The Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF) has called for a practical and sustainable approach to youth enterprise financing in Northern Nigeria.

The foundation said access to finance should go beyond having promising business ideas to developing credible, sustainable and investment-ready enterprises.

This is contained in a statement on Sunday in Kaduna by the Director General of the Foundation, Engr. Abubakar  Umar.

The statement said the call was made at its August 2026 Monthly Virtual Mentorship Webinar, themed: “From Business Idea to Bankable Enterprises.”

The webinar was delivered by Dr Haruna Jumare, Director of Finance and Administration, SABMF, who examined barriers preventing youths from developing finance ready enterprises.

It said Northern Nigeria had no shortage of ideas, creativity and entrepreneurial potential, but lacked adequate enterprise structures, evidence, discipline and capacity.

“Capital is not the starting point. It is a consequence of becoming investable.”

It identified agriculture and agribusiness, digital economy, manufacturing and processing, and creative and cultural industries as areas offering opportunities to young entrepreneurs.

The foundation, however, stressed that youths should be supported to build enterprises capable of creating jobs, expanding value chains and surviving beyond their initial stages.

The presentation identified poor business records, commingling of personal and business finances and weak business plans among factors limiting youths’ access to finance.

Other challenges included limited knowledge of financing options and lack of formalisation among many young businesses.

It said many entrepreneurs approached financiers with passion and ideas but lacked evidence of market demand, profitability, cash flow and management capacity.

The foundation therefore advocated Business Development Support Services, including entrepreneurship training, mentorship, bookkeeping and financial management.

It also recommended business plan development, market research, regulatory compliance, digitalisation, loan and grant packaging, and post-financing support.

The foundation proposed a Youth Enterprise Development and Finance Readiness Programme designed to provide a structured pathway from business ideas to sustainable, finance ready enterprises.

The model begins with Enterprise Discovery, which involves identifying and assessing young people with viable business ideas.

The second stage, Entrepreneurship Boot Camp, will strengthen participants’ skills in business modelling, financial literacy, marketing and digital tools.

The third stage, Business Clinic, will provide individual assessment and professional mentoring to identify and address enterprise gaps.

The fourth stage, Bankability Preparation, will support qualified entrepreneurs to develop business plans, feasibility studies and realistic financial projections.

The fifth stage, Finance Linkage, will connect finance-ready enterprises with banks, investors, the Bank of Industry and relevant financing programmes.

The final stage, Post-Financing Mentorship, will provide continued guidance, monitoring and accountability to beneficiaries.

The foundation said the model would shift youth enterprise support from one-off training to a complete enterprise development pipeline.

It also highlighted clusters and cooperatives as mechanisms for helping young entrepreneurs overcome challenges associated with operating individually.

According to SABMF, organised groups can aggregate production, access inputs and equipment at lower costs and improve product quality.

“Such groups can also negotiate better prices while attracting institutional buyers and financiers,” it said.

It also urges entrepreneurs to avoid borrowing before validating their business ideas and using business loans for personal consumption.

It also advised entrepreneurs against overestimating revenue, ignoring operating costs or choosing financing products unsuitable for their businesses.

The foundation encouraged entrepreneurs to keep proper financial records, separate personal and business finances and formalise their enterprises.

It also advised them to establish banking relationships before requiring loans and warned against fraudulent individuals demanding payments for guaranteed access to finance.

SABMF called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, financial institutions, development partners, investors and youth-focused organisations.

It said such partnerships would create a more effective ecosystem for youth enterprise development and responsible financing.

The foundation said the ultimate pathway for young entrepreneurs should be: “Ideas, Skills, Structure, Markets, Finance and Scale.”

SABMF reaffirmed its commitment to initiatives promoting knowledge, leadership, entrepreneurship and opportunities for young people across Northern Nigeria.

 The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Niger, on Sunday urged corps members to embrace Nigeria’s cultural diversity and sustain national unity beyond the orientation camp.

 The NYSC Coordinator in Niger, Mrs Martina Shuaibu-Ibrahim, made the call at the 2026 Batch B Stream II Cultural Carnival held at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Paiko.

 She said the carnival provided an avenue for cultural exchange, integration and the promotion of national unity among corps members from different parts of the country.

 Shuaibu-Ibrahim said the colourful display of traditional attire, dances and languages reflected Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and demonstrated the strength of the country’s diversity.

 The coordinator urged the corps members to build bridges in their host communities and contribute positively to national development throughout their service year.

 She also encouraged them to acquire and perfect practical skills that would promote self-reliance and prepare them for life after the service year.

 She urged the corps members to see their deployment to different communities as an opportunity to learn from other cultures and foster peaceful coexistence.

 Shuaibu-Ibrahim commended the Niger Government for its support for improving facilities at the orientation camp.

 She said the state government had commenced the renovation and upgrading of key facilities, including the multipurpose hall and hostel roofs, to accommodate more corps members.

 She added that the government was also strengthening its support for the general running and maintenance of the camp.

 In his remarks, the Emir of Minna, Dr Umar Farouk, urged the corps members to regard themselves as one people and work together toward building a greater Nigeria, irrespective of ethnic and cultural differences.

 Farouk, represented by Dantala Maka, commended the NYSC management for sustaining the cultural carnival, describing it as a platform for promoting unity, understanding and peaceful coexistence among young Nigerians.

 He assured the corps members of the hospitality and support of the people of Niger throughout their service year.

 Highlights of the carnival included an egg race, a performance by the NYSC Niger State Marshal Band and a martial arts presentation.

 The organisers also presented awards to winners of various cultural displays.

 Platoon Seven clinched first position with its Hausa/Fulani cultural presentation, while Platoon Nine came second with its Nupe cultural display.

 Platoon Five emerged third with its Edo cultural presentation. (NAN).

Troops of Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, say they have repelled a security threat, thwarted the advance of armed terrorists, and recovered arms in Ghandi town, Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

Lt.-Col. Olaniyi Osoba, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 8 Division, Nigerian Army, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

Osoba said the troops acted on credible intelligence indicating the movement of an armed group toward Ghandi town.

He said the troops were swiftly deployed to strategic positions near Ghandi Bridge to intercept the threat.

“Upon making contact, the troops engaged the terrorists with superior firepower, overpowering the group and forcing them to retreat in disarray,” he said.

Osoba further stated that during the confrontation, several insurgents sustained gunshot wounds and attempted to escape by jumping into the adjacent river.

He added that the efforts of the gallant troops and a search operation conducted at daybreak resulted in the recovery of operational items abandoned by the fleeing bandits.

“The recovered items included one AK-47 rifle, one loaded magazine and additional rounds of ammunition,” he said.

According to him, search and mop-up operations are currently ongoing in the general area to track down the fleeing suspects.