Greener Hope Large-scale Agriculture Mechanisation Programme (GHAPP) made a significant impact at the maiden edition of the FARMFATECH 2024 EXPO, a three-day event held at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. The event gathered prominent stakeholders from the agricultural value-chain sector to discuss pressing issues in agricultural financing and the value chain across Nigeria and Africa.

FARMFATECH 2024 featured a rich line-up of thought leadership panels and exhibitions, showcasing advancements in agricultural technology, mechanisation, and financing solutions. Greener Hope actively participated in both discussions during the sessions as well as the exhibitions, highlighting its commitment to providing technology-driven mechanisation solutions to Nigerian farmers and the Agri-business value-chain.

Panel Discussions on Agricultural Financing and Mechanisation during the EXPO, commenced with the first panel, themed “Agricultural Financing and its Value Chain in Nigeria and Africa,” with discussants which paraded key industry leaders and decision-makers including Senator Abubakar Kyari, CON, Honourable Minister of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, General Christopher Cwabin Musa, OFR, Chief of Defence Staff of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Professor Benedict Okey Oramah, President and Chairman of Afreximbank, Oliver Alawuba, CEO of United Bank for Africa, while Dr. Ilyasu Gashinbaki, Vice President Finance (Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry), served as the session’s moderator.

On the panel, Dr. Musa Olasupo, Director of Programme of Greener Hope, extensively discussed the importance of access to finance in expanding mechanisation efforts. He emphasised the Greener Hope Large-scale Agriculture Mechanisation Programme (GHAP’s) relentless commitment to empowering both small holders as well as large-scale farmers, enabling them to increase productivity and address food security challenges. ‘’Agricultural mechanisation services require long-term financing options, and it must be made consistently over a period of time for us to attain the desired level of Mechanisation that can catalyse agricultural productivity in Nigeria. Government should be ready to do the heavy lifting and allow the private sector to complement her efforts. That is the logic guiding the Greener Hope Large Scale Mechanization Programme” said Dr. Olasupo.

The second panel brought together experts which included Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON),Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, Director/CEO, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC),Mr. Kamal Abdullahi Rasheed, Executive Director and CEO, National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM),Kamar Bakrin, Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council (NSDC),Mr. Oluwemimo J. Osanipin, Director General, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr. Sa’ad Hamidu, CEO, NIRSAL to discuss further strategies for advancing agricultural productivity and enhancing support structures for mechanisation.

• Exhibition Highlights

In addition to the panel discussions, FARMFATECH 2024 also featured an extensive exhibition that showcased Greener Hope’s innovative mechanisation solutions tailored towards Nigeria’s agricultural landscape. Attendees, including policymakers, financiers, and agricultural stakeholders, were able to engage with Greener Hope representatives and explore the cutting-edge technologies that the organization offers to boost farm productivity, minimize manual labour, and address common farming challenges.

Shaping the Future of Agricultural Financing and Mechanisation

FARMFATECH 2024 was a crucial platform for Greener Hope to emphasize the role of mechanisation and innovative financing in building a sustainable agricultural ecosystem. Dr. Olasupo’s contributions to the discussions underscored Greener Hope’s leading role in meeting the financial and technological needs of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

To learn more about the GHAPP, please visit www.greenerhopeng.com.

The former Director-General of the National Financial Investigation Agency in Equatorial Guinea, Baltasar Engonga, has been remanded in Malabo’s Black Beach Prison.

The embattled former anti-graft chief was arrested days ago for allegedly recording over 400 sex tapes involving the wives of prominent figures in the country.

This scandal surfaced during a fraud investigation into the 54-year-old economist, resulting in an impromptu search of his home and office by ANIF officials, who reportedly discovered several CDs that revealed his sexual encounters with different married women.

As the footage leaked online, causing a media uproar, Equatorial Guinea’s President, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, dismissed Engonga.

According to Decree No. 118/2024, dated 4th November, the dismissal was due to “irregularities committed in the exercise of his functions, as well as inappropriate family and social conduct for the performance of public duties.”

A viral video surfaced on social media on Friday, showing Engonga handcuffed on both hands and legs during a court appearance.

Confirming the situation, French online blog Afrikmatin reported that Engonga, who was officially removed from his role on November 6, 2024, was subsequently chained and transferred to Malabo Central Prison. He faces charges of corruption and embezzlement.

Additionally, online newspaper UGStandard reported that the sex tapes began circulating on social networks while Engonga was already held at Malabo’s notorious Black Beach Prison on charges of embezzling public funds, as reported by state television, TVGE.

In a fact-checking report published Wednesday, Dubawa verified that Engonga had indeed been taken into custody on corruption charges and is currently being held in Black Beach Prison.

Canada will no longer automatically grant 10-year multiple-entry visas to tourists, according to new guidelines issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

This decision marks a shift from the previous practice where eligible visitors were routinely issued long-term visas, permitting multiple entries over a decade.

Under the revised rules, immigration officers now have discretion to issue visas with shorter durations based on individual assessments.

Instead of a default extended validity period, each application will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Officers can decide whether to grant a single-entry or multiple-entry visa and determine its duration, moving away from the automatic issuance of maximum-validity multiple-entry visas.

“Guidance has been updated to indicate that multiple-entry visas issued to maximum validity are no longer considered to be the standard document. Officers may exercise their judgement in deciding whether to issue a single or multiple-entry visa and in determining the validity period,” said the IRCC.

The IRCC explained that this change is part of a broader strategy aimed at managing temporary immigration levels while addressing ongoing challenges such as housing shortages and rising living costs.

The policy adjustment reflects the Canadian government’s efforts to adapt its immigration approach in response to economic and infrastructure pressures.

Previously, Canada offered two types of tourist visas: multiple-entry and single-entry. Applicants were generally considered for the multiple-entry visa, which allowed them to visit the country multiple times over a period of up to 10 years or until one month before their passport’s expiration date.

Single-entry visas, issued for specific situations like official visits or participation in single events, were less common.

Now, with the updated guidance, maximum-validity multiple-entry visas will no longer be the standard offering.

Immigration officers will exercise their judgement to decide on the appropriate type and duration of the visa, tailoring it to the specific needs and circumstances of the traveller.

The application fee for a Canadian visitor visa remains unchanged at CAD 100 per person, with no difference in cost between single-entry and multiple-entry options.

However, the shift may result in increased application costs for frequent travellers, who might need to apply more often due to shorter-term visas.

This policy change is part of a wider effort to balance immigration levels with Canada’s current infrastructure capabilities.

Other measures announced include a reduction in the target for permanent resident admissions, which will drop from 500,000 in 2025 to 395,000, with further decreases planned for 2026 and 2027.