International
British Council, EU, others want full youth engagement in governance
British Council, EU, others want full youth engagement in governance
The British Council, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and stakeholders have called for full engagement of youths in governance.
They made the call during a policy dialogue in Abuja on Tuesday, with theme: “Youth Perspective for Building and Sustaining a Prosperous Nigeria”.
The dialogue was organised under three British Council programmes, Agent for Citizen-driven Transformation(ACT), Managing Conflict in Nigeria(MCN) and Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption(RoLAC).
The participants stated that since Nigerian youths were often victims and active participants in most violent conflicts, they were critical to finding solutions to various security, economic and other socio-political challenges.
Speaking, the British Council Chief Executive Officer, Scott Macdonald said many young Nigerians had brilliant hopes and towering aspirations.
He added that the council’s programmes over the years included increasing the chances of the vulnerable to contribute their quota to the development of Nigeria.
“It is really a joy and privilege to be part of an organisation like the British Council, which is making a contribution to the future of Nigeria.
“We are attempting to share our skills and knowledge and in turn learning from Nigeria about the solutions that we can apply to the challenges we face at home in the United Kingdom.
“This is my first visit to Nigeria but British Council has been operating here for nearly 80 years and throughout these years we have connected young people through opportunities and education and various other programmes.
“Many of those who have taken part in British Council activities over the years have become leaders in many countries and across Nigeria,” he said.
On security, he stated that the council had worked over the last 25 years with partners to strengthen peace and security in Nigeria.
Macdonald expressed optimism that Nigeria and UK would continue to maintain cordial relationship.
Contributing, the National Chairman of IPAC, Yabagi Sani, said the youth had the capacity to bring about the needed change in Nigeria if fully involved in governance.
He said with youths accounting for about 70 per cent of Nigerian population, their impact in good and sustainable governance could not be overemphasised.
On poor youth participation in governance , particularly electoral processes, Sani urged them to participate actively in politics.
“Power is never given on a platter of gold, you have to earn it and struggle for it especially in a capitalist society like ours, because nobody will give it to you for free.
“So, I call on the youth not to relent in vying for political offices and to ensue violence and money for vote,” he said.
He also urged women and persons living with disabilities to make their impact felt in the society by not just electing people into positions of authority but vying for positions.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN ) reports that the dialogue which attracted participants from various organisations across the country, cut across the youth, persons living with disabilities among others.
Meanwhile, discussants gave insight into sub-topics which included youth perspective for addressing security challenges in Nigeria, youth political apathy and the future of leadership in Nigeria.
Others are, politically disabled: barriers and factors affecting people with disabilities political life, empowering women for meaningful participation in governance and peacebuilding.
International
Nigeria Congratulates Trump on Election as US President
Nigeria Congratulates Trump on Election as US President
By: Michael Mike
The Nigerian government has congratulated the Republican candidate in the United States of America presidential election, Donald Trump for his victory at the poll.
The Nigerian government in a statement on Wednesday signed by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Eche Abu-Obe wish the 45th president who has been elected by the reason of the election as the 47th president great success.
The statement read: “Federal Republic of Nigeria wishes to congratulate incoming President Donald Trump on his victory as the next President of the United States of America.
“Nigeria wishes the 47th President of the United States of America great success in steering the affairs of the country and further assures of continued support and cooperation in matters of international peace and security.
“The Federal Republic of Nigeria applauds the Democratic contestant, Kamala Harris, for her efforts and contributions during her tenure as the Vice President of the United States of America.
“In the same vein, Nigeria also applauds outgoing President, Joe Biden, for his leadership and service to the American people.”
International
UK’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary Vessel Visits Nigeria
UK’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary Vessel Visits Nigeria
By: Michael Mike
RFA Lyme Bay, a United Kingdom Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessel, has arrived in Premiere Port (Apapa Quays) Lagos, Nigeria, as part of a Defence Engagement programme across West African partner nations.
The visit is part of the maritime co-operation agreed under the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership in February 2024.
A statement on Wednesday said whilst in Nigeria, Lyme Bay, will conduct a variety of Defence Engagement activities including ship tours and the hosting of national dignitaries. Operationally, the ship will facilitate maritime capability training utilising embarked UK Royal Marines boarding and search teams to conduct drills and interoperability training with their Nigeria Navy counterparts.
On completion of the visit, RFA Lyme Bay will participate in Exercise Grand African Nemo, a multinational maritime security exercise, involving Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian and Nigerian Naval forces off the coast of Nigeria.
Speaking on the Ship’s arrival, the UK Deputy Defence Adviser to Nigeria, Commander Jonathan Howe said: “The UK is committed to improving regional maritime security, as well as increasing Nigeria’s ability to constrain security threats ranging from piracy, violent extremist organisations. This deployment demonstrates our pledge to work with the Nigeria Government to tackle shared international security challenges and help improve maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.”
Lyme Bay’s Commanding Officer, Commander, Capt James Wingrove RFA, said: “It is a great privilege to bring RFA Lyme Bay alongside in Nigeria. The opportunity for my ships’ company and embarked forces to visit the region presents an exciting prospect whilst the ability to train alongside our Nigerian counterparts to hone skills, improve capability and demonstrate our interoperability is extremely valuable”.
UK’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary Vessel Visits Nigeria
International
UK-backed AFEX Celebrates 10 Years of Driving Agricultural Growth and Food Security Across Africa
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.
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