Showing posts with label government. Show all posts
Showing posts with label government. Show all posts

Monday, September 8, 2025

The Lack of Visionary Leadership in Africa and the Solution


The Lack of Visionary Leadership in Africa and the Solution

I have heard, listened and watched outstanding motivational speakers in Africa blaming European colonial Government in Africa for the political failures of majority of African leaders. In most cases, I don't agree with them, because I always say that the suit does not make the man, but the man makes the suit.
What makes a monk holy is his character and not the hood and cassock of his monastery.

Africa would have been worse today without Western education and there would not have been Western education without colonialism and there would not have been colonialism without Christianity. 
The White man gave us the Holy Bible first before his colonial rule.
Colonialism and neocolonialism are not the cause of the bad political leadership in Africa.
The carrot and stick or the divide and rule political tactics of the colonial rulers ended with the political Independence of African countries.

We don't lack leaders in Africa.
There is only lack of visionary leadership for democracy and good governance.
Majority of those who became the founding fathers of Independence and the end of colonial rule in Africa were political title chasers without the principles of transformational visionary leadership.
They didn't prepare their people for the nation building of their respective countries.
They just wanted to step into the big shoes of their colonial masters who were rulers and not leaders.
The colonial masters didn't come to lead Africans for an African Renaissance to compete with their Western Civilization. They came to rule and exploit Africa to expand their Western Civilization by imperialism.
They came for the human and mineral resources in Africa.

There are four pillars of the credibility of a great human personality for visionary leadership; they are Dignity, Humility, Integrity and Nobility.
Without which you cannot be a good leader before you can even talk of becoming a great visionary leader.

Majority of Africans are selfish by nature and that is why they have corrupt leaders with greed for power and wealth without conscience and without shame.

As I always say that Nigeria is what Nigerians are from the street to the Office of the President.
We reap the harvest of the seeds we have sown.
You cannot sow weed and reap the harvest of wheat.
We reap what we sow.

Selfish interests from ethnic differences of tribalism overtook national interests after the exit of the colonial rulers.
Regionalism and religional sectarianism of Christianity and Islam became the order of the day and the sociopolitical consequences have done collateral damage to political leadership in Africa.
Africa is what Africans are.
From tribalism to neopatrimonialism.


Africa has been blessed with great visionary leaders from the late Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah
of Ghana, Léopold Sédar Senghor of Senegal, António Agostinho Neto of Angola,Samora Moisés Machel of Mozambique, Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya, Patrice Émery Lumumba of the Democratic Republic of the  Congo,
Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe,
Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa of Nigeria to Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia and the great Madiba Nelson Mandela of South Africa who were nation builders. But they passed on to eternal glory without credible successors.
Were they political mentors without credible successors?
Yes.

We cannot have great leadership without any successorship plan.

You must have the foresight and insight into the future for visionary leadership.
Study the life and legacy of the great Lee Kuan Yew, the Father of Modern Singapore. And I recommend him as a role model for visionary leadership in Africa. 

The world is still waiting for the rise of the roaring African lions to rise up like the Asian Tigers.

The Big Picture of the Future of Africa will be defined by a new generation of visionaries in every sphere of human development and they must be ready to be nation builders and not title chasers.


- - By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
The Author of "The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Dream", "The Prophet Lied", "In the House of Dogs" and other books distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.
https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima


#africa
#nigeria
#ghana
#southafrica
#america
#europe
#singapore
#asia
#leadership
#leaders
#politics
#democracy
#colonialism
#neopatrimonialism
#government
#corruption
#econony
#future
#mandela
#yew
#visionary

Monday, May 26, 2025

Empowering Female Farmers in Nigeria



Women in Agriculture in Nigeria

Empowering Female Farmers in Nigeria

The largest labour force in Africa

This is the first time there will be a national community mobilization and sensitization of female farmers in Nigeria for the realization and utilization of their full potential for the sustainable development of agriculture and food security in the country.

Female farmers are the largest labour force in Nigeria.

More than 70 percent of the working population of Nigeria are farmers in the rural areas of the most populous country in Africa .
An estimated 70 percent of them are female farmers working on farms in different villages in the 774 local government areas of Nigeria.
Majority of them are poor and without complete formal education.
They need empowerment for the sustainable development of agriculture for food security and economic stability for the eradication of extreme poverty in Nigeria.

Food security is important to national security, because without food security there will be no national security.
A hungry man is an angry man.
No hungry man can defend his family, community and country.
Only a well fed man can have the strength to fight for his survival and welfare.
An army of hungry soldiers will not have the strength to defend their country in the battlefield.
No food, no power.
Starvation can cause the collapse and destruction of a nation.
Scarcity of food has caused widespread riots and looting on the streets that caused the downfall of a government administration.



Africa has 65 percent of the uncultivated arable land left in the world, to feed 9.5 billion people by 2050. Therefore, what Africa does with agriculture will determine the future of food in the world. “Essentially, food is money. The size of the food and agriculture market in Africa will reach $1 trillion by 2030.

USD $106bn finance gap in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia agricultural business - CABI.org

The Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness (CASA) programme has published ‘The state of the agri-SME sector – Bridging the finance gap.’

A recent report estimates demand for financing, from around 220,000 agri-business SMEs in sub Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia at USD $160bn with banks, impact investors and other financial intermediaries providing only USD $54bn. Furthermore, almost all climate funding is targeted at mitigation measures, rather than supporting ways to for agriculture to adapt to the climate crisis with less than 2% of global climate finance – or USD $10bn – being channelled to small-scale agriculture.

Nigeria has the largest arable land in Africa.
Women make up about 70% of the agricultural workforce in Nigeria. 
They contribute to about 70% of the country's food production.

In Nigeria, according to the World Bank, closing the gender productivity gap could increase GDP by US$2.3 billion and decrease global food insecurity by two percentage points, thereby putting nutritious food on the tables of another 45 million people.
https://www.thecable.ng/nigerian-women-in-agriculture-a-catalyst-for-food-security-economic-growth-and-family-well-being/

Eliciting the Gender Income Influences on Household’s Food Security in West Africa: 
Heliyon
https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(23)04616-9?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS2405844023046169%3Fshowall%3Dtrue

Women in Agriculture in Nigeria is a public forum for the empowerment and upliftment of female farmers in Nigeria for the sustainable development of agriculture to increase the cultivation and production of both food crops and cash crops for local consumption and export to other countries.

We are going to launch a national directory and website for all the female farmers in Nigeria who estimated to be over 30 million working on farmlands in the rural areas.

Majority of the farmers in Nigeria are women

Nigerian female farmers are among the most underpaid low income workers in Nigeria, because majority of them are not privileged to own farmlands.

Majority of them are farming on the farmlands of their husbands, brothers or uncles, because daughters are not entitled to any inheritance of lands from their fathers by custom and tradition of majority of the tribes.

Only sons are entitled to be shareholders in the inheritance of lands

Women in Agriculture in Nigeria will empower underprivileged female farmers to unite and form cooperatives for the join-ownership of farmlands and to become joint-venture partners in agroallied ventures such as having silos and factories for processing of crops for the production of flours, cereals and drinks for local consumption and export to other countries.

We are going to introduce Nano drones for farming in Nigeria as female farmers are doing in India.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FnG3TE2qM/

The productions of flours from cassava,maizes, tiger nuts, oranges, mangoes, coconuts, groundnuts, dates, etc have become very profitable agroallied ventures in many developing countries.

We will help in increasing the economic growth of Nigerian women in agriculture with significant contribution to the GDP of Nigeria.

Africa Food Trade & Resilience Initiative
Food Security Monitor - AGRA
https://agra.org/publications/food-security-monitor-3/


- by Mrs. Stella Unah,
National Coordinator,
Women in Agriculture in Nigeria (WAN)


About Female Farmers in Nigeria
"Women play a crucial role in Nigerian agriculture, accounting for a significant portion of the farming population and contributing heavily to food production. They are involved in various aspects of the agricultural value chain, from planting and harvesting to processing and marketing. Despite their vital contributions, women often face challenges like limited access to land, finance, and technology, which hinder their ability to fully realize their potential.

Key Roles of Women in Nigerian Agriculture:

Farm Management and Labor:
Women are actively involved in managing farms and providing labor, often performing tasks like planting, weeding, harvesting, and processing crops.

Food Crop Production:
Nigerian women are primarily involved in the production of food crops such as maize, cowpea, melon, pepper, cassava, and vegetables.
Livestock Production:
In some cases, women also participate in small-scale animal production, including small ruminants, poultry, and aquaculture.
Processing and Marketing:
Women are heavily involved in processing and marketing farm produce, contributing to the food value chain.

Challenges Faced by Women in Nigerian Agriculture:
Limited Access to Land:
Traditional land tenure systems and cultural norms often limit women's access to land ownership and control, hindering their ability to participate in agriculture.
Financial Constraints:
Women often lack access to finance, making it difficult for them to purchase inputs, hire labor, or scale up production.

Gender Inequality:
Social norms and gender-based divisions of labor can restrict women's decision-making power and limit their ability to manage farms independently.
Knowledge and Training Gaps:
Limited access to information and training can affect women's ability to adopt modern farming techniques and best practices.

Efforts to Empower Women Farmers:
Government Initiatives:

The Nigerian government and various organizations are implementing programs to empower women farmers, such as the National Women in Agriculture Programme (NWAP) according to Rural 21.

Capacity Building:
Training and capacity-building programs are being offered to equip women farmers with the skills and knowledge they need to improve their productivity and income according to Rural 21.

Financial Inclusion:
Efforts are being made to improve women's access to finance through microfinance institutions and other financial services.
Advocacy and Awareness:
Advocacy groups and NGOs are working to raise awareness about the contributions of women in agriculture and to advocate for policies that support their empowerment. "

Thursday, September 14, 2023

The Beginning of NFT Series on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu

The Beginning of NFT Series on  Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu 

Freshly minted NFT of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the Algorand blockchain.  https://nftmyimage.com/@nigeriadaily

The first in my series on the highlights of the milestones of the administration from 2019-2027. This is the first ever for a state governor not only in Nigeria, but also in Africa.

The documentary NFTs will last longer than photographs, films and videos for history and for posterity.

The crypto currency prize for this one is 20 ETH .

t is for the exclusive collection of the Governor gratis. NOT FOR SALE.

The other NFTs in the series will be in different formats of media.

#NFTs
#NFT
#governorbabajidesanwoolu
#Governor
#Lagos
#Nigeria
#Africa
#nftdocumentary
#nftseries
#history 
#government 
The live Algorand price today is $0.092747 USD with a 24-hour trading volume of $18,040,716 USD. 




Friday, September 1, 2023

Okpara Delivers Colourful 2023 Iwaji Akokwa


Okpara Delivers Colourful 2023 Iwaji Akokwa

- By Chief Ingram Osigwe 

It was glamour and glitz at the 2023 edition of the annual Iwaji Akokwa( Akokwa New Yam Festival). Akokwa, an Ancient kingdom that shares a boundary with the Aguata council area in Anambra state, is in the Ideato North local government area of Imo. It's noted for its rich cultural heritage.

The Akokwa annual Iwaji cultural fiesta attracts tourists from around the world.  The 2023 edition was no different.



This year's edition was chaired by Dr. (Ambassador)  Obinna Okpara( Nmirioma Akokwa), a renowned philanthropist who has impacted positively on the lives of many through scholarships and other humanitarian works.

Dr.  Okpara had, before the festival,  been appointed by the traditional ruler of Akokwa, Eze (sir) Ikenna Okoli,  KSC, (Okoli V) (Agbarakwuriibe 111) The 11th of Akokwa,  as the Ozo ji 2023 (overseer of the New Yam festival).

The Akokwa monarch had told Dr. Okpara in his appointment letter that " it pleases me greatly to inform you that the palace has found you worthy to be appointed the Ozo ji for the 2023 New Yam festival".

True to type,  Dr. Okpara gave a good account of himself in organizing, executing, and delivering a richer,  more colorful, and well-attended Iwaji Akokwa thus justifying his choice as Ozo ji.

The preparation for the 2023 Iwaji started a month before the event with a football competition among the various villages that made up the kingdom and was sponsored by Dr. Obinna.

The football competition segment of the new festival ended with a grand finale held on the 24th of August.

It was graced by the sponsor, Dr. Obinna, and Eze  Okoli who kicked off the ball to signal the commencement of the match. 

The Iwaji festival proper which was held on August 25th attracted hundreds of guests and culture enthusiasts from around the world, including friends, business associates, and well-wishers of Dr.  Okpara.  Those who could not physically make it to Akokwa sent congratulatory messages wishing Eze Okoli and his subjects( the people of Akokwa) a successful festival.

One of the highlights of the epoch event was the presentation of prizes and gifts to the winners and runners-up of various competitions.

For example,  in the football category,  the first prize was #200,000, the second prize was #150,000, and the third prize was #100,000.

For the competitors in the yam weight category, the winner went home with a brand-new motorcycle and a cash sum of #50,000, the second position won a brand new Generator and a sum of #30, 000 while the third position went home with a brand-new generator and a cash sum of #30, 000. Other competitors in other categories from the various villages went home with #50,000 each.

Dr. Okpara,  an industrialist sits atop many companies as Chairman/ Managing Director.

These include Ron Logistics and Supporting Services LIMITED,  Zuriel Gold Link Pharmaceuticals Limited, and Headstone Agro Allied Ltd among others.

Chief Ingram Osigwe, a member of Obi’s cabinet is the MD of Full page inter Comm Ltd.