…As Islamic Development Bank and International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation discuss Agritech Digital Solutions in 2nd Agritech Webinar The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) (http://www.ITFC-IDB.org) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) (Agriculture Division) in collaboration with IsDB Group Business Forum (THIQAH) recently hosted a webinar entitled “Agritech Digital Solutions”, covering how fourth industrial revolution (4IR) innovations can drive sustainable change across agribusiness value chains. With around 45% of crops produced going to waste, and an estimate 690 million people estimated to have been undernourished last year, agri-value chains face enormous challenges and pressures to improve efficiency, promote financial inclusion…
Author: Editor
The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) has held the first virtual statutory meeting of the new African Development Bank-Civil Society Committee ahead of the Civil Society Forum to be held on 26-27 November 2020. The committee, which met on Tuesday, aims to build stronger partnerships with the African civil society community by enhancing communications and raising awareness on the Bank’s work in their respective regions and sectors. Building on the positive results from the previous committee, the Bank’s Civil Society and Community Engagement Division, which serves as the committee’s secretariat, facilitated the renewal of the Bank-Civil Society Committee for the next…
The Ecobank Group (https://www.Ecobank.com/) launches ‘Ellevate’, a programme for women-owned and women-focused businesses across 33 markets. This programme is designed to help women reach their full potential by empowering, growing and supporting them with customized financial and value-added solutions. Women constitute roughly half of the population in Africa. SMEs account for up to 90% of all businesses in Africa and women own about a third of all registered African SMEs. 1 in 4 of the adult female population in Africa starts or manages a business, making the African continent one of the highest in terms of women entrepreneurs across the world.…
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (https://www.AfDB.org/) have approved a $120 million loan to fund the construction of a 50 MW hydropower plant in Western Tanzania that will provide reliable renewable energy to households, schools, clinics and small and medium-sized enterprises in the Kigoma Region. The Malagarasi Hydropower project has several components: a run-of-the-river hydropower plant facility; a 54- km, 132 kV transmission line that will connect to Tanzania’s national grid; a distribution network expansion operation that includes rural electrification and last-mile connections; project management and contract administration support; and compensation and resettlement of affected persons. Bank…
President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved salary increment for men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force. The Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu disclosed this while addressing men and officers of Ogun State Police Command on Thursday. While urging them not to be demoralised by the attacks suffered during the protest, he charged them not to be afraid of carrying out their duties as a result of the criticisms against them, saying no society survives without the police. Adamu revealed that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has taken various steps to reform the Nigerian police. “The government has approved…
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, says the potential selection of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the new Director-General of World Trade Organisation (WTO) portends a remarkable achievement for the country. Speaking at the official opening of the 15th Abuja International Trade Fair on Thursday, Adebayo said the country would benefit immensely from Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment as WTO Director-General. Adebayo, in a statement by Ifedayo Sayo, his Special Assistant on Media pointed out that there were significant opportunities in her selection. The chances of Okonjo-Iweala became brighter on Tuesday as South Korea withdrew its candidate from the race, according to Washington…
President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigerian women to engage the youths in meaningful ventures and dialogue in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests, to avoid a repeat of such protests. The president gave the challenge when he hosted representatives of Nigerian women at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday. While describing Nigerian women as stabilisers, Buhari said that the youths were the nation’s most treasured assets, adding that it was the collective responsibility of all well-meaning citizens to present to them a pathway to realising their huge potential. He said: “Your visit here today comes in the wake of growing…
Nominee for the position of Chairman for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has appealed to the National Assembly to expeditiously pass the Electoral Act Amendment Bill before end of first quarter of 2021. Yakubu made the call in Abuja on Thursday when he appeared before the Senate Committee on INEC for screening. President Muhammadu Buhari had on Wednesday sought Senate’s confirmation of Yakubu as INEC chairman for a second term. He said that the passage of the Electoral Act was critical for the success of the 2023 general elections and ultimately the nation’s electoral system. He…
The Kingdom of Netherlands on Thursday officially presented a smuggled Ife Terracotta antiquity dated to be at least 600 years old to Nigeria. The repatriated antiquity was presented to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed at a ceremony held in Abuja. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria, Harry Van Dijk, Nigeria Charge de Affairs to Netherlands, Kabiru Musa and the Director-General National Commission for Museum and Monuments (NCMM) were present at the event. Receiving the repatriated object, the minister said it was smuggled through the airport in Ghana before getting to Europe…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says only farmers who grow improved disease-free cassava stems, will have access to the N25 billion facility it has created to boost cassava production in the country. The policy aims to ensure that beneficiaries of the facility have increased productivity and are able to repay loans and make incomes for themselves. A senior official of the apex bank, Chinedu Ogbonnaya, who represented the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, made this known during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) BASIC-II Cassava Seed Entrepreneurs and Nigeria Cassava Growers…