Tomato farmers in Kogi are experiencing improved yields and higher incomes following the introduction of new measures aimed at reducing post-harvest losses. Asheews gathered through a survey conducted by NAN revealed that the initiatives, led by the state Agricultural Extension Officers and farmer cooperatives, are gradually transforming the tomato industry in the state. According to Mr Salihu Adobanyi, the state Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), the measures include improved post-harvest handling, training programmes for rural farmers, and the use of ventilated plastic crates. He said, “These efforts have reduced physical damage during transportation and prevented spoilage. “Additionally,…
Author: Newsdesk
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has supported the African University of Science and Technology (AUST) to strengthen advanced Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and research in Nigeria. The AfDB said this in a statement on its website. The support comes through the Nelson Mandela Institute, African Institutions of Science and Technology (NMI–AIST) Project, implemented in two phases from 2010 to 2022, enhancing postgraduate training and research ecosystems across Africa. AUST is one of three centres of excellence under the initiative, alongside International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE) and Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and…
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved a 200 million dollars loan to scale up priority agricultural investments in Nigeria. The AfDB said this in a statement on its website. It said the financing would support the second phase of the Federal Government’s National Agricultural Growth Scheme–Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP). According to the statement, this aims at boosting productivity, strengthening value chains and accelerating climate-smart, data-driven farming. “The approval follows earlier financing under the Bank Group’s African Emergency Food Production Facility and will contribute to implementing five programmes under the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP).…
Babagana Zulum, Governor of Borno State, has approved a N12.9 billion scholarship scheme to sponsor 54 indigenes of the state to study aeronautics and engineering, alongside various professional certifications, at Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management. The Senior Technical Assistant to the governor on Print and Digital Communications, Abdulrahman Bundi, said in a statement on Friday that the training programme covers basic pilot training. It includes 10 beneficiaries specialising in Aerospace Engineering, 11 in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 11 in Mechatronics Engineering, 12 in Software Engineering, and 10 in Systems Engineering. At a brief ceremony held at the Government…
Kenya has introduced a new digital trade initiative aimed at accelerating intra-African commerce by transforming its diplomatic missions into active commercial hubs under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The government unveiled two interconnected platforms — BiasharaLink and Deal House — designed to help African businesses identify partners, negotiate agreements and execute cross-border transactions more efficiently. The initiative marks a strategic pivot towards technology-driven economic diplomacy. Officials say the platforms will be integrated into Kenyan embassies and high commissions across the continent, enabling missions abroad to play a direct role in facilitating trade and investment deals rather than serving…
Africa is accelerating regional cooperation across its mining sector as governments seek to transform abundant critical mineral reserves into sustained economic growth, industrialisation and stronger influence in global supply chains. Holding roughly 30 percent of the world’s critical mineral resources, the continent is increasingly positioned as a strategic supplier for industries driving the global energy transition. Policymakers now argue that deeper collaboration between African countries will determine whether this resource advantage translates into long-term economic gains. Africa hosts the world’s largest reserves of platinum group metals (PGMs), manganese and chrome, alongside major deposits of copper, cobalt and iron ore essential for electric…
President John Mahama has unveiled an ambitious reform agenda aimed at transforming Ghana’s mining industry from a raw-material exporter into a value-driven industrial sector, urging stronger local participation, downstream processing and technology transfer. Speaking on Wednesday at the Ghana Mineral Sector Local Content Summit in the port city of Takoradi, Mahama said the country must fundamentally rethink how it manages its mineral wealth if mining is to deliver long-term economic transformation. ‘For over a century, mining has been the backbone of Ghana’s economy,’ he told delegates including traditional leaders, mining executives, diplomats and policymakers. ‘Yet much of the high-value activity…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 , on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, arraigned Tunji Adewumi Adepoju and his company, West Quantum Auto Products Ltd, before Justice O. A. Okunuga of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, over an alleged N53,000,000 fraud. Adepoju and his company were arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing. The charge alleges that the defendant dishonestly stole the proceeds from the sale of eight cars belonging to Mr. Idowu Raji, valued at N53,000,000, by converting the funds to personal use, contrary to Sections 41(1), 280(4),…
The Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) has commended the standardization of cassava processing centres established under the International Fund for Agricultural Development Value Chain Development Programme (IFAD-VCDP) in Enugu State. SON inspected cassava processing centres located at Ako Nike in Enugu East Local Government Area and Umueze Umaga Ezimo-Agu in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State. Speaking during the inspection on Thursday, the State Coordinator of SON, Mr. Peter Ameh, said the facilities were largely compliant with required standards but still had areas needing improvement. Ameh, represented by the Assistant Chief Standards Officer, Dr. Rita Frank-Makwe, said, “From my…
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said it sealed 18 warehouses in Bida following the discovery of large quantities of expired food and beverage products. In a statement, the agency’s Resident Media Consultant, Mr. Olusayo Akintola, said the warehouses were located around Ndazabo White House along Minna Road, behind Bida Modern Market in Niger State. Akintola said the warehouses were shut after NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement team acted on credible intelligence. He stated that items recovered during the raid included expired non-alcoholic beverages, dairy milk, candies, bottled water, and pasta valued at N100 million. He…