News
IWD: AGRA Opens Applications for 2024 Edition of the WAYA Awards, Dangles $300,000 Grants for Winners
In a recent event held to commemorate the International Women’s Day celebrations at the Chida Events Center in Abuja Nigeria, AGRA officially launched the call for applications for the 2024 Women Agripreneurs of the Year Awards (WAYA).
WAYA is a prestigious award scheme that recognizes female agripreneurs demonstrating remarkable Innovation and business excellence in agricultural value chains. The awards not only celebrate their remarkable achievements but also rewards them with grants of up to $300,000.
The event held in honor of trailblazing women who are at the forefront of inclusive agricultural transformation, across the country and continent, brought together women in agribusiness and influential leaders at various policy levels to amplify messaging on the urgency of investing in women to accelerate progress in the agri-food sector.
Since 2021, the awards have been distributed across 3 categories; Young Female Agripreneur (for those under the age of 35 years and have demonstrated innovation and leadership in business), Female Agriculture Tech Innovator (those championing technological advancement in agribusiness) and, Outstanding Value Adding Enterprise (for female-owned agribusinesses that are increasing the economic value and/or consumer appeal to agricultural products), with the coveted Grand Prize Winner being the overall winner of the competition.
However, beginning 2024, AGRA has introduced regional winners in the Young Female Agripreneurs category, and also added two exciting new categories: Women Empowerment Champion (recognizing female agripreneurs who exhibit a deliberate commitment to creating opportunities for other women to grow their own agribusinesses) and a Resilient & Inspirational Leader (recognizing female agripreneurs from marginalized communities or vulnerable and hard-to-reach areas who, despite facing significant challenges demonstrate unwavering determination, strength, and perseverance to excel in agribusiness). Applications will close on 31 May 2024, with the winning agripreneurs being unveiled during the Africa Food Systems Forum (formerly AGRF) to be held in Kigali Rwanda from 2nd to 6th September 2024.
To be eligible, businesses must operate within an agricultural or agribusiness value chain, be legally registered in an African Union country, and be at least 51% owned and managed by women who are citizens of one of the 55 African countries.
Speaking at the event, AGRA’s Lead for Gender Integration and Acting Director for the Youth, Gender, and Inclusiveness Division, Ms. Winnie Osulah said, “We received over 1,500 applications from women across 38 African countries in 2023. As we open the awards again this year, we expect to receive at least 500 applications in each category and continue our efforts to honor the unrelentless efforts, creative ideas, and outstanding leadership by women in the agri-food sector”.
WAYA is an initiative of AGRA’s VALUE4HER, a continental program that is aimed at strengthening women’s agribusiness enterprises and enhancing their voice and advocacy across Africa.
The AGRA Gender Consortium in Nigeria, consisting of AGRA, Synergos, UN Women, and the Legal Awareness for Nigeria Women (LANW) also leveraged the Abuja IWD event to promote knowledge sharing and collaboration. They recognized the significance of the occasion in bringing together stakeholders from diverse sectors, including government, civil society, and the private sector, to address gender equality and women’s economic empowerment issues. The consortium has been supporting the Governments of Kaduna and Niger States to domesticate the National Gender Policy in Agriculture.
During the event, participants engaged in interactive workshops, panel discussions, and networking sessions, facilitating meaningful exchanges of experiences, ideas, and best practices. They highlighted the importance of creating an enabling environment for women to fully participate in economic, social, and political spheres and emphasized the need for evidence-based interventions to address gender disparities.
News
Legit.ng, Shade of Life Foundation Partner to Advance Autism Awareness in Nigeria
Legit.ng recently joined forces with the Shade of Life Foundation to become a voice of autism, and drive advocacy for improved media support during Autism Awareness Month.
Conversations around media support exploration was led by Joseph Omotayo, head of Department for Human Interest Stories at Legit.ng, and Dr. Eziafakaku Nwokolo, founder and CEO of the Shade of Life Foundation,
This partnership is a response to the concerns raised by organizations like the Shade of Life Foundation about the level of support received from the media in discussing autism as a disability.
While other disabilities may receive attention, autism, with its critical developmental implications often lacks adequate representation in mainstream media.
Recognizing the importance of addressing these concerns, Legit.ng took proactive steps by integrating itself into the essence of autism awareness.
It facilitated a one-hour workshop with Dr. Nwokolo, the founder of the foundation, to deepen our understanding of autism, its various spectrums, and the language boundaries associated with it.
Other steps we took in advocating autism awareness in the media, can be seen in our attached press release.
Legit.ng believes that by amplifying the voices of autism and advocating for better media representation, we can contribute to creating a more inclusive and accepting society for all.
News
As Nigeria Struggle, Tanzania Turns off Power Plants Due to Excess Supply
While 85 per cent of Nigeria is in darkness, Tanzania, an African country has shut down five hydroelectric stations in a bid to reduce excess electricity in the national grid.
Kassim Majaliwa, prime minister, Tanzania, has said the main plant, Mwalimu Nyerere Hydroelectric Station, alone generated enough electricity to power major cities, including Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial hub.
It is the first time Tanzania, which suffers chronic power shortages, has closed hydroelectric stations due to excess production.
“We have turned off all these stations because the demand is low and the electricity production is too much, we have no allocation now,” an official from state-run power company, Tanesco, said.
The 2,115MW Julius Nyerere Hydropower Dam is said to be almost filled with water following heavy rains that started early this year.
Meanwhile, while the country has an installed capacity of 1,938MW and the grid installed capacity of 1,899MW, Nigeria which has an installed capacity of 13,000MW is struggling to electrify 85 per cent of its electricity consumers.
News
President Tinubu Appoints Jim Ovia as Student Loan Fund Chairman
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Jim Ovia, renowned banker and businessman, as the Chairman, Board of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
Ovia’s appointment is contained in a State House statement titled, ‘President Tinubu appoints Jim Ovia as Chairman of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund,’ and issued on Friday by Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the President, Media & Publicity.
The statement noted that “Ovia is the founder of one of Nigeria’s leading banks and a respected business leader, with a surfeit of efforts and benefaction towards nurturing and empowering young Nigerians.
“He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana.”
The National Student Loan Programme is a pivotal intervention that seeks to guarantee sustainable higher education and functional skill development for all Nigerian students and youths.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the implementing institution of this innovation, demands excellence and Nigerians of the finest professional ilk to guide and manage.
“The President believes Mr. Ovia will bring his immense wealth of experience and professional stature to this role to advance the all-important vision of ensuring that no Nigerian student suffers a capricious end to their pursuit of higher education over a lack of funds,” the statement partly read.
Ovia’s appointment will also ensure “that Nigerian youths, irrespective of who they are, have access to higher education and skills that will make them productive members of society and core contributors to the knowledge-based global economy of this century.”
- News3 days ago
60 Hearty Cheers to Chioma Ekeh, Africa’s Leading Unusual Female Tech
- Telecom3 days ago
ALTON, ATCON Urge FG to Address Telecoms Industry Challenges
- Telecom3 days ago
Qualcomm Shortlists Startups for Qualcomm Make in Africa 2024 and Awards 2023 Wireless Reach Social Impact Fund
- News3 days ago
9mobile Partners Microsoft to Host Impactful Training Session for Journalists
- News3 days ago
Academic Technologists Propose N350,000 Minimum Wage
- E-Financial3 days ago
Confusion as CBN Deletes, Reinstates Tweet Calling Crypto-Related Directive Fake
- E-Business3 days ago
Hydrogen Hosts Catalyst Workshop, Highlights Resilient Business Models for Fintech Startups
- Telecom2 days ago
World Earth Day: Kuda Partners with Wecyclers to Clean up Communities in Lagos