NEWS
Edo Leads in Female Empowerment with Ground-breaking CNG Conversion Training
The Edo State Government on Friday, July 4, 2025 set a new national standard in female empowerment and economic development, as 50 bold young women graduated from a specialized training programme on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion.
The pioneering initiative, a collaboration between the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), the Edo State Government and the Lady Mechanic Initiative, marks a historic first in Nigeria, with all participants being female mechanics.
The event, themed “CNG Conversion: A New Horizon for Women in the Automotive Industry,” was held in Benin City and saw high-level representation from the Edo State government and federal ministries.
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Delivering the speech of the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barrister Umar Musa Ikhilor, noted that the governor lauded the uniqueness of the Edo State programme.
The SSG said, “I’m very much aware that this conversion of CNG programme is a programme carried out by NADDC and it has done that in about three States, Edo, Ekiti and Imo States,”
“But Edo State is very unique because this is the first time that all participants are women. Women trained as mechanics and also done in collaboration with the Lady Mechanic Initiative. So Edo State is setting a standard that will be difficult to beat by any other state.”
The governor underscored the state’s strong commitment to women’s empowerment, emphasizing its recognition as not just a matter of social justice but also “smart economics.”
He highlighted studies demonstrating that empowering women leads to economic growth and an increase in GDP. “In Edo State, we are reflecting this vision,” he affirmed, citing the careful selection of the right person to anchor the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
He revealed, “Within our administration’s four-year tenure, there is an approved plan to train and empower 54,000 women, with a quarterly target of empowering 1,000 women. The governor also recently launched an interest-free loan of N1 billion for female traders and market women”.
The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Hon. Imaam Sulaiman-Ibrahim FSI, delivering her speech said the programme is an example of the renewed hope agenda in action.
She expressed immense pride in the graduates that have been trained in CNG conversation.
She stated, “This moment marks more than a graduation, it is a declaration of what is possible when bold policies meet courageous women.
“It is a living example of the renewed hope agenda in action, empowering Nigerian women with the tools, skills, and platforms to shape the future.”
The Minister commended the NADDC and all partners for the “catalyst initiative,” declaring, “Together, we are proving that when women rise, nations thrive.”
She highlighted “PowerHer 774,” a flagship intervention reaching 3 million women across all 774 local governments in Nigeria with clean energy access, entrepreneurial training, and financial linkages.
According to her, “The graduates before us today are a vivid example of what we are scaling nationwide, women with skills, confidence, and the courage to lead their communities towards clean, sustainable growth. That it is happening in Edo State is no coincidence. Edo is a beacon of progressive leadership and women-led development.”
The Coordinator, Office of the First Lady of Edo State, Edesili Anani Okpebholo commended governor Monday Okpebholo for creating an enabling environment for women to achieve greatness and represent a beacon of hope for Edo women.
“We congratulate the 50 ladies who have successfully gained skills in CNG conversations. When we empower our women, we empower our country and the world. When you empower the women you are giving them strength”.
Other notable speakers at the event included the Director General and CEO of NADDC, Oluwemino Joseph Osanipin; the Honourable Commissioner, Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development; the Honourable Commissioner, Edo State Ministry of Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu; and the Coordinator for the office of the First Lady of Edo State, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, among others.
The graduation ceremony marks a significant stride in national efforts to diversify the economy, promote clean energy, and, critically, empower women to play a leading role in emerging industries.
Edo State has undoubtedly set a formidable benchmark for other states to emulate in the pursuit of inclusive and sustainable development.
The 15th edition of the Practical Nigerian Content Forum (PNCF) is billed for Yenagoa, Bayelsa State from November 30.
This edition of the initiative of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) would hold be in collaboration with the Bayelsa State Government as disclosed on Tuesday when a delegation of the NCDMB and DMG Events met with the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Dr Peter Pereotubo Akpe, at the Government House, Yenagoa.
Leading the delegation, the General Manager, Corporate Communications Division of NCDMB, Dr Obinna Ezeobi, conveyed the appreciation of the Executive Secretary of the board, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, to the state government for its continued support for the forum.
He said, “We appreciate the Bayelsa State Government for its continued partnership and support for the PNC Forum”.
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According to him, the Youth PNC was designed to expose young people in the Niger Delta to emerging opportunities in the oil and gas industry and the competencies required to build successful careers in other sectors of the economy.
Ezeobi added, “We have introduced new initiatives into this year’s programme to ensure that the PNC continues to deliver greater value to participants and address emerging issues in the Nigerian content space.”
The Senior Manager, Zonal Coordination, NCDMB, Mr Adebayo Joseph, spoke on plans for the Youth PNC, while the leader of the DMG Events delegation, Ms Olamide Oloko, outlined the major activities planned for the conference.
Oloko said the new initiatives would include a Local Content Roundtable and a two-day programme for Local Community Contractors aimed at helping them scale up their operations.
She added, “The 2026 edition will also feature a breakout session to collate stakeholders’ views on the future direction of Nigerian Content over the next decade.”
Responding, Akpe assured the NCDMB and DMG Events of the state government’s continued support for the PNC Forum.
Akpe said, “The Bayelsa State Government is committed to ensuring that the event is successful and that participants have a conducive and secure environment throughout their stay in the state.”
He said the initiative demonstrated the practical impact of the programme and urged the board to sustain efforts aimed at creating opportunities for young people in the region.
Nigerian women allegedly being held at a deportation facility in India have cried out over their treatment, with a video circulating online showing some of them displaying injuries and alleging that security personnel flogged detainees.
The video began circulating online on Wednesday and shows a group of Nigerian women inside and around what they described as a deportation camp.
Several of the women pointed to marks, bruises and apparent injuries on their legs, feet and bodies while alleging that they were beaten with sticks or canes.
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“See my video, see my leg,” one of the women could be heard saying in the footage.
Another woman said, “Mona see wetin dem dey do for deportation camp.”
“Deportation camp, na dem flog person, see,” another woman said while showing what appeared to be an injury.
The women further alleged that female detainees were beaten with sticks.
“Dem dey use stick dey flog women, mona dey see am,” one of them said.
Another woman, while pointing at an injured detainee, said, “Dem carry cane flog o… see her body, dem flog am.”
The women also alleged that police officers carried sticks inside the facility.
“Police carry stick like say dem dey cut firewood,” one of the women said.
The footage shows the women appearing distressed as they moved through the facility and gathered in an outdoor area.
They repeatedly appealed to Nigerians to share the video and draw attention to their situation.
“Make una see… make this video trend/go,” one woman said.
“Make una share am,” another added.
One of the women also expressed frustration over their alleged experience at the facility, saying, “We don suffer, every time, every time.”
The footage comes amid ongoing concerns over Nigerians detained at the Lampur detention centre, also known as Sewa Sadan, in New Delhi.
Recall that in September, reports emerged that more than 200 Nigerians were being held at the facility, with some detainees alleging poor food, inadequate medical care and prolonged detention.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) subsequently defended its handling of the situation and said the Nigerian High Commission in India was seeking another amnesty period to facilitate the departure of Nigerians without proper immigration documentation.
No official response from the Indian authorities or the Nigerian government specifically addressing the allegations in the latest video had been made available at the time of publication.
Rights activist, public affairs analyst and Chief Executive Officer of The Dialogue, Shehu Muhammad, has questioned the continued occurrence of military aircraft crashes despite the huge budgetary allocations to the country’s defence and security sector.
Muhammad spoke while reacting to the recent Nigerian Navy aircraft crash in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
Describing the incident as “one incident too many,” he recalled that Nigeria had recorded several military aircraft crashes involving the Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Army over the years.
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He said the recurring incidents had raised concerns among members of the public about the condition of military aircraft and the process through which military hardware is procured.
“People have begun to cast aspersions as to the honesty, sincerity, and openness in the purchase of military hardware, including airplanes,” Muhammad said.
According to him, the concerns are heightened by the substantial funds allocated to the military and other security agencies over the years.
“There are insinuations by the public that, after all, the military receive the highest amount of money from the budget year in, year out,” he said.
Muhammad also questioned the transparency of defence procurement, particularly the process of selecting contractors for the supply of military equipment.
He argued that the repeated crashes should prompt authorities to examine military aviation operations, aircraft procurement and the management of defence resources.
The latest crash occurred in Irele, Ondo State, with recovery efforts reportedly complicated by the difficult terrain around the crash site.
Muhammad said the latest incident should not be treated in isolation, but should lead to broader questions about military aviation safety and the management of resources allocated to the defence sector.
He called for greater transparency and accountability in the procurement and management of military hardware to restore public confidence.
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