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The Federal Executive Council through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development (FMARD) has extended her agreement with Cellulant Nigeria Limited for the provision of the GES (Growth Enhancement Support Program) to Nigerian farmers recently in Abuja.

The program which uses e-wallet technology to allot government subsidies, fertilisers, improved seeds, agrochemicals and good farming practices to Nigerian farmers, has been the flagship program of the FMARD in the last four years and the program would have served an average of 6 Million farmers annually by the end of the year.

Nigeria is the first country in the world to implement the e-wallet technology. Other country that has implemented this technology includes Togo, Liberia and it will soon be extended to 13 other sub-Saharan African countries and the Middle East. The program has far been internationally recognized as a successfully implemented e-wallet platform.



Prior to the extension of the agreement, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari requested for certain improvements to the technology so that it can continue to serve Nigerian farmers better. The upgraded technology was field tested with a pool of 500,000 farmers who grew 1.3Million metric tonnes of rice and maize from May through September 2016. The approval of the President for the continuation of the program and the retention of Cellulant, the technology provider, has proved that it’s possible for a project that positively impacted on people lives to be passed from one administration to another.

The Nigerian Government is commencing an all-round farming year using the e-wallet system, from November 2016 till May 2017. The program aims to reach between 5-9million farmers with good quality seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. The government and the farmers will both contribute to the costs of the farming inputs as part of this subsidy scheme.

It is important to note that the GES scheme is actually an economic impetus program as the e-wallet system is a mechanism that propels economic activities into rural areas.

Annually, the program covers the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the country, over 95,315 villages and serves 17 million farmers and 2,714 agri-businesses across Nigeria. To efficiently kick off inputs distribution for dry season, training sessions about how to use the e-wallet platform has been organized in all six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

During the next phase of project; the FGN through the FMARD has also approved that Cellulant should work with the financial sectors under the Nigeria Agriculture Payment Initiative (NAPI) to digitize payments in the sector. This initiative will increase the adoption rate of mobile phones in the remote areas of the country and this will encourage the Government’s drive towards financial inclusion of those who live in the hinterland.

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Virtually every workplace has a variety of personalities, work styles and cultures, so disagreements are inevitable.

Disagreeing with your boss might not happen often, but when you feel the need to voice your opinion about an issue, it’s always wise to do it respectfully.

Depending on the working relationship you have with your boss, you might use an informal approach to express your disagreement.

However, no matter how comfortable your relationship is with your boss, it’s still up to you to remain respectful.

Ask for a private meeting with your boss to discuss the issues on which you disagree

Refrain from publicly disagreeing with your boss if the issue involves a personal matter, such as an employment decision. When you vehemently disagree with your boss, a private sit-down is the best way to resolve things. For example, if you disagree with your boss about her decision to give you a written warning about poor attendance, discuss it in a private setting and not during a staff meeting or when other employees are present.

State the topic on which you disagree and explain your position in an articulate and reserved manner

Even if the matter you can’t agree on is one that you’re passionate about, avoid showing emotions. Refrain from using inflammatory or accusatory language. Whenever possible or appropriate, provide solutions to resolving the disagreement — don’t just complain for the sake of complaining. For example, if you disagree with your boss about a work process, explain what you think is wrong with the process he’s developed. Then offer suggestions for improving the process, and provide concrete and rational reasons why you think your method may be better.

Enlist the support of your co-workers when the issue you disagree on affects the department or your team

Ask your boss for a meeting during which you and your co-workers can discuss the matter in a forum that will allow for candid feedback and employee input. Tell your boss ahead of time that you will be joined by other employees so she won’t be blindsided by a group of employees who collectively disagree with her.

Encourage your boss to give you feedback during the conversation

A productive conversation isn’t one-sided; you need two-way feedback to resolve issues in the workplace. Choose your words carefully, but be honest about why you disagree with your boss and keep your tone and demeanor non-confrontational to make your point more effectively. Organize your thoughts so you can convey your message in a way that firmly states your position or convinces your boss that your disagreement is based on improving the workplace.

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New Video Alert: Skales – Temper

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In a bid to further the global drive for improved cyber security, CyberXchange Conference, West Africa’s premier information security conference held at the Landmark Event Centre, Lekki Lagos Nigeria, from November 2nd through 3rd, 2016. The conference was strategically aimed at updating Information Security professionals on the essential security trends that will enhance protection for company and client’s most valuable assets.

The 2-day CyberXchange Conference, featured keynotes sessions, exhibitions and workshops. These features examined current cyber security trends and practical solutions as discussed by global industry leaders in Technology, IT Audit, I.T Risk, Cyber security professionals in Finance/Banking, E-commerce, Digital Media, Telecommunications, Oil & Gas and Government.

Speaking at the event, Facebook CISO, Alex Stamos stated that “It was inspiring to see the energy at CyberXchange focused on developing security talent and finding solutions to security problems that companies and governments face. I particularly enjoyed the hackathon that brought talented students together to design prototypes and build community with others who share a passion for cyber security”.

Reiterating the need for organizations to prepare regulations for when risks will arise, Dr David Isiavwe, President of Information Security Society of Africa-Nigeria (ISAAN) stated that. “Organizations, boards and CEOs need to be proactive in dealing with cyber crime”.

The conference agenda focused on carefully selected topics such as Business Continuity Management and Critical Infrastructure Protection, Innovating Digital Security for Financial Institutions, Cybersecurity for Oil and Gas Industry, Secure Coding: Proactive Application Development, Threat Exchange, Building an Airtight DOS Mitigation, Ethical Hacking and Offensive Security Techniques, Advanced Biometric Systems, Malware and Phishing Prevention Techniques and more

CyberXchange Conference 2016 highlights include practical ready-to-use training for IT security professionals and a unique Masterclass for chief executives to get a handle on cyber security at their organizations. As well as a Facebook-sponsored CyberXchange Hackathon session, which aimed at developing the capacity of budding information security professionals. The winning team went home with a cash prize of N700,000.

Organizations represented at the CyberXchange Conference 2016 includes; IBM, Interswitch, Ernst & Young, UBER, Belvedere, PAGA, Digital Encode, Central Bank of Nigeria, Vasco, Assesco, Oxford Business Group, Liberia Telecommunications Authority, ISN Solutions, Facebook, RSA Security, Co-Creation Hub, DeltaGRiC Consulting, ERPScan, Vmware, Imperva Incapsula, Rack Centre Limited, Deloitte and Union Bank.

A-Z Petroleum a key player in the downstream oil and gas Industry and one of the 13 subsidiaries of Chicason Group Limited is set to roll out its petroleum products at the 10th Oil Trading and Logistics Expo (OTL). This event will run from October 23rd-26th 2016 at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island Lagos.

The 10th Oil Trading and Logistics Expo is a leading business forum for market insights, emerging opportunities, products’ showcase and recognition of excellence in the African downstream petroleum value-chain. A-Z Petroleum which is one of the sponsors at this event will exhibit products ranging from Motor Oils, Hydraulics, Marine Oils, Motor Cycle Oils,Gear Oils to Speciality Greases, Refrigerator Oils, Heat Transfer oils and Automatic transmission fluids.

A-Z petroleum will also use the opportunity to team up with other players to discuss as well as share experiences in the Oil and Gas sector. As a front burner in the Petroleum market the major focus of its presence at this Expo is to display some of its major products and present its offerings to product and service buyers and the key decision makers in the Oil and Gas Industry.



“Being part of this conference and Exhibition is a great avenue for us to showcase our wide range of products and service and also add value in the sector said Mr Chris Chigbo Executive Director, Manufacturing, Chicason Group. We constantly seek opportunities to reiterate our commitment in the industry and this is one event we are excited to be part of. We are dedicated in service delivery to our customers and we want to assure them we will not relent in our efforts at manufacturing world class products”

Organizers of the 10th Oil Trading and Logistics Expo also said that ‘’we are happy to provide a platform where different petroleum marketers across the globe can showcase their product and get updated on new trends in the industry. We also look forward to having a successful and impactful experience’’.

A-Z Petroleum Products Limited was incorporated in Nigeria in 1994 and commenced full operations in 1995. They are one of the leading manufacturers of various types of petroleum products and a major supplier of petroleum products to the African Market with offices spread across many African countries.

If you eat spicy foods, you will be happy to see this.

Research Shows People Who Eat Spicy Foods Have Long Life

Lu Qi, an associate professor at Harvard School of Public Health had previously said that “there is accumulating evidence from mostly experimental research to show the benefit of spices or their active components on human health”.

After this, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences conducted a study in order to collect data from 2004 to 2008 as part of the China Kadoorie Biobank. The researchers used self-reported questionnaires and what they found out is amazing.

The researchers analyzed the spicy food consumption of nearly half a million people age 30 to 70 across 10 regions in China, excluding those with cancer, heart disease and stroke.

Spicy Food May Help You Live Longer
Photo: Lifehack.org



Finally, the reviewed the records of 20,224 people who died over a seven-year followup period and found that those who ate spicy foods six or seven times a week had a 14% lower risk of premature death for all causes than people who ate spicy foods less than once a week.

It was also found among the study subjects that people who frequently consumed spicy food showed a lower risk of death from cancer or ischemic heart and respiratory system diseases.

Thinking of grabbing the next available spicy food? Wait, there is a word of caution. Certain foods, of which spicy foods are part, are triggers for people with incontinence or overactive bladders. Doctors have identified as common irritants for women. We also have to think about the whole food and not just the spicy component of it.

Bio-psychologist John E. Hayes said on CNN, “You have to consider that when we talk about spicy food, we can mean vastly different things, with different health implications,” Hayes said. “That spicy food could be low-energy-density vegetables, like kimchee. Or it could be a high-energy-density food like barbecue spare ribs.”

In conclusion, even though this research has shown that spicy foods may help people live longer, an association between death and spicy foods has not been established. This is just an indication that there just, just might be a connection between the two.

Arguably, the breast seems to be one part of a woman’s body that means different things to different people, and that could be the reason why women pay so much attention to it.

Beyond the fact that it is the source of food for a newborn baby, men see it as more of sex organ that makes sex more pleasurable, and for women, apart from its being important for breastfeeding after childbirth and being a body part that enhances their outlook, it is one of the routes to sexual satisfaction, as findings have shown that handling the breasts is one of the quickest ways for women to reach orgasm.

Such is the importance of the breast, or boob as some prefer to call it, to all concerned.

Meanwhile, it has also been found that the firmness or otherwise of those two soft, protruding organs influence women’s self esteem, and they also impact on how attractive they are to men.



For most men, the bigger the better, and the more firm the breasts are the better, which make women to do all they can to make the breasts look firm, including using all kinds of bras.

It should be noted that the breasts tend to sag with age and after childbirth and or breastfeeding. But be that as it may, there are some human activities that could increase the likelihood of sagging.

So, given the much importance men and women attach to the firmness of a woman’s breasts, it seems helpful for women to know how best the breasts should be treated to avoid sagging (quickly).

Mismanaged breastfeeding: It is largely assumed that a woman’s breasts tend to sag after pregnancy and breastfeeding, and this is entirely understandable because of the release of some hormones and the secretion of milk which could increase the size of the breasts. In fact, some people assume that with the way the baby draws the Tips in the process of suckling the mother’s breasts, the breasts would lose firmness and end up being droopy afterwards. But those assumptions may not be true. According to a gynaecologist, Dr. Bolanle Shukra-Okesina, women can retain the firmness of their breasts even after breastfeeding, depending on how the woman manages the breasts during and after the period.

She said, “Breastfeeding per se does not make the breasts to sag. If the woman uses the appropriate bra size and she takes enough of fluid, especially water, when breastfeeding, the breasts will not sag, even after breastfeeding. Also, during pregnancy, the woman is expected to change the size of her bra as the breasts increase in size. She is supposed to use the appropriate size at every stage because the breasts need to be supported by a firm bra.

“When the milk stops after breastfeeding, the breasts would on their own go back to their normal size. So, if the woman does the right thing, the breasts have no reason to sag.

Crash diet – This factor particularly applies to women who are watching their weight and are doing everything to lose some weight, especially people who are obese, because according to Shukra-Okesina, losing weight could make the breasts to sag. She said in the process of losing weight, a breast would also give up its fat and some ligaments and if the diet is deficient of fat and some calcium-building elements, it would eventually sag. “If a woman who is watching her diet is not taking balanced diet, perhaps to lose some fat, it can make the breast to sag,” she explained.

Furthermore, a breast surgeon and president of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Michael Edwards, in his piece on Women’sHealth, said, “Each time a woman gains and loses weight, breast tissue becomes slack.” He also believes that excessive exposure to the ultraviolet rays from the sun could take its toll on the breasts by stretching out the connective tissues and damaging the skin.

Wrong bra size: One other factor that has been found to influence the firmness or otherwise of the breasts is whether women use the bra that is appropriate for their breast size. According to the gynaecologist, the breasts would likely sag if women with (relatively) big breasts do not use the size of bra that can lift the breasts and keep them in position.

And for women who wear the kind of bras that make the breasts to shake, perhaps to appear buxom, Edwards warned that the more the breasts bounce around, the more the skin of the breasts and collagen would be stressed, eventually leading to sagging. Thus, women should wear bras that keep the breasts intact and in shape.

Smoking: This act has been found to have serious adverse effects on the human system, especially the functionality or efficiency of some internal organs, but not many would know when women smoke, it tends to have some effects on their breasts. Edwards had this to say, “Any amount of smoking weakens and ages skin by decreasing the blood supply to the skin surface, and the breasts are not spared in this.” and according to a consultant endocrinologist, Dr. Olamoyegun Michael, smoking weakens the ligaments that hold the breasts, which could ultimately lead to sagging.

Wrong exercise: No doubt, exercise is good for the body, and people across all age groups are advised to engage in it. In fact, there are exercises that help to make the breasts firm, including push-ups and lifting dumbbells. But it has been found that some exercises are inimical to the firmness of the breasts, especially running. Findings show that when a woman is running and she is not wearing the appropriate bra, like a fitted sports bra, the breasts would naturally be moving up and down, which can lead to the breakdown of the connecting tissues, leading to sagging eventually. For those who are able to, findings have also shown that weight lifting also helps to make the breasts firm as it strengthens the muscles underlying the breasts. So, if you have the capacity, try it.

There are myths surrounding breasts sagging, and among them are excessive suckling or handling and abstinence from bra. But according to Olamoyegun, suckling the breasts or handling them does not lead to sagging.

In effect, doing the needful while breastfeeding, eating balanced diet and in reasonable quantity, avoiding too much exposure to sunlight, abstinence from smoking and doing the right exercises could reduce the likelihood of sagging.