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🇳🇬Punch Nigeria·8 mins ago
Presidential aide defends First Lady's advice on low-capital businesses, shares personal story
Sunday Dare, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, has defended First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu's advice for Nigerians to engage in low-capital businesses such as selling akara or roasted corn. Speaking on the Mic On Podcast, Dare argued that critics misunderstood the First Lady's message, which focused on micro-enterprise, self-reliance, and the dignity of labor. The controversy arose after Tinubu suggested at a Renewed Hope Initiative meeting that starting such businesses "doesn't take a lot of money" and mentioned that the initiative provides grants for these ventures. Critics online labeled her remarks as "out-of-touch" due to rising costs. Dare countered that the informal economy is crucial to Nigeria's resilience and warned against disparaging small-scale trades. He shared his personal experience, stating his mother sold akara, bananas, and oranges, which enabled her to train him. He questioned why an economic survival model that worked in the past should be ridiculed now, emphasizing that the First Lady's message encourages an entrepreneurial mindset and engagement in some form of enterprise, not to relegate youths to petty trading permanently.
2 min read
Must Read🇳🇬Punch Nigeria·29 mins ago
SERAP urges Akpabio and Abbas to investigate alleged ₦6.3 billion constituency fund diversion
The Socio-Economic Rights and Primary Project SERAP has called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas to refer allegations of diversion or non-accounting of over ₦6.3 billion in constituency project funds to anti-corruption agencies. SERAP also urged the National Assembly leadership to ensure prosecution of those found culpable and recovery of all diverted funds. These allegations are detailed in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2022 Annual Report, published on September 9, 2025. SERAP has given the National Assembly seven days to act on its recommendations, threatening legal action if there is no response. The organization also requested the disclosure of identities of contractors and companies, including their shareholders and beneficial owners, who allegedly received funds but failed to execute projects. The Auditor-General's report identified numerous irregularities across several federal ministries, departments, and agencies, including the Environmental Health Registration Council of Nigeria EHORECON, the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Vom, the Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons NAPTIP, and the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies NILDS. These irregularities include payments into private bank accounts, contracts awarded without due process, payments for unexecuted projects, undocumented expenditures, i
Must Read🇳🇬Punch Nigeria·29 mins ago
Nine African teams advance to World Cup knockout stage, a record for the continent
Africa has achieved a record nine representatives in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Algeria and DR Congo recently secured their places in the last-32, joining Morocco, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Cabo Verde, Senegal, and Ghana. DR Congo qualified after a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan, earning them four points and a spot among the best third-placed teams, and will face England next. Algeria also progressed to the last 32 as one of the best third-placed teams after a 3-3 draw against Austria, finishing third in Group J with four points. This marks an unprecedented achievement for Africa, with nine out of its ten participating nations advancing. Tunisia was the only African side eliminated, finishing bottom of Group F without a point. With 90 percent of its representatives still in contention, Africa enters the knockout rounds with renewed confidence.
1 min read