Day: June 19, 2024

Amb. Geoffrey Pyatt, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Energy Resources, said the U.S. and Nigeria are working closely toward convening a maiden Energy Security Dialogue (ESD) in 2024.

Amb. Pyatt announced this at a digital news conference on Wednesday following a U.S.-Angola energy security dialogue to strengthen U.S.-Africa Energy Partnerships in Luanda, Angola.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Angola ESD was the first in-person dialogue in sub-Saharan Africa to be held during U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration.

Pyatt said that the U.S.-Nigeria ESD would target a broad agenda, including decarbonisation of fossil energy production, acceleration of clean energy deployment, and liquified natural gas.

He said other issues to be discussed during the event would be the challenges of the global gas market, critical minerals, energy access, grid interconnections, and partnerships.

The U.S. envoy said Deputy Secretary of State, Kurt Campbell, had discussed the prospective dial
ogue with Nigerian government officials during his recent visit to Nigeria, after which he took it up.

‘And then I followed up at the Corporate Council for Africa summit meeting in Dallas just a few weeks ago, where I joined Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield for our meeting with the Nigerian foreign minister.

‘So, I think our governments are agreed that we want this to happen. We want it to happen in 2024, and I’m hopeful that we will have an announcement in the next couple of weeks about the specific timing.

‘Much like the dialogue with Angola, our dialogue with Nigeria would be built around a broad agenda, including decarbonization of fossil energy production, acceleration of clean energy deployment, LNG and the global gas market, critical minerals, issues of energy access and grid interconnections,’ he said.

According to him, the dialogue will also involve a business element, whereby U.S. and Nigerian companies come together to explore opportunities and push their governments to accelerate the deepeni
ng of their energy partnerships.

He noted that for most of Sub-Saharan Africa, the number one energy priority was energy access; how to deliver the expanded volumes of energy that citizens needed to meet the aspirations for uplifting their situation.

The envoy said the U.S. was partnering with Sub-Saharan African countries in providing massive access to energy, adding that American companies were already partners in that regard, operating in Angola, Mozambique, and Nigeria, among others.

He said the most crucial issues on the U.S-Africa energy partnership agenda include tackling climate change challenges and addressing energy transition through partnerships.

‘We also understand, and this is painfully clear, in a country like Angola, where you see the impact that the climate crisis has on traditional agriculture and weather patterns.

‘And so, taking climate action and being as ambitious as we can in our targets to reduce the carbon footprint of the energy that we produce, the energy that the world needs,
is job number one.

‘We want to ensure that we support, in Africa in particular, a just energy transition.

‘Every country is going to have its energy mix and a unique endowment of natural resources,’ he said.

Amb. Pyatt said that Nigeria and Angola as two of Africa’s largest oil producers, are important countries with a globally significant capacity to produce crude oil, hence their ESD significance.

‘They are also countries whose crude oil economies have been significantly impacted both by Russia’s weaponization of its energy resources and also the role of China.

‘When I was in Angola, we talked a lot about the fact that Angola owes about 17 billion dollars to China for years and years of checkbook diplomacy.

‘So we want to talk to both governments about their role in the global energy matrix, our partnership, the role of the United States as a major oil producer, and how we see energy,’ he said.

‘Our energy security interests are impacted by the disruptions created by Russia’s weaponisation of its en
ergy resources and how our producers are responding to that,’ he added.

NAN recalls that the State Department had in June 2023 announced the formation of an energy security dialogue with Nigeria to advance collaboration on shared energy and climate goals, saying it would host it this year.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Niger Delta Young Professionals (NDYP) says it will organise a Summit/Bootcamp for over 1000 young professionals across the Niger Delta region to cross-fertilise ideas on business development.

Mr Moses Siasia said on Wednesday that the summit would be specially designed to hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers, on June 27, to bring together a cross-section of economists, policymakers and business development experts.

Siasia said that the theme of the summit ‘Building a Culture of Entrepreneurship and Self-reliance Beyond Oil’, was designed to help entrepreneurs know the best way to wriggle out of the current economic challenges faced in the country.

He said the experts would examine the critical role of MSME in the overall development of the economy.

Siasia said this year’s event is strategic, as it coincides with the 2024 United Nations World MSME Day.

‘The World MSME Day is specially marked to create a platform to discuss and exchange ideas.

‘The ideas are on how key stakeholders, including policy makers,
large companies, financial institutions, and the international community can support micro, small and medium-sized businesses to advance the 2030 Agenda.

‘It also contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including poverty eradication and decent work for all.

‘The Niger Delta MSME Summit/Bootcamp is a sustained initiative that has been creating enormous opportunities and growth for young MSME owners in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region,’ Siasia said.

According to him, the event will enable a cross-section of economists, policymakers and business development experts to examine the critical role of MSME in the overall development of the economy.

He noted that in spite of lack of support from the governments in the region, poor management of MSMEs, high-interest loans from banks, corruption, and inadequate infrastructure, the initiative had pulled through with sustainable impacts over the years.

Siasia said that Mr Summy Francis, the President of Africa’s Young Ent
repreneurs (A.Y.E.) would be speaking at the event.

‘Other speakers include Mr Temitope Runsewe, the CEO of Dutum Company Limited; Mrs Esther Adebayo, President of the Women Agro Processors, Agricgen and Exporters Initiative (WAPAGEIN).

‘Mr Otuya Okecha, CEO Firbesol Nigeria Limited; Dr Martins Fregene, Director of Agriculture, African Development Bank, among others, will also be speaking at the event.

‘The summit is expected to ‘ignite the next generation through expanding entrepreneurial culture in the Niger Delta region.

‘Participants for the summit will be drawn from the nine states of the Niger Delta region, as past editions produced positive results which are indication of secured future of entrepreneurs in the oil-rich region.

‘This year’s event would feature product exhibitions, grants, bootcamp, main-stage keynotes, panel discussions, interactive master sessions, style breakout.

‘There will also be a business-to-business meetings, mentoring sessions, networking opportunities featuring outstandi
ng line-up of successful entrepreneurs, innovators, strategists and business leaders from top brands.’

Siasia noted that the beneficiaries of past editions, many of whom have received grants to grow their businesses, have been able to grow a huge business capital and create employment opportunities for other prospective MSMEs.

‘The inaugural edition of the summit held in 2021 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State had over 400 Niger Deltans benefitting from the NIRSAL Intervention Loan for small business owners in the area of Agriculture, Creative Industry and ICT.

‘In the second edition held in Asaba, Delta State in 2022, and the third edition in 2023 in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, the NDYP gave out grants to innovative businesses,’ Siasia added.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Sao Tome and Principe Forum said on Wednesday the country would work toward deepening relations with Nigeria by exploring business opportunities that would mobilise private sector players for national development.

The President of the forum, Dr Mike Ozumba, stated this in Abuja, when he led members of the forum on a visit to the Ambassador of Sao Tome and Principe to Nigeria, Gjazaide Aguar.

Ozumba added that the purpose of the meeting was to deepen engagement with Nigerian investors and entrepreneurs and to encourage them to take advantage of the off-shore economic opportunities in Sao Tome and Principe.

He said that the visit would provide the forum with the chance to discuss mutually beneficial opportunities on offer at the Sao Tome and Principe Investment Summit to be held in February 2025.

He spoke of the forum’s commitment to providing access to critical information on trade and investment for decision-makers through the relationship with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

‘This
partnership and development-centered relationship between Nigeria and Sao Tome and Principe is that it stands as a gateway to mutual economic and investment opportunities in the light of the AfCFTA possibilities.

‘AfCFTA is an ambitious trade pact to form the world’s largest free trade area by creating a single market for goods and services across Africa and deepening efforts toward the economic integration of Africa,’ the president of the forum said.

Speaking, Mr Chinedu Amadi, Director of the forum, said the visit demonstrated the readiness of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in both countries to leverage the possibilities offered by AfCFTA.

This move, he explained, will lead to sustainable economic development in Africa, attract foreign investors, and strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

‘The beginning of trading under AfCFTA has put Africa on the global map as the largest integrated trading area in the world by allowing liberalisation of trade in goods, services, an
d talent without tariffs.

‘This has laid bare fresh opportunities and possibilities with greater promises to fast-track industrialisation and value addition,” he said.

Responding, the Sao Tome and Principe ambassador in Nigeria praised the forum for the initiative and visit.

He described São Tomé and Principe as a choice destination for quality investment.

Aguar added that the partnership and efforts of the forum would go a long way in strengthening bilateral relations and promoting trade and investment between the two countries.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Nigerian government and the Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA) from Delaware, USA, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to send the first Nigerian to space.

Chief Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, said on Wednesday at the signing of the MoU in Abuja, that human spaceflight was a major aspiration of Nigeria.

‘Human spaceflight is not just a random aspiration of our country but a major objective of the Nigeria Space Policy and Programme which was approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2001.

‘Reviving and implementing all abandoned national plans is a cardinal point of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

‘This partnership provides a way of achieving our long-time aspiration as a nation,’ he said.

The minister said the slot could be available from now till December, or in 2025, as SERA would still be test-running the platform.

Dr Matthew Adepoju, Director- General of NASRDA, said the cost of sending a Nigerian to space
had been fully sponsored by SERA.

Adepoju said the event marked the commencement of the agency’s efforts to implement part of its roadmap of having a human spaceflight.

He also said the event was worth celebrating at a time that Nigeria was marking the 25 years of its space programme.

‘The Human Spaceflight programme is one of the cardinal objectives of National Space Policy and Programme.

‘It was with this in mind that we established the Department of Physical and Life Sciences about three years ago to forge this mandate.

‘This is also coming as one of our deep space explorations because there are many spinoffs that will come from the collaboration and opportunities opened for Nigerians,” he said.

Mr Joshua Skurla, Co-Founder of SERA, said that 80 per cent of astronauts, globally, had exclusively emanated from three countries.

Skurla said that Nigeria had a rich history of scientific, technological innovation, thus, SERA was excited to partner with NASRDA to extend the legacy into space and create n
ew opportunities for Nigerian space explorers.

Mr Sam Hutchison, Founder of SERA, said that the application to be in space was open to any Nigerian older than 18 years, in spite of their discipline.

‘The Nigerian people will choose the citizen to go to space, the process of application will be open to anybody who is over 18 years, and there are no other qualifications required.

‘You will be able to sign up and then encourage others to vote for you; as part of democratic process, the Nigerian people will select four potential astronaut candidates before a final selection process.

‘The important thing to understand is that anybody can apply, you don’t have to be a Scientist, Mathematician or Engineer.

‘This is about opening up access to ordinary Nigerians and giving them the opportunity of being the first Nigerian in space,’ he said.

He added that they chose Nigeria because the country had already indicated serious intent towards space exploration through its obvious space programmes and initiatives.

Hut
chison further said that they paid attention to the country knowing that it is a country of Scientists, Engineers and most importantly entrepreneurs.

‘We hope to raise the awareness of young Nigerians that by choosing careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, they can go to space.’

Hutchison noted that the selection process would be through SERA’s platform, and that it would be open and transparent.

Dr Anne Agi, President, Learnspace Foundation, who was instrumental to executing the partnership, advocated for Nigeria to be chosen for the mission.

Agi who expressed optimism that the mission would serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration for Nigerian youths noted that space had the power to inspire future generations.

‘It will show that even in challenging times, with global collaboration, great achievements are possible.

‘We are therefore thrilled to have played a part in this groundbreaking partnership and we encourage Nigerians to key in.’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports
that under the partnership, SERA will reserve a seat for a Nigerian citizen, on an upcoming Blue Origin New Shepard suborbital spaceflight.

This is part of a broader SERA-led initiative, in partnership with Blue Origin, to send six individuals from nations historically underrepresented in space exploration.

SERA, is a company from Delaware, U.S., and was founded to build a global community dedicated to space exploration, research and democratising space exploration and exploitation for all nations of the world.

The SERA-NASRDA collaboration builds upon SERA’s previous success in sending Victor Hespanha, a 28-year-old Brazilian Civil Engineer, to space in 2022, which demonstrates the transformative power of an inclusive and accessible space ecosystem.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

With 325,000 square meters of exhibition area for the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) having already been booked by more than 1,000 companies around the globe, the 2024 edition of the world’s first national-level import-themed expo is expected to make an even bigger splash this November.

Global brands further expand business in China via the CIIE

As a frequenter of the CIIE, Ireland has over the past six editions of the event brought a range of high-quality food products, including milk powder from grass-fed cows, organic chocolate, whisky and gin, with many of them making their global debut at the annual trade fair.

Over the years, companies from 173 countries and regions have made appearances at the CIIE and carried out tentative transactions worth over $420 billion. Nearly 2,500 new products, technologies and services have debuted at the event.

Greece’s Piraeus Port, the chief seaport of Athens and a key project in China-Greece cooperation, has participated in the expo every year since 2
018.

‘Six-time participant Piraeus Port has further boosted its interaction with global maritime stakeholders and enhanced the creation of business opportunities,’ Greek Infrastructure and Transport Minister Christos Staikouras noted, hailing the fair as ‘significant and well-recognized globally’.

In addition to the Business Exhibition, the Country Exhibition proffers a platform where countries can improve their global image and increase their international presence.

As a major participant, the UK has showcased its world-leading technologies and services in areas like healthcare, finance, education food and agricultural products at the event.

According to the UK government website, the expo offers a unique platform for UK businesses to display some of the country’s most innovative technologies and connect with Chinese businesses, investors, and consumers.

Hongqiao Forum spotlights global issues

As a crucial part of the annual CIIE, the Hongqiao Forum invites worldwide high-profile government officials,
Nobel Prize laureates and senior executives of industrial pacesetters to discuss global issues.

The sixth Hongqiao Forum in 2023 saw a record attendance of more than 8,000 people and featured 22 subforums on a range of subjects such as financial reform and innovation, digital governance and green investment.

Organizers of the forum have held a series of symposiums and salons over the past few months and invited important figures, including UN representatives, government officials, scholars, and member companies to contribute to this year’s themes and topics.

CIIE 2024 expects more participants

The seventh CIIE will launch another series of global roadshows in the UK, Ireland and Greece from June 19 to 28 to attract more companies with an interest in exporting to China and highlight the CIIE’s supporting policies.

In addition, registration for professional visitors, including buyers, for this year’s expo is now in full swing. A number of roadshows aimed at inviting buyers are now underway, motivating the
trade missions to leverage the expo’s prospects and expand their trade partnerships with companies around the world.

With so many showing interest in the trade fair, be sure to secure your spot at CIIE 2024:

Sign up as an exhibitor: https://www.ciie.org/exhibition/f/book/register?locale=enandfrom=press

Sign up as a professional visitor:

https://www.ciie.org/ciie/f/visitor/pre-book?locale=enandfrom=press

Contact:Ms. Cui Yan

Tel.:0086-21-968888

Email:exhibition@ciie.org

Website:http://www.ciie.org/zbh/en/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ciieonline

Twitter:https://twitter.com/ciieonline

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Smallholder Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria (SWOFON) has urged the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration to declare a state of emergency on insecurity to ensure the safety of farmers.

Mrs Olabisi Ogedengbe, SWOFON Coordinator for Gwagwalada, FCT, made this call at a news conference organised by SWOFON on Wednesday in Abuja.

The conference was titled ‘Emerging Challenges Affecting Smallholder Women Farmers in the FCT.’

According to Ogedengbe, such a declaration would address the looming food crisis and inflation in the territory.

She noted the alarming insecurity and farmer-herder clashes in the FCT, which have made smallholder women farmers vulnerable, hindering their access to farmlands and causing them significant losses.

She identified the security challenges as a major contributing factor to the current hike in food costs.

Ogedengbe warned that the livelihood conditions of most smallholder women farmers were deteriorating, making it increasingly difficult for them to provide food,
access healthcare, infrastructure, and afford their children’s education.

‘The conference aims to draw the attention of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Nigerian Government to the impact of the challenges affecting smallholder women farmers in the FCT.

‘In light of the escalating economic challenges and concurrent food crises and inflation, SWOFON deemed it imperative to highlight the severe effects on smallholder women farmers in the territory.’

Ogedengbe cited recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics, indicating that the food inflation rate in January 2024 was 35.41 per cent on a year-on-year basis.

‘The figure is 11.10 percentage points higher compared to the rate of 24.32 per cent recorded last January. Similarly, Cable News reported in May 2024 that the FCT experienced a food inflation rate of 38.38 per cent.’

‘The rise in food inflation on a year-on-year basis began with the COVID-19 pandemic and was exacerbated by increases in the prices of bread and cereals,
potatoes, yams and other tubers, oil and fat, among others,’ she said.

She called on FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and the FCTA to invest massively in agriculture to ensure food and nutrition security.

Mrs Comfort Sunday, SWOFON Coordinator for the FCT Chapter, identified other challenges faced by the women, such as barriers to land ownership and control.

She noted that farmlands were often taken over by the government for commercial purposes, limiting women farmers’ ability to invest in and benefit from agricultural activities.

She criticised the disparities in access to and release of quality seeds, fertilisers, water pumps, solar boreholes, sprayers, and other inputs between male and female farmers.

According to her, these disparities make it difficult for women farmers to engage in dry season farming, leading to low agricultural production and food insecurity.

Sunday said women farmers were disproportionately affected by climate change impacts such as erratic rainfall, droughts, and soil degradation, whi
ch threaten food security and livelihoods.

She noted that farmers lacked resources to implement adaptive measures to these environmental challenges.

The coordinator called for reforms to land tenure policies to ensure equitable access to land for women, including legal support and advocacy for land rights.

‘There should be a timely release of farm inputs to smallholder women farmers by all tiers of government for this rainy season farming.

‘The Federal Government and FCTA should urgently provide subsidies and support to our farmers for easy access to inputs such as quality early maturing seeds, seedlings, feeds, organic fertilisers, and pesticides.

‘This will help increase food production, improve farmers’ livelihoods, and stimulate economic growth in the agricultural sector.’

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Mrs Aisha Edward-Maduagwu, National Co-ordinator, Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Disorder says that sickle cell is the worst of all health disorders.

Edward-Maduagwu made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka, to mark the 2024 World Sickle Cell Day.

World Sickle Cell Day is observed every June 19, to raise awareness about sickle cell disease and highlight the challenges that patients and their caregivers face.

The theme of this year’s commemoration is ‘Hope Through Progress: Advancing Care Globally’.

She described sickle cell disease as a genetic disorder in which the red blood cells were shaped abnormally, thereby affecting blood flow, causing pain and tissue damage in the body.

She said: ‘Sickle Cell is the most serious and worst disorder out of all the health disorders but it is sad that it is not getting adequate attention in our society.

‘How come more attention is given to cancer patients than sickle cell, whereas we go through the same pains?

‘Ou
r government and the society at large need to pay adequate attention to sickle cell disease.

‘This is because the patients go through pain and spend so much to stay alive or survive the pains inflicted in them by others,’ she said.

Edward-Maduagwu lamented the rate of stigma in the society as persons living with sickle cell disorder were seen as not marriageable, not adoptable and not employable.

‘The society is mean and insensitive to the plight of persons living with sickle cell. They are intellectually and academically sound, but no job opportunities for them.

‘Our organisation will continue to educate the public on the adverse effects of genotype incompatibilities, and ensure that people get tested for genotype, especially intending marriage couples,’ she said.

She commended Gov. Chukwuma Soludo and his wife, for free enrolment of 71 persons living with sickle cell into the state’s health insurance scheme, to reduce the burden of medical bills on patients and their families.

She urged well-meaning
individuals and the government to donate a permanent and central sickle cell centre in Anambra.

‘We are appealing for support to acquire a centre for moral, psychological and emotional management as well as rehabilitation of vulnerable sickle cell patients,’ she said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria