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Rising Wheat Consumption in Nigeria Creating Job Opportunities—Crown Flour

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Crown Flour Job Opportunities

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The rising consumption of wheat derivative foods in Nigeria is stimulating job opportunities at the production, processing, distribution, warehousing and retailing levels of the wheat value chain, Crown Flour Mill Limited, a subsidiary of Olam Nigeria, has disclosed.

“Presently, the wheat value chain accounts for over 10.5 million jobs generated annually in Nigeria.

“This of course has placed the wheat value chain at the centre of the various economic development agenda of the federal government of Nigeria,” the Managing Director of Crown Flour, Mr Ashish Pande, said last Friday when he led the company’s senior management team to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr Chris Ngige, in Abuja.

Recent government data revealed that in the fourth quarter of 2020, 33.3 per cent of the Nigerian labour force was unemployed. While the various COVID-19 curtailment policies have been relaxed to some extent, various socioeconomic disruptions continue to pile pressure on businesses and jobs.

Hence, it is estimated that the current unemployment figure in the country is expected to increase even further in 2021 and 2022.

All jobs being generated in the country in the current economic crunch and particularly along the wheat value chain are critical to positively impacting livelihoods, feeding the nation, and stimulating economic growth.

During the visit, Mr Pande, represented by the Corporate Affairs Manager of Olam Nigeria, Ms Damilola Adeniyi, assured the Minister that the firm will continue to collaborate with other stakeholders within the local wheat value chain in sustaining the socio-economic value proposition of the sector.

He disclosed that flour millers will continue to take bold developmental steps through scaled investments in critical areas, including seed trial and research, training of smallholder wheat farmers and funding of the various farming research institutes in the country to ensure that the current local production level of the wheat crop improves significantly.

“While these efforts have ensured that we keep providing affordable and quality food for the growing Nigerian population, they have also helped to increase the number of jobs being created for the active segment of the population.

“Overall, the investment efforts, which extend to capacity building initiatives for bakers, are beginning to yield positive results,” he stated.

Stressing further on the importance of the local wheat value chain, Mr Pande said that while prices of other major national staple foods such as rice, garri, yam and beans have risen sharply by 3.2 per cent, 6 per cent, 5.3 per cent and 13.4 per cent respectively, in the past months, the prices of wheat derivative foods have been largely cushioned from the inflationary trend by local millers and bakers who continuously absorb the extra cost of production to keep feeding the population.

The solicited the backing of the Minister to ensure that millers continue to deliver on their employment generating potential, noting that, “If the current wheat value chain developmental drive is sustained, it would help secure the jobs of many Nigerians while ensuring that more homes continue to gain access to affordable quality wheat derivative foods such as semolina, bread, noodles and pasta.”

In response, Mr Ngige lauded Crown Flour and the other millers for their economic development drives, saying, “The Ministry of Labour and Employment is committed to supporting efforts that are geared towards providing good jobs for Nigerians and ultimately growing the economy.”

Also, the Minister expressed his delight over the extensive investments that the Olam group has made and continues to make in Food & Agricultural value chain.

He said, “The level of investment presently being channelled into developing the value chain is of paramount importance to help reduce the level of unemployment and underemployment in the economy.”

According to Ngige, “Sustaining and scaling the current level of developmental projects in the value chain is key to keeping Nigerians gainfully employed and well-nourished.

“At the Ministry of Labour and Employment, we will continue to support your drive as a critical partner in achieving national economic prosperity through expanded local production that can deliver more employment opportunities for the teeming Nigerian population.”

Aduragbemi Omiyale is a journalist with Business Post Nigeria, who has passion for news writing. In her leisure time, she loves to read.

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Knorr Engages Customers Via ‘Share The Good’ Ramadan Campaign

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Knorr Share the Good 1

As the sacred month of Ramadan unfolds, Knorr is embracing the spirit of generosity and spreading kindness with its ‘Share The Good’ Ramadan campaign—an annual initiative designed to bring communities closer through acts of kindness, food, and shared experiences. The brand is creating opportunities for meaningful connections, ensuring that fasting Muslims remain nourished while fostering a culture of giving.

At the heart of this movement is the Knorr Ramadan Good Bus, a travelling symbol of warmth and well-being. This special initiative will bring renowned chefs and beloved Eativists to key cities such as Lagos, Ibadan, Kwara, Abeokuta, and Osogbo. They will visit mosques and community hubs at each stop, sharing wholesome meals during Iftar and offering valuable guidance on balanced nutrition and healthy fasting practices. By making nutritious eating more accessible, Knorr aims to support communities in observing Ramadan in a way that prioritises both spiritual and physical well-being.

Beyond these community engagements, Knorr is also bringing the spirit of togetherness into people’s homes through an immersive digital experience. Throughout Ramadan, the brand will host interactive weekly live cooking sessions on Instagram. In these cooking sessions, participants will receive recipes in advance, allowing them to cook along in real-time as they prepare nourishing Iftar meals. More than just a cooking demonstration, these sessions will highlight the importance of mindful and nutritious eating, helping participants maintain their energy and well-being while fasting.

Recognising that Ramadan is also the time for compassion, generosity, and reflection, Knorr has launched the 30 Days Good Challenge to encourage daily acts of kindness. Every day, the brand will share simple yet meaningful ways for individuals to share good—through acts of service, heartfelt messages, or small gestures of care.

Damilola Dania, Category Manager, Nutrition, Unilever West Africa, speaking on the campaign, highlighted its impact and importance, saying: “At Knorr, we believe food is more than just nourishment. It is a powerful force that brings people together, especially during a time as meaningful as Ramadan. Through the Share The Good campaign, we are strengthening the spirit of togetherness that defines this holy month, creating meaningful opportunities for communities to connect, give back, and celebrate the true essence of Ramadan.”

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Customers Groan as MTN Hikes Data Plans Again

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MTN Subscribers

By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria’s leading telecommunications provider, MTN, has once again implemented another price hike on internet plans, marking the second time in the last three months.

Recall that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) approved a 50 per cent tariff increase in January, the first of such since 2013, for telcos in the country.

Checks by Business Post revealed that previous plans are no longer applicable at their rates, with many customers lamenting that the value has doubled yet again.

For instance, the 2.5GB plan which used to be N600, now goes for N900, the 6GB jumped to N2,500 from previously 5GB which cost around N1,500.

Other checks showed that N3,500, which used to be for 15GB, is now for N7GB.

Under the previous pricing, the 1.8GB monthly plan was N1,500, replacing the previous 1.5GB plan that was priced at N1,000. The 20GB plan increased to N7,500 from N5,500, while the 15GB plan rose to N6,500, up from N4,500.

Larger data bundles have saw even steeper increases. The 90-day 1.5TB plan has jumped from N150,000 to N240,000, while the 600GB 90-day plan has risen from N75,000 to N120,000.

It is expected that there will be hikes across these bundles with these fresh hikes.

According to an X user, “MTN don increase their data price again. Na wa o.”

“We’re paying more for data than we’re earning in this country. MTN are hell-bent on business aiming to push the majority of people offline by the second quarter of this year,” another user added.

MTN Nigeria, with 84.61 million subscribers, has the largest share in the Nigerian telco market.

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Logidoo Celebrates Afridoo’s Remarkable Growth in e-Commerce Logistics

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Logidoo Afridoo

In a significant development for Africa’s digital commerce ecosystem, Logidoo continues to transform the logistics landscape with its flagship platform, Afridoo. The e-commerce logistics solution has cemented its position as a game-changer for businesses across the continent, showing exceptional traction and impressive growth metrics.

Afridoo’s seamless solutions for order management, stock control, and fulfilment have driven a remarkable 187% increase in subscriptions, clearly indicating rising market confidence in Afridoo’s capabilities. The platform has also processed 117% more orders compared to previous periods, showcasing its robust infrastructure and ability to scale with merchant demands.

Perhaps most significantly, 47% of Afridoo’s customers report successful expansion into new markets, directly attributable to Afridoo’s deployment and support services.

“Afridoo isn’t merely a logistics solution—it’s an enablement platform that empowers businesses to scale faster and reach new customers across Africa,” said Tamsir Ousmane Traore, CEO of Logidoo. “From comprehensive stock management to optimised last-mile delivery and cash-on-delivery solutions, we’ve positioned Afridoo as the essential partner for e-commerce success.”

Afridoo’s impact extends beyond simple logistics management. The platform has become instrumental in helping businesses scale operations, reach new customers, and optimize their supply chains across multiple African markets. By providing integrated solutions for the entire e-commerce fulfilment process, Afridoo is an essential partner for businesses looking to capitalize on Africa’s rapidly growing digital commerce landscape.

This success builds upon Logidoo’s broader logistics ecosystem, which includes their recently launched TexMiles service for last-mile delivery in West Africa. With Afridoo’s impressive growth trajectory, Logidoo continues to strengthen its position as the leading digital logistics provider on the continent.

The combination of Afridoo’s spectacular growth and the strategic launch of TexMiles demonstrates Logidoo’s comprehensive approach to solving Africa’s logistics challenges.

“Our vision extends beyond individual services—we’re building an interconnected logistics infrastructure that truly serves Africa’s unique market needs,” commented Tamsir Ousmane Traore.

By addressing e-commerce enablement through Afridoo, Logidoo is creating an integrated ecosystem that serves businesses across multiple touchpoints.

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