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Tag: jobs

  • Lagosians, get set… 181 roads, rent-to-own flats, jobs coming

    As Lagos warms up to commemorate its landmark golden jubilee anniversary on May 27, there is huge optimism and excitement in the air. The sixth town hall of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode provides insights into what to expect and all eyes are on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to lengthen his long list of capital projects, writes WALE AJETUNMOBI

    Chief R.O Ajayi, Olumide Folami, Dr. Pascal Edomime, Yeye Dupe Ojo and Alhaja Dalemo Olukoga live in Ketu axis of Lagos State. Last Thursday, they all attended the sixth quarterly town hall meeting of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. They did not go empty handed. They went with baskets of requests.

    They urged the governor to fix roads, such as Kujore Street, Quadri-Anibaba Road and others. They also wanted a secondary school for Agiliti and Maidan communities. Their bags of requests also had spaces for a new market on available land space at Fola Ahmed Street, fixing of the Itoikin road and transformation of the Agboyi-Ketu community.

    Ambode was ready for them too. He came with plans that will see new roads, link bridges, pedestrian bridge, jobs and others being delivered to Lagosians soon.

    Last year, he announced plans by his administration to construct 114 roads in all the 57 local councils and Local Council development Authorities (LCDAs) simultaneously. He gave a timeline of in six months. There were reservations in some quarters about the possibility of fulfilling the promise.

    Time, however, proved wrong the Doubting Thomas. At the town hall meeting last week, Ambode again unfolded yet another plan, which looks insurmountable. He announced his readiness to increase the number of the roads from 114 to 181.

    Speaking at the meeting held at the Ajelogo Housing Scheme, Ajelogo Market Road, Akanimodo, Mile 12, Ambode explained the rationale behind scaling up the road improvement project.

    The governor said: “I want to pronounce here that you should watch out next week in the newspapers, we are advertising 181 roads which would be done in all our local governments.

    “What we have found out is that if we decided to continue with two, some of those roads are not linking each other to the main road, so most likely you would see that if we are supposed to do some road in some local governments, it would only make economic sense if there is a linkage. So you would see in the advert that some local governments would have like three, some would have four roads, but the average is 181 and if you divide that by 57, that would be a minimum of three roads from each local government.”

    Ambode said the choice of the roads to be constructed had been made by the local governments in conjunction with the engineers.

    The governor said the choice of Akanimodo, Mile 12 as venue for the meeting was to show that the axis had not been left behind in the developmental progress.

    He said in the last quarter, his administration kicked off its “Rent-To-Own and Rental Housing Policy” aimed at providing affordable units across the three Senatorial Districts, disclosing that there are 4,355 housing units available with over 500 applicants prequalified so far, while allocation would commence next week.

    The governor said his administration would rehabilitate the Oko-Oba Abattoir and Lairage Complex, Agege to increase meat production output, develop the red meat value chain and restructure the complex.

    Ambode unveiled plan to improve transportation in the metropolis, with the rehabilitation of roads, such as Marwa/Depot Road, Ijegun-Egba in Amuwo Odofin, 500metres-long Imeke-Ajido Bridge in Badagry, Adisa Ajibulu in Oshodi, Adisa Balogun-Igboho Street, Alapere in Kosofe Local Government as well as the signalisation and junction improvement on the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

    He also said the Neighbourhood Safety Corps would become operational in this quarter with the recruitment of 5700 personnel, adding that 100 would be deployed to each local government to complement the efforts of other security agencies.

    2017, said the governor, holds great expectations for Lagos, which is set to mark its landmark Golden Jubilee on May 27.

    Urban regeneration initiatives, the governor said, will see Agric-Isawo-Arepo Road in Ikorodu, Ajelogo–Akanimodo Road Rehabilitation, Oshodi to Murtala Mohammed Airport Road and Ketu-Alapere Inner Roads Phase II wearing new looks. Also to benefit from this are Oke Oso–Araga–Poka in Epe, Topo Garage to VIP Chalet in Badagry, Ladipo Market Road, Multilayer Car Park, Mushin.

    Bus Terminals and depots are to be established in Yaba, Ikeja, Oyingbo, Anthony, Ketu and Toll Gate.

    More beneficiaries will receive funding from the N25billion Employment Trust Fund this month.

    Ambode said: “As we continue the task of ensuring good governance in our dear State, I am confident that 2017 will bring succor and new opportunities that will foster prosperity for Lagos State and all its residents. Our party, the APC, remains focused on making Lagos the progressive sign post for all. I thank all our party leaders and members for their loyalty and support.”

    Oba of Lagos Oba Rilwan Akiolu urged the governor to give priority to the construction of Adeniji-Adele Road and ensure the construction of other roads that deserve utmost attention in Lagos Island.

    He also urged the governor to improve the standard of markets in the area to enviable standards, while urging total reconstruction of non-approved and unauthorised buildings already built within major markets in Lagos Island.

    On security, Lagos State Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni said with the continued support of the state government, the Command increased the number of personnel in Ketu-Epe Police Post from two to seventy to effectively combat kidnapping and other crimes in Agbowa, Itoikin and environs, as well as transformed the hitherto abandoned Iyun Police Post to anti-kidnapping unit, while two gun boats were moved to Ejirin.

    On provision of health centres, Special Adviser to the governor on Primary Health Care, Dr. Femi Onanuga, said the government has 288 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) with plans to construct another two, as well as renovation work on 35 PHCs.

    Onanuga said government has also perfected plans to equip 35 PHCs with another two, while the total number of PHCs in the State would be increased to 290, adding that Governor Ambode has approved that PHCs, from now onwards, should offer 24hours service as against the former 8hours service.

    He also disclosed that a public spirited Lagosian has already donated a PHC worth N70million to government along Agbelekale-Aboru axis.

    Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Babatunde Adejare said the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI) of the present administration would be implemented and a total of 40, 000 people would be employed starting from June 2017.

    Ambode directed that a stakeholder’s meeting should be convened on the issue of Ilaje Road in Bariga raised by one Elder Omoniyi owing to the fact that the road was narrow and some houses would have to give way for the construction.

    On Irawo Road, Ambode ordered the Public Works Corporation to move to site within seven days and complete the project to appreciate the communal effort of the people, while promising to look into all the issues raised by residents.

    A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Kosofe II, Tunde Buraimoh and Prince Rotimi Agunsoye representing Kosofe Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives hailed the idea behind the meeting, saying that it was important for the government and the governed to meet and decide on issue of governance.

    “There is no gainsaying that without any equivocation, without mincing words, I say categorically, emphatically without any fear of correction and contradiction that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is God-sent to Lagos. He is fantastic, he is someone who is even a noiseless engine. He is not the type that will use N1, 000 to do a project and use N10, 000 on publicity. The Governor is doing what he was supposed to do as matter of routine and achievement in governance has become a routine in Lagos.

    “The governor is not cosmetics; he does not do propaganda but yet every corner, every locality in Lagos is now a construction site from Oshodi to Alimosho to Epe to Kosofe. I say kudos to him,” Agunloye said.

     

  • Obaseki targets 80,000 agric jobs

    Obaseki targets 80,000 agric jobs

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has inaugurated a nine-man committee headed by Chief Osaro Idah, to start agricultural empowerment programme.

    He hoped it would generate between 50,000 and 80,000 jobs.

    Obaseki said the committee was constituted to ensure his administration began some of its agricultural activities before the cropping season.

    He listed four areas the programme would focus on to include 5,000 hectares of maize, 10,000 hectares of green house for vegetables and tomatoes, 4,000 hectares of piggery, saying his administration would provide support for 3,000 cocoa farmers to improve their yields.

    The governor said: “This is an advocacy committee which we expect to start the agriculture mandate as contained in my manifesto. We will soon constitute a full committee to look at our agricultural initiative.

    “We cannot wait given that we are in a race against time. We want to ensure we begin some of our agricultural activities before the next cropping season. We want this committee to help the government think and identify the project we must implement. We have three months of dry season to prepare before the rains.”

    Idah said the committee will not fail.

  • Recession: 6,000 jobs gone in maritime sector

    The maritime sector has lost over 6,000 jobs to the economic recession, and  many companies have closed down due to liquidity challenges, the President, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Emmanuel Nted, has said.

    He spoke at the union’s National Executive Council meeting and Special Delegates Conference in Lagos.

    According to him, Intels retrenched over 3,000 workers because of harsh operating environment since the economic recession started.

    He said the job losses were affecting the union, with more workers faced with insecurity, which has exposed the lives of their families to risks.

    The MWUN chief said it had become more difficult to protect members’ jobs in various branches, adding that the union had not been able to discuss the review of conditions of service.

    “Where collective bargaining agreement and conditions of services negotiations are due for review, the union is forced to accept marginal increases where possible and trading off increment, with withdrawal of redundancy threats.

    “We appeal to the government to find urgent solution to the recession before it escalates,” Nted said.

    He also urged the government to fix the deplorable roads leading to the seaports, adding that the problems is affecting the nation’s economy.

    The union leader said apart from the airports and the land borders, the seaports are another entry points for foreigners into the country.

    He said quick action should be taken to start the reconstruction of the roads leading to the seaports, since the contract had been awarded to avoid industrial action.

  • ‘Recycling creates jobs’

    United Recyclers Association President Afolabi Saheed has  said recycling and more efficient resource use have led to new jobs in Lagos and Ogun states.

    Speaking on the sidelines of the Recycling Day, Saheed said jobs were created as more Nigerians join the industry to collect and recycle commercial and industrial wastes.

    Though he was not exact on the number of jobs created and the number of youths attracted to the sector, Saheed noted that apart from Lagos, the association has been recording new entrants in Ogun State.

    According to him, the waste collection and recycling industry has grown quickly, translating to self-employment opportunities.

    Some of the members are involved in collection, sorting and reprocessing, as well as in the supply chain.

    Earlier, Saheed had reiterated his association’s   seriousness about unlocking the wealth in waste and help consumers to recycle as much as possible.

    He explained that recycling is a value chain activity that begins with recyclable material collection from locations such as households, drop-off points, construction and demolition centers and businesses.

  • Niger Rice Mill to create over 10,000 jobs

    Niger Rice Mill to create over 10,000 jobs

    Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has said the unemployment rate in the state will reduce next year as no fewer than 10,000 workers will be engaged at the Niger State Rice Mill.

    He spoke at the inauguration of the multi-million dollar Integrated Rice Processing and Milling Complex built by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in Bida, the state capital.

    He said the Rice Mill will also boost agriculture in the state with the production of 1.5 metric tonnes of rice daily.

    “It is expected that the Rice Mill will generate over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs, when it comes fully on stream and this will engage our youths and women as from next year,”he said.

    Bello said the bumper harvest recorded this farming season was a result of the policies of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration aimed at repositioning agriculture as the mainstay of the economy and to ensure national food security.

    He, however, called for caution on the export of essential farm produce to neighbouring countries for monetary gains, saying that such ventures may expose the country to food insecurity.

    The governor said plans were underway by the state government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to buy off the major food items and store them to ensure food security.

    “The development was in fulfill-ment of my pledge to explore all avenues to attract investors and projects to the state, especially through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives. The state Ministry of Agriculture will ensure the proper management of the rice mill by engaging competent hands to manage the facility,” he said.

    The Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Noh Kyu-Duk, said the gesture was informed by Nigeria’s huge potential, the comparative advantage of cultivating rice and becoming self-sufficient.

    Kyu-Duk noted that the non-availability of high rice production capacity was the major obstacle of achieving self-sufficiency in rice production in Nigeria.

    The KOICA’s Country Director, Mrs Sook Hyun Park said the project, which started in 2008, can process 1.5 tonnes of rice per hour with parboiling, drying, sorting and packaging facilities and can be increased to three tonnes per hour.

  • Auto policy to create 700,000 jobs, says NIPC

    Auto policy to create 700,000 jobs, says NIPC

    The Nigeria Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) has said the implementation of the new automotive policy would create over 700,000 jobs.

    Speaking at the stakeholders’ forum on the Nigeria automotive industry, NIPC Executive Secretary, Ms. Yewande Sadiku, who was represented by Director, Department of Real Sector, NIPC, Mr. Reuben Kifasi, said the implementation of the automotive policy would create jobs in different clusters in the country and across the automotive value chain.

    She said: “First and foremost, the automotive industry is the most global of industries and a clear policy and strategy will serve as the route map towards Nigeria becoming a major automotive hub and significant contributor to the global value chain.

    “This will create much needed jobs, add value, boost exports, help local businesses to grow, stimulate regional development and sustain inclusive economic growth.”

    According to Sadiku, it will fast-track the growth and development of other intervening industries such as automotive spare parts, auto servicing, steel industry, rubber, petrochemicals and plastic industries, among others.

    She noted that the Nigerian National Automotive Policy, enacted in 2014, underlined the commitment the government was making to create an enabling environment where investors, local and international, can profitably serve customers in Nigeria, throughout Africa and beyond.

    Sadiku added that the public-private-dialogue was a powerfull vehicle for crafting and realigning policies, and that the feedback from such an experienced and well-informed audience will provide invaluable feedback to temper policy and sharpen strategic direction for a renaissance of the automotive industry in Nigeria.

    “As the agency of the government of Nigeria responsible for attracting domestic and foreign investment and helping indigenous companies expand, NIPC is committed in 2017 to closely collaborate with National Automotive Design & Development Council (NADDC) and other key stakeholders to promote investment into the automotive industry,” she said.

    The NIPC boss said the agency was committed to fulfilling its policy advocacy role to sustain improvements to the investment climate, thereby creating a conducive environment for private investors to actively drive the development of the sector for the benefit of the economy and people of Nigeria

  • $500m FDI, 20, 000 jobs coming from Enugu FTZ

    $500m FDI, 20, 000 jobs coming from Enugu FTZ

    The Enugu Free Trade Zone (FTZ) is set to attract $500 million, about N240 billion worth of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) from leading global manufacturing companies, as well as create 20,000 jobs.

    The Nation learnt that investment groups were scheduled to gather for the ground-breaking of the Empower Free Trade Zone (EMPOWER FTZ), which is expected to drive investment around the facility.

    Industrial clusters to be hosted in the free zone are also expected to create over 20,000 jobs.

    Licensed by the Federal Government last December, EMPOWER FTZ is a public-private initiative, with the Enugu State Government offering international and domestic investors the benefits of connecting to business opportunities in the Southeast cluster.

    According to Canback & Company, and the McKinsey Global Institute, the Southeast cluster is the second largest in Nigeria, after the Lagos cluster.

    Empower is affiliated, as a full voting member, to the Dubai-based World Free Zones Organisation (WorldFZO) and the Africa Free Zones Association (AFZA) respectively.  The promoters said it is intended to function as a certified smart -sustainable and safe free trade zone.

    They said they will also provide uninterrupted power supply via an embedded power arrangement, and certify the free zone’s infrastructure and operations to globally accepted standards.

    They will also operate the free trade zone as a one-stop investment destination by integrating all free zone operations with the documentation and cargo handling, customs, immigration administration processes to achieve an ‘Ease of Doing Business’ rating equivalent to that of Dubai.

    Besides, the EMPOWER FTZ is to host Africa’s first ever Nigeria-China “Dragon Market”, the second of such manufacturing and wholesale centre, after the famous Dubai Dragon Market. Dragon Mart Dubai is the largest trading hub for Chinese products outside mainland China.

  • On Federal Govt’s 500,000 jobs initiative

    A 2015 World Bank statistics indicates that 100 million Nigerians live in destitution while a recent data from the same body confirms Nigeria as one of the five poorest nations in the world. The nation’s high unemployment rate is partly responsible for this frightening statistics and heart-breaking rating. That our country is in deep-rooted unemployment web is further confirmed by the highlights of the Unemployment and Underemployment Watch for first quarter of 2015. According to the report, a total of 17.7 million people between ages 15 and 65 either unemployed or underemployed in the labour force in the first quarter of 2015. The report further asserts that the number of unemployed people (861,110 people) in the first quarter 2015 was more than the number of employed people within the same period (504,596 persons).

    Similarly, official figures from the National Bureau of Statistics puts unemployment figure at about 20% (about 30million), but this number still did not include about 40million other Nigerian youths captured in World Bank statistics in 2009. By implication, it means that if Nigeria’s population is 140 million, then 50% of Nigerians are unemployed, or worse still, at least 71% of Nigerian youths are unemployed. This is particularly disturbing and counterproductive because at least 70% of the population of this country are youths.

    Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor and now Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, once revealed that while the Nigerian economy grew at the rate of seven percent for the past six years, unemployment has actually doubled at same period. He submitted that security crisis and internal uprising across the country were products of chronic poverty and mounting joblessness. So, unemployment has grown to become a monster with many faces. Many have become victims of drug addiction, rape cases, kidnapping and other such criminal vices, no thanks to unbearable unemployment situation.

    No doubt, the Federal Government is aware of the enormity of the unemployment challenge.  This, perhaps, is the reason for its much touted 500,000 employment initiative for unemployed graduates. It is a remunerated volunteering programme of a two-year period that engages graduates in their direct communities, where they will assist in improving the shortfalls in the education, health and agriculture sectors. They will own tablets that contain essential information concerning their precise engagements and other such crucial information. They are also to be provided teaching, instructional and consultative solutions in four major focus areas namely basic education, agriculture extension services, public health and community education (civic and adult education). They would also be trained in skills that could enable them exit after two years to reasonably feasible opportunities. They are to be paid a monthly stipend of N30, 000.

    After initial hiccups, recent reports have it that the first 200,000 beneficiaries of the scheme would commence work by December 1. According to a statement from the Office of the Vice President, where the project is domiciled, of the 200,000 first set, 150,000 would be engaged in teaching, 30,000 would work in the agricultural sector while 20,000 would serve in healthcare delivery. Altogether, the scheme plans to engage and train 500,000 young unemployed graduates.

    Though, in practical terms, the programme is yet to take off, major stakeholders such as the Nigeria Labour Congress, Nigeria Union of Teachers and Students bodies have lauded the initiative. Organized Labour particularly hailed the efforts on the premise that any scheme that could offer a massive amount of youths employment opportunity is worth commending. While reacting to the plan, President, Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, Michael Alogba-Olukoya, extolled the project as “a right step in the right direction’’.

    Critics of the initiative have, however, called for caution concerning its prospect. To them, it is rather laughable that the federal government is exploiting the unemployment situation in the country to further enslave young Nigerians. They wonder why a scheme that pays young Nigerian a miserly N30, 000 per month should be celebrated, considering our current harsh economic condition in which those with improved pay merely grapple to survive.  How productive could a young graduate with a monthly pay of N30, 000 actually be in an inflation ridden economy?

    To critics of the project, the meagre N30, 000 pay packages for beneficiaries might further compound the employment woes of young Nigerians as prospective employers could follow suit by offering them peanuts.  Besides, critics also wonder whether it is morally rational for the federal government to take up 500,000 Nigerian graduates for a job that has little or no future prospect, taking into consideration its two year duration.  This, to detractors of the scheme does not really add up.

    Another grouse of critics against the scheme is the rationality of government (public sector) directly employing people in a country where the recurrent expenditure is often well above 70% of the budget, especially when considered that many states can presently not even pay those in their employ and the federal government is talking about borrowing from foreign sources to fund the budget. In the 21st century, it is a free market module economy that creates jobs not governments.

    However, my take on the job scheme is that though it doesn’t really represents a resourceful and holistic approach to tackling the excruciating unemployment miseries in the country, it, nevertheless, would help in relieving some of its beneficiaries, albeit temporarily, the pains and frustrations of  redundancy. Equally, the skill that some of them would acquire through the various training programmes, as being proposed, could open more and better opportunities for them in life. On the argument that the private sector should take initiative for job creation, as true as this is, the way things presently stand in our nation, the private sector might not be able to rise up to do that in the next five years. It is a common knowledge that most private ventures in the country have been downsizing in the past few months.

    Having said this, however, the federal government truly needs to do more than the 500,000 jobs approach if we are really serious about curtailing chronic unemployment in the country.  It must come up with inventive strategies that would enhance the thriving and expansion of small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) in the country. In an economy like ours, the growth and development of SMEs remain a major catalyst for economic resurgence and wealth creation.

    Also, all tiers of governments must give adequate attention to development of infrastructure. Weak infrastructure is inimical to job creation and economic growth. The government, especially, needs to do more in ensuring stable power supply. Small businesses will, no doubt, flourish with un-hindered power supply. Equally, multi-national firms that have closed down due to unstable power supply could come back if the power situation improves. This would not only bring up new jobs, but will certainly restore lost ones.

     

    • Ogunbiyi is of the Ministry of Information & strategy, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
  • Buhari, Southeast lawmakers meet over development, jobs

    Buhari, Southeast lawmakers meet over development, jobs

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met behind closed-doors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja some Federal lawmakers from the Southeast.

    A group, Southeast Caucus in the National Assembly, presented some of the concerns and challenges of the region to the President.

    The delegation included Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu; Chairman of Southeast Caucus, Eyinnaya Abaribe; former Education Minister Sam Egwu, Hope Uzodinma, Andy Uba and Chukwuka Utazi.

    Addressing State House correspondents after the meeting, Ekweremadu said: “For us from the Southeast, we believe that dialogue is better than any other form of engagement. So, we decided to visit the President and present to him some of the concerns of the Southeast, including roads, general infrastructure: the rail, airports.

    “We also discussed security with him and, of course, the issue of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). We had a good conversation and he promised to look into the issues.”

    Abaribe said the delegation also sought more Federal appointments, adding that the Southeast was short-changed more than any other zone in the country.

    He said: “This is the Southeast Caucus in the Senate and we came to see the President because of the issues we have in the Southeast. We had a fruitful discussion with the President. He promised to look into the problems of the Southeast.

    “We know that there are problems everywhere, but we also believe that the Southeast is the zone that is far much short-changed at this time than other zones.

    “We also talked about appointments for the Southeast, especially with respect to the National Security Council. The President also told us that governors of the Southeast had also engaged him on the same issues.

    “There is a concerted effort from the people of the Southeast to be sure that we engage with this government meaningfully. We were reassured with the response we got from the President and we look forward to further interaction with him in this manner.”

  • ‘Organic farming can create more jobs’

    Head of Department of Crop Protection, College of Plant Science and Crop Production (COLPLANT), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) Prof Jonathan Atungwu has said  Nigeria can leverage on the growing market interest in organic agriculture for economic development.

    According to him, organic agriculture involved raising plants and animals in a sustainable manner without the use of chemicals, which are man-made and poisonous.

    He noted that this production system sustained the health status of soils, ecosystems and people, based on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions.

    The professor of Plant Nematology and Deputy Editor, Journal on Organic Agriculture and Environment, said the difference between organic and conventional agriculture was use of synthetic chemical fertilisers to promote plant growth by farmers. Organic farmers, he said would apply natural fertilisers, such as manure or compost, to feed the soil and the plants, adding that where the conventional farmer would use insecticides for pest control, the organic farmer would make use of beneficial insects, birds or plants  such as  the Neem leaf (Dogoyaro), Scent leaf and Bitter leaf. The don added that where the conventional farmer would  use herbicides for weed control, the organic farmer rotates crops and use other farming methods to manage the weeds.

    He revealed that producers of organic beef, pork, poultry and other meat products are using preventive measures such as rotational grazing, a wholesome diet and clean housing in contrast to the conventional producers, who give animal hormones to spur growth and antibiotics to prevent disease with its residual effect. Atungwu noted further that the health risks associated with exposure to some pesticides, fungicides and herbicides was another main consideration when looking at the differences between organic and conventional produce as some of them were linked to cancer and other diseases.

    He said the future of organic agriculture was bright, adding that it is  capable of giving Nigerians safe food.

    Atungwu noted that a scheme, known as the Community Organic Box Scheme (COBS), which started in the university on January 30, 2014, has been meeting the demand for organic products throughout the year in a sustainable manner, adding that  weekly, the organic produce was shared to members.

    Atungwu described FUNAAB as a training and capacity building ground for research and training of farmers and other interested producers. He noted that the aim of the project was not only to grow organic produce on commercial basis in the university, but to train people, who would produce many organic products on a commercial scale.

    Atungwu said organic agriculture operates on four basic principles, namely principle of health; where they look at the health of the soil to make sure that the soil was healthy and if so, the plants would be healthy, the animals would be healthy, the people would be healthy and the whole planet would also be healthy, adding that the principle of ecosy  stem should operate in a manner that would be healthy for humanity, as he charged all to think of a safer future for the nation’s generation that is safe.