AgriHub Plans to Take Made-in-Nigeria Food Global

In a bid to combat the recent economic turmoil and increasing dollar crunch, AgriHub has taken it upon itself to organize a workshop aimed at encouraging production of local food products that would easily replace the international brands on the shelves of retail stores and supermarkets in Nigeria.

The workshop is geared towards sensitizing the populace in patronizing “Made in Nigeria” products since it will be impossible to compel consumers to purchase substandard products in the name of patriotism. The workshop will also comprehensively educate Nigerian producers on how to improve Made-in-Nigeria products while ensuring they are competitive in terms of packaging, branding and quality.

While speaking on the AgriHub workshop, the facilitator, Aderinoye Aderonke, bore her mind on the challenges besetting entrepreneurs in the country: “The challenge with most entrepreneurs is they believe the capital outlay required in packaging their products to international standards is high. Another belief that seem to possess prominence is that one needs to travel and meet with foreigners to come up with designs and packaging solutions that would meet international standards. Meanwhile, a lot of these solutions can be sourced locally and are affordable.

The AgriHub workshop for May 2016, with the theme “Simple steps to take Made in Nigeria food” is a multisector workshop that will provide actionable solutions to food processing, packaging, marketing and distribution.  It will present solutions that are locally available and simple tips on how to market and reach a wide audience without breaking the bank.

It is also aimed at providing a learning and networking avenue for small and medium agribusiness owners and stakeholders to determine challenges and help improve current systems and procedures in doing business.

Experts in the field of branding, processing, packaging and marketing with experience spanning FMCGs and multinational organizations will facilitate sessions and provide insights on improved technologies and local available solutions affordable to small and medium agro processors to make their products compete globally. As part of the take-home benefits of the workshop, participants will be able to: address challenges in the food processing, identify affordable world class packaging solutions, identify new and traditional food marketing channels; determine business opportunities to export, determine business opportunities to import, understand the increasing shift from consumption of unpackaged, unbranded food to stronger demand for packaged and processed food, get onsite support and discount on photography, packaging and marketing solutions for your business, learn basic social media and IT hacks that can be used in promoting one’s business to a wider audience.

The workshop, which takes place on the 11th of May, 2015 at Quad T events Centre, Gbagada opposite UPS by 9am, is open to individuals who seek financial freedom through agro-business as well as small and medium agro-processors seeking to learn how to make their products global competitive using locally available solutions.

To register for the event visit www.agrihub.org

IamMindful Official Launch

Africa's indigenous youth platform "IamMindful" co-founded by Eniola Toluwalase and Tola Odumosu, had its official launch and released its mobile app at a colourful ceremony that took place in Lagos recently. The mobile app is geared at ensuring the platform meets its aims and objectives.

IamMindful is sponsored by Mindful of Youths Initiative, a Non-Governmental Organization, birthed to highlight the need for parents, adults and society at large, to be mindful of the issues that affect young people; such as their upbringing, career, relationships with different segments of society and of course, their total and all-round wellbeing.

IamMindfuls' main goal is to raise (and have in its official database) over 10,000,000 (Ten Million) people all over Nigeria and beyond, signed up on the #IamMINDFUL platform, with the aim to champion their drive of being mindful of issues that affect their lives, including but not limited to;
1. the way they live
2. the consequences of the choices they make
3. the impact of the friendships they form
4. The general outlook at life and how they respond to it.

The connecting link or heartbeat that neatly ties this together as an unbreakable anchor line, is for young people to progress beyond themselves and be mindful of issues that affect others, the society they live in (with footprints locally and globally) and to respond positively to same.

At its official launch party held at the Springboard Hall, Trinity Avenue, Ligali Ayorinde, Victoria Island, students and high profiled individuals were in attendance. Some of the guests present were renowned Nigerian actress Mrs Taiwo Ajai Lycett, Mr Evans Akere (CEO Vanskere), Mr Lanre Oyegbola (Chief Imagination Officer, Boomerang Africa), Mr Praise Fowowe (Relationship Coach), Mrs Omotayo Omotosho, Toby Grey, Mrs Yemisi Mobolurin and many more.

The campaign unveiled the brand ambassadors who will carry the message of the project to their fans and followers. These include the likes of Japheth Omojuwa, Mrs Taiwo Ajai Lycett, Teju BabyFace, Uti Nwachukwu, Segun Dangote, Toby Grey, Xtreme, Timix and Gospel Force.

The chairman and chief host of the initiative, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo spoke on mentorship as an effective tool for youths.

The Mindful Mobile app is available on Google play store and everyone is encouraged to download, upload their pictures and share what they are mindful of.