The Nation Newspaper

Tag: partner

  • Governors urged to partner cooperative societies in housing

    The continued shortage of affordable housing in the country remains a sore point for experts and other stakeholders in the built environment.

    The experts, like the Managing Director, M.I. Okoro and Associates, Mr. Meckson Okoro, have not ceased to wonder why, in a nation of over 180 million people, not up to 20 per cent of them can boast of owning their houses.

    Okoro, while presenting a paper at the housing scheme launch of the Perfection Co-operative Estate Phase 1, Ibeju-Lekki, noted that this is a sharp contrast to what obtains in other countries like Singapore and Cuba, among others, where house ownership is a secondary problem because up to 75 percent of such country’s population can boast of their own homes.

    The Perfection Investors Cooperative Society Limited is an independent membership real estate club in Lagos.

    At the event, which held in Lagos, Okoro blamed the  credit system for the housing challenge.

    “There is absence of mortgage system in Nigeria and the few ones existing have no financial muscle to finance real estate development because of the huge capital requirement of this form of investment. The commercial banks have limited capital to lend for real estate development. Where they have such fund to lend, it will be for a very high interest rate,” he lamented. He added that ignorance is another big problem affecting house ownership.

    “How many people know about cooperative societies as the vehicle to own their houses? Not many really, and even if they knew, ignorance will not allow them to take action. Therefore, the only way forward to owning your houses today since there are not solid mortgage institution to finance real estate is for people to join real estate cooperatives to secure their future to own houses and land. This is where cooperatives like Perfection Real Estate Investors Cooperative Society is of importance,” he said.

    Okoro, an estate surveyor and valuer, advised governors to partner cooperative societies to provide affordable mass housing for their citizens.“The government should work in tandem with cooperative societies because their activities impact the society,” he said, citing corruption, monetisation policy of government and the Land Use Act as some factors affecting real estate development in the nation.

    The guest lecturer/Managing Director Realty Point Limited, Mr. Debo Adejana, said investment in real estate was a gold mine being neglected by Nigerians due to ignorance. He said areas that have developed to become city centres were once remote areas people ran away from.

    He advised that investments into real estate should not be delayed because experience had shown that procrastination took away opportunities for people to either be land or house owners. “Don’t get trapped in the Nigerian real estate dilemma where the trap is not being able to afford what he wants and not wanting what he can afford. Buy land, invest in real estate before you wait, don’t wait to invest in real estate because prices would never go low,” Adejana advised.

    According to him, Ibeju Lekki in Lagos is the fastest growing construction hub in Africa today because people are building massively in the area and it is expected that by 2020 the hub will generate 50,000 jobs.

    Perfection Real Estate Investors Cooperative Society Limited President, Mr. Niyi Adeleye, noted that the economic situation and some policies of the government  depleted purchasing power in real estate.

    He said only about two per cent of Nigerians were investing in real estate, a situation he described as worrisome. “This also means that even when we talk about home ownership for the Nigerian, we are still very far behind,” he said.

    Adeleye said the cooperative society was inaugurated in 2012 to bridge the gap and give more Nigerians the opportunity to join the club to make small contributions towards home and land ownership.

  • OVH Energy, Interswitch, others partner on fuel retailing

    The partnership between Interswitch, an integrated payment and transaction switching firm, and EVSL, developers of FuelVoucher, in 2015, has been expanded to include  OVH Energy Marketing and other oil marketing firms.

    The distribution network of the electronic fuel purchasing solution was broadened further with the partnership of three oil marketing firms – OVH Energy Marketing, Forte Oil and RainOil.

    The pacts were signed at an event in Lagos, which involved key executives of Interswitch, EVSL, OVH and Forte Oil.

    At the ceremony, OVH Acting Chief Executive Officer Mrs. Olaposi Williams said: “As a customer-focused organisation, we are excited about this initiative as we are constantly seeking new opportunities to provide innovative solutions that offer convenience, flexibility and security for our consumers. With the fuel voucher, our consumers can make purchases with ease at key Oando filling stations nationwide.”

    Interswitch’s Divisional Chief Executive Officer for Industry Vertical Markets, Chinyere Don-Okhuofu, explained the rationale driving Interswitch’s partnership with Fuelvoucher, and the tremendous potential for accelerating distribution of the service offered by the alignment with leading downstream marketing organisations in Nigeria.

    According to her, as a business focused on providing products and services that are highly tailored to the African market, ‘’Interswitch has partnered with EVSL to launch this initiative in line with our desire to develop innovative payment products and services, facilitate transactions and strengthen the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) cashless initiative’’.

    Following this alliance, FuelVoucher’s online and mobile fuel purchasing systems have been integrated with PoS terminals deployed by Interswitch to service stations across the country, she added.

    “This initiative will allow consumers to make payments for petroleum products on all Interswitch payment channels including Quickteller, ATMs and Mobile, and vouchers can be redeemed at every petrol station with the Interswitch PoS. As a result, anybody can easily buy fuel, gas or kerosene on-the-go via the FuelVoucher mobile app at any time of the day and FuelVouchers can be remotely sent to friends, family, domestic staff or drivers with ease,” Don-Okhuofu added.

    Essentially, the solution will also enable petrol stations around the country run overnight by mopping up cash and accept Fuel Vouchers thereby eliminating cash handling costs and risks. Because everything is automated and electronic, establishments no longer need to print paper vouchers with associated costs and reconciliation headaches.

    Corporate customers can also broaden their loyalty point’s redemption options to include fuel vouchers, and they can also easily manage and control fuel purchase with analytical insights to help in fleet management.

    This partnership further buttresses the industry leading position of Interswitch on the attainment of a cashless Nigeria through the innovative use of technology. The fuelvoucher solution is currently available across OVH and Forte Oil stations in Lagos, with aggressive plans for national coverage before the end of the year.

  • Reasons why you should travel with your partner

    Reasons why you should travel with your partner

    When it comes to travel escapades, nothing is more than romantic than a getaway for two. While traveling with a gang of buddies can be quite fun, it’s nothing compared to staying in a beautiful place with someone you adore and love

    TRAVELING is truly one of the coolest and most amazing things you can do together with your loved one. While solo travel can be empowering, inspiring and rewarding, a trip with your special someone can create blissfully sweet memories that you will cherish forever.

    What’s more, it is intrinsically stimulating and romantic in ways that your life at your apartment or home can never be. Trust me, a weekend on the road with your partner is a lot more enriching than a month’s worth of candle-lit dining and shopping.

     

    1. Improves intimacy

    Did you know that couples who travel often have better and more intimate sex lives than those who don’t? Yes folks, a survey conducted by the US Travel Association in 2013 suggested that traveling with your partner is more likely to create a spark of romance in your relationship than a gift.  And according to the survey, 77 percent of those who travel with their significant other have admitted that they have a good, happy and intimate sex life.

    1. Travel strengthens your relationship

    When you travel with your partner, you get to face a ton of challenges, experiences and obstacles that will help develop a bond that is much stronger than the bond built through Netflix watching movies or shopping. Whether you’re cage diving with the sharks in Cape Town or getting lost in a big city like New York, the experiences in your travel as a couple provide a lot of opportunities for relationship growth. Plus, travel can test the strength of your relationship.

    1. Create and share unforgettable moments

    You’ll be writing together history as well as create awesome adventures and moments to which you will always look back with affection and humor.

    1. Home is where the heart is

    No matter where you are, home will never feel too far away, when you have the person you care and love the most by your side.

    1. Some travel experiences are best when shared

    There are some travel experiences like sunset gazing in Bali or dining on an Italian cliff restaurant that feel more magical when you have a special someone to share those special moments with you.

    1. It’s more economical

    Traveling with someone is far more economical than traveling solo since you will be sharing the costs your meals, taxi cab fares, activities and accommodations.

    1. Someone to lighten you up in unpleasant times

    Let’s face it, horrible situations and unforeseen events are almost inevitable, when you are traveling.  Stolen bags, lost reservations, missed train rides and delayed flights are just some of the unpleasant things that can happen on the road. Fortunately, you have someone with you to lighten things up and ease the situation.

    1. It’s very romantic

    When it comes to travel escapades, nothing is more than romantic than a getaway for two. While traveling with a gang of buddies can be quite fun, it’s nothing compared to staying in a beautiful place with someone you adore and love.

    1. You won’t get bored

    Long bus rides and flights are more fun and entertaining when you have your favorite person sitting right next to you. Honestly, it is far better than reading a novel about vampires and werewolves, or playing your favorite game on your smartphone.

    1. It brings out your partner’s true character

    Heading towards a serious relationship? Then, make sure to have an adventurous travel escapade with him or her before committing. Traveling, in many ways, can push your partner away from his or her comfort zones, which will let you discover your partner’s positive and negative traits.

    Also, the combination of culture shock and exhausting globetrotting can somehow bring out some of the deeply hidden flaws of your partner’s character. That’s why you should keep an eye of how your loved one acts toward hotel staff, flight attendants and waiters during your time together on the road.

    1. Small surprising discoveries

    There are tons of fun and surprising discoveries that can happen when you travel abroad with your partner. Who knows? Your partner may be well-versed in Icelandic folklore, or could speak conversational Mandarin.

    1. New experiences together

    Can you remember the last time you, as a couple, did something new? As you travel with your special someone, you will have plenty of opportunities to experience something both of you have never tried before.

    1. Someone’s got your back

    It is just nice to have someone you trust to watch your bag and personal belongings, while you take a quick nap or go to a bathroom.

    1. Two thinking heads are better than one

    Traveling as a couple lets you share the burden of travel planning and decision making. More importantly, it improves your chances of making the right decisions.

    1. You’ll learn to trust and rely on each other

    Travel experiences with you partner, such as hiking and camping in the woods, will help turn you into a better team player.

    1. Gives you a peek into his/her preparation style

    Observing your partner as he or she packs, plans and saves money for your vacation together can give you an insight into the way he or she handles some of the most important undertakings in your relationship. If organizing a vacation to the Las Vegas or Grand Canyon is enough to make your partner irritable and frantic, do you think he or she can handle a wedding?

    1. Epic twofies

    Traveling with your loved one lets you take ultra cool and epic twofies.

    1. Lots of opportunities to ask the tough questions

    Ever wondered what happened to your partner’s previous relationship? Sailing excursions, hikes, train rides, airplane trips and long car drives are the best times to have deep and meaningful discussions with your significant other. Of course, you can ask your loved one about his past relationships, future goals and childhood during these lovely moments.

     

    Source: www.strekeffect.com

  • NACA , NiBUCAA partner

    NACA , NiBUCAA partner

    The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and the Nigerian Business Coalition Against AIDS (NiBUCAA) have collaborated on determining the statistics of the prevalence of HIV in Nigeria.

    This was made known when the NiBUCAA Executive Committee led by Dr. Gertrude Bassey,  visited NACA Director-General Dr. Sani Aliyu in Abuja.

    Aliyu said another target his agency was determined to achieve is Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) which has been achieved by other countries; and the sustainability of HIV and AIDS programming in Nigeria. He stated that foreign donor fund has reduced and the 12 percent budgeted by the Federal Government was grossly inadequate coupled with the challenges in the release of the fund.

    Aliyu noted that sustainability of HIV programming in Nigeria wass centred around collaboration with the private sector of which NiBUCAA has a prominent role. He expressed delight with the inauguration of the NiBUCAA new co-chairs, stating that NACA was looking forward to collaborating with them.

    He said sustainability would be achieved if the private sector could partner with government and set up a fund to be managed by the sector for transparency and accountability.

    He said  if funds were put together, it would be easy to procure commodities and distribute to state and private hospitals where patients can have easy access to treatment,saying with such synergy,  goals will be achieved in no time. On implementation of HIV programme, he agreed that the private sector will implement the setting up of the Trust Fund, procurement of commodities and distribution.

    NiBUCAA representatives assured that the purpose of the meeting was to explore greater collaboration under the new agency strategic focus and agreed on greater collaboration and synergy for efficiency, accountability and transparency.

  • NEPC, Japan partner on packaging agric produce for export

    The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has  partnered Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) to improve the quality of packaging of agricultural produce for export.

    NEPC Executive Director Mr. Segun Awolowo announced this at a capacity building programme in Lagos.

    The theme of the programme was: “Logistical packaging technology for agricultural products.”

    Awolowo said the synergy would reduce post-harvest losses arising from poor packaging. According to him, there is no shortcut to producers of vegetables and perishable products to be competitive in the global market without quality packaging.

    “About 50 per cent of fresh fruits are lost as a result of poor packaging, handling and preservation. The capacity building programme will assist the average farmer and exporter to gain better insights into issues related to global standards on packaging for export. Our resolve to collaborate with Japan and other stakeholders is borne out of the need to drastically reduce post-harvest losses among farmers, processors and exporters leading to revenue losses,” he said.

    Awolowo said the partnership aligned with the policy of the government to curtail the rejection of produce from Nigeria. He added that packaging and standards were global issues that determined product development and sustainability of its market.

    “Needless to point out that a good quality product without efficient packaging is as good as a bad product,” Awolowo said.

    Trade Commissioner, JETRO, Mr. Taku Miyazaki, said the collaboration was essential to the development of the agriculture sector and actualisation of the diversification agenda of the country.

    According to Miyazaki, there is huge potential in the country’s agriculture sector with Nigeria being number one producer of commodities, such as yam, cassava, groundnut and maize.

    “Nigeria is the biggest supplier of sesame to Japan for the purpose of producing edible oil. In 2016, Nigeria exported approximately 55,000 tonnes of sesame to Japan.

    “JETRO wants to contribute and encourage exportation of Nigerian agricultural products to the world through provision of logistical packaging technology,” he said.

    Miyazaki said the partnership would promote investment, enhance export and boost the trade relations between Nigeria and Japan.

  • How to deal with partner who has no ambition

    DEAR Harriet, Please, I need your counsel on how to handle a boyfriend who lacks ambition. I am in a relationship in which I seem to be pushing him always.

    This is draining me emotionally. Help!

    Name withheld,

    Lagos.

     

    Thanks for sharing your situation with us. One of the most common challenges in some relationships is the issue of ambition or no drive and this cuts across both male and female. We must commend you for being very detailed and observant. A good number of people are in a relationship with clouded vision not to be able to tell themselves the true situation of things for  the fear of the unknown.

    Your situation can be a very difficult one because on one hand, you may be in love and just want to accept your boyfriend for who he is. Yet there is also the reality side of the situation where you have to look at your expectations from the relationship.

    Everyone, man or woman, enters into a relationship with some expectations. It is always of great help to make these expectations explicit. A better way to describe the situation is to ask yourself what you truly want. However, as you think through the question, it will be nice for us to list out some of the reasons why your boyfriend may lack ambition:

    Lack of confidence to take risks and chances: Some people find it very challenging to leave their comfort zone. What they don’t know, they don’t attempt. Another factor might be that they don’t have role models to push them towards excellence.

    He might be too content with who he is. He does not want more out of life. Too many repeated failure experiences have led to a current state of complacency. He might also be the cause for his lack of ambition.

    In addition, he may not feel smart enough or competent to attempt new challenges. Other factors are laziness, upbringing and fear of success. He might have the feeling that he is ambitious,but that you are pushing him to be something he is not.

    The next step is what to do. Be honest with yourself. Ask yourself whether or not you are trying to change your boyfriend to what he is not. Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing bad to wish and want the best for your boyfriend or your spouse. The truth is that you must put a lot of things into consideration. For example, if your partner/ spouse is not strong academically, but you want him to study a particular course, you may be leading him and yourself down a path of destruction. Try to look at the person’s strength and encourage him or her instead. As a matter of fact, you will have to understand what your needs are and whether or not your boyfriend can meet them,

    In your case, the solution may lie within you, and not your boyfriend and the resolution to your frustration may need to be a change in your own expectations. Moreover, have a conversation with him about your feelings and let him know how it is affecting you in a warm and compassionate manner, not an accusatory nor blaming one since he may become defensive and nothing will be accomplished.

    You may also want to discuss some of the above possible factors that might be the reason for his lack of ambition because some people don’t know why, until they are told. May be you might just be the drive and motivation that he needs to wake up. In the process of discussing the issue, it is also very important to know how to approach the situation in terms of what to say.

    You can start your conversation by showing concern about your future together by acknowledging the fact that you both have so much going on for your relationship. Mention his strength, then encourage him on how to achieve more.

    Try as much as possible to avoid the following while discussing the issue: don’t make him / her feel inadequate or inferior. This cannot benefit him or the relationship. Avoid raising your voice in the process. It will make him defensive.  Don’t compare him with others- comparison will make him feel terrible and lower his self-esteem.

    One thing is certain. You can’t force ambition and it won’t happen by comparing him to someone else. Try not to monopolize the conversation. Learn to listen attentively to what he has to say and his perception of his drive and ambition. He may not see things the way you do. Bear in mind that personality differs and must be treated as such.

    In conclusion, if you follow this approach, it becomes evident that you care and want the best for your relationship. If your boyfriend does not take the issue serious, but gives you the attitude of this is who I am, you either take it or leave it. Then, the decision is really yours to make.

    If you decide to stay, you know what you have, that is, to say you must resolve your resentment and accept his limitations because expecting more may be unrealistic. On the other hand, it may require some serious thought and difficult decision about possibly ending the relationship.

    The truth of the matter is that you have to be honest to yourself about what you want for the future and act on it. Take care of yourself and each other.

     

    Harriet Ogbobine is a counsellor and a motivational speaker. Send your questions and suggestions to her blog; www.liwh.com.ng, text messages only 08054682598 or bineharriet@gmail.com.  You can follow her on twitter: @bineharrietj and instagram: harrietogbobine.

  • SON to partner MSMEs on job creation

    SON to partner MSMEs on job creation

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is to partner Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to create jobs.

    Its Director-General, Mr.  Osita Aboloma, said this at an interactive session with freight forwarders and clearing agents in Kano.

    He hinged his support for MSMEs on their potential to create jobs, reduce crime rate and contribute to economic growth substantially.

    He said SON was investing in building the capacity of MSMEs, improving their quality control mechanisms and raising the quality profile of their products for improved competitiveness locally, as well as for export.

    Aboloma condemned any practice that promotes job creation for foreign manufacturers at the expense of local industries, stressing that preference for foreign goods meant boosting the economy of other countries at the detriment of local industries.

    He said Nigeria’s immense potential in human and material resources could be optimised with the deployment of standardisation procedures for quality assurance of products.

    He described quality assurance as a critical element of the standardisation process for the growth of any nation.

    Aboloma added that regular quality control, inspection, sampling, testing and certification of manufacturing processes ensured products met the requirements of relevant standards.

    “They also guarantee continual improvement to satisfy customer expectations,” he said.

    The SON chief said quality assurance had been a major driver of the agency’s standardisation campaigns.

    “As the apex standardisation agency, it is the duty of SON to ensure that consumers get value for money and are protected from the dangers of substandard products; that is why I urge Nigerians to get involved in the campaign. We need the collaboration of all Nigerians to do the job effectively,” he said.

    According to Aboloma, one of the  administration’s main agenda is promoting ease of doing business to facilitate trade the Federal Government’s efforts to focus on non-oil exports, with agriculture and MSMEs as key drivers.

    ”I invite you to further partner SON in our efforts toward trade and business facilitation to ensure Nigeria becomes a better place for all. The government is determined to create an enabling environment for business, thus, we should take up the challenge and let the change start with us as individuals and groups,” he added.

  • FHA, UN-HABITAT, others to partner on national housing

    FHA, UN-HABITAT, others to partner on national housing

    The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) is to work with other agencies on the development of a national housing profile for the country.

    Its Managing Director, Prof Mohammed Al-Amin, made this known during a visit to the UN-HABITAT Programme Office in Abuja, where he received by its Programme Officer, Mr. Kabir Yari.

    According to him, the initiative has become necessary because of the unreliability of the country’s housing statistics.

    Al-Amin noted that though an attempt was made to incorporate a housing census into the 2006 national headcount, the data obtained from the exercise was unreliable. That failure, he said, was due to the defective nature of the tool designed for it. For instance, enumerators were only trained on how to capture data on individuals and not housing units.

    He noted that the lack of reliable housing data had armstrung proper planning and called for concerted efforts to address the situation.

    The FHA chief, however, expressed doubt about the authenticity of the 17 million housing deficit figure being bandied in various quarters, saying such figure has not been proven. The FHA, he explained, is in touch with the National Population Commission (NPC), which he disclosed has indicated that it would embark on a proper housing count during the next population census. He, therefore, urged the UN-HABITAT to make its expertise available to ensure the success of the exercise.

    Al-Amin said the FHA was keen to participate in the implementation of the resolutions of the just concluded Habitat III- the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Development held in Quito, Ecuador.

    Expressing regret that Nigeria had not been taking advantage of platforms opened to it by international organisations, he said FHA was poised to participate in the follow-up to Habitat III at the national, sub-regional and regional levels.

    He said FHA was also eager to work with the United Nations’ agency on critical housing issues, such as slum development and the rising housing deficit in the country to improve the quality of urban life.

    Yari noted that the UN-HABITAT had helped many nations to develop their housing policies but expressed regret that monitoring and implementation had been the bane of policies in Nigeria.

    He said a nation should, with available statistics to project into how many houses it would need for its populace in the short, medium and long term.

    He said his agency and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) had projected that the global population of urban dwellers would rise to three billion by 2050.

    In view of that projection, he said it was important for policy makers to be on guard to ensure the availability of adequate waste disposal facilities and sustainable use of resources. Yari noted that low income earners who formed the bulk of the housing need base got their housing mostly from the informal sector, adding that he was  characterised by acute lack of infrastructure.

    He said if nations could get it right with pro-poor housing, they would reach the majority of those who needed housing.

    Yari, who pointed out that the UN-HABITAT was not a funding agency, promised to provide technical assistance to the FHA in the execution of its programmes.

  • Abia partners Turkey

    Abia partners Turkey

    In a bold step aimed at growing the state’s economy, the Abia State government has started a business relationship with the Republic of Turkey, with a plan to draw from the country’s industrial and technological experiences to develop its local potentials.

    The relationship which began with the visit of the state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu and some of its key officials to Turkey in September last year, was taken further last week with the hosting, by the Turkish Embassy in Nigeria, of a session for businessmen and women from the country and Abia State.

    The event, held in Abuja on September 27 did not only afford Abia State the opportunity to showcase its potentials and market itself to international audience, it provided avenue for physical interactions and exchanges between businessmen/women and intending investors on both sides.

    Ikpeazu told the gathering that he was fascinated by the story of Turkey steady economic growth and wants his state to benefit from the Turkish experience in growing its small scale industries (SMEs) to the level where the SMEs now serve as the hub of the country’s industrialisation.

    “We are a young state with growing economy, dominated by SMEs. We that felt the best thing was to learn from Turkey how they were able to manage and grow their SMEs into a major economic hub on which the country’s economy revolves,” he said.

    IKpeazu identified some of the business advantages of the state to include its location, serving as a confluence state between the South-south and South -east regions of the country and located within 30 minutes’ drive from the capital cities of the major oil producing states of Rivers and Akwa Ibom, aside from being an oil producing state itself.

    “Beyond that, our strength lies in our ability to make things with our hands. We boast of over 50,000 shoe and garment making enterprises. We believe that our people can learn from the Turkish experience.

    “The emphasis, during my last visit to Turkey, was how to deploy Turkish technology to produce beautiful shoes and dresses. Our interest is that, in days ahead, flowing from this friendship, we will begin to experience the fruits of the collaborative efforts between our businessmen and investors/businessmen from Turkey.

    “We are very energetic and resourceful people. We are working to ensure that Abia becomes the first state in the country where businesses will enjoy uninterrupted power supply, and thereby becoming a new destination for investment in the country.

    “Yes, of course, the beautiful thing is that we have critical manpower. Our people are not completely ignorant of what it takes to make shoes and dresses. So, what they need is the technical input which we intend to get from Turkey now.

    “What we expect is that the Turkish people will teach us how to use these machines and produce on a large scale. The first incentive is that our story, trajectory of development has a socio-cultural bearing with what our people believe in.

    “Under our watch, we will ensure secure and peaceful business environment by providing security, peaceful political environment. We will allow you easy access to whatever you require to set up and grow your businesses as you want, he said.

    Ikpeazu said is state is currently working to ensure that any business seeking to set up in Abia, can access land and related requirements within 14 days.

    The state’s Director of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Office, Austin Ufomba, in a presentation, highlighted the state’s comparative advantage; identified the numerous natural resources that abound in the state and also, touched on its various investment opportunities.

    Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Hakan Cakil lauded the initiative between his country and the Abia Government. He was enthusiastic that the relationship will yield positive results.

    He noted that it was the first time the embassy would witness such a showcase by a state government in the country, describing it as a brilliant idea that would serve to benefit both Nigerian and Turkish businesses.

    “Abia State has rich natural resources and we have a very dynamic private sector in Turkey and the Turkish private sector has a growing interest in Nigeria. So, we hope that in the coming months or years, Turkish private companies will invest in different areas in Abia. “We are doing our best to encourage more of our companies to come to Nigeria and do business. There is need for us to turn the potentials of the countries’ friendship to opportunities for enhanced business relations and bilateral trade,” Cakil said.

    At the event were the state’s leading politicians and businessmen including the immediate past governor, now Senator Theodore Orji and Senator Enyinanya Abaribe. Members of the Aba Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other businessmen/women from within and outside the country were at the event, which afforded them the opportunity to explore business opportunities with their Turkish counterparts.

     

  • DAWN, Agro-Nigeria partner to boost agric in Southwest

    The Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, a dedicated institution for the sustainable development of the Southwest, in collaboration with Agro Nigeria, is mounting an agric development campaign to boost the regional economy in the long term.

    DAWN Commission was set up by the governments of the Southwest states as the institutional and programme management body to midwife their regional integration agenda.

    Speaking in Lagos, the Chief Executive, Agro Nigeria, Mr Richard Mbaram, said DAWN and his organisation was working on a platform to complement the respective states government efforts to make the  Southwest the most developed industrial region. Agriculture, according to him, has been identified as one of the main directions of development.

    For the region to experience sustainable growth, he noted that an aggressive pursuit of agro industrialisation has become more compelling, insisting that the approach would help reduce the exposure of the regional economies to external shocks while providing decent jobs.

    With dwindling oil, he said all hands must be on deck to build an industrial structure that is competitive; environment-friendly and capable of significantly improving the living standards of the people. The vision of the Southwest region, according to him, was to transform the zone from being a producer of primary goods into a producer of processed value-added good.

    As a region, he reiterated that thearea seeks to promote industrialisation through the exploitation of its abundant natural resources for economic transformation and development.

    To end, he said the commission and his organisation are hosting a Southwest agric summit next month to enforce a regional collective plan to use agriculture to bolster innovation, create jobs and promote the competitiveness and export potential of the constituting states.

    The summit, according to him, billed for October 5, would discuss means of accelerating the agro industrialisation agenda and private sector development across the region.

    He underscored the need for cooperation among the states in their industrial development.

    With the state governors of the Southwest as key partners, he said the summit will look at ways of using agric competitive advantage of each state of the region to stimulate growth and employment, support to meet new economic challenges, enhance the efforts of  the governments to promote agro entrepreneurship.