General News
Lagos, Generation Enterprise Empower Youths on Entrepreneurship
The first set of trainees from the Job Opportunity Creation Center (JOCC) of the Lagos State Ministry of Special Duties have graduated.
The intensive training, which involved 12 youths was organized in conjunction with a United States-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) known as Generation Enterprise (GEN), engaged the beneficiaries in various entrepreneurial ventures.
The exercise took place at the GEN incubator located at the Igando area of Alimosho local government of the state. Prior to being part of the training, the 12 beneficiaries were unemployed with neither savings nor bank accounts.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Olabisi Onayemi, director of Job Creation at the Ministry of Special Duties, expressed delight that the partnership between GEN and JOCC, “is beginning to build positive lives and destinies by ensuring that the entrepreneurial spirit is brought out in Nigerian youths”.
He added that during the training the beneficiaries were exposed to various tests, ideas and innovative business models, “that start by addressing Bottom of the Pyramid problems, but can grow to become made-in-Nigeria franchises employing 10, and then 50, otherwise unemployed local residents”.
Moreover, they went through intense and practical training in Silicon Valley concepts, like design thinking, customer development, and start-up methodology and writing of financial reports.
The highpoint of the graduation ceremony was when the aspiring entrepreneurs were given the opportunity to formalise business plans and pitch to stakeholders for investment.
In an emotion laden voice, the beneficiaries expressed gratitude to JOCC and GEN for giving them the opportunity to discover their talents through the training. One of the graduates – Timilehin Akinpelu of Timilehin World of Entertainment said, “GEN has made me useful to myself, my community and Nigeria”.
He disclosed that he has already received two rounds of investment, opened two locations of his music and movie delivery service at Alimosho and is testing out a soft launch in Alausa.
Another beneficiary, Bashiru Omotayo, the CEO of Bash Photos, informed that his photography studio is gradually becoming the preferred choice of major actors/actresses and some business personalities.
Bashiru added that his outfit has so far trained four apprentices, with two spin-offs, while plans are being concluded to unveil his website later this month.
Another success story of the JOCC and GEN partnership is Pay’n’Bake Limited.
The firm engages in the provision and delivery of home-cooked meals to children at their school for a whole week so their parents who face the challenge of commuting from Alimosho to the Island can focus on their respective jobs and businesses without worrying about the feeding needs of their children while away.
GEN is an all-volunteer group of young community leaders working on four continents to realize one revolutionary vision, which is, “investing in street youths, incubating bright ideas and transforming communities”.
In 2009, it launched a pilot project in Lagos. Its business training and incubation program, known as YouthBank, provides homeless and unemployed youth with the opportunity to build viable and sustainable businesses that would allow them to do away with criminal activitities.
At the moment, the focal area of GEN is the Alimosho/Igando area of Lagos, which is still developing and largely populated by low-income earners.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled a forward-looking strategy that places satellite-enabled mobile connectivity at the heart of the country’s drive to bridge its long-standing coverage gaps.
The draft Spectrum Roadmap for the Communications Sector for 2025 to 2030 lays out how satellite technologies could help deliver reliable voice and data services to millions of Nigerians who live beyond the reach of conventional mobile networks.
The direction is outlined in the Commission’s draft Spectrum Roadmap for the Communications Sector covering the period.
The proposed approach highlights non-terrestrial networks as a complement to existing mobile infrastructure, especially in areas where terrain, insecurity, or high costs limit the deployment of base stations.
The NCC said D2D satellite technology, which allows standard mobile phones to connect directly to satellites, is gaining traction globally as a means of delivering voice and data services without reliance on ground towers.
According to the regulator, the technology could help close persistent coverage gaps in rural, riverine, and border communities that remain outside the reach of conventional networks.
It also noted that satellite-backed connectivity could improve network reliability by providing alternative links during fibre cuts, power failures, or other disruptions affecting terrestrial systems.
The Commission added that wider adoption of D2D services could support emergency communications, public safety operations, Internet of Things applications, and services such as smart agriculture in underserved regions.
It also pointed to potential investment opportunities through partnerships between mobile network operators and satellite companies, including more efficient use of shared spectrum resources.
Beyond D2D services, the roadmap places emphasis on Low-Earth Orbit satellites to expand broadband access to remote parts of the country.
It also proposes better utilisation of Geostationary Orbit satellites and the exploration of high-altitude platforms, such as stratospheric balloons, to support mobile backhaul and rural connectivity.
The policy signals come shortly after Airtel Africa announced an agreement with SpaceX to introduce Starlink-powered direct-to-cell services in Nigeria.
The NCC’s roadmap is expected to shape future spectrum allocation, licensing decisions, and technology adoption across the telecommunications sector.
General News
House of Reps Releases Certified Copies of Tax Reform Acts amid Gazette Discrepancy Claims
House of Representatives has released certified true copies of the four tax reform Acts signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, addressing public concerns over alleged discrepancies between legislative versions and circulated gazetted documents.
Tax Reform Acts
House spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, disclosed this in a statement, noting that Speaker Tajudeen Abbas directed the immediate publication of the Acts—including endorsement and presidential assent pages—for public verification, in collaboration with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The move followed allegations raised by Rep. Abdulsamad Dasuki on the House floor, highlighting inconsistencies between Bills passed by the National Assembly and executive gazetted versions, which he warned could erode legislative integrity and public trust.
Abbas constituted a seven-member ad hoc committee chaired by Rep. Aliyu Betara, with members including Idris Wase, Sada Soli, Adedeji Faleke, Igariwey Iduma, Fred Agbedi and Babajimi Benson, to investigate the alleged alterations, unauthorised circulation and preventive measures.
The committee’s mandate includes probing circumstances around the discrepancies, while Abbas ordered internal verification and public release of certified copies to dispel doubts and safeguard legislative records. Legal experts, tax professionals and civil society had demanded clarification and implementation suspension amid heated debates triggered by Dasuki’s intervention.
The released laws comprise the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025; Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025; National Revenue Service Establishment Act, 2025; and Joint Revenue Board Establishment Act, 2025, described as foundational to modernising Nigeria’s tax system.
These reforms aim to enhance compliance, curb inefficiencies, eliminate overlaps and bolster fiscal coordination across federal, state and local tiers, following extensive stakeholder consultations, committee reviews and plenary debates under Abbas’s leadership.
Rotimi reassured Nigerians: “The National Assembly is an institution built on records, procedure, and institutional memory. Every Bill, every amendment, and every Act follows a traceable constitutional and parliamentary pathway.”
He emphasised that only National Assembly-certified versions hold authority, urging the public, institutions and stakeholders to disregard all other circulating documents as unofficial.
MultiChoice, a CANAL+ company, has retained the distribution rights to 12 Warner Bros. Discovery thematic channels following the signing of a new multi-year, multi-territory agreement between CANAL+ Group and Warner Bros. Discovery, marking a significant expansion of their long-standing partnership.
MultiChoice
The new deal, which spans several regions across Africa and Europe, covers the distribution of HBO Max as well as the renewal of selected Warner Bros. Discovery thematic channels. It represents a major milestone in the companies’ international collaboration and strengthens content offerings across MultiChoice Group territories.
MultiChoice disclosed that this agreement builds on earlier partnerships concluded in Europe. “It builds on the landmark agreements concluded in France in 2024,including the renewal of the exclusive pay-TV window for Warner Bros. Pictures films just six months after their theatrical release in France and the integration of HBO Max within select CANAL+ group offers – as well as in Poland in 2025, with the renewal of the distribution agreement for 22 thematic channels (including TVN 24 and Eurosport) and 4 free-to-air channels (including TVN).”
Under the renewed arrangement, MultiChoice Group will continue to distribute 12 Warner Bros. Discovery thematic channels across its territories, with some channels offered on an exclusive basis. CNN International and Cartoon Network will remain exclusive to South Africa while being distributed non-exclusively in other markets. Cartoon Network Porto will be exclusive in Angola and Mozambique and non-exclusive elsewhere. Other channels such as Discovery Channel, TLC, HGTV, Food Network, TNT Africa, Travel, ID and Cartoonito will be offered on a non-exclusive basis.
According to the partners, the deal reinforces CANAL+ Group’s channel portfolio on the continent. “This agreement enables CANAL+ Group to strengthen its entertainment, kids, news, and documentary channel offerings in African markets.”
The agreement is also expected to improve access for CANAL+ Group subscribers to Warner Bros. Discovery’s premium content through HBO Max and selected channels, including globally recognised series and films, further extending the studio’s international reach while consolidating MultiChoice’s content offering in key markets.
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