By Peter Anosike
Easy Biz Universal, a leading groomer of entrepreneurs in Africa, in Lagos has launched what it called Operation Rescue Nigeria from Recession.
Speaking at the event, which attracted entrepreneurs from different states of the federation, the Managing Director of the company, Godwin Ogidi, said that the reason Nigeria is in recession was because it is an import dependent country.
According to him, the only way out of the present economic mess is for the federal and state governments to start encouraging Made-in-Nigeria goods, so that the country would be self reliant.
He said that when the economy of the United States entered recession few years ago, the government intervened by providing bail out funds to manufacturing firms in the country so that they would remain in business.
Ogidi said since manufacturing is the only way of out of the economic challenges, he had decided to bring entrepreneurs together to sharpen their skills through Easy Biz competition scheme.
“There is no doubt that Nigeria economy is in a state of emergency and what would take us out of it is creativity or thinking out of the box.”
There is lull in the economy which is very bad and it is because of this that we have gathered entrepreneurs from different parts of the country to introduce to them Easy Biz Competition Scheme .Competition we all know is central to market operations because it brings about innovations,productivity and growth ,all of which create wealth and reduce poverty .Easy Biz competition scheme is designed with powerful business model coaching approach at its heart .The approach helps entrepreneurs to accelerate ,design and test their business models with their customers .The resulting interaction improves the likelihood of generating more revenue and building a viable businesses in weeks and months ”.
He said that was why it was called operation rescue Nigeria from recession because Nigerians need to act fast instead of being told to continue to have patience.
Niger loses $80m to poor shea nuts processing
From Magnus Eze, Abuja
Niger State Governor, Mr. Abubakar Bello, yesterday said the state loses about $80m annually through lack of standardised practices of harvesting, processing, packaging and marketing of shea nuts.
The governor also disclosed that three shea nut villages have been identified and designated for training people especially rural women on the best practices of making shea butter beginning from the picking stage to processing and packaging levels.
Bello spoke to newsmen when he visited Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, to discuss ways of maximising the agricultural potentials of the state.
He bemoaned a situation where shea butter taken from Niger State, is moved to Ghana and exported to other parts of the world especially Europe as if it was produced in other West African countries.
Bello stated that the state would be focusing on rice, soya beans, cotton and shea nuts production where it has comparative advantage.
“We have set up a machinery to do it properly; where rural women will be assisted on how to process shea butter beginning with the picking process; the separation of shea nuts, processing and packaging. As more advancements are being made in technology, we will change the system,” the governor stated.
He however, regretted that goods from Nigeria were usually seen with suspicion but was optimistic that the trend will change with time.
Bello said: “We know what the problem is but we all lack the courage. Once we do what we are supposed to do, the whole thing will be well. Everything made in Nigeria is usually looked at the second time, but with time, we will change the impression.”