The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a €100 million loan to support Morocco's inclusive, solidarity-based agriculture programme, with a strong focus on empowering women and youth entrepreneurs.The initiative aims to unlock sustaina… Read on blog or Reader SMALL BUSINESS INSIGHTS Read on blog or Reader AfDB approves €100m loan to boost women, youth agripreneurs By Busola Bamidele on July 21, 2025 The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a €100 million loan to support Morocco's inclusive, solidarity-based agriculture programme, with a strong focus on empowering women and youth entrepreneurs. The initiative aims to unlock sustainable economic opportunities in the agricultural sector, enhance food security, and build resilience among small-scale farmers facing climate-related challenges. It also seeks to drive entrepreneurship through targeted financing, incentives, and enhanced technical and financial support. Empowering Women Through Agriculture Central to the programme is the empowerment of women entrepreneurs in agriculture, agro-processing, and agri-digital technologies. It will establish new production and service infrastructure to improve productivity and integrate women more fully into local value chains. This effort aligns with Morocco's Green Generation 2020–2030 Strategy and the country's broader youth entrepreneurship agenda. Read also: AfDB approves €100m loan to boost women, youth agripreneurs Tony Elumelu says Africa must focus on people, not profit, to achieve lasting prosperity FG launches NASAP to train 10,000 artisans annually Igbo Apprenticeship: A Business Blueprint for Wealth in South-East Nigeria ECOWAS boosts support for women traders along Abidjan–Lagos Corridor Achraf Tarsim, AfDB's Country Manager for Morocco, emphasized the importance of inclusivity: "Women who have the ambition to undertake and succeed in agriculture are our priority. Through this new operation, we will support them step by step to build a modern, inclusive, and resilient agriculture—one that unlocks innovation, value creation, and job opportunities in their communities." The programme underscores AfDB's ongoing commitment to inclusive development across Africa, with lessons and models that could be adapted by other countries, including Nigeria, to empower small business owners in agriculture and agritech.

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Billionaire businessman and UBA Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, has urged African leaders to shift their focus from profit-first thinking to a people-first mindset if the continent is to experience sustainable prosperity. In a leadership note shared on… Read on blog or Reader SMALL BUSINESS INSIGHTS Read on blog or Reader Tony Elumelu says Africa must focus on people, not profit, to achieve lasting prosperity By sbinsights on July 21, 2025 Billionaire businessman and UBA Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, has urged African leaders to shift their focus from profit-first thinking to a people-first mindset if the continent is to experience sustainable prosperity. In a leadership note shared on Facebook, Elumelu reflected on a lesson he learned early in his career — that successful businesses are built by empowering people first, not by chasing profit. "In leadership, the hardest decisions are rarely about numbers. They're about people," he said. "You don't build successful companies by focusing on profit first. You build them by focusing on people, and profit follows." Read also Elumelu noted that this approach continues to guide his work at Heirs Holdings and UBA Group. "Empower people. Create value. Then measure the success," he added. He called for a broader adoption of this mindset across the continent, saying it is essential to unlocking Africa's full potential. The entrepreneur, who is also the founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, has long advocated for entrepreneurship and inclusive economic growth as key pillars for Africa's future.

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The Federal Government has announced the launch of the National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP), aiming to train and certify 10,000 artisans annually to address Nigeria's housing and construction skills gap.Minister of Housing and Urban D… Read on blog or Reader SMALL BUSINESS INSIGHTS Read on blog or Reader FG launches NASAP to train 10,000 artisans annually By Busola Bamidele on July 21, 2025 The Federal Government has announced the launch of the National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP), aiming to train and certify 10,000 artisans annually to address Nigeria's housing and construction skills gap. Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, unveiled the initiative at the 6th National Council on Skills meeting, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Describing NASAP as a "digital craft hub" and "Uber for artisans," Dangiwa said the programme blends digital innovation with hands-on training to professionalise artisanship, improve housing quality, and boost job creation. Read also: FG launches NASAP to train 10,000 artisans annually Igbo Apprenticeship: A Business Blueprint for Wealth in South-East Nigeria ECOWAS boosts support for women traders along Abidjan–Lagos Corridor Markets in Ijebu Ode to reopen after mourning period for late Awujale IDIPR doubles income, empowers stakeholders, hail grassroots Artisans will be profiled on a national database featuring their skills, location, ratings, and job history, enhancing visibility and trust. The six-month training will cover 10 in-demand trades, including plumbing, electrical installation, carpentry, and air conditioning. Initial training will take place in existing centres in Kuje and Yaba, with new facilities planned in Imo and Yobe. The rollout will begin in 2025 with 3,000 artisans, expand nationally in 2026, and establish regional Centres of Excellence by 2027. NASAP will operate under a Public-Private Partnership model with support from global development partners.

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