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Anambra State Expands its MSMEs Industrial Clusters

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Anambra State government is expanding the scope of its on-going industrial cluster development scheme for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) following the construction of the Tailoring/Garment cluster in Ogbunike/Nkwelle, Oyi Local Government Area of the State.

Speaking during inspection tour of the cluster, the Managing Director/CEO of the Anambra Small Business Agency (ASBA), Clement Chukwuka, said that the Agency’s mandate is targeted at supporting MSMEs as well as developing strategic industrial clusters using creative funding models.

The Tailoring/Garment cluster in Ogbunike/Nkwelle involves construction of about 600 shops as part of the State’s expanding industrial cluster initiative.

He noted that the adjoining Digital Shoe/leather market cluster is also the brainchild of ASBA, reflecting Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s commitment to creating productive centres that drive economic growth.

According to him, the new garment cluster will consolidate over 500 dispersed textile and tailoring businesses currently scattered across various markets.

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“This will be a one-stop hub for textiles, garments, tailoring accessories and everything related to clothing. Mr Governor supports made-in Anambra products and everything that comes from this market will proudly bear that label,” he said.

Chukwuka added that beneficiaries of the 1-Youth-2 Skills programme would also find opportunities within the cluster, stressing that the goal is to discourage youth migration to other States by creating viable, profitable businesses within Anambra.

“ASBA funds these enterprises to help them grow, reinvest and contribute meaningfully to the state economy. When clusters thrive, GDP rises and taxes are paid with ease,” he added.

The Chairman of the Tailoring/Garment Market, Mr. Douglas Olemeforo expressed gratitude to Governor Soludo, noting that the traders currently occupying 5 to 6 different streets are eager to relocate to the new market by February 2026 when commissioning is expected.

He lamented the exploitation by some landlords due to rising building material costs but said the government’s decision to freely provide land at Ogbunike/Nkwelle was a major relief. He praised the Governor for giving Anambra a facelift, saying that several areas he recently visited were unrecognizable due to rapid development.

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The Association’s Secretary, Mr. Iziogu Ogbonna Jeremiah, also thanked the government for its investment in the project. He described the location as strategic and accessible from multiple routes, adding that an ongoing federal road project crossing the axis would transform the cluster into a major commercial hub capable of competing with the Onitsha Main Market.

The PRO and site manager, Sir Ejike Chris Uche emphasized that the new cluster will help decongest the overstretched Onitsha Main Market, where traders currently occupy Williams Street, Francis, Ogalonye, Nottidge and surrounding areas.

He noted that container off-loading on the streets causes gridlock, especially during festive seasons, adding that relocating the tailoring line to Ogbunike/Nkwelle will restore order, ease movement and align with the administration’s “Dubai-Taiwan” vision of organized urban markets.

He commended the Governor for providing the land freely and praised the engineers for working tirelessly to meet deadlines.

Elder statesman in the tailoring sector, Chief Clement Nwaziama, applauded ASBA and Governor Soludo for their professionalism and vision, pledging the traders’ full support.

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The Supervising Engineer representing FACOMORE NIG. LTD, Engr. Anene Ibe, assured the state government of high quality construction. He said that about 350-400 shops are already in place with more expected to be added in the coming weeks.

He projected that by February 2026, the garment cluster would be 90-95% completed, ready for occupation and commissioning by the Governor.

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Dangote Plans to Donate One-Third of Wealth to Charity as Legacy

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Aliko Dangote
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Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, plans to dedicate one-third of his wealth to charity as part of his succession plan, Halima Dangote, his daughter, has revealed.

Dangote Plans to Donate One-Third of Wealth to Charity as Legacy

Aliko Dangote

Halima, a trustee of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, disclosed this in an interview with Bloomberg published on Tuesday, saying the billionaire had secured the support of his family to commit 33 per cent of his estate to philanthropy.

According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Dangote’s net worth is estimated at $35.1 billion, meaning one-third of his current wealth would be worth about $11.7 billion if his fortune remains at that level.

Halima explained that her father views philanthropy as a key part of his legacy and has incorporated it into the family’s long-term succession plans.

She said Dangote had structured his estate to ensure that charitable giving continues across generations, particularly in areas such as healthcare and education.

“He sort of put all the structure in place whereby we focus a lot on health and education. He actually donated 25 per cent to the foundation. If you look at it, it is what we call in Sharia Code in Islam; it means he has donated 33 per cent of his whole inheritance to his foundation,” she said.

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Halima added that Dangote believes giving back is central to the success of his businesses and the family’s values.

She said the billionaire asked her, her two sisters, and his mother to sign the agreement allowing 33 per cent of his inheritance to be dedicated to humanitarian causes.

The planned donation builds on Dangote’s longstanding philanthropic activities through the Aliko Dangote Foundation, which was established in 1994.

According to Halima, the foundation received an endowment of $1.25 billion about a decade ago and has since received an additional $700 million in funding.

She said about 70 per cent of the foundation’s spending goes to programmes in Nigeria, while 20 per cent supports projects across Africa, with the remaining funds directed to initiatives in other parts of the world.

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The foundation’s interventions focus on healthcare, education, nutrition, and humanitarian support, including partnerships that contributed to the eradication of wild poliovirus in Africa.

Dangote’s planned charitable commitment adds to increasing global attention on billionaire philanthropy.

Although the proposed 33 per cent allocation is below the 50 per cent commitment associated with the Giving Pledge, it would rank among the largest philanthropic commitments announced by an African billionaire.

Earlier this year, Dangote was named among the world’s most influential philanthropists by TIME magazine’s inaugural TIME100 Philanthropy list, recognising the impact of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, which reportedly spends more than ₦50 billion annually on programmes across Africa.

 

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Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission Seeks Collaboration on Power Plants

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Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), has said that there are plans for Nigeria to begin to generate electricity from nuclear sources.

Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission Seeks Collaboration on Power Plants

Mr Anthony Godwin Ekedegwa, chief executive, NAEC stated this when he recently visited Mr Umar Yusuf Girei, acting managing director, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA),in Abuja.

He was at NIWA’s office to solicit the support of NIWA in achieving the numerous advantages of using nuclear energy technology in the country.

According to him, the partnership of critical stakeholders in Nigeria will position the country well in developing and maintaining its nuclear power plant.

The NAEC chief said Nigeria intends to begin the generation of electricity from nuclear sources instead of fossil-based power plants and hydro-based power plants, stressing that for Nigeria to develop, there is a need for the country to diversify its energy needs.

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In his remarks, Mr Girei assured NAEC of his agency’s readiness to collaborate on the advancement of a nuclear power plant in Nigeria.

He promised the full support of NAEC for the success of a nuclear power plant in the country, saying that as the organisation saddled with the responsibility of regulating and developing Nigeria Inland Waterways, his entity is strategically positioned to play a critical role in the federal government’s quest for sustainable energy through the new technology.

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Pan-Africanism: Why Integration is Non-Negotiable for Africa’s Future

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In a powerful call for continental solidarity, Ralph Mupita, Group CEO of MTN, has asserted that the future of the African continent depends on the dismantling of xenophobic barriers.

Pan-Africanism: Why Integration is Non-Negotiable for Africa’s Future

Speaking at the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation (KMF) Winter Seminar, Mupita framed migration as a fundamental characteristic of the African identity, urging South Africa and other nations to embrace integration over exclusion.

He emphasised that the survival of African enterprises depends on a borderless approach to trade and talent. “The digital economy we’re fast moving to knows no borders.” Mupita declared, noting that the mindset of exclusion is an outdated relic that hinders the continent’s ability to compete globally.

He argued that for Africa to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the psychological barriers of xenophobia must be eradicated.

Providing a stark financial justification for this stance, Mupita highlighted MTN’s own operational reality as a blueprint for Pan-African success. “We earn about 80 to 82% of our earnings from outside South Africa,” he revealed, illustrating that the prosperity of South African-born entities is inextricably linked to their success across the rest of the continent. This figure underscores the interdependence of African economies and the danger of isolationist policies.

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Mupita’s stance was strong advocating for unity: “The future of Africa will not be determined by the borders that separate us, but by the economic opportunities that connect us. Governments must set predictable policy and regulations.

Businesses will follow and allocate resources and capital. Together, we can build a continent where opportunity is more evenly shared and prosperity is more widely created.”

Analysts observing the seminar noted that Mupita’s remarks come at a critical juncture where economic volatility often fuels nationalist rhetoric. By tying the fight against xenophobia to the balance sheet, MTN is positioning Pan-Africanism beyond the moral imperative to its function as a business necessity. The CEO stressed that “Migration is part of who we are,” suggesting that the movement of people is the primary engine for the movement of capital and innovation.

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