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.

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.

 The All Northern Youth Forum has commended the Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, for reforms improved personnel welfare and strengthened intelligence-led security operations.

 The forum gave the commendation in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Mr Nuhu Lere, on Sunday.

 Lere described Ajayi as a “quiet architect of Nigeria’s security renaissance’’.

 He said his leadership had come at a time the country was grappling with terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, separatist violence, organised crime and economic sabotage.

 He said the nature of intelligence operations made it difficult for many DSS achievements to be made public.

 ‘’The effectiveness of the service was often reflected in attacks prevented, criminal networks disrupted and lives saved, ‘’ Lere said.

 According to him, the achievements of the service that has become public demonstrate the strategic role of the DSS in protecting national security.

 The general secretary also commended the DSS management for prioritising the welfare of its personnel.

 He said the administration had introduced measures aimed at improving the working and living conditions of officers.

 Those, he said, include medical facilities, crèche centres, residential and transit accommodation, as well as posting-related allowances.

 Lere further said that families of officers who died in active service had received additional support beyond their statutory entitlements.

 He said such assistance reportedly included housing, educational support for children, employment opportunities for qualified relatives and programmes to honour the sacrifices of fallen personnel.

 The general secretary also praised the DSS leadership for promoting discipline, professionalism and accountability within the service.

 He said personnel found culpable of corruption, misconduct or actions capable of tarnishing the image of the organisation were subjected to disciplinary procedures in line with established regulations.

 Lere said the service had also demonstrated what he described as ‘’social inclusion’’ by providing opportunities for young Nigerians from disadvantaged backgrounds.

 ‘’This includes orphans and retired personnel have also received support, ‘’ he said.

 He said the DSS had complemented conventional security operations with humanitarian interventions, including assistance to widows to establish small businesses and support for orphanages and charitable organisations.

 According to him, reported interventions involving traditional and religious institutions, including support for Muslim and Christian communities, has also contributed to fostering peaceful coexistence.

 He cited the reported construction of an Islamic school and a school for Christian children in Kaduna State as examples of initiatives aimed at promoting religious harmony and national unity.

 On security operations, Lere said the DSS had sustained intelligence-led efforts against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, violent extremism, separatist violence, organised crime and economic sabotage across the country.

 It said such operations had been recorded in the North-East, North-West, South-East, South-West and Niger-Delta, leading to the disruption of criminal networks and the arrest of suspected operatives.

 He also cited operations targeting arms trafficking and crude oil theft, as well as reported efforts against Ansaru operatives in Kogi and Kwara states.

 Lere specifically commended the service for operations in Kaduna State, which he said had disrupted bandit networks and led to the recovery of firearms, ammunition and other incriminating materials.

 He urged Nigerians to support the DSS and other security agencies by providing credible and timely information on suspicious activities.

 He also called on citizens to reject criminality and cooperate with lawful authorities, saying the sacrifices of security personnel deserved public recognition.

 “Constructive criticism remains necessary in a democracy, but genuine achievements should also be recognised as part of efforts to strengthen national institutions and build a safer Nigeria,” Lere said. (NAN)