E-Business
WACOT Rice Limited Boosts Nigeria’s Food Security, Distributes Agri-Inputs to Farmers in Kebbi

WACOT Rice Limited has concluded the distribution of agri-inputs to smallholder rice farmers in Argungu, Augie, Suru and Dandi Local Government Areas of Kebbi State. This is in demonstration of its commitment to the success of the Argungu Outgrower Expansion Program (AOEP).
The AOEP which is a partnership between WACOT Rice Limited and the West African Trade and Investment Hub (TH) seeks to increase the quality of smallholder farmer livelihoods via access to required agri-input financing, capacity building trainings on Yield Enhancement Techniques (YET) and Good Agronomic Practices (GAP).
The input distribution was carried out at village and community levels. The Emir of Argungu, His Highness Alhaji Samaila Muhammad Mera (CON), flagged off the 2021/2022 Dry Season agri-input distribution exercise at his palace in on the 8th of December 2021.
The ongoing program involves 3,464 registered farmers in four LGAs. These farmers, comprising of 10% women and 25% youth, have received agri-inputs and as the season progresses, they will also be supported with both on and off-field training sessions.
Commenting on the exercise, the Chairman of WACOT Rice Limited – Farouk Gumel, said the distribution of certified seeds, agrochemicals, and fertilizer to the project participants will enhance their productivity and thus, income.
He added that, “I am excited about the significant participation of youth and women this season who continue to play a critical role in Nigeria’s agricultural value chain. I will encourage more to sign up as this will support our ambitions to become a self-sufficient nation”
One of the beneficiaries, Hajia Kulu Augie, who has a three-hectare rice farm at Kasuwanamu Fadama area of Kebbi, commended WACOT and its partner, the Trade Hub, for the kind gesture, noting that it had made life easier for the farmers by empowering them.
She said, “they are helping many people with the input they give us. I got NPK, Urea, fertilisers and herbicides for this planting season, which will boost my yield.
“Then, the terms are convenient because I only need to provide them with rice worth the value of inputs I got from them.
“The arrangement is also beautiful in that I can sell the remaining rice to them at the going rate or take it elsewhere; there is no compulsion at all.”
Recall that in December 2020, WACOT Rice signed a co-investment partnership with the Trade Hub to the tune of $10.5 million to support the company’s Argungu Rice Outgrower Expansion Project based in Kebbi State.
In this partnership, WACOT Rice will register an additional 5,143 farmers to complement its already existing outgrower network in the state.
These new farmers are expected to cultivate over 5,000 additional hectares of land thereby producing over 20,000 tons of paddy which will be utilised at WACOT Rice’s 120,000-ton rice mill in Kebbi
WACOT Rice Limited – a member of the TGI Group, operates an integrated state-of-the-art rice mill in Argungu, Kebbi State. The mill is one of the largest rice mills in Sub-Saharan Africa and sources paddy from various paddy producing states across Nigeria.
The mill was commissioned by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo in 2017 and produces premium household brands of parboiled rice Big Bull and Patriot.
E-Business
GSMA Launches Innovation Fund to Boost AI Solutions in Emerging Markets

GSMA Innovation Fund for Impactful AI has been unveiled, marking a significant initiative aimed at empowering small and growing enterprises in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) across Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific.
This fund is designed to foster AI-driven innovations that tackle critical socio-economic and climate challenges, helping underserved regions unlock the transformative potential of artificial intelligence.
Artificial intelligence has proven its ability to address pressing global issues, from precision agriculture and renewable energy to remote healthcare and financial inclusion.
Yet, LMICs remain underserved in funding and resources, with only a small percentage of global grants directed toward locally-developed AI solutions.
Despite the growth of AI-driven technologies, these advancements are often not tailored to the unique needs of local populations in LMICs.
The GSMA Innovation Fund seeks to close this gap by identifying, testing, and scaling impactful AI solutions that are contextually relevant and capable of delivering measurable socio-economic and climate benefits.
In partnership with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), the GSMA Innovation Fund provides a comprehensive support package to selected enterprises. Key benefits include:
Grant Funding: Ranging from £100,000 to £250,000 for projects lasting 15–18 months.
Tailored Venture Support: Guidance to strengthen business models and improve scalability.
Partnership Opportunities: Facilitation of collaborations with mobile operators, public sector organizations, and other stakeholders.
Peer Learning: Platforms for exchanging knowledge and best practices with other innovators.
Visibility and Exposure: Access to GSMA’s global events, publications, and online platforms to connect with potential investors and partners.
E-Business
MRA Calls for Safer Internet User Rights in Nigeria

Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called on the Nigerian government to take legitimate measures to safeguard the rights and safety of internet users in the country.
In a statement released ahead of Safer Internet Day (SID), the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) called on the Nigerian Federal and State governments to take measures to protect internet users’ rights.
MRA highlighted the misuse of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, initially designed to address cybercrime threats.
According to MRA, the Act has been exploited by powerful individuals to intimidate journalists, activists, and citizens, undermining freedom of expression and cybersecurity.
Mr. Ayode Longe, deputy executive director, MRA, emphasised that these actions violate democratic principles and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations. He highlighted the SID theme “Together for a Better Internet” as a call for multi-stakeholder cooperation to create a safe and accessible online environment.
Longe noted Nigeria’s progress in digital technology adoption but pointed out persistent online threats, including scams, data breaches, and misinformation.
He stressed the need for legal frameworks that protect users’ rights without compromising their privacy or freedom of expression.
MRA urged the government to review the Cybercrimes Act to ensure it aligns with international human rights standards and to establish guidelines to prevent arbitrary prosecutions.
MRA also called for digital literacy initiatives and collaboration with tech companies to promote online safety.
Additionally, they urged the courts to protect Nigerians’ rights by rejecting unfounded cybercrime cases and ensuring fair application of the law.
Longe reiterated MRA’s commitment to defending digital rights and advocating for a free and open digital environment where everyone can access information and express themselves responsibly.
Together, stakeholders can create an internet where all users, regardless of age or background, can engage safely and freely.
E-Business
Google Messages to Enable WhatsApp Video Calls

Google Messages is reportedly working on a new feature that would allow WhatsApp video calls; the feature was found in the app’s code and is not yet functional, but it reportedly activates when the caller’s device is not running Google Meet.
Users of the tech giant’s first-party app in Mountain View are reportedly able to make video calls more easily because of this functionality.
According to a separate report, the app recently combined the gallery picker with the camera viewfinder when the camera option was opened.
A report from the Android Authority suggests that Google Messages may soon incorporate WhatsApp’s video calling functionality. The functionality was discovered by the publication in Google Messages version 20250131.
The code had a flag for the feature, which was turned on. As a result, consumers cannot try it out at this time.
According to screenshots the website posted, when users select the video call icon in Google Messages, a prompt advising them to use WhatsApp to make video calls appears.
But following the reports, the feature only appears if the caller does not have Google Meet installed.
Interestingly, at the moment, users can only use Meet to make video calls; if they don’t have it loaded, the app asks them to do so before attempting again.
With this new functionality, WhatsApp does not direct users to the chat app when they make a video call.
Rather, it is said to activate the full-screen video conference interface immediately.
If Google Messenger is the user’s main messaging program, this functionality could save them multiple clicks.
Though based on the article, the capability is limited to individual talks.
The app can only use Meet to start video calls in group discussions.
Furthermore, it has been noted that Google Messages does not trigger the WhatsApp video call pop-up if the recipient does not have WhatsApp installed.
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