The Nation Newspaper

Category: Jobs

Job opportunities in aquaculture

Better days are here with technology -savvy young people forming part of the agro-entrepreneurs, trained by the Department of Aquaculture, University of Ibadan. After graduation, not only would they help transform the agricultural industry by using modern approach to improve the safety and quality of local produce, they expected to build a specialised food production sector focused on environmental sustainability, food safety and value added marketing.

One of them is Miss Tomi Ayo, who is scheduled to complete her studies in a few years. Unlike most of her classmates, who may eye white-collar jobs, she intends to return home to set up a fish farm.

She is just one of those well-educated, technology-savvy young people who will graduate as fisheries entrepreneurs and expected to move into urban and rural areas to become “new farmers”.

Employers are looking for fisheries graduates with specialisations in inland aquaculture, freshwater aquaculture, mariculture, industrial fisheries, fish processing and post-harvest technology, fish nutrition, pathology, environment, ecology and extension workers.

There are openings for fisheries and aquaculture graduates within the private and public sectors.

There are a number of fisheries graduates doing business in field of aquaculture, export and import.

Aquaculture is a growing field with good job prospects. In addition to employment in fisheries, graduates may also find career opportunities in areas such as recreational (sport) fishing industry, food and agriculture based industries, quarantine, and private consulting. The industry requires enthusiastic and hard-working individuals. There are many opportunities to improve efficiency, use of new technologies, and sustainability throughout the supply chain. As the country’s population inches towards 200 million by 2050, there will be a need for more food and jobs – which a growing aquaculture industry can help meet. But it needs to be practised responsibly.

Unlike traditional farmers without access to market information, farmers, such as Ayo, are going to take advantage of the internet in doing fish business with social responsibility, creativity and a better sense of the market.

She is not only looking forward to being successful in aquaculture, but inspiring others to do same. Youths’ attitude towards agriculture and aquaculture has changed; they no longer see them as an activity for the old. To them, they are now money-spinners.

With the demand for fish growing throughout the country, aquaculture presents a potentially lucrative business and job opportunity for the youth.

The industry is growing rapidly in response to a growing population combined with a decreasing availability from wild harvests.

At University of Ibadan, Department of Aquaculture, technologies and refined methods have made fish farming highly efficient, reducing risk, improving profitability and drawing young Nigerians who want to make a living from aquaculture.

The students are provided with an opportunity to develop and refine the necessary fish farming skills to manage fish business optimally.

Speaking with The Nation during a visit to the university, a pioneer instructor and senior scientist at the Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, Prof Bamidele Omitoyin said the institution is empowering young people to become successful fish farmers.

He sees a dynamic and competitive aquaculture sector that produces enough fish to feed the local population and open up new job opportunities for the youths.

He has trained many young people just as he is training existing farmers on modern fish farming techniques and how to handle tasks and processes involved in the cultivation of freshwater and marine lives, and the care of their environment.

In addition to raising eggs in a hatchery operation, feeding the stock, preparing algal cultures and maintaining an optimal environment, they are taught to collect and record growth, production and water quality data, and check stock for disease and treat them when necessary.

As graduates of its programme, students may be employed in any of the hatcheries within the industry, or as technicians in support of the industry in the fields of fish health, feed and nutrition, environmental management, cage and net manufacturing, processing and research.

According to him, the aquacul-ture programme is providing young people with new sources of income, allowing improved access to food and education, while alleviating pressure on fisheries and marine biodiversity.

He said aquaculture offers tremendous sustainable growth potential for Nigeria to create more jobs, support associated industries and inject the much needed export earnings into local communities and the economy.

With the efforts of the university and others, he sees aquaculture growing the economy as a wave of promises about job creation and economic revitalisation increase.

As Nigerians become more and more reliant on seafood imports to meet demand, experts such as Prof. Omitoyin maintained that the agric sector offers an opportunity to be exploited if the aquaculture industry in particular can grow and develop.

For experts, aquaculture is having a multiplier effect on the economy. According to a Professor of Fisheries at the Lagos State University (LASU), Martins Antekhai, aquaculture can become increasingly efficient with output increased dramatically and supporting jobs throughout the seafood supply chain with increasing number of private operators offering year-round, living-wage jobs.

Antekhai said the fish farms have created national wealth and jobs and generated foreign exchange from exports. These businesses, he explained, have created jobs for people in feed plant, ice-making, fish marketing and transportation, and the provision of other services.

He explained that for every direct job in fish farming, three jobs have been created in support industries such as the provision of feeds, fingerlings, supplies, equipment and transportation. This covers the complete cycle of aquaculture: from raising the fingerlings, to building the floating cages, raising the fish in the cages, distributing them to markets and restaurants where they are prepared and served.

The Chief Executive of Agro Nigeria, Richard Mbaram, said fisheries and aquaculture are a vital source of jobs, nutritious food and economic opportunities.

He emphasised that unlocking the potential of aquaculture could have long-lasting and positive benefits.

He added that there are so many job multipliers for aquaculture, covering production and processing, distribution, retail, and services to enable domestic seafood production and create jobs.

The booster, according to him, is the Federal Government’s policy, which asked fish importers to pursue backward integration by investing in aquaculture to help meet the country’s growing demand for seafood, while creating jobs and restoring healthy ecosystems.

He sees government’s position fostering public-private partnerships on projects that showcase innovative sustainable practices, jump start investments and create employment opportunities.

In a few years, new profitable markets would herald a promising future for aquaculture. For this reason, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Akin-wumi Adesina, said Nigeria has no business importing fish, given her huge natural and renewable resources.

He said it was in view of this that the ministry is promoting increased fish production through the Aquaculture Value Chain. This is in pursuit of the goal of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA).

He said: “The Value Chains are to create an enabling environment for increased and sustainable production of over one million tonnes of fish within the next four years, generate employment and pursue gradual reduction of fish imports.”

Adesina said the Aquaculture Value Chain, under the four-year implementation plan, would increase the annual production of fingerlings in the country by 1.25 billion tonnes.

He said it would also produce 400,000 tonnes of fish feeds; and generate additional 250,000 tonnes of table fish and 100,000 tonnes of Value Added fish products.

“Fish farming is a business venture with lots of potential investment opportunities and a veritable tool for increased fish production, poverty alleviation and sustainable livelihoods,” the minister said. The increasing demand for sustainable seafood is creating new markets and opportunities for business growth in fishing and aquaculture.

Experts believe the aquaculture sub sector will need to be strengthened with the much needed technical manpower and competent extension personnel with effective transfer of technology.

This will address productive issues and availability of critical inputs for culture such as fish seed, high productive breed and medicine, which require the employment of more aquaculturists, farm managers, exporters, traders and breeders.

January 5, 2015
‘Cocoa industry is a ready-made market for employment generation’

Prof. Malachy Akoroda is the CEO of Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), which recently celebrated its 50th years of existence. The agronomist, in this interview with SINA FADARE, says adequate funding of the cocoa institute is the panacea to

How will you describe the journey in the last 50 years of CRIN service to the nation?

Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) since 1964 has been given a mandate to do research on the crops assigned to it and the first crop was cocoa. That was why it was called CRIN but with passage of time, other crops were added, the name was not changed despite other crops added. Though we now research into cashew, kola nut, coffee, yet the name is still maintained. The progress has been in two areas, knowledge and materials to farmers. How these are combined to create wealth is the success story of the institute.

If we are talking about knowledge, the institute has provided this through research along the passage of time, if we are talking about materials, CRIN has over the years build scientific methods and techniques to create new varieties, new grafting methods, so that farmers will use less resources to achieve the same goal. This has been going on over the years. We have been mastering how to do better in production, the market and even the area of export.

We have mastered the problem along the line and we have a team of researchers backed up by technicians and administrative supports who are dedicated and ready to achieve the best despite the challenges on ground. We have extensions where all these experiences are passed to the farmers through trainings, discussions, and visits. The 36 states of the federation are our constituency. Cocoa covers 22 states, cashew covers 36 while kolanut covers another 14 states, tea and coffee cover three . Some states have several of these crops, some have only one, but there is no state that does not have any. The implication of this is that if we are able by means, men, money and materials, to cover all the states, it would be triple for some crops and even much more for some.

The question is how much resource do we have to take care of the job given us. The job is a continuous exercise. If we have a high breed cocoa that can be fruitful in 16 months, are we then to fold our alms? No, our research is non-stop. Non- stop research means non-stop funding, nonstop funding means continuous recruitment. Some of our researchers got retired, some went on sabbatical while some transferred their services to other part of the country, they need to be replaced.

CRIN has challenges, achievement and a future. Recently, the minister of agriculture asked me to prepare a 50-year future plan for the institute and l have done so. I will not be on ground but will always be a part that will make the plan a reality. What that translates to is that the next 50 years, will produce 10 executive directors every five years, they can implement the future plan. In China, 19 emperors build the China wall, they agreed on one word and they were building it one after the other. Why can’t 10 executive directors do the same in CRIN according to the vision? The vision is simple, better cocoa, cashew, kolanut, coffee and tea across Nigeria.

We have partners, people who share same vision with the institute, we collaborate with them in the area of training and business , they bring money and we work together. We have about 66 researchers with 24 of them having PhD degrees and others with master’s degree, researching in various works. As they go for training, short or long, they bring more knowledge and new innovation which will be verified by local investigations. It is this investigation that we want government and indeed our partners to fund, so that we can further extend the borders of knowledge.

It is not easy for us to do it alone, no soldier buys his own bullet, we cannot buy materials with our own money, and somebody must sponsor us.We have been assigned to do research, and we are ready for it. We have supporters, we have researchers.We need funding at higher level. Why? We have travelled a long road. And the higher we are going the more equipment we need, and the more refined training we need. We do not need the elementary training because we have passed the elementary stage, we are now in the tertiary and quaternary level, and the higher we go, the better for the country.

What is the future of Cocoa in the face of all the challenges facing cocoa farmers in the country?

Cocoa is grown by 50 countries in the world, Nigeria is number four. But number four with a shaking leg is not good enough ; we must stabilise and concretise all that we are doing, so that no country will shake us. We want to be number one. This is possible because we have the size, the knowledge, the power and the oil money to do it.Because cocoa is important as a medical food, many people drink it daily, without knowing what they are drinking. Cocoa is very good and its health benefit is immeasurable, especially in the area of brain development. We as producers must consume part of it, until we begin to support local consumption of cocoa, the price will always be dictated by only the exporters of the commodity.

There is going to be a short fall of cocoa in the year 2020, because about 1million tonnes, of cocoa beans would be needed by China that wants to consume chocolate. How will they get chocolate when they do not grow cocoa? It is only a tropical country like Nigeria that must step up its production to be able to meet up with such demand, but at what price? We must look at the price that is consumer-friendly, farmer-friendly and the value chain should be enriched.

When all are happy, then cocoa industry in the country would become a global issue. But as it is now, the cocoa farmers need adequate financial support to be able to grow, process and sell dried beans, but the rate at which the farmer is getting credit facility to run its operational work is discouraging. The current rate of about 24 per cent on loan taken is not encouraging. That cannot be agricultural loans for farmers, it is a loan for people who sell and buy goods in three months interval. Cocoa is not a three-month interval crop, it is a crop that could last a minimum of 25 to 50 years.

Therefore when you are planning loans for farmers in cocoa, you should not be thinking of three months. It is an annual circle of 12 months. And therefore when you are planning to give loans to farmers, you should be thinking of repaying period of 1 year. Single digit is sufficient to maintain a farm that is considered the median for Nigerians. The most frequent or common cocoa area in Nigeria is about two to five acres.

It will cost about N1.5 million to sustain one acre, if you multiply that by two acres you would be talking about N3 million. Why will they give a cocoa farmer N250,000 thinking that they have assisted him, it is just like a biscuit to an elephant. A loan that would be given to a farmer should be sufficient enough to take care of his farm.

How best do you think that cocoa farmer could be assisted, in order to increase their production?

There are three things involved in agriculture, knowledge, material and capital. Capital has to do with land and equipment, tools, seeds and money. Skill, techniques, the ability to use resources in the most efficient and effective ways, minimising waste and losses so as to achieve the best. That kind of knowledge is not on ground; you have to be taught, you have to be trained, and you have to be educated by those who know the latest technology.

The last stage is government policy which should be consisted and be able to monitor chemicals and spray which farmers are using for maximum production.

If a farmer produces what is very poisonous, he will not eat it alone, the market will buy it and many people will die. So protecting farmers in whatever input they buy is protecting the nation. That is where the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) should team up to make sure that what the farmer gets are not fake products.

How do you think Nigeria can regain its lost glory in the production of cocoa?

The demand and supply of the equation is well known to all, if you advertise and you create awareness for people, they will get to know what cocoa is all about likewise cashew, kolanut, tea and coffee.

CRIN produce green tea, which is good for people’s health, high immune system and steady body circulation. Now that is research, the ability to bring these wide ranges to the audience through education and advertisement. That is not the job of CRIN, that is the job of the ministry of education, agriculture and information, all combined, using common fund.

To improve the consumption of cocoa, government should team up with the cocoa industries and institute and then, educate people on minus and plus on cocoa; coffee, cashew, tea and kolanut.

If the government can borrow a leaf from the company that is producing Ndomie and within a few years it has become a household food, if such effort is put in cocoa production, it will follow such growth and wide acceptability by consumers.

Scientifically, cocoa has been found as a stress remover, the more cocoa you drink the more composed and relaxed you are, good lives start with cocoa. The original intention of cocoa was for the priest to relax and drink it in order to see vision. Now when it came to this side of the world, we started exporting it but not drinking it. A country like Switzerland manufactures a lot of chocolates,it doesn’t grow a single tree of cocoa.

What are you doing at the level of CRIN to multiply most of the researches the institute has done?

Most of the companies in Nigeria are owned by foreigners, the environment at home did not encourage the growth of home industry, starting from poor energy, poor road network and unstable government policy.

What we are saying is that, the buying capacity is low and therefore, the ability to purchase is less. Those people earning higher wages prefer foreign goods because most of them were trained abroad.

CRIN is in the front burner of the agricultural transformation agenda and a lot of researches have been developed like cocoa bread, liquor, cocoa detergent, etc. If you calculate the products per naira, our own is better and that is a truth that nobody can doubt, we may not be there yet, but the future is bright and promising especially in the area of agriculture which can accommodate the problem of unemployment. If the government can fund the cocoa sector, it is a readymade avenue for employment generation.

Farmers in Nigeria can be helped in cocoa research institute. Partners, companies, government, agencies, foreign and local can team up with cocoa institute, we have been doing that and we will continue doing it. We have a few projects we are doing with foreign partners to research more into cocoa a see how we can improve on it. And we think that that is a new way to go, we cannot run this project alone, there must be partnership, collaboration and linkages.It is a team work; by doing this, they learn from us. We learn from them and both have a vision to make cocoa a better crop.

Where do you think CRIN would be in the next 50 years?

In the next 50 years, CRIN will have substation in every state, because there is no state in Nigeria where we do not grow any one of our crops; whether coffee, cashew, cocoa, kola nut and tea. We need a sub-station there, so that a few of our people can be there helping people at the local level.

Transportation in Nigeria is a headache; roads, fuel, diesel and many accidents. To avoid all these, we need substation in every state, we need to work towards that. We need top class researchers, a top class researcher is a man who has love, to do research at no cost to him. It is like priesthood, you enter it by your own conviction, you did not enter because your father said you should enter, If not you will fall out.

We want researchers who love scientific exploration and whatever salary they are paying them, they are happy with it. No priest will resign because his salary is small. Researchers are like priesthood, researchers are interesting in whatever they are doing, even if he is there and has little impress to work with,he works round the clock, that is the kind of people we want, group of people we must recruit to make things happen.

We have a lot of innovations that we cannot keep in the institute here, people should know about them . Therefore, we should be able to link up with outside world in terms of information dissemination to the farmers on how when and where to plant their crops. We should be able to have our network of radio joining with international one on regular bases according to the season of the year.

When cocoa farmers want to plant we should be telling them not to plant, this is the season to plant, you should try this you should do this whether they can read or not, they can glue to their radio in their farms to listen to the latest information in their local language. I do not think reading is an obstruction to doing cocoa work, if CRIN is well equipped, we can help the farmers, to do what they want to do week by week.

We know that science is the warfare against ignorance. And in the warfare of science against ignorance, the strategy, the logics and the tactics should be in place. The way we go about the business is according to government rules, but government rules tie us because speed is not part of government rules, timing is not part of government rules they bring the money whenever they find it. Whether your season is starting or closing is not relevant. The money may come on December 25, you are to go and start planting when the dry season has come, that is how it is.

We want in the next 50 years a stabilised fund for research that does not shake with the seasons, big enough to allow people research without thinking where the next money will come from. People can make a long range of planning, in the next three to four years with money short to enter into basket from various sources, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), foreign grants and from government.

We want to begin to look at proposal writing. There is a lot of money in the world for people who want to do research, but we need to train our people to capture vision of writing proposal and making argument to demand money for research, not to buy clothes and shoes. Once you can capture the mind of the people, donors, and can put money into good use, you will get people supporting you.

I want to say that the next 50 years is going to be a long road of working hard, to use the little resources that comes into our hands for the maximum benefit of the researchers and developers.

CRIN must not stay alone or in isolation. It must work with other similar institutes in the cocoa world. There is one in Trinidad and Tobago, and Cameroun.

There should be a forum where people will gather together to discuss the advantages in cocoa science, and people of like mind come together to discuss the advantage, challenges and area of common interest so that at the end, the issue of cocoa will be in the world front burner.

cocoa revolution in the country. Excerpts:

January 5, 2015
Jobs: SMEs to the rescue

With a projected five million jobs coming from the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) next year, the Federal Government appears set to tackle graduate unemployment in the country, TOBA AGBOOLA reports.

For the many graduates leaving school every year, there is good news from the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).

They may not all have to pound the streets in search of jobs as five million jobs will be created under the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) by next year.

Aganga said to create jobs for youths, particularly graduates, the Federal Government has adopted some measures through the SMEs, with no fewer than 4000 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members trained in SMEs. The measure, he said, is meant to make the NYSC members self-reliant and become employers through entrepreneurial engagements after completing their one year compulsory service.

Records showed the impressive impacts of SMEs on the economic performance index. For instance, the SME sector is said to have employed more than 31 million people, thereby significantly contributing 46.54 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

According to information from the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, the population of youths is put at about 67 million. Of this number, about 30 million, representing 46 per cent, is said to be unemployed. The report showed that of the number seeking paid jobs, the number of those with certificates outweighs the number of those who have no certificates.

There are two variants of the NYSC/SMEs concept. One involves the government taking the entrepreneurial campaign to the universities nationwide by establishing ‘’Enterprise Centres’’.

The idea, Aganga explained, is to make the students entrepreneurs instead of job seekers when they graduate. The other is a SMEDAN programme called ‘’One Local Government, One Product (OLOP)’’, which entails taking the programme to the rural communities. Some local governments have been selected for the pilot scheme.

Aganga told The Nation that the government is set to crash the cost of accessing funds for the intending entrepreneurs.

“With the Presidential directive that the Bank of Industry (BoI), which lends at single digit interest rate, be recapitalised, many more SMEs will be able to access cheap funds at minimal costs when the cost-reduction process is completed,” he said.

He said all over the world, SMEs empowerment has become the main economic growth strategy, considering the high employment generation capacity of SMEs, adding that with about 17 million SMEs in Nigeria, the creation of five million jobs was very possible.

“Recent data provided by SMEDAN and the National Bureau of Statistics, put the number of MSMEs in Nigeria at 17,284,671, with total employment put at 32,414,884. If each of these SMEs is empowered to create one job each, that makes about 17 million jobs. If 50 per cent of this figure create one job each, that means 8.5 million jobs will be created.

He said if a quarter of the total is empowered, and they create one job each, over four million jobs will be created.

Aganga said the figure could go up, adding that he has directed the parastatals to work out a job creation profile around the model, so it can serve as a key performance index for the country. “Our job is to put structures in place to make it happen,” he said.

While encouraging more entrepreneurs to come up with ideas that could create quality jobs and enhance inclusive economic growth, he said the Federal Government is committed to providing the enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

He stressed that all the factors needed for profitable and sustainable business were abundant in Nigeria, citing market and raw materials as critical success factors of business/investment.

SMEDAN’s Alhaji Bature Masari says the agency is set to create five million jobs through SMEs before 2015, adding that the agency had mapped out strategies to achieve the goal.

Masari said the strategies include the implementation of the National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP) and OLOP scheme across the federation.

He added that NEDEP was developed with the objective of harnessing the opportunities in the MSME sector to drive inclusive economic growth through skills training and development, job creation and wealth generation.

“Our objective is that within the few years of implementing NEDEP and other programmes to be initiated, we will generate an estimated five million direct and indirect jobs,’’ he said.

Masari said the agency would work with BoI and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) on MSMEs development, skills training and acquisition as well as business services development.

“Part of our strategy is to create new clusters of businesses based on competitive and comparative advantages already identified through the OLOP initiative and raw materials mapping in the 774 Local Governments,” he added.

He said the government would set up an SME Council, comprising the federal, state and local governments to streamline and harmonise all SMEs development activities across the country to achieve maximum impact.

”If we are going to develop our economy and turn our quantity advantage into productive advantage, one of the most important sectors that we have to focus on is the MSME sector.”

Masari said the development of the sector would help in job and wealth creation, and address the problem of unemployment and youth restiveness in the country.

He said the government was restructuring the organisation to achieve its mandate and added that SMEDAN had just opened new offices in 11 states.

Also, with the introduction of the over-the-counter (OTC) market by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), two weeks ago, SMEs seeking long-term funds no longer have to fear.

OTC is a decentralised market of securities not listed on an exchange, where operators trade over the telephone or electronic network, instead of a physical trading floor, or central exchange. The OTC is designed to provide a platform for the companies to access funds from the market.

The Managing Director, NASD, Bola Ajomale, said the initiative means a lot to the SMEs.

“Though the market is meant for any firm with signs of growth and good corporate governance, prominence is given to SMEs because they are the bedrock of any economy and not the blue chips. It will go a long way in providing funds for them to grow their business and enhance their potential,” he said.

According to Ajomale, all that an interested company needs to do is to apply to raise funds through an initial public offer (IPO), before it is admitted as a security for trading on the platform through any of the 40 stockbrokers that have been registered by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the apex regulator of the market and NASD.

But it does not end there. SEC and NASD will conduct a thorough check on the security to verify the growth and corporate governance status of the company to determine whether it is good for the consumption of the public.

“We are encouraging small companies that want to get bigger, and by having this market in place, it means we are giving them a place to grow,” he stated.

December 29, 2014
Seven steps to successful job hunting

Realising that their job search campaign doesn’t have to be a never-ending struggle, successful job seekers approach the process with patience and persistence. In the job search craze, there are those who land a job right away and those who struggle through the process of finding one for a long time.

‘Luck’ is usually the response one hears from disenfranchised job seekers when they find out that their neighbor down the street was offered a position after only a two-week search.

With many job seekers vying for only a few open positions, the truth is that ‘luck’ rarely has anything to do with it. If you want to be among the highly successful job seekers make it an habit of doing the following seven things outlined below:

Search with purpose

Instead of trying to fit into a mould set by a hiring organisation, target companies that match your goals and career values; doing this will allows you to focus your energy into searching for a position that is a natural fit.

After all, you don’t want to find yourself embarking on another search within a year’s time because you made a decision in haste.

Always be prepared

Be ready for your day’s activities by 9 am. Opportunities rarely land on your lap and you have to be prepared for the surprises that may come up during the day. You don’t want to be caught sleeping when someone calls to discuss an employment opportunity.

If you find yourself answering the phone like this: “hello? … well … um … well, like I was kinda sleeping … how long is this gonna take? … who are you again? … like I, um, contacted so many places, cuz, you know, like, I can’t like find a job …” then it is time to reprioritise your needs.

Waiting until things are about to get absolutely out of control before you begin aggressively looking for a position can be a costly mistake. You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you are running low on resources and desperation is about to set in. This is when mistakes are made and your job search may begin to suffer.

Develop a job search plan

Organise your job search, map out a strategy, set priorities, and establish goals. The greates source of confidence is knowledge and preparation. Begin your search with a clear focus and a plan. Participate in a number of activities including answering newspaper ads, posting your resume on the Internet, and going on informational interviews.

Bypass human resources

A human resources representative is also known as a “screener.” The screener’s job is to review resumes and match your experience with a checklist of requirements set forth by the hiring manager. If there are enough matches, the human resources representative forwards the resume to the decision maker.

Unfortunately, not much is left to the screener’s interpretation. This is why most opportunities are lost – because the screener doesn’t have the luxury of making a decision based on instinct; he or she is instructed to follow the lead of the hiring manager.

Since the decision makers (e.g., National Sales Manager, Marketing Manager, or CEO) are the ones who determine who is ultimately hired, it is advisable that you apply directly to them.

Write follow-up letters

Well-written follow up letters can make a difference as to whether you get hired. A follow-up letter is more than a simple note thanking the interviewer for his or her time. It should be a sophisticated letter that either re-affirms your interest in the position, serves as an opportunity to mention an important point you neglected to bring up, and/or provides an opportunity to offer new insight on a topic that was discussed during the interview.

Avoid toxic job seekers

Support systems (even those created by you) are a great way to generate ideas and for networking purposes. However, some are also a breeding ground for negativity. “There is no job in Nigeria now”. ‘Didn’t you hear of so many people who lost their jobs in XY company last month?”, You can’t get a job there unless you know somebody”.

Are not what you should surround yourself with. Check those people around you, especially those you involve in your job search endeavors. Do they offer words of encouragement? Are they supportive of your efforts, or do they feed into your insecurities/negativities? Create a positively supporting system.

Be good to yourself

There are two types of job seekers. One that has a laid back approach, and the other that always feels “there aren’t enough hours in the day” and compulsively searches for a job without taking a breather.

Following in the footsteps of the latter is the fastest way to reaching burn out and when careless mistakes are often made. Though your job search should be your primary activity, don’t allow it to consume your every waking moment.

Every so often take a mini vacation; spend time with people who support you, listen to music and participate in activities you enjoy. Clearing your mind replenishes your energy and will allow you to continue searching for a job with a fresh outlook.

EkiniConsult & Associates is organising three free and open workshops, “Knocking on the Right Doors- Strategies for Uncovering the Hidden Job Market” for The Nation readers in Lagos. A free eBook of the same title will be given to those who may not be able to attend.

If you are interested, send-in your name, location, email address and GSM no to 080-8384-3230. Precede with the word ‘ATTEND’ for those who want to come and ‘FREE EBOOK’ for those who want the free eBook only.

December 29, 2014
N15b deal for 20 million artisans

Lack of skilled manpower is a problem in the building subsector, which has led to the influx of artisans from neigbouring countries. To address the challenge, the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria (CTIN) have signed a N15 billion capacity building package. Over 20 million Nigerians are expected to benefit from the deal. TOBA AGBOOLA reports.

Property developers may soon stop going across the border to look for artisans who are believed to be better than their Nigerian counterparts. The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria (CTN) have signed a N15 billion capacity building deal under which over 20 million artisans are expected to benefit. No fewer than 3000 trainees will participate in the maiden edition in nine states.

There will be 350 artisans and craftsmen from each state and the training will cover carpentry, tile laying, Plaster of Paris (PoP), electrical, masonry, plumbing, as well as block making/inter-locking tiles.

The Director-General, Nigeria Employers Consultative Assembly (NECA), Mr Segun Oshinowo, described the deal as a step in the right direction.

Lamenting that there were no sufficient manpower in the cement sector, he said under the MoU, more people would be trained to match the growth in the sector.

“We will be expanding the capacity of Nigerians involve in the sector and this a good news to us because the sector is capable of providing millions of jobs,” he said.

On the implementation of the MoU, Oshinowo suggested that the ITF should use both brown and green fields.

“The combination of brown field and green field is necessary. Brown field means that they will make use of the facilities that are already on ground, while the green field means that a new technical school will be created. This is very important so as to achieve wider coverage and success,” he explained.

Speaking during the signing, ITF’s Director-General, Dr. Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko, said the collaboration between the Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria (CTIN) and her organisation on training was a pointer that something revolutionary geared towards reducing unemployment was in the offing.

She said the initiative would take advantage of the training and certification for all calibre of skills in her organisation and help to turn out qualified and skilled artisans to serve the cement industry as well as other subsectors in building and construction.

“This training programme, which is targeted to cover the country will, among others, broaden the scope of the use of cement in various construction. The training workshop has been designed to impact the necessary skills to 350 artisans and craftsmen in each of the nine states to be covered in the first phase,” she said.

She added that the training would cover the following trade areas: carpentry, tile laying, Plaster of Paris (PoP) works, electrical works, masonry, plumbing, as well as block making/inter-locking tiles works.

“It is also important to announce that the first phase of the training programme will cover a state each from the six geo-political zones as well as three peculiar states of Lagos, Kano and Port-Harcourt,” the DG said.

She, therefore, appealed to state governments to key into the programme by making their citizens to participate in the training.

Chairman, Board of Trustees of CTIN, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, said the first phase of the training is aimed at the artisans because of their importance in the cement industry.

“We are all aware that it has become a norm rather than practice to seek for competent artisans and craftsmen from the neighbouring countries, due mainly to inadequate vocational training given to our local tradesmen and women,” Dangote said.

The business mogul said the institute is the first of its kind to, among other things, train manpower in cement technology and related fields; and to liaise with other relevant institutions and bodies to enhance cement technology development.

He explained that they were doing this in tandem with the objectives of CTIN and the ITF. He noted that ITF has, as part of its mandate, the promotion of skills’acquisition to boost indigenous manpower to meet private and public sectors’ needs; as well as evaluation and certification of vocational skills acquired by apprentices, craftsmen and technicians.

“The present efforts to enhance the skills of our artisans and craftsmen are, therefore, a symbiotic relationship between two organisations saddled with imparting skills andknowledge to our tradesmen and women,” he said.

Dangote further said the collaboration is also aimed at achieving the following objectives: To conduct training for artisans and craftsmen, determine specific needs and opportunities for capacity building and process improvement for artisans and craftsmen that use cement to execute their work; promote professionalism, proficiency and actualisation of the training to -work initiative and entrepreneurship to discourage the importation of foreign artisans and craftsmen from neighbouring countries; and complement the transformation agenda of the Jonathan administration in youth empowerment and employment generation.

Also, a member of CTIN, Mrs. Adepeju Adebajo, said Lafarge Africa has, on its own, embarked on vocational training on block making for the youth. It has also taken upon itself the enhancement of the capacity of professionals and artisan groups to improve construction.

Mrs Adebajo, who is also the Managing Director, WAPCO Operations, said the block making occupation is unregulated, standards unenforced, and the entry into the trade is almost free. Based on these, she said block makers were at liberty to roll out products which sometimes were substandards.

She said: “To show its commitment, Lafarge has developed a roadmap on how to bridge the knowledge and skill gap in construction practice, hence, the introduction of Artisan Capacity Enhancement Scheme, (ACES).

“In the course of implementing ACES, Lafarge has organised series of programmes, including seminars and conferences, train the trainer, and on site education and engagements.

“As CTIN is collaborating with ITF on the same course, I believe the training will yield successful result. We also promise on our own to continue engaging and educating artisans and block-makers while partnering with the Federal Government and other agencies to increase the skills and competencies of artisans in the built sector.”

December 22, 2014
Seven steps to successful job hunting

Realising that their job search campaign doesn’t have to be a never-ending struggle, successful job seekers approach the process with patience and persistence. In the job search craze, there are those who land a job right away and those who struggle through the process of finding one for a long time.

‘Luck’ is usually the response one hears from disenfranchised job seekers when they find out that their neighbor down the street was offered a position after only a two-week search.

With many job seekers vying for only a few open positions, the truth is that ‘luck’ rarely has anything to do with it. If you want to be among the highly successful job seekers make it an habit of doing the following seven things outlined below:

Search with purpose

Instead of trying to fit into a mould set by a hiring organisation, target companies that match your goals and career values; doing this will allows you to focus your energy into searching for a position that is a natural fit.

After all, you don’t want to find yourself embarking on another search within a year’s time because you made a decision in haste.

Always be prepared

Be ready for your day’s activities by 9 am. Opportunities rarely land on your lap and you have to be prepared for the surprises that may come up during the day. You don’t want to be caught sleeping when someone calls to discuss an employment opportunity.

If you find yourself answering the phone like this: “hello? … well … um … well, like I was kinda sleeping … how long is this gonna take? … who are you again? … like I, um, contacted so many places, cuz, you know, like, I can’t like find a job …” then it is time to reprioritise your needs.

Waiting until things are about to get absolutely out of control before you begin aggressively looking for a position can be a costly mistake. You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you are running low on resources and desperation is about to set in. This is when mistakes are made and your job search may begin to suffer.

Develop a job search plan

Organise your job search, map out a strategy, set priorities, and establish goals. The greates source of confidence is knowledge and preparation. Begin your search with a clear focus and a plan. Participate in a number of activities including answering newspaper ads, posting your resume on the Internet, and going on informational interviews.

Bypass human resources

A human resources representative is also known as a “screener.” The screener’s job is to review resumes and match your experience with a checklist of requirements set forth by the hiring manager. If there are enough matches, the human resources representative forwards the resume to the decision maker.

Unfortunately, not much is left to the screener’s interpretation. This is why most opportunities are lost – because the screener doesn’t have the luxury of making a decision based on instinct; he or she is instructed to follow the lead of the hiring manager.

Since the decision makers (e.g., National Sales Manager, Marketing Manager, or CEO) are the ones who determine who is ultimately hired, it is advisable that you apply directly to them.

Write follow-up letters

Well-written follow up letters can make a difference as to whether you get hired. A follow-up letter is more than a simple note thanking the interviewer for his or her time. It should be a sophisticated letter that either re-affirms your interest in the position, serves as an opportunity to mention an important point you neglected to bring up, and/or provides an opportunity to offer new insight on a topic that was discussed during the interview.

Avoid toxic job seekers

Support systems (even those created by you) are a great way to generate ideas and for networking purposes. However, some are also a breeding ground for negativity. “There is no job in Nigeria now”. ‘Didn’t you hear of so many people who lost their jobs in XY company last month?”, You can’t get a job there unless you know somebody”.

Are not what you should surround yourself with. Check those people around you, especially those you involve in your job search endeavors. Do they offer words of encouragement? Are they supportive of your efforts, or do they feed into your insecurities/negativities? Create a positively supporting system.

Be good to yourself

There are two types of job seekers. One that has a laid back approach, and the other that always feels “there aren’t enough hours in the day” and compulsively searches for a job without taking a breather.

Following in the footsteps of the latter is the fastest way to reaching burn out and when careless mistakes are often made. Though your job search should be your primary activity, don’t allow it to consume your every waking moment.

Every so often take a mini vacation; spend time with people who support you, listen to music and participate in activities you enjoy. Clearing your mind replenishes your energy and will allow you to continue searching for a job with a fresh outlook.

EkiniConsult & Associates is organising three free and open workshops, “Knocking on the Right Doors- Strategies for Uncovering the Hidden Job Market” for The Nation readers in Lagos. A free eBook of the same title will be given to those who may not be able to attend.

If you are interested, send-in your name, location, email address and GSM no to 080-8384-3230. Precede with the word ‘ATTEND’ for those who want to come and ‘FREE EBOOK’ for those who want the free eBook only.

December 22, 2014
Total appoints Proust MD

Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria has appointed Mrs. Elizabeth Proust as its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer.

A 1979 graduate of Mechanics and Marine Hydrodynamics from the Mechanical Engineering School (ENSM) in Central Nantes, France, she later obtained a degree in Petroleum Engineering at the French Petroleum Institute (ENSPM) Paris, France in 1980.

She joined the then Elf Aquitaine (now Total) as a junior drilling supervisor the same year (1980).

Between 1981 and 1987, Mrs. Proust worked at various affiliates of the company in Douala (Cameroun) Rio (Brazil) Luanda (Angola) and Pau (France) as drilling supervisor (offshore), drilling supervisor (deep offshore), drilling engineer and subsea specialist.

She was Head of the drilling engineering department in Pau, France from 1987 to 1989 before moving to The Hague in the Netherlands where she held technical and managerial positions as Head of non-operated follow up, Development Responsible for all operated assets and Project Manager for the K5 Central complex between 1989 and 1997.

From 1997 to 2004, Mrs. Proust was responsible for technical evaluation of new assets, project manager for New Business in Russia, production manager and operations manager in Paris (France) and The Hague (Netherlands).

Between 2004 and 2008, she was Vice President, Development Engineering and Head of Petroleum Engineering Competence for TOTAL worldwide and in December 2008, was appointed President/ General Manager for Total E&P Indonesia, where she was also the General Manager for other 15 Total companies in that country; Group representative for refinery/chemicals and marketing division/President, Oil and Gas Association of Indonesia. She served in this capacity till last year.

On February 12, this year, Mrs Proust assumed duties as Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria. She becomes the first-ever female managing director of Total in Nigeria, bringing over 30 years of extensive experience in the oil and gas industry.

She is also the Group Representative for all Total Subsidiaries (Upstream and downstream in Nigeria).

December 22, 2014
LCCI gets new officers

The Executive Head, Business Development Group of Vodacom Business Nigeria, Mr. Zakari Usman, has been appointed as Chairman, Information Communication Technology and Telecommunication Group (ICT&T) of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

He takes over from Adejare Amoo who had steered the ship of the Group in the last four years.

Usman brings to the job a wealth of experience garnered over the years as an expert in telecoms.

Other members of the Executive Committee of the Group include Mr. Abidemi Thomas of Systemtech Services Limited, Vice-Chairman; Oluremi Hamid of Phlemin Integrated Global Limited, Mr. Nicholson Okwori of Vodacom Business Nigeria, Mr. Kunle Ogunde and Mr. Ohiri Agabus of RCI Document Solution Limited.

Others are Mr. Ejike Onyeaso of IHS Nig. Plc; Mr. Uduikhue Lucky of DataPoint Microsystems Limited and the immediate past Chairman, Adejare Amoo of Corporatemind Associates Nig. Limited as ex- Officio and Funke Soyoye, Secretary, Information Communication Technology & Telecommunication

December 22, 2014
Moghalu, others join OMFIF as advisers

Franco Bassanini

OMFIF has appointed Franco Bassanini, Chairman of Italy’s largest development bank, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, to its Advisory Board.

He was a member of the Italian parliament from 1979 to 2006, and served as Italian Cabinet Minister for Public Administration and Regional Affairs (1996-98), Undersecretary of State to the Prime Minister’s Office (1998-99), and Cabinet Minister for Public Administration (1999-2001).

He is president of the Long Term Investors Club, a grouping of 15 public sector financial organisations from around the world with a balance sheet of $3.2trillion and also president of Astrid Foundation, an Italian think tank.

He has written 18 books and numerous articles on law and political science.

Kingsley Chiedu Moghalu

Kingsley Chiedu Moghalu is a member of the Banking Panel of the Advisory Board.

He was Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from 2009-14. He led reforms to enhance financial stability and manage systemic risk to Nigeria’s banking system.

Moghalu worked for the United Nations for 17 years, becoming a Director.

He is the author of Emerging Africa: How the global economy’s ‘last frontier’ can prosper and matter.

Lord Andrew Adonis

Lord Andrew Adonis has joined the Capital Markets Panel of the Advisory Board.

He is a reformer, writer and Labour peer who was minister for schools and transport secretary under Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

Adonis began his career as a journalist before joining Blair’s policy staff in 1998. He sits in the House of Lords as the shadow infrastructure minister.

December 22, 2014
‘Genetic Engineering’ll boost food production’

Dr. Sunday Aladele is the Director/Chief Executive, National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB) in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. In this interview with DANIEL ESSIET, Aladele says genetic engineering is vital to agriculture. He argues that its products are not harmful as some claim, adding that the technology can triple food production.

What is your assessment of the agricultural sector?

It is fast developing with the several measures the Federal Government has put in place coupled with the so many incentives granted to prospective investors in the agricultural sector to enhance sustainable large scale mechanised production. To unleash the agricultural potential, the Federal Government has to set a new vision for agricultural transformation. This new vision known as the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) sees agriculture as a business and not as a development programme. The government has focused on encouraging and enabling the private sector to invest massively in the agricultural sector.

What does this ATA stand to achieve? Can you tell us more about the measures taken so far to boost agriculture?

ATA, as it is designed, enables farmers to access the input they need to increase their productivity. The government has replaced the fertiliser procurement and distribution system with a private sector-driven electronic wallet system for delivering subsidised inputs directly to its farmers.

Also, the government has put in place an agricultural mechanisation policy that enables the private sector tractor manufacturers and service operators to establish 1,200 Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprises across the country. The government will provide mechanisation grants to farmers via their mobile phones, which they will use to access mechanisation services from private sector mechanisation service operators in their areas. A lot of opportunities are opening across the agric sector. Agriculture holds employment growth potential. It is identified as a key focus area to achieve the strategic growth development strategy of providing a better life for all through economic development. So far, the growth potential through investment, production and benefits will increase the sector’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) significantly.

Are we on the path to self-sufficiency in food production?

Yes, we are on the right path to self-sufficiency in food production with the government policies on commodity value chains. The government is supporting agriculture and farmers to close the identified gap between existing and potential yields. This represents a huge opportunity to advance sustainable development. But the expectations are high because the government has to empower farmers to produce far more food for a population expected to exceed 180 million and provide economic opportunities for the hundreds of millions of rural poor who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.

Above this, there is the development and poverty challenge. To address poverty fully, agriculture, therefore, needs to grow in ways that provide economic opportunities to the poor. To meet projected crop needs, the government is working to increase production technologically and helping farmers to expand the annual area harvested. Although substantial potential remains for yield increases, boosting yields at an even more rapid rate is a tall order.

Between 2012 and now, the government has helped farmers to adopt scientifically bred seeds and fertiliser, while the area under irrigation has increased. We need to close the gap between the food available today and that needed by 2020. The growth of the agricultural sector can reduce poverty more effectively than growth of other economic sectors, and in part by providing employment and also by lowering the cost of food.

What is the role of biotechnology; specifically, genetic engineering (GE)?

Globally, farmers have come to accept improved breeding as critical to agricultural progress and will so remain fundamental. Here, we support scientists to use GE to produce crops with improved traits, such as pest or drought resistance. Although improved farming practice plays an important role in boosting yields through such means as better fertilising, watering, seed selection and weed and pest control, crop breeding is critical. Here, we take the issue of crop breeding serious and encourage farmers to adopt higher yielding seeds and work with research institute in the development of new varieties. Genetic resources are key resource for economic development and growth. However, though genetic engineering are used widely in large-scale farms and the commercial sector, it has also been deployed in small-scale farmers.

How can genetic resources boost economic growth?

The increasing need to boost food production requires the conservation and better use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. To achieve the goals of ATA entail boosting crop and livestock productivity on existing agricultural land. This requires closing the food gap through yield increases.

Going by the drive of the government, there is a need to triple crop production to provide adequate food per capita, given projected population growth. To boost economic growth, we have to strengthen a productive partnership between scientists and farmers nationwide to manage and improve our plant genetic resources. That is why access to genetic resources and technologies are essential. With genetic improvement, breeders have been able to produce a wide range of plant and animal genetic resources which are of great value to farmers. Today, farmers are encouraged to grow high- yielding crop varieties. Some new released varieties have helped farmers to record bumper harvests and earn incomes that have transformed livelihoods and boost national economic growth. One potential explanation is that boosting yields can help lower prices, and people may respond by consuming more food. On the other hand, we recognise as experts the need for urgent actions to protect dwindling plant genetic resources. This is because threat to the security of plant genetic resources can hamper efforts to conserve, develop, and sustainably use our genetic diversity for food and agriculture. So, we are presenting solutions to meet growing food needs, while advancing economic development and environmental sustainability. We hope to use genetic resources to close the food gap, while creating a more productive and healthy environment through improvements in the way people produce and consume food.

It is believed that the funding of research and extension services is not impacting positively on agriculture, much more ensuring security. What is your view on this?

The funding government is making available for research and extension seems massive as people may think but it’s not enough for sustainable growth in agriculture and subsequently food security. Both on-shore and off-shore training and re-training of scientists and technologists are needed to keep them abreast of new technologies. Yes, funding needs be increased if the research institutes are expected to meet government goals and objectives.

Can you justify the importance of your centre when there are one or two institutions doing what you are doing? Some people feel that your centre should be under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. Do you share this view?

There is no other institution apart from NACGRAB in Nigeria with a mandate for genetic resources conservation, utilisation, as well as naming and registration of crop varieties, fisheries and livestock breeds. It is true that in many countries, genetic resources conservation is under the purview of Ministry of Agriculture as an autonomous organisation because most of the items in conservation are agricultural materials. But here it is under Ministry of Science and Technology and, in-fact, it could remain there as far as the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology accords it a full autonomy and makes adequate budgetary provisions for its full running. Through collaborative research, we work with other national and international organisations for support which so far has been encouraging, though further support will be greatly appreciated.

NACGRAB’s special intervention is in the provision of germplasm for genetic improvement in agronomic crops; Registration, naming and release of disease-resistance high-yielding and nutrient-enriched crop varieties, animal and fisheries breeds. NACGRAB is critical to the successful operation of the farmers driven research system and as such would be responsible for coordinating, developing and facilitating an implementation plan, determining the infrastructure required and managing the field trials, communication, training, technical support and problem-solving support to the relevant scientists who are all part of ensuring a smooth release and roll-out of successful improved crop varieties. The centre collaborates to breed improved varieties with tolerance, pest and disease resistance, and better grain quality.

What other mandates do you have?

The government’s special intervention in infrastructural development is needed, especially rural feeder roads, electricity and encouragement of cottage processing industries. NACGRAB has no such mandate of improving crop varieties but of naming, registering and release of crop varieties. In the face of unrelenting pressure on farmers to grow more food to feed the people, the centre is in the fore front of supporting new breakthroughs in research and their delivery to farmers, protection of unique varieties.

Our activities are aimed to help farmers grow more food in an environmentally sustainable way, helping them feed their families and communities and boosting economy to improve the lives of farmers and consumers.

Isn’t biotechnology, such as genetically engineering (GE) techniques, different from conventional breeding methods?

Yes, GE techniques are substantively different from conventional breeding methods. It differs from conventional plant breeding because it involves the insertion of specific genes into the genes of a target plant, often from a separate species. Applications of biotechnology range from development of vaccines, to pollution cleaning bacteria, biodegradable plastics, colored cotton, herbicide- and pest-resistant crops, and nutritionally-enhanced crops. Worldwide, the benefits and costs of genetically modified (GM) crops and animals attract enormous levels of public attention and policy debate.

Although plant scientists have bred crops with a wide variety of GM traits, two have dominated the actual market for GM crops. Much of the opposition to GM crops arises from a fear that they are not safe to consume. At this time, there is no evidence that GM crops have actually caused any human health harm. But any breeding has some potential to create unintended health consequences. That greater risk justifies requiring safety studies, and there is room for reasonable debate about the proper scope of such studies.

Can a line be drawn between permissible and impermissible applications of biotechnology?

It is possible to draw a line between permissible and impermissible applications of biotechnology. However, this regulation differs from one country to the other depending on the intended use of the products of GE. For example, the European Union (EU) differentiates between approval for cultivation within the EU and approval for import and processing. While only a few GE organisms have been approved for cultivation in the EU a number of GE organisms have been approved for import and processing.

If food security is primarily a question of distribution of insecurity, how then can increased production using GE address the question of food security?

Distribution challenges need to be addressed if food security in Nigeria will be attained or achieved through deliberate government policies.

How can GE ensure environmental sustainability and increase food production when pressure on environmental resources, such as land and water, is growing?

GE cannot ensure environmental sustainability because of growing world population.

Can herbicide-tolerant and pesticide GE crops lead to intensified use of agro-chemicals?

Government policies on use of agro-chemicals can actually avert this. More research and development needs to be done through careful GE and further research, using adequate containment facilities.

How can undesirable “genetic drifts” be controlled?

They should and this need be clearly stated in the biosafety regulation when it becomes operational.

Shouldn’t it be possible to demand zero risks from GE?

This is not possible from the realist point of view.

What is the scientific basis for considering GE to be safe?

The scientific basis for considering GE safe is based on the recent report from the International Council for Science (ICSU), 2003. The report draws on 50 independent scientific assessments carried out by authoritative groups in different parts of the world including FAO/WHO, EU Commission, and National Science Academy of many countries such as Australia, Brazil, China, India, UK, USA, etc. The report contains a substantial degree of consensus on many of the major safety concerns of GE.

Shouldn’t biotech firms bear liability for any harm to environment and public health?

The health risks is relative because even now most of the drugs that are imported have one or two of its composition developed through GE, meaning that we are all consuming the materials from GE directly or indirectly.

If GE does not benefit consumers, why should consumers bear any possible risk?

This could be viewed in both ways – where GE is beneficial and where it is not. Wherever it is useful, it also has some degree of possible health risks which the consumer will also bear. But whoever is not consuming GE should not bear any risk.

Would you say that the credibility of regulatory agencies is influencing the popular perception of genetic engineering? Is fear of biotechnology a failure of the regulatory agencies or that of the market and corporate ethics as such?

Definitely, the credibility of regulatory agencies is influencing the popular perception of GE. The fear of biotechnology is a failure of the regulatory agencies as well as the market and corporate ethics. Both did not organise enough and adequate sensitisation or enlightenment programme to educate the consumers on the use of GE. This is where regulations come into play.

How can modern profit-driven agricultural biotechnology meet the basic needs of the poor?

Profit-driven agricultural biotechnology would achieve this by only engaging in permissible GE that is vital and beneficial to meet the basic needs of the masses and not only the poor.

Would not the poor farmers become dependent on commercial biotech companies?

Poor farmers may not necessarily become dependent on commercial biotech companies. If biotech companies are restricted to production of only permissible GE, then the poor farmers can still engage in other areas of crop production, where biotech companies are forbidden, using the conventional natural methods.

What are the social and ethical implications of GE?

The social and ethical implications of GE are many. The social implications have to do with moral concerns about the process of GE. Objections include: GE is unnatural, trying to play God, disrespecting life by patenting it, illegitimately abrogating species’boundaries or exhibiting arrogance and disaffection. Such objections are difficult, if not impossible to refute, because they rest on strongly-held belief rather than on facts. Ethical objections, which rest more on facts and reasoning, have to do with consequences arising from the application of the technology. Technophobes will produce arguments that it is unethical. Technophiles will defend it. But passions aside, most agree that societies would be far better served by carefully using technology, while critically monitoring its progress and performance.

Does a consumer have the right to know whether they are consuming GE? Do you think GE foods should be appropriately labelled?

The consumers should have the right to what they are consuming, whether they are GE or not, though opinion on this may differ. Some want GE food products to be labelled because they would prefer to consume such products, and want to have a means for finding them. Others want such products to be labelled because they wish to avoid them. GE foods should be labelled because a consumer is assumed to have a legal right to know whether a food is produced with GE or not. But if labelling will attract additional charges, knowing full well that not all the consumers care to know what a food is made with, then it will be unfair to force all the consumers to accept the cost of “the right to know”. All consumers should not be forced to accept the cost of this knowledge. Only those consumers that the issue is really of concerns to should be willing to bear the cost of the labelling process.

Is the emergence of GE threatening to change the meaning and value of biodiversity from life-support base for poor communities to raw-material base for private corporations?

GE crops will accelerate the trend towards fewer varieties of crops if biotech companies are not regulated in their activities. Such a loss of crop diversity will certainly make agriculture more vulnerable. The emergence of GE is really threatening to change the meaning and value of biodiversity from life-support base for poor communities to raw-material base for private corporations. Much historical evidence shows that poor communities tend to destroy biodiversity without the aid of GE. The private corporations and public research institutions have developed products that would enormously help developing countries increase their sustainable agriculture programmes e.g. GE seeds helping increase yields and generate crops that are pests, diseases and drought resistant. Both corporations and communities have a long history of viewing biodiversity as a raw material. However, biotechnology itself does not change this view but how we use technology is the issue.

December 22, 2014