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Olam Partners MIT for Sustainable Food Solutions Peter Uzoho Olam International, one of the leading global agri-business, has partnered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Solve (MIT Solve), to design a Challenge aimed at addressing the issues around sustainable food systems in Nigeria. Olam International and MIT Solve co-hosted a Challenge Design Workshop which held in Lagos, recently. The MIT Solve is a hybrid business incubator and business ideas marketplace from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, that advances solutions from tech entrepreneurs to address pressing global issues. MIT Solve connects innovators
with resources such as expertise, human capital, technology, and funding. The workshop was designed to engage cross-sector stakeholders in Nigeria, to deliberate on issues affecting the country’s agri-business ecosystem and aid MIT in designing Solve’s 2020 Global Challenges. The event was also aimed at building connections amongst individuals and organisations with an interest in innovation, to address social and environmental challenges. Addressing the audience on the rationale behind the event, the Country Head, Olam Nigeria, Mukul Mathur, said: “Olam started as a single-man, single product operation in Nigeria and we have managed to achieve
massive growth over a 30-year period. “However, we still face problems and we cannot fix these challenges alone. We realise the value of having an ecosystem which can help in proffering solutions, especially around sustainable food systems in Nigeria. “It is important to have such an ecosystem of likeminded people. I know that together, we can fix these problems.� Officer, Sustainability Community for MIT Solve, Sharon Bort, described the programme as an initiative of the MIT aimed at solving identified global challenges. According to her, the MIT Solve cycle which starts in February of each year initiates
competitions in the areas of Economic Prosperity, Health, Learning and Sustainability. Bort added that MIT Solve decided to focus on challenges associated with food in an attempt to find solutions to issues around sustainable food systems. According to Vice President, Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, Olam International, Julie Greene, the rise in the world’s population presents an opportunity for players in the agricultural value chain with the rapid rate of urban migration resulting in mass movements away from farms where crops are harvested. She said: “For most part
of history, people lived near their food sources, they grew their own food. Today over 50 per cent of the population lives in the cities. “This has huge implications because of the channels through which these food products are transported and stored. The bigger challenge is that it inhibits people from having a healthy diet.� Green, pointed out that agriculture also has its negative impacts, despite its positive effects. She said, “Agriculture and other land uses are responsible for a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions from fertilizers, deforestation and transportation. “Agriculture is responsible
for 70 per cent of freshwater withdrawals. While these are critical to productivity, they also have polluting effects on the environment. “We only grow enough food to feed the population, but the problem is that 1/3 of that food never actually reaches our plates due to food loss and waste. Therefore, the food system needs innovation and that is why we are here today to answer the question “what are the various opportunities for a sustainable food system?’� Vice President, Farming Initiatives, Olam Nigeria, Reji George, identified food loss and wastage amongst some of the challenges encountered in agribusiness.
Nnamani Backs NCC’s Digital Economy Initiatives Emma Okonji The President of Medallion Communications Limited, Mr. Ikechukwu Nnamani, has commended the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for their efforts in building a digital economy in the country. Nnamani, who is also the First Vice President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) said the Ministry and the telecoms regulator were on the path to driving economic growth through their initiatives aimed at digital transformation. Specifically, he said the federal government’s commitment to the implementation of the national digital economy strategy would help the country achieve growth and development. According to him, with the support of the NCC, NITDA and other government agencies in the implementation of the digital policy, Nigeria’s economy would in the next few years take a new shape. Nnamani said ATCON as a body had also keyed into the digital
agenda, hence, its plan to deepen discussions on the matter through the forthcoming national dialogue on ICT. The event scheduled to hold next months in Abuja, is targeted at changing the narrative of the country’s development through the optimal utilisation of digital resources and to achieve this, Nnamani said State Governors, Ministries, Agencies and Sectors like Agriculture, Education, Oil and Gas, Health, Industry, Trade and Investment, Security and Defence have been invited along with telecom and ICT companies. He added that the strategic dialogue plans to bring together the Presidency, National Assembly, relevant Federal Ministries, State Governors, ICT State Commissioners, Telecom and ICT Operating Companies, World Bank and other international relevant agencies. According to him, “the strategic objectives of the proposed National Dialogue are to channel collaborative efforts toward Nigerian Digital Economy with the sole aim of accelerating our economy’s performance in relation to other leading African countries and to serve as a forum to discuss the recently launched documents on Digital Economy and take stakeholders input for implementation.
Firm Advocates Tax Exemption for Start-ups James Emejo in Abuja The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Skin 101 Medical Centre, Dr. Hilda Titiloye has urged the government to exempt start-ups and small businesses from taxation She said this would among other things encourage productivity and growth as well as boost the economy as SMEs remain a catalyst to growth. Speaking at the lunch of a new facility in Abuja, she urged the federal government to consider exempting small businesses that are just starting up from tax as a means of motivating young people in entrepreneurship. She recalled that unlike in the past years, small businesses were not required to pay taxes, adding the present predicament started two years ago when tax officers insisted SMEs should be taxed. Titiloye further argued that taxes could be burdensome and a great discouragement in business.
She said lack of power supply was also killing businesses, urging the government to consider the amount of money spent by SMEs in providing electricity to sustain their venues. “Businesses are open to make profit but with all these lack of infrastructures where is the profit? She queried, adding that “it is not easy running businesses on generators, there is no need over flogging the matter, and I think the government knows what should be done. However, it can be difficult for any business when you spend so much on diesel or any alternative means of power supply.� The CMD said:“We are lawabiding citizens, so we will pay our tax but simple things like giving a new business tax holiday or people that provide certain essential services would further help to grow SMEs and at the same time serve as an encouragement for more people to come on board.�
EMPLOYMENTSUMMIT
L-R: Country Manager,Tek Expert,Lars Johannisson; Founder / Managing Director, Future Software Resources Limited, Nkem Begho; Head, Innovation and Sustainability, Honeywell Group,Tomi Otudeko, and Partner, Experience Centre and EmergingTechnologies, PwC,Olufemi Osinubi, at the breakout session onJ‘ obsfortheFuture’organisedbythe LagosStateEmploymentTrustFundSummit,heldinLagos...recently ETOPUKUTT
Rotary Club Honours Police, LASTMA Officers Oluchi Chibuzor As part of its contribution to humanity and celebration of Rotary international vocational service month, Maryland Rotary Club has honoured officers of the Nigerian Police and Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) and also presented a cash of N25, 000. Speaking at the ceremony in Lagos, recently, the Club President, Dr. Adewale Sanni, said the various government officials
recognised at the event displayed courage, diligence despite dangers and risks associated at the various points of duties. “We did our feasibility studies very well to actually know those who are in needs of this support in this month of vocational service as Rotary Club of Maryland. “This is to reward those who were doing well and never thought people were watching them in discharge of their duties and also for people who need support to boost their businesses
to move higher in life.� The club noted that the reward for excellence came after two months of facts-finding and recommendation from the public and colleagues to recipients. In his remarks, the Chairman, Vocational Service Committee, Mr. Bamidele Onalaja, said the awards to the recipients would spur more commitment from those entrusted with service to humanity beyond borders. “That is why we went as far as going to their post of duties to
give them the awards and as you can see passersby was cheering them up and echoing they deserve it. To them we believe they never saw it coming but today they are been celebrated.� On her part, an Officer of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Inspector, Okwudi Dianna, expressed appreciation to God, stating that she never knew that people were watching her, “was just surprised when their President came and told me that they have an award for me.�
Chivita Reiterates ‘No Preservatives’ Quality Chivita Ice Tea, a product which claims to offer consumers all the natural benefits of tea extracts, is an Ice Tea brand in Nigeria that is produced in aseptic packaging, the manufacturers have stated. The Aseptic packaging production process is a specialised process in which food or other contents are processed separately and filled into the aseptic container or pack in a sterile environment that is safe and free of all harmful bacteria and free from human intervention. According to a statement from the company, this type of packaging allows the food and beverage products to be transported over
long distances, stored, and sold on shelves without refrigeration, thereby enabling the product have a stable shelf life of between 6-18 months, depending on the product. “Thus, production in aseptic packaging is an innovative technology in the food and beverage industry that does not require the use of preservatives or additives to retain the product’s natural benefits before consumption. “Preservatives and additives have been commonly used in producing packaged foods and beverages to increase shelf-life, and reduce the loss of taste or ingredients in the product before
consumption. Common preservatives used in food production include benzoates, nitrites and sulphites. “Research studies have shown that consumption of preservatives over a period of time could have negative effects on human health. Preservative consumption could be a source of breathing problems like asthma and bronchitis, and some have been known to weaken heart cells, body tissues, and cause cancer,� the statement added. It pointed out that Nigerian consumers were exposed to preservatives in some of the products they consume in
polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or plastic bottles. “Even beverages that are supposed to be natural and beneficial for human health, have been known to contain preservatives like Potassium Sorbate and Trisodium Citrate, which diminish some of the benefits of the beverage and cause harm to the body. “For food products that contain natural ingredients which promote the overall wellbeing of individuals, inclusion of harmful preservatives in the foods or drinks could negate most, if not all of the natural ingredients in the product.