The Federal Government has commended the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) for strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural mechanisation drive through skills development. Sen. Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, gave the commendation on the sidelines of the 2026 Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) in Rwanda. A statement made available to reporters on Thursday said the forum focused on sustainable agricultural mechanisation and building resilient food systems across Africa. Kyari said NADF had trained 4,000 tractor operators and mechanics to provide the skilled manpower needed to operate, maintain and sustain agricultural machinery deployed nationwide. He said the government was deploying 2,000…
Author: Newsdesk
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has challenged African leaders to move beyond declarations on agricultural transformation and take concrete action to boost productivity, food security, jobs and prosperity. Mr Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan’s Special Adviser, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday. He said Jonathan spoke at an African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) Investors Forum held in Kigali on the sidelines of the African Food Systems Forum. Speaking earlier at a youth-centred event themed “Igniting Youth Food Systems Leadership”, Jonathan urged African countries to encourage young people to embrace and invest in agri-food systems. He also called for…
An agronomist, Dr Sabitu Sulaiman, has urged Nigerians to embrace backyard farming to reduce household food costs and strengthen food security. Sulaiman, Managing Director of Dama Farms, Maiduguri, made the call in an interview with reporters on Wednesday in Maiduguri. He said backyard farming should be viewed as a practical household economic activity rather than merely a hobby. According to him, households with limited space can grow vegetables such as pepper, tomatoes, okra, spinach and onions. He said households with larger spaces could also engage in poultry, rabbit and other small livestock production. Sulaiman said producing part of household food…
The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has congratulated Vice-President Kashim Shettima on his 60th birthday, describing him as a detribalised Nigerian and a gift to the nation. The Executive Secretary of NCPC, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, conveyed the goodwill message in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja. The statement was signed by Celestine Toruka, NCPC Director of Media and Public Relations. Adegbite congratulated Shettima on attaining his Diamond Jubilee, saying, “Gold is for life and diamond forever.” He expressed gratitude to God for the grace and mercies that had enabled the Vice-President to witness another milestone. The NCPC boss also…
Ms Trixie LohMirmand, Chief Executive Officer, Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) Global, has called on Nigeria to seek global markets for its growing Artificial Intelligence (AI) ecosystem. LohMirmand gave the advice during the opening ceremony of GITEX Nigeria 2026 in Lagos on Wednesday. She said the country should convert its AI ecosystem into globally competitive businesses capable of accessing international markets, capital and customers. The CEO identified global market access as the next major test for Nigeria’s technology ecosystem, following significant progress in startups, AI, creativity, funding and digital infrastructure. She also challenged Nigeria to move from consuming artificial intelligence…
The Anambra State Government has established adolescent-friendly corners in six Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) to improve young people’s access to confidential sexual and reproductive health information and quality healthcare services. Mrs Ifeoma Nwakpadolu, Officer-in-Charge of Adolescent Reproductive Health Programmes at the State Ministry of Health, made the disclosure in Awka on Wednesday. She said the initiative, implemented by the Ministry in collaboration with the Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ASPHCDA) and an NGO, Jhpiego, covered three Local Government Areas (LGAs). The beneficiary facilities are Aguata and Oye Achina PHCs in Aguata LGA, Odekpe and Okpoko PHCs in Ogbaru…
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) says 42 kilometres of farm access roads have been rehabilitated under the Additional Financing (AF) phase of the LIFE-ND project. Mrs Dede Ekoue, IFAD Country Director, disclosed this at the inception workshop of the 6th Federal Government, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and IFAD Joint Supervision Mission of LIFE-ND on Wednesday in Abuja. Ekoue said the project had also developed 254 hectares of land for agricultural production, rehabilitated 15 solar-powered water supply schemes and completed 20 market, production and processing facilities. She said the project planted 3,508 agroforestry and economic trees during the…
Two Nigerian energy stakeholders have advocated decentralised electricity systems and income-generating energy projects to bridge Nigeria’s rural power gap. They spoke during interviews with reporters in Abuja on Wednesday. Mosho Adekunle, an energy policy analyst, said Nigeria needed to move beyond conventional grid expansion, which remained costly across sparsely populated rural communities. Adekunle advocated interconnected solar-hybrid mini-grids within areas served by underperforming electricity distribution companies to leverage existing infrastructure and improve supply reliability. He said private operators could provide 24-hour electricity through regulated, cost-reflective tariffs, while state-level electricity reforms could accelerate licensing and deployment. “Subnational regulation can drastically reduce administrative…
The Blockhive team and MTN have partnered to provide at least 5,000 free internet routers to support techies, students, remote workers, entrepreneurs and digital creators in the South-East, with the aim of accelerating tech innovation. The Block Hive is a co-working and tech hub in Nsukka, Enugu State, established by Ginakev Labs. Speaking during a meeting with MTN officials on Wednesday in Enugu, the founder of Ginakev Labs, Kevin Okoye, said the initiative was expected to make the router devices available to young people without the usual upfront cost of purchase. Okoye, who is also the CEO of Ginakev Labs,…
Uber on Wednesday announced the discontinuation of its ride-hailing operations in Nigeria and Uganda, effective Sept. 2. Lorraine Onduru, Head of Communications for Uber in East and West Africa, made this known in a statement in Lagos. Onduru said the decision followed a review of the company’s evolving business priorities and investment focus across Africa. She added that the resolution was limited to Nigeria and Uganda and would not affect operations in the rest of the continent. “Uber remains deeply committed to Sub-Saharan Africa, where we continue to see robust growth and long-term opportunity,” Onduru said. She said Uber’s immediate…