This is absolutely correct considering the rapidly growing population of most African countries. Nigeria, for instance, was a strong agricultural produce exporting country prior to the oil boom era, with very strong export volumes and value in produce like cocoa and rubber. You very well know that the first palm kernel seed planted in Malaysia was taken from Nigeria, and that country today is one of the world’s largest exporters of palm oil. Agricultural funding is gradually increasing via various funding initiatives and I will touch on this as I go on.

When there was oil boom and a somewhat stable economy, the issue of unemployment was a very big problem. Now that Nigeria is experiencing economic crisis, one wonders what the hope of the teeming unemployed Nigerian youths would be.

The shareholders with the exception of a few have said that they do not have the confidence in the Commission’s ability to manage shareholders’ funds as evidence had shown in the past that most funds managed by government officials were mostly misappropriated.

FOR several months now, teachers in public primary schools in Delta State have gone on without salaries. Those in the secondary schools are a little luckier in that they are being owed about three months cumulatively. For other civil servants in the state, the debt problem is also a major worry as salaries and allowances are being paid in bits and pieces.

Lagos—Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode has urged graduates of the state’s skill acquisition programmes to use the opportunity to improve their standard of living, as well as generate wealth for their families to the benefit of the state and the nation.

ABUJA— The Federal Government has commenced planning to kick off implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, assuring that the programme would achieve its goals and targets to free the nation from poverty and deprivation.

Dutse—Jigawa State and Local Government Contributory Pension Scheme has paid over N293 million as benefit to retired civil servants and eight per cent contributory pension to 257 workers.

ABUJA—Former Governor of Gombe State, Sen. Danjuma Goje, has stated that the worst of the governors of his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, was better than the best of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Super Eagles and Manchester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho has revealed manager of the Super Eagles of Nigeria Gernor Rohr, told them to try shooting from range against Tanzania.

DUTSE—Jigawa State governor, Badaru Abubakar, said, weekend, that his government inherited 21 uncompleted road projects from the immediate past administration.

Leadway Assurance Company Limited has signed Memorandum of Understanding with Total Nigeria Plc to deepen insurance penetration in the country.

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has mapped out plans to sign memorandum of understanding with states government across the country for enforcement of compulsory insurance.

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and the Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA) are in talks on the proposed recapitalisation of insurance companies.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) have given the fourth IAAF bronze label Okpekpe international 10km road race held last May in Okpekpe near Auchi in Edo state of Nigeria a clean bill of health following the negative dope tests recorded at the one-day meetin

Amidst rising inflation across all sectors of the nation’s economy due to harsh economic climate currently facing the country, the Managing Director, Mallinson and Partners Limited, a Lagos-based building materials manufacturing company, Mr. Afam Mallinson Ukatu, has decried government’s policy on gas consumption by local manufacturers that pay in US dollars for the supply, lamenting that this has caused over 25 per cent increase in the cost of locally produced building materials. Mallinson and Partners are producers of range of floor tiles and plastics.