Business
DDI celebrates 20 years of providing assistance to unserved Nigerian communities
- We have provided technical support for over 6,000 farmers- Garba
A Non-profit Organisation, Diamond Development Initiative (DDI), on Tuesday celebrated over 20 years of providing assistance, services to unserved and underserved communities in Nigeria and beyond.
The event which held in Abuja, with award presentation as its major highlight, had in attendance dignitaries and representatives of state governors, staffs of the organisation, stakeholders, amongst others.
The Executive Director, Mr Adamu Garba in his opening speech, disclosed to pressmen, other participants that DDI, has manned its mandate which is to build a society that provides equitable opportunity for self-actualization through economic empowerment and sustainable livelihood initiatives purposefully.
According to Garba, the organisation whose aim is to complement the role of development agencies and donors, has provided connections for no fewer than 2,000 businesses and assisted over 600,000 farmers technically, all in a bid to curb unemployment, alleviate poverty in the nation.
He added that the organisation focused on providing technical assistance in the design, planning and implementation of various development initiatives in the country, emphasising that all beneficiaries were drawn from 29 out of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“Some of our focus areas include: business support and enterprise management, agricultural value chain improvement, renewable and off-grid energy support, youth and women-led enterprise support and agriculture, among others.
“More than 600,000 farmers have been assisted, while no fewer than 20,000 farmer-groups and cooperative societies and 8,000 off-grid energy connections have been provided for rural households.
“We also have over 2,000 connections to businesses.
These are good figures we are happy about and we have also been able to work with over 60 off-grid energy entrepereneurs to provide off-grid energies to households,” he added.
Commending the organisation for its continous support in alleviation of poverty in the nation, the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, ably represented by Hajia Maryam Uwais, reiterated that the effort goes to show that they are in the right track, to ensure that they make impacts in the lives of the people.
“The government cannot do it alone. So all efforts by organisations as the DDI are highly appreciated,” he said.
Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani has criticized the World Bank for worsening Nigeria’s economic difficulties. In a post shared on X, Sani accused the institution of projecting that Nigeria’s hardship would extend for another 15 years before the country could reach a better economic future. He questioned how many Nigerians would be left to enjoy that future, and how many African nations the World Bank has successfully helped to prosperity.
Sani’s remarks follow the World Bank’s latest *Africa’s Pulse* report, which forecasts that the Nigerian Naira will be among the worst-performing currencies in Sub-Saharan Africa by August 2024. The report placed the Naira’s decline alongside that of the Ethiopian Birr and South Sudanese Pound.
Heirs Insurance Group (HIG) recently announced impressive financial results for the 2023 fiscal year, marking significant growth across all key metrics. The Group’s Gross Written Premium (GWP) surged by 59.3%, from N19.9 billion in 2022 to N31.7 billion in 2023. This remarkable performance underscores HIG’s resilience and operational efficiency, further solidifying its position as one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing insurance firms.
Heirs General Insurance (HGI) saw a 77% increase in GWP, reaching N12 billion in 2023. HGI’s profit before tax (PBT) also rose by 203%, reflecting the company’s effective cost management. Similarly, Heirs Life Assurance (HLA) reported a 71% GWP increase and a staggering 395% rise in PBT. Both companies have demonstrated a strong commitment to customer satisfaction, disbursing billions in claims.
Beyond financial success, HIG actively engages in corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects, contributing over N100 million to education, community development, and financial literacy. With plans for future expansion and innovation, HIG is poised to remain a key player in Nigeria’s evolving insurance market.
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has called on Nigerians to fulfill their tax obligations, emphasizing that government revenue is essential for delivering social services. Wike made this appeal during the inaugural Abuja Business and Investment Summit, held in Abuja on Wednesday.
Speaking on the summit’s theme, “Optimising Investment Through Partnerships,” Wike stressed the importance of collaboration to generate investment opportunities. He dismissed the misconception that the government does not need revenue, explaining that taxes are crucial for funding public services.
Wike reiterated that both investors and the government must benefit from such partnerships, ensuring that both parties “go home smiling” through a fair exchange of services and taxes.
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