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6th International Onion Conference: Empowering Women in the Onion Sector
By Shalom Oludele and Jameel Gulma
The 6th International Onion Conference, organized by the National Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN) and the Regional Observatory of Onion Sector in West and Central Africa (ROO/WCA), emphasized the need for enhanced training opportunities for women in the onion industry. The Mabera Women Cooperative revealed plans aimed at addressing storage issues and infrastructure challenges to reduce post-harvest losses and create more opportunities for women within the onion sub-sector.
The two-day event, themed “The Onion Sector in the Era of the Domestication of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Pan African Payment Settlement System (PAPSS): Challenges and Opportunities,” took place from October 15-16, 2024, at the International Conference Centre in Kasarawa, Sokoto State. Delegates from approximately fifteen African nations attended, including state governors, government officials, and stakeholders from various government and private sectors in Nigeria.
Key objectives of the conference included enhancing market access for onion producers and exporters, promoting the AfCFTA and PAPSS, fostering financial inclusion for onion exporters, encouraging sustainable agricultural practices, facilitating public-private partnerships, and tackling post-harvest losses and infrastructure issues.
The significance of public-private partnerships was highlighted as essential for promoting innovation, accessing new markets, and scaling production. Furthermore, the conference underscored the importance of regional collaboration to exchange best practices and enhance the integration of African markets through the AfCFTA framework.
In her keynote address, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director/CEO of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, emphasized the council’s role in increasing Nigeria’s exportable products and foreign exchange earnings. She noted that the conference theme reflects the commitment of key stakeholders to seize the opportunities presented by the AfCFTA, which offers significant export potential within Africa. “Sokoto State borders key ECOWAS countries, positioning it as a vital market for agricultural commodities like onions,” she stated, highlighting the need to enhance production, add value, and improve product standards to expand the exportable food basket.
Sokoto State Governor, Alh. (Dr.) Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, FCNA, PhD, expressed gratitude to NOPPMAN for establishing Sokoto State as Nigeria’s leading onion producer. He encouraged the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and NOPPMAN to attract investment for an onion processing factory in the state, assuring support from his administration to bolster the local economy.
NOPPMAN President, Alhaji Aliyu Isah Maitasamu, affirmed the relevance of the conference theme for the future of the onion sector and the broader agricultural value chain in Africa. He acknowledged the necessity for collaboration among stakeholders to achieve the conference’s goals.
As part of the conference, the Raw Materials and Research Development Council (RMRDC) introduced a comprehensive roadmap for onion policy development in Nigeria, presented in a 100-page document prepared by experts across various sectors, including production, processing, and exportation. Professor Nnanyelugo Martin Ike-Muonso, Director General of the council, commended NOPPMAN’s president for his dedication to the onion sub-sector.
Addressing agricultural challenges like climate change, low modernization levels, and financial access, Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Dr. Nasir Idris, represented by Agriculture Commissioner Hon. Shehu Muazu, unveiled the “Kaura Agricultural Development Agenda” (KADAGE). The program has distributed 500 tonnes of fertilizers and 5,000 solar power units to farmers, further strengthening Kebbi State’s position in onion production and fostering knowledge sharing among communities.
During a panel discussion, delegates highlighted significant challenges facing onion exports, citing the sector’s informal nature and currency recognition issues that hinder proper repatriation of export proceeds. They recommended linking export forms with the Pan African Payment Settlement System to facilitate repatriation within Africa, thereby addressing smuggling concerns and easing trade formalization.
The conference also noted inaccuracies in data published by the National Agricultural Extension and Liaison Services (NAERLS) regarding onion production and export. It called for collaboration between NAERLS and NOPPMAN to ensure accurate data collection and reporting.
The conference concluded with a call for government support, particularly from the Central Bank of Nigeria, to educate farmers and traders on utilizing the AfCFTA and PAPSS effectively.
The newly elected executives of ROO/WCA were inaugurated, with Alhaji Aliyu Isah Maitasamu taking over as president. The outgoing president, Alhaji Mustapha Kadiri, expressed gratitude to the Sokoto State government for its hospitality and assured stakeholders that the new president would adeptly manage the onion sector’s affairs.
The conference culminated in the presentation of awards to deserving stakeholders.
A group of concerned citizens has raised the alarm over an alleged plot to sabotage President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reforms on local refineries.
The group, Concerned Nigerians led by its National Coordinator Obinna Francis, claims to have uncovered a sinister plot to stop the supply of crude oil to domestic refineries.
According to Francis, the plot is being orchestrated by a cabal within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), in collaboration with importers of fake petrol.
The group alleges that this cabal is seeking to undermine the government’s economic reforms, which have led to a significant reduction in fuel prices and a subsequent decrease in the cost of food items.
The concerned citizens believe that the plot is driven by a desire to return Nigeria to the era of petrol importation and the reintroduction of subsidies.
They argue that cutting off crude oil supply to domestic refineries would create a shortage of refined products, forcing the country to import fuel.
The group claims that the cabal has been manipulating officials in the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to justify the planned refusal to supply crude oil to local refineries.
They also allege that the cabal has the support of individuals seeking regime change, who hope to capitalize on public anger and protests to bring down the government.
Francis added: “The members of the cabal, working through certain officials of NNPCL, have been manipulating their colleagues in the NUPRC, which has responsibility for overseeing the supply of crude oil to refineries in Nigeria.
“Their plot includes sabotaging exploration and distribution infrastructure to justify the planned refusal to cut off crude supplies. This unholy alliance has the support of individuals who have been angling for a regime change.
“Our suspicion is that while the NNPCL/NUPRC cabal pursue the monetary gains of truncating the steady supply of refined products, their political wing anticipates that a disruption in refining capacity would lead to petrol scarcity, drive fuel prices up and hike food prices with the attendant anger against the government of the day.
“They desire to weaponize such public anger into anti-government protests that would bring the administration down. We are concerned that if not stopped, this plot will undo all the gains that have been made in the implementation of economic reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government and doom us all.
“We are further concerned that such a plot at this critical time of our economic evolution would plunge the country into an abyss from which it may never resurface.”
The concerned citizens are calling on President Tinubu and the Department of State Services (DSS) to intervene and prevent the plot from being executed. They praised the president’s economic reforms, which have driven Nigeria towards energy sustainability and revived the oil industry.
The group warned that if the plot is not stopped, it would undo all the gains made by the government and plunge the country into economic chaos.
They urged the president to ensure that no one in NNPCL, NUPRC, or any other connected agency undermines the achievements recorded in the sector.
Actor-turned-politician Desmond Elliot has become a hot topic online after a video surfaced showing his emotional reaction on Monday, shortly after Mojisola Meranda resigned as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Earlier, SPEARNEWS reported that Ms Meranda announced her resignation during a plenary session.
Following her resignation, the impeached Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, was reinstated to his former position.
In a viral video, Mr Elliot, who represents Surulere Constituency 1 in the Assembly, was emotional over Ms Meranda’s resignation.
Dressed in a black native outfit, the 51-year-old attempted to deliver a farewell speech but was overcome with emotion and struggled to hold back tears.
At one point in the viral video, he found it difficult to continue speaking and requested that another lawmaker take the floor while he composed himself.
“Madam Speaker, can you allow others to speak first?” he asked.
Ms Meranda responded, “Have your seat,” prompting him to sit down, covering his face with one hand as he wiped away tears.
Seyi Lawal, an All Progressives Congress (APC) representative from Ikeja Constituency 1, was granted permission to speak in place of Mr Elliot, who has served in the House since April 2015.
Kano State government has made arrangements to feed 91,000 people in 91 designated centres during the 2025 Ramadan Feeding Programme.
Flagging off the feeding programme in m Fagge Local Government Area on Sunday evening, the Deputy Governor and Chairman of the programme, Alhaji Aminu Abdulsalam, said that that the initiative would run for 27 days.
He said that the programme was aimed at supporting vulnerable residents and would provide daily iftar meals to fasting Muslims, alleviating the challenges faced during Ramadan.
“Since the assumption of office, Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf, has institutionalised this initiative to support vulnerable residents by providing daily iftar meals during the holy month of Ramadan.
“The programme, which is part of the state’s annual humanitarian efforts, aims to alleviate the difficulties faced by fasting Muslims during Ramadan.
“Recognising the needs of the state’s large population of Ramadan observers, the Kano State Government remains committed to ensuring that relief reaches those in need,” he explained.
Abdulsalam expressed satisfaction with the seamless commencement of the initiative.
He further urged the catering companies involved to ensure prompt and efficient delivery of meals to all feeding centers, in order to achieve the programme’s objectives.
Abdulsalam was accompanied by key officials, including the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, as well as his counterpart in the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Sheikh Tijjani Auwal. (NAN)