The Nation Newspaper

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  • Agribusiness key to economic growth, say expert

    Agribusiness key to economic growth, say expert

    Chinyere Okoroafor

    Stakeholders have urged Nigeria to seize opportunities presented by the COVID-19 pandemic to deepen and rethink its approach to agriculture as a business.

    They said proper organisation and stimulation of the agribusiness ecosystem and the agricultural value chain, in general, will boost the transformation of the agricultural industry.

    They spoke at the first pre-summit event for the 26th Nigerian Economic Summit (NES26) with the theme “Rethinking Approaches to Agribusiness Ecosystem in Nigeria” which on August 25, 2020.

    According to the organisers, the 26th Nigerian Economic Summit pre-summit events were designed to “help shape strategic partnerships to chart a path to recovery, and build resilience for the economy, businesses and households by delivering conversations that will put Nigeria in a strong position within the changing world order.”

    Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Laoye Jaiyeola, in his opening remarks, stated that the NES#26 pre-summit event was borne out of a partnership between the NESG, the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Alliance for a green revolution in Africa (AGRA).

    He said it had become apparent for Nigeria to seize the opportunity presented by the COVID-19 pandemic to deepen and rethink its approach to the agribusiness ecosystem and the agricultural value chain in general for the transformation of the agricultural industry.

    Furthermore, Mr. Jaiyeola noted that “Agribusiness plays an important role in the agricultural transformation process by providing forward and backward linkages to other economic sectors of development.

    “Nigeria’s Agricultural sector is the largest employer of labour, as it employs more than one-third (36.7%) of the Nigerian labour force, the highest over the past 28 years (1991- 2019).

    “Nigeria’s Agribusiness Ecosystem provides potential investment opportunity which can be aided by the provision of the necessary policy and regulatory frameworks that will ensure inclusiveness, scalability, and viability.”

    Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Muazu Abdulkadir, explained that the government is promoting the ease of doing business by investing in infrastructure in rural areas to help smallholder farmers get their produce to the market.

    He stated that the ministry is focusing on innovation, technology, and the promotion of agricultural investment in a way that is beneficial to the country.
    Dr. Abdulkadir explained that the government signed a law to open up lands and attract youths to farming and that the ministry is looking into providing the infrastructure; and they will continue to work with financial institutions to provide loans for youths interested in farming.

    During the panel session, Director, investment promotion at the Nigeria Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), Mr. Adeshina Emmanuel revealed that the NIPC grants incentives including a 100 percent tax holiday between 3 to 5 years to investors in the agricultural industry and that the finance act also grants tax waivers to agricultural businesses.

    He stated that the NIPC tracks investment announcements and that they have so far tracked $230 million foreign investment announcement for Nigeria this year and that efforts are being made to translate the announcement to actual investments.

    READ ALSO: Ecobank Agribusiness summit 2020 coming

    Head of partnership at AGRA, Ms. Jennifer Baarn stated that AGRA continues to find ways to connect everyone putting into consideration the need for active collaboration between everyone in the agribusiness value chain and that AGRA continues to engage with stakeholders and investors on risk management.

    A representative of the Director-General of the Abuja Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) Ms. Victoria Akai, Ms. Tinuke Temitope said that the ACCI continues to ensure that there is proper dissemination of information and active participation of stakeholders during agricultural policy development and implementation.

    Head of Agribusiness at Sterling Bank Plc, Ms. Bukola Awosanya revealed that Agriculture is a business estimated to be a US$1 trillion industry in Sub-Sahara Africa by 2030 and that Agribusiness is the value chain that links production, processing, and the end-user.

    She added: “Agriculture is a viable business and that Sterling Bank continues to provide financial support across the Agribusiness to all levels including smallholder farmers and 10 percent of our loan books goes to the Agriculture sector.”
    While delivering the closing remarks, the moderators of the session, Mr. David Adama and Mr. Valentine Miheso both of AGRA said that the #NES26 pre-summit events are important as they provide an opportunity for the public and private sector and other stakeholders to form partnerships for economic development.

    The 26th Nigerian Economic Summit will be the highpoint of a ‘Big Conversation for Action’ driven by pre-Summit events. These virtual events will kickstart discussions on this year’s Summit Theme and will enable us to convene a wider range of stakeholders to deliberate on a broad set of thematic and sectoral issues with key outcomes.

    The theme of this year’s Summit is “Building Partnerships for Resilience” and it is scheduled to hold from October 26 – 27, 2020. Discussions at NES #26 will be anchored on three pillars – Collaboration, Execution, and Impact – and dimensioned across five sub-themes: Mapping the Future; New Trends, New Opportunities, New Horizons; Embracing Technology and Innovation; Building Resilience and Charting the Path to Recovery.

  • Kaffy, Segun Adefila tell the dance story in For The Love Of Dance

    Kaffy, Segun Adefila tell the dance story in For The Love Of Dance

    By Olaitan Ganiu

    Guinness World Record breaker, Kafayat ‘Kaffy’ Shafau, and Segun Adefila have lent their voices to a documentary on the Nigerian dance industry.

    The documentary which is a product of a dance development platform, WAJO, captures commentaries from top dancers/troupe and stakeholders in its bid to reposition the sector as a profession and standardized it.

    The documentary also features Sir Peter Badejo, Sarah Boulos, and Qudus Onikeku, among others.

    Read Also: Kaffy: My mind is my greatest asset, it has no limits

    Speaking at the private screening in Lagos, the Project Manager of WAJO, Wale Johnson explained that “For the Love of Dance” is part of its vision to promote dance in Africa by telling our story.

    “There is a need to understand the history of dance in Nigeria so that more people especially youths can understand what dance is all about,” said Johnson.

    “This documentary serves as a background of what has been evolving since 20 years ago. We have interviewed the key players in the Nigerian dance sector, I mean, professional dancers of different genres to discussed topical issues that are critical to our dance growth.”

    Johnson further said there’s a need to sensitise the general public against their perception of dancers.

  • Adamawa Board seeks approval for pension implementation

    Adamawa Board seeks approval for pension implementation

    From Onimisi Alao, Yola

    The Adamawa State Pension Board has written to the House of Assembly to approve the implementation of a N7,000 minimum monthly pension for retired civil servants.

    Retired civil servants in the state currently receive a minimum of N4,000 pension but there is a new policy raising the rate to N7,000 which is yet to be implemented.

    Executive Chairman of the board Thomas Madi made this known while receiving members of the Assembly’s Standing Committee on Public Petition & Electoral Matters, that pensioners were anxious for the new rate to take effect.

    Read Also: Lalong’ll sustain payment of public servants, pensioners, says commissioner

    He also told the lawmakers and other government officials to consider introducing a workable but indigenous contributory pension scheme in the state

    Although monthly pension is regular in the state, the pension board is burdened with a gratuity debt of N18 billion which it is currently striving to pay with an allocation of N50 million per month.

    Considering how far it would take to clear the arrears with such sum, the board has requested the monthly allocation for that specific purpose to N350 million, so it could pay it all over about four years.

  • FCTA to employ 203 health workers

    FCTA to employ 203 health workers

    From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

    Two hundred and three midwives and community health extension workers from the defunct midwives service scheme and SUREP programme are to be employed by the federal capital territory (FCT) Abuja, minister of state Ramatu Aliyu said on Thursday.

    Read Also: Plateau to pay hazard allowances to frontline health workers

    Aliyu spoke on Thursday at the launch of 12 kilowatts power Volsus solar for health mini-grid for primary healthcare centres in Karu. She said that this was being done to boost primary healthcare services in the territory.

    Dr Aliyu also maintained that though the state of FCT PHC infrastructure by 2018 was adjudged poor with the achievement of only 30 per cent of required minimum human resources for Primary Healthcare, the administration has articulated a three-year budgeted PHC Infrastructure Rehabilitation Plan involving over 100 of the 247 PHC facilities across the six Area Councils to change the narrative.

  • Maina seeks review of charges against him

    Maina seeks review of charges against him

    From Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

    Former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, has petitioned the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, for the review of charges the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed against him.

    In a letter by his lawyer, Edwin Inegedu, dated August 31, 2020, Maina urged the AGF to, in the interest of justice, stop his trial.

    He also urged Malami to review the files involving him to ensure that his prosecution “is not malicious, mala fide (in bad faith; intended to deceive) and borne out of narrow interests to prevent accountability for the assets kept in the EFCC’s custody”.

    Read Also: Ex-pension boss Maina released from Kuje Prison

    The petition added: “It is our further brief that our client’s persecution by the EFCC came to a head under the leadership of Mr. Ibrahim Magu.

    “This was principally due to our client’s demand that the EFCC should account for the sums and properties recovered by the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), and kept in the EFCC’s custody.”

    Maina alleged that the EFCC mounted a campaign of calumny against him to obfuscate the issues and divert attention from its inability to account for the properties warehoused with the commission.

    “It is also pertinent to add that our client has, despite the hordes of persecution and attacks on his person, aided the Federal Government in a further recovery of N1.3 trillion recently.”

  • Recruitment: Police screen 1379 in Lagos

    Recruitment: Police screen 1379 in Lagos

    Precious Igbonwelundu

    A total of 1,379 candidates from 18 local government areas (LGAs) in Lagos State have been screened in the ongoing Police Constable recruitment, the Command said on Thursday.

    The credential screening exercising, which is expected to elapse by September 6, will give applicants who missed their screening days an opportunity to participate on Friday, September 5, said spokesman Bala Elkana.

    Giving updates on the exercise, Elkana said 75 applicants from Ojo and Oshodi-Isolo LGAs were screened on Thursday.

    He said: “The exercise has so far covered eighteen Local Governments, namely Agege, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Alimosho, Amuwo-Odofin, Apapa, Badagry, Epe, Eti-Osa, Ibeju-Lekki, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Kosofe, Lagos Island and Mushin.

    READ ALSO: Police recruitment: Statutory entry requirements remain sacrosanct, says IGP

    “One thousand, three hundred, and seventy-nine candidates were screened from the eighteen LGAs. The Screening exercise will continue tomorrow (today) with candidates from Somolu LGA. Candidates from Surulere LGA will be screened on September 5.

    “Candidates who might have missed the screening due to one reason or the other will be screened on Saturday, September 5 from 8 am to 6 pm.”

  • U.S., ICC clash over sanctions on court’s officials

    U.S., ICC clash over sanctions on court’s officials

    Our Reporter

    The decision of the U.S. government to place sanctions on International Criminal Court officials constitutes a serious attack against the court, the Rome Statute system of international criminal justice, and the rule of law, the ICC has said.

    The ICC in a statement Thursday described the U.S. government’s move as “coercive” and “unprecedented.”

    The U.S. on Wednesday announced it is placing sanctions on Fatou Bensouda, the ICC chief prosecutor,  and Phakiso Mochochoko, the head of jurisdiction division, over the continued investigations of U.S. citizens.

    According to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, since the U.S. was not part of the ICC, the investigations were “illegitimate.”

    In 2020, the Trump administration began to impose economic sanctions on ICC employees involved in investigating U.S. troops for potential war crimes in Afghanistan.

    READ ALSO: Anxiety as U.S. rejects global vaccine supply coalition

    The ICC said the sanctions are another attempt to interfere with the court’s judicial and prosecutorial independence “and crucial work to address grave crimes of concern to the international community as mandated under the ICC Rome Statute.”

    “The Court continues to stand firmly by its personnel and its mission of fighting impunity for the world’s most serious crimes under international law, independently and impartially, in accordance with its mandate.

    “In doing so, the Court benefits from the strong support and commitment of two-thirds of the world’s States which are parties to the Rome Statute.”

    The ICC was established in 2002 to investigate and, where necessary, try individuals charged with genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crimes of aggression. The Court currently comprises 123 countries which give it authority, under the Rome Statute, its founding treaty, to investigate and prosecute crimes committed by their nationals or by anyone on their territory.

     

    (www.newsnow.co.uk)

     

  • Entries open for music scholarship

    Entries open for music scholarship

    By Sampson Unamka

    THE MTN foundation has commenced calls for application for the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) scholarship programme 2020. The call for application, which began on Friday, August 7, 2020, is open to musically-inclined young Nigerians across the country.

    Since 2006, the MTN Foundation partnering with MUSON has funded over 330 music scholars providing a scholarship award covering tuition, transportation, resource materials, among others for a two-year diploma.

    MUSON’s internationally recognised programme promotes the understanding and performance of classical and contemporary music. All applicants must possess a minimum academic qualification of GCE with at least five credit passes including English or its SSCE equivalent. In addition, applicants must have a grade five or higher pass certificate of MUSON or any other recognised music examining body.

    Speaking on the scholarship, Acting Executive Secretary of MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya, said, “Music is a universal form of expression. Music education is however not readily available or affordable to millions of young Nigerians. It has been inspiring seeing our young scholars excel in various areas of music across the globe. We are excited at the talent we will receive this year, and look forward to playing our part in achieving their dreams.”

  • CAMA law made in national interest, says Seriki

    CAMA law made in national interest, says Seriki

    By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Editor

    Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Board Chairman Demola Seriki has explained that the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) was enacted in good faith.

    He said its implementation will foster international best practices in the country.

    Seriki berated critics of the law for skipping its core elements and whipping up sentiments among religious bodies.

    The ambassador-designate, who spoke on phone, said if the law is working perfectly in Europe and America, nothing stops it from working in Nigeria.

    Seriki described its enactment as a milestone, urging religious bodies to support its implementation in national interest.

    Read Also: Fed Govt, CAN fail to agree on CAMA

    The former Minister of State for Defence wondered why Nigerians, who copy many innovations and ideas from the Western world, are resisting a law that is meant to reposition business operations.

    Emphasising that CAMA was devoid of sentiments, he said aggrieved religious groups are still at liberty to propose their bills to the National Assembly.

    Seriki advised religious bodies to shun opulence and lifestyle that could derail their original vision and focus.

    He allayed the fear of clampdown on religious activities, saying there is no basis for religious repression.

    Seriki explained that while the provision on the appointment of a board of trustees is sacrosanct, its implementation will reflect sensitivity and balance.

    He said: “Muslims cannot be trusted in churches and Christians cannot be trustees in mosques.”

  • ‘Nigeria must see COVID-19 as catalyst for economic development’

    ‘Nigeria must see COVID-19 as catalyst for economic development’

    By Chinyere Okoroafor

    The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has urged stakeholders in the private and public sectors to see the economic disruption caused by COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity for economic growth.

    NESG Vice-Chairman Mr. Niyi Yusuf said there was the need for Nigeria to seize the opportunities presented by the COVID-19 pandemic to foster economic development.

    He spoke while welcoming participants to #NES26 Pre-summit Event in Lagos.

    Yusuf explained that the forthcoming 26th Nigerian Economic Summit slated for October 26-27, 2020, is a big conversation for action that seeks to build partnerships for resilience for the nation’s economy.

    The #NES26 Pre-summit Event with the theme “Increasing opportunities and sustaining resilience through Circular Economy in Nigeria” was organised by NESG and the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Environment.

    READ ALSO: PTF, NGF, NESG, others unveil response tracker, dashboard

    The event was also designed “to shape strategic partnerships to chart a path to recovery, and build resilience for the country’s economy, businesses and households by delivering conversations that will put Nigeria in a strong position within the changing world order.”

    Dr. Mohammed Mahmood Abubakar, the Minister for Environment, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Department of Climate change, Mrs. Halima Bawa-Bwari, while delivering the keynote address on ‘Delivering better outcomes in a post COVID Pandemic through circular Economy’, said the Circular Economy model came to the fore in the 1990s with the aim of reducing the dependence of economies on natural resources.