Day: March 31, 2023

AfricaFertilizer.Org (AFO) has organised a fertiliser technical working group workshop for stakeholders in the fertiliser sector to discuss and validate Nigeria’s 2022 fertiliser statistics.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two-day workshop ended on Thursday in Lagos.

NAN also reports that AfricaFertilizer is an initiative of the International Fertiliser Development Center (IFDC), established to promote data-driven decisions for African food systems, by providing high-quality, reliable, credible, and timely fertiliser statistics and information in over 20 sub-Sahara African countries.

Mr Sebastian Nduva, AFO Programme Manager, told NAN that the purpose of the workshop at the national level was to garner relevant data to boost the growth of the fertiliser industry.

“The purpose of organising the technical group at the national level is basically to bring together all the stakeholders in the fertiliser value chain to lend credibility to the data and statistics we provide out there.

“So, we have the private sector and the government, research institutions and customs, among others to validate national statistics in terms of fertiliser consumption.

“We also make rudimentary demand projections for the subsequent planting seasons,” Nduva told NAN.

He added the meeting would enable players in the industry to resolve underlying and hindering issues affecting the distribution of fertilisers in the country.

“As a key output of this meeting, we have validated statistics for the country and as well get to resolve issues that are underlying and hindering the distribution of fertilisers.

“At this workshop, we take the validation exercise very critically and any data that is not agreed upon by the stakeholders, we go a step further and work with them on a one-on-one basis to make sure that whatever is put out there is accurate.

“This workshop is key in the fertiliser industry not only in Nigeria but in all of Africa,” he said.

On his part, Mr Sale Adamu, a Deputy Director at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), said the workshop was important in driving the policies and decisions of the ministry.

“We are grateful to the IFDC for this workshop. It is a workshop where we take validated production data of the fertiliser sector.

“The data provided at the workshop will help to make the work of FMARD easier as the registrar of all fertiliser blending companies locally.

“The workshop enables us to have more information that we did not have previously from the various stakeholders that are invited to come and present what they have.

“It assists us to work better and when we have issues the data enables us to map out solutions to them,” Adamu said.

Also speaking, Mr Moses Negedu, a data analyst at the Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria, stressed the need for relevant data to drive the sector’s growth.

“This workshop is going to have a very positive impact because once we can validate data, then we can now know where we are in the fertiliser industry and where we should be.

“Now we know our apparent consumption of fertilisers locally and we see all the gaps that are in the sector, and we now know how to tackle them.

“We have a lot of government agencies here that can take the feedback of this meeting to the government and it affects the policies that will come and affect the industry, as a whole,” Negedu said.

Commending the organisers of the workshop, Mr Innocent Okuku, the Executive Secretary, West African Fertiliser Association (WAFA), said relevant data would drive the growth of the sector.

“WAFA’s intention is to get the private sector to work together to support the improvement in the fertiliser industry in West Africa.

“When you compare West Africa and indeed the whole of sub-Saharan Africa with the rest of the world, we are lagging far behind in fertiliser use which is the major reason why we are not able to feed ourselves and we depend on import for a number of food items that we require.

“So, increasing the use of fertilisers will lead to increase yield and ultimately help us feed ourselves the more and be less dependent on imported food.

“WAFA works with the IFDC and other partners across each of the countries in West Africa to look at the data of production, export, consumption and other things related to fertiliser to assess the progress we are making to get greater output for agriculture.

“This data allows us to see where we are and based on that take decisions about how we can progress in the journey to make sure we are able to feed ourselves,” Okuku said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, says humility can achieve better results in diplomacy when applied to the implementation of Nigeria’s foreign policy.

Onyeama stated that this postulation goes contrary to the ideology presented by some scholars who prefer Nigeria to “throw its weight around”.

The minister expressed this thought on Thursday in Abuja during the launch of the book, ‘Humility in Diplomacy’ authored by the Chief of Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bello Kazaure.

According to him, humility does not connote weakness but rather shows the strength of the country.

He lauded Kazaure for the book title which he described as a departure from the everyday perception of so many.

“I really like the tittle which is humility in diplomacy and I think this is very important for a country like Nigeria.

“Very often, over the past seven years, we hear scholars and others in international relations and foreign affairs writing about what the ministry should and should not be doing, as well as what the diplomats should and should not be doing.

“They expect us as a big country to be banging the tables hard and throwing our weigh around.

“Humility in diplomacy is very apt, especially in the context of a lot of what is happening globally. Yes, you might be big, but ultimately, humility is very important.

“And humility does not denote weakness, rather strength, and especially in the context of diplomacy where you are trying to achieve your own national interest.

“You very often find that humility can actually help you to be more successful and achieve those interests rather than throwing your weight around, being a bully and being extravagantly proud.

“So, I think it is a very apt tittle and it also represents the individual.

“It is an excellent read and also an important tool for generations to come and history.

“And it is testament to a very important period in the life of not just the author and the country but also where the world is at this particular period of time and to development during this period,” Onyeama said.

Also speaking, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari said it was a kown fact that diplomacy had helped to create an international order conducive for non-violent approach to the resolution of disputes.

Gambari, who was represented by Amb. Janet Olisa, Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, added that diplomacy has also fostered greater cooperation among state and non-state actors for sustainable peace and security.

“There is gainsaying that public diplomacy encourages people-to-people contact across borders or boundaries which the author is vastly conversant with,” Gambari said.

Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado–Bayero, described the book as a hallmark in the history of foreign affairs.

“I have read two books and I find it very rich in content and detailed in presentation which I believe will provide some good lessons to foreign officers.

“It will also be a reference book to students and researchers of international studies,” Ado Bayero said.

Kazaure expressed appreciation to all the dignitaries for their commendation, said that he was inspired by his experiences and the need to contribute to the development and improvement of the Nigerian Foreign Service..

“When I joined foreign service, I noticed it is a profession that connects the world and I am opportune to move around. I travelled all over the world.

“In the course of my work, I noticed that humility is key to succeeding if you want to become a diplomat and so I came up with the idea of putting my experiences both at home and abroad in a book.

“This is to enable me pass the message to the younger ones and those interested in becoming diplomats,” Kazaure said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that also in attendance were the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami; Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu; and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammad Musa Bello; amongst others. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Minister of Police Affairs, Dr Muhammad Dingyadi, on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday in Abuja, inaugurated the governing board of the Nigeria Police Academy (POLAC), Wudil, Kano State.

Dingyadi said the inauguration had further reaffirmed President Buhari’s commitment to bequeath a reformed, professionalised, highly motivated and knowledge based police force with a view to institutionalising proactive policing in Nigeria.

He said the approval of the governing board sought to fully operationalise the provisions of the Police Academy (Establishment) Act 2021, earlier signed into law by president on April,7 2022.

The minister said the ministry had the statutory responsibility of exercising control and supervision of the policy, finances and property of the academy.

The board, according to him also has power to appoint professors and other principal academic and administrative staff of the academy who are not police officers.

He said that the board also stipulates terms of conditions of their appointment; determine their remuneration and scope of responsibilities.

“Promote and discipline staff of the academy that are not police officers on the advice of the appropriate committees; consider and approve the academy’s annual budget or estimates, external auditor’s report and any variation therein.

“Approve recommendations for the appointment of emeritus professors; appoint bankers, auditors or any other agents for the academy and approve the status of the academy as may be required under this act.

“Approve the creation of any offices, department or committee as may be considered necessary or expedient for the smooth running of the academy,” he said.

Dingyadi said that the appointment of the members was based on merit and their commendable track records.

He urged them to bring to bear their wealth of experience and ingenuity, in the realisation of statutory responsibility of re-engineering a world standard policing system in Nigeria.

Responding on behalf of the board members, Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Usman Baba, pledged commitment of the board to transform POLAC to a center of excellence.

Baba said the academy had since its establishment, grown from strength to strength and would continue to produce fine police officers in various fields of studies.

“We are proud of this academy which is one of its kinds in the world and we believe it will be one university that no parent would want to miss for his child to be.

“It is a university where nobody asks you for tuition, nobody ask you for accommodation, nobody asks you for school fees.

“After graduation you also have work and also have an area of specialisation base based on what you read.

“I think it is a privilege that is given to Nigerians by the government and we will try to make sure that whatever it entails we will do,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

A member of the House of Representatives (APC-Sokoto), Mr Ibrahim Al-Mustapha says all Nigerians will smile with the emergence of Sen. Bola Tinubu as the new President of Nigeria.

“Glad tidings are therefore beckoning on Nigerians with Tinubu as successor to President Muhammadu Buhari.

“By the special grace of God, everybody will smile and Nigerians will not regret voting for him and his Deputy, Sen. Kashim Shettima,” Al-Mustapha said.

The lawmaker, who represents Rabah and Wurno Federal Constituency told newsmen in Sokoto on Friday that Tinubu had mastered the art of governance.

He recalled that the President-elect was able to achieve a very good economic balance in. Lagos State as its two-term Governor.

Al-Mustapha said: “Lagos is a mini Nigeria. It is the fifth largest economy in Africa that boasts of seventy countries.

“He was also able to hugely transform the internally generated revenue system in the state, hence was able to achieve myriad of development.”

He said that Tinubu would take deliberate steps to reduce the current the deficits status of the nation’s economy.

This, according to him, will shore up the overall revenue generation in Nigeria, adding, “this means more money for development.”

Al-Mustapha further said that Tinubu would overhaul the entire Nigerian systems including the civil service, education, agriculture and health, among others.

On insecurity, the lawmaker said:”This requires multidimensional approaches comprising kinetic and non kinetic issues.

“The root causes of the various security challenges must be identified and measures taken to redress them.

“The involvement of the various the traditional rulers is required like it was done during the Native Authorities.”

Al-Mustpha also said that a new Sokoto State was being heralded with the emergence of Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu of the APC as the Governor-elect and his Deputy, Alhaji Idris Gobir.

“It is a reincarnation of the government of the former Governor of the state, Sen. Aliyu Wamakko who held sway between 2007 and 2015.

“There was colossal development in all the sectors of the economy of the state ranging from agriculture, education, economy, Science and Technology, health , water resources and housing, among others,”he added.

Al-Mustpha also recalled that the defunct Wamakko’s administration initiated various policies and programnes that reduced the poverty level in the state.

He said: “So, I strongly believe that Ahmed Aliyu’s administration will build on the modest achievements of Wamakko’s government.

“There will be a lot of modifications and this will signal a new Sokoto state in tune with extant global trends.”(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The UNICCON Group of Companies has launched its first blockchain technology ‘SmartAfri Labs’, to drive the inclusion of Africans and adopt a specialised technology in the region.

The launch held at Uniccon’s Headquarters on Friday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that SmartAfri Labs is the brain-child of Uniccon Group of Companies; founded in 2018 and developed under the STEM arm of the organisation.

Speaking during the launch, the Chairman of UNICCON Group, Dr Chuks Ekwueme, shared insightful statistics to illustrate the poor inclusion and adoption of the blockchain ecosystem in Africa.

According to him, Africa has less than a 5 per cent stake in the projected $1.1 trillion the industry promises.

Ekwueme said: “We have created technology and platforms to drive inclusion by up to 25 per cent by the year 2025.

“Our Virtual Reality (VR) headsets for example are more affordable, and will not exclude poor Africans from using the technology. This is inclusion.”

Ekwueme said that blockchain should not be viewed as crypto, adding that the notion should be vacated.

“It is erroneous to view blockchain technology as being crypto. It is much more than that, and that notion should be vacated.

“We have built this platform, which is a fusion of Web 2.0 and 3.0 and we are keen on being key participants in the 4th Idustrial Revolution (4G).

“There is a huge market in our Non-Fungible Token (NFT) marketplace as Nigerians and Africans from the creative and other industries can tap into it to generate wealth and add to the GDP,” he said.

The General Manager of Uniccon, Mr Kehinde Ake, said that SmartAfri Labs offered exceptional levels of security, transparency, and efficiency.

Ake said that the blockchain would grant users the ability to transfer assets, save data, and carry out smart contracts in a decentralised and fraud-proof network.

“We have created this technology to allow Africans to stand tall, raise their heads, spread their shoulders, and take giant strides in an ecosystem that was once alien to them,” he said.

Mr John Nwobodo, an industry investment analyst spoke about the monumental impact of blockchain technology in a wide variety of industries.

Nwobodo quoted the 2021 World Bank report as saying: “66 per cent of Nigerians are unbanked and the banked are being recycled by existing financial service providers.

“The cost of cross-border remittance is very high and using blockchain can help reduce these numbers, making cross-border remittances cheaper and defying geographical barriers.”

The company’s Chief Technology Officer, Eval Esege, in his presentation ‘SmartAfri Labs’, took the audience on an experiential journey of what it does, how it works, and its many bundled benefit the users.

“SmartAfri Labs was borne out of the need to create a blockchain ecosystem that represents African values and culture.

“We have set up a partnership opportunity available from today to allow those who resonate with our vision to join us on this journey,” he said.

The launch had in attendance representatives from the National Information Technology and Development Agency (NITDA), the Nigerian Computing Society (NCS),the blockchain community and the private sector.

NAN also reports that the novel product, which is the first African blockchain technology consists of SmartAfri Chain (blockchain node), NFT Marketplace (Create and sell NFTs), SmartAfri Verse (Metaverse),

Others are: SmartAfri eMarket (fusion of 2.0 and 3.0) and UNICCON VR(locally made and subsidized headsets).

The project seeks to increase stakes for Africans, encourage more developers to get into the niche and overall, to drive massive inclusion. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

A Abuja-based Islamic Cleric, Sheikh Yahya Al-Yolawi has urged all Muslims especially the well-to-do to give more charity to the needy to ease their difficulties in the month of Ramadan.

Al-Yolawi, who is the Chief Imam of Nurul Yaqeen Jumma’ah Mosque Life Camp Abuja, gave the advice while delivering his Juma’at sermon titled, “Significance of Giving Charity in Ramadan”, on Friday in Abuja.

He said that giving out charity helps to strengthen love, understanding, mutual support and brotherhood between the rich and poor within the Muslim communities.

According to him, one of the doors opened by Allah to His servants to gain enormous rewards in the month of Ramadan is through giving charity.

Al-Yolawi said; “Islam always encourages Muslim to give out plenty of charity especially during the month Ramadan.

“Allah’s Messenger was the most generous of all the people and he used to be more generous in the month of Ramadan.

” Allah says and spend (in charity) of that with which we have provided you, before death comes to one of you.

”He says: my Lord! If only you would delay me for a brief term (to the worldly life) so I would give charity of my wealth, and be among the righteous.”

He added that charity could be given or done in different forms and manners, such as giving money to the needy; a smile or pleasant word to a brother and feeding the needy.

Al-Yolawi said: “Therefore, I call on the generality of the Muslim Ummah most especially the well-to-do among them to continue to give out charities to the poor within their communities.

” his will ease their Ramadan tasks particularly those that are very close to them like, workers, co-workers , relatives and neighbors.”

The cleric commended the Federal Government and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the increased circulation of Naira notes and enhanced electronic banking services in the country.

According to him, Nigerians are happy and very appreciative of the positive changes on the circulation of Naira notes. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria