National Issues
Ankara Crafts: A New Path to Wealth Creation.
THE recent global economic crisis which resulted in thousands of workers being dismissed worldwide is no doubt a worrisome development. it called for expedite actions to curb the ugly trend and its unpleasant effects in the lives of Nigerians, particularly the Youths.
The challenges of unemployment and poverty continue to be on the increase, especially among the young men and women who are able and capable to work continue to run after few available white collar jobs there by affecting the economy situation of the country negatively.
Ankara shoes
It is now pertinent and germane that for any nation to be economically independent and eradicate poverty, that nation must devote much concentration and efforts in building human capacity through diverse skill acquisitions.
According to Guy Kawasaki, “the best reason to start a business is to make meaning, to create a product or service to make the world a better place”.
HUMAN creativity, the desire to look unique and be in vogue, which are the indices of change in human utility and taste, have continued to propel many, especially the youth, to go the extra mile to update their wardrobes.
Very recently, fashion trend shifted using bags, shoes and other fashion accessories made with fabrics, especially Ankara. This makes fabric craft business more lucrative, as producers of Ankara-made fashion shoes, bags and other fashion accessories continued to struggle to meet up with the high demand for the products. Many of those who are aware of this fact are really embracing and exploring the business opportunity.
WHO CAN DO THE BUSINESS?
Ankara/Leather works, bag, shoe and other fashion accessories are some of the easiest skill to learn within the shortest possible time. Any matured mind can do the business, in as much as formal education is not a core requirement for learning the skill, but education is considered an added advantage as it would help a great deal for whoever has it, which would definitely aids his/her creativity, packaging and marketing.
START-UP CAPITAL.
The initial start- up cost required to operate Ankara craft business seems so affordable to whoever may want to explore the highly lucrative business. The major equipment needed for the business is industrial sewing machine, which costs about N50, 000, while you can get a used one for about N40, 000. You can as well rent it from other colleagues in shoe or bag making industry.
Ankara belts
Ankara shoes
Other materials includes: zip cloth, which costs between N10and N15 per yard; zip head costs between N20- N30 per dozen; eyelet costs between N10 and N50 per dozen; D- ring costs between N30 and N200 per dozen; buckle is about N150; adjuster cost about N5 per one. All these depend on their sizes. Tape costs between N20 and N30; lining designer (with pattern) costs N150, plain between N100 and N150; pipe costs N15 per yard; plaster roll costs N1000 and N35 per yard; foam, underlay size, cost between N300 and N350 per sheet; machine needles cost between N250 and N300, depending on the size; hand needle also in sizes, between N150 and N200, depending on the size.
Others are: all purpose spool of thread (does not have to match fabric), ranges between N30 and N150; measure tape or ruler costs N300; fabric scissors costs between N300 and N700; Taffeta material costs between N250 and N350; pack of straight pins costs N100; fibber & board, ranging between N350 and N500 per sheet, and Marco costs between N550 and N1000 per sheet.
The amount you want to invest in the business will also determine whether you will buy in bulk or in retail.
SKILL
Apart from the initial set-up capital, the first and most important thing is the skill. Ankara craft making business is one of the skills that can be learnt within the shortest possible time as formal education is not compulsory, but an added advantage, as it will aid grasping of the skill and creativity. Learning the basic in the business takes maximum of three months. Training fees depends on which part of the business one is learning and the trainer, among other factors. The fee varies from N50, 000 to N150, 000, though, always negotiable.
PLANNING AND RESEARCH.
painstakingly conduct a detailed research on the kind of shoes, bags and fashion accessories in vogue and work on how you can add style to it to make it compelling to your customers.
Also, do a research on what fashion needs of your prospective customers target audience. This will enable you specialise on their fashion needs and record good sales and profit.
COST AND POTENTIAL EARNING.
According to research, marketability of bag and shoe products cannot be marginalised as more than 90 percent of human race use the products. Availability of the materials for making the products in major Nigerian markets makes the business easier to run.
There is also a readymade market for Ankara fabric products because that is where the fashion pendulum shifted to. Demands for Ankara fabric product at present is so high that producers cannot meet. You can make at least double of whatever you spent on producing the shoe, bag or other fashion accessories and make millions from the business within a year. All these depends on your creativity, packaging, marketing strategy, location and potential customers.
You can as well target campuses, exhibition grounds, hotels and tourist centres, churches among other places, are good market places for the products, while you can promote your product online via the social network sites like face book, twitter and also on your blog or website.
National Issues
Gbenga Daniel Seeks End to Immunity for Governors, Calls for Constitutional Amendment
Senator Gbenga Daniel, representing Ogun East Senatorial District, has raised concerns over the misuse of constitutional immunity by state governors and their deputies, calling for an urgent amendment to the relevant section of Nigeria’s constitution.
Speaking on Political Paradigm, a Channels Television programme aired on Tuesday, the former governor of Ogun State (2003–2011) argued that Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, which shields sitting governors and their deputies from both civil and criminal prosecution, has been widely abused.
Section 308 of the Nigerian Constitution grants immunity to the President, Vice President, governors, and deputy governors while in office, effectively barring legal proceedings against them throughout their tenure. However, Daniel insisted that this provision has been misused to avoid scrutiny and justice.
The senator’s remarks have stirred renewed debate about constitutional reform and accountability in public office, especially at a time when governance and transparency remain major concerns in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
Daniel’s call adds to the voices of other stakeholders who have advocated for a more accountable leadership structure and a constitution that upholds justice irrespective of office held.
As of press time, there has been no official response from the Nigerian Governors’ Forum regarding Senator Daniel’s comments.
TEXT OF THE BROADCAST BY PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES, DECLARING STATE OF EMERGENCY IN RIVERS STATE ON TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2025
Fellow Nigerians, I feel greatly disturbed at the turn we have come to regarding the political crisis in Rivers State. Like many of you, I have watched with concern the development with the hope that the parties involved would allow good sense to prevail at the soonest, but all that hope burned out without any solution to the crisis.
With the crisis persisting, there is no way democratic governance, which we have all fought and worked for over the years, can thrive in a way that will redound to the benefit of the good people of the state. The state has been at a standstill since the crisis started, with the good people of the state not being able to have access to the dividends of democracy.
Also, it is public knowledge that the Governor of Rivers State for unjustifiable reasons, demolished the House of Assembly of the state as far back as 13th December 2023 and has, up until now, fourteen (14) months after, not rebuilt same. I have made personal interventions between the contending parties for a peaceful resolution of the crisis, but my efforts have been largely ignored by the parties to the crisis. I am also aware that many well-meaning Nigerians, Leaders of thought and Patriotic groups have also intervened at various times with the best of intentions to resolve the matter, but all their efforts were also to no avail. Still, I thank them.
On February 28, 2025, the supreme court, in a judgment in respect of about eight consolidated appeals concerning the political crisis in Rivers State, based on several grave unconstitutional acts and disregard of rule of law that have been committed by the Governor of Rivers State as shown by the evidence before it pronounced in very clear terms:
“a government cannot be said to exist without one of the three arms that make up the government of a state under the 1999 Constitution as amended. In this case the head of the executive arm of the government has chosen to collapse the legislature to enable him to govern without the legislature as a despot. As it is there is no government in Rivers State.”
The above pronouncement came after a catalogue of judicial findings of constitutional breaches against the Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Going Forward in their judgment, and having found and held that 27 members of the House who had allegedly defected
“are still valid members of Rivers State House of Assembly and cannot be prevented from participating in the proceedings of that House by the 8th Respondent (that is, the Governor) in cohorts with four members”
The Supreme Court then made some orders to restore the state to immediate constitutional democracy. These orders include the immediate passing of an Appropriation Bill by the Rivers State House of Assembly which up till now has not been facilitated.
Some militants had threatened fire and brimstone against their perceived enemy of the governor who has up till now NOT disowned them.
Apart from that both the House and the governor have not been able to work together.
Both of them do not realise that they are in office to work together for the peace and good governance of the state.
The latest security reports made available to me show that between yesterday and today there have been disturbing incidents of vandalization of pipelines by some militant without the governor taking any action to curtail them. I have, of course given stern order to the security agencies to ensure safety of lives of the good people of Rivers State and the oil pipelines.
With all these and many more, no good and responsible President will standby and allow the grave situation to continue without taking remedial steps prescribed by the Constitution to address the situation in the state, which no doubt requires extraordinary measures to restore good governance, peace, order and security.
In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State and the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State having failed to make a request to me as President to issue this proclamation as required by section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provision of section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, 18th March, 2025 and I so do.
By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months.
In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State. For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate.
The Administrator will not make any new laws. He will, however, be free to formulate regulations as may be found necessary to do his job, but such regulations will need to be considered and approved by the Federal Executive Council and promulgated by the President for the state.
This declaration has been published in the Federal Gazette, a copy of which has been forwarded to the National Assembly in accordance with the Constitution. It is my fervent hope that this inevitable intervention will help to restore peace and order in Rivers State by awakening all the contenders to the constitutional imperatives binding on all political players in Rivers State in particular and Nigeria as a whole.
Long live a united, peaceful, secure and democratic Rivers State in particular and the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a whole.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has emphasized the need for the recruitment of intelligent graduates into its ranks, stating that crime-fighting requires intellect and strategic thinking.
DSS Director, Oluwatosin Ajayi, made this known on Wednesday while delivering a lecture at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State.
The lecture, titled “The Roles of the DSS in Security, Peacekeeping, and National Integration,” highlighted the agency’s crucial role in safeguarding the nation and the necessity of strengthening intelligence institutions.
Ajayi, represented by DSS Deputy Director Patrick Ikenweiwe, stressed that the country’s best minds should be drafted into the DSS to address the growing security challenges.
“If I have my way, the best graduates in the country should be compelled to join the DSS and serve the nation in tackling security threats,” Ikenweiwe stated.
Drawing a comparison to Israel’s academic system, he noted: “In Israel, students who score above 70 marks in their university entrance exam are automatically placed in the university. Tell me, how would a ‘Dundee’ (dullard) be able to counter a criminal gang made up of first-class brains? Intelligence is key to fighting crime.”
He further advocated for collaboration with academic institutions to identify top-performing students who could be recruited into the intelligence service.
The DSS official also outlined several threats to national security, including sabotage, subversion, and espionage, urging a comprehensive approach to national security that includes intelligence-driven solutions and a well-trained workforce.
