HOW TO START CHICKEN FARMING?

 By Ayodele Ifasakin 

The process of growing chickens for a variety of purposes, including meat production and egg laying, is referred to as "chicken farming," also known as "poultry farming." 

HOW TO START CHICKEN FARMING? 

From hatching until market ready or egg production, a chicken's lifespan must be carefully managed at a chicken farm. It necessitates an expertise of marketing tactics, housing, nutrition, and health management. Depending on the size and objectives of the enterprise, different farming systems, such as free-range, intensive, or organic, might be adopted.

◾️Chicken farming systems 

It's crucial to comprehend the various farming systems offered before starting a chicken farming enterprise. These are the top three types:

Free-range farming: In this method, chickens are allowed to forage naturally and exercise outdoors without restriction. To safeguard the birds from predators and bad weather, sufficient area, fence, and shelter are needed.

Intensive farming: Chickens are raised in cramped conditions, usually indoors, in intensive systems such as battery cage system and slatted floor system. With regulated settings, automated feeding systems, and customized housing, these systems put a strong emphasis on increasing output efficiency.

Organic farming: Organic poultry production adheres to stringent regulations that forbid the use of antibiotics, hormones, and artificial chemicals. Natural feed, access to outdoor spaces, and overall animal wellbeing are stressed.

◾️Poultry breeds suitable for South Africa

The success of your chicken farming enterprise depends on your choice of poultry breed. Think about things like local availability, market demand, climate, and manufacturing objectives. Popular breeds of chicken that are appropriate for South Africa include:

Breeds designed specifically for the production of meat, such as broilers, grow quickly and convert feed into meat effectively.

Breeds of layers are renowned for having a high egg production rate. They are suitable for businesses that produce eggs.

Dual-purpose breeds: These varieties can produce both meat and eggs, giving farmers who want to diversify their businesses more flexibility.

◾️Identifying goals and objectives

Before starting your chicken farming business, clearly define your goals and objectives. Determine if you aim to focus on meat production, egg production, or both. Consider factors such as target markets, production volume, and growth projections.

◾️Conducting market research

Thorough market research is essential to understand the demand for poultry products in your target area. Analyze market trends, consumer preferences, and competition. Identify potential customers, such as retailers, wholesalers, or direct consumers, and assess their requirements.

◾️Financial considerations and budgeting

Create a comprehensive financial plan for your chicken farming business. Consider the costs involved in acquiring land, constructing housing and infrastructure, purchasing equipment, procuring chicks or hatching eggs, feed expenses, labor, veterinary services, and marketing. Develop a budget that accounts for both startup costs and ongoing operational expenses.

Additionally, explore potential sources of funding, such as loans, grants, or government programs, to support your venture.

Beginners can build a strong basis for their chicken farming enterprise in South Africa by comprehending the fundamentals of chicken farming systems, choosing suitable poultry breeds, and creating a sound business plan. These first actions lay the groundwork for later decisions about infrastructure, tools, and management techniques.

◾️Setting Up Your Chicken Farm

Choosing a suitable site: The success of your poultry farm depends on where you decide to locate it. Think about the following elements:

Accessibility: Pick a site that is convenient for the transit of supplies, inputs, and outputs. Costs are kept to a minimum and effective logistics are ensured.

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Market proximity is important since it has an impact on shipping costs and the freshness of your items. It might present better market chances to be near distribution centers or urban areas.

Resources are accessible: Make sure that you have access to necessities like water, electricity, and feed ingredients. Water supply that is adequate and dependable is crucial for chicken production.

Consider the local climate and weather while evaluating environmental issues. The health and productivity of your chickens might be impacted by extreme temperatures, humidity, or recurrent disease outbreaks.

◾️Building infrastructure and housing

To create a comfortable environment for your chickens, it is essential to build sufficient infrastructure and housing. Think about the following elements:

Designing and constructing suitable chicken house in accordance with the farming method (free-range, intensive, or organic) is important. To encourage wholesome growth and production, make sure there is enough room, suitable ventilation, and insulation.

Security and safety: Take precautions to keep your chickens safe from predators, theft, and the spread of disease. To reduce dangers, put up fencing, protect your locks, and think about biosecurity procedures.

Areas for nesting and roosting: Give hens cozy boxes in which to lay their eggs. Install platforms or roosting poles for the chickens to sit on and relax.

To properly manage chicken dung, create a waste management system. If applicable, think about composting it or using it as agricultural fertilizer. 

◾️Procuring equipment and supplies

Equip your chicken farm with the necessary tools and supplies for smooth operations. Some essential equipment and supplies include:

Feeding and watering systems: Install appropriate feeders and waterers to ensure easy access to feed and water for your chickens. Choose equipment that is suitable for your chosen farming system.

Lighting and heating equipment: Provide adequate lighting for the desired photoperiod (daylight hours) to stimulate growth and reproduction. In colder climates, consider heating equipment to maintain optimal temperature conditions.

Handling and processing equipment: Depending on your business goals, invest in equipment such as egg incubators, egg graders, brooders, and slaughter equipment.

Feed and supplements: Identify reputable suppliers of quality poultry feed and supplements. Ensure a reliable and consistent supply to meet the nutritional needs of your chickens.

◾️Ensuring biosecurity measures

To stop and stop the spread of diseases on your hen farm, biosecurity measures are crucial. Think about the following techniques:

Regulated access: Keep only authorized people on your farm. Implement biosecurity procedures for clients and staff, including cleaning and protective gear.

Disease prevention: Follow the immunization regimens advised by veterinarians and practice excellent cleanliness to prevent disease. To stop the spread of disease, quarantine fresh birds before integrating them into existing flocks.

Pest and predator control: Controlling pests and predators is essential if you want to prevent diseases from spreading to your flock of hens. Use effective pest control techniques and secure your chicken coop to keep out intruders.

Sanitation and hygiene: Keep the farm's surroundings tidy and hygienic. To reduce the danger of disease, regularly clean and disinfect your property, your equipment, and other areas.

By carefully selecting the location, constructing suitable infrastructure, procuring necessary equipment and supplies, and implementing biosecurity measures, you can establish a well-prepared and protected chicken farm. These steps contribute to the health, safety, and productivity of your chickens, ensuring a strong foundation for your business.

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Lagos launches Last Mile Meat Shops & Butchers Academy

AgegePulse Magazine 

The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya cutting the tape

The Lagos State Government has taken giant steps towards revamping the process of selling red meat in the metropolis by ensuring proper hygiene before the product gets to the final consumers.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya disclosed this in Alausa at the launching of the last Mile Meat Shops and Butchers Academy

She said that the initiative was to give residents confidence on what they consume while also making it look presentable with standard facilities to encourage youth to come into the space. 

The commissioner further noted that the essence of the initiative was for residents to embrace butchery and correct the erroneous impression that the profession is reserved for the unenlightened.

Olusanya noted that the 20 feet containers designed as pilot scheme for the initiative can be easily transferred from one location to another.

According to her, each meat shop is to be manned by four youth allocated a cow slaughtered at approved government abattoirs and brought to them under hygienic conditions and processes.

She therefore demanded for collaboration with the private sector to enlarge the scheme noting that they have started with 20 feet containers and hope to increase it soon to 40ft.

Going back memory lane, Abisola Olusanya explained that the initiative was part of the Lagos State Agriculture Roadmap adding that the initial plan was to have 20 for a start but was cut to 5 in the pilot scheme. 

According to her, the overhauling in the transportation sector led to the introduction of Eko Meat Van that ended the era of conveying meat through unwholesome practices.

She also pointed out that the Cattle feed lot in Lagos is ongoing and part of the promise made by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu led government which will be delivered soon.

On his part, the Chairman Lagos House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture,  Hon Emmanuel Olotu commended the ministry for introducing ideas that will bring food and comfort to the door steps of residents.

He urged the Butchers Association to ensure that they put into practice what they learnt during training at the Butchers Academy. 

The Chairman House Committee on Agriculture stressed that the Butchers must realise the fact that they are attending to over twenty million residents and should be wary of what they pass on to them.

While adding his voice, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola said that the iniative was a quality controlled measure in the state to give value for money. 

He assured that all the Meat Shops will sell in Kilogramme by weight for uniformity purpose.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr Emmanuel Audu described the event as groundbreaking adding issues around meat consumption is important for human existence.

He also disclosed that food safety cannot be overlooked recalling that COVID 19 had its root in an animal market in China. 

The Permanent Secretary further said that the initiative was to assist in value chains in meat distribution as safety and quality are being addressed with the launch.

Emmanuel Audu concluded that the Last Mile Meat Shops was a new dimension especially with youth involvement in the process and hope the project will receive full acceptance by Lagos residents.

In his goodwill message, the Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of  Butchers Association, Alhaji Kazeem Bakare thanked the Lagos State Government for iniating the project described as innovation to his members.

He said that the nature and value of cows slaughtered now is different from the one many years back.

According to him, the Butchers Association will embrace the new idea for safe handling of cow meat in the state promising that it will bring back some of members who have left the job for Okada and Marwa. 

Alhaji Kazeem Bakare urged other states in the country to embrace the innovation in order to restore sanity to the handling meat among their residents.

The Managing Director of Palilar Pal Meat International, Apostle Olawale Talabi appreciates the Governor for the opportunity, adding the vision of the Commissioner is coming to fruition.

He believes that the measure will guarantee high hygienic standard for the sale of meat to consumers in the state and allow the Butchers to earn more money.

Apostle Talabi further said that there is huge market for cow meat in Lagos noting that over 2,500 were slaughtered on a daily basis.

He disclosed that plans are underway to have the Meat Shops across the metropolis.

The Last Mile Meat Shops are located in Ijeh area of Dolphin Estate, Surulere and Mushin.

Lagos, Niger, Kwara State Establish Partnership for Improved food security, reduction of waste

 AgegePulse Magazine

(2nd Left) Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya with her counterparts, Commissioner for Agriculture & Rural Development, Kwara State, Mrs Oloruntoyosi Thomas and Commissioner for Industry, Trade, Investment and Private Sector Development, Niger State, Mr. Aminu Suleman Takuma. 

The Lagos State Government has kicked off partnership programme with Niger and Kwara states towards bridging food supply-demand gaps under the Produce-4-Lagos initiative. 

As a market-city State, Lagos is consumer-centric and requires large quantities of food to cater for its population's needs.

Looking inward first, the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture is supporting local Lagos farmers to boost food production particularly in livestock, fisheries and horticulture. In large commercial quantities, Niger and Kwara, as part of the broader picture of attaining Mr. President's food security agenda, have the competitive and comparative production edge in fulfilling the Lagos demand.

"President Tinubu made an executive order last year July around food security and he has lined up programmes to achieve this, particularly towards stemming the food inflation and ensuring youths are actively engaged in Agriculture and more importantly on how to scale food production.

These statement was made at the meeting held at The Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja by the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya with her counterparts, Commissioner for Agriculture & Rural Development, Kwara State, Mrs Oloruntoyosi Thomas and Commissioner for Industry, Trade, Investment and Private Sector Development, Niger State, Mr. Aminu Suleman Takuma. 

"Kwara shares a border with Nigeria Niger, they have the land, people and capabilities to produce. This is an agenda that we have for a lot of states in Nigeria not just Kwara and Niger states” Commissioner said

 

 

She stressed that historically, Nigeria is an Agro producing nation before the strength dwindled and it became expedient to reinvigorate the production capability of the states across Nigeria and ensure they are living up to their potential in terms of food production.

The Commissioner who assured of sustainability of the partnership said that governors of the respective states are already engaging but the meeting is to fine-tune and set the process in motion.

She said "We understand our positioning as a state, which is the market for West Africa, so we are making efforts to ensure our people continue to get cheaper, wholesome and quality food and ensure the general prosperity and health of our citizenry."

She added in the last four years the Agricultural Road Map and numerous partnerships by the state have yielded fruits with the establishment of the Lagos Central Food Security Systems and Logistics Hub, Middle level Agroproduce hub as well as Last Mile Markets created by the state government towards ensuring food security and sustainability.

Olusanya who hinted that the phase one of the Central Food Security Systems and Logistics Hub, Ketu-Ereyun, Epe would be completed and commissioned later this year also expressed readiness of the state to receive food supplies from other states as she emphasised the need to ensure steady food supply to the hubs.

According to her "There is nothing you bring to Lagos that will not sell, from tubers, to grains, and perishables because there is a target audience for it. It is not so much about reinventing the wheel, there are markets in Lagos for food items that come into the state.

"This will mark the beginning of collaboration with other states and subsequently we should be able to see better food pricing, reduced post-harvest loss and wealth creation for our farmers and value chain actors through improved revenues. We have to move in the direction that we are not just stopping in the area of production alone, value addition is key for us as a nation, to preserve, to keep our food longer and reduce wastage."

 

The Kwara State Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Thomas applauded the initiative which she described as a major milestone to boost agriculture in Nigeria, close the gaps of unemployment and increase food processing and production.

She said "It is a way of bridging gaps and building communities and empowering our farmers and it is about ensuring that there is food security. We are happy to key into this to be able to feed kwarans first before we can feed Lagos and Nigeria as a whole."

On his part, the commissioner Ministry of Industry, Trades, Investment and Private Sector Development of Niger state, Mr. Aminu Takuma mentioned that the move will go a long way to further transform the agricultural strategy of Niger state to blossom and yield the needed fruits for economic growth.

He said "What we have done today, is what will make the Agricultural Transformation strategy of Niger state work. Because the Governor has kick started it with the preparation of 600 hectares of land for cultivation. This will be allocated youth for cultivation and government will provide inputs input including the seeds and fertilizer. 

He added that the thinking initially was who will offtake, now we have an off-taker, because we are going to be the producing state while Lagos will be the consuming state. What we need to know now is what producce do they want in Lagos, because everything you throw to the ground in Niger state grows."

He is optimistic that the relationship will engender robust development in the area of improving the food system while looking at other states coming on board to further develop the Agriculture ecosystem.

Speaking earlier, Mr Cezar Rizzi representing the Campo, a technical partner from Brazil said that the partnership would benefit both countries as it has successfully engaged some other African countries such as Angola, Mozambique, Zambia, Uganda and Kenya, stressing that South America is a tropical areas with similar climate like Nigeria and could help to improve the Agriculture productivity in such as Cattle and poultry production among others.

15,000 LAGOS TRADERS GET N50,000 CASH SUPPORT, AS SANWO-OLU LAUNCHES MARKET PALLIATIVE SCHEME

AgegePulse Magazine  

-Governor commissions middle-level Fresh Food Market in Mushin, expands food supply chain

 15,000 LAGOS TRADERS GET N50,000 CASH SUPPORT, AS SANWO-OLU LAUNCHES MARKET PALLIATIVE SCHEME

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday, launched a fresh palliative scheme for low-income traders across local markets in the State, as part of measures being taken to cushion the effect of the current economic realities. 

The Governor rolled out Lagos Market Trader Money, which, in the first phase, will provide N50,000 business support grants to 15,000 struggling traders across the 57 Local Government Areas of the State. 

Sanwo-Olu announced the scheme in Idi-Oro, Mushin, where he led the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat and cabinet members, to commission a newly constructed middle-level Fresh Food Agro hub built by the State Government to sustain food supply chain.

The Governor said market leaders in each council had been asked to nominate 200 each in community markets in all the councils, with the list cutting across small markets. Disbursement of funds to beneficiaries, he said, would begin on Monday (tomorrow), with Ministry of Agriculture coordinating the payment.

He said: “As part of the measures to cushion the effect of the current economic realities, we have come up with an intervention for all low-income market women and men struggling to sustain their micro and small businesses in this period. Today, we are launching Lagos Market Trader Money, which is a palliative measure to support traders in our local markets.

“The first 15,000 beneficiaries will be getting a support of N50,000 from the State Government. Traders in big markets are excluded from this scheme. Leaders of community markets across 57 local councils will submit 200 names each that must be divided among 10 markets in each domain. Beyond this, the Iyaloja and Babaloja (market leaders) will personally select additional 50 beneficiaries each.”

The scheme, Sanwo-Olu said, will be extended to markets in military and police barracks, which would provide 750 beneficiaries of the support grant.

The Governor said inauguration of the middle-level Fresh Food Agro Market in Mushin was another milestone achieved by his administration towards realising food security objectives. He stressed that the facility, which is the first in the State, heralded a turning point in Lagos food distribution system and modernisation of existing markets. 

The Sanwo-Olu administration, in 2021, initiated a roadmap for a coordinated food security and distribution network in Lagos, embarking on the construction of Food Security Systems and Central Logistics Park in Ketu-Ereyun, Epe. This central hub will serve middle-level markets across the Local Government Areas.

The State Government has a plan to build 50 middle-level agro hubs, with the Governor disclosing that plans were underway to construct three of such markets in Agege, Ajah and Abule Ado. 

Sanwo-Olu said his administration adopted food system transformation initiative as a measure to improve existing market system in Lagos, which, he said, was inundated by wastages, post-harvest losses, traffic congestion and logistical inefficiencies that regularly resulted in loss of over 50 per cent of perishable agricultural produce.

He said: “This formal commissioning of a middle-level Agro Produce hub in Idi Oro, Mushin, is another milestone towards achieving our food security objectives. This facility, which is the first in the State, heralds a turning point in the State food distribution system. This transformation journey is hinged on our five-year Agricultural Food System Roadmap, which reflects our passionate commitment to boosting food production, processing and marketing. 

The roadmap sets the stage for direct intervention, strategic collaboration and establishment of linkages with the private sector, financial institutions, foreign investors and multilateral agencies. Our food system are categorised into the Central Logistics Hub, Mid-level Agro-produce Hub, and the Last Mile Food Distribution outlets. Inefficiencies observed in the existing market system make it imperative to address the central problem of the food supply systems.

“These efforts have continued to yield the desired result in increased food production. The middle-level Agro Produce hub will pave the way for the modernisation, reorganisation and presentation of state-of-the-art data-driven food and agriculture systems where players and actors in the marketing chain interact freely. This will also address prevailing market challenges of inadequate infrastructure, food shortage, high degree of fragmentation and standardisation.”

Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, said the middle-level Fresh Food market maximized storage of wet and dry food to cut down losses and waste. She added that the facility had addressed unhealthy display of food items by traders, while affording consumers to utilise economic of scale and buy large quantities of fresh farm produce at the affordable prices. 

“This will give consumers a new experience of shopping for fresh Agro products in a safe environment that caters for their needs. This sustainable model of food production and supply system is being pioneered by Governor Sanwo-Olu. This is the right way to go for us as a country to ensure food security is taken seriously,” the Commissioner said.

Iyaloja of Mushin, Alhaja Taibat Borokinni, led traders to the Governor to show their appreciation for the completion of the market and the palliative scheme.

She said: “It is our turn today to benefit from the good initiative introduced by our Governor to improve our markets. This gesture is the reciprocation of our support for Governor. We have never regretted our decision and we will support other initiatives being taken to better the lives of market men and women.”

Member representing Mushin Federal Constituency 2, Hon. Toyin Fayinka, thanked the Sanwo-Olu for seeing to the completion of the market project. He said Mushin became the first council to make the food security vision of the Governor a reality.

“This is a wake up call to other Local Governments to give chance to projects like this in their domains in order to support food security agenda of the State Government,” Fayinka said.

LAGOS, KANO SIGN MoU FOR ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP, INVESTMENT

...Set Up Technical Working Group To Oversee Implementation

Agege Pulse Magazine

The Lagos and Kano State Governments on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for economic partnership and to jointly explore investment opportunities aimed at creating jobs and facilitating growth and development.

The MoU, which was signed by Governors Akinwunmi Ambode and Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Lagos and Kano States respectively, at the closing ceremony of the inaugural Lagos-Kano Economic and Investment Summit held at the Jubilee Chalets, Epe, seeks to create a common platform for exploring, expanding and developing areas of economic development and Investment.

According to the MoU, the two States agreed to expand the current level of economic and investment cooperation between them especially in key areas of Governance, Security, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), Agricultural Value Chain, Tourism, Education, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Skills Development.

Other areas include Commerce with specific focus on ease of doing business and Infrastructure in Power, Transportation and Urban Waste Management.

The objectives of the MoU, among others, are to establish a formal and flexible framework between the two States to expand trade and investment cooperation, foster scientific and technological collaboration for business development in emerging key sectors, strengthen communication, enhance trust, boost economic development and create jobs.

Under the agreement, the two States have also set up a Technical Working Group to oversee the implementation of the objectives of the MoU.

In her closing remarks, Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, said the signing of the MoU by Governor Ambode and Governor Ganduje was a clear testament of the commitment of both States to collaborate in the overall best interest of the people.

She said the two Governors, by the development, "are telling the entire world that collaboration, cooperation, partnership can always work to bring about economic sufficiency in our States and off course the entire nation."

While describing the summit as historic and successful, Adebule said the programme witnessed presentations from experts, erudite minds, scholars from both public and organised private sector with numerous positions expressed and outlined .

She said: "In this process, our minds have been availed with torrents of ideas, information, statistics, interpretation and above all vision and collaboration leading to economic sufficiency.

"I am convinced that the most valuable outcome of this engagement is the fact that we have Governors who have vision and have the opportunity of sharing this vision. Today, we are not just sharing the vision but providing an enabling environment for this vision to be actualized.

"Today, we have the political will; today, the political will has been demonstrated and it signifies the fact that we are ready for business. Lagos and Kano mean business and we are ready for business," the Deputy Governor said.

Yuletide: Lagos set to commence sale of Lake Rice

...Available in Oko Oba Agege, Ikeja, Ojo, Ikorodu, Others

The Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Oluwatoyin Suarau has assured all residents in Lagos of the present administration’s commitment to continue the sale of Lake Rice, especially during the forthcoming yuletide through adequate production and a fair distribution of the rice across the State.

Speaking on the preparation for the sale of the Lake Rice recently in his Office, the Commissioner said the product would be made available to the masses at the various accredited centres during the festive period and beyond.

He said, “Residents can buy the product from the Lagos Television (LTV) Complex, Agidingbi-Ikeja; Farm Service Centre Odogunyan-Ikorodu; Farmers Mart Surulere; Lagos Agric Input Supply Authority (LAISA) Ojo; Agricultural Development Authority (ADA) Oko Oba, Agege; Farmers Mart, Ajah and Farm Service Centre, Temu-Epe.”

The Commissioner informed that the need to ensure that Lake Rice circulates into the nooks and crannies of the State is key in government’s drive to attain food sufficiency, adding that food production and self-sufficiency have been given priority attention in line with the State’s policy.

While noting that the prices for the different bags of rice have not changed, Suarau stressed that this administration will continue to maintain the publicised price of the product in order to make it affordable for the citizens.

He added that that monitoring mechanism has been put in place to ensure fair sales of the product in all centres on the basis of first-come, first-served, adding that the government is doing everything possible to ensure that residents get the products at the nearest designated centres without any problem and in an atmosphere devoid of rancour.

COWLSO: Gov. Ambode Charges Women on Entrepreneurial Skills, Productiveness - AgegePulse

 Urges women not to be afraid of being more successful than  husbands

…Ambode’s infrastructural drive revolutionary, says Bindow

COWLSO urges govt to provide lands, grants for women in agri-business

The Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) on Thursday concluded its three-day National Women Conference, with a charge on women to step up their entrepreneurial skills and not be afraid of being more successful than their spouses.

The Committee also urged women to take full advantage of the paradigm shift from Nigeria’s dependence on oil and explore the many opportunities available in the fast growing agricultural industry.

This was part of the 22-point communiqué reached at the conclusion of the Conference with the theme, “She Creates, She Transforms”, held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos and read by the wife of the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello.

“Women were charged to step up and not be afraid of being more successful than their spouses and they must be willing to invest more to expand their pool of income,” the communiqué read in part.

The Conference also tasked women to embrace entrepreneurial disposition and also get more involved in animal husbandry because of their prudence and passion, in order to increase daily production in the country, while government should also provide lands and conducive environment for women farmers.

Besides, women were encouraged to help one another by introducing themselves to organizations where funds could be accessed such as Fund for Agricultural Finance in Nigeria (FAFIN), Bank of Industry, among others.

“Women should be solution providers that are purpose-driven rather than looking for immediate financial profits. These give opportunities to contribute towards improving the society.

“The Conference reiterated that women must be empowered in order to take care of the family, community and the nation.

The conference also stressed the fact that women should be positively aggressive and assertive in order to contribute to the development of the nation,” the communiqué also read.

The Conference also appreciated the Lagos State Government for empowering women through its skill acquisition programme.

In her closing remarks, COWLSO Chairman and Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode said it was important for Nigerian women to understand that they are in a unique situation at this point in time, and must see the current reality in the country not as a hopeless situation but an opportunity for entrepreneurial ambition to make a positive impact in a challenging situation.

While making reference to one of the sessions at the conference which focused on agriculture, Mrs. Ambode said women should have good mentors, be consistent and persist in doing the right things, noting that challenges should be seen as mere stepping stones that do not kill.

She said: "I urge all participants to make the best use of all they learnt at the conference for their personal benefits. You should also please endeavour to pass on the knowledge acquired."
Declaring the conference closed, Adamawa State Governor, Senator Jubrilla Bindow, who was the Special Guest of Honour, lauded the sterling performance of his counterpart in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode in office so far, describing his infrastructural renewal efforts as unprecedented and revolutionary.

Bindow said Governor Ambode, through his brilliant works, had confirmed to Nigerians that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was committed to bring about positive change in the country.
Bindow, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr. Martins Babale, said despite the complexities of governing a State with unique peculiarities like Lagos, Governor Ambode had performed creditably well in key sectors, adding that he was indeed proud to associate himself with the achievements, and described his counterpart as a worthy leader.

He said: “Let me end this short address by very sincerely commending my dear brother, His Excellency, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for his sterling performance as the Governor of Lagos State. I know the complexities of governance especially in a highly urban and sophisticated setting like Lagos, but I also acknowledge that my brother has done wonderfully.

“I must say with Ambode’s performance here in Lagos and our achievements in transforming Adamawa State, our party, the APC has glaring signpost of positive change to showcase to Nigerians any day anytime.

“As if working as twins, both my humble self and Governor
Ambode have addressed infrastructure in a very revolutionary manner in our states. This is in addition to commitments in areas of education, health and human services. I am proud to associate myself with my brother the Governor of Lagos State and I am proud of him as a person and as a leader,” Bindow said.

He also commended COWLO leadership and members for coming up with the conference which focused on engaging women positively at a time when others were discussing hate speeches, saying that it was indeed gratifying that the conference deliberated on positive causes and promotion of values.

Earlier, Governor Ambode congratulated the over 2,500 participants at the conference for successfully undergoing three days of networking and experience, saying that from reports, the conference had been very intensive and knowledge-driven.

“We are looking forward to seeing more of this creative and transformative impact on women in Lagos State. Like I always say, our government will always be there to support you and help you to achieve your aspirations,” Governor Ambode said.

Besides, the Governor encouraged women to key into the 22-point communiqué issued at the end of the conference with the view to positively making use of same for the overall benefit of themselves and the State.

EID FESTIVE: Lagos to sell Lake Rice in Agege, Orile-Agege, other locations

As part of its commitment to boost food security in the state, the Lagos state Government is set to commence another batch of sales of Lake Rice in preparation for the forthcoming Eid-El-Kabir celebration.

In a statement signed by the Asst. Director, Public Affairs of the Ministry of Agriculture, Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, the sales of rice have been scheduled to commence on Thursday 24th August 2017 in various centers across the state.

Disclosing the news in his office today, the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon Oluwatoyin Suarau divulged that the present administration, has since inception, embarked on agricultural policies and programs that will enhance the availability of food in the state adding that it will always remain committed to ensuring that the state remains a food secured place.

The Commissioner stated further that the Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwumi Ambode has approved the following Centers for the distribution and sales of Lake rice for the Eid-Il-Kabir celebration. They are: the 57 Local Government and Local Council Development Areas; the Agricultural Development Authority Complex Oko-oba, Agege; LTV Blue Roof Complex, Agidingbi, Ikeja, and other designated centers across the state.

He added that the prices still remain the same as 50kg bag of Lake Rice will be sold for N12,000, 25kg for N6,000, and 10kg for N2,500. Suarau noted that the rice is for all Lagosian irrespective of their religion or tribe.