Tourists Gather for Cocoa Festival in Osun

Grand finale of cocoa festival held in Eti-Oni ancient town was witnessed yesterday by tourists from various parts of the world. The cocoa festival is the first of its kind in Africa and it was set up to motivate cocoa farmers to step up their production.

The event was designed to train the cocoa farmers and sensitize them on the modern technology in cocoa farming so that they would be producing high quality cocoa and make maximum profit.

A Farmer Field School was organised at Eti-Oni in which experts from Osun State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security were taken to the cocoa farms to train the cocoa farmers on the best way to cultivate, harvest and market their cocoa.

The traditional ruler of Eti-Oni, the Oloni of Eti-Oni, Oba Dokun Thompson, was commended by Aregbesola, who was represented by the Director General of the Office of Economic Development, (OEDP), Dr Charles Akinola,  for initiating the cocoa festival.

The governor said the festival has provided a veritable platform to bring stakeholders in the cocoa business together to share ideas on cocoa production and other aspects of agribusiness as a way out of the
current economic recession.

Aregbesola urged other traditional rulers in the state to take a leaf out of Oloni of Eti-Oni by coming up with initiatives that would promote the agriculture potentials in their domains.

The monarch said the festival attracted tourists from different parts of the world because of the historical background of the Eti-Oni as the pioneer of cocoa production in Nigeria. Oba Thompson added that because of the significant roles played by his forefather, Gureje in the Kiriji/Ekiti Parapo war which terminated between Igbajo and Imesi-Ile in Osun State, the cocoa festival would
also be used to mark the 130 years of the signing of the treaty that brought war to an end.

NIMET Warns Nigerians To Be Wary Of Dust Outbreak

The Nigerian Meteorological agency (NIMET) has alerted Nigerians on outbreak of dust in some part of the country in the next two days.

“In the course of monitoring the weather situation in and outside Nigeria, NiMet has observed that in the past 24hours, dust has been raised over the source regions in Niger/Chad republic which will be transported by northeast trade winds into and across the country. Visibility as low as 100m were reported by some stations in the Niger republic," NIMET said.

This was contained in an official statement made available to the media. The statement also stated that the expected increase in concentration of the dust particles would lead to colder and drier atmosphere as well as increase in incidences of respiratory disorder.

“There is prospect of fresh dust plumes being raised in the coming days, with its attendant consequences as indicated in the earlier press release. NiMet however, assured of its continuous monitoring of the weather and climate conditions as they unfold and provide regular updates and advisories to the general public. It will be recalled that the agency had towards the end of October, 2016 issued an advisory forecast for dust outbreaks to affect the country during the December to February dry season period while the weather condition compels airlines to delay or cancel scheduled flights whenever horizontal visibility falls."

10 Agricultural Products You Must Not Bring To Nigeria; (1) Will Surprise You

Under Nigerian law, importation of the following agricultural products is prohibited.

1. Water: Water is a universal solvent that is found everywhere in adequate quantity. But some some people still import it to Nigeria. Even you my distinguished readers can recall that the last time you were on transit through that Seme border, you unapologetically kept bottled water packs by the driver's seat. Thank your star that I was not given employment in the Nigeria Custom Service last recruitment exercise.

2. Soaps and Detergents: I know you want to ask me whether soap is an agricultural product or not. You should know that soap is made by a process called saponification. Saponification is defined as alkaline hydrolysis of fat and oil. And how do you obtain fats and oils? Your guest is as good as mine. Going through Nigeria Custom Service's website for prohibited items, I knelt down to thank God having save me from jail terms...you know during my return journeys from Abidjan, I usually fill my bags with those fancy soaps.

3. Live or Dead Birds including Frozen Poultry: I pray our government won't lift ban on this product soon. My friend just acquired a loan from one microfinance bank and started a poultry enterprise. Should he fail in this business, that will herald the end of my weekend's chop-and-clean-mouth paroles in his house.

4. Pork, Beef: Well, I'm sure President Buhari won't allow importation of beef to spite his Fulani brothers, who are mainly herders. But as for pork, let them lift embargo on that ASAP. I just resigned as a manager in a very big pig farm. One Mr Tembo associated with Shoprite has been on my neck for weeks to increase supply of pigs with lean meat. Even if they lift embargo on pork, international suppliers too are looking for more to import into their countries. Pork may be an agricultural product in highest demand at present.

5. Birds Eggs – Excluding hatching eggs.

6. Refined Vegetable Oils and Fats [but excluding refined Linseed, Castor and Olive oils. Crude vegetable oil are however NOT banned from importation].

7. Cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose: We have that in abundance. Only dullards will indulge in such.

8. Cocoa Butter, Powder and Cakes: This is a good omen for Ogbeni Aregbesola who recently revived cocoa processing firm in the State of Osun.

9. Spaghetti/Noodles: Let any government tries lifting ban on this and watch Dangote eats them alive.

10. Fruit Juice in retail packs: What difference does that make? Importation is importation, even when it is directly imported by the manufacturer.

Don't add yours, because I know that Tosyne2much is already thinking of toothpicks.

Osun Denies Receiving N82b From FG; Generates N1.5b From Agribusiness-driven Economy

The Osun state Government has Thursday debunked the insinuation making the round that the state has received a sum of N82bn from Federal Government.

The state described as propaganda and blatant lie deliberately cooked to incite public against government of the State of Osun.

Osun has been at the centre of insinuations that the state government through the information credited to one  Senator Dino Melaye, received N82bn from the $4bn being over-deductions on Paris and London Club Loans.

The Government, through the Bureau of Communication and Strategy, office of the Governor, said there was nothing like an N82bn paid to Osun out of an imaginary “$4bn being over-deductions on Paris and London Club Loans on the accounts of State and Local Governments from February 1990 to March 2002”.

According to the statement signed by the Director of the Bureau, Semiu Okanlawon said, “It sounds warped that such information would emanate from an interloper to Nigerians”.

Okanlawon said if Nigeria received the alleged funds and such huge amounts are to be credited to respective states, simple logic dictates that the Ministry of  Finance, the Ministry of Information and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation would be duly involved and communicate such a development to Nigerians through the appropriate quarters.

“It is curious that since the misinformation was released and credited to a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Dino Melaye, who was reported to have manufactured the misinformation has not come out to deny making the statement.

“Much more curious also is the direct reference to the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who was singled out and asked to pay his state workers from the non-existent N82bn”, the statement added.

“We consider this as a direct incitement of the people of Osun and especially the workers who have shown great understanding due to the transparency the governor has brought into his handling of the affairs of the state.”

The  State has increased its internally generated revenue from N300m to N1.5b as a result of aggressive agribusiness upgrade, FarmTech9ja has learnt.

Is It Not Dangerous Eating This?

My neighbour killed the animal below in his nearby garden.

If the location of the kill has been very far into the bush, I would support eating it.

We should be wary of leptospirosis as this kind of thing might have been in contact with those rats in Ejigbo, Lagos. Some of you guys from Lafenwa street know what I mean.

IITA Vacancy: Accountant

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE (IITA)
INTERNAL & EXTERNAL
ADVERTISEMENT
Ref. IITA-HR-NRS2016-048
Position Title: Accountant
Location: Ibadan
Recruitment Type: National (3-year renewable contract)
Date Posted: 24th November 2016
Closing Date: 8th December 2016
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture seeks suitable Nigerian for the positions below at the Institute’s Headquarters, Ibadan.
Position
Responsibilities
Qualification
Accountant
Ref. IITA-HR-NRS2016-048B
Successful candidate will among other things perform the following duties:
 Report and check charges on OPD
 Follow up on issued cheques and direct transfer charged to oracle;
 Check audit report, House Account, City ledger and outstanding credits
 Monitor sales forecast and conduct reconciliation of clients/long term guests accounts;
 Coordinate group events and verification of pro-forma invoice with actual transaction;
 Analyze long term guest bill;
 Submit monthly report based on Hotsoft report;
 Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.
HND/BSc in Accounting, Banking & Finance or related field with 2 years’ experience performing same role.
Competencies
The ideal candidate must:
 Be a good team player.
 Be able to work under pressure.
 Be computer literate.
REMUNERATION:
We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.
METHOD OF APPLICATION:
Interested applicants should complete the online application attaching detailed curriculum vitae and cover letter saved with their names in Microsoft word format to IITA website: http://www.iita.org/careers no later than Two Weeks from the date of this publication. The application must include the names and e-mail addresses of three professional referees which must include the applicant’s current or previous direct Supervisor, professional colleague and evidence of current remuneration package.
IITA is an equal opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from female candidates.

Apply Here

IITA Job Vacancy: Administrative Assistant II

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE (IITA)
INTERNAL & EXTERNAL
ADVERTISEMENT
Ref. IITA-HR-NRS2016-048
Position Title: Administrative Assistant II
Location: Ibadan
Recruitment Type: National (3-year renewable contract)
Date Posted: 24th November 2016
Closing Date: 8th December 2016
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture seeks suitable Nigerian for the positions below at the Institute’s Headquarters, Ibadan.
Position
Responsibilities
Qualification
Administrative Assistant II
Ref. IITA-HR-NRS2016-048A
Successful candidate will among other things perform the following duties:
 Carry out all secretarial support services in Hospitality and Travel Services Unit;
 Monitor and maintain effective filling of incoming and outgoing mail, attend to customers and collect the meal tickets monthly for all staff;
 Prepare and collate Short term staff LOP for approval, checking of biometrics for casual workers and prepare monthly fees for casual workers and DPC’s;
 Prepare daily menu and weekend menu on IITA Intranet and send to the concerned destinations;
 Monitor and maintain stock of stationeries;
 Request for stationeries from central stores via oracle and send work orders for the repairs/replacement for different sections of Hospitality & Travel Services;
 Carry out monthly report of Staff, Short Term Staff and Casuals, NYSC/Industrial Attachment Students
 Monitor leave roster for all the staff;
 Coordinate the renewal of Short Term
HND/BSc in Business Administration or related field with 2 years’ experience performing same role.
Competencies
The ideal candidate must:
 Be a good team player.
 Be able to work under pressure.
 Be computer literate.
Staff and Casuals;
 Collate Staff/Short Term Staff Overtime and input on Paypers/Excel Spread Sheet for Head, Hospitality & Travel Services’ approval.
 Develop and maintain bulletin for Hospitality and Travel Services Unit;
 Perform any other duties as may be assigned.
REMUNERATION:
We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment.
METHOD OF APPLICATION:
Interested applicants should complete the online application attaching detailed curriculum vitae and cover letter saved with their names in Microsoft word format to IITA website: http://www.iita.org/careers no later than Two Weeks from the date of this publication. The application must include the names and e-mail addresses of three professional referees which must include the applicant’s current or previous direct Supervisor, professional colleague and evidence of current remuneration package.
IITA is an equal opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from female candidates.

Apply Here