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FMN Launches 4th Season of Prize for Innovation, Focuses on Livestock Farming
**Set to hold a fireside Chat on Arise TV with Judges
**Confirms over 50% business scale-up for past winners
Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC (FMN), a diversified Pan-African consumer-centric food and agro-allied Company has announced the call for entries for the fourth edition of its FMN Prize for Innovation (PFI).
This year’s theme, Innovative Practices in Livestock Farming in Nigeria, highlights FMN’s commitment to promoting sustainable solutions that can transform the country’s livestock space and drive long-term economic growth.
Entries for the fourth season of the FMN PFI started on the 24th of January 2025 and are set to close on the 28th of February 2025 after a two-week extension. The Company also will hold a fireside chat on Arise TV morning show on the 20th of February 2025, an opportunity for the judges from the past three seasons to share their insights, learnings, and experiences.
The maiden edition of the FMN Prize for Innovation took place in 2021, an initiative designed to build a sustainable food system in Nigeria. The past three editions explored relevant themes that spotlighted innovative businesses and SMEs within the Food and agro-allied space.
Every year, the FMN Prize for Innovation will highlight an important part of the food value chain that is critical to the transformation and long-term development of the country’s food systems. Through the initiative, FMN has empowered entrepreneurs and young innovators whose groundbreaking inventions and ideas are progressively driving the Nation’s quest for food security. These success stories reinforce FMN’s role as a pioneer in building resilient food systems.
With this year’s theme, FMN aims to support innovative solutions that can overcome impediments to the attainment of long-term growth in livestock farming in Nigeria, thereby strengthening the livestock value chain and improving productivity across the sector.
Livestock farming plays a crucial role in Nigeria’s food security and economic development but continues to face challenges such as disease outbreaks, poor farm practices, limited access to modern technologies etc., FMN, through the PFI seeks to bring to the fore, innovative practices that can provide viable solutions to these existing and emerging challenges.
“Through the FMN Prize for Innovation (PFI), the Company continues to champion Nigeria’s Food security agenda,” said Mr. Boye Olusanya, GMD/CEO, FMN. “Since inception in 2021, we have nurtured, and financially supported about eight businesses whose scale up is over 50% based on the invaluable support and resources provided to them by the Company. Through our consistent actions and investments in Nigeria, we have demonstrated our unwavering commitment to local content development to reduce the nation’s dependency on imported raw materials.”
Also speaking on the sustainability of the initiative, Mr. Sadiq Usman, Group Director, Strategy and Stakeholder Relations, FMN stated “The sustenance of the FMN Prize for Innovation is premised on the process and the passion of the team that manages the process.
“Over the years, we have established a growth-driven process that ensures that we don’t just provide financial support for the winners of the prize but also provide them with insights and mentorship that ensures that they effectively utilize the funds for their business scale up. More so, by associating with the brand, they also have access to a platform that gives their products/ services a certain level of credibility that attracts investors, a reward that some of our past winners testified to.”
The competition is in two categories: one for Nigerian SMEs in the agro-allied sector, with practicable, scalable innovations in livestock farming, and the second is for students, encouraging them to propose bold, forward-thinking ideas on innovations in livestock farming. A panel of distinguished judges from the agriculture and investment sectors will select the winners. Substantial cash prizes ranging from N5 million for the top SME, N3, million, and N2 million for the first and second runners-up respectively. In the student category, winning ideas receive financial support of N300,000, N200,000, and N100,000 for the winner, first and second runners-up respectively. Winning participants also get the opportunity for a one-year mentorship and industry exposure to help scale their projects.
Since its inception, the FMN Prize for Innovation has played a pivotal role in advancing Nigeria’s agricultural sector. By addressing key challenges in livestock farming, this year’s edition further strengthens FMN’s mission to reduce import dependency, foster rural development, and drive economic diversification.
Interested applicants can visit https://www.fmnplc.com/prizeforinnovation/ or follow FMN’s social media platforms for more details.
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Pastor Ogbueli’s Abuja Night of Glory Holds Today
By Blaise Udunze
Momentum is gathering for the Abuja Night of Glory taking place today, Friday, December 5, 2025, at the main bowl of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.
The crusade is being hosted by Dominion City Church headed by Pastor David Ogbueli and it starts by 7pm.
The all-night programme will feature dynamic worship leaders like Nathanial Bassey, Dunsin Oyekan, Theophilus Sunday, Chioma Jesus, Kaestrings, Sunmisola Agbebi Okeleye, Minister GUC, Ebuka Songs, Anthony Kani, and DC Angels.
Reputed as a teacher of righteousness and anointed minister of the gospel, evidenced by the miracles that have trailed his ministry, and one who champions the cause of the poor through empowerment initiatives, Dr. David Ogbueli will be joined by renowned ministers from within and outside Nigeria, including Evangelist Andres Bisonni, Dr. Charles Ndifon, Evangelist Dan Scott, Apostle Ikechukwu Nnajiofor, and several others.
Night of Glory has, in previous editions held across Nigeria’s cities, recorded remarkable results, such as immediate healings and freedom from chronic ailments, recovery of vision and movement after many years of paralysis, along with liberation from dependencies and emotional distress. Numerous participants have also shared testimonies of breakthroughs and big personal changes after the experience. Organisers state that this year’s event, in Abuja, is anticipated to exceed previous editions.
The event is intended for all individuals trusting God for divine intervention in any area of life.
Understanding the role of faith in the destiny of individuals and nations, a dedicated prayer session for Nigeria will take place during the crusade to tackle some of the current challenges being faced in the country and also to uplift he leaders and institutions before God.
Attendance is free, and registration is encouraged via the QR codes on event banners. Organisers expect a massive turnout as worshippers travel from across the country for what is anticipated to be a transformative encounter.
Adequate security and free transportation have been put in place ALL over the city of Abuja, while those outside Abuja are expected to join online.
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Rivers Speaker, 15 Other Lawmakers Leave PDP for APC
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr Martin Amaewhule, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
At the plenary on Friday, Mr Amaewhule joined the ruling party from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), along with 15 other members of the state parliament.
This development comes some months after they had earlier declared their support for the APC in the wake of a crisis with the state governor, Mr Sim Fubura.
The lawmakers had an issue with Mr Fubura, which led to a state of emergency declared on the oil-rich state by President Bola Tinubu in March 2025.
This embargo was only lift in September 2025 after the duration of the six-month emergency rule in the state.
A few days ago, members of the Rivers Assembly passed a vote of confidence on President Tinubu, backing him to remain in office till 2031, when he would have spent eight years in office if re-elected in 2027.
Announcing their defection today, the lawmakers pinned their decision on the crisis rocking the PDP at the national level.
It is not certain if their political godfather, Mr Nyesom Wike, who is the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), will join them in APC.
Mr Wike, who governed Rivers State from 2015 to 2023, has been accused of instigating the crisis in the opposition PDP. He was expelled from the party last month at a national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
General
Nigeria Risks Brain Drain in Energy Sector—PENGASSAN
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has warned that Nigeria risks massive brain drain in the oil and gas sector due to poor remuneration.
The president of PENGASSAN, Mr Festus Osifo, said at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union on Thursday in Abuja that the industry was facing challenges arising from Naira devaluation and inflation, noting that, oil and gas skills remained globally competitive.
Painting an example, he said, “A drilling engineer in Nigeria does the same job as one in the US or Abu Dhabi,” noting that the union must take steps to bridge the wage gap to prevent members from leaving the country for better opportunities abroad.
“If we don’t act, the brain drain seen in other sectors will be child’s play,” he said.
According to him, PENGASSAN has recorded significant gains through collective bargaining across oil and gas branches.
“We signed numerous agreements across government agencies, IOCs, service and marketing sectors,” he said.
He said the agreements brought relief to members facing rising costs of living, adding that, the association’s duty is to protect members’ jobs and enhance their pay.
Mr Osifo urged companies delaying salary reviews and those foot-dragging as a result of the prevailing economic realities, to do the needful.
He said the industry employed some of the nation’s best talents, making competitive pay critical to retaining skilled workers.
“This industry recruits the best. Companies must provide the best conditions,” he said.
On insecurity, Mr Osifo urged government to take decisive action against terrorism and kidnappings across the country.
“We are tired of condemnations. government must expose sponsors and protect citizens,” he said.
He urged government at all levels to prioritise tackling insecurity through better funding and equipment for security agencies.
Mr Osifo said PENGASSAN supported calls for state police to improve local security response, adding that decentralising policing will protect citizens better than rhetoric.
He also said economic indicators meant little, if food prices remained high and farmers could not return to farms due to insecurity.
“Nigerians want to see food on the table, not macroeconomic figures,” he said, urging the government to coordinate fiscal and monetary policies to ensure economic gains reach households.
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