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FG Trains 30 Master Bakers On High Quality Cassava Flour Use

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The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has initiated a policy to boost cultivation of cassava and other crops using appropriate technologies to enhance job and wealth creation.
The Regional Director, FMARD, South-West, Mr Marcus Ogunbiyi, made the assertion yesterday in Ibadan at the opening of a training of 30 master bakers on use of High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) to reduce wheat importation.
The Tide learnt that the training was also to promote the policy of 20 per cent cassava flour inclusion for baking in the South-West zone.
Ogunbiyi, represented by the South-West Assistant Director (Crops), FMARD, Mrs Omolara Oguntuyi, said that the ministry was working towards achieving food and nutrition security through its various activities.
He said that the ministry was working to achieve this objective through promotion of various crops such as cassava in which Nigeria has comparative advantage in its production.
Ogunbiyi noted that the use of cassava flour for bread production had been evolving through promotion of High Quality Cassava Flour HQCF inclusive policy.
According to him, there are proven technologies that Nigeria should adopt to maximise 10 per cent inclusion of HQCF in bread making and other confectionery.
“This alone can give the country 300,000 tonnes of cassava flour annually.
“It can provide huge foreign exchange, create massive wealth among average Nigerians and eliminate hunger in the community,” he said.
Also speaking, the Director, Federal Department of Agriculture, Mrs Karima Babangida, said the policy was poised to build agri-business ecosystem that would address the challenges in the agricultural sector in partnership with all stakeholders.
Babangida, represented by the Programme Manager, Root and Tuber Expansion Programme, FMARD, Mr Deola-Tayo Lordbanjou, added that the policy would achieve export substitution, job creation, economic diversification as well as food and nutrition security.
She said that the promotion and adoption of 10 per cent cassava flour in bread and confectionery making would reduce wheat importation.
“The Federal government had continued to advocate more strategies as the training of bakers on the 10 per cent cassava inclusion policy to guarantee acceptability, market, sustainability across the country and addresses existing challenges.
“The impact is that consequent demand for cassava flour will have a positive multiplier effect on cassava value chain/cassava industry and on the entire Nigerian economy.
“The master bakers will learn the skills and cascade down the training to other members to promote increase efficiency in food processing activities and increase cassava roots supply,” Babangida said.

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Stakeholder Wants Govt, Community Leaders To Invest In Sports

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The State Nursery and Primary School II, Mgbuanyim, Elele in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State held its eighth Inter House Sports School competitions last Saturday.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of the occasion, Hon. Innocent Worisah, called on both governments and community leaders to invest more in sports as it would help to boost the economy of the State.
Worisah said this at the  annual inter house sports Competition of the school, saying that appropriate sporting facilities should be provided to all schools in the State and that would discover talents like Austin J. J Okocha and the rest.
“To me sports remains the only avenue that brings  youths together, and promotes peace and unity among them.  I  urge Government at all levels and  community leaders to join hands and build a better society through sports.
“I commend the headmaster of the school and his team for ensuring that the competition was a success” Hon. Worisah said.
Also speaking, the Education Authority Desk Officer in the LGA, Solomon Umeto also called on Government, mostly the LGA Chairmen to pay more attention to sports development at the grassroots level.
“It is obvious that sporting activities reduce youth restiveness and nefarious activities, investment in sports can create million jobs for the teeming youths who are desirous to do sports”, Umeto said.

By: Tonye Orabere

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NSCDC Commissions New Commands In Kebbi, Sokoto

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Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has set up new command posts in Kebbi and Sokoto States to boost staff performance, security and better protect critical national infrastructure in the states.
Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who commissioned the two commands, said Federal Government would not relent in ensuring the protection of citizens at all times by providing the necessary supports, and logistics needed to maintain the current tempo of development to ensure effective discharge of the Corps core mandates
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Shuaib Belgore, Aregbesola stated that the Federal Government was dedicated to continuously support the Corps to enhance performance and boost national security.
According to a statement signed by the agency’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Olusola Odumosu, the minister also tasked personnel in the two states to live up to the mandate of the agency and exhibit the highest level of discipline in their conduct.
He further charged the personnel to “abstain from rancor and unnecessary rivalry and ensure effective synergy with military and all other law enforcement agencies”.
Aregbesola commended the leadership of the Corps for the tremendous transformation witnessed within the last two years as he further attributed it to the doggedness, determination, pragmatic approach and readiness of personnel to impact positively on the nation’s security.
Present at the event were governors of the two states; Atiku Bagudu of and Aminu Tambuwal who were both represented.

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NAWOJ Partners FH1360 To Boost Maternal, Infant Nutrition

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The Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Lagos State Chapter, in collaboration with FH1360/Alive and Thrive Project hosted an interactive media round table aimed at promoting maternal, infant and young child nutrition, with an intervention of reducing the total number of anemia and all deficiencies related to mother and child.
Chairperson, NAWOJ, Lagos State, Adeola Ekine, said the initiative was focused on improved reporting of maternal nutrition coverage in journalism.
She added that the annual event provides insight on illnesses affecting children and mothers and their possible solutions
The Lagos State team Lead, Alive and Thrive, Olawunmi Ajayi, who spoke extensively on Maternal, Infant and young child nutrition (MIYCN), noted that Nigeria loses about 2313 children daily translating to 844,321, children death annually, half of which are due to malnutrition.
“You don’t have to spend a lot on trying to impress people about your feeding habit you just have to make sure you are providing and feeding a well-balanced diet.

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