Edo govt partners Adozi Empire, Banksx Ent., on Shallipopi's sold-out homecoming concert, as Pluto Presido serenades fans

The Edo State Government has partnered with leading entertainment company, Adozi Empire Limited on the homecoming concert of fast-rising Edo-born musician, Crown Uzama, popularly known as Shallipopi, in Benin City,

Held at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub, Airport Road, the concert was attended by the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; his wife, Betsy; Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Uyi Malaka Oduwa; Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Chris Nehikhare and the CEO of Adozillion Homes, Dr Simon Adozi.

The event was organised by Adozi Empire Limited and Banksx Entertainment in conjunction with EdoFEST and the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Diaspora Affairs.

Other partners include Dapper Live and Engraced Events and Entertainment. The concert is arguable one of the biggest music concerts in Benin City in recent times.

The Chief Executive Officer of Adozi Empire Limited, Mr. Adozi Onyeka, said the concert was held to connect Shallipopi with fans in his home city after a successful year in which he emerged as one of Nigeria’s most sought-after artists.

According to him, “It was exciting to work with Shallipopi on this project, and we are indeed impressed by the turnout of fans in Benin. The energy was massive and we are proud to be associated with him and the state government on this successful project. We promise to continue to work on creating more of these immersive experiences for fans going forward.”

The Chief Executive Officer of Banksx Entertainment, Mr. Happy Edosonwan, said the concert was well deserving as Shallipopi has been resilient in promoting Benin culture in his music.

He said: “It was a thrilling experience to have worked on this project because Shallipopi is the new face of Edo pop culture and we are proud of his success. It was only proper to have him in front of the home crowd.”

Thrilling the crowded and frenzied hall with songs off his latest EPs, Planet Pluto and Presido La Pluto, Shallipopi paraded an array of other artists such as Victor AD, Erigga, Berri Tiga, among others.

Addressing the crowd, Shallipopi said: “I am home. This is my city. I thank you for your support. I thank you for your support. The support and love have been overwhelming and I am grateful for coming out to welcome and support me today.”

He expressed appreciation to his mother for taking him to Lagos, paving the way for him to return to Benin as ‘Shallipopi’, a global star who has graced the O2 Arena and now commanding global following.

A concert goer, Abigail Omorogbe, said she was happy to have witnessed the homecoming of an artist groomed in Benin in her generation, noting that he serves as an inspiration to a lot of young people in the State.

Adozi Empire, Banksx Ent., Edo govt host Shallipopi in sold-out homecoming concert, thrill Benin fans

Leading entertainment company, Adozi Empire Limited in collaboration with the Edo State Government Friday hosted fast-rising Edo-born musician, Crown Uzama, popularly known as Shallipoppi, to a sold-out homecoming concert, in Benin City,

The event, held at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub, Airport Road, was attended by notable dignitaries including the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; his wife, Betsy; Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Uyi Malaka Oduwa and Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Chris Nehikhare.

The event was organised by Adozi Empire Limited and Banksx Entertainment in conjunction with EdoFEST and the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Diaspora Affairs. Other partners include and Dapper Live and Engraced Events and Entertainment. The concert is arguable one of the biggest music concerts in Benin City in recent times.

The Chief Executive Officer of Adozi Empire Limited, Mr. Adozi Onyeka, said the concert was held to connect Shallipoppi with fans in his home city after a successful year in which he emerged as one of Nigeria’s most sought-after artists.

According to him, “It was exciting to work with Shallipoppi on this project, and we are indeed impressed by the turnout of fans in Benin. The energy was massive and we are proud to be associated with him and the state government on this successful project. We promise to continue to work on creating more of these immersive experiences for fans going forward.”

The Chief Executive Officer of Banksx Entertainment, Mr. Happy Edosonwan, said the concert was well deserving as Shallipopi has been resilient in promoting Benin culture in his music.

He said: “It was a thrilling experience to have worked on this project because Shallipopi is the new face of Edo pop culture and we are proud of his success. It was only proper to have him in front of the home crowd.”

Thrilling the crowded and frenzied hall with songs off his latest EPs, Planet Pluto and Presido La Pluto, Shallipoppi paraded an array of other artists such as Victor AD, Erigga, Berri Tiga, among others.

Addressing the crowd, Shallipoppi said: “I am home. This is my city. I thank you for your support. I thank you for your support. The support and love have been overwhelming and I am grateful for coming out to welcome and support me today.”

He expressed appreciation to his mother for taking him to Lagos, paving the way for him to return to Benin as ‘Shallipoppi’, a global star who has graced the O2 Arena and now commanding global following.

A concert goer, Abigail Omorogbe, said she was happy to have witnessed the homecoming of an artist groomed in Benin in her generation, noting that he serves as an inspiration to a lot of young people in the State.

BREAKING: Desperate Shaibu forces his way into Obaseki's personal office

The Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, on Monday, attempted to force his way into the personal office of the Governor, along with his security aides.

The Deputy Governor has arrived the Office of the Governor in the early hours of Monday morning, on Dennis Osadebey Avenue and tried to confront the governor. Shaibu was however told that the governor was not yet in the Office but he insisted on gaining access into the Governor's personal office.

All entreatries by the security operatives to him to kindly go back and call the governor if he wanted to see his principal were rebuffed. Instead, he kept pushing the gate, causing a scene.

The Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comr. Philip Shaibu has finalized plans to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), ending the speculations amid the political turmoil between the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his deputy.

A high-ranking member of the APC, who disclosed this to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said Shaibu will be received into the party early next week by the APC National Working Committee (NWC).

The decision by Shaibu to pitch tent with the APC, which was predicted by political analysts, followed his move to the Federal High Court to seek an injunction against an alleged impeachment plot against him.

Governor Obaseki had however said the move by Shaibu to seek a court order to stop his purported impeachment is preemptive ahead of his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to the source, “It has been confirmed. We have on good authority that the Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon Philip Shaibu has concluded plans to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“He is to be received along a few of his supporters into the party early next week by the National Working Committee of the party. Shaibu has been in talks with the state and national leadership of the party even before the feud between him and the governor went public and has been negotiating his way back into the party.
“The deputy governor has now perfected his defection to the party and we are glad and ready to receive him into our folds.”

Obaseki had while addressing leaders from Edo North Senatorial District, the senatorial district of the deputy governor said the he was “not aware of any plot or any scheme to impeach the Deputy Governor Comrade Philip Shaibu. I have also checked and there was no such plan.

“So, the Court action taken, for me, is a thing of shock and disappointment. I believe that this action by him is a preemptive move to get a court order, keep his ticket and move to another party. I think it's unfair for our party. We don't need this sort of crisis.

“I am trying to reflect on the move made by somebody that I have given a broad latitude to do his work as deputy governor. So, for him to take this kind of action is shocking.”

https://www.naijametronews.com/shaibu-joins-apc-next-week-to-be-received-by-partys-nwc

Kaduna Tribunal admits all exhibits by PDP candidate, Ashiru

...upholds prayers by PDP lead Counsel, Iyamu, over failure of respondents to inspect INEC materials

The lead Counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2023 Kaduna State Governorship election, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, has said that the respondents’ Counsels failed to show up to inspect the exhibits tendered by the PDP candidate, Hon. Isa Ashiru and his party as ordered by the Kaduna State Governor Election Tribunal.

Upon hearing the arguments on Tuesday, the three-man panel admitted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s Forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D, EC8E, and EC40G series from various polling units and Local Government Areas of the state, which were tendered by the PDP and its candidate, as exhibits.

The submitted exhibits are from Giwa, Chikun, Igabi, Kachia, Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Kagarko, Kubau, Kudan, Lere, Sabon-Gari, and Zaria respectively.

Earlier, the counsel to the 1st (INEC), 2nd (Uba Sani), and 3rd (APC) respondents, argued that the petitioner’s counsel had breached the court order, which instructed that all parties (counsels) should meet for the uptaking of the exhibits before the presentation.

In his argument, the counsel to the 3rd respondent, Muhammad Sani Katu, SAN, who sought adjournment of the case, explained that the order of the court was that all counsels must meet for sorting and marking of the exhibits for orderliness.

“We cannot proceed as it stands. This is because the order is not been complied with,” Katu argued.

In his defence, the lead counsel to both the PDP and Ashiru, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, objected, explaining that they (the counsels to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respondents) were given the opportunity for sorting, marking, and studying the said exhibits before today’s sitting but failed to show up as ordered by the court.

“The court registrar can attest to the fact that the 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents’ counsels were given the opportunity, and several efforts were made for them to come for the sorting and marking of the exhibits but, they declined,” he added.
Upon considering the submissions of the counsels, the court ruled that all exhibits be submitted to the court by the petitioner’s counsel.

Also, Iyamu, SAN, further told the court that more documents were expected from the INEC, which according to him, are part of the exhibits to be tendered.

The case was adjourned till 10th July 2023 for the continuation of the presentation of exhibits by the petitioners’ counsel.

Edo-based skit maker, Osemwota Odion, also known as Kvng Stefan, has said that the rising trend of Nollywood stars collaborating with skit makers for new and refreshing content is healthy for the growth of Nigeria’s creative industry.

The skit maker, who is a graduate of Library and Information Science from the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, noted that the new trend would help in creating a robust industry that thrives on collaborations and partnerships.

According to him, “I am excited with the new trend in the industry where established Nollywood actors are collaborating with skit makers for original content. The cross-fertilisation of ideas and talent helps in building a vibrant industry.

“In the last couple of years, we have seen an uptake of new actors collaborating with established faces in the industry. This has helped to keep everybody on their toes and also provides new avenues for expression.”

Noting that the partnerships will foster a spirit of shared prosperity, he noted: “It is not uncommon to find a lot of people working on collaborative pieces together, regardless of where and when they started in the creative industry. This is quite healthy and should be encouraged.

“I am also looking forward to working with a number of established talents, which helps to sharpen one’s talent and also provides a new perspective in the delivery of content to our followers across different platforms.”

Former Edo State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, has told the Kaduna State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is yet to produce certified copies of the March 18th governorship election result sheet used in declaring Uba Sani winner of the gubernatorial election.

Iyamu, the lead counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party’s Governorship candidate, Mohammed Ashiru, said this during a sitting of the Tribunal in Kaduna.

Meanwhile, the three-member Tribunal adjourned the case to July 4th, 2023.

The case is between Ashiru of the PDP, Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani; All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Iyamu argued that it would be untidy and improper to tender the evidence (result sheets) in a piecemeal format, noting that it would be better to extract the forms from the INEC.

He said, “As you are aware, the documents required for the pursuit of the petition largely are result sheets and other processes available only in the official custody of INEC, which is also a party to this suit.

“We have applied for certified copies of all the forms, particularly the result sheets of all the polling units, from the beginning to the end so that we can take our case in a manner which is proper.

“Nothing is wrong with the case; it is just a matter of ensuring that things are done properly.

“We have asked for those documents and we are believing we shall get them. INEC is a public authority.”

Speaking to journalists shortly after the tribunal proceeding, Chief Duro Adeleye, SAN, who is lead Counsel to 2nd respondent, Governor Uba Sani, explained that the petitioner’s counsel sought for an adjournment for them to put their documents in order, “This is because they had issues with their documents.”

“We are satisfied with the tribunal, as it has been working in line with the procedures,” he added.

ÈSAN S-EAST LGA - THE COMPELLING NEED TO SUPPORT, NOMINATE A FUTURE READY, FORWARD THINKING CHAIR

BY

SIMEON OSAGIE

Local government council in Nigeria is aguably the most important tier of government. This is because it is the government that is closer to the people.

On the strength of this reality, it is expected that good governance should commence from the Local government councils so as to allow for Accountability, Transparency and Citizen- centric governance model for the benefit of the people.

The dwindling global oil revenues as it affects the state and Local government councils has made most states as well as local government councils in Nigeria to look inward in exploring areas on how to improve its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

In view of this reality, the same is true of Esan South East LG Council. The good people of Esan South East LG Council are looking inward in search of a Chairman that has the vision board to chart a new course of action for economic prosperity and recovery for the Local Government Council.

In a nut shell, the people of Esan South East LG Council need a Chairman with the following traits/qualities and skills:

A Chairman that is future -Ready and Forward- thinking.

A tested and trusted Chairman that will harness available economic resources of the LG Council on the basis of Comparative advantage to productive use in line with the MEGA vision of the Godwin Obaseki led administration.

A Council Chairman that is visionary, committed, creative, innovative, selfless, intelligent, proactive, dependable, and dedicated.

A Council Chairman that will not be Allocation- dependent but the one that has the relevant skills to improve Revenue for fiscal performance and in turn expand the frontiers of Revenue generation without running foul of the State Uniformed and Harmonized Levies, Rates, Fees of the Local Government Revenue administration laws.

The people of Esan South East LG Council need a Prudent Financial Manager who will prioritize, rationalize and improve public expenditures to achieving efficiency, effectiveness, economy, value for Money, transparency and accountability for the benefits of the people.

The people of Esan South East LG Council need a Chairman that is imbued with determination, commitment, energy, wisdom, Knowledge, integrity and vision to stand against all forms of abuse while at the same time become a unifying factor between party Leaders, the people and good governance.

THE GOOD NEWS

The good news is that the people have found all these qualities and skills in one of their illustrious son - who has been tested and trusted over time. His name is Emmanuel Ehimare Okodugha, former Executive Director-Tax Compliance in Edo State Internal Revenue Service.

They strongly believe that the choice of Emmanuel ehimare Okodugha perfectly fit into the aforementioned traits and qualities.

The people believe that the choice of Emmanuel Okodugha as Chairmanship aspirant in Esan South East LG Council should not be compromised on the altar of primordial setiments rooted in old and new pdp, unit and ward structure but should be based on character, integrity, competence and capacity to deliver good governance for the people of Esan South East LG Council .

The good people of Esan South East LG Council believe that their Son - Emmanuel Ehimare Okodugha has all what it takes to redefine governance in Esan South East LG Council.

They feel strongly that this is not the time to play politics with the future of the good people of Esan South East LG Council .

MEET OUR STAR IN- COMING CHAIRMAN - EMMANUEL EHIMARE OKODUGHA WHO IS MENTALLY, SPIRITUALLY AND INTELLECTUALLY MOBILE PREPARED TO SERVE AS CHAIRMAN

Emmanuel Ehimare Okodugha is a twenty- first century Tax Administrator, Digital banking innovation minded Strategist, Retail banking Strategist, Certified Forensic Expert and Finance / Accounting professional.

A Chartered Accountant- Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.(ÌCAN)- 2011

A Chartered Tax Administrator- Associate Member, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) - (2017)

Immediate past Executive Director-Tax Compliance- Edo state Internal Revenue Service (2017 - 2021)

Regional Coordinator- ebusiness sales and Retail, Unity bank plc, Edo and Delta region-(2015 - 2017)

Regional Coordinator- ebusiness sales and Retail, Skyebank, now Polaris bank, Edo and Delta region-(2007 - 2015 )

A member-who represented Accounting Constituency in Student Union Government (SUG) 1997

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

Bsc - Accounting- Second Class Upper (1998/99) academic session (Edo state University now- Ambrose Alli University

Msc - Accounting, PhD grade - Igbinedion University, Okada (2018)

MBA- General University of Benin (2003)

Harvard University -"John F. Kennedy School of Government , Boston- (2021)

In view of the outstanding credentials of Emmanuel Ehimare Okodugha, the people of Esan South East LG Council believe that Emmanuel Okodugha is a square peg in a square hole. This, however account for the reason for the clarion call to support his candidacy for the position of Chairman - Esan South East LG Council.

EZFarming, USAID launch empowerment programme for smallholder farmers, youths on 1000-acre farm estate in Osun

Nigeria’s leading agritech startup, EZFarming and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have engaged smallholder farmers and unemployed youths in the 1000-acre EZFarming Farm estate in Ogbaagba community, Ola-Oluwa Local Government Area of Osun State

EZFarming was selected among startups to benefit from a USAID $4m grant last year to drive its farm investment marketplace platform, which connects farmers to investors and facilitate scaling of smallholder farms to commercial enterprises.

Speaking during a two-day empowerment programme held in collaboration with Oba Agbowu of Ogbaagba land, His Royal Majesty, Oba Sikirulahi Akiropo, Founder of EZFarming, Dr. Adewale Oparinde, said the programme was targeted at connecting investors to smallholder farmers and providing them with opportunity to expand their farms, increase their income and tackle youth unemployment.

The training programme comprised a flag-off ceremony at Iwo township, a tour of EZFarming estate in Ogbaagba and hands-on farm demonstration at a farm in Telemu community.

In attendance were Osun State Commissioner for Energy and Water Resources, Hon. Dr. Tadese Amidu Raheem, a native of the community; the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Adedayo Adewole and representatives of HarvestPlus Nigeria.

Dr. Oparinde said, “It is comforting that we are here today for this programme after a long wait for the trickling down today of the benefits of the collaboration between EZFarming and the community represented here today.
“We specially appreciate the active support of the Oba Agbowu of Ogbaagba land, who has been so welcoming and accommodating towards the empowerment of the people of Ogbagba, its environs, Ola-Oluwa Local Government Area and Osun State in general.

“We are launching the commencement of this programme which helps to connect investors to famers in Osun State, while empowering smallholder farmers to expand their farms to commercial sizes and provide jobs to the unemployed youth population. This is made possible with the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Oba Akiropo, on his part, said he is excited about the prospect of the initiative and its impact on the community, noting that the people are desirous of progress and development, which is why they have signed up for the programme.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Adedayo Adewole said that the government is backing the initiative because of its objective of increasing food production in the state and tackling unemployment.

Commissioner for Energy and Water Resources, Dr. Tadese Amidu Raheem, said it was imperative to support smallholder farmers and the unemployed in the community because they constitute a huge part of the population in rural areas.

“For me, the biggest impact of this programme is its potential to create employment in the rural community. As an indigene of Ogbaagba community, I know what it can be like when people do not having meaningful means of income. So, this programme is highly welcome. I believe the farmers will find it very useful and it will, in the long run, make commercial farmers of these young men and women gathered here today.”


https://www.thedailynews.ng/ezfarming-usaid-launch-empowerment-programme-for-smallholder-farmers-youths-on-1000-acre-farm-estate-in-osun/

You are obviously an enemy of progress. The MoU for this project was signed in 2018 by Governor Obaseki in China. When did you see the video in 2017.


How will your children feel when they are told 20 years from now that their father was one of the people that worked for the underdevelopment of this country because of pecuniary gains.

Please, buy sense.


Nonsense!!!

ransomed:
Audio modular refinery. The same video being bandied since 2017. Political refinery at work.

COVID-19: EZFarming donates relief materials to Osun govt

Committed to soothing the socio-economic impact of government’s directives to check the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the state, leading agri-tech startup, EZFarming, has donated relief materials to support the Osun State Government’s palliative programme.

The donation of the relief materials, which include rice, garri and instant noodles, is part of the start-up’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and a way of identifying with communities in the state, where it has stake of 2000 acres farm estate in the state.

The materials were received by a member of the Osun State COVID-19 Taskforce, Dr. Bode Olanipekun, on behalf of the state government, which has rolled out a comprehensive relief distribution exercise to ameliorate the suffering of citizens in rural and sub-urban and urban communities across the state.

Founder, EZFarming, Dr. Adewale Oparinde, who was represented by Chief Operating Officer (COO) of EZFarming, Rotimi Oyebode, said the firm is a public-spirited startup that would continue to prioritise the needs of its immediate community and not abandon them at the time of need.

According to him, we would continue to identify with the state and contribute our widow’s might in this time that the world has been brought to its knees by the coronavirus pandemic.

He said the donations are coming directly through the company and also through a group of friends in the United Kingdom known as Genuine Needs, to provide succour to people during the coronavirus pandemic.

He said, “We are committed to providing support for the people and it is heart-warming that the state government has a programme to do likewise. So, we decided to tap into the programme and contribute our quota to ensure that the people are well catered for this period.

“Our intervention work is coordinated in such a manner that it would get to the poorest of the poor. As much as we have donated directly to the state government, we are also picking up some individuals who have been adversely affected by the lockdown. There is a woman who fends for herself and two daughters, but get house cleaning work and was about committing suicide.

“We have risen to the occasion to provide support for her. This is among many others that we have undertaken to help. These are difficult times for people. I enjoin everyone to be their brothers’ keeper this period.”

The Edo State Governor has declared a dusk to dawn curfew in the state from 7pm to 6am daily effective from April 20, 2020, to halt the spread of coronavirus.

Edo State has recorded 15 confirmed cases of the virus, with six of the patients discharged as at April 19.

Watch the governor declare the total curfew.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aZtnsTOrWo

A Nigerian farmer’s son, Wale Oparinde, who grew up in Ede, Osun State, defied the odds of his lowly upbringing to attend Cambridge University, United Kingdom, for a doctoral degree and has now been selected to participate in an elite startup accelerator programme in San Francisco, California, for EZFarming (EZ-Farming.com), an agricultural micro-lending platform he developed to improve farmers’ livelihood and drive investment in agriculture.

As a young boy, Wale was a dependable hand on his father's farm in Ede, Osun State, Southern Nigeria. As a farmer’s son, he would go through the rigours of tilling the soil, bent over, day after day, toiling for his father to have sufficient produce to sell at the market and make enough money to feed the family. Life, in its barest essence, was tough, challenging and without much meaning to him and many others in the village and other surrounding towns, a situation that is common in many African countries.

EZFarming is an agricultural crowdfunding startup that allows users to lend to smallholder farmers to help them increase productivity and revenues, and earn returns in the process.

As Wale grew older and attended the village primary school, his father wanted him to become a medical doctor, a profession many in Ede believed could put an end to the family’s misery and set them up for survival and prosperity.

But as young Wale went through secondary school to the university, he bore in mind the gruelling condition on the farm and often wondered what he could do to change the fortune of farmers like his father and how farming could be made more attractive for young people.

“I was often amazed at how many farmers like my father survived in Nigeria and wanted to help them make farming easier and at the same time improve their livelihood by mobilising resources to enable them to grow bigger farms without worrying about finance and market access,” Wale, who now holds a Doctorate Degree from the Department of Land Economy at Cambridge University, United Kingdom, said from San Francisco, California, United States, where he is participating in the 4-month accelerator programme.


Dr. Wale got into the 500 Startups Accelerator Programme, for his startup, EZFarming (EZFarming.com), an innovative platform that is transforming agriculture in Africa through micro-lending. It enables farmers access funds and connect with produce buyers across the world from their base in African countries.

After his undergraduate degree at the University of Ilorin, his interest in agriculture eventually led him Cambridge University, where he specialized in Agriculture and Resource Economics, allowing him greater insight into the economics of agriculture and methodologies to better manage farmers for optimal results.

According to him, “We are excited to be in the 500 Accelerator Programme as it provides us with a platform to leverage a wide network for support and investment. It brings me closer to meeting the childhood dream that came to me on that small farm in Osun years ago.”

He said EZFarming is a novel innovation in the agribusiness space in Africa that provides support to farmers through micro-lending and at the same time accommodates investors who are able to invest in different farm packages that yield one of the highest Return on Investment (RoI) among agritech startups on the continent.

The 500 Startups programme provides startups with $150,000 in funding as well as mentorship and hands-on training, with participants selected from countries around the world.

The investment in EZFarming, as well as other participants in the programme, is structured as convertible security. “The companies receive an investment of $150,000 for around 6% of their company (subject to dilution at the time of conversion of our convertible security),” according to 500 Startups.

“The convertible security has certain special rights for 500 Startups, including the right to make a follow-on investment of an additional $500,000 or 20% of your next priced round of $1,000,000 or more, whichever is lower, which expires after the conversion of our convertible security,” they added.


https://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2019/8/ezfarming-how-farmers-son-went-from-osun-village-to-elite-startup-accelerator-programme-in-san-francisco.html

cc: lalastica

Nigerian Agritech startup, EZFarming has been selected for the batch 25 of the 500 Startups accelerator programme in San Francisco, California.

Founded by Cambridge University-trained Nigerian agricultural economist, Dr. Adewale Oparinde, the startup wants to pioneer the expansion of smallholder farms to commercial sizes through microlending and easy access to produce buyers worldwide. Having pooled about $1 million from investors around the world to invest in smallholder farmers in Nigeria and other African countries—providing a marketplace that thrives on using digital technology to address agribusiness challenges in Africa, EZFarming is the only Nigerian startup in the accelerator programme.

Oparinde explained that the experience would be a great opportunity to improve operational models and learn from the tailored lessons from the programme. “We will continue to work with farmers to scale their farms to commercial sizes. We are confident that our time in this 4-month programme will sharpen our ability to stretch the limits and deliver more results to our various stakeholders,” he explained.

For EZFarming, this is another major win, as it is coming on the heels of clinching the first prize of $5000 and the peoples’ choice award at the 2019 Georgetown African Business Conference New Venture Competition, hosted by the Young African Professionals in Washington DC, at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.

The 500 startups accelerator programme provides $150,000 in funding, mentorship and hands-on training in a highly competitive accelerator programme, with attendees selected from different parts of the world. They have worked with over 2,000 startups from across the world and supported 10 tech unicorns (companies valued at $1 billion) including Twilio, SendGrid, and Credit Karma, Udemy, Grab and Canva. In addition to these 10 companies, 66 of its companies are valued at over $100M.




https://zumalo.com/agritech/ezfarming-selected-for-500-startups-batch-25-accelerator-programme-in-san-francisco/


cc: lalastica

EZ-Farming rev up agritech space with highest ROI for investors, wins US Business School Pitch contest


Fast-rising Agritech startup, EZ-Farming (EZ-Farming.com) has assured that its strategic agribusiness model of rapidly scaling small farms into commercial sizes and equipping the next generation of farmers has opened up new opportunities for investment in the sector, with the firm pledging the highest return on investment (ROI) and best insurance cover for various packages in the Agritech space.

The firm added that its goal is to be the best platform for investors in Africa’s Agritech space to grow their money, adding that EZ-Farming is different from other platforms because of its focus on commercial farming, which allows for high ROI.

This is as EZ-Farming has won the first prize of $5000 and the peoples’ choice award at the 2019 Georgetown African Business Conference New Venture Competition, hosted by the Young African Professionals in Washington DC, at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.

The founder of EZ-Farming, Dr. Adewale Oparinde, said that the feat is another testament to the work put in by the Agritech startup in firming up the base for the investments in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

According to him, “We are really delighted to have won the contest here in Washington DC. It is our first outing after several months of inventing our business model to meet the demands and dynamics of the market. We took our time since 2015 to conduct thorough research in designing our business model.

“It is one thing to design a website or an app with a proposition connecting farmers to sponsors; it is another thing to fully and technically understand the agricultural space. As you will notice on our website, our team members have vast experience in the space. It is important to us that we build a sustainable business that is most trusted by our investor community and which can last beyond the current era of hype.”

“We are a platform beyond money, investor and farmer. Currently, senior citizens dominate African farming community but there is no existing platform connecting the old and the young for an intergenerational transfer of knowledge, to create the next generation of farmers. Likewise, several land and facility owners across the continent have fallowed land or extra spaces under-utilized or un-utilized. We also connect our farmers and value chain actors to land and extra spaces, therefore, making us an excellent platform for people to monetize their resources,” he added.

Dr. Adewale said that EZ-Farming is the first Agritech intergenerational platform crowdfunding to scale small farms into commercial sizes while connecting unemployed youth with experienced farmers via internships-and-funds to start their own farms.

Reiterating that the platform has one of the highest ROIs across various investment options in the Agritech space, he said that this was made possible by EZ-Farming’s unique model that uses data to identify the best of the best farmers who have potential to go to scale and especially our peculiar financial engineering framework and a commitment to sharing great proceeds with our investors.

According to him, “It is also made possible by a model that guarantees that farmers adopt up-to-date Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), making their them export-ready. Do not forget that we have extensive knowledge in this sector as I have worked with different farmers across continents as a researcher and economist who have studied various profitability profiles over the years. So, our ROI is only a reflection of our core competitive advantage in the sector.”

Speaking further on the win at Georgetown University, Adewale said that the outing is a validation of the soundness of the EZ-Farming model, noting, “This was our first outing and we carried the day. The glory goes first to our farmers and to our investors in Africa and the diaspora, who appreciate the work we do and have reposed confidence in our model. Recently, we pre-launched our Sierra Leone operation and the response has been excellent. We are constantly working to scale our operations and this is the kind of confidence-booster that we need.”

He added that new investment packages are opening every day on the EZ-Farming platform as they are rapidly growing their farming community, which provides exciting investment opportunities and new offers, such as those for herds of goats and cucumber which come with EZ-Farming’s impressive ROIs.

“This is one of the new things we are bringing on board. We are providing flexible and tested investment options for investors. The goat herds and cucumber are a new addition. The poultry is also doing really well. So, we are exploring the full agriculture spectrum,” he said.

I think this is the right move. BUA has been funding a militia in Okpella community and has refused to sign a community development agreement with the community. What it does is just to pay the royal father some money and that is it.

The people of Okpella do not occupy any management position in the company because BUA say they are not qualified. Will you tell us there is no one with at most an MBA in that community.

After muzzling the community, they are now hellbent on disregarding the federal and state government. This is not how a responsible businessman should behave, if you ask me.

We were around two days ago when the state governor came around and the people were insulting him when he was leaving the King's palace. If you go to that community, you'll see the kind of animosity the company has sown in the minds of the people. Families are divided because of the activities of this company and the coming of Dangote. At most, can't this two companies coexist in the community without rancour?

The boys, who are militias many rumour are funded by BUA, even set a blockade by burning two tyres along the road when the governor was leaving the King's palace.

I think it is better to sue for peace and this man should go and answer his father's name with the Police.

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the Federal Government would pursue more business reforms to accelerate progress recorded in its recent Ease of Doing Business ranking, to properly position Nigeria in her march to become a post-oil economy.

Speaking at the two-day Edo State Alaghodaro Investment Summit, Friday, in Benin City, the president said that the reforms to ease the business climate has brought changes to registering businesses, issuance of visa on arrival and tax collection.

President Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, said government alone cannot bring about the much-needed development the country needs, as partnering with the private sector is also key in driving economic growth and progress.

He maintained that Edo state is blessed with the required natural resources to drive economic growth and future progress.

“I am impressed and delighted at the way the governor is going about his work. He is bringing his energy, network and intellect to bear,” President Buhari said.

According to him, “One of the things that have impressed me about this summit, is the presence of the private sector. There is no way things can happen at the center without bringing it to the subnational level.

He added that “there are noticeable improvements in paying taxes, registering businesses and many more. The Ease of doing business reforms are going to domesticated at the state level. Edo state is one of the states to lead that with the discussions at this summit.”

Welcoming his guests to the event, the Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, said that Alaghodaro Investment Summit was conceived to consolidate on the journey that started nine years ago.

He said, “We have done a lot in the last twelve months. We have recorded some institutional reforms, as the key to development is by repurposing institutions for optimal results. The bastion of reform is in the civil service and the bureaucracy in government. We have embarked on processes that are making the civil service more efficient and productive to ensure smooth service delivery.

“We are determined to rebuild the civil service and improve on the capacity of the entire government workforce. A fully computerized staff training school has been built at the Government House.

“I am glad to inform you that one of the events in this summit is to sign a memorandum of understanding between the United Nations training institute and the Edo State Government. The other institutional reforms include revenue collection, where we have insisted that government revenues should be collected and accounted for.”

Noting that the state’s reforms are yielding results, he said, “By deploying technology, including persuasion, education and enlightenment, and law-based sanctions in revenue collection, we have increased local government revenues by 500 percent in the last six months.”

In the area of infrastructure, he said the government’s interventions are very visible, noting, “We have resurfaced, reconstructed and are constructing over 500km of roads across the state.”

On job creation, Obaseki said, “In order to fulfill our promise to create 200,000 jobs in the four years, we have created 12, 000 jobs and have commenced the reconstruction of our technical colleges, so that they can train qualified artisans who can be self-employed and provide services to others.

Noting that the state is pursuing an aggressive industrialisation drive, he said, “Our goal is to utilise our endowments, particularly the available energy and logistical advantage so that we can become a major industrial hub. The ground-breaking ceremony of our multipurpose Benin Industrial Hub will be done by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.”

In his keynote address, President, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, said that for too long, the Nigerian economy depended on crude oil.

“The state’s strategic focus on institutional reform, economic revolution, infrastructural development, social welfare enhancement, environmental sustainability, as well as culture and tourism, are key to transforming the economy. This government is very ambitious and they need all the support,” he said.

According to him, “achieving the pattern of economic growth where productivity, export competitiveness and employment is not just a matter of lofty ambition, it calls for active search for solutions to numerous problems impeding the flow of investment to drive this vision. Moreover, underlying each of these challenges is a deeper and more pressing question: how can we establish a sustainable relationship between the private sector and government.”

Noting that this relationship has to be mutual to drive investment, Dangote said that “the relationship between public and private institutions has to be symbiotic and not adversarial.”

The chairman of the Alaghodaro Investment Summit 2017, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, said that the summit would outline the strategies and actions that would usher Edo State into the future.

He explained that the summit would evaluate the conditions that will make the state a competitive subnational investment environment in Nigeria.

“Edo state has demonstrated zeal and commitment which indicate that the state means business and ready drive economic growth. The state has shown the resolve to advance the commitment of the All Progressives Congress in creating economic growth and development in Nigeria,” he said.


Source: http://thenationonlineng.net/buhari-obaseki-dangote-discuss-new-investment-prospects-in-edo/

With less than three weeks to the commencement of the maiden edition of the high profile Alaghodaro Investment Summit holding in Benin City, the Edo State capital, organisers say online registration began in the early hours of Thursday, for the over 3, 000 participants expected at the event.

Ayo Binitie, who is a member of the Marketing and Communication team as well as the Programme Research and Documentation team, said traffic on the summit’s Website is impressive as enquiries on the user-friendly website are treated with dispatch.

“Registration is ongoing, all that is required of participants is a simple e-mail after filling the registration form on the Alaghodaro Investment Summit website. We respond to all enquiries within 24 hours,” Binitie said.

He explained that the online registration is best for a high-profile summit of this nature as it fast-tracks registration of companies coming from the different parts of the world, irrespective of the different time zones.

The updated list of participants has Dr. Ndidi Edozien of Growing Business Foundation; Capt. Hosa Okunbo, Founder, Wells Sam Carlos Farm; Mrs. Ndidi Nwuneli MFR, Co-Founder, AACE Foods; Dr. Nteranya Sanginga, Director General (DG), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA); Steve Oronsaye, Former Head of Service of the Federation; Andrew Nevin of PWC and Jumoke Oduwole of EBES.

Others are Seun Onigbinde of Budgit; Mr. Tayo Amusan, Chairman, Persianas; Andrew Alli, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC); Wright Dejo, Transport Services Limited; Niyi Oguntoyinbo of Philly and Mools Group, Mr. Lazarus Angbaso, President, General Electric. Also attending are Mr. Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.; Yewande Sadiku, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC); Engr. Joseph Makoju, DANGOTE Group; Dr. Cosmas Maduka, President/CEO, Coscharis Group and Dr. Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma of Innoson Motors. Dignitaries expected to enrich discussions on security, law and order are Mr. Solomon Arase, Former Inspector General of Police; Justice Esohe Ikponwen, Chief Judge, Edo State; Olasupo Shasore, SAN, Former Attorney General, Lagos State; Dr. Nicholas Okafor, Co-Head, Udo Udoma & Bello-Osagie and Hon. Patrick Ikhariale, Member, National Assembly.

The sessions on tourism, arts and culture will feature Mr. Folorunsho Folarin-Coker, Director General, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC); Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, Chairman, Silverbird Group Bolanle Austen-Peters of Terra Kulture; Victor Ehikhamenor, Artist and Mr. Theo Lawson, Creator, Freedom Park.

The education and health sectors will have Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, Executive Secretary of UBEC; Mrs. Magdalene Anene-Maidoh of UNESCO; Adesuwa Ifedi, Director, Policy and Partnership Africa at Bridge International Academies; Mrs. Nike De Souza, MD, PeoplePrime and PeopleTemp Ltd.; Mr. Obinnia Abajue, CEO, Hygea HMO; Dr. Ola Orekunrin, Founder, Flying Doctors Nigeria; Mr. Fisayo Okunsanya, Director, Medical Credit Fund; Dr. Olasimbo Davidson, CEO, Pinewood Medicare and Mr. Sanjay Advani, CEO, Beta Healthcare

Speaking after the inauguration of the Local Organising Committee on Wednesday by Governor Obaseki, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, who is the Organising Committee Chairman, said the investment summit is an opportunity to market Edo State on the world stage, considering the profiles of the international companies that have indicated interest in the event.

He said the sub-committee on Logistics has commenced work to ensure a hitch-free outing come November 10-12. On the choice of an investment summit to mark his one year anniversary as governor of the state, Obaseki said the summit would be used to evaluate the efforts his administration has made in governance and articulate aspirations in the various sectors of the state.

He added that participants would include local and international business leaders, investors seeking new environments where governments are committed to providing incentives for businesses, policy makers, industry experts as well as the academia. “We are going to see how the active collaboration between the state and the private sector can produce a win-win-situation for both parties. The essence of our government is to serve as an enabler for businesses to thrive,’’ he said.

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/10/alaghodaro-summit-3-000-companies-indicate-interests/

The Edo State Government is to unveil its economic blueprint fashioned after the Economic Growth and Recovery Plan (EGRP) of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government, launched by President Muhammadu Buhari, on April 5, 2017.

Governor Obaseki The 168-page EGRP document covers years 2017-2020 and has been described by experts in economics and public administration as a well articulated set of guiding principles for the economic management.

In line with the provisions of the EGRP for the growth of the nation’s non-oil sector, the Godwin Obaseki-led government in Edo State will at the Alaghodaro Investment Summit showcase its ambitious agricultural programmes that gave birth to the Edo Fertiliser and Chemical Company, which was commissioned by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, in Auchi, to boost the local production of fertiliser in the state.

The Edo Fertiliser Plant and Chemical Company Limited, is a public-private venture which has the capacity to produce about 60,000 metric tones of fertiliser per annum. Also to be paraded at the Investment Summit which will be attended by captains of industry, is the Edo State Saro Farm in Sobe, Owan West Local Government Area of the state, where harvest is currently ongoing. The Public-Private Partnership initiative with Saro Agro Sciences Ltd., a leading company in agribusiness, was conceived by Governor Godwin Obaseki to create jobs for thousands of youths across the state. According to Obaseki, the maize farm is part of his administration’s accelerated agriculture initiative to boost job creation in the state, as between 50,000 to 80,000 agricultural jobs would be created before the end of the year in the state. The first phase of the initiative targets job creation for 1,000 farmers through the cultivation of 5,000 hectares of maize farms across five local government areas of the state.

The Edo Industrial Park which has received positive reviews by development analysts will top discourses at panel and technical sessions during the three-day Alaghodaro Investment Summit in Benin City, the Edo State capital. On completion, the industrial park will be linked to the Azura-Edo Independent Power Plant (IPP) under construction, situated close to Nigeria’s main trunkline, the Escravos Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) which is only 1km from the Azura-Edo project site. On job creation, the 200,000 job target of Edo State will be reviewed at the summit side by side with the sectors that can produce the highest number of jobs, as encapsulated in the Economic Growth and Recovery Plan.

Infrastructure is top priority for the Obaseki administration which informed the creation of a separate Ministry of Infrastructure in the state to drive the realisation of the Gelegele Seaport, the expansion of the Benin Airport in partnership with the federal government and the construction of intra-city and inter-state roads amongst other projects. Ease of Doing Business is a major item that received the EGRP attention. At the moment, Nigeria is ranked No. 169 out of 190 countries. The plan envisages improved ranking to around No 100 within the plan period.

The efforts of the Edo State Government in removing barriers to trade and investment include the signing into law, the Private Property Protection Law. The law has criminalised the activities of Community Development Associations in the state. The CDAs were notorious for harassing landowners by making them pay all sorts of illegal levies and fraudulently sold people’s property until the PPA Law was put in place by the Obaseki-led government. According to Dr Alex Oti, a banker, “The ERGP represents the first blue print by this administration to not only deal with the present economic meltdown but also to ensure growth in the medium term.”

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/10/edo-unveil-domesticated-egrp-alaghodaro-investment-summit/

The Edo State Government is to unveil its economic blueprint fashioned after the Economic Growth and Recovery Plan (EGRP) of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government, launched by President Muhammadu Buhari, on April 5, 2017.

The 168-page EGRP document covers years 2017-2020 and has been described by experts in economics and public administration as a well-articulated set of guiding principles for management of the economy.

In line with the provisions of the EGRP for the growth of the nation's non-oil sector, the Godwin Obaseki-led government in Edo State will at the Alaghodaro Investment Summit showcase its ambitious agricultural programmes that gave birth to the Edo Fertiliser and Chemical Company, which was commissioned by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, in Auchi, to boost the local production of fertiliser in the state.
The Edo Fertiliser Plant and Chemical Company Limited, is a public-private venture which has the capacity to produce about 60,000 metric tones of fertiliser per annum.
Also to be paraded at the Investment Summit which will be attended by captains of industry, is the Edo State Saro Farm in Sobe, Owan West Local Government Area of the state, where harvest is currently ongoing.
The Public-Private Partnership initiative with Saro Agro Sciences Ltd., a leading company in agribusiness, was conceived by Governor Godwin Obaseki to create jobs for thousands of youths across the state.
According to Obaseki, the maize farm is part of his administration’s accelerated agriculture initiative to boost job creation in the state, as between 50,000 to 80,000 agricultural jobs would be created before the end of the year in the state.
The first phase of the initiative targets job creation for 1,000 farmers through the cultivation of 5,000 hectares of maize farms across five local government areas of the state.
The Edo Industrial Park which has received positive reviews by development analysts will top discourses at panel and technical sessions during the three-day Alaghodaro Investment Summit in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
On completion, the industrial park will be linked to the Azura-Edo Independent Power Plant (IPP) under construction, situated close to Nigeria's main trunkline, the Escravos Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) which is only 1km from the Azura-Edo project site.
On job creation, the 200,000 job target of Edo State will be reviewed at the summit side by side with the sectors that can produce the highest number of jobs, as encapsulated in the Economic Growth and Recovery Plan.
Infrastructure is top priority for the Obaseki administration which informed the creation of a separate Ministry of Infrastructure in the state to drive the realisation of the Gelegele Seaport, the expansion of the Benin Airport in partnership with the federal government and the construction of intra-city and inter-state roads amongst other projects.
Ease of Doing Business is a major item that received the EGRP attention. At the moment, Nigeria is ranked No. 169 out of 190 countries. The plan envisages improved ranking to around No 100 within the plan period.
The efforts of the Edo State Government in removing barriers to trade and investment includes the signing into law, the Private Property Protection Law. The law has criminalised the activities of Community Development Associations in the state. The CDAs were notorious for harassing land owners by making them pay all sorts of illegal levies and fraudulently sold people's property until the PPA Law was put in place by the Obaseki-led government.
According to Dr Alex Oti, a banker, "The EGRP represents the first blue print by this administration to not only deal with the present economic meltdown, but also to ensure growth in the medium term."

The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, is to lead industry titans including Africa’s richest man and President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, to the maiden edition of Alaghodaro Investment Summit, to be hosted by the Edo State Government, in Benin City, beginning on November 10.

The three-day summit with the theme: “Envisioning the Future,” will explore opportunities for local and foreign direct investments in Edo State by highlighting the state’s competitive advantage across various sectors.

Also expected at the investment summit are local and international business leaders and investors, bankers, financiers, industry experts, policymakers, the diplomatic community and the academia.

The summit will showcase the reform that the Obaseki-led government has carried out in critical sectors of the economy such as the Private Property Protection Law that has sanitised land acquisition and use, the planned development of 58 tourist sites across the state that will unlock the tourism potential of the state and the incentives for investment in the agricultural sector through public private partnership, amongst other sectors.

According to the Chairman of Alaghodaro 2017 organising committee, Asue Ighodalo: “The world over, governments are looking beyond oil to alternative revenue sources in order to ensure sustainable development, and we must also get creative and take action today for our future and the future of our children.”

Ighodalo said that the key areas of focus at the three-day event would include Law and Order, Civil Service Reform, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Transportation, Forest Regeneration and Conservation, Education, Healthcare and Arts and Culture.

He further said that Alaghodaro Summit, is part of the response of the Edo State Government, under the leadership of Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to the imminent threat of an oil-dependent economy

http://thenationonlineng.net/osinbajo-leads-dangote-others-alaghodaro-investment-summit/

In a bid to re-engineer the economy of Edo State towards a better future for its citizens, the Godwin Obaseki-led government is set to host the maiden Edo State Investment Summit with the theme “Envisioning the Future” from November 10 – 12, 2017 at Edo Hotels, Okada Avenue, Benin City.

Christened ‘Alaghodaro’ meaning ‘progress’, the three-day summit will bring together local and international business leaders and investors, bankers, financiers, industry experts, policymakers, the diplomatic community and the academia to explore Edo’s rich potential across various sectors.

Speaking on the importance of the summit, Asue Ighodalo, Chairman of Alaghodaro 2017 said: “The world over, governments are looking beyond oil to alternative revenue sources in order to ensure sustainable development, and we must also get creative and take action today for our future and the future of our children.”

“Alaghodaro is part of the response of the Edo State Government to the imminent threat of an oil-dependent economy. It seeks to explore opportunities for local and foreign direct investment in the state by highlighting the state’s competitive advantage across various sectors.”

Ighodalo also disclosed that the key areas of focus at the three-day event would include Law and Order, Civil Service Reform, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Transportation, Forest Regeneration and Conservation, Education, Healthcare, Arts, Culture, Tourism and Hospitality.

The Edo State Investment Summit is in line with the vision of the Obaseki administration to build “a modern and progressive Edo state where every citizen is empowered with opportunity to live life in its fullness.” Alaghodaro 2017 is designed to foster knowledge sharing, build relationships, spark innovation and inspire commitment to strategic deployment of capital for greater socio-economic and environmental impact.


Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/10/edo-plans-alaghodaro-investment-summit-boost-states-economy/


Follow the event on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alaghodaro2017

Twitter: https://twitter.com/alaghodaro2017

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alaghodaro2017

In a bid to re-engineer the economy of Edo State towards a better future for its citizens, the Godwin Obaseki-led government is set to host the maiden Edo State Investment Summit with the theme “Envisioning the Future” from November 10 – 12, 2017 at Edo Hotels, Okada Avenue, Benin City.

Christened ‘Alaghodaro’ meaning ‘progress’, the three-day summit will bring together local and international business leaders and investors, bankers, financiers, industry experts, policymakers, the diplomatic community and the academia to explore Edo’s rich potential across various sectors.

Speaking on the importance of the summit, Asue Ighodalo, Chairman of Alaghodaro 2017 said: “The world over, governments are looking beyond oil to alternative revenue sources in order to ensure sustainable development, and we must also get creative and take action today for our future and the future of our children.”

“Alaghodaro is part of the response of the Edo State Government to the imminent threat of an oil-dependent economy. It seeks to explore opportunities for local and foreign direct investment in the state by highlighting the state’s competitive advantage across various sectors.”

Ighodalo also disclosed that the key areas of focus at the three-day event would include Law and Order, Civil Service Reform, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Transportation, Forest Regeneration and Conservation, Education, Healthcare, Arts, Culture, Tourism and Hospitality.

The Edo State Investment Summit is in line with the vision of the Obaseki administration to build “a modern and progressive Edo state where every citizen is empowered with opportunity to live life in its fullness.” Alaghodaro 2017 is designed to foster knowledge sharing, build relationships, spark innovation and inspire commitment to strategic deployment of capital for greater socio-economic and environmental impact.


Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/10/edo-plans-alaghodaro-investment-summit-boost-states-economy/


Follow the event on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alaghodaro2017

Twitter: https://twitter.com/alaghodaro2017

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alaghodaro2017

Masters in Public Policy in 2 schools

enigbon:
For what course ikechukwu

Hi all,

I recently applied to two universities in Germany: University of Erfurt and Passau.

But my concern now is a bit of discreapeancies on the names on some of my documents. Though they're not so obvious, but I'd like to know if it'd lead them to question the authenticity of the documents.

On my waec: my middle name Joseph is written as Josep, without "h"
On my bachelor's degree statement of result, Ikechukwu was spelt as ikechkukwu and on another document, s letter was missing from my surname. I wanted to confirm if this errors might mean anything serious.

Also, in some documents, the ordering of my name was different. Some had Surname, firstname, middlename, others had surname, middle name, first name. Hope this won't be a problem too.

Abeg na beg I dey. Anybody with idea about something like this should please advice.
Thanks