-Tukur, similarly stressed the importance of maintaining the independence and financial capacity of the aviation regulator.
They argued that while aviation agencies perform complementary functions, responsibility for safety oversight of Nigeria’s civil aviation industry rests with the NCAA.
READ ALSO: NCAA threatens sanctions as Royal Air Maroc allegedly defies regulatory authority
Speaking virtually, Bernard Aliu, a former Nigeria permanent representative to ICAO and former president of the ICAO Assembly, and Harold Demuren, a former director-general of civil aviation, also backed the call to preserve the NCAA’s financial independence.
They said a strong and adequately funded regulator was essential to maintaining Nigeria’s aviation safety oversight system and compliance with international aviation standards.
The public hearing was attended by members of the National Assembly’s aviation committees, including their chairmen, Abdulfatai Buhari and Abdullahi Idris Garba, as well as heads of aviation agencies, airline operators and other industry stakeholders.
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