In an exclusive interview with DAILY POST, Prince Adewole Adebayo, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), shares his perspective on Nigeria’s political and economic situation. Reflecting on 2024, Adebayo acknowledged both achievements and challenges, citing issues like rising inflation, fluctuating exchange rates, and security concerns, including the tragic killings of the Emir of Gobir and incidents in Ibadan, Okija, and Abuja. However, he also pointed out that there were no significant community or religious conflicts.

Regarding President Bola Tinubu’s media chat, Adebayo expressed disagreement with the president’s view that the government was doing well. He argued that Tinubu’s administration lacked the necessary governance to truly improve the country, stating that Tinubu was merely in power, not governing. He highlighted the absence of substantial reforms, pointing to FCT and Ministry of Interior ministers as exceptions.

Adebayo also criticized Tinubu’s economic policies, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy and the floating of the Naira. While acknowledging that Nigeria’s economic problems existed before Tinubu’s tenure, he claimed the president had worsened the situation due to a lack of economic understanding.

On judicial reforms, Adebayo expressed that increasing salaries alone would not resolve corruption in the judiciary. He emphasized that the root cause lay in the broader economic system, suggesting reforms to the legal structure, particularly separating election petitions from regular judicial duties.

Lastly, Adebayo reinforced that Nigerians should not place their hope solely in one government, as the nation has many alternatives for its future beyond Tinubu’s administration.

Wema Bank, Nigeria’s innovative leader in banking and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has officially announced the 35 exceptional teams advancing to the grand finale pitch of Hackaholics 5.0. The grand finale pitch is set to hold on November 25, 2024, in Lagos, themed “Meta Idea: Catalyzing Africa’s Growth Through Innovation.”

After a series of competitive pre-pitch events at eight physical locations and one virtual pitch center, 35 outstanding teams have emerged as top contestants. These teams represent diverse and impactful ideas, ranging from tech solutions in agriculture, finance, and education to innovations in healthcare, sustainability, and artificial intelligence.

The top contestants include: Northino, Our Haven, Celia, Nadir, Nimsy Agro, Hebron Chain, Paystrait, DevMe, Preview, Coconoto, EduGaze, Dokia, Gbale Prime, Health 4 Moni, Digiland, Abinci, Unifi, CyclexAfrica, Airify, Kwab, Gnergy, University X, AI Teacha, Code Red, APISentry, Fegor, TrashCoin, Paywise, Pandascrow, Lexia AI, Bunce, Bloom Beauty, MyItura, Accede, Scratop Nigeria Limited.

The grand finale pitch will see these top contestants pitch innovative Digi-Tech solutions to a panel of esteemed investors, industry leaders, and mentors competing for ₦75 million worth of prizes. The prize structure includes a whopping ₦30 million worth of prizes for the grand prize winner, ₦20 million worth of prizes for the first runner up, ₦15 million worth of prizes for the 2nd runner up, and ₦10 million worth of prizes for the top women-led team.

Moruf Oseni, MD/CEO of Wema Bank, expressed his excitement about the competition’s impact:
“Hackaholics is a testament to Wema Bank’s commitment to fostering innovation and youth empowerment.”

These 35 top contestants represent the future of Africa’s tech-driven transformation, and we are proud to provide them with a platform to bring their ideas to life. The Meta Idea theme challenges them to think beyond immediate solutions and focus on innovations that capitalize on Africa’s growth potential. We look forward to celebrating their ingenuity at the grand finale.”

This year’s Hackaholics competition received thousands of applications from across Nigeria, highlighting the creativity and determination of young tech enthusiasts. The competition has inspired groundbreaking solutions aimed at addressing Africa’s challenges and driving digital transformation. It underscores the role of technology and entrepreneurship in Africa’s socio-economic progress and remains a key platform for discovering and nurturing young talents, offering winners mentorship, networks, and resources to scale globally.

To attend the Hackaholics 5.0 grand finale and witness the next generation of innovators in action, register at https://hackaholics.wemabank.com/grandfinale.

• Begins training for farmers, seed companies, others

In a bold move to transform Nigeria’s agricultural landscape, the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), has disclosed plans to launch a cutting-edge Seed Information Management Portal. This innovative digital solution promises to revolutionize the seed sector, enhancing efficiency, transparency, and productivity for farmers, seed companies, and regulatory bodies.

The development came to light at a recent capacity-building workshop held in Abuja, convened by the council to train key stakeholders ahead of the launch. The workshop tagged “Training on the Operationalization and Management of the NASC Seed Information Management Portal (NSIMP)”, brought together about 70 participants, comprising seed industry professionals, companies, seed council staffs, and farmers from different states and zones, to be trained on how to explore the portal’s vast potential.

Streamlining Seed Sector Operations, Dr. Ishiak Khalid, NASC’s Director General, represented by Towolawi Oluwole, Director of Seed Information, Data Management, and Capacity Building,  emphasized the portal’s critical role in managing the council’s information system. “The portal enables us to collate, and coordinate data from partners, agencies, seed companies, and farmers, providing valuable insights for more informed and harmonized decision-making,” he explained.

The portal’s integrated platform harmonizes disparate data sources, including seed trackers, codex, and other systems. This centralized approach facilitates real-time feedback from stakeholders, empowering the Seed Council to track industry trends, identify challenges, and respond effectively, according to Oluwole.

Also, Dr. Folarin Sunday Okelola, Ag Registrar of Plant Variety Protection (PVP) and Project Manager for the Agra grant, underscored the workshop’s significance.

He said; “Our goal is to build capacity for planning and coordinating the seed system, ensuring we meet Nigeria’s seed demand and harmonizing the whole process.”

“To effectively plan and coordinate our seed sector activities, we require accurate and timely data. This necessitates the integration of technology and electronic systems to enhance our traditional information gathering methods.

“Today, we proudly putting out our Seed Information Management Portal, a comprehensive platform that consolidates our existing tools, including the Seed Tracker and Seed Codex, into a single, user-friendly management information system.

“This innovative portal, accessible via web or Android, enables us to reach all stakeholders, regardless of category, and provides a streamlined approach to seed sector management.” He added.

The NASC Seed Portal is designed to benefit all stakeholders ranging from farmers, granting them an access to quality seeds, improved crop yields, and enhanced livelihoods, seed companies, ensuring efficient production, distribution, and sales tracking, regulatory bodies through an enhanced oversight, real-time monitoring, and informed decision-making.

By integrating comprehensive data management, analytics, and support tools, the portal aligns with the Critical Components of a Functional Seed System, as defined by CESSA. This ensures quality, accessibility, and sustainability in agricultural sector.

Please note that CESSA’s Critical Components of a Functional Seed System are quality seeds, seed availability, quality control, information management, policy & regulation, research & development, production & distribution, marketing & Sales.

Perhaps this will herald a new era for Nigeria’s Agriculture. NASC as a council, embracing digital innovation, through this groundbreaking portal will boost agricultural productivity, enhance food security, and support economic growth.

As the management training concludes Friday, participants are equipped to leverage the portal’s potential, ensuring a brighter future for Nigeria’s farmers, seed companies, and agricultural sector.

“This portal is a game-changer,” Dr. Okelola further opined. He reiterated that the council is committed to revolutionizing Nigeria’s seed sector, and the recent development is just the beginning.

Optimism high up, that with NASC’s Seed Information Management Portal, Nigeria’s agricultural landscape is set to flourish, harnessing technology to drive growth, productivity, and prosperity.