COAS INAUGURATES INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES COURSE 17/2024, UNDERSCORES COMMITMENT TO LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY IN MILITARY OPERATIONS

By: Our Reporter

In a significant stride toward enhancing language proficiency within the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General TA Lagbaja NAM, officially inaugurated Indigenous Languages Course 17/2024 today, October 15, 2024, at Hall C, TY Buratai Block, Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), Abuja. Representing the COAS at the event was the Chief of Administration (Army), Major General OJ Akpor, who highlighted the critical role of indigenous language training in improving communication and operational efficiency, particularly in diverse and challenging environments.

The inauguration ceremony attracted a distinguished audience, including the Director General of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Major General GA Wahab (Rtd), who was represented by the Executive Director Consult, Major General AS Ndalolo. Also in attendance were Principal Staff Officers from Army Headquarters, Directors at NARC, Consultants, the Managing Director of LACLIC Services Limited, and several resource persons, underscoring the importance of the initiative.

The Indigenous Languages Course, now in its 17th iteration, is part of the Army’s ongoing efforts to empower personnel with the linguistic skills necessary to enhance military operations, foster better community relations, and address security challenges across Nigeria’s multilingual regions.

COAS INAUGURATES INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES COURSE 17/2024, UNDERSCORES COMMITMENT TO LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY IN MILITARY OPERATIONS

ActionAid Nigeria Describes IMF, World Bank Promoters of Bad Economy Policies

By: Michael Mike

ActionAid Nigeria has described the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) as promoters of bad economy policies on Nigerians, stressing that the two international monetary organisations have
been deeply involved in Nigeria’s economy for decades, pushing policies that have done far more harm than good.

A statement on Tuesday signed by the Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria Andrew Mamedu, said the organisation strongly disagrees with the recent statement made by the World Bank Senior Vice President and Chief Economist, Mr. Indermit Gill at the 30th Nigerian Economic Summit (NES30) in Abuja, urging the Nigerian government to sustain its current economic reforms for the next 10-15 years with no clear plans on how it will cater for the people is misguided and insulting to the millions of Nigerians living through unprecedented economic hardship.

Mamedu said: “This call assumes that continuity and persistence in these policies will yield transformative results, but the evidence tells otherwise. While long-term reform is important, the strategies proposed by the World Bank seem disconnected from the immediate socio-economic realities of Nigeria, especially regarding poverty, weak institutional capacity, and structural economic deficiencies.”

Mamedu added that: “The 2003-2007 reforms which he claims is what Nigeria needs is agreeable in the area of debt cancelation, savings and accountability, but it’s negative effect in the devaluation of naira, subsidy removal and corruption was the bane of that reform.”

He lambasted that: “The World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) have been deeply involved in Nigeria’s economy for decades, pushing policies that have done far more harm than good. The Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) introduced in the late 1980s remains one of the most devastating legacies of this relationship. It crippled our local industries, especially the textile sector, and opened the floodgates for Nigeria to become heavily dependent on imported goods.”

He explained that: “Before the SAP, Nigeria’s textile industry was a vibrant hub employing hundreds of thousands of workers. However, with the IMF-driven policies forcing cuts in subsidies, import liberalization, and currency devaluation, Nigeria was pushed to shut down its own production capacity. According to the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), over 90% of textile products used in Nigeria valued at over $4 billion are imported, primarily from countries in the Global North. These reforms, instead of fostering local economic growth, have funneled wealth out of Nigeria and into the pockets of international financial institutions and foreign economies.”

Mamedu added that: “These reforms lauded by the World Bank have promoted an import-dependent economy, stifling small businesses and local industries. Successive governments have failed to reverse this trend, and the current reforms, such as the fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification, continue to hurt small-scale businesses and everyday Nigerians. According to the National President of the Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON), more than 8 million small businesses has shut down within 18 months over economic hardship due to the impact of the economic policies under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari and the current administration of President Bola Tinubu.

“This trajectory has driven unemployment and increased poverty levels across the country, with more Nigerians relying on imported goods to meet basic needs. Instead of empowering local entrepreneurs, these policies enrich multinational corporations and external economies, deepening Nigeria’s dependence on foreign imports and exacerbating inequality.”

Mamedu further added that: “While the World Bank celebrates the unification of Nigeria’s exchange rate as the “most effective in 20 years,” it has led to severe hardship for citizens, driving inflation to a 28-year high. Additionally, the sudden removal of fuel subsidies without robust compensatory mechanisms has further eroded household incomes. These reforms disproportionately affect Nigeria’s poorest, pushing the country deeper into poverty while global financial institutions and foreign investors reap the benefits of Nigeria’s open economy.”

He said: “We acknowledge the World Bank’s emphasis on the need for safety nets to mitigate the effects of these reforms. ActionAid Nigeria supports the call for investments in non-oil sectors, job creation, and financing social safety nets through the savings from fuel subsidies. However, it is essential that these efforts are not mere tokenism. Safety nets must be effective, transparent, and sustainable, not reliant on debt-fueled international loans.
It is not only unacceptable but inhumane to ask Nigerians to endure 15 more years of suffering in the name of reforms that have historically failed us. Millions of Nigerians can barely afford food, fuel, or basic services today. Asking them to wait for over a decade for “things to get better” is an affront to their dignity and a reckless gamble with the nation’s future.

“The question is, how many Nigerians will be alive till then to reap the benefits of this reforms, what does the future holds for our children who are currently feeling the brunt of the hardship, will there still be hope for them in 15 years’ time?”

He said: “ActionAid Nigeria emphasizes that Nigerians cannot and will not wait for 15 years for economic policies that will continually inflict hardship. The people of this nation deserve urgent action, not promises of long-term recovery. Every passing day under the weight of these reforms pushes more citizens into extreme poverty and despair.

“We demand that the government rethinks its blind allegiance to the World Bank’s economic blueprint and starts prioritizing the welfare of its people. The government must reject the idea that growth must come at the expense of human lives and begin to invest meaningfully in local industries, small businesses, and sustainable economic models that empower Nigerians rather than enslave them.

“The government must impartially fight one of the root causes of this hardship which is corruption starting with the NNPC as they are at the middle of corruption and responsible for mismanagement of funds from recent reports of the $300 million ‘bailout funds collected from the Federal Government. Amongst all, accountability to the people must take precedence and reforms must be people centered.”

ActionAid Nigeria Describes IMF, World Bank Promoters of Bad Economy Policies

UK-backed AFEX Celebrates 10 Years of Driving Agricultural Growth and Food Security Across Africa

By: Michael Mike

A leading commodities player in Africa, AFEX, with support from the UK Government, has significant achievements across Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, and Côte d’Ivoire, as it commemorates its 10th year reshaping the agriculture value chain in Africa, contributing to building sustainable food systems and creating lasting impact for farmers, agribusinesses, and communities.

Through their operations providing capital and storage infrastructure to farmers, processors and other parts of the value chain, AFEX has remained steadfast in its mission to enhance food security, reduce post-harvest losses, and introduce liquidity into agricultural markets through efficient market structures.

Established in 2014 as the first private commodities exchange in Nigeria, AFEX has directly supported smallholder farmers by providing them with access to finance, high-value market opportunities, and crucial extension services. This has not only improved the livelihoods of these farmers but also enhanced their productivity and overall output. Within the same period, AFEX has also grown its presence across the continent, expanding from Nigeria into Kenya, Uganda, and Côte d’Ivoire, and establishing regional commodity markets that facilitate cross-border trade while strengthening food systems throughout these regions.

In Nigeria, AFEX has expanded its farmer network to over 500,000 and traded over 1 million metric tons of essential crops such as maize, rice, sorghum, and soybeans. This trading volume has made a significant contribution to improving food availability and stability in its operational areas. Furthermore, through its financing platform, AFEX has injected over $250 million into agricultural value chains, ensuring that farmers have access to the capital they need to scale their production.

Since expanding into Kenya and Uganda in 2021 and 2022, AFEX has been bullish in the pursuit of their strategic Pan-African expansion goal to penetrate 8 African countries in the next decade, promoting the efficient trade of commodities in Africa while supporting the AFCFTA’s objectives to boost regional trade integration on the continent. Today, its East African operations have impacted over 30,000 farmers through financing and storage services, traded over 12,000 metric tonne and traded about KSH1,600,000,000. In its newest market, Côte d’Ivoire, announced at the beginning of 2024, AFEX has onboarded over a thousand farmers, and disbursed maize inputs across 155 hectares, boosting productivity and food self-sufficiency.

Commenting on the anniversary, the UK’s Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Mr. Jonny Baxter, said: “The UK is proud to have provided early-stage funding to AFEX 10 years ago, and to see the company grow with such success, enhancing agricultural productivity and bolstering food security in Nigeria. The agricultural sector stands as a vital pillar to Nigeria’s economy, playing a significant role in job creation and investment potential. We look forward to continuing to support Nigeria’s agriculture sector and the opportunities this provides for its economic growth.”

Group CEO, AFEX, Ayodeji Balogun, reflected on the company’s 10-year journey, stating, “These past 10 years have been about creating innovative solutions for African agriculture and developing sustainable ecosystems that empower farmers. As we mark this milestone on World Food Day, we are reminded that our mission is more critical than ever. Our goal is to continue building the infrastructure and platforms that will secure Africa’s food future.”

Speaking about British International Investment’s $26.5 million commitment to AFEX in 2023, Nigeria Coverage Director of the UK’s development finance institution (DFI), Mr. Benson Adenuga said: “We are delighted to partner with AFEX to provide the necessary support to scale into a pan-African champion, driving agribusiness and strengthening food systems in multiple countries across the continent. Our commitment will support AFEX to construct 20 warehouses in strategic locations in Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda, increasing storage capacity for up to 200,000 farmers and underlining our mandate to support ambitious businesses in Africa”.

A key element of AFEX’s impact lies in its investment in infrastructure. Over the past decade, the company has developed a robust network of more than 200 warehouses across Africa, providing secure storage for agricultural produce and reducing post-harvest losses by up to 30% in some regions. By reducing post-harvest losses and improving productivity, AFEX is playing a critical role in enhancing food security, addressing the challenges of climate change and promoting sustainable agricultural practices across Africa. This commitment mirrors the global call to action on World Food Day to ensure that food systems are inclusive, resilient, and capable of feeding future generations.

AFEX is a platform business that enables efficient trade for commodities in Africa. Solutions start at producer level, ensuring improvement in productivity and livelihoods while building up commodity volumes in the right quality and quantity for local and regional trade.

Operating through three business units, AFEX addresses the challenges faced by smallholder farmers, providing better access to inputs, credit facilities, micro-insurance, storage services, training, and markets. Partnership with different key players across the agricultural value chain – including processors, logistics service providers, financial institutions, and regulatory authorities – makes its goal of supporting Africa’s food security possible.

A range of clients and members also trade physical commodities and commodity contracts through AFEX’s technology platforms, as AFEX continuously bridges the gap between the capital market and the commodities market, thus unlocking finance for production, trade, processing and export of commodities.