Category: General News

FG, AFDB Laud Makinde’s Commitment to Ijaye Agro-Industrial Hub.

 

By Adewale Owoade

 

The Federal Government and African Development Bank (AFDB) have commended Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, for his commitment to the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) project at Ijaye.

 

A delegation led by Dr. Oyebola Yejide Akande and Dr. Kabir Yusuf visited the project site and praised the state’s preparedness.

 

The SAPZ project aims to improve the lives of farmers in Oyo State, particularly in Ijaye and its environs. The team noted that while some basic infrastructure exists, critical components such as access roads, agro-industrial processing hubs, and Agricultural Transformation Centres (ATCs) need to be developed.

 

Dr. Akande highlighted the importance of the project, saying it will promote inclusive development through agriculture and ensure fair compensation for beneficiaries.

 

She said, “We’ve been to Ogun State, Cross River, and now we are in Oyo State to assess the level of preparedness. The goal is to evaluate what infrastructure is already in place and what still needs to be developed.

 

“Although some basic infrastructure already exists, which we refer to as “ground-fill” there are critical components that must still be built, such as the agro-industrial processing hub, Agricultural Transformation Centre (ATC), and the access roads that connect these hubs to surrounding communities.

 

“For example, in Atan village, where the special agro-industrial processing hub will be sited, there’s a need for access roads to enable smooth transportation of produce and encourage private sector participation. Without good road access, it becomes difficult for investors and farmers to move goods in and out efficiently.

 

“The state government has shown a strong level of commitment right from the start. Our role, alongside the Federal Government, which secured this loan on behalf of the state, is to ensure the people of Oyo State benefit from this initiative.

 

“The essence of this collaboration is to improve livelihoods and promote inclusive development through agriculture. The arrangements under the SAPZ are designed to ensure that beneficiaries, especially those in rural farming communities are not shortchanged. They should be compensated fairly and rewarded in proportion to their contributions and involvement in farming activities.”

In his remarks, Dr. Kabir Yusuf said that the project will add value to agricultural commodities, reduce imports, and contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth.

 

“We are here on a supervision mission with the African Development Bank and the Federal Ministry of Finance to assess the progress and evaluate how the funds disbursed so far have been utilized.

 

“We recently visited Ijaye, where a massive agro-industrial park is being planned. It’s about 100 hectares in size. With the support of the state government, we’ve guided them through the procurement process for developing the zone, and that process has already been concluded. We’re here to ensure there are no encumbrances so that work can proceed smoothly.

 

“We also visited the Fashola Agribusiness Hub, which has recently been designated by the state as an SAPZ zone. It’s a hub of various agricultural activities, dairy, cashew processing, greenhouse tomato production, cassava, and more. There’s already a joint MoU with FrieslandCampina WAMCO to develop the dairy value chain.

 

“The overall goal of the SAPZ is to ensure that agricultural commodities are not only produced in Nigeria but also processed here to add value before export. What we’ve been doing in all the participating states is to focus on indigenous crops and commodities, and support states with funding to improve productivity and develop local processing capacity.

 

“The aim is to produce finished goods that can go directly to the market shelves, which will help reduce and eventually eliminate the need to import agricultural products. This aligns perfectly with the administration’s ambition of transitioning Nigeria into a $1 trillion economy. In the next few years, we hope to be exporting many of these processed commodities and earning valuable foreign exchange.

 

“The project is a collaboration between the Federal Government and the state government. The Federal Government has already disbursed funds, and procurement for contractors has been concluded.

 

“In fact, the government is considering August 2nd for the groundbreaking ceremony, though that’s still being finalized. Once that is done, the contractor will move to site and construction will begin in earnest.

 

” From our perspective, this is a loan-based financing program provided to the state, and I must say the Oyo State government has followed the process judiciously. Governor Seyi Makinde has been extremely magnanimous and proactive.

 

“What’s particularly commendable is that, after we agreed to concentrate the SAPZ loan financing on the Ijaye site, the Governor decided to use state funds to execute the development of the Eruwa agribusiness hub, which was initially meant to be part of the federal financing.

 

“That’s a novel and bold move. It shows the Governor’s strong commitment to agriculture and to the people.

 

“The beauty of the SAPZ is that it aims to uplift citizens and eradicate rural poverty by transforming rural communities into economic hubs and secondary cities. There will be a lot of economic activity, value addition, and employment generated in these areas. I truly commend Governor Seyi Makinde for his vision, proactiveness, and dedication to sustainable agricultural development.” Kabir stressed.

 

Other members of the AFDB on the assessment visit include, Engr. Ibrahim Bashir Gaya(Co-task Manager AFDB); Bernard Onzima (Principal Agro-Industry Officer AFDB), Dr. Emmanuel Chisesa (Regional Procurement Coordinator for AFDB Nigeria).

The team also paid visit to Fasola Agro-industrial Processing Hub, and they’re expected to meet with the Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde to brief him about the outcome of their assessment visit.

 

‎Flowerbud News/ The Tinubu Media Volunteers (TMV) have applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for honouring the late President Muhammadu Buhari with a state burial.
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‎In a statement signed by its Chairman, Chukwudi Enekwechi, and Secretary, Segun Ogedengbe, the group said it was a befitting way to honour a nationalist.
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‎The statement read in part, ” We note that from the period late President Buhari took ill President Tinubu had maintained a close contact with the family. And as his demise was announced, the President also promptly dispatched a presidential delegation led by the vice president, Senator Kashim Shettima and the chief of staff to the president, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, to visit the family in London, and bring back the remains for a national burial.
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‎”We also note that President Tinubu personally received the remains of his predecessor with the compliments of a full presidential and military honour befitting a former president.
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‎” It is on record that the late president has in almost two decades dominated the political landscape of the country especially the northern part of the country where he maintained a 12 million followership until the merger of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Action Congress of Nigerians (ACN), a breakaway faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the All Nigerians Peoples Party (ANPP) which morphed into the current All Progressives Congress (APC).
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‎”We also acknowledge that Tinubu played a pivotal role in the merger and threw his weight behind Buhari’s emergence as the APC presidential candidate and eventually the winner of the 2015 presidential election.
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‎”From the foregoing, we can conveniently state that their friendship and political alliance have significantly impacted the country.
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‎”So we are really not surprised that at his death, President Tinubu displayed unlimited love and loyalty to the friendship as he rolled out the full compliments of the federal government to give Buhari a befitting burial.
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‎”We have no doubt that this gesture will linger in the memories of Nigerians for a long time.”
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‎The group also commend President Tinubu for the patriotic and leadership role he played in the national loss of former President Buhari.
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Flowerbud News/ Alhaji Ibrahim Kpotun-Idris, former Inspector-General of Police (I-G), says the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari has created a huge vacuum that is too difficult to fill.

Kpotun-Idris said this in a condolence message to President Bola Tinubu, the Emir of Daura, people and government of Katsina State as well as the late president’s immediate and extended family members.

He said: “On behalf of myself and family, I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and the people of Nigeria on the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Former President Buhari served Nigeria with dedication and commitment, both as a military Head of State and as President of Nigeria from 2015 to 2023.

“His legacy and contributions to Nigeria’s development will be remembered.”

The former Police boss described Buhari’s death as the end of an Iconic era, saying that his patriotism and incorruptibility remained unparalleled.

“President Buhari’s death marks the end of an era, an era defined by uncommon dedication to nation-building, resolute leadership, and steadfast devotion to the ideals of honesty, integrity, and patriotism,

“Nigeria has lost one of its greatest sons, and the world has lost a statesman of principle and conviction,” he stated.

The 19th I-G also described the late president as a truly detribalised Nigerian who was a bridge and peace builder.

According to him, Buhari’s legacy of integrity, impeccable character, simplicity, discipline, and patriotism will continue to inspire generations of leaders and citizens alike.

“The nation he cherished and served so selflessly will never forget him.

“May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings, reward his good deeds/and grant his noble soul eternal rest Aljannatul Firdaus,” Kpotun-Idris prayed.

NAN

 

Flowerbud News/ Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has called on academic doctors across Nigeria’s South-East region to take an active role in politics, warning that their continued absence from the political space is paving the way for less competent individuals to dominate governance structures.

Represented by the Commissioner for Environment, Prof Samuel Ugwu, the governor made the remarks while serving as Special Guest of Honour at the 2025 International Conference of the Forum of South-East Academic Doctors (FOSAD), held in Enugu. The theme of the conference was “Reimagining Sustainable Development of Nigeria’s South-East Region Through a Disruptive Innovation Model.”

Governor Mbah decried what he described as a lackadaisical attitude by academics towards political participation, urging them to leverage their intellectual capacity to effect meaningful change in society.

“You must not allow charlatans to take over the political structure,” he said, adding that the challenges facing the South-East require informed, courageous, and committed leadership.

The conference featured two keynote speakers, Professor V.A. Onodugo and Professor Ofili Ugwudioha, who delivered in-depth presentations on disruptive innovation, policy transformation, and sustainable regional development.

At the conclusion of the two-day conference, FOSAD issued a communiqué capturing the collective resolutions and insights of its members.

Key points from the communiqué include:

1. Preservation of Igbo Language: Members unanimously agreed on the urgent need to preserve and promote the Igbo language, warning that it must not be allowed to go extinct.

2. Political Engagement: The Forum emphasized that academics must actively engage in politics to prevent the continued leadership of society by the uneducated or ill-prepared.

3. Climate Change Advocacy: Academic doctors were urged to champion environmental protection efforts and lead campaigns addressing the escalating effects of climate change.

4. Support for Agriculture: FOSAD called on government at all levels to create an enabling environment for farming and agricultural enterprises to thrive across the South-East.

5. Harnessing Resources: The communiqué stressed that the South-East is richly endowed with both human and mineral resources, which must be strategically harnessed by the region’s governors to drive socio-economic transformation.

6. Academic-Government Collaboration: The Forum encouraged the governors of the South-East states to partner with FOSAD as a knowledge-based advisory body in developing and implementing regional development plans.

7. Condemnation of “Eze Ndigbo” Abroad: FOSAD strongly condemned the continued practice of self-acclaimed “Eze Ndigbo” titles among members of the Igbo Diaspora, describing it as a distortion of traditional leadership structures.

8. Support for Constitutional Reform: The Forum declared its support for the position of The Patriots, a civic coalition advocating for constitutional reforms that will strengthen federalism and promote national unity.

9. Insecurity: FOSAD urges the governors in the southeast to tackle the prevalent insecurity in the region.

10. JAPA Syndrome: Harnessing the natural resources in the region and industrialization leading to abundance of food and employment will reduce the zeal to relocate abroad by youths.

The conference drew participation from a wide array of intellectuals, policymakers, and development experts from across the South-East and beyond.

It concluded with a renewed commitment by FOSAD to remain a critical stakeholder in the discourse around sustainable development, innovation, and governance reform in Nigeria.

By Taiye Olayemi

The Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp) has sensitised young professionals on risk associated with cancer in Lagos.

The two-hour knowledge sharing session focused on raising awareness, specifically on cervical and prostate cancers.

It also focused on the importance of early detection and preventive healthcare practices.

Facilitating the session, Dr Oluwatimilehin Ogunkoya, a medical practitioner, explained the causes, prevention, and early detection of common cancers.

He emphasised the difference between malignant and benign tumours.

Ogunkoya urged participants to prioritise regular medical checkups and adopt healthy lifestyles to reduce risks.

Speaking on cervical cancer, the doctor described it as the second most common cancer among women globally, mainly caused by high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections.

Ogunkoya encouraged parents to vaccinate children aged eight to 14 against HPV, as he also advised regular pap smears, safe sexual practices, and healthy habits.

On prostate cancer, he noted that although the disease often develops slowly, it could be fatal if not detected early.

He identified age, genetics, and lifestyle as major risk factors, recommending regular Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) tests and Digital Rectal Exams (DREs) for men from age 40 or earlier for those at higher risk.

According to him, the awareness is done to fulfil PenOp’s commitment to promoting knowledge sharing and wellbeing within the pension industry.

The session also debunked myths around cancer, with the facilitator clarifying that frequent sexual activity does not prevent prostate cancer and that natural remedies should not replace medical treatment.

Participants raised questions on breast cancer screening, genetic testing, and annual health assessments for both genders during an interactive Qiestion and Answer session.

PenOp is the umbrella body for all Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and Pension Fund Custodians (PFCs) in Nigeria, committed to fostering education and best practices within the pension industry.

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