The problems the grassroot farmers encounter, how agriculture is the main source of survival and poverty alleviation in the rural community. Seeing these problems from the view of rural Tanzanian guinea pea farmers.
Azikel Refinery to commence operations in 2018
Wednesday,
November 2, 2016
Dr.
Eruani Azibapu, a Nigerian businessman who signed into existence Azikel
Refinery with Ventech Engineering LLC in Houston Texas, has expressed optimism
that the project would come on stream in 2018. Eruani, who is the Group
President of Azikel Group, signed on behalf of Azikel Petroleum Nig Ltd,
alongside the Director of Investment and Strategy, Mr Richard Howarth. The
Executive Director Operations, Mr Presley Asemota, the contract for the
construction of a 12,000 BPSD Hydro-skyming Refinery with the world global
leaders of Modular refinery construction/manufacturing, Ventech Engineering LLC
in the United State of America. Azikel Refinery is among the recent 22 licensed
Private refinery by President Mohammad Buhari in 2015, in line with his
administration's goal of creating value for the Nigerian crude oil industry to
achieve self-sufficiency in refined product and employment generation.
Azikel
Refinery, situated adjacent the Gbarain-Ubi Gas Gathering Facility in Bayelsa
State, in Obunagha-Gbarain, Bayelsa State. Observers believe the proximity of
the Azikel Refinery to the feed stock from Shell has given it a very clear
advantage to early start and completion towards meeting the planned
commencement of operations in 2018.
For
its part, Ventech Enginering LLC, the World leader in Modular Refinery
construction, and has manufactured several refineries currently in operation in
different parts of the world. At the contract signing ceremony in Houston, the
President of Ventech, Ian Anderson, emphasised that the firm's usual high
degree of professionalism would be deployed in the construction of the Azikel
Refinery, to ensure that products specifications from the facility meet
international standards. According to him, Azikel Refinery will produce high
value variants of LPG, Petrol, Kerosene, Avaition Fuel, Diesel and Heavy Fuel
Oil. The General Counsel Laura Hotard and The Busines Development Manager, Mr
Brian Swientonioski. The event was witness by executives of international
banks, Export Credit Agencies, US businessmen and organisations as well as the
Nigerian community and friends of Azikel Group in the United States.
The
funding for the refinery has been secured from Exim Bank, Export Credit
Agencies and EPC Project Finance funding. Mr Dada a US based Nigerian, who has
provided international funding of billions of US dollar into Africa was present
at the event in Houston. According to him, securing the funding from
international organisation is the key success factor for the refinery. Dada
said the construction of the project will create immediate economic stimulus in
the Nigerian economy, in addition to creating immediate employment during the
construction phase and long term employment from its operation. Dada expressed
optimism that export credit agencies funds would be available in the US,
European and other parts of the world for viable project like Azikel Refinery
and encourage more Nigerian businesses to follow suit.
Recall
that Azikel Petroleum upon the award of the license to Establish (LTE) in 2015,
demonstrated a strong zeal and focus towards the completion of the refinery.
Among the 22 licenses approval during the period, Azikel Refinery has moved
from the first stage licensing (LTE)to the second Stage licensing of Approval
to Construct (ATC) at the 22 licenses given by government only four private
refinery licenses have been able to secure the second license. Other licensed
refineries include Amakpe International Refinery, Resources Petroleum &
Petrochemicals, Hi Rev Oil LImited and Azikel Petroleum Limited.
Obtaining
the ATC licensing is seen as measure of seriousness and commitment to the
establishment of the refinery. Promoters of Azikel Refinery believe it is still
in the lead of the four other companies, having completed land
clearing/de-stumping of 50 Hectares of land for the refinery, a reclamation/
sand-filling campaign which lasted for over ten months.
Azikel
Refinery plot been completely laid out, with secured fencing completed, roads
and Utilities completes. At the operational site of Azikel Refinery,
construction of Crude Oil feed stock tanks and refined products tanks have
reached a 55% completion. The Execution now of the ISBL Unit, which is the main
Modular Hydro-Skimming Refinery from Ventech, when completion of the
construction and transportation to the site, will keep the project in tight
schedule for operations in the 2018.
Azikel
Group which is the sponsor of Azikel Refinery through Azikel Petroleum is
committed to the creation of employment, industrialization of Nigerian and
sustainability. Azikel Group has create several successful business in the
dredging industry with Azikel Dredging Nigeria Ltd. Azikel Group is also a
player in the Avaition Sector of the Nigerian economy, with operations of
Helicopter Offshore Operations in the Oil and Gas Industry, Schedule and
Unscheduled flights, with the Airline Operation Certificate(AOC) granted to
Azikel Air, the company has created lots of employment. Also Azikel Group aims
at sustaining infrastructural development with Energy sufficiency, the Group is
also investing into power generation. The President Mohamend Buhari,
administration licenses Azikel Power, which is part of Azikel Group, with
on-grid Power generation license of 500MW. It is the hope of Azikel Group, that
Nigeria will be self sufficient in petroleum products and Electricty Generation
and Nigeria will occupy her prided place in the Committe of Nations in Development.
SOURCE: THE SUN
Sustainable Agribusiness & Food Value Chains
Small-scale producers provide over 70% of the world’s food needs, while agribusinesses are one of the main generators of employment and income worldwide. Improving the sustainability of food value chains can massively benefit the rural poor. Florence Tartanac, Senior Officer of the FAO Nutrition and Food Systems Division together with Eva Gálvez Nogales, Agribusiness Economist of the FAO Agricultural Development Economics Division explain the importance of Integrating smallholders into food value chains to reduce poverty and improve food security for millions of poor households in developing countries. They describe the FAO policy work, including key policy messages. This video forms part of a series of policy and governance videos being produced by FAO in 2016.
12 SIGNS YOU HAVE THE WRONG JOB
Having a job is different from enjoying what you do.
Fulfilment should come with how you earn a living. You should be proud of
yourself if you are doing what is right for you. Passion drives success, it’s
easy to stay motivated and inspired if what you find yourself doing is right
for you. There are few signs that could make you know if you have the wrong job
and if you need to consider other options that could be right for you.
Health
hazard: if your job affects your health or makes you sick
all the time, you might need to consider an alternative.
Boredom:
if you are constantly bored at work and you don’t find the process interesting
or beneficial, you might need to consider other options.
Passion:
if you are not passionate about the work you do and you always need an extra
push to do the job right, your job is not right for you.
Unaligned
goals: if your vision and that of your company are
completely different or if you can’t relate to your company’s vision and set
goals, you might need to reconsider your options.
Little
wage:
if what you are being paid is way lower than the work you do, you might also
need to look for a better job.
Time
consuming: if your job doesn’t give you enough time to do
your own thing or spend time with your friends and family, you might need to
quit your job for a better one.
Terrible
boss:
if you work for terrible bosses that always stress you out, quitting might not
be the worst option.
Future
plans: if your job doesn’t give you the opportunity to
improve yourself or do some other life developing projects, you have a wrong
job.
Underutilised
skill: if your skill is being underutilised and you can
do more than you are being asked to do, you can also consider other options.
Better
opportunities: if you have better offers or
opportunities coming your way, quitting your job is understandable.
Terrible
environment: if your colleagues are bizarre and you
find working with them mentally draining, it is a good reason to leave also.
Less
motivation: if your job doesn’t motivate you and you feel you
are not where you are meant to be. Quitting isn’t the worst thing either.
Staying on a wrong job is as worse than staying
jobless. Be sure your job isn’t affecting you negatively and consider quitting
if necessary.
5 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR BUSINESS
As time goes on, there would be need to improve
your business and do some homework to take your business from your present
level to the next level. There are several measures that can be put into
consideration to improve your business and profitability.
BE ACTIVE: for a
business to be successful, you have to be active and consistent. The people you
want to do business with are impatient and there are many competitors out there
who would gladly take your customer away from. Regular availability is a must
if your business is going to keep improving.
OFFER QUALITY: people are particular about the
quality of product and services they go for these days. If you are not willing
to offer good quality services, there are competitors out there who are willing
to give your customers the best services they require. Quality sets you apart
in business. It distinguishes you and helps you keep your customer.
ADD VALUE: there are so many people who do the same
thing that you do. This is why it is important for you to add value to your
service and product. You need to be exceptional if you want people to keep
coming back to you. You have to give them a reason not to go to your
competitors.
MAKE IT EASY: adding opportunities or ways to your
business that makes it easier for your customers is another direction to take.
Be flexible, be dynamic. Delivery services, home services are some of the
strategies you can adopt to improve your business.
OFFER DISCOUNT: as time goes on, when your business
gets better and you make more money, you can consider offering discounts and
different packages that can make your customers happier and that can earn you
referrals.
You can improve your business and take your brand to
the next level if you can adopt the above strategies.
The 3 Decisions That Will Change Your Financial Life
Tony Robbins shares insights from his just-published book, Money Master the Game, about how a trio of choices frame your outlook and influence your chances at success
4 STRATEGIES TO BEAT HARD TIMES
Being an entrepreneur is one of the toughest
situations in the world. It comes with a lot of challenges and problems. So
many decisions and risks have to be taken from time to time. You go through
different emotions as a rising entrepreneur, happiness, stress, anxiety, fear
and many more. It is almost difficult to stay consistent with your emotions.
Facing challenges is a must for any entrepreneur especially in your start up
days. Here are some strategies that can be adopted to go through difficult
times without being swallowed up in it.
BE PURPOSEFUL: when you go through hard times as an
entrepreneur, let your vision motivate you. Your end game and what you need to
achieve should motivate you to keep going. There needs to be something you are
working towards, this is your purpose and this is what you should hold on to
when challenges come knocking.
BE SUPPORTED: having a support system is another way
to go through hard times. Your friends, families, mentors are people you can
talk to for advice and encouragement. Socialising with friends, going out more
often, talking to people with experience can help you go through hard times.
Just make sure your support system truly supports you.
TAKE A BREAK: it might look like you need to keep
pushing or you need to keep searching for answers but at times, a break is all
you need to get things figured. Take a break for work and engage your mind with
other activities. Get refreshed and come back better.
DONT GIVE UP: tough times don’t last, tough people
do. Your mindset is a crucial weapon for beating hard times. Remain optimistic
and steadfast. Don’t let tough situations make you weak. Consistent efforts and
perseverance always break through.
Challenges are inevitable in life, having the right
attitudes and strategies to go through them is what determines the outcome.
Emerging African Entrepreneurs
Emerging African Entrepreneurs Paul Ndiho is a Ugandan – American video journalist/ executive producer, Africa Innovations & Technology based in Washington D.C with interests in innovation, technology and entrepreneurship in Africa. He is passionate about mentorship and developing the next generation of Africa’s young leaders.
Agric: Nigeria to achieve self-sufficiency in food production by 2017
Monday, October 31, 2016
Minister of Agriculture and
Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, is optimistic that the nation will achieve
self sufficiency in food production by 2017.
Ogbeh,
who was represented by a Permanent Secretary, Dr. Shehu Ahmed, last week at a
roundtable meeting of Rice Supply Chain of the Agribusiness Supplier
Development Programme (ASDP) jointly organised by the Ministry, United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) and the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing for
Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), said the Federal Government has banned the
importation of rice and there is currently surplus across the country.
According
to him, this means, it shows that the farmers and all government's policies are
aiding agriculture produce, saying that there have been improvement in the
production of food especially as strategic implementation of government
programmes has helped in reducing post harvest losses in the country.
He
added: "By 2017, Nigeria will be self-sufficient in rice production. We
are getting close as there is improvement on what we have been getting before.
This will boost our economy. The Federal Government had approved the Growth
Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) for input supply to farmers and the Ministry
was working with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to reposition the Staple
Crop Processing Zone."
He
hinted that rice value chain was topmost in the agenda in attracting both local
and world class companies to invest in the sector, adding that the
implementation of the Agribusiness Supplier Development Programme would lead to
an increase availability of domestic agro-inputs supply, enhance production and
reduce post harvest losses.
The
minister reiterated the readiness of the Ministry to support and encourage the
private sector to take the lead, giving assurance that government will provide
the enabling environment through policy constituency, appropriate legislation
and oversight to ensure effective diversification, import substitution and food
security in the nation.
The
Representative of the Country Director of the United Nations Development
Programme, Dr. Robert Asogwa, said that there was renewed interest and
priorization of rice production and processing by governments at the national
and state levels.
He
stated that rice and cassava are two crops with enormous comparative advantage
across the country, which can generate economic multiplier benefits. Saying
that improving productivity in agriculture required new strategies and creative
solutions.
He
said food self sufficiency, predictable foreign exchange earnings and
stimulated industrial and manufacturing production would be achieved if the key
supply constraints in the agricultural sector is addressed.
He
maintained that the African Agribusiness Supplier Development Programme would
improve the productivity of small holder farmers and link them to off-takers.
Meanwhile,
the Niger State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Aliyu
Abdullahi, said the state government was working towards developing the entire
rice value chain to boost the quality of rice cultivated locally.
He
said the state was endowed with abundant land, water and human resources that
could be harnessed for increased productivity of rice to satisfy local demand
and for exportation.
SOURCE: THE SUN
DRIVING INNOVATIONS IN AGRICULTURE / EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES IN AGRI BUSINESS
Different agribusiness ideas, innovations directed towards poverty alleviation and economic sustainability.
5 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR CONSULTANCY BUSINESS
SPECIALIZATION IS REQUIRED: it is important for you
to understand yourself and know what you are capable of giving people. You can’t
be vague about the types of services you can offer if you want people to do
business with you. Establishing professionalism is crucial. Know your area of
expertises and don’t try to go beyond your limit while establishing your
business. This will give you the opportunity to map out your target audience
without wasting time.
ONLINE PRESENCE: in the world of today, the
conventional way is no longer efficient to do business. Having a good website
and developing online strategies needed to attract the types of audience you
need is crucial if you are going to do business successfully. Coming up with
good content and finding ways to demystify your information are strategies you
need to adopt to place your business at the peak.
NETWORKING: this is a crucial factor for every type
of business out there today. It is important to network if you want to increase
your business potentials. Collaborating with experts in related fields and
coming up with beneficial ideas are some of the ways one can network properly.
KEEP LEARNING: the world keeps changing, growth and
development are inevitable. This implies that as a consultant, you have to be
well informed. Keep learning and keep growing. You need to keep getting better
at what you do and keep improving your knowledge and understanding. This will
help you stay relevant and up to date in the business.
Consultancy business has its benefits, aside from
making money, you get to help people and at the same time, develop yourself.
Putting efforts into doing your business right guarantees you success and
improvement.
How to Start A Business in Agriculture, in Nigeria.
Explore the endless possibilities in agriculture in Nigeria. Hear from the players in the industry and learn about available opportunities you can take advantage to start your agriculture business today.
4 STRATEGIES AGAINST BUSINESS DISTASTERS
Its okay to think your business cannot run down but
then, terrible things do happen. No matter how much resources or efforts goes
into starting up your business and running it effectively, something could
always go run along the way. Here are few ideas on how to prepare for failure
or business disasters and making sure you are not sinking at your first punch.
SAFETY PLANS: there should be plans in place in case
of emergency situations. Every business or outlet should consider safety
measures for lives and properties when setting out for business. Design your
business in such a way that there are safety measures in place in case of
emergency.
BACK UP PLANS: it is also important to have back up
for your files, documents and all important programs. This ensures that you
have something to fall back on when a disaster happens. This is mostly
applicable for e business and e commerce set ups.
RE-EXAMINE AFFECTED ITEMS: amidst disaster, people
get carried away that they completely ignore or neglect valuables. This
shouldn’t be so, things might not be as bad as they seem. Items should be re
examined to know if they are completely damaged or could be reprocessed.
DONT BE DISCOURAGED: challenges and problems are inevitable
in life, it is important for you as an entrepreneur not to be discouraged.
Brace yourself up, calculate your lose and find a way to come back. Ofcourse you
have to learn from your mistakes and work on preventing future reoccurrence.
Disasters happen but it doesn’t have to kick you
down. You can dust yourself up and keep on going. Success is never for the
weak.
Yobe to flood Nigerian markets with vegetables - Agric. Commissioner
Sunday, October 30, 2016
The Yobe commissioner for agriculture, Mustapha
Gajerima, on Sunday, said anticipated bumper harvest of vegetables from the
state, would make vegetables available and affordable in Nigerian markets.
Gajerima in Dayama, Yobe, said that the state
recorded increased irrigation farming of onions, pepper and tomatoes this
season.
"This season looks very different and promising
right from the flowering to the yields, there are indications of very good harvests.
"The other advantage we have this season, is
that many people have engaged in irrigation farming, starting with vegetables
after which they will go into crop cultivation.
"I have personally cultivated 11 hectares of
onions, pepper and tomatoes here in Dayama which also provides training
programme to youth with interest in farming.
"Some national legislators, members of the
state assembly, my colleagues in the state executive council and elites have
also engaged in irrigation farming to promote food security, job creation and
revenue generation" he said.
Gajerima said the growing number of irrigation,
livestock and fish farmers in the state would increase production to meet the
food, beef, dairy and fish needs of Yobe and beyond.
"We will commence harvest of the vegetables
this week. We are expecting two more harvests after which we will cultivate
rice and wheat on the same farm under the irrigation scheme" the
commissioner said.
He assured that government will encourage farmers
with inputs to irrigate the basins along the 765 km Yobe river.
"Irrigation farming looks more promising here
in the state, we will make good use of the available resources to ensure food
security and diversify the economy" Gajerima said. (NAN)
SOURCE: VANGUARD
5 WAYS CONTENT DEVELOPMENT CAN IMPROVE YOUR BUSINESS
In the world of today, traditional marketing alone
is no longer efficient for business success. Every business has to have an
online presence and be ready to go digital. It is easy to assume going digital
means developing a website. Yes, that is definitely a start but just having a
website without consistent content marketing is not going to take your business
to where your competitions are. Continuous content development is necessary for
digital marketing. Here are few ways content marketing can improve your
business.
GENERATING TRAFFIC: regular traffic on your website
implies potential customers. This simply means that the more people that sees
your content and visit your website, the higher the probability of them doing
business with you. There are ofcourse other strategies you can put in place to
convert your website traffic to paying customers.
BRAND AWARENESS: constant demystifying of your well
developed contents is a prerequisite for brand awareness. It implies that
people get to see you more often and they get attached to your brand and
possibly what you do.
SALES INCREASE: the main aim of every business is
profitability, the more content you put out about your business, the more
people get to know you and the more they are likely to do business with you.
Continues content development is an easy way to increase sales and make your
brand more profitable.
YOU SPEND LESS: unlike the conventional way of
advertising and creating brand awareness, you spend less in digital marketing.
It is mostly cheap to stay on the internet these days and there is no limit to
where your contents can get to because the internet is global.
BROADENS YOUR SCOPE: when you combine digital
marketing and continuous content development with conventional marketing, there
is an increase in the scope of your business. You are not limited to doing
business within certain bounds or walls and you can go as far as you want in
expanding yourself and making more money.
Content development is crucial to brand awareness
and several advantages that goes into online and digitised marketing. Having a
website is a start, developing contents and spreading the message about your
brand is the best option to consider.
Planting Maize. Ploughing, cultivating and drilling
The use of mechanized farming equipment on farm sites. The ease and the time saved makes it worth considering.
4 SIGNS YOU LACK GOOD TEAM MEMBERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS
Entrepreneurship and setting up a business always
require team effort, it is hardly impossible for someone to do it all alone.
There is need for a team that shares the vision of a start up and who are ready
to work relentlessly to achieve these set goals. Every member of a team is
important. Everyone has to play their role if the mission is going to be
accomplished. Certain characteristics are indications that a team member might
not have what it takes to drive the team to success. Here are few of such
characteristics.
MAKING EXCUSES: a team member or person that is
always having reasons for not getting a task completed is a bad news for the
team. Coming through is a must no matter how much it takes. If someone doesn’t
have what it takes to get the job done by all means, this could be an
indication that your team is bound to fail.
IRRESPONSIBILITY: not taking responsibility for
certain task or action is another bad trait for a team member, for the growth of
your team, you must be ready to take responsibility for your actions and be
ready to own up when you make a mistake. This makes it easier for goals to be
achieved and for examples to be set.
NOT IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES: this is another way
to spot a bad team member. People that cannot identify opportunities and seize
them for the growth of a business are bad options of people to team up with.
Every individual effort matters when trying to achieve a huge goal.
MISMANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES: resources are not always easy to put
together, so much effort goes into making resources available for every target.
For profitability and growth, resources must be managed. A team member that
doesn’t understand this fact might be a terrible option to consider. Management
of resources is crucial to success and profitability in any venture.
Every team member must possess necessary
characteristic to drive the business to success. Inability to possess these
traits is an indication that you are not what the team needs to succeed.
ABC of Fish Farming. Fish Farming in Nigeria using earthen ponds.
A 30 minutes documentary on the basics of Cat Fish Farming in Nigeria using earthen ponds.
Core business skills every entrepreneur needs
Thursday, October 27, 2016
THANKS to the advancement of modern technology,
becoming a business owner is more attainable now than it has ever been in the
past. With a good measure of business savvy and the right product, an
individual can see marginal success in a short amount of time.
However, for those looking for long-term success in
business, there are some core skills and disciplines you'll need to learn in
order to run your business efficiently.
Education
No matter what line of business you're going into,
having some educational experience in the field can help you to operate your
business successfully. At the core of basic entrepreneurial skills comes
management. Knowing how to effectively manage the daily business operations
along with staff (if applicable) will help to improve productivity. If business
management isn't your strong suit, you can consider getting an MBA online.
There are plenty of affordable universities that
offer business management courses and degrees online. You could take courses
part time as you run your business and apply what you're learning to your
business strategy for improved success.
Technological skills
It goes without saying that technology is
transforming the world of business. From office applications to advanced
software and computing devices, it is ideal for every entrepreneur to keep up
with tech trends.
From learning how to utilise file management systems
and cloud-based software to incorporating the most cutting edge means of
communication, an entrepreneur must know which technological platforms are
crucial to their success and meeting the needs of their customers.
Beefing up your tech skills is fairly simple these
days. There are plenty of online tutorials that can show you step by step how
to utilise certain technological platforms. If you're not great with tutorials
you can also keep an eye out for local seminars in which training is offered.
Marketing
The success of your business will greatly depend on
your ability to market your brand. There are many avenues for getting the word
out about your business but as an entrepreneur, you will need to know which
channels work best for your audience. From extreme measures like working with a
celebrity or public figure to spread the word about your brand to more
economically friendly gestures like free giveaways, coupons, and social media
marketing, your ability to uniquely market your brand will determine the
success of your products or services.
Professional marketing blogs or how to guides are
inexpensive and convenient ways to learn some basic marketing and branding
strategies. Some marketing professionals offer free or affordable online
courses on various marketing trends including social media, email, video, and
print marketing.
Sales
While marketing is what brings attention to your brand,
possessing the ability to make a good sales pitch is ultimately what converts
your visitors to customers. You must learn how to convey a message about your
product or service in a way that resonates with your target audience. The pitch
must be easy to comprehend, appealing and must also fulfil a need the audience
has. Taking a sales training course would be ideal to improve this particular
skill. The right set of courses will teach you how to engage the audience,
tailor the message to their needs, as well as primary etiquette on how to close
the deal.
Financial skills
An entrepreneur that doesn't know how to properly
manage his/her money will ultimately find his/her business in shambles. Even if
you intend to hire an accountant or bookkeeper, knowing the basics of
accounting and business finances is pertinent to your overall success.
As an entrepreneur, you can never be too educated
when it comes to business finances. Consider a course in business finance to
help improve your understanding of how your company finances are holding up.
A few courses each semester can help you to improve
cash flow, balance the books, prepare for potential growth, and make sound
investment decisions.
Entrepreneurs wear many hats. Although it is
recommended that you get help from other business professionals to make your
vision complete, it is always a good idea to invest in your knowledge and
skills. The aforementioned skills are at the very core of what it takes to run
a successful business.
The morning habits of successful women
What makes successful women able to achieve their goals? I've interviewed many female entrepreneurs and many of them attribute a big part of their success to these morning habits.
Government plans buy-back from farmers to boost food security
Friday, October 28, 2016
The Federal Government has disclosed plans to
commence buy-back from farmers at a guaranteed minimum price, to check rising
prices of food items in the market.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development,
Audu Ogbeh, who disclosed this to journalists in Abuja said that on a daily
basis, 700 trailer loads of grains left Nigerian markets for Mali, Mauritania,
Niger Republic, Chad, and the Central Africa Republic.
Ogbeh explained that with the devaluation of the
naira, it was cheaper to buy from the Nigerian markets and sell in other
neighbouring countries.
To prevent hunger, the government has started buying
and storing grains in silos with a plan to release them by February when
farmers may have exhausted their stock.
"We are buying a lot of grains now because
there is a surplus harvest in many states, including Kebbi, Niger Zamfara and
Anambra. We also guarantee a minimum price that will be announced shortly,
because up to 700 trucks daily are leaving Nigeria with grains heading for
Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Chad and the Central Africa Republic. Everyday,
everything goes there.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
How to Launch Your Own Business: Black Women Share Secrets to Success
CocoaFab attended the Women Doing it Big conference to hear how business owners are building their careers, branding their talents and taking their lives to the next level.
MAJOR NEEDS FOR YOUR ONLINE BRANDING
Lately, every business is going online. E-commerce
is gradually taking the place of conventional business. Some people are coming
in well inclined and well informed on what they need to do and how they need to
brand themselves while some others have embraced the change but lack the basic
understanding of what they need to take their brand to the peak.
RIGHT BRAND NAME: the internet is a large zone,
unlike conventional marketing where your name is visible, coming up with the
right brand name is important if you are going to be easily found and networked
with.
SUSTAINABILITY: bringing your business online
involves sustainability. You can’t start something you know won’t be relevant
in the next few years. Consider how sustainable your business is and what you
need to make it last lifetimes.
BE PROFESSIONAL: on the internet, your website is
your reputation. Customers won’t see you or judge how competent or efficient
you are. Your website is what is going to speak for you. Be professional with
developing it and make your outlook genuine.
SEND CLEAR MESSAGES: be ready to make use of social
platforms and ensure you send out clear messages and contents about your brand.
Devise a strategy that would work for you and keep to it.
BELONG TO A COMMUNITY: ensure you stay up-to-date,
associate with similar brands and don’t hesitate to partner up if it’s
beneficial to your growth. Don’t be proud to ask for help and don’t be arrogant
not to give back as you progress.
E-commerce has come to stay and if you are not ready
to do business in the modern way and adopt necessary strategies, you might find
yourself irrelevant even in your line of business over time.
The 5 Identities of an Entrepreneur
Have you ever met an overachiever -- someone that performs at a completely different level? Immediately you feel their presence! Do you know what I'm talking about?
You may wonder why they think the way they do, and why they have the level of energy they do.
A lot of people say that I'm different than a lot of people online and that I present things from a different perspective. They want to know who I look up to and admire, and who I get my inspiration from.
That's such a great question, so I decided to make a video on it.
In this video I cover the five identities of an entrepreneur.
You may wonder why they think the way they do, and why they have the level of energy they do.
A lot of people say that I'm different than a lot of people online and that I present things from a different perspective. They want to know who I look up to and admire, and who I get my inspiration from.
That's such a great question, so I decided to make a video on it.
In this video I cover the five identities of an entrepreneur.
OTHER ACTIVITIES FOR SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE
VOLUNTEER: successful people are volunteers, they
find it easy to give and do things average people won’t dare to do. Either by
giving back to the community, doing something beneficial to the society, they
find a way to do something meaningful and impactful on their environment.
LEARN: successful people never stop learning, they
find ways to improve themselves, associate with like minds and add even more
value to their intellectual minds. This is one of the easiest strategies for
staying successful. You never stop learning.
RELAX: wealth people know how important taking a
break is for the mind. Either by taking vacations to countries they have never
been to or by doing something that ease their mind completely off the stress
and work. They know a relaxed and stress free mind is a productive mind.
READ: successful people know the values of knowledge
and they always read anything good they lay their hands on. There are so many
benefits attached to regular reading and this is one of the ways people improve
their understanding and vocabulary.
THINK: successful
people think before they act, they make plans after considering ideas
critically and they make sure whatever they end up doing is what they consider
best for themselves. Successful people don’t make huge decisions based on
impulse and they don’t take meaningless risk without prior thoughts.
These activities can help improve the quality of
life one lives.
Transforming cassava peels into animal feed
This video explains how cassava peels can be dried and converted into animal feed - reducing environmental waste, feeding animals and providing livelihoods.
Fire outbreak at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) disrupts operations
Friday, October 28, 2016
Flight operations at the Murtala Muhammed
International Airport (MMIA), Lagos were yesterday halted when fire broke out
in the terminal.
The fire incident, due to electrical faults,
engulfed the Avio Bridge E-54 wing, causing panic among the passengers and
workers.
Firefighters of the Federal Airports Authority of
Nigeria (FAAN) promptly responded to put off the fire before it caused major
damage at Nigeria's busiest airport.
The outbreak disrupted flights in and out of the
airport for close to an hour, with spiral effects still felt till the evening.
General Manager, FAAN Corporate Affairs Department,
Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu said the fire was caused by a spark at the Finger Main
Distribution Board, E-Finger of the Airport.
Yakubu said electricity had been restored in the
terminal shortly after the outbreak was extinguished, with engineers
successfully correcting all defaults to restore normalcy in affected areas.
"While assuring airport users of safety and
security at the airports, FAAN wishes to apologise to passengers, airlines and
the general public for the inconvenience caused by this interruption," she
said.
One ground sources, however, said that the outbreak
might not be unconnected with the recent expansion of the terminal and alleged
use of inferior cables by the contractor.
Last month, the D-wing Departure of the
international airport was engulfed by fire.
Four days later, another fire broke out, which
affected the Skye Bank office at the airport and other tenants at the terminal.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
Cassava Processing
Mr Peter Idaewor, Managing Director, Idaewor Foods Limited, one of the leading cassava flour processors in Edo State, discusses his product Cassalina and the state-of-the-art cassava processing factory that produces it.
IMPROVING YOUR BRAND
There are some steps that could go into brand
improvement and solving of business problems from time to time. There are
various ways in which these areas that needs to be worked on are identified. It
could either be by keeping notes from clients suggestions or identification of
areas in need of improvement by the staff. Either ways, it is necessary for a
brand to stay continuously strategizing on how to be more efficient and
productive as a brand.
Identification of issues: capturing of the
shortcomings or concerns you hope to work on is the first step to solving the
brands problems which is aimed at improving the brand itself. Every problem is
crucial and important and they all have to be address in anticipation for
solutions.
Identification of solvable issues: it’s possible for
some problems to take more time and more effort than others and it is also
possible that certain problems do not pose as much threat as others on the
brand. Therefore crucial issues that need to be solved should be identified.
Identification of problem solving method: the next
step is to identify how the problems are going to be solved. There could be
need for selection of people for different tasks all directed towards improving
the potentials of the brand at the long run.
Providing and implementation of solution: the next
step involves brainstorming on the best ways possible to carry out the
solutions to the problems and how to implement them into the brand.
Continuous repetition of the process: this process
is expected to be done from time to time or at intervals if the brand is going
to keep improving and stay top notch in the business world.
Growing Africa's Food Markets
African farmers could create a trillion-dollar market for their goods by 2030, if they can access more capital, better infrastructure and land.
Spain to set up manufacturing companies in Nigeria
Friday, October 21, 2016
The Government of Spain has revealed plans aimed at
setting up Spanish manufacturing companies among other businesses in Nigeria,
which is targeted at exploring economic potential and build business relations
Nigeria.
This is even as an official trade delegation has
scheduled a visit to Nigeria in May 2017.The delegation having discussions with
government agencies and familiarizing itself with the business environment in
Abuja between May 8 and 9, and meeting with private sector operators in Lagos
on May 10, 2017 before leaving for their home country.
Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Alfonso Barnuevo
Sebastian De Erico, on Wednesday, dropped this hint, when he paid a courtesy
visit to the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma,
in Abuja.
According to an official statement released by the
Media Adviser to the minister, Akpandem James, and made available to
journalists, the move is part of government efforts to attract foreign
investment into the country to boost the economy.
De Erico said it was time the two countries looked
into the future to find more ways of being mutually beneficial to each other,
particularly now that the country has a government that is sold to good
governance principles.
"We appreciate the effort of Nigeria in the
area of transparency and fighting corruption. We appreciate also its economic
policies; and these will take the country forward. We are very supportive of
Nigeria and its policies", he added.
The Ambassador said Spain has been investing in
Europe over time and now needs to move its focus to Africa, with Nigeria as a
preferred destination because of the country's huge market potentials.
"That is why we are bringing in Spanish companies to know the country and
also explore investment opportunities available", he explained.
He said though the number of Spanish companies
already doing business in Nigeria is increasing, the planned trip is very
special as the focus would be on some very specific areas, including
Construction, Energy and Environment and Water and Sanitation.
De Erico told the minister that he would appreciate
the full involvement of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning and other
relevant Federal Government agencies in facilitating the realization of the
planned visit as it has enormous potentials of enhancing trade relations and
economic growth between the two countries.
The ambassador stressed that Nigeria and Spain have
enjoyed long lasting political and economic relations, adding that the time has
come to deepen the relationship with further investments in some sectors of the
Nigerian economy.
Udoma, while acknowledging the contributions of
Spain to Nigeria's economy over the years, particularly in the oil and gas
sector, said the Nigerian government is excited about the planned visit and
assured it will be fully involved in ensuring its success.
"On the visit of Spanish companies to Nigeria,
this is something that we will welcome. It is something we have been looking
forward to; something that we are encouraging. We believe you have a lot to
offer us and the Spanish companies will find Nigeria a convenient place to do
business. We are improving our ease of doing business template and making sure
that anybody who wants to do business in Nigeria has a much easier time.
"We are improving on our Visa system, to make
it faster to get Visa. We are giving extra support to our Export Processing
Zones in terms of infrastructure, to upgrade them so that they will be suitable
and convenient places for companies in Spain that would want to go into
manufacturing in Nigeria," he stated.
He pledged the readiness of the Ministry not only to
support the proposal of bringing in the companies to Nigeria but to liaise with
the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, the Nigeria Investments
Promotion Council (NIPC) and other relevant agencies of government to
facilitate the project.
The Minister told the Spanish envoy that Nigeria is
very interested in expanding its agricultural potentials, solid mineral
exploitation and infrastructure development, particularly in the area of roads,
rail and power. Concerning infrastructure, he informed that Nigeria is
exploring the option of partnership with the private sector to speed up the
realization of a massive infrastructure upgrade within the shortest possible
time.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
African Small Farmers Documentary
African Farmers Service Center is an innovative initiative that aims to raise the standard of living of African farmers and contribute to global food security by providing training, loans and market access to small scale farmers.
HOW TO KEEP YOUR EMPLOYEES HAPPY
Employee satisfaction is effective on productivity,
resource management and profitability at the long run. It is no news that happy
staff means a progressive business. Most times, employers refuse to pay
attention to the needs and concerns of the staff and this is why most problems
remain unsolvable and evident progress can hardly be achieved. Here are few
ways to ensure employees are treated rightly enough for their tasks.
CLARITY IN TASK: employers need to give adequate job
description and ensure that there is clarity in task assigned. It is mostly
ineffective to assume an employee should know what to do. Being communicative
is a good way to ensure productivity is achieved.
AVOID MONOTONY: having to do the same thing every
day in the same way can lead to brain drain. Jobs should be structured in a way
that activities won’t be repetitive and brain drain would be prevented. There
could be flexibility in work as such options like work from home, work on the
field could be adopted.
FLEXIBILITY: this is another good way to keep
workers encouraged and bright. Ideas as simple as opportunity for casual dress
code can do so much in improving workers
attitude to work, opportunities to hold meetings outside the office is another
way to keep work flexible.
TRANSPARENCY: this is another easy way to keep
workers happy and make them feel like they belong. Sharing the vision and
mission of the organisation and giving them a sense of belonging makes the work
process easier and happier for them.
Work doesn’t always have to feel like work. One can
derive happiness even in the work one does apart from the pay that comes from
it.
Forbes Africa TV Ep5: The day Nigeria's Don Jazzy lost his multi million naira music empire
This episode of My Worst Day with Peace Hyde features Nigeria's most successful music producer Don Jazzy who shares on the day he lost the multi million naira music empire he built which led to catastrophic personal and professional consequences.
Shipping crimes drop in Nigeria, others
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
There is apparently a positive outlook in the fight
against piracy in the Gulf of Guinea and other hot spots across the globe, as
reports confirmed relative peace being enjoyed in some maritime crime prone
routes including Nigeria.
The Guradian reported recently that the nation's
fight against piracy is yielding positive results. This has been further lent
credence by new data released by the United Kingdom Maritime Intelligence and
Operations Company, Dryad Maritime, which also showed that there has been a
drastic reduction in the number of attacks in the Nigerian territorial waters.
Specifically, the Dryad report indicated that the
Gulf of Guinea, South East Asia and The Indian Ocean High Risk Area (HRA) have
all experienced significant reductions in reported maritime crimes throughout
July, August and September this year.
It stated: "In the Gulf of Guinea and within
Nigeria's Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ) there has been a decrease in the
frequency of attacks with a total of just four attacks against commercial
shipping at sea off the Niger Delta since early July, this compares to 36 in
the first six months of the year,"
Chief Operating Officer, Dryad Maritime, Ian Millen,
said: "We have cause for some optimism on piracy and maritime crime, with
a generally stable and improving situation in some areas balanced against some
serious cause for concern in others,"
He added that in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean,
Somali piracy remains broadly contained and in Southeast Asia, piracy is at its
lowest level since 2009, with a 65 per cent reduction when compared to this
time last year.
"The bad news, however, is that 81 people have
been kidnapped, seven have been killed and 61 remain in captivity," Millen
said.
Dryad Maritime also reported that beyond piracy and
maritime crime, the maritime domain poses other threats.
Millen said that, from conflict situations ashore in
Libya and Yemen, to the threat of anti-ship missiles in busy shipping lanes, as
evidenced by recent incidents in the southern Red Sea, "seafarers continue
to trade and transit in some dangerous waters," while the continuing
humanitarian crisis of Mediterranean migration puts other pressures on the
shipping industry and its seafarers.
The Oceans Beyond Piracy (OBP) had recently revealed
that incidences of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea and the Horn of Africa, have
been decreasing.
The OBP working group meeting noted that the upturn
in kidnapping for ransom incidents in the Gulf of Guinea in the last quarter of
2015, and the first quarter of 2016 have reduced through a combination of
increased patrols by the Nigerian Navy, increased use of contracted security
and a refocus of attacks away from piracy at sea and more towards inland
infrastructure.
Nigeria is estimated to be losing about $1.5 billion
monthly to piracy, armed robbery at sea, smuggling, and fuel supply fraud as
piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea.
The UN Security Council earlier said: "The
absence of an effective maritime governance system, in particular, hampers
freedom of movement in the region, disrupts trade and economic growth, and
facilitates environmental crimes," she stressed.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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