By Suleiman Yakubu

The Chanchaga Local Government Council of Niger State has provided financial support to approximately 1,100 women petty traders across its eleven wards to enhance their businesses.
During the launch of the cash support program at Makera ward, Council Chairman Hon. Aminu Yakubu Ladan stated that the initiative aims to help women traders expand their businesses and alleviate the economic hardships they face. He emphasised that the council's programs are designed to be people-orientated, reflecting their commitment to the community's mandate.
Hon. Ladan revealed that the council has allocated about ₦20 million for this initiative, recognising the crucial role women play in family upkeep. He announced that business owners with capital below ₦500,000 would be exempt from paying taxes, with the executive and legislative arms of the council collaborating to implement this decision.
The chairman detailed the categories of beneficiaries: those involved in training others will receive ₦50,000, the second category will get ₦20,000, and the third category will receive ₦10,000. The council aims to empower 5,000 youths and women by the end of 2024, aligning with the state governor's empowerment efforts.
Hon. Ladan also urged the youth to avoid violence and thuggery, assuring them of the council's support in earning a decent living.
Hon. Yahuza, leader of the Chanchaga legislative council and councillor for Makera ward, praised the chairman for his inclusive approach. He noted that the financial support would significantly reduce the beneficiaries' hardships and encouraged them to use the funds effectively.
Beneficiaries expressed their gratitude, promising to invest the money in their businesses. Each of the eleven wards will have 100 beneficiaries.

By Suleiman Yakubu

The management of Niger Printing and Publishing Company Limited, publishers of Newsline and Tauraruwa Newspapers, recently organised an in-house training for the staff of the production department.
Speaking at the occasion, the Acting Managing Director, Aisha Abubakar, emphasised the importance of professionalism in newspaper production and information dissemination. Represented by the Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Suleiman Yakubu, she stated that the workshop, organised with her approval, aimed to equip staff with the necessary tools and knowledge to excel in their roles and contribute to the organisation's growth and development.
She urged participants to pay close attention to the facilitator, highlighting that acquiring professional skills requires attentive listening. The managing director also advised the participants to remain humble and open to learning, as additional experience is crucial for meeting future societal demands.
In his welcome address, the Production Manager, Salihu Kawu-Gigi, expressed gratitude for the managing director's support in enhancing professionalism within the department. He explained that the capacity-building workshop was designed to cover page planning using CorelDRAW, word processing, networking, and troubleshooting, tailored to the specific needs of newspaper production.
He encouraged participants to learn from their experienced colleagues and engage in meaningful contributions to uplift the organization. The lead facilitator, Mr. Taiye Samuel Adeyemi, noted that the workshop's objective was to enable participants to specialise in areas such as page planning. He stressed that the success of the training depended on their dedication and willingness to absorb and apply new information.
The opening ceremony was attended by the representative of the staff officer, Aliyu Abubakar, the commercial manager, Alhaji Danladi Ladan, and the chief accountant, Jummai Saidu, among others.