May 22, 2023

Ethiopia Reiterates Commitment to Strengthen Trade, Business Integration in Africa

The first-ever One African Expo has kicked off today at the Ethiopian Museum of Art and Science in Addis Ababa, in honor of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the African Union.

The Expo is being held under the theme “Enabling Development” from May 22-27, 2023 with the objective to improving trade and investment relations between African countries so as to help realize economic growth and development and transformation of the continent.

The Expo is set to be an unprecedented Business-to-Business (B2B) trade show, created specifically for African governments, private and public business sectors, global companies, and business professionals to showcase their products, services, expertise.

It is expected to serve as a commercial gateway to African continent and a hub for global connectivity, it was indicated.

At the opening of the expo, State Minister of Trade and Regional Integration, Kassahun Gofe reiterated that Ethiopia is committed to enhance trade and business integration in the continent.

He said the One Africa expo will play a pivotal role in strengthening regional integration and drive way forward for the success of Agenda 2063.

CEO of One African Expo, Yalew Getachew said the expo will facilitate entry of African products and services into the global market, unlocking new opportunities for business across the continent.

He elaborated that the expo will also improve visibility of the African business ecosystem but also gain a competitive edge in the global marketplace.

By providing a gateway to the global market, the One Africa Expo 2023 presents a unique opportunity to promote bilateral trade between Africa and the world.

This platform offers an exceptional visual experience of Africa, bringing together diverse industries ranging from mobility, cultural diversity, tourism, technology, green initiatives, agro-industries, financial services, and infrastructures, involving all 55 member states.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

May 22, 2023

Transaction of Over 1.2 Trillion Birr Carried out Through Digital Payment System in Nine Months

In the last nine months of this Ethiopian Fiscal Year a transaction of more than 1.2 trillion Birr has been carried out through digital payment system across the country, Minister of Planning and Development, Fitsum Aseffa said.

While presenting the government’s nine-month performance report of the 2015 fiscal year to state ministers, members of the House of Peoples’ Representative (HPR) and heads of various institutions, Fitusm mentioned that the government is focusing on digital finance to build an inclusive economy.

Work is being done with policy and procedures she said, adding that the number of mobile money transfer technology users has reached more than 60 million.

Accordingly, she pointed out that more than 1.2 trillion Birr has been transferred through digital payment in nine months.

The minister stated that this is a 169 percent increase compared to the 454.31 billion digital money transfer in the same period of the previous fiscal year.

Ethio Telecom CEO, Frehiwot Tamru on her part said that implementing the strategy of digital Ethiopia is being carried out with due attention.

She mentioned the introduction of targeted fuel subsidies into the technology system and the on going efforts to commence electronic tax payment system.

Frehiwot mentioned that efforts are also being made to expand access to financial services by establishing a wide telecom infrastructure so that the economy can benefit the society more, noting the activities being underway to increase the number of internet users.

The CEO stated that to ensure digital economy and financial inclusion in the future, there should be a consistent, integrated and properly controlled digital implementation.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

May 22, 2023

Partner with Enugu Gov-Elect for good governance – Ex-lawmaker urges incoming legislature

Former lawmaker in Enugu, Mr Nwabueze Ugwu has urged the incoming members of the Enugu State House of Assembly to partner Governor-elect, Dr Peter Mbah, to achieve rapid transformation of the state.

Ugwu, a legal luminary, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Saturday.

The call came ahead of the May 29 inauguration of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led executive and a Labour Party dominated legislature in Enugu.

Ugwu said: “It is true that the opposition in Enugu State controls the greater percentage of the legislature in Enugu State.

“But that notwithstanding, I expect the Enugu State House of Assembly (ESHA) when it is inaugurated to work harmoniously with Peter Mbah, the incoming governor and his team.

“The Assembly should place the state first and be well advised that we are having another Peter Obi in Enugu State in the person of Peter Mbah,” he advised.

He stressed that the legislature should caution themselves about what happened in Anambra during the days of Peter Obi and not work in opposite direction with other arms of the same government.

According to Ugwu, the incoming Assembly members have an opportunity to make history as Obi did in Anambra after he was twice impeached and twice returned by the courts.

“At the end of the day the man, Obi, had a name that is larger than himself and anything that you can think of,” he said.

He noted that the experience made Obi to break an electoral record in the last Presidential polls in Nigeria whereby so many presumed he was victorious.

“I expect that the incoming legislature in Enugu will learn one or two lessons from that. That you can’t stop a thing which time has come.

“It is the time of Enugu State to shine as far as governance is concerned and nobody should be a stumbling block to what is coming to the state.

“It is time for them to cooperate with the administration of Peter Mbah and make sure that things move beautifully.

Ugwu, however, advised them not to listen to anyone that would ask them to fight or impeach Mbah or make sure that he did not work.

“Anybody telling you that, is deceiving you, and I expect that everyone should be careful and know that impunity is no longer condoned in Nigeria and that everyone will surely answer for whatever one does.

“Anyone who is deceived to fight Mbah will do so at his own peril and will sooner say ‘had I known’, ” the lawmaker added.

Ugwu expressed optimism that the state would witness a lot of changes in the new dispensation.

According to him Mbah’s promise to restore water supply to every household in Enugu city in six months is both exciting and possible.

He hailed the governor-elect’s mantra of “Tomorrow is here” as itemized in his manifesto as comprehensive.

He commended his plans for education, tourism, ICT, industrialisation, security and zero employment as germain.

“I am sure that by the time he is done with governance, Enugu people will comfortably thump their chests and say we have again had a governor.

He acknowledged the pre-election endorsement of Mbah by former Gov. Sullivan Chime and called on those who were not on his side during the elections to have a rethink and embrace his administration.

“All persons who contested for governor in Enugu State were produced by PDP.

I know that Mbah will not discriminate in giving out developmental infrastructure to communities.

“Our citizens should rally round him so that in the next four years the state will be better.” We

NAN reports that Ugwu was a governorship aspirant in the March general elections under the PDP.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

May 22, 2023

Gen. Nwachukwu to lead discussions on economic Rennaisance

Retired Gen. Ike Nwachukwu is expected to lead discussions at the Duke Masterclass, a premium experience and knowledge-sharing platform put together to discuss the role of the private sector in an emerging economic rennaisance.

The session, to be held on June 15 in Lagos, is expected to attract Chief Executive Officers and other such Type C-level corporate leaders in what is seen as one of the most incisive engagement on the economy.

Nwachukwu will be joined by other notable speakers like Prof. Konyin Ajayi (SAN), Kola Adeshina, Director, Sahara Power, and Mr Olu Onakoya, the first indigenous Managing Director of Mobil Oil Plc.

Among issues to be discussed at the session to be held at Wheatbaker Hotel, are corporate governance, regulatory environment, strategy, board and management relations.

The session is expected to work on the push for an indigenous company that can hit 100 years old.

Mr Joseph Edgar, a renowned investment banker and public affairs commentator, who is the Convener of the Masterclass, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the session was put together to push the narrative that the challenges faced in securing a cohesive nationhood are not political but economic.

“The continued struggle for the control of a unilinear economic power base is what is leading to the seemingly entrenched political crises and its attendant instability which continually leads to lack of a progressive economic push.

“There is the need to democratise economic power now more than ever before.

“It has become very imperative and it is as a result of this that robust initiatives like this Masterclass are being organised to strengthen leadership within diverse economic decision taking strata.”

He said that Nwachukwu, whose economic diplomacy policy when he was the foreign affairs minister, led to the opening up of the economy to international capital, would deliver a key note paper that would cover leadership, strategy and visioning in the private economic players.

According to him, Dr Ore Sofekun, former President of Funds Managers Association, is leading the technical team that include Bolaji Adewumi, Managing Director of Abbey Mortgage Plc.

The Duke’s Masterclass is an innovative premium think thank that is expected to provide a robust platform for the sharing of incisive knowledge and practical experiences aimed at stretching driver-seat capacity in Nigeria’s economic platforms.

The June 15 session is its second outing, the first being a 2-day visit by more than 200 Corporate leaders to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in March 2022.

The former Nigerian leader took them through the tenets of decisive leadership in decison taking.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

May 22, 2023

Envoy says modern ranching will curb farmer-herder conflict in Nigeria

The Denmark Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Sune Krogstrup, has called for modern ranching as a way of curbing the perennial farmer-herder conflict and empowering local farmers in Nigeria.

The envoy disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja while unveiling plans for the inauguration of Arla farm, a Danish-designed state of the art commercial dairy farm in Kaduna state.

The ambassador said the Arla farm project which is a public-private partnership with the Kaduna State government will be officially inaugurated on May 25 in Kaduna state.

He noted that the project was part of efforts to deepen strategic bilateral relations between Nigeria and Denmark, thereby reinforcing shared values and mutual cooperation.

He reiterated Denmark’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with Nigeria in the area of agriculture and food safety standards through cutting-edge technology and international best practices.

“In terms of Food and Agriculture This is another important area of focus for for us.

” We have a very good cooperation with Nigerian authorities on improving food safety standards and we are also very proud to cooperate closely with Arla the Danish dairy producer.

” In fact, next week (Thursday), I will be attending the formal opening of the Arla state of the art commercial dairy farm in Kaduna state,” he said.

Krogstrup expressed optimism that the farm, first of it’s kind in Nigeria will go a long way in

boosting the local economy, empowering local herders and de-escalating tension between herders and farmers.

He therefore called for the establishment of such farm projects across the country by relevant stakeholders, due to its economic and security benefits.

“Now that farm (Arla) will have a tremendous impact on the local economy and economy in terms of direct and indirect jobs created.

“In addition, when herders setup to become milk farmers, it also reduces tensions over access to land between herders and farmers.

” So in my opinion we need many more projects like this one, he said.

NAN reports that Arla foods, the renowned Danish diary company (makers of Dano milk) recently took delivery of 216 Danish Holstein Heifers (a breed of cow) for its Kaduna dairy farm.

The farm project which started in 2019 as part of Arla’s plan to develop a sustainable dairy sector in Nigeria is set to create thousands of employment for farmers and locals, especially in the area.

NAN also reports that the Federal Government had in July, 2022 announced plans to increase milk production from the current 600,000 metric tonnes to 1.6 billion metric tonnes by 2024.

Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who gave the short-term target, said the government will provide the needed infrastructure to enhance milk aggregation and distribution and that the plan will reduce the 1.3 billion dairy importation bill.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

May 22, 2023

World Taekwondo Masters Union in Nigeria to improve ‘Kukkiwon’ aspect of game

Ki Hong Kim, President and Founder of World Taekwondo Masters Union, on Saturday in Abuja said he was in Nigeria to improve the kukkiwon aspect of taekwondo.

Kim arrived in Nigeria days earlier for the ongoing National President’s Cup Open Taekwondo Championship organised by the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF).

He will train athletes and coaches on the sidelines of the event.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kukkiwon is a government-sponsored national academy for taekwondo with its certification the only taekwondo certificates accepted internationally.

Athletes who seek to participate in the Olympics, national and international events must possess kukkiwon certification.

Kim, who is a grand master of the sport and a kukkiwon 9th Dan, said the Union was working with the NTF to ensure certifications for its athletes.

“The Union is mainly focused on studies, which is the kukkiwon-certified programme, and we are here in Nigeria to support the NTF in what they are doing.

“Nigeria has lots of potential in the sport and we hope that we can help improve that number as well as skills through kukkiwon certification.

“The previous administration was focused on kirougi which is the fighting aspect of the game but we have seen that this present administration are focusing also on the kukkiwon aspect of the game.

“‘With both kirougi and kukkiwon programmes, we can improve the game effectively at the grassroots,” Kim said.

The taekwondo veteran also called for support from the government and corporate sponsors to improve the game in the country.

Meanwhile, a total of 192 athletes are participating in the three-day President’s Cup competition at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

The event is expected to end on Sunday.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria