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CADEF Announces Strategic Partnership with Jacob’s Ladder Africa to Launch Green Innovation Hub in Nigeria
Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF) has announced a strategic partnership with Jacob’s Ladder Africa (JLA) to expand green innovation and youth entrepreneurship in Nigeria.
This collaboration will bring JLA’s renowned greenlabs incubation program to Nigeria, marking a significant milestone in efforts to foster youth-centered green solutions, climate innovation, and sustainability across West Africa.
Economic empowerment is a significant piece of what JLA does through: Research to strengthen the evidence base for green workforce preparation; Advocacy and Communication to raise awareness and increase information sharing on green workforce preparation; Training to equip the youth with skills and tools for the green economy and specific carbon market value chains; Entrepreneurship & Intrapreneurship development to grow youth participation in the green economy.
Youth unemployment remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing challenges, with over 53% of young people aged 15-35 unemployed or underemployed.
The green economy offers a promising solution, with the potential to create millions of jobs while addressing environmental challenges.
The International Labour Organization estimates that 24 million jobs worldwide could be created by the green economy by 2030 alone.
Recognizing this opportunity, CADEF is expanding its role in the economy by launching an incubator focused on promoting entrepreneurship among Nigerian youth, particularly in the green sector.
According to Prof. Chiso Ndukwe-Okafor, Executive Director of CADEF, “Our partnership with Jacob’s Ladder Africa represents a powerful alignment of our shared values and goals.
“With the right tools, resources, and mentorship, we believe that Nigerian youths can become the driving force behind the country’s green transition.
“By equipping them to lead in this emerging sector, we are not only addressing unemployment but also fostering sustainable economic growth.”
CADEF’s commitment to youth development is well-established, as evidenced by the success of the Fingreen Financial Literacy Programme, which was launched in August 2023.
As a key implementing partner, CADEF equipped over 800 Nigerian youths with essential financial knowledge and skills, empowering them to navigate today’s complex economic landscape.
In a similar vein, CADEF is currently advancing the Digital Financial Services project, which is training over 100 People with Disabilities (PWDs), including visually and hearing-impaired Nigerian youths. This project aims to enhance financial inclusion and independence by providing critical digital financial literacy skills and advocating for stronger policies to support their needs.
Building on these successes, CADEF is now strategically focusing on the green economy as a powerful avenue to further empower Nigerian youth.
Through this new partnership, CADEF and JLA will establish greenlabs in Nigeria, an early-stage startup 9-month incubation program designed to support young entrepreneurs in building scalable green ventures.
The program will begin with the Renewable Energy Innovation Challenge – Lagos Edition, inviting young innovators to propose solutions that leverage renewable energy technologies to combat climate change and improve energy access.
“This partnership is an exciting development in our mission to empower the next generation to lead Africa’s green transition,” said Sellah Bogonko, the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Jacob’s Ladder Africa.
“By launching greenlabs in Nigeria, we are not only expanding our reach but also tapping into the incredible potential of Nigerian youth to drive sustainable economic growth through green innovation.”
Applications for the Renewable Energy Innovation Challenge will open in early September, offering successful applicants mentorship from experienced professionals and academics, along with opportunities to secure pre-seed funding for their startups.
Additionally, all finalists will be considered for sponsorship into the greenLabs incubation program, ensuring their ideas have the support needed to grow and thrive.
As the partnership progresses, CADEF and JLA are confident that their combined efforts will lead to significant advancements in Nigeria’s green economy, providing young entrepreneurs with the platform they need to turn their innovative ideas into reality.
MTN Nigeria Communications PLC has announced that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved the renewal of the spectrum lease agreement between MTN Nigeria and Natcom Development and Investment Limited (NTEL).
Uto Ukpanah, Company Secretary in a statement released recently said that the agreement covers the lease of NTEL’s 5MHz frequency division duplex (FDD) in the 900MHz spectrum band and 10MHz FDD in the 1800MHz spectrum band, which spans 19 states.
The renewal is for another two-year period, effective 1 May 2025. Additionally, the NCC has approved a one-year lease expansion of the spectrums, covering the remaining 17 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), effective 1 January 2025.
Commenting on the transactions, MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola said, “We are pleased with the renewal of the spectrum lease agreement with NTEL, which now includes coverage for all states, including the FCT.
“The lease enables us to enhance our 3G and 4G user experience as we improve coverage and capacity by utilising the spectrums.
“This positions us to capitalise on the growing demand for data and improve the delivery of services to our customers.”
Nigeria’s technology company, Globacom, has extended warm felicitations to Nigerians on the occasion of the 2024 Christmas celebrations.
In a goodwill message released in Lagos, Globacom urged Nigerians to embrace the spirit of love and kindness during the festive season, especially in the face of prevailing economic challenges.
The company emphasized the importance of practicing the teachings of Jesus Christ, particularly the virtues of obedience to God and loving one’s neighbor as well.
“Christ taught many virtues including obedience to God and loving one’s neighbour as oneself”, the company said, adding, “Now is the apt time to practise these teachings by sharing with the needy”.
Globacom also encouraged Nigerians to extend the conviviality of Christmas beyond the festive season by fostering love, peace, and harmony, as demonstrated by God through the birth of Jesus Christ.
Assuring its customers of uninterrupted services throughout the Yuletide period and beyond, Globacom urged them to take advantage of its innovative products and services to stay connected and share the memories of the season with loved ones.
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have ordered Deposit Money Banks and Mobile Network Operators to settle the long-standing N250bn USSD debt dispute before January 2, 2025.
The CBN and NCC also directed banks to pay the pre-Application Programming Interfaces (API) debt before July 2, 2025.
They also ordered that post-API debts be settled before December 31, 2024.
The directive was issued in a joint cirular titled, “2nd Joint Circular of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission on the Resolution of the USSD Debt Issue Between Deposit Money Banks and Mobile Network Operators.”
The circular dated December 20, 2024, was signed by Oladimeji Taiwo, acting director of the Payments System Management Department, CBN, and Chizua Whyte, head of Legal and Regulatory Services, NCC.
The regulators said, “In view of the foregoing, the CBN and the NCC hereby direct DMBs and MNOs as follows: 1. That 60 per cent of all pre-API invoices must be paid as full and final settlement.
“Payment plans (lump sum or installments) must be agreed upon between a concerned DMB and MNO by January 2, 2025. Installments must be based on equal monthly payments, with full payment due by July 2, 2025.
“DMBs must pay 85 per cent of all outstanding invoices issued after the implementation of APIs (i.e., February 2022) by December 31, 2024.
“Similarly, 85 per cent of future invoices must be liquidated within one month of service.”
According to the regulators, the transition to end-user billing will be activated only for DMBs and MNOs that comply with the payment conditions cobtained in the circular.
CBN and the NCC said they would provide further guidance on public enlightenment initiatives related to the transition.
The regulators also directed MNOs to implement the “10-seconds rule” for USSD invoicing.
This implies that any session lasting less than ten seconds will not be billable.
The regulators added, “Failure to comply with the terms outlined in this directive will attract necessary sanctions, ensuring that both DMBs and MNOs uphold their obligations.”
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