Business
‘Future Of African Youths Lies In Agric’
The President of the African Development Bank (AFDB), Dr Akinwunmi Adesina says the future of African youths lies in unlocking the tremendous opportunities available in agriculture.
Adesina said this at the inauguration of the Akin Adesina Agripreneurs building which was held as part of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan.
He said: ”I firmly believe the future millionaires and billionaires of Africa will come from the agriculture sector.
“Africa is spending 35 billion dollars a year importing food. That is 35 billion dollars it should be keeping on the continent; that’s 35 billion dollars market each year for its young people to tap into to create new wealth.
“ But to do that requires totally changing the lenses with which we look at agriculture.
“Agriculture should no longer be seen as a way of life or a development sector, but rather as a business for wealth creation.”
He said many students now choose to study agriculture as a last option
“Our young ones have memories of deserted villages with poor farmers.
“ With a rapidly aging population of farmers, unless something is done, urgently, Africa will have no farmers left within 20 years.
“The immediate action, therefore, must be to change the perception of agriculture.
“ We must make agriculture cool,” he said. He said youths’ involvement in agriculture was key to sustainable economic growth and reduction of poverty across the continent. Adesina said that investing in the youth would protect the continent’s economy today and in the future.
He called on African governments to prioritise investments in youths and their business.
“The youths are like computer microchip processors inside of Africa’s economy. small, many, but if we’ll connected, will transform Africa’s economy with speed.
“Over the next 30 years, Africa’s GDP is estimated to grow by 500 billion dollars a year, if it is able to address jobs for its youth, develop its human capital and improve access to better healthcare for its youths.
“GDP per capita in Africa will rise by 55 per cent in the next four years and by additional 55 per cent through 2050, if Africa provides jobs for its youths.
“The youths in agriculture, the agripreneurs, have set sail to a better future. Let’s put wind behind their sails,” he said.
The AFDB boss promised to offer his unwavering support by working tirelessly for agripreneurs across Africa.
“It is my hope that Akin Adesina Agripreneurs Building will become the oyster from where the pearls of wealth in agriculture will develop.
“The bank will be investing 24 billion dollars in agriculture over the next 10 years, with sharp focus on agricultural value chains, agribusiness and agroindustrial development, a key component of our strategy is to scale up support to agripreneurs, “ he said.
In his remarks, Dr Nteranya Sanginga, the Director General of IITA, said that the building would be used to train African youths in order to help them unlock employment opportunities and drive development through agriculture.
“Dr Adesina has staunchly promoted the cause of the African youths, especially strongly supporting the IITA Youth Agripreneurs (IYA) over the years.
“Through his initiative, Jobs for Youth in Africa, the AFDB in collaboration with IITA would be scaling out the IYA model of youth engagement in agribusiness to create eight million agribusiness jobs within five years for youths.
“Over one billion dollars would be used to support agribusiness enterprises and jobs for young women and men who have embraced agriculture as a business.
“In appreciation of his continuous support and deep commitment of the youth, the IITA Board of Trustees, Management and staff, and the IITA Agripreneurs are preserving Dr Adesina’s legacy by naming the Youth Training Centre at IITA Headquarters after him,” he said.
The Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), the country’s satellite operator, has called for immediate promolgation of policy action that will enable the country to harness the potentials of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
NIGCOMSAT, also warned that Nigeria risks missing out on Africa’s projected $1.2trillion share of the global AI economy by 2030.
Managing Director of NIGCOMSAT, Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, disclosed this in a statement issued at the weekend following her participation in the Meeting of the National Council for Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
“Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, economies, and societies worldwide, with projections that it will contribute up to $15.7trillion to the global economy by 2030. Africa stands to gain $1.2trillion of this if the right policies and innovations are in place”, Idehen said, citing a PricewaterhouseCoopers report.
The NIGCOMSAT MD underscored the transformative potential of AI in agriculture, highlighting its applicability in Benue State, widely regarded as Nigeria’s “food basket.”
According to her, machine learning tools could revolutionize agricultural practices by improving pest detection and optimizing planting schedules using satellite imagery.
“AI offers us the chance to not only flourish economically but also to achieve food security. However, we must ask ourselves if we are prepared to manage this technology responsibly”, she added.
Idehen also noted that internet access remains a significant barrier to AI adoption in Nigeria.
“For AI tools to be effective, basic digital infrastructure is essential. Addressing this gap must be a priority.
“AI is happening. We have the opportunity to manage this technology revolution responsibly, both in Africa and globally, through innovation and governance”, she said.
In August 2024, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy released a draft National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, aiming to position Nigeria as a global leader in AI.
Corlins Walter
The Chairman of Emohua Local Government Council, Chief David Omereji, has said the council has so far spent over N1 billion for the electrification of communities in the area.
Omereji said this while addressing staff of the council at the council headquarters recently.
He said the move was part of his administration’s resolve to ensure peace and development of the LGA.
According to him, the Council spent about N29 million on monthly basis for the maintenance of the Emohua Local Vigilante group known as OSPAC, with each member being paid a stipend of N100, 000 monthly.
He diaclosed that 11 out of the 14 wards are currently enjoying electricity, while efforts are on to light-up the remaining ones.
“I also want to use this opportunity to inform the political class for purposes of records and for the understanding of the people that the Council under my watch have done more than enough”, he said .
The Emolga boss explained that all that have been achieved were through the personal effort of the Council, without support from anybody as rumoured in some quarters.
Omereji further reaveled that a number of other projects, including roads, fencing of schools, hospitals, courts premises, and reconstruction of some abandoned buildings at the Council Headquarters are being undertaken by his administration.
He enjoined the people of the area to support his administration’s drive to bring purposeful development to the LGA.
The Emohua Council boss, who reiterated his hatred for noise making, stated that his works would speak for him, and solicited the support of staff of the council and the entire people of the area.
He noted the fact that some people may not be happy with his achievements, saying that he would remain focused, while advising critics of his government to do so constructively with facts and figures.
King Onunwor
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has raised some ethical questions over a Financial and Technical Services Agreement (FTSA) between Sahara Energy and West African Gas Limited (WAGL), an affiliate of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
MOSOP said the agreement was not done in good faith, not in the interest of the Nigerian people, and did not follow due process.
Foremost Ogoni born activist and MOSOP leader, Fegalo Nsuke, who made this known in Abuja, weekend, described the Sahara-WAGL deal as fraudulent, deceptive and an insult on the intelligence and integrity of the Nigerian nation.
Nsuke called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to cancel that FTSA between Sahara Energy and WAGL, noting that the agreement is fraught with irregularities and deceptive.
“What Sahara and the NNPC did in the FTSA between Sahara and WAGL is shameful and depicts high level corruption in public service of our country.
“WAGL is an affiliate of Sahara and the NNPC. How then can Sahara go into an agreement with its own affiliate? It’s as good as going into an agreement with itself. This is deceptive and fraudulent”, Nsuke said.
He continued that “Sahara Energy is certainly not a company the Ogoni people want on their soil and we are calling on Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to terminate any deal between the NNPC and Sahara Energy over OML 11, and to allow for an inclusive arrangement that considers a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in the distribution of revenues from natural resource extraction on Ogoni soil.
“The last Ogoni Congress has been unequivocal on the Ogoni demand for justice and has given a clear path to resolve the three decade old conflict between all critical parties.
“It will be good to explore this path to peace and development for Ogoni and for our country”.
Nsuke accused Sahara Energy and the NNPC of frustrating the progress made by MOSOP to achieve a permanent solution to the Ogoni problem.
He urged a presidential intervention with deep consideration for a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in order to permanently address the problem.
He noted that Sahara Energy should give up on the Ogoni area to allow for an engagement in the interest of the country and the people.
Recall that MOSOP and Sagara Energy have recently been engaged in a row in what MOSOP describes as an unholy relationship between Sahara Energy and the NNPC over OML 11.
MOSOP expressly rejected Sahara Energy and called for a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in natural resource extraction in Ogoni.
It noted that Ogoni people, led by MOSOP, paid the sacrifice to take the oil from Shell, hence “the position of MOSOP must be taken into consideration in decisions relating to resumption of oil production in Ogoni”.