Author: Toju Ogbe

AFDB Approves $280 Million To Support Nigerian Youths In Agriculture

The President of the African Development Bank (AFDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, says the $280 million approved by the bank would be used to encourage Nigerian youths to go into agro-business.

Adesina, represented by Dr Chiji Ojukwu, a Director in AFDB, stated this on Tuesday in Ibadan at the African Youth Agripreneurs (AYA) Forum organised by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan.

Adesina said with International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) training initiative and the financial support from AFDB, more youths would be interested to go into agribusiness. Furthermore, AFDB is working with 33 countries to give assistance to youths in agriculture with Zambia, Sudan, GR Congo, Cameroon and Nigeria already given necessary assistance in 2016.

He said that the Bank was targeting 37,000 youths in Nigeria who would be given $50,000 each as support in agriculture business.

According to Dr. Akinwumi Adesina,

“The $280m that we have approved for Nigeria cannot be enough; we need $1.8 billion to accommodate the 37,000 youths.

This is why we are giving 80 per cent of the money to commercial banks so that they can lend from their own balance sheet and we expect that every dollar we put in would generate five dollars.’’

Adesina said the programme was for young graduates who could easily be trained on agriculture.

UK Commences Same Day, 5-day Visa Services in Nigeria

The British High Commission in Nigeria has started special visa services that ensures visa applicants can get their visa on the same day or within five days of application. The High Commission has also reduced the maximum turnaround time for all classes of visa application to 15 days.
Visa Services
British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, declared that with the improved visa services, the United Kingdom remains steadfast in her resolve to sustain the age-long relationships with Nigeria as well as provide support for Nigerians, especially by keeping her doors open to law abiding citizens.
According to the High Commissioner,
“In 2016, around 140,000 Nigerians applied for visas to the UK. Of those that applied for student visas, 90% were successful. For those that applied for other visas, around 70% were successful. There are as many as 250,000 Nigerian nationals or dual Nigerian-British nationals living in the UK at the moment. Some claim the total Nigerian Diaspora in the UK is well over a million. We want Nigerians to come to the UK. They come to do business, to study, to see family and to invest in our economy.
 
We have introduced a same day visa service – at a cost – for visas in Nigeria. We have also introduced a service that can mean you get a visa within 5 days, at a lower cost than the same day process. Our turnaround time for all other visas is 15 days. The key thing, however, is that all visitors to the UK – whether they are from Nigeria or anywhere else – must respect the law and the length of time their visa says they can stay in the UK.”
In respect to Nigeria’s role in the world, Paul Arkwright predicted,
“By 2050, Nigeria will be the third biggest country in the world as it will overtake the USA to join China and India as the three biggest countries. Secondly, Lagos – Africa’s fifth largest economy in 2016 – will become more important in the coming years as the African example of how to break down barriers to doing business and bring in foreign investment.”

ASA: The Place To Be

The Place To Be

Verse 1
There’s a place I long to be
where the air’s wide and free
It’s a little haven just for me.
I can let my hair down and be me
Just a smile for a start
and it only takes a spark
to begin a fire in your heart
wouldn’t you agree?

[CHORUS]
I believe that I can be
only the best in whatever I do
guaranteed to take the lead
only the best in whatever I do
guaranteed yes indeed
to be the best in whatever I do