Nigeria joins African countries with Skills Initiative programme

NaijaAgroNet:

Nigeria is now the fifth African country to launch Skill Initiative programme in partnership with NEPAD Agency, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The Skill Initiative, NaijaAgroNet gathered, has the goal to strengthen the occupational prospects of young people, especially for women and youth from poor areas.

Other initial implementing countries include Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa and Tunisia.

Speaking on behalf of the Secretary to the Federal Government of Nigeria, Engr. Babachir David Lawal, the Permanent Secretary of Cabinet Affairs, Mr. Roy Ugo, commended the programmatic interventions of the NEPAD Agency on the continent, particularly in Nigeria.

Ugo also said that the Skills Initiative for Africa programme is timely and aligns with the current administration’s Change Agenda, to create economic opportunities in the country, especially amongst the youth.

He pledged Nigeria’s support to the programme to ensure that it produces the desired positive effect on the employment sector.

Mrs Estherine Lisinge-Fotabong, NEPAD Agency’s Director of Programme Coordination and Implementation, informed attendees at the launch that the programme is informed by the need to address skills gap on the continent. In her opening remarks, she pointed out that there is a disconnection between education, training systems and the labour market.

“Therefore, it is incumbent upon the continent to think differently and come up with skill sets that could fill the employment opportunities, create entrepreneurs, as well as provide mentorship to trainees, so that the can effectively succeed in businesses after vocational training,” Mrs Fotabong said.

The launch of the Skills Initiative for Africa programme was co-hosted by NEPAD Nigeria under the leadership of Hon (Princess) Gloria Akobundu, the National Coordinator/ CEO of NEPAD Nigeria.

Speaking, Princess Akobundu explained that the Skills Initiative for Africa presents an opportunity for the missing middle of society to actively engage in the economic activity of the country, through gainful employment and entrepreneurship. She called on Nigerian youths to make good use of the opportunity provided by the initiative.

The launch, which was followed by a consultative workshop to identify the country’s priority for the programme, was attended by various stakeholders from both private and public sectors, including: Nigerian high level dignitaries, senators, members of the National Assembly, as well as members of the diplomatic corps and civil society organisations.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology

China seeks cooperation for sustainable agriculture in Africa

NaijaAgroNet

China said it is charting grounds of cooperation with African countries in order to ensure sustainable agricultural development, NaijaAgroNet gathered.

This was made known recently when the Chinese Embassy in Sudan hosted a workshop on China's experiences in agricultural development and its role in achieving food security in Africa.

“China is a traditional agricultural country, with only six per cent of fresh water and nine per cent of arable land of the world, yet it has managed to provide food for 20 per cent of the world population," the Chinese Sudan Ambassador, Li Lianhe.

He reiterated that the experience exchange and mutual cooperation in agriculture and food security area between China and Africa would make essential contribution to the stability and development of the world, NaijaAgroNet reports.

The two-day workshop was attended by Sudan's State Minister for Agriculture Yaqoub Mohamed Al-Tayeb, the Chinese Ambassador and researchers from China and nine African countries.

"Sudan is keen to achieve food security and it has initiatives in this respect," said Al-Tayeb when addressing the workshop.

Sudan government, he said, is committed in fully adopting the outcome of the workshop and transforming its recommendations into work programmes to promote food security in Africa, NaijaAgroNet learnt.

Cyriacus Nnaji/ED,OPs
 
... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology
 Pix: Li Lianhe

Grow Africa Partnership secures $10bn to boost agriculture

NaijaAgroNET

Over 200 member companies have committed $10-billion about N1.99 trillion in the Agricultural sector in 12 African countries aimed at boosting agriculture and employment on the continent. This figure represents an increase of about 40 per cent over 2013 commitment levels reports NaijaAgroNet.

Grow Africa released the figures at the Grow Africa Investment Forum in Cape Town as the first stage of a joint reporting process for Grow Africa and the New Alliance, on behalf of the African Union.

According the information received by NaijaAgroNet, “Investment continues to increase: in 2013 and 2014, investments totalling $1.8 billion about N358.2billion have led to the creation of 58 000 jobs, bringing improvements in services and market opportunities to 8.6 million smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of the sector’s production capacity.

Sarita Nayyar, Managing Director, World Economic Forum said, “We stand at a pivotal moment of opportunity to capitalize on an enormous body of collective learning to foster successful public-private cooperation. We must seize this opportunity to deliver on the promise of African agriculture to drive sustainable and inclusive economic growth for the continent.”

 “Over half of the investment commitments come from domestic agribusiness and service companies, which benefit from Grow Africa’s focus on convening and facilitating multi-stakeholder partnerships to strengthen inclusive agricultural value chains.”

NaijaAgroNet gathered that the Grow Africa Partnership was founded jointly in 2011 by the African Union (AU), The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the World Economic Forum to enable countries to realize the potential of the agriculture sector for economic growth and job creation, particularly among farmers, women and youth.

In 2014, about $300-million, about N59.7 of staple and cash crops were sourced from smallholders as a result of the investments.

Cyriacus Nnaji/ GEE

 
... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technology