LCCI to host Expo on ICT

   ITRealms

   

Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has unveiled plans to host Information Communications Technology (ICT) Expo tagged ‘ICTEL EXPO’ which is scheduled to hold at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos between 15th and 18th of April, 2015.

ITRealms learnt that ICTEL EXPO 2015 which has the theme “Connecting Businesses, Creating Opportunities” offers four days of inspiration, innovation and information”. LCCI is an event which aims to bring together the stakeholders in the ICT industry, both indigenous and international that will last for four days.

So far, the ICTEL Expo has received the support and endorsement of most of the key industry stakeholders; National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Nigeria Internet Registration Agency (NIRA), Federal Ministry of Communication Technology (COMTECH), Computer Professionals Registration Council Of Nigeria (CPN) and Co- Creation Hub(CCHUB)

 ITRealms also reports that application for participation for the ICTEL EXPO 2015 is open for brands, organizations who want to seize the opportunity provided by the platform to give visibility to their products and services. The EXPO also promises to provide excellent networking opportunities for business decision makers, innovation mangers, enterprise solution providers, startups investors and all other stakeholders in the ICT industry.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE


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Fish importation policy review to benefit Nigeria’s youths

NaijaAgroNet

The on-going review of fish importation policy by the Federal Government would immensely benefit youths in the South Western part of the Nigeria, reports NaijaAgroNet.

According to NaijaAgroNet reports, Lagos and Ogun State are the key beneficiaries from the production capacity boost as Premium Aquaculture Limited (PAL) revealed its plans to generate over 500 jobs from two large fish farms already set up in Nigeria.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that the two large fish farms located in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital and Epe suburb in Lagos State are expected to produce 4,500 metric tonnes of catfish per annum with focus on breeding two species of fishes.

The development came as a result of the decision by the PAL to invest in local fish farming in support the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina in his efforts through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to develop fish production in Nigeria and reduce the country's dependence on imported fish.

The Project Manager, Premium Aquaculture Limited, Sarvesh Pandey said the company will center on breeding only catfish and tilapia, explaining that the Epe fishpond is ready for production while Abeokuta farm will commence operations in April, 2015.

"A lot of research has been carried out on what area of fish to invest in and where to start the production. We will be committing an investment worth about $1 million on the production of tilapia fish to be produced in Abeokuta farm.

"Investment in catfish will be lesser than tilapia because catfish is like in-house (Nigerian owned fish), we are doing case culture on tilapia and case culture is more expensive. We are going to import from china and 1kg, will cost us around $4000 at the capacity of 5 metric tonnes per circle. If you do two circles in a year, you can get 10 metric tonnes in one cage."

 
Chidozie Anibueze/GEE
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56 Signal barracks walk against ebola virus

NaijaAgroNet:

 Clad in red t-shirts and their camouflage trousers, Nigerian Army personnel at the 56 Signal barracks, Mile 2, Lagos alongside members of mammy trader’s association took the streets to create awareness and campaign against the deadly ebola virus, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The walk from the barracks, as monitored by NaijaAgroNet, took them to all the corners of the living quarters and outside the barracks. The more than two-hour walk culminated in a talk by Captain Nkem Aneke who also facilitated the event.

Addressing army personnel and traders on the symptoms associated with Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), Captain Aneke enjoined them to always report any suspicious case to medical personnel even as she urged families not to hide their relatives who are infected.

She emphasized the need for people to ensure they wash their hands always, the Nigerian Army officer debunked claims that using salt and warm water will go a long way to cure or prevent the deadly diseases if contacted.

“Ebola Virus Disease cannot be contacted through air. It kills the body’s immune system.  It can be contacted through shaking, sleeping with a person who is infected and coming in contact with any of the victim’s fluid be it sweat, blood or sweat and spit. It does not last up to one month in the body before the victim dies.  So, when you notice anybody who has some symptoms that look like symptoms of Ebola disease who does not want to seek medical attention, inform medical personnel. Restrict the way you touch people. Handle money carefully. Avoid eating bush meat and restrict the way you socialise. Use sanitizers to clean your hands always thoroughly,” she advised.

Some of the traders, who spoke to NaijaAgroNet, commended the campaign, saying it should be a continuous process to keep the topic fresh in the minds of residents and traders in and around the barracks.

President General, Mammy Market Traders also known as Baba Magajia, 56 Signal Barracks, Mile 2, Mr Samuel Albert told NaijaAgroNet that the campaign is not only timely but coming at a time many people have little or no information on the disease.

“I am highly impressed and I know this seminar will help everybody in many ways. If it is possible to be doing it periodically, it will be in our own interest. When you talk of about Federal Government (FG), you know they are trying. But it may not reach the grassroots and that is why this authority, organised this seminar,” he applauded.

For the Magajia, Mrs Augustina Ohimite said the seminar was a welcome development, adding that the drama and the talk have deepened their understanding of the deadly disease.

While commending the facilitator and organisers of the campaign, Assistant Magajia Mrs Comfort Alufa noted that what she learnt during the seminar will go a long way to understand how to prevent contacting the virus apart from sharing the information with other people.

Highlights of the campaign include a road walk, drama presentation, demonstration on how to wash the hands thoroughly and distribution of drugs and glucose by the staff of the medical unit.

Chukwudi Obi/ED Ops

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1. Nigerian Army 56 Signal Barracks walking against Ebola virus
2. Captain Nkem Aneke with one of her colleagues
3. Special address during the exercise by a participant.

GE-USADF Off-Grid Energy Challenge: Winners to emerge Nov. 21

NaijaAgroNet:

Following the recent closure of entries for the 2013 Off-Grid Energy Challenge by the General Electronics (GE) and the United States African Development Foundation (USADF), winners are set to emerge on November 21 in a ceremony in Lagos, NaijaAgroNet reports.

NaijaAgroNet recalls that the challenge was recently launched in Kenya and Nigeria thereby commencing the judging process in anticipation of the announcement of this year’s winners from both countries.

Investigations by NaijaAgroNet reveals that over the next three years, some 20 individuals and indigenous African companies who come up with innovative solutions that address the energy challenges of African communities and businesses stand a chance of winning up to USD 100,000 in grants to support their initiatives.

According to NaijaAgroNet searches, the judges are looking out for off-grid energy solutions that have created innovative approaches to metering, payment, collections, or transmission.

“They will also look out for entries that deliver sustainable energy to underserved marginal populations without degrading the environment,” a source told NaijaAgroNet.

The President and CEO, GE Africa, Jay Ireland expressed excitements that the Off-Grid Energy challenge is generating increased awareness about the plight of communities that are either underserved by the national grid or are not connected at all.

“We have no doubt that great solutions will emerge from this initiative, which will ultimately provide some insight to how to tackle some of the off-grid energy challenges in Africa” he said.

USADF President and CEO, Shari Berenbach said the initiative will help leverage more marginalized and underserved communities into positions where they could engage in and benefit from inclusive economic growth.

She noted that over the last 30 years, the USADF has championed initiatives that have contributed in catalyzing Africans out of poverty, stressing, “We are proud to be in partnership with GE on this initiative, which clearly resonates with everything that USADF stands for.”

NaijaAgroNet equally recollects that the Off-Grid Energy challenge is the initiative of global infrastructure giants, General Electric (GE) and the United States Africa Development Agency (USADF), which rides on the back of the Power Africa initiative announced by President Barack Obama during his recent visit to Africa.

The Power Africa initiative seeks to drive growth in Africa by increasing access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable power and by helping to ensure responsible, transparent and effective management of energy resources on the continent.

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Pix: Lazarus Angbazo, President/CEO General Electric, Nigeria

Why youth shun commercial farming - CAPD

Anthony Nwakaegho/NaijaAgroNet

The youths in Nigeria don’t want to take to commercial farming as some of them still see agriculture from the traditional perspective that put manual implements to use, according to the Lagos State Coordinator for Commercial Agriculture Development Project (CAPD) Mr Kehinde O. Ogunyinka.

In an exclusive interview with NaijaAgroNet, and said that the youth that don’t want to go into commercial farming can go into marketing, instead of crying day and night over unemployment.

Ogunyinka explained that the value chain of agriculture is so long from input to land preparation, production, harvest, transportation and the market, that even the old ones can still be engaged, while the cry for unemployment will be greatly reduced if not eliminated.

“As it is today agricultural production has been simplified. We have machineries to clear the forest/bush. 

There are ploughing, hallowing machines that will do the land preparation and the ridgers for ridges, planters to do the planting and combined harvesters that will do the harvesting and processing.

“So we have all these machines along the production line that will make production of any farming activity easy and remove drudgery from the farm. So the youths can be engaged, as the government under the auspices of Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative has engaged 400 youths in rice production annually and they are doing well,” he said.

NaijaAgroNet
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CADP set to host Agric stakeholders forum

Anthony Nwakaegho/NaijaAgroNet

The Commercial Agriculture Development Project (CADP) has perfected plans to host stakeholders in the Agricultural sector in an interactive forum in Lagos.

The state project coordinator, Kehinde Ogunyinka informed NaijaAgroNet that the forum is aimed at showcasing the results and impacts of CADP on small-medium commercial farmers in the State and to attract both local and foreign investors.

Ogunyinka listed some the projects by the Lagos State Commercial Agriculture Development Project (CADP) to include 22.19 km rural roads in 10 locations, provision of transformers, extension lines and accessories and another 12.83 km rural roads that is ongoing in six other farming locations in Lagos State.

He said that CADP has supported 331 commodity interest groups engaged in poultry, rice and aquaculture value chains in the execution of their business plans to the tune of N657.487 million in Lagos State.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that the forum has been scheduled for Wednesday 18, September, 2013 at Johnson Agiri Complex in Oko Oba, Agege in Lagos.

Also, NaijaAgroNet gathered that the forum will attract  over one hundred and forty participants which will include small and medium scale rice, poultry and aquaculture farmers, processors, marketers, financial Institutions, community leaders and Non-governmental Organizations, state policy makers, representatives of the World Bank, members of the House Committee on Agriculture and the media.

NaijaAgroNet
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Pix: Gov. Tunde Fashola of Lagos State