From Dan Amasingha, Minna
Worried by the  recent high cost of Agricultural produce and its attendant effect on cost of Living, Niger State Government has vowed to ensure Food Security in the Country  by partnering with YTO Agricultural Machinery giant to enhance the State’s effort to ramp up food security.

Commissioner of Agriculture, Hon. Salihu Bawa Bosso gave the assurance during a presentation done by a delegation from YTO Group Corporation at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Minna on Wednesday. .
He said part of the focus of the present administration under the leadership of Farmer Governor Mohammed Umar Bago was aimed at attaining food sufficiency for all.
Hon Bawa Bosso  disclosed that the government is cultivating 250,000 hectares of land across the state in the first year of the present administration stressing that Niger State in the next few years would become the Agriculture food hub in Nigeria.
“We are happy that we are here to collaborate to ensure that we redirect the minds of our people into Agriculture. His Excellency, the Farmer Governor is committed to solving the critical problems bedevilling the society using Agriculture as a strategy to ensure that our people can feed themselves all round the year
“We are happy to receive this Company so as to partner towards ensuring that mechanised agriculture is delivered to Nigerlites and Nigerians by extension.
“His Excellency, the Governor has already demonstrated commitment to revamping the agric sector as we have acquired over 1000 tractors, including planters, harvesters, power tillers and I’m sure we want more of these equipment” Bawa Bosso said.
During his presentation, YTO Company to Niger State Government, the Head of Procurement and Administration, Mr. Akintunde Akinkumi described YTO Group Corporation as a Chinese Agricultural and Construction Machinery Manufacturer owned by the Central Government of China adding that as the the largest Tractor Manufacturer in Asia, the Company was founded in 1955.
“As a result of the Company’s manufacturing expertise, YTO Group Corporation is a Company that we can introduce to participate in the agricultural transformation agenda of Niger State and Nigeria through their main authorised vendor; Tee-Pama Nigeria Limited in order to supply tractors and other farm equipments like Harrows, Plough, Harvesters among others.
“YTO brand has a lot of economic benefits as it is a 2024 model Tractor with Eighty HorsePower (80HP) and fuel consumption of four and half litres per honour when compared to other brands” Akintunde stressed.
He said the YTO equipment are technologically tracked to identify their location for security purposes emphasising that the tractors among other farm implements manufactured by Company, are highly durable and cost effective hence the need to partner the state government to deliver mechanised Agriculture to the good people of Niger State.  
He expressed optimism that the Company will have a robust partnership with the State Government through the Ministry of Agriculture in line with the agricultural agenda of the present administration.

By Anthony Nwachukwu
No fewer than 2,000 indigent students across the country will benefit from the 2024 scholarship of the Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation (AAAF), as the philanthropic arm of SIFAX Group sets a huge target for the year.
The Executive Coordinator, AAAF, Foluke Ademokun, who disclosed this while reviewing the non-governmental organisation’s activities for the first quarter the year, said the initiative is aimed at supporting indigent parents, as well as tackling the menace of out-of-school children.

“We are focused on helping the government to reduce the number of out-of-school children,” she said.
“So, in our way, we have provided a platform where we source and pay school fees for indigent students across Nigeria so they can access quality education, despite the financial circumstance of their parents or guardians.
“We have been doing this since the inception of the foundation about 15 years ago. Thousands of underprivileged children have benefitted from the foundation.
“In the first quarter of 2024, we have paid for over 237 students in Lagos and Zaria and are optimistic that before the end of the year, we will reach over 2,000 students. The AAAF also plans to equip the students with in-demand skills, promote life-long learning opportunities, and reduce inequalities in access to quality education.”
According to Ademokun, AAAF also extended support to Umunna Comprehensive Secondary School, Umuosu, in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State with 3-in-1 desks and seats to foster a good learning environment and improve the students’ overall learning experience.
“When we visited the school and saw that the environment, especially the tables and desks, were not conducive for learning, we knew that an intervention was necessary to make the school attractive to the students,” she explained.
Other projects executed by the AAAF and SIFAX Group in the first quarter of the year, according to Ademokun, included daily meals for the indigents and start-up grants for women in Zaria, Kaduna State, and foodstuffs to over 1,000 Lagos residents.
Others were also free medical outreaches in Lagos and Ogun states, digital training for market women in Lagos, and distribution of energy-efficient stoves to women in Abia State.
Commenting on the various projects, the Executive Director, Corporate and Governmental Affairs, SIFAX Group, Basil Agboarumi, said the company was committed to investing in underprivileged Nigerians through its various intervention projects aimed at improving the quality of their lives.

From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Kogi State House of Assembly has screened and confirmed a new Commissioner Nominee, Hon. Acharu Okpanachi whose name was transmitted to by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for screening and approval.
Okpanachi who was screened and confirmed at Wednesday plenary sitting of the House in Lokoja hails from Idah Local Government Area in Kogi East Senatorial District of the state.

Upon her appearance for the screening and after reading her resume, a member of the House representing Idah State Constituency, Hon. Usman Ochidi moved that the nominee be honoured by asking her to take a bow and leave.
Ochidi described her as a loyal APC member who had contributed immensely to the success of the party in Idah and its environs.
He held that in view of her contributions aside from encouraging and giving opportunity for more women to join the cabinet of His Excellency, Governor Ododo, she should rather be congratulated than subjected to questions.
Chairman of the Committee of the Whole who is also Speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, acting on the overwhelming support for the motion, asked the nominee to take a bow and go.
Meanwhile, the 7th Legislative Assembly in the State also at Wednesday’s plenary gave First Reading to a private member Bill for the protection of the rights and dignity of persons living with HIV and AIDS in Kogi State.
The bill was titled: “A Bill For A Law To Provide For The Prevention Of HIV And AIDS Based Discrimination And Protection Of The Rights And Dignity Of People Living With And Affected By HIV And AIDS And For Other Related Matters, 2024.”
The Bill is being supported by a coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working on HIV/AIDS in the state, led by the Initiative for Grassroots Advancement in Nigeria (INGRA).
It was presented to the House at plenary on Thursday March 29, by its sponsor, Hon. Bin Ebaiya Shehu-Tijjani (APC-Lokoja I).
The Bill, when passed into law, is expected to among others, prohibit all forms of stigmatization and discrimination against Persons Living with HIV (PL-HIV) in the state.
In similar vein, a Bill on Multi-door Court House and other matters connected therewith, bill 2024, was also given First Reading at Wednesday’s plenary as the House thereafter adjourned sitting to 30th April.