The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to grassroots artisans to upgrade local skills to meet both national and international benchmarks and compete in the global markets.

Speaking recently during the Skill-Up Artisans (SUPA) zonal rally, Dr Afiz Ogun, director-general of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), stated that the initiative is designed to professionalise the sector.

The rally was designed to raise awareness of the programme throughout the North-West region.

The rally saw a diverse turnout of professionals, including those in construction and engineering such as welders, fabricators, plumbers, and carpenters.

Those in the technical service comprised of electrical installers and automobile mechanics, while those in the creative and digital space were fashion designers and ICT technicians.

Represented by Muhammad Aminu, the former zonal director of the ITF, Ogun explained that the SUPA scheme seeks to convert traditional craftsmanship into sustainable livelihoods.

He emphasised that the goal is to transform artisans from job seekers into employers of labour.

“We are calling on artisans across the North-West to embrace the SUPA programme,” Ogun remarked. “This is an opportunity to enhance productivity, increase earnings, and ensure our workforce can compete on a global stage”.

According to the DG, the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, focusing on restoring dignity to manual and technical work.

He noted that a competent artisan class forms the essential foundation of a productive economy.

He further called upon traditional rulers, community leaders, and trade associations to assist the ITF in disseminating information about the programme to ensure high participation rates.

“We are here to engage the technicians, the tradespeople, and the young talents who serve as the backbone of our economy,” he added.

Nancy Ekong, director of the Technical Vocational Skills Training Department, highlighted the programme’s recent successes. She revealed that over 30,000 artisans were trained and upgraded during the initial SUPA cycle in 2025.

The ITF remains optimistic that the continued expansion of SUPA will bridge the existing skills gap in Nigeria’s industrial sector.

Federal Government has rolled out a new policy to reduce education costs, enhance learning outcomes, and promote environmental sustainability through the nationwide adoption of reusable textbooks.

Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa

Jointly announced by Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, and Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id, the policy introduces durable, high-quality textbooks designed to last four to six years, according to a statement signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director, Press and Public Relations at the ministry.

The policy bans the bundling of disposable workbooks with textbooks, enabling books to be shared among siblings and reused across academic sessions, a move expected to significantly cut recurring expenses for parents and reduce school-generated waste.

It also establishes a uniform academic calendar across the country and streamlines graduation ceremonies to terminal classes only, limiting them to Primary 6, JSS 3, and SSS 3.

Furthermore, the policy tightens assessment, selection, and quality assurance processes for instructional materials, introduces structured revision cycles to ensure only substantive content changes are made, and limits the number of approved textbooks per subject in line with international best practices.

These measures are aimed at ending frequent, cosmetic textbook revisions that compel parents to buy new books annually without meaningful improvements, while the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will continue to oversee textbook quality assurance as the Federal Ministry of Education pursues broader education reforms.

The Board of Directors of Pawnith Limited has announced the appointment of Martina Ogbebor as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. The appointment coincides with the official launch of Pawnith as a sophisticated new entrant in Nigeria’s financial services and alternative investment landscape.

Pawnith Limited is a technology-enabled financial services platform established to address critical gaps in access to capital by delivering transparent, dignified, and scalable financing solutions.

The Board confirmed that Ms. Ogbebor’s appointment is central to a long-term strategy that combines the operational rigor of traditional finance with the speed, efficiency, and innovation of modern fintech.

Ms. Ogbebor brings over 15 years of senior leadership experience across the telecommunications and digital infrastructure sectors, where she has led brand transformations and nationwide revenue growth initiatives.

Her appointment signals Pawnith’s intent to build a high-trust financial institution anchored on strong governance, regulatory discipline, and long-term value creation.

“The Board is confident that Martina’s experience in building high-trust, regulated brands positions her uniquely to lead Pawnith at this critical stage,” said the Chairman of the Board.

“Her mandate is clear: to establish a disciplined capital platform that delivers rapid access to funding while upholding the highest standards of ethics, risk management, and corporate governance.”

Under Ms. Ogbebor’s leadership, Pawnith is launching a multi-segment capital model designed to evolve into a comprehensive financial services and alternative investment ecosystem.

The company’s initial portfolio spans personal credit solutions, offering short- to medium-term loans for salaried professionals with transparent pricing and rapid disbursement, alongside SME and business lending focused on working capital and growth financing to help entrepreneurs stabilise cash flow and scale operations.

The portfolio also includes asset-backed lending, providing secure, collateralised facilities that support fair valuations and flexible liquidity, as well as structured lending through a forthcoming private credit arm aimed at delivering institutional-grade financing to growing enterprises.

In addition, Pawnith offers private equity investment solutions, providing strategic growth capital to select businesses and partnering with founders to drive long-term value creation, stronger governance, and operational scale.

Pawnith’s digital infrastructure prioritises speed, security, and control. The platform features secure onboarding, automated Know Your Customer (KYC) verification, and structured repayment tracking to ensure a seamless and compliant experience for both individual and corporate clients.

“Pawnith is being built as a disciplined financial platform—one that customers, partners, and regulators can trust,” the Board added. “We are not a quick-win lender; we are building a cornerstone institution for Nigeria’s evolving credit and investment market.”