News

Edo Farmers Trained In Biofertilizer, Biopesticide Production In Gelegele

Published

5 months ago

April 29, 2026

Editor

Comrade Cynthia Bright (in lab coat) and Comrade Cadmus Atake taking the farmers on production of biofertilizer and biopesticide production on Tuesday.

Over 60 smallholder farmers in Gelegele community, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, were on Tuesday trained on how to produce biofertilizers and biopesticides, as well as how to apply them on their farms.

The step-down practical agroecology training was facilitated by Gbolekekro Women Empowerment and Development Organization (GWEDO) in collaboration with the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF).

Speaking at the training, the Executive Director of GWEDO, Comrade Cynthia Bright, said she decided to train the farmers using “materials that are available in our society,” stressing that these materials are organic rather than inorganic.

A cross section of the farmers during the training on Tuesday.

Bright added that the use of local materials such as cow dung, cow urine, pigeon droppings, and ripe bananas for producing biofertilizers and biopesticides was aimed at encouraging farmers to return to traditional farming methods, which, according to her, “have helped our soil.”

“In times like this, where GMOs are being used in our traditional farms and have destroyed our environment—not just the environment, but also the soil and our plants—and are also detrimental to our health, using traditional methods will bring healthy food to our communities, preserve our food, and ensure food security in our society,” she added.

Bright, who said the farmers would not be left alone but would be followed up to assess their progress, expressed optimism that the enthusiasm shown by the farmers indicated their readiness to practise what they had been taught.

Comrade Cynthia Bright (in lab coat) taking the farmers on biofertilizer production

She said: “The farmers are committed to carrying out this step-down training on their personal farms and also as groups. We will continue to receive feedback from them on this training as time goes on.”

The Executive Director, while thanking HOMEF for its support towards the success of the training, noted: “HOMEF provided incentives such as drums used to produce the biofertilizers and nets for sieving. With all these, we will continue to follow them up.”

On her part, Gift Esele Ojeanelo of HOMEF said her organisation collaborated with GWEDO as a way of encouraging both the farmers and the organisation.

“We came to support and encourage the farmers to go ahead and practise the agroecology methods we have taught them,” she noted.

Drums given to the farmers for the production of the biofertilizer

One of the beneficiaries, Justina Kororo, thanked the GWEDO Executive Director for the training, noting that it was not the first time the farmers had benefited from the organisation.

She said the training given two years ago had helped them and was still benefiting their farming, adding that she would apply what she learned to her Okaro farm.

“We have learnt a lot today. This is not the first time she is training us as farmers. We are applying the knowledge we gained from the previous training and benefiting from it. The knowledge we have gained from this training, we will also apply on our farms. I, in particular, will prepare the biofertilizer and apply it on my Okaro farm,” she said.

Another beneficiary, Patience Gijere, also expressed gratitude to the facilitators and affirmed her readiness to apply the knowledge she had gained on her farm.

News

Six Corps Members Receive N10m Grants To Boost Agribusiness

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Six members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have received a total of N10 million in grants to expand their agribusiness ventures under the Farmers for the Future Programme.

The programme was organised on Monday by the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage young Nigerians to embrace agriculture and develop sustainable businesses.

Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries in Abuja, the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, urged Corps members to maximise the opportunities provided by the service year by venturing into commodity marketing and other viable businesses.

Nafiu said agribusiness remained a viable avenue for young people to build sustainable enterprises, create employment and generate wealth.

He also stressed the importance of value addition to the success and sustainability of business ventures, while commending BATNF for placing Nigerian youths at the centre of its entrepreneurship initiatives through value-chain development, employment creation and its partnership with the NYSC.

“I charge you to spread the news around. We have seen the outcome, and it is a good idea,” he said.

The beneficiaries are Dominic Olufemi (FC/25C/1143), who received N3 million; Temitope Adewole (ED/26A/2251), N2 million; Abdulwaheed Bala (ED/25B/1402), N2 million; Olanike Mayungbe (OG/26B/1037), N1 million; Kingsley Udoeyen (KG/26A/1735), N1 million; and Lorember Lorsue (JG/25B/1742), N1 million.

Speaking on the selection process, the Acting Director, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), Mrs Winifred Shopeka, said the programme began with an online registration portal through which Corps Members engaged in agribusiness submitted their business plans.

She said nearly 3,000 Corps members applied and underwent a rigorous selection process that produced 20 finalists.

According to her, the finalists participated in a boot camp and a final pitching session, which produced the 10 best presenters before the six ultimate winners were selected.

Shopeka said the beneficiaries had also been mentored and attached to established market operators to assist them in marketing their products.

She added that Corps Members who did not make the final stage of the competition were also trained by BATNF.

The BATNF Team Lead, Mr Oludare Odusanya, congratulated the beneficiaries and urged Corps Members engaged in agribusiness to master the fundamentals and acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed.

“We are happy with our collaboration with the NYSC, and it will continue,” he said.

Odusanya explained that BATNF was an independent organisation established to contribute to poverty reduction in Nigeria through sustainable agricultural practices and other interventions.

He said the Farmers for the Future Programme was instituted in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage Corps Members to venture into agribusiness and become job creators.

He added that the beneficiaries would be attached to mentors who would guide them towards achieving success in their respective businesses.

According to him, the programme has, since its inception, continued to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of Corps Members.

News

CBN Reduces Interest Rate To 23%

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday announced the reduction of the interest rate, also known as Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 23 percent.

Briefing the media in Abuja, the Governor of the CBN, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, said at the 307th MPC meeting held on September 22, 2026 agreed the resetting of the MPR and recaliberation of the monetary policy market.

According to Cardoso, the committe is satisfied with the disinflation progress, adding that members noted stable banking sector following successful recapitalisation.

Meanwhile, according to Nigerian Tribune, reports that that the MPC, at its 306th meeting in July 2026, disclosed its resolution to retain the interets at 26.5 percent.

According to the Governor of the CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, “the Committee’s decision to maintain the current policy stance followed a thorough assessment of the balance of risks. Although headline inflation moderated marginally in June 2026, global uncertainties have heightened, due mainly to the renewed hostilities in the Middle East.

“In view of the evolving developments, maintaining a cautious monetary policy stance remains appropriate. In arriving at its decision, the Committee noted the recent resurgence of hostilities in the Middle East, with particular attention to its spillover effects on global energy prices and the potential pass-through to domestic inflation.”

News

NURTW: KWAM1 Settles Long-time Rift Between MC Oluomo, Tafa Sego

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Nigerian Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1, has brokered a peace deal between the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) National President, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, and the Lagos State Chairman of the union, Mustapha Adekunle, aka Tafa Sego.

The reconciliation took place at Ojusagbola in Ijebu, Ogun State, where several NURTW chieftains gathered for the meeting.

The development was announced on Tuesday on KWAM1’s digital media page on Instagram, alongside photographs from the meeting.

According to the post, the two union leaders have resolved their differences after years of strained relations.

“After years of an age-long rift, MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego have finally settled their differences. And from what we know now, this is final,” the post said.

The musician was said to have intervened as the Mayegun of Yorubaland, with the aim of bringing an end to the longstanding disagreement between the two NURTW figures.

“K1 acted in his role as the Mayegun of Yorubaland by seeking an end to the long-standing rift, once and for all,” it said.

The post also described the meeting as a significant step beyond previous public displays of reconciliation.

“This time, it was not just another handshake for the cameras. The two old friends and colleagues came together at Ojusagbola, with King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1) playing the peacemaker.”

Both MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego were reported to be pleased with the outcome of the intervention.

“Both parties are delighted about the new development,” the post said.

The two men had previously been allies and prominent figures within the Lagos NURTW before their relationship became strained amid disagreements linked to leadership of the union in the state.