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Martha Agba Applauds Gov Otu, Deputy for Successful Northern Tour

Martha Agba Applauds Gov Otu, Deputy for Successful Northern Tour

Former House of Representatives aspirant, Dr. Martha Agba has congratulated the Governor of Cross River State, Prince Bassey Otu and his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Agbe Odey, on the resounding success of their recently concluded five-day tour of Northern Cross River.

The Deputy Governor’s visit, which coincided with the 2025 New Yam Festivals across Bekwarra, Obanliku, Obudu, Ogoja, and Yala, went beyond cultural celebration to demonstrate the government’s commitment to responsive leadership.

The tour was marked by the direct delivery of more than ₦250 million worth of interventions, including the provision of boreholes, agricultural inputs, and youth empowerment projects tailored to the needs of local communities.

Dr. Agba particularly lauded Dr. Odey’s proactive approach in addressing pressing issues.

She highlighted his ₦5 million support to women farmers in Obudu as a practical example of the administration’s people-centered policies and swift responsiveness.

According to her, such targeted interventions underscore the inclusiveness and vision of the “People First” administration of Governor Bassey Otu.

She further noted that the overwhelming reception from traditional rulers, women, youths, and persons with disabilities during the tour is a clear reflection of the growing trust and confidence in the state government’s leadership.

Describing the Deputy Governor as “a man of strength and proven capacity,” Agba emphasized that his Northern Tour has set a new benchmark for participatory governance in Cross River State.

She affirmed that his ability to carry diverse stakeholders along is a sign of enduring political maturity and leadership depth.

In addition, she expressed appreciation to the leadership of the Northern Cross River Community Organisation (NORTHCCO), under the stewardship of High Chief Higgins Peter, for their robust participation in the tour.

She stressed that the growth and development of Cross River North remain a collective responsibility of all indigenes and stakeholders.

Agba urged the people of the region to continue to support the Deputy Governor and the administration of Governor Otu, noting that their partnership is vital to sustaining the momentum of progress already witnessed.

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Former House of Representatives aspirant, Dr. Martha Agba has congratulated the Governor of Cross River State, Prince Bassey Otu and his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Agbe Odey, on the resounding
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Sulaiman-Ibrahim Charges Nigerian Women to ‘Arise, Aspire, Ascend’ at Lagos APC Summit

Sulaiman-Ibrahim Charges Nigerian Women to ‘Arise, Aspire, Ascend’ at Lagos APC Summit

Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has urged Nigerian women to rise above limitations and take their rightful place in nation-building, declaring that “when a woman ascends, the whole nation rises.”

She made the call on Thursday while delivering the keynote address at the Lagos State APC Women Summit held under the theme “Arise. Aspire. Ascend.”

In a statement by her Special Advise on Media & Publicity, Mr Jonathan Eze, the minister described the theme as “a timeless anthem for women everywhere,” stressing that Nigerian women are already proving their strength across all sectors—from farming and trading to business, politics, and innovation.

“We celebrate Nigerian women; beautiful in diversity, resilient in adversity, and industrious in every corner of our land,” she said.

The Minister commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for placing women, children, families, and the vulnerable at the centre of the Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that his legacy of inclusion in Lagos continues to bear fruit.

She also applauded First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu for elevating women’s concerns through the Renewed Hope Initiative, while hailing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, for consolidating Lagos as a model for gender inclusion.

Highlighting both progress and challenges, Sulaiman-Ibrahim lamented the underrepresentation of women in politics. She noted that only four women currently serve in the Senate, while 13 state assemblies have no female lawmakers.
Still, she pointed to positive reforms in states such as Adamawa, Niger, and Rivers, where women are increasingly breaking barriers in governance and leadership.

The Minister threw her weight behind the ongoing push for affirmative action at the National Assembly, particularly proposals for 34 Special Seats each for women in the Senate and House of Representatives.

“While special seats are a welcome corrective, true progress will only come when women are economically empowered. A woman who controls her resources controls her choices, her voice, and her destiny,” she declared.

She said her Ministry was scaling programmes under the Renewed Hope Social Impact Agenda to boost women’s entrepreneurship, expand access to credit, strengthen family resilience, and unlock opportunities in the care economy.

Closing her speech with a rallying call, Sulaiman-Ibrahim declared: “As we arise, let us not forget to carry others with us. As we aspire, let us do so with courage. And as we ascend, let it be together—anchored in faith and propelled by the unstoppable spirit of Nigerian women.”

The Lagos APC Women Summit attracted female leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders, who reaffirmed their commitment to advancing women’s voices in governance and society.

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Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has urged Nigerian women to rise above limitations and take their rightful place in nation-building, declaring that “when a woman
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RMRDC DG Hails Shea Nuts Ban, Insists Raw Materials Should Not Be Exported Without 30% Value Addition

RMRDC DG Hails Shea Nuts Ban, Insists Raw Materials Should Not Be Exported Without 30% Value Addition

*Initiates mechanisms to ensure ban achieves intended goals

James Emejo in Abuja

The Director General/Chief Executive, Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Nnanyelugo Martin Ike-Muonso, had hailed the federal government’s recent six-month ban on shea nuts export.
President Bola Tinubu approved a temporary ban on the export of raw shea nuts to curb informal trade, boost local processing, protect and grow the country’s shea industry.
The ban, is however, subject to review on expiration and specifically aimed at boosting the shea value chain to generate about $300 million annually in the short term.
However, speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, Ike-Muonso, reaffirmed the council’s commitment to play its statutory role to support the actualisation of the objectives of the ban.
He noted that since his assumption of office, he had been advocating that raw materials should not be exported without adding at least 30 per cent value to them.
He said the council also submitted a bill on the proposed policy to the National Assembly – which had passed third reading in the Senate, as well as gone through first reading in the House of Representatives.
The RMRDC chief executive said the federal government’s ban on shea nut exports was a “stamp on the goal we have been pursuing, because it is in the overall interest of the country”.
He said one of the immediate impacts of the federal government’s ban was Niger State’s offer of 10,000 hectares of land for shea plantations, adding that once developed, the country could become the world’s largest producer of shea nuts and derivatives.
He said, “Every Nigerian knows that instead of exporting volumes of raw materials, we should be exporting semi-processed or fully processed materials. That is what creates employment, strengthens our currency, and boosts our economy.
“When the federal government came up with this six-month suspension, we saw it as a test period. The question was: if it doesn’t succeed in the first six months, what happens?
“For us at RMRDC, this is a challenge. This conference is to reassure Nigerians that, working together with the presidency, we will make this succeed and succeed properly.”
He stated that from RMRDC’s earlier studies, about one million metric tonnes of shea nuts are available from 21 states of the federation though existing data suggest about 350,000 tonnes.
He said over 90 per cent of the shea nut output is exported raw.
According to him, the export restrictions of raw shea nut was “not just a ban—it is a clarion call for Nigeria to stop exporting poverty and start exporting prosperity.”
He stressed that the council stands ready to drive the process, leveraging its statutory mandate, technical expertise, nationwide presence, and partnerships.
He said, “We are present in all 36 states, and all our coordinating offices are mobilised to ensure this decision achieves its objectives.
“We invite all stakeholders to align with this vision so that within the six-month suspension window, Nigeria will emerge not as a supplier of raw shea, but as a global hub for shea value addition.”
Ike-Muonso, said, “The global demand for shea is very high, yet we have been throwing away opportunities by exporting raw shea nuts instead of adding value. This means losing potential foreign exchange and local jobs.
“Yesterday (Wednesday), in preparation for this event, we visited Salid Agriculture Nigeria Limited – the new shea nut refinery located in Kudu, Mokwa Local Government Area, Niger State.
“That is currently the biggest shea processing plant in Nigeria. Another one is coming up in Kwara, alongside smaller-scale processors, though their quality may not match the fully automated refinery.
“The new facility has a production capacity of about 30 metric tonnes per day.
But the question is: how will one plant alone handle Nigeria’s entire shea nut output? That is why we must act strategically.”
The RMRDC boss also noted that the shea nuts ban didnt happen in a vacuum, stressing that the council had provided a groundwork to safeguard the sector.
He said, “The presidency would not have simply woken up to make this pronouncement. There is groundwork, and RMRDC has played a critical role.”
He explained that the council had in 2019 published the strategic roadmap for the shea industry which was adequately contained in the publication titled, “Strategies for Transforming the Nigerian Shea Value”, a copy which was presented to THISDAY.
The book, developed in collaboration with stakeholders, presented a five-year roadmap for the transformation of the entire shea value chain.
Among other initiatives, he said the council worked to upgrade indigenous technologies for shea processing, particularly for women cooperatives.
According to him, RMRDC also had extensive capabilities in machine and technology development for raw material processing – help local women upgrade technologies for shea processing.
He said, “Going forward, we plan to intensify production of such technologies across the 21 shea-producing states.”
He also revealed the council’s next line of action in the next six months.
The RMRDC boss said it will lead stakeholders to review the expired five-year roadmap to ensure adequate supply for processors.
The council will also conduct a nationwide mapping of shea trees—quantities, qualities, and varieties—since shea from Kwara differs from that in Sokoto, each with unique advantages.
He said the mapping will guide investors, noting that preparations are underway with researchers and enumerators across the 21 producing states.
He also stated that the council will launch women’s cooperatives nationwide to improve collection and small-scale processing, to further ensure quality, safety, and access to finance through cooperative structures.
Ike-Muonso, also said it would work with government and agencies to deploy processing equipment at cluster levels, enabling smallholder operators to participate in the industry as well as support for shea plantations.
He said, “Beyond Niger’s 10,000 hectares, we will encourage other states to allocate land for shea plantations.
“We have developed a system to provide regular updates on capacity utilisation, jobs created, and foreign exchange saved, in order to encourage further supportive policies.
“Together, let us turn this bold decision into lasting transformation for our people, our economy, and our nation.”

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*Initiates mechanisms to ensure ban achieves intended goals James Emejo in Abuja The Director General/Chief Executive, Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Nnanyelugo Martin Ike-Muonso, had hailed the
The post RMRDC DG Hails Shea Nuts Ban, Insists Raw Materials Should Not Be Exported Without 30% Value Addition appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.