Business

Mobil Empowers 40 Women In Onne

Published

15 years ago

February 21, 2011

A total of 40 women from Onne in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State have been given starter Packs to commence business on their chosen fields of trade at the and of a four-week intensive skills acquisition training sponsored by oil giant, Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN).

The women who were drawn from the four clans of Onne were trained in agro and agro-processing enterprises such as egg production, Snail farming, honey production, Yam, wheat, plantain flour production and fish farming techniques.

Handing over the starter-packs at a brief ceremony at Onne, Wednesday, an Executive Director with Mobil Producing Nigeria, Mrs Gloria Essien-Danner said the programe was aimed at equipping Onne women with economic skills that will make them self employed and employers of labour in years to come.

The Executive Director revealed that the programe was the direct off-shoot of a baseline study for an integrated and sustainable Socio-Economic Rural Development Plan for Onne, adding that the report of that study showed that “about one-third of the house holds are fully managed by women and that women do take care of the provision of basic needs of the household, hence, the need for economic training.”

She reiterated the commitment of mobil producing Nigeria to adding values to its host communities by building capacity of the indigeneous population adding that the company believes that the training of women translate to training a nation.

In his remarks, the Chairman of Eleme Local Government Council who was represented by Hon. Okaka Telewin, Councillor Ward 7, thanked MPN for the gesture and challenged other companies doing business in the area to borrow a leaf from MPN with regard to embarking on programmes and projects that directly impacts the life of the people positively.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, the president of Onne Women Development Foundatin, Mrs Obarijima Padmoore Wawah, thanked MPN for facilitating the programe and disclosed that apart from offering the beneficiaries Micro enterprise skills, it has also challenged and awakened in them the quest to succeed.

“We strongly believe that all of us that have benefited from this programe will be shining examples and inspiration to other women in Onne,” Mrs Wawah said.

The women foundation president recalled that in 2010, MPN Sponsored the training of 48 women in tailoring, tie and dye, catering and computer appreciation and gave the beneficiaries starter packs to commerce business activities in addition to the provision of mosquitoes treated nets to households in Onne.

“It is evident that of the more than 150 companies operating within our community, MPN is the closest to Onne People, especially the women,” she declared.

Items handed over to the beneficiaries included wooden battery cages, feeding and drinking troughs, electrical appliances, day-old broilers and pullets as well as feeds for those trained in poultry production. Those trained in snail farming got concrete pens with wire meash cover, feeder, water cans, breeders stock snail and feeds, while graduates in plantain, wheat, yam flour production had drying materials and equipment, sealing machines plastic sachets, Oven and bunches of plantain.

Dignitaries who graced the occasion included the Port Manager of Onne Port, Alhaji AA. Goje and the paramount ruler of Onne, HRM, J.D. Osaronn and his council of chiefs.

Sogbeba Dokubo

Business

Customs Seek Support To Curb Smuggling In Ogun

Published

2 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The Nigeria Customs Service(NCS), Ogun 1 Area Command, has solicited support in fighting smuggling and other economic crimes at the Nations border.

The Area Comptroller, Olukayode Afeni made the appeal in an interview with Newsmen in Idiroko, Ogun.

The comptroller stressed the need for the public to provide timely and reliable information to the Service, saying noting that fighting smuggling is a collective effort

“I urge the general public to join hands with NCS by providing timely and credible information that would help toward suppressing smuggling and other economic crimes.”

“Together, we can build a prosperous nation where compliance is the norm, and criminality has no place,” he said.

Afeni reiterated the command’s commitment to combat smuggling, and facilitating legitimate trade, as well as generate revenue for national development.

Chinedu Wosu

Business

IFAD: Nigeria Leads Global Push For Youth, Women Investment In Agriculture

Published

2 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The 49th Session of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Governing Council has concluded in Rome, with Nigeria taking a prominent leadership role in advancing global agricultural development priorities, particularly strategic investment in youth and women.

The biennial meeting, themed “From Farm to Market: Investing in Young Entrepreneurs,” underscored the growing recognition of young people as critical drivers of job creation, innovation, and inclusive economic growth across global food systems.

The session opened with the election of Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, as Chairperson of the IFAD Governing Council.

Having previously served as Vice Chair, his emergence as Chairperson reflects the strong confidence reposed in Nigeria by Member States, recognising the country’s constructive engagement and leadership in promoting global food security.

In his acceptance remarks, Senator Kyari expressed deep appreciation to Member States for the trust placed in him, pledging to serve with humility, diligence, and a strong commitment to improving the livelihoods of rural women and men across the world.

Addressing delegates during the session, the Chairperson emphasised that prioritising youth and women in agriculture is key to unlocking economic opportunities, accelerating innovation, and driving inclusive growth.

He noted that such investments would ultimately strengthen global food systems while helping to reduce hunger and poverty.

Senator Kyari also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for placing food security at the centre of Nigeria’s national priorities.

He noted that Nigeria’s leadership role at IFAD aligns with the President’s directive to boost agricultural productivity, expand economic opportunities for youth and women, and build resilient food systems capable of withstanding climate and market shocks.

The Minister further praised the IFAD Nigeria Country Office, led by Country Director Ms Dede Ekoue, for translating global development commitments into measurable outcomes for rural communities.

He highlighted the office’s role in strengthening agricultural value chains, empowering youth and women, and improving resilience among smallholder farmers nationwide.

Business

Expert Tasks FG On Food Imports To Protect Farmers

Published

2 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government has been urged to balance consumer protection with farmers’ sustainability by ensuring timely food imports, input subsidies expansion and price stabilisation mechanisms to secure investments across the agricultural value chain.

An agriculture expert, Dr Fatai Afolabi, gave the advice at a forum organised by the Plantation Owners’ Forum of Nigeria (POFON), in collaboration with the Oil Palm and Other Oil Seeds Value Chain, themed ‘Current Government Food Strategy, the Concomitant Effects and Implications for Food Security in Nigeria’, and held in Lagos, Wednesday.

Afolabi cautioned that the recent food import policies, while easing consumer prices, could undermine local farmers and long-term food security if not carefully managed.

He noted that Nigeria’s food system was navigating an exceptionally difficult period, marked by inflationary pressures, climate variability, insecurity in major food-producing regions, and rising energy and logistics costs.

He said the Federal Government’s decision to temporarily relax restrictions on selected food imports was understandable, noting that the market had responded swiftly with a reduction in prices of major staples.

However, the convener observed that while the policy had brought much-needed relief to consumers, it posed significant challenges for local farmers and agriculture value chain investors.

“While output prices have fallen, the cost of producing food in Nigeria remains stubbornly high.

“Farmers continue to contend with expensive fertilisers, rising transport costs, costly improved seeds and agrochemicals, limited access to affordable credit, poor electricity supply, weak road infrastructure, and inadequate storage and processing facilities, which result in significant post-harvest losses.

“This situation, where farmers sell produce at declining prices while production costs remain elevated, has created widespread distress across agricultural ecosystems,” he said.

Afolabi said the effects were being felt across all segments of agriculture, with rice farmers among the hardest hit.

He said reports from producing states indicated that about 3,500 rice farmers were considering exiting rice cultivation after incurring estimated losses of over N93 billion.

He added that cassava farmers were selling produce at prices that barely covered harvesting costs, leaving them unable to recover their investments.

According to him, vegetable and edible oil producers are also under pressure as imported vegetable oil brands reduce demand for locally processed alternatives.

He added that cocoa farmers continue to battle price volatility in international markets amid rising domestic labour and maintenance costs.

Afolabi noted that tree crops such as oil palm and cocoa, which require long gestation periods, were particularly vulnerable to sudden market disruptions that undermine investor confidence and discourage new investment.

He said the effects extended downstream to agro-processing and value addition, with soybean farmers supplying vegetable oil processors experiencing reduced demand and lower prices.

He said the development threatened not only farm incomes but also rural employment and agro-industrial growth, raising concerns about national food security.

According to him, sustained losses could force farmers out of production, increasing Nigeria’s dependence on food imports and exposing the country to global supply shocks, foreign exchange pressures and long-term vulnerabilities.

Afolabi cited India and the Netherlands as countries offering useful lessons in balancing consumer protection with farmer sustainability.

He said India deploys food imports strategically during shortages, while complementing them with strong domestic support systems.

He added that the Netherlands, despite being one of the world’s leading agricultural exporters, supports farmers through input subsidies, tax incentives, affordable energy, strong cooperatives, and close integration with research and extension services.

He said agricultural students in both countries also benefit from subsidised tuition, transportation and meals, as well as grants and start-up support for farm enterprises.

“This approach ensures generational continuity and innovation in the agricultural sector,” he said.

Afolabi said Nigeria’s current food import policy could play a stabilising role if complemented by deliberate measures to protect local producers.

He recommended carefully timed imports to avoid peak harvest periods, strengthened price stabilisation mechanisms, aggressive subsidies for critical farm inputs, and support for agro-processors to remain competitive.

He also called for clear communication of policy intentions to reassure farmers that import measures were strategic and temporary.

“Food imports should function as a strategic shock absorber rather than a permanent market feature.

“Government should develop and publish a national crop production and harvest calendar for major staples and align import decisions with documented supply gaps.

“Affordable food and profitable farming are not mutually exclusive goals. With thoughtful coordination and sustained support for farmers, Nigeria can achieve both,” he said.