Mbanefo replaces Meko at Anambra Agric Ministry

NaijaAgroNet:

The governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, Monday in Awka the capital of Anambra shuffled his Executive cabinet with the appointment of five new Commissioners including Mr. Afamefuna Chinedu Mbanefo to replace Sir Austin Meko, reports NaijaAgroNet. 

The other four newly sworn-in Commissioners including Barrister Mrs. Mary Imelda Obinuju Nwogu as Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism; Sir  Okey Moka for Finance; Mr. Franks Chukwuemeka Offor  for Housing & Urban Development; and Barrister (Mrs.) Uzoamaka Gladys  Ilobi for Special Duties.

Governor Obiano told the new appointees that they came highly recommended for the jobs because of the value they would add to the administration. 

“Serving in this administration is an honour to you and I expect you to live up to the challenge as members of my cabinet. As you already know, we are moving well and we have brought you on board to help move Anambra State forward,” he said.

Obiano further charged them to justify the confidence he reposed in them in their appointment. 

“You can see that among the forms you have with you is your Job Specifications. You are expected to perform based on set parameters and there is also provision for periodic reviews.”

Responding on behalf of the appointees, Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Mary Imelda Obinuju Nwogu thanked Gov. Obiano for the opportunity given them to serve the state.

“We are highly elated and very happy to be found worthy by this administration. We are ready to work to move Anambra State forward especially in the area of the 4-Pillars of development where you have shown tremendous capacity and achievements as well as on the Enablers.” 

@Isaac Oyimah @ITRealms

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Pix courtesy Ikolo: Barrister Mrs Uzoamaka Gladys Ilobi (Commissioner for Special Duties), Mr. Frank Emeka Offor (Commissioner for Housing), Afamuefuna Chinedu Mbanefo (Commissioner for Agriculture), Sir. Okey Moka (Commissioner for Finance), Barrister Mrs. Mary Imelda Nwogu (Commissioner for Information) after being sworn in at the Governor's Lodge, Amawbia.

Over 1200 Stakeholders gather in Morocco for worldwide 3rd symphos

NaijaAgroNet:

A group of phosphate industry professionals, OCP Group, has assembled over 1,200 stakeholders in the city of Morocco for the third worldwide International Symposium on Innovation and Technology in the Phosphate Industry (Symphos) from Monday, 18th to 20th of May 2015 in Marrakesh, with the theme “Innovation to serve sustainable agriculture” reports NaijaAgroNet.

Participants, NaijaAgroNet reports are from all corners of the world, representing over 45 countries. 

The Symphos 2015 is a forum for meetings and discussions between the major international players in the phosphate and phosphate derivatives industry, and will build on the previous events, with greater focus on innovation to serve sustainable agriculture. In particular, this year’s event will cover themes regarding industrial processes, elements of value, fertilizers of the future and slow & controlled releases.

The African Press Organization in a press statement on behalf of OCP, noted that the event has become an international benchmark in the sector, offering a forum that promotes diversification, modernisation and development of the phosphate industry and support for the development needs of worldwide agriculture.

Aware that innovation is the primary tool for rational and sustainable exploitation of phosphate reserves, OCP Group uses Symphos to highlight its commitment to sustainable and prosperous agriculture throughout the world. By bringing together the global phosphate community to share expertise, skills and experiences, Symphos aims at contributing to the emergence of the ideas of tomorrow, and taking up the major challenge of soil and resource conservation for sustainable agriculture.


@Isaac Oyimah
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ITREALMS: NCMH celebrates 100th African Slums

ITREALMS: NCMH celebrates 100th African Slums:   ITRealms : The Nairobi Community Media House (NCMH) has roll out curtain on the 100th episode of the African Slum Journal, which s...

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Emulate President Jammeh, Gambian farmers tasks African leaders

 NaijaAgroNet

The President of the National Farmers Platform of The Gambia (NFPG), Alagie Bassi Mboge has charged African leaders to emulate President Yahya  Jammeh's footstep in boosting agricultural production and productivity, reports NaijaAgroNet .

Mboge made this call in an interview with news men in The Gambia, saying that the ongoing presidential tour to meet with farmers across the country is a clear demonstration that President Jammeh is taking the lead to ensuring that decades of importation of rice become a thing of the past in the country.

He described Jammeh as a president with a difference whose ambition is to ensure that not only The Gambia becomes food self-sufficient, but also the whole of Africa.

Mr. Mboge also commended the President for the laudable initiative of meeting farmers, and discussing with them the way forward in addressing some of their key concerns regarding the attainment of Vision 2016, NaijaAgroNet learnt.

Cyriacus Nnaji/ GEE

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Ogun, Lagos communities send SOS to govt over 7-day demolition ultimatum

NaijaAgroNet:

The elders and community leaders of Akute, Baale Akin-Osin and Oke-Aro communities in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State have sent a Save-Our-Souls (SOS) to the Ogun and Lagos State governments over a seven-day demolition ultimatum, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The ultimatum issued to landlords and occupants of estimated 60,000 houses, include mosques, churches and public schools within the Water Pipeline area, affected the building housing the headquarters of News Express.

According to the News Express reports, shock arising from the sudden notice by the Ogun State Urban and Regional Planning Board has claimed two landlords while several others have taken ill.

A press conference held Thursday in Akute, the elders under the aegis of joint Community Development Councils (CDCs), who also claimed dual citizens of Lagos and Ogun states, under the All Progressives Congress (APC), wondered if the ultimatum was a way of paying them back for tremendously voting for APC in the last general elections.

As law-abiding citizens, the community leaders and elders say they are not against the Adiyan Water Project by the Lagos and Ogun State governments which is designed to benefit the public. According to a grand patron of the CDCs, Alhaji Ganiyu Busari, they want the Ogun State government agency to re-consider the measure of the specified area to be demolished: rather than the expansive 50-metre “set-back”, this could conveniently be reduced to 20 metres “set-back,” so that less houses would be affected.

“We wish to intimate the government that most of the affected house owners are aged and retirees who have no steady means of livelihood. Pulling down their homes will further aggravate their predicament. We also wish to call the attention of the government to the fact that any meaningful project should be people-driven,” Busari said.

*Isaac Oyima with additional report from News Express

 

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Pix: Govs Amosun of Ogun and Fashola of Lagos

Technology key for productivity in Africa

NaijaAgroNet

Technology has been described as a major factor for improved productivity in Africa, so said Dr. Hannah Bissiw, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) in charge of Livestock in Ghana, reports NaijaAgroNet.

Dr. Bissiw,NaijaAgroNet gathered, stated this at the opening of Ghana/Kenya Trade and Investment Mission in Accra, stressing the need for African countries to expand trade among themselves.

She also said that as most African countries depend largely on their agricultural sectors to lead the transformation of their economies, “we cannot but strive to improve our agricultural sectors through the application of science and technology,” NaijaAgroNet learnt.

Dr Bissiw further said that the mission provided both countries the opportunity to elaborate cooperation in the MOU and put in place a plan of action to realise the ideals.

The Mission follows the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in December 2014 in Nairobi to promote trade, investments, exchange of science and technology and knowledge between Ghana and Kenya.

President John Dramani Mahama during an official visit to Kenya last year, NaijaAgroNet learnt, also signed seven bilateral agreements with the country to ease the conditions for doing business and boosting bilateral trade relations.

Cyriacus Nnaji/ GEE

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World Malaria Day: Over 3000 get free health care courtesy Coca-Cola, partners

NaijaAgroNet

Akoka community members with over 3000 population living with intellectual disabilities have received free Malaria and HIV testing and treatment at the St. Finbarr’s College, Lagos as Coca-Cola partners with Special Olympics Nigeria, YEDI and Exxon Mobil to mark this year’s World Malaria Day, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The 2015 World Malaria Day theme, “Invest in the future, Defeat malaria” provides a common platform for countries to showcase their successes in malaria control and unify diverse initiatives in the changing global context.

National Director, Special Olympics Nigeria, Ms. Naomi Saliu-Lawal, NaijaAgroNet gathered said they envisage a malaria free country and pledged continuous commitment to health care services.

“We look forward to a time when malaria will be better managed and there will be fewer casualties. We will continue to educate people about malaria and provide health care services with our partners.” She said.

Also speaking at the event, Communications Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Sam Umukoro said “Coca-Cola is committed to leveraging the power of partnerships such as this one to promote the health and wellbeing of our communities. We recognize that when our communities are healthy and sustainable then businesses can thrive”.  

The event had volunteers among the employees of Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Exxon Mobil and Special Olympics Nigeria, and featured side attractions including music and dance and a Unified Soccer novelty match by some of the Special Olympics athletes.

Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, world's largest beverage company, as NaijaAgroNetlearnt is a subsidiary of the Coca-Cola Company with consumers in more than 200 countries enjoying its beverages at a rate of more than 1.9 billion servings a day.

NaijaAgroNet also gathered that while efforts to prevent, diagnose and treat malaria have gained important momentum over the past years, an annual shortage of N716.580 billion (US$ 3.6 billion) threatens to slow down progress, particularly across Africa where high-burden countries are facing critical funding gaps.  Unless the world can find a way to bridge the funding gaps and endemic countries have the resources and technical support they need to implement sound malaria control plans, malaria resurgence will likely take many more lives.

Daniel Nsolibe/GEE

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