Attah Micahel Idakwo Ameh oboni II joins his Ancestor

Odogo m'ubu!

 

Odogo, a 15th century shrine at the Attah's palace has glided as the death has just been announced of the 27th Attah of Igala kingdom, HRM Michael Idakwo Ameh Oboni II.

 

The late monarch joined his ancestors on Thursday the 27th of August 2020 at the age of 72 following a protracted ailment.

 

Until his death, he was the Chairman, Kogi State Council of Chiefs and the paramount ruler of the entire Igala kingdom.

 

Born in 1948 into the Oboni ruling family, young Michael enrolled at the Saint Boniface Primary School Idah and completed in 1960. He was admitted at Saint Augustine College Kabba in 1961 and graduated in 1967.

Finance facility to tackle climate change effects on Africa’s GDP

It is estimated that climate change is impacting negatively on Africa’s GDP by 2.8% every year (around $100 billion).

In order to tackle climate change challenges in Africa, financing solutions have to be developed not only through external financial flows but also through the development of specific and more appropriate instruments that fosters sustainable development.

As the continent commence the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) early next year, it is timely to unlock new funding arrangements to finance sustainable projects and sectors that build Africa’s long-term competitiveness and resilience. 

To this end, Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the African Export-Import Bank (AfreximBank) have announced a new facility agreement for a €150 million financing programme. This will support Afreximbank in the implementation of its new climate finance strategy which will target green, low carbon, socially inclusive and more resilient investments across Africa

South Africa approves climate change adaptation strategy

 

Barbara Creecy, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, South Africa

The South African cabinet has approved the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (NCCAS) which supports the country's ability to meet its obligations in terms of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, a cabinet minister said on Tuesday.

"This strategy defines the country's vulnerabilities, plans to reduce those vulnerabilities and leverage opportunities, outlines the required resources for such action, whilst demonstrating progress on climate change adaptation," said Barbara Creecy, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries.

Developed in consultation with all relevant stakeholders, the strategy aims to reduce the vulnerability of society, the economy and the environment to the effects of climate change, according to Creecy.

The NCCAS outlines a set of objectives, interventions and outcomes to enable the country to give expression to its commitment to the Paris Agreement, and gives effect to the National Development Plan's vision of creating a low-carbon, climate resilient economy and a just society.

The 2015 Paris Agreement elevates the importance of climate change adaptation through the establishment of a global goal on adaptation of enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change.

2023 Presidency: Ahmed Sani Yerima begins campaigns

Eight months after former Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Ahmed Rufai Sani indicated his intention to contest for the 2023 presidency, his campaign materials are out to push forward his ambition under the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Reporters came across one of the branded campaign vehicles of the Yarima Bakura along the Kubwa Expressway in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Yarima as he is popularly known with his traditional title was Governor between 1999 and 2007 and was the first in the country to introduce and implement the Sharia law in his home state of Zamfara. He was later elected Senator representing Zamfara West Senatorial District on three occasions in 2007, 2011 and 2015. 

He stepped down from the Senate in 2019 for then outgoing Governor Abdulaziz Yari but for the Supreme Court judgement.

The Senator who wants to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari also comes from the North-West geo-political zone. He first announced his intention to run for the 2023 presidency in January this year while on a condolence visit to the famous Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi who lost his wife in Bauchi State.

Buhari rues Military Putsch in Mali

 

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the coup in Mali which saw the resignation of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, is a setback for regional diplomacy in West Africa and called for a continental resolution to the crisis.

This was announced via a social media broadcast by the President on Thursday afternoon.

Rebel soldiers who had earlier arrested Mali’s President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita took over the government and assured citizens of fresh elections to resolve a spiraling political crisis in the fragile West African nation.

The soldiers forced Keita to resign on Tuesday and dissolved parliament hours after the President and the Prime Minister Boubou Cisse were detained at gunpoint.

President Buhari said that the events in Mali are “with grave consequences for the peace and security of West Africa”, and urged the “unconstitutional ‘authority” in the West African nation to act responsibly and ensure a constitutional restoration of order to achieve peace and stability.

“Nigeria strongly supports the efforts of ECOWAS Chairman, President Mahamadou Issoufou, for wider regional and continental consultations with ECOWAS, the AU and the UN, and the adoption of strong measures to bring speedy resolution to the situation,” President Buhari added.

President Buhari also said that a stable political climate in Mali is important for the total stability of the region and lobbies the efforts of AU, UN and ECOWAS to come to a joint solution “until sanity returns to Mali with the restoration of Civil Administration”.

 

Amokachi is President Buhari's Special Assistant on Sports

 

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed ex-Super Eagles star, Daniel Amokachi, his special assistant on sports.

Amokachi’s new appointment is coming about five months after he was initially named as Nigeria’s Football Ambassador by President Buhari.

A statement issued by the media office to the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, on Thursday said the appointment of Amokachi has since taken effect.

The press release confirmed that a letter of appointment dated August 17 and signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, has since been handed to the former Everton and Besiktas forward.

“I am pleased to inform you that Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has approved your appointment as Special Assistant on Sports,” Mr Boss Mustapha was quoted as saying.

“Amokachi is expected to advise the President on all sports matters,” the statement said.

Amokachi began his career with Ranchers Bees Football Club of Kaduna, and played for Club Brugge of Belgium, Besiktas of Turkey, Everton of England and Colorado Rapids.

England Jails Rahamaniyya Oil's Boss over Breach of Court Orders

 

A Nigerian oil mogul and the Chief Executive Officer of Rahamaniyya Oil and Gas Limited, Abdulrahman Bashir, has been sentenced to 10 months imprisonment in England.

In February, Justice Butcher of England and Wales High Court ruled that Mr Bashir be imprisoned for breaching multiple orders of the court in a pending suit instituted by Sahara Energy Resources Ltd.

“The basis of the sentence was that Mr Bashir had committed continuing breaches of the order of Mr Justice Robin Knowles of 1 August 2019 and of the order of Mr Justice Bryan of 6 September 2019,” the judge said.

Those orders required Rahamaniyya Oil and Gas Ltd, of which Mr Bashir is the CEO and controller, to comply with requests for the release of 6,400.69 metric tonnes gas oil to Sahara Energy Resource Ltd or its agent from Rahamaniyya Oil and Gas Ltd, Jetty 6.436181, Ibafon, Kirikiri Waterfront, of Aero Maritime Street, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria (“the Terminal”).

Mr Bashir breached those orders by failing to allow, or procure Rahamaniyya Oil and Gas Ltd or its servants or agents to allow, the release of the said gas oil from the Terminal,” court documents reveal.

The court also gave a binding indication that the sentence could be reduced to six months if Mr Bashir complies with the relevant order which had previously been breached.

Rahamaniyya was fined £ 500,000 while Adebowale Aderemi, its manager, was fined £ 10,000.

2020 Youth Day: Tony Elumelu urges Investment in Africa's Future through Entrepreneurship

 

The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) joined the United Nations and other global organisations to mark the International Youth Day on August 12, 2020, with a line-up of pan-African speakers discussing the theme, “Investing in Africa’s Future: Youth Empowerment through Entrepreneurship”.  

 

The event emphasised the “Youth Engagement for Global Action” agenda and the role of African entrepreneurs in pushing for sustainable development. It also examined the critical role of the youth in igniting their potential, population, and influence to create mechanisms for sustainable development across the continent. 

  

Moderated by TEF CEO, Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, the event featured a line-up of pan-African entrepreneurs and speakers from the development sector.

 

Addressing the audience, Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu drew attention to the plight of startup African entrepreneurs during the pandemic while highlighting the importance of SMEs, especially during this period. “The SMEs are the major contributors to African economies. We must not underestimate the level of disruption and uncertainty that young people all over the world have faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa.”

 

Government cannot Control the Church - Nigerian Christians reject new CAMA

 

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has rejected the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 that was recently assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari.

CAN describe the act as unacceptable, ungodly, reprehensible and an ill-wind that blows no one any good. 

The association called on the Federal government to stop the implementation of the law until the religious institutions are exempted from it. 

They urged Buhari to urgently return the law to the National Assembly for immediate amendment.

CAN in a statement by Special Assistant to CAN President, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, stated that the CAMA Act is a time bomb waiting to explode.

Post COVID Economic Growth: UBA Provides $200 Million for Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry

 

The United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), the leading pan-African financial services group, has acted as an Initial Mandated Lead Arranger with a consortium of Nigerian commercial and international banks in a $1.5 Billion Pre-Export Finance Facility for Eagle Export Funding Limited, to enable the forward sale of crude by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its upstream subsidiary, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

UBA is providing $200 million (Naira equivalent) towards the crude oil sale, to support investment growth and liquidity requirements. 

The forward sale will provide much needed capital for investment in NNPC’s production capacity, which is of strategic importance to the Nigerian economy and the country’s leading source of foreign exchange earnings. 

UBA’s position as Mandated Lead Arranger recognises the Group’s strength in structuring and deploying financing to the oil and gas sector, and the depth and liquidity of the Group’s balance sheet.

TAAT Field school training inspires women farmers in Sudan

 

In South Darfur, Sudan, pearl millet is the most popular crop, and over 90 percent of farming households consider it to be one of their three major crops. This is followed by groundnuts and sorghum. The other remaining crops are considered to be less important, favoured by fewer than 10 percent of the farming households.

Millet and sorghum are the main staple food crops across Darfur region while groundnuts are normally considered a cash crop. Although pearl millet is the most widely grown crop, less than 20% percent of farming households use improved varieties.

In South Darfur, farming households obtain their seed from multiple sources including: the seed they had saved, local grain/seed markets, social networks, seed aid from the Government and other humanitarian and development partners, local seed banks and agro-input dealers.

Access to improved seed capable of boosting crop yield constitutes a major problem to farmers here. The challenge is made worse by the gaping lack of access at the community level. 

Dan Okeke is the new Group Executive Director of Heirs Holdings

 

Pan-African investment company, Heirs Holdings this week announced the appointment of Dan Okeke as Group Executive Director.  The appointment took effect from August 01, 2020.

Mr Okeke joins following a distinguished three-decade career at the United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), where he most recently served as an Executive Director, responsible for leading consumer, commercial and public-sector businesses.  

At HH, he will be responsible for business coordination and growth across Heirs Holdings’ portfolio of pan-African investments in the power, financial services, oil and gas, hospitality, real estate, healthcare, and financial technology sectors.

Heirs Holdings is a family-owned investment company committed to improving lives and transforming Africa.  Our portfolio spans the power, oil and gas, financial services, hospitality, real estate, and healthcare sectors, operating in twenty-three countries worldwide.  

Africa is the land of opportunities - Tony Elumelu

 

The Group Chairman, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Tony O. Elumelu  has said that the Corona virus pandemic has presented a perfect opportunity for foreign investors to invest in Africa, owing to the huge opportunities that are inherent in the African economy.

“This is the time to invest. Africa is a land of opportunities; There is huge population and there is now the realisation by African leaders who are creating an enabling environment to encourage these investments,” Elumelu said on Thursday, while speaking at a virtual session organised by the TIME100TALKS on the theme, ‘Empowering Entrepreneurs’.

Bill Gates, Founder of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and United States Senator, Tammy Duckworth were other thought leaders who also spoke in sessions at the event.

 

UBA Reiterates Importance of Small Businesses, Hosts MSME Workshop

 

In its continuous bid to support the growth of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises(MSME) and equip them with the necessary tools aimed at strengthening and sustaining their businesses, Pan African Financial Institution, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc is set to organise another MSME Workshop for entrepreneurs.

The workshop which will hold on Wednesday via Microsoft Teams, will host professionals who will share their experiences and give essential tips to MSME and business owners on how to their businesses to the next level.

This Workshop which will be in two separate sessions, will specifically target financial record keeping in business which has been established as one of the major challenges that business owners face and it promises to be an eye-opener to participants.

Covid-19: An Opportunity to Reset Africa - Tony Elumelu

 

The Chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Tony Elumelu, has stated that the Coronavirus Pandemic currently ravaging the world presents an opportunity to reset the African continent so that Africans can be empowered to become more productive and self reliant. 

 

He said this today at the high-level Round-table discussions made up of African leaders including Dr. Ngozi Okonjo - Iweala, the Special Envoy of the African Union on Covid-19 and Tidjane Thiam who is also a Covid-19 Special Envoy responsible for mobilising international economic support for Africa.

TAAT excites Nigerian Youths with new irrigation technologies for dry season farming

 

Ayuba Abimiku, a young rice farmer at Gidan Mai-Akuya community in Nasarawa state, North-central Nigeria, is excited.

Ayuba is witnessing the operation of a pressured plastic-piped sprinkler for the first time!

“This system allows for proper water management and the farmer can determine the right amount of water needed in the field per time,” he enthused.

“With this, less water is required, unlike the old method which often floods our farms,” he said.

“This technology has made dry season rice farming attractive to the youths, who hitherto do not want to get themselves dirty,” Godiya Ovey, from Madagba community, said.

“This is a system that does not require much effort once you know how to set it up. You can combine it with other endeavours,” he added.

Moses Tsaku, another youth farmer from Azuba-Bashayi community, says the pressured sprinkler and the wet and drying scheduling irrigation technologies have made dry season farming a lot easier.

“These technologies have completely changed my perception about farming,” Moses declared excitedly.

UBA to Provide U$14 million COVID-19 Relief Support Across Africa

 

United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) today announced a donation of over 5 billion Naira (USD14 million), through the UBA Foundation, to catalyse a comprehensive pan-African response to the fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic.

The donation will provide significant and much needed support to Nigeria and 19 other African countries, by supplying relief materials, critical care facilities, and financial support to Governments. The UBA support programme will be allocated as follows:

Zambia hosts TAAT’s Fall Armyworm technologies demonstration day

 

All roads led to the Southern Africa Research and Administration Hub of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Lusaka, Zambia, as stakeholders from across the sub-region converged on the campus to assess the relative performances of different Fall Armyworm (FAW) management technologies under validation.

Organised by the Fall Armyworm Management Compact of Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) on the 10^th of March 2020, the technologies demonstration day created a platform for frank discussions on the progress made in coming up with sustainable and cost-effective Integrated Pest Management (IPM) technology toolkits for FAW management at the smallholder level.

The one-day meeting also provided an opportunity to distill participants views on how the technologies on display as well as others which are in use on-farm or have been recommended by various players are performing; and to proffer common position on the sustainable management of FAW in Zambia.

TAAT deploys climate smart technologies to boost sorghum production in the Sahel region

 

Sorghum is the fifth most produced grain globally.

This two-meter tall plant from the grass family is often grown in regions that have high temperatures and lower rainfall.

In wetter regions, its production is lower than that of more lucrative crops such as rice and maize.

Sorghum is a particularly essential crop in Africa, second to maize, as the staple grain for millions of people.

Although it is mainly consumed as a grain, sorghum is also prepared into a wide variety of other food products such as porridge, bread, lactic and alcoholic beverages, and weaning meals.

Africa’s third top producer of sorghum

Sorghum is the main cereal crop grown in Burkina Faso, with more than 1.5 million hectares. Along with pearl millet, it is the staple diet of rural populations in the Sub-Sahelian regions.

Burkina Faso is the continent’s third top producer of sorghum (after Nigeria and Sudan)

In spite of various interventions, its productivity remains low, with an average yield of approximately one tonne per hectare.

Many factors have contributed to the decreased productivity, including demographic pressure, ecological degradation, loss of soil fertility, and water erosion.

Other factors include negative effect of dry spells on crop growth and yield, negative effect of end of season drought, scarcity of organic amendment, improved seed and other farm inputs and output. 

TAAT excites wheat farmers with proven water management technologies

 

“These are very interesting and amazing technologies - with these, we will overcome many of the challenges we face now.”

With these words, Musa Shehu summed up the thoughts of many of the farmers in Alkamawa.

Shehu, who leads the Wheat Farmers Association in Kano made this remark at the just concluded Field Day to showcase proven water management technologies for improved wheat production in Alkamawa, Bunkure Local Government Area of Kano State in north-west Nigeria.

Organised by the Water Enabler Compact of Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) in collaboration with the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, the field day brought together over 200 stakeholders from across the densely populated state in northern Nigeria.

These include the representative of Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, the state’s Deputy Governor who also heads the state ministry of agriculture, the Managing Director of Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA) Hon. Suleiman Ibrahim who participated alongside 15 directors and Zonal Managers of his agency.

In attendance also were Directors of Engineering, Agricultural Services, Planning, and Veterinary departments of the Kano State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources (KMANR), members of the Wheat Farmers Association, women, and youth groups.