Africa needs a new agricultural revolution, says UN Development Chief

Helen Clark and Dr. Boni Yayi, President of Benin (left), observe palm oil processing at the National Songhai Center, Benin. Photo: UNDP/Erick-Christian AHOUNOU S. Cotonou, Benin—Africa should reinvest in agriculture as a way to create jobs for youth and women said the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark, during her three-day official visit to Benin.

“Africa needs a new agricultural revolution,” said Helen Clark at the inauguration of the National Songhai Center, an incubator for agribusiness - and youth entrepreneurship, with Benin President Yayi Boni.   “I hope that this kind of training can be multiplied many thousands of times over so agriculture in Africa can feed its people.”

Helen Clark is on an official visit to Benin to highlight that country’s peace and stability in a region where recent developments have reversed the course of democratic and development gains.

“We need women and youth to be engaged in and enthusiastic about using Africa’s fertile land to boost its agricultural production,” said Helen Clark.  “By empowering young people, Benin is investing in its most valuable asset.”

Supported by UNDP, the Songhai Center is a hub for training, production, research, and development of sustainable agricultural practices in Benin as a means to create decent jobs for youth and women.  The center advocates the use of a hybrid of traditional and modern agricultural practices combined with management courses and communal responsibility to propel its graduates into agriculture.

Currently only 17 percent of arable land in Benin is being cultivated.

The newly inaugurated hub forms part of six centers working to increase agricultural production, increase productivity, and create productive employment for up to 10,000 youth per year.

“Young people around the world ask for nothing more than to have opportunity, a chance to get ahead, to be able to express their opinions, and contribute to their families and their community.”
According to International Labour Organization’s figures, more than 87 percent of Beninese youth work in the informal sector, and the country is also struggling to curtail child labor.

While in Benin, Helen Clark met with President Yayi Boni, Prime Minister Pascal I. Koupaki, and other key ministers to discuss the implementation of Benin’s long term development plan to increase that country’s competitiveness by fostering business investment, strengthening the role of local communities and the institutional framework of the agricultural sector, and modernizing the port and other critical infrastructure.

“A well-performing port at Cotonou has the potential to be very important in the economy of the country because Benin is an entry point of the landlocked economies to the north,” she said.

On democratic governance, she spoke about the process underway to strengthen Benin’s electoral process.

“UNDP has played an important role in supporting Benin’s electoral system, and we look forward to the parliament finalizing the steps to have the electoral system fit for purpose for the local elections next year,” said Helen Clark.

Nigeria’s football star, Nwankwo Kanu has lost N1.4 billion

Nigeria’s football star, Nwankwo Kanu has lost N1.4 billion in his hotel business and the Managing Director of the hotel, Mr. Ayoola Gam Ikon, 49, has been arrested and charged to court for the alleged fraud.

Operatives of the Inspector General of Police Monitoring Unit arrested Ikon, the managing director of Hardley Suites Limited situated at Waziri Ibrahim Crescent, off Elsie Femi Pearse Street, Victoria Island, Lagos southwest Nigeria, for allegedly stealing the N1.4 billion belonging to the hotel and suites owned by Kanu.

Also arrested along with him over the alleged fraud is a hotel staff, Oke Samuel. They were arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate’s court on a 19-count charge of felony to wit, obtaining money under false pretence.

The police alleged in charge suit No. K/8/2013 that Ikon was arrested following a complaint by the management of Hardley Suites Limited, Nwankwo Kanu and Ogbonna Kanu, that Ikon between 2005 and 2012 allegedly defrauded them of the sum of about N1.4 billion on the pretence of using the money to expand the existing facilities of the hotel by constructing and furnishing of additional blocks of 30 suites and conference facilities, but he allegedly failed to use the money for the purpose and allegedly converted the money to his personal use.

He was also alleged to have forged a special resolution purportedly made by the board of directors of Hardley Suites Limited to obtain loans of N187 million, N50 million and N493 million from Skye Bank Plc without authorization. The offences, the accused allegedly committed, according to the prosecutor A.M. Animashaun, contravenes sections 8 (a) 1 (a) of the advanced fee fraud and other fraud related offences Act 2006 as applicable in Lagos State.

The accused pleaded not guilty to all the charges. The prosecutor presented before the court an application for the remand of the accused persons in prison custody pending advice from the office of the directorate of public prosecution, DPP, because the lower court lacks the jurisdiction to try the matter.

But the Chief Magistrate, Mrs. O.O. Oshin overruled him with legal facts after quoting copiously from several sections of the criminal justice administration laws of Lagos State to buttress her claim that the court has the jurisdiction to hear and admit the accused to bail. She admitted the first defendant to bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.

One of the sureties must be the defendant himself, the other should be a civil servant on level 16. She also admitted the second defendant to bail in the sum of N500,000, with two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must be a level 16 civil servant while the other must be working with a reputable company. She adjourned the matter till 4 April, 2013 for mention. The defendants were, however, moved to Ikoyi Prison, Lagos pending when they would fulfil the bail conditions.

Woman marries herself in America

Woman marries herself in America

Nadine Schweigert married herself in a beautiful ceremony attended by 300 guests.
The 36-year-old divorced mom of three wore blue satin and clutched a bouquet of white roses as she walked down the aisle before a gathering of 45 friends and family members in …read more
Source: kenyan-post.com

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LOOK HOW THE WORLD IS WOUNDERFULL, AND AMAIZING

A tradomedical practitioner in Lagos has claimed that a 20-year old woman delivered a tortoise and a baby girl in his clinic.

The woman, Rasheedat Raimi, said she had carried the pregnancy for 10 months before she eventually delivered the baby girl and the tortoise at a trado-medical clinic on Mutairu Street, Off Ijegun Road, outskirts of Lagos. She was in pains as she talked to P.M.NEWS about the strange delivery.

"I came to Yakafi for prayers because of the terrible pains I was having in my stomach. Immediately I got here, prayers were offered and immediately there was a burst of water and blood under me. The tortoise came out with the placenta and the baby came out later. I couldn't believe my eyes, but I was very weak. I was happy the pain left me. I felt relieved after the delivery. I thank God," she told P.M.NEWS slowly.

On whether she attended ante-natal clinic before the delivery, the young woman said: "I carried the pregnancy for 10 months. I did scans several times and nobody told me that I was carrying tortoise in my womb. What they always told me was that I am alright and would deliver at the right time," she added.
"This is amazing, but true. She did not register with my clinic for ante-natal. When she came here with her people, she was in pains, we didn't know she will deliver here. She only came here for Tahajjud prayers (night vigil). We were praying when suddenly she started wriggling. She was in pains.

"I touched her stomach and observed something strange moving inside her. It was a strange thing. I thought it was a lizard but it turned out to be a tortoise. The tortoise tore the placenta into pieces and came out. The baby came out afterwards.

"She fainted after the delivery and we had to revive her with prayers. This is what God can do. She had several scans but nobody told her that she was carrying a tortoise in her womb. God is great," he declared.

Ladies and Gents, Our technology can not see evil spiritual matters(works). Only God can deliver you when on this position. So, stop relying on technology but God. I hope this story has convinced you. It is well.