Agriculture: Backbone of the Economy, Hope of the Youths.

Agriculture, the production of food and livestock and the purposeful tendering of plants and animal has been described as the most important sector of the Nigeria economy which holds a lot of potentials for the future economic development of the nation as it had done in the past. Blessed with abundant land and water resources, Nigeria’s agricultural sector has a high potential for growth.  

Before the advent of oil in the 1960s, the Nigerian agricultural sector was doing very well and the country could fend for itself in all ramifications.  With the steady decline in oil revenue, it is not difficult to see why attention is shifting to the Nigeria long neglected agricultural sector.

The new wave of Agricultural revolution:

The unprecedented crash of the crude oil price from June 2014 in the international market and the subsequent devaluation of the Naira  by the Federal Government have been described as a pointer to the fact that the salvation of the Nigerian economy in the future depends on massive agricultural revolution and local manufacturing. The notion held in the past by large percentage of African youths that Agriculture is a primitive vocation meant for the uneducated rural peasant engulfed in a vicious cycle of poverty and not what a young person should practice, is gradually changing.

DANGER SIGNS THAT YOU ARE STRESSED!!

The term “stress” is conceptualized in many different ways by psychologists. Simply put, stress just means “effort, demand upon energy “. Almost anything can create this stress position; a loud noise, approaching deadline, revision, late transport, being stranded, traffic gridlock, blackout, uncooperative spouse or even simply getting up in the morning. Stress is defined as an organism’s complete reaction to environmental demands or pressures. The term was used to refer to both the reason and the experienced effects of these pressures. For many people, stress is so common place that it has become a way of life.

Stress isn’t always bad. In small doses, it can help you perform under pressure and motivate you to do your best. But when you’re constantly running in emergency mode, your mind and body pay the price. You can protect yourself by recognizing the signs and symptoms of stress and taking steps to reduce its harmful effects. 

BODY RESPONSES

It is important to learn how to recognize when your stress levels are out of control. The most dangerous thing about stress is how easily it can creep upon you. You can even get used to it. It starts to feel familiar, even normal. You don’t notice how much it is affecting you as it takes a heavy toll. 

The signs and symptoms of stress overload can be almost anything. Stress affects the mind, body and behaviour in many ways and everyone experiences stress differently. Because of the wide spread damage stress can cause, it is important to know your own limit, but just how much stress is “too much” differs from person to person. Some people roll with the punches, while others crumble at the slightest obstacle or frustration. Some people even seem to thrive on the excitement and challenge of a high-stress lifestyle.

Business Loan for Corpers

 NYSC corpers that are entrepreneurs will soon get NYSC business loan support to either kickstart their business or expand while still serving.  The management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Friday announced that it had secured a N200 million bank facility for disbursement to corps members as loans for their entrepreneurship endeavours.

Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, the Director-General of the corps, said this when the Commander, Guards Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Musa Yusuf, paid a familiarisation visit to the NYSC Headquarters in Abuja.

The NYSC DG revealed that the corps was taking steps to ensure that having trained youth corpers, they were also equipped financially to pursue their business interests. He said a foundation had been put in place and that the NYSC foundation had recently approved the sum of N10 million as loans for corpers.

“A couple of months ago, I also approached Heritage Bank and Heritage Bank is setting aside the sum of N200 million under a package where corps members will get a soft loan and the only collateral they will have to drop will be their discharge certificate.

New Investment Opportunity in Cashew Nut Processing.

There is great investment opportunity for the processing and export of cashew nuts in Nigeria.

Cashews which are considered to be the number one crop in the world (after almonds), is at the moment in high demand, both for domestic consumption and for export.

Cashew plants don't begin to bear nuts for three to five years, and then another eight to 10 weeks is needed to develop them to full maturity.  They require a hot, humid climate to proliferate, which is why India, Brazil, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Nigeria are the largest raw cashew producers.

In Nigeria, Cashew nuts are produced in 28 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In 2004 alone. Nigeria's production of cashew amounted to 60,660 tonnes out of which, 30,510 tonnes were exported at a value of US$22.27 million.

The United States is the largest importer of cashew kernels, accounting for over 50 per cent of world imports.

Nigeria, indeed, is the 6th largest producer of cashew in the world after India, Brazil, Vietnam, Guinea Bissau and Tanzania. Like most African producers, most of Nigeria’s production are exported in raw form to India and Vietnam for processing and export with added value and benefits to those economies.

13-year-old CEO successfully runs 5-Employee, $200,000 in Sales Business.

 He is just 13, yet he has achieved more in his short years than most have by 30. His neckties have delivered $200,000 in deals, and he has five workers on finance which incorporate his mom and grandma. Also, he has been commended by Oprah's O Magazine, Steve Harvey and guide/FUBU organizer Daymond John.

His name is Moziah Bridges and he is the CEO of Mo's Bows. The young style architect began his organization in 2011 at the youthful age of nine when he requested that his grandma show him how to sew. He took her scraps of fabric and started making special neckties. Not long after, Mo's Bows started offering to nearby stores and on the web.

You can win up to €25,000 for your Innovative Start-up idea in the Orange African Social Venture Prize.

Orange is currently inviting applications for its fifth edition of the Orange African Social Venture Prize. This initiative aims to encourage innovative start-up projects from around the world which help to accelerate development on the African continent. The prize will recognise three projects with grants of €10 000, €15 000 and €25 000, along with six months of support from Orange experts. The first prize will also be offered a patent registration in the country of the project’s deployment.

The Orange African Social Venture Prize showcases entrepreneurs offering innovative products or services that meet the needs of Africans in various fields .Operating in 19 countries in Africa and the Middle East, Orange serves more than 100 million customers in the region and plays a major role in Africa’s economy and future development.

Orange’s main priorities is to improve connectivity, particularly in rural areas, and to introduce value-adding mobile services. The Group also supports entrepreneurs by offering a variety of support programmes, both to entrepreneurs seeking to create their own company and to mature start-ups.

Peer pressure: The number one cause of anorexia or bulimia in young adults.

People who suffer from eating disorders have an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of their weight and body shape. They believe themselves to be fat even when their weight is so low that their health is in danger. An anorexic severely restricts food intakes, and usually becomes extremely thin. The bulimic on the other hand eats excessively, followed by compensatory behaviour of physically eliminating the food by throwing up or using laxatives, right after her food cravings are satisfied.

Eating disorders develop during adolescence or early adulthood, but can also occur during childhood and late adulthood. Researchers estimate that more than 9o% of cases of eating disorder are diagnosed in females, while many cases in males go unreported.
What are the causes of eating disorders?
Most researchers agree that one of the most important causes of eating disorders is societal, media, family and peer pressure. There is the Western society pressure for women to be thin, which has been relayed to Africans and the rest of the world.  In addition, media images and hype about very thin models and actors cause many people to develop unrealistic expectations for their bodies.  Anxiety or depression due to physical, sexual and emotional abuse or loss of a loved  one can also contribute to the development of the illness.