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SHIFT Initiative Trains Plateau Artisans in Financial Literacy and Business Management – Your Hub for News, Events & Entertainment

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Artisans and entrepreneurs in Plateau State have received practical financial literacy and business-management training through a one-day empowerment programme delivered by the SHIFT Initiative in collaboration with the Sustainable Development Goals Project Support Unit, Plateau State.

The training was led by SHIFT Initiative’s Executive Director, Ulan V. Jatau, PhD, alongside members of the organisation’s team.

Participants were taken through practical sessions covering budgeting, bookkeeping, record-keeping, digital finance, modern business management and sustainable entrepreneurship.

The programme was designed to bridge the gap between vocational competence and business sustainability. While many artisans have valuable technical skills, inadequate knowledge of financial management can make it difficult to track income, control expenditure, reinvest profits and plan for expansion.

Through the sessions, participants learned how to make informed financial decisions, separate personal and business finances, monitor profitability and develop stronger structures for long-term growth.

Beneficiaries were selected from across Plateau State’s 17 local government areas and also received equipment and financial assistance under the wider empowerment programme.

Dr. Jatau and the SHIFT team emphasised that meaningful empowerment must combine tangible resources with knowledge. Providing business tools can improve immediate productivity, but financial discipline and management capacity are necessary to ensure those businesses remain viable.

The programme further demonstrated SHIFT Initiative’s role in supporting grassroots enterprise development through practical education, mentorship and community-focused capacity building.

By providing artisans with both knowledge and support, the initiative is helping strengthen local businesses, improve livelihoods and create opportunities for sustainable economic growth across Plateau State.

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Super Falcons Crush Egypt 6-2 to Reach WAFCON 2026 Quarter-Finals

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The Super Falcons of Nigeria booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) with a commanding 6-2 victory over Egypt in their final group-stage match, holding on to their title credentials with an impressive attacking display.

The 10-time African champions wasted little time asserting their dominance, opening the scoring through Asisat Oshoala, who calmly converted from the penalty spot after sending the Egyptian goalkeeper the wrong way.

Nigeria continued to dictate proceedings and doubled their advantage through Gift Monday, who made an immediate impact after coming off the bench in the first half.

However, Egypt reduced the deficit just before the break after converting a penalty to keep themselves in the contest.

The Super Falcons responded emphatically after halftime. Substitute Uchenna Kanu restored Nigeria’s two-goal cushion in the 57th minute, finishing off an excellent move created by Rinsola Babajide, who tormented the Egyptian defence throughout the encounter.

With the game firmly under their control, Nigeria continued to press forward and were rewarded with another penalty in the closing stages. Christy Ucheibe confidently dispatched the spot-kick in the 81st minute to make it 4-1.

Captain Rasheedat Ajibade then got on the scoresheet from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time, extending the lead to 5-1 before substitute Joy Omewa completed the rout in the 90+8th minute, finishing brilliantly after being set up by Ajibade.

Although Egypt managed to score twice, they were unable to cope with Nigeria’s relentless attacking play, as the Super Falcons showcased their squad depth with substitutes making decisive contributions throughout the contest.

Babajide capped off an outstanding individual performance by claiming the Woman of the Match award after providing two assists and consistently stretching the Egyptian backline with her pace, cretivity and delivery.

The comprehensive victory sees Nigeria advance to the quarter-finals, where they will face Cameroon in what promises to be another heavyweight African encounter.

Should the Super Falcons progress, they will meet the winner of the quarter-final between South Africa and Morocco in the last four.

The result further reinforces Nigeria’s status as one of the favourites for the title as they continue their quest for an 11th WAFCON crown, with Justin Madugu’s side displaying both attacking firepower and the depth needed for a successful tournament run.

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Seplat Energy Records 498% Profit Surge to $164m, Declares 12 Cents Dividend for H1 2026

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BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—Seplat Energy Plc, a leading Nigerian independent energy producer listed on both the Nigerian Exchange and London Stock Exchange, has delivered a stellar financial performance for the half-year ended June 30, 2026. Driven by higher output and a favorable pricing environment, the energy giant posted a massive 498 percent year-on-year surge in Profit After Tax (PAT), reaching $164 million, compared to $4.0 cents per share in the corresponding period of 2025.

Gross revenue rose 30 percent to $1.82 billion from $1.398 billion in H1 2025, supported by an average realized oil price of $94.13 per barrel, representing a $7.47 premium to Brent crude. Strong operational execution expanded gross profits by 68 percent to $815.9 million, while cash generated from operations expanded 29 percent to $985.9 million.

In line with its strong balance sheet, Seplat declared a total second-quarter dividend of USD 12.0 cents per share ($72 million), comprising a USD 5.0 cents core payout and a USD 7.0 cents special dividend. Following robust performance and a newly reached agreement to sell a 10 percent interest in the NNPCL-SEPNU Joint Venture to NNPC Limited for $281.6 million, the company plans to raise its full-year 2026 dividend projection to USD 68.3 cents per share ($410 million)—a 173 percent growth year-on-year.

Operationally, group production averaged 139,509 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) in the first half of 2026, marking a 4 percent growth year-on-year and remaining comfortably within full-year target guidance. Second-quarter output surged to 149,070 boepd, up 15 percent from the first quarter, boosted by onshore production improvements and an active idle well restoration program that restored 26,000 barrels per day of gross capacity across 24 wells. The firm also achieved 18.8 million man-hours across operated assets without any Lost Time Injury (LTI), while lowering carbon emissions intensity by 18 percent.

Financially, Seplat significantly deleveraged its balance sheet, making an early repayment and cancellation of $200 million under its Advanced Payment Facility. Consequently, Net Debt dropped 45 percent to $370.7 million by the end of June, pushing the Net Debt/EBITDA leverage ratio down to 0.25x and prompting S&P to upgrade the company’s credit rating to ‘B+’.

The strong half-year earnings coincide with scheduled executive leadership transitions. Engr. Effiong Okon took over as Chief Executive Officer from Mr. Roger Brown on August 1, 2026, while Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, is slated to succeed Senator Udoma Udo Udoma as Board Chairman on January 1, 2027.

Commenting on the results, outgoing CEO Roger Brown remarked that the company is handing over leadership from a position of unprecedented financial and operational resilience, backed by expanding cash flows, accelerated debt repayment, and historic returns for shareholders.

The post Seplat Energy Records 498% Profit Surge to $164m, Declares 12 Cents Dividend for H1 2026 appeared first on Business Today NG.

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