shymexx:

Really and truly, don't you lot get tired of the useless hyperbole you attach to lack of achievement, with the idi.otic "largest/biggest/first/highest in Africa crap?" Especially when there might even be bigger ones in North, East, or South Africa? And why the need to always make yourselves feel good by even comparing your medieval non-achievements with little countries with no resources anyway? I guess it has to do with primeval ultra patriotism/nationalism - yet you vehemently reject a more befitting title as the most populated cesspit on the same continent - hysterical.

I just saw a documentary Akon did about "lighting up Africa" and it's shocking that in 2014, about 85% of sub-saharan Africa still lacks stable electricity, and over 60% still has no access to clean water. Yet you think that the whole continent isn't a cesspit, no?

Anyway, it's not the largest in Africa, it's the largest in the solar system - if that will make you sleep well at night.

I didn't see you go gaga when that two room clinic opened by Fashola was labelled the first cardiorenal centre in Africa.

This is very good for the north. If the north can spend more on agriculture, they will soon be able to stand on their own economically and tell we southerners to go to hell with our oyel money, cocoa and lagos' huge economy. Am really happy for the north on this. This is a signal to my fellow yoruba pple: let us go develop our cocoa cultivation again. The crude oil we are all depending on will soon finish or become less profitable. I see electric cars that do not use petrol or diesel flooding the auto industry more in the next 5 to 10 years. I see permanent solution to nigeria's electricity problem within 3 to 5 years from now. Any nation still depending solely on oil by then will become the poorest of the poor; since oil would have lost value and diminish in demand.

eaglechild:
I didn't see you go gaga when that two room clinic opened by Fashola was labelled the first cardiorenal centre in Africa.

Well, I'm not a fan of Fashola. And I probably missed the thread.

That's the ninja turtle extreme capitalist but he's still a one-eyed Thomas in the land of the blind.

shymexx:

Really and truly, don't you lot get tired of the useless hyperbole you attach to lack of achievement, with the idi.otic "largest/biggest/first/highest in Africa crap?" Especially when there might even be bigger ones in North, East, or South Africa? And why the need to always make yourselves feel good by even comparing your medieval non-achievements with little countries with no resources anyway? I guess it has to do with primeval ultra patriotism/nationalism - yet you vehemently reject a more befitting title as the most populated cesspit on the same continent - hysterical.

I just saw a documentary Akon did about "lighting up Africa" and it's shocking that in 2014, about 85% of sub-saharan Africa still lacks stable electricity, and over 60% still has no access to clean water. Yet you think that the whole continent isn't a cesspit, no?

Anyway, it's not the largest in Africa, it's the largest in the solar system - if that will make you sleep well at night.

each time GEJ does something worth celebrating, you pple always try to turn pple's minds away from the good and direct them to the not so good. It is true we lack consistent power in nigeria. But don't worry, we are on course and we will get to that brighter day in nigeria. But this one is a very good step in the right direction and only the mentally blind will not see it as such and celebrate with nigeria. Why do you guys always hate it when GEJ does anything good? This was how your political father lier Muhammad fought against a WORLD WIDE ACLAIM that nigeria's economy is the best in Africa. You and your lier political father never know there is time to fight and there is time to refrain from fighting. This is exactly why APC will fail in 2015. Do you realize you have already lost ekiti? Do you realize adamawa and nasarawa may follow soon? Do you realize your feet are shaking in osun, edo, oyo and lagos? Do you realize the APC internal squabbles at ogun may make you lose that state? Maybe we should educate you on why pdp (obj and gbenga Daniel) failed in 2011. And do you know why you are suffering this way? Your consistent and mostly unreasonable attacks on GEJ is exposed to the masses. Your politicotuggery look on things and elite-inclined policies are getting people fed up. You guys better change b4 it becomes too late; if it is not too late already.

[s]

tonytony208:

each time GEJ does something worth celebrating, you pple always try to turn pple's minds away from the good and direct them to the not so good. It is true we lack consistent power in nigeria. But don't worry, we are on course and we will get to that brighter day in nigeria. But this one is a very good step in the right direction and only the mentally blind will not see it as such and celebrate with nigeria. Why do you guys always hate it when GEJ does anything good? This was how your political father lier Muhammad fought against a WORLD WIDE ACLAIM that nigeria's economy is the best in Africa. You and your lier political father never know there is time to fight and there is time to refrain from fighting. This is exactly why APC will fail in 2015. Do you realize you have already lost ekiti? Do you realize adamawa and nasarawa may follow soon? Do you realize your feet are shaking in osun, edo, oyo and lagos? Do you realize the APC internal squabbles at ogun may make you lose that state? Maybe we should educate you on why pdp (obj and gbenga Daniel) failed in 2011. And do you know why you are suffering this way? Your consistent and mostly unreasonable attacks on GEJ is exposed to the masses. Your politicotuggery look on things and elite-inclined policies are getting people fed up. You guys better change b4 it becomes too late; if it is not too late already.

[/s]

Stark illiterate, do I look like you and your bummy political jobbing irk?

Get a life...and if you've got one, you can take it.

Sod off!

shymexx: [s][/s]

Stark illiterate, do I look like you and your bummy political jobbing irk?

Get a life...and if you've got one, you can take it.

Sod off!

it's clear to the world who the stark illiterate is btw you and me. I made my point with facts, but all you sawdust-stuffed head could cook up is abuse and no sensible or informative point.

tonytony208:

it's clear to the world who the stark illiterate is btw you and me. I made my point with facts, but all you sawdust-stuffed head could cook up is abuse and no sensible or informative point.

Stop arguing with that frustrated Ghanaian........ Lets keep growing while they keep hating........

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Commissions Olam in Nigeria’s Integrated Rice Mill





Olam International Limited (“Olam’’), a leading agri-business operating across the value chain in 65 countries, today welcomed His Excellency President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, to inaugurate Olam’s state-of-the-art rice mill at its large-scale pioneering rice farm in Nigeria’s Nasarawa State.

The integrated rice milling facility is situated at the heart of Olam’s 6,000-hectare greenfield irrigated and mechanised paddy farm, and will provide 36,000 metric tonnes (MT) of milled rice per annum to the domestic market, contributing to the Federal Government’s goal to improve rice self-sufficiency. With 3,000 hectares already under cultivation and a further 3,000 hectares to be developed in 2015, the farm is expected to harvest two crops per annum with four varieties of high-yield rice developed in partnership with the West African Rice Development Association.

Together the farm and the mill are expected to boost smallholder rice production in the region through a ‘nucleus and outgrower farming model’. Surrounding rice-growing communities are supported by Olam with training, pre-finance, agri-inputs and marketing linkages in order to improve their paddy yields and realisations, which are then purchased by Olam at a fair market price. Currently 3,000 farmers are engaged in the programme, with a target of 16,000 by 2018. Ultimately, 20,000 smallholder farmers will supply 30-40% of the mill’s capacity. The commercial farm itself employs up to 1,000 workers depending on seasonality, providing another source of training in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). The model was highlighted as a catalytic innovation in African agriculture by the Rockefeller Foundation in 2013.

Venkataramani Srivathsan, Olam’s Managing Director for Africa and Middle East, commented: “This mill, commissioned today by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, characterises three important aspects of Olam’s commitment to the agricultural sector in Nigeria. Firstly, it demonstrates how large-scale corporate farms can work hand in hand with smallholders to help advance Nigeria’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda and generate rural prosperity through local processing. Secondly, it underlines the country’s ability to grow high quality, nutritious rice that can enhance domestic food security by providing an alternative to imports. Thirdly, as Olam kicks off its 25th anniversary celebrations this month, this investment is a testament to our ongoing commitment to Nigeria, the country where Olam was founded.”

He continued: “As we witness this inauguration, we are pleased to announce our plans to increase our acreage in Nasarawa up to 10,000 hectares. This will bring Olam’s total investment in the integrated farm and milling facility to over Naira 18.0 billion.”

Attending and presenting the opening speech at the inauguration, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan remarked: “The private sector is responding strongly to our rice policy, as the number of rice mills has grown from just one three years ago to 18 today.”

The President further added: “Our goal of making Nigeria a net exporter of rice will be achieved faster by encouraging large commercial farms that will complement our small-scale farmers. Large mechanised rice farms like Olam’s 6,000-hectare farm will not only boost food production but also provide significant opportunities for jobs in rural areas. These mills are producing high quality local rice that meets international standards and competes well with imported rice.”

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Minister of Agriculture of Nigeria commented: “Nigeria is driving a rice policy that will turn it away from being a rice importing country to a major rice exporter. The investment by Olam in a commercial rice farm and integrated rice mill will help boost domestic production and milling of international quality grade rice in Nigeria. This is a clear demonstration that our approach of taking agriculture as a business, while enabling the private sector to drive growth of the agriculture sector, is working.”

Olam’s Country Head in Nigeria, Mukul Mathur, concluded: “In 25 years, Olam is proud to have been a part of Nigeria’s development of strong export supply chains for world markets. Olam was one of the first to export sesame from Nigeria – and now Nigeria is one of the world’s biggest suppliers. Today we hope that the success of our rice model will kick-start domestic production in a similar manner, unlocking the opportunity for businesses and smallholders alike, and reducing Nigeria’s need to import 1.9 million tonnes of rice each year.”

Olam in Nigeria employs over 2,500 direct employees, 6,000 contract workers and sources from over 500,000 Nigerian rice, cocoa, cashew, sesame and cotton farmers. Olam’s businesses range from wheat milling to manufacturing and distribution of tomato paste and dairy drinks amongst others.



About Olam Nigeria

Olam Nigeria is a leading agri-business company in Nigeria, working throughout the value chain from growing and sourcing raw commodities, processing, export and distribution, to the manufacture of consumer packaged foods. Olam International was founded in Nigeria in 1989, and today Olam Nigeria is a fully owned subsidiary of Olam International Limited. From sourcing cashews at the farm gate 25 years ago, Olam Nigeria has expanded into cocoa, sesame, cotton, rice, wheat milling (Crown Flour Mills) and packaged foods including biscuits, candy, confectionery (OK Foods), juices, beverages (Ranona Nigeria Ltd), breakfast foods and kitchen ingredients such as tomato paste (Caraway Foods Ltd). Olam Nigeria has been the largest non-oil exporter in the country for the last 10 years, and has won the Presidential Export Awards Overall Best Non-Oil Exporter of the Year for three consecutive years. Other accolades include the UNDP World Business Award 2008, ICC World Business Award 2010 and the Africa Business Award for Excellence in CSR 2011.

More information can be found here: http://olamgroup.com/locations/west-central-africa/nigeria/.

Olam Nigeria Head Office is located at Plot 5 & 6, Abebe Village Road,
Opp. FBN Regional Office, Iganmu, Lagos, Nigeria.
Telephone: +234 1 791 2194

For an Igbo development initiative that you need to be part of, text me on 09033130321 for full details