The National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN) says the country will achieve self-sufficiency in oil palm and secure its global market share by 2050. The association made this statement in Abuja on Saturday, attributing the goal to the effective implementation of the National Oil Palm Development Strategy. Mr. Alphonsus Inyang, NPPAN National President, spoke to reporters on the sidelines of the strategy’s validation meeting. He said the country’s current production of 1.4–1.5 million metric tonnes annually could rise to 9–10 million metric tonnes by 2050 under the new guidelines. Inyang, who also serves as Vice Chairman of the Technical…
Author: Newsdesk
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party ()PDP in Oyo State, Olufemi Onireti, has resigned his membership of the party, citing the need for personal reflection. Onireti, a former House of Representatives candidate, announced his resignation in a letter addressed to the PDP Chairman of Osupa Ward 9 in Ogbomoso North Local Government Area on Thursday. Describing the move as difficult but necessary, he said the decision followed a period of what he termed “deep personal reflection.” “I hereby formally resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), effective immediately,” he stated. He acknowledged his years of active participation…
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has unveiled plans to appoint envoys in 12 major foreign cities as part of a broader effort to draw international attention to what it describes as a growing pattern of undemocratic practices and attacks on opposition figures in Nigeria. The initiative follows the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision to derecognise both the David Mark-led leadership of the party and the Nafiu Bala faction. In a statement issued on Wednesday, INEC’s Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Haruna, said the commission would refrain from engaging with either faction, citing a March 12 judgment of…
The Catholic Diocese of Sokoto has denied a misleading and false video currently circulating online with the caption: “Breaking!!! Bishop Kukah’s house, Cathedral and N1 billion Catholic Pastoral Centre set ablaze by Islamists in Sokoto.” This was contained in a statement signed by Rev. Fr. Pascal Salifu, Director of Communications, Diocese of Sokoto, and issued to newsmen in Sokoto on Saturday. The statement said, “We wish to inform the general public that this information is totally false. “The Bishop’s residence, the Cathedral, and the Catholic Pastoral Centre in Sokoto remain safe, intact, and fully operational. “This video started circulating in…
American fertilizer traders have seized on a lucrative opportunity overseas because of the war in Iran, showing how U.S. farmers have been caught again on the wrong side of moves in global markets. Domestic prices for phosphate fertilizers have lagged that of the international market, as American farmers struggling with high production costs pare back their use of the key crop nutrient applied widely to both corn and soy fields. That has prompted some traders to move the product abroad to nations willing to pay up as the conflict in the Middle East ensnares global supply chains. “U.S. phosphate prices…
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum have announced new actions aimed at boosting the supply of American born, raised and harvested beef by supporting American ranchers with the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding that will strengthen coordination, cut bureaucratic red tape and deliver immediate, tangible support for America’s farmers and ranchers who rely on public lands. Building on the USDA’s recently released Grazing Action Plan, the agreement formalizes collaboration between the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to ensure more efficient,…
Tanzania is putting agriculture at the centre of its push for artificial intelligence adoption, seeing it as a key driver for food security and rural development across the East African Community. The country is calling for a stronger focus on technology that directly supports farmers and improves agricultural systems. This position was outlined by Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo during the 4th EAC Regional Science, Technology and Innovation Conference held in Kigali. The gathering brought together policymakers, researchers and agricultural experts to explore how innovation can reshape the region’s farming sector. Agriculture remains the backbone…
Uganda is placing agriculture at the centre of its digital transformation through a new partnership designed to modernise farming and improve rural livelihoods. The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance has joined forces with the United Nations Health Industry Foundation and the Prince Kimbugwe Foundation to promote smart agriculture powered by artificial intelligence. The agreement focuses on bringing practical solutions to farmers by combining technology with everyday agricultural practices. Through this collaboration, AI laboratories will be set up, research projects will be carried out and training programmes will be introduced to equip young people and agricultural professionals with modern skills.…
Telecommunications company, Bharti Airtel, has crossed 650 million mobile subscribers globally, a milestone that positions it as the second largest telecom operator in the world by customer base. The company disclosed this in a statement on Friday. With operations spanning multiple countries, its network reaches over two billion people globally, including more than 179 million customers across 14 countries in Africa. The company stated that crossing 650 million subscribers reflects the scale of its global operations and its ability to deliver services across multiple markets. “Crossing 650 million mobile subscribers worldwide, now positions the company as the second-largest telecommunications operator…
The African Union has opened applications for its 2026 Innovating Education in Africa (IEA) programme, offering grants of up to $50,000 to support scalable education solutions across the continent. The initiative, announced by the AU’s Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, is to address long-standing gaps in Africa’s education and skills development systems. Applications for the programme are open to innovators across AU Member States, with a submission deadline of April 30, 2026. According to the AU, the programme comes at a time when Africa continues to face deep structural challenges in education, including access gaps, poor learning outcomes, and a…