Economy
Natnupreneur Helping To Boost Employment In Nigeria

By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The call by the Federal Government for private sector investment in the agricultural sector seems to be yielding positive result as many corporate organizations are beginning to show more interest in agribusiness.
However, blazing the trail amongst them is Amo group of companies through their natnuPreneur broiler out grower scheme.
While guiding journalists round some facilities belonging to three companies under the Group; Amo Byng, Amo Farm Sieberer Hatchery Limited and natnudO Foods in Oyo State, Mr Alaba Yunusa, Data Analyst and Farmer Satisfaction Representative (FSR) stated that unlike in the past when agriculture was perceived as a venture that only provides jobs for the illiterate, natnuPreneur since its inception has shown that formally educated people can be gainfully employed in the agricultural sector. Even young educated Nigerians can venture into poultry farming with the assurance of sustainable profit and capacity development from programmes like ‘natnuPreneur Farmer’.
The initiative, which was revealed, could provide direct and indirect employment for millions of Nigerians, is the foremost and most successful broiler out grower scheme in the country.
According to Mr Yunusa, “The scheme still has in purvey, the potential of providing employment for over 2 million Nigerians, within the poultry value chain, that is (Feed mills, Hatchery, Logistics and transportation, chicken processing, chicken distribution and retailing – natnuPreneur seller), if well supported”
This natnuPreneur model of job creation and sustained farmer profitability is a perfect example of what agriculture can do for Nigeria, especially in her fight against unemployment and full economic recovery.
Mr Yunusa, during the two day tour, also mentioned that the vision of natnuPreneur is to create passionate, knowledgeable and wealthy poultry farmers nationwide through sustained profitability while working to achieve the federal government’s food security goal. He also added that the scheme has the capacity to adequately supply the nation with high quality and affordable chicken products.
He further revealed that there is a huge market for chicken production and supply in the country with smuggled chicken covering a consumption deficit of about 70%. According to him, only 30% of the chicken consumed in the country is locally produced. While also explaining that there is massive opportunity for farmer profitability in poultry farming under natnuPreneur, Mr. Yunusa said, “Approximately 1,200,000,000 (One billion and two hundred million) birds are consumed yearly in Nigeria. Our assumption is that if 10% of the 170,000,000 (One hundred and seventy million) Nigerian population consumes 6 packs of chicken a month, a total of 1,224,000,000 (One billion, two hundred and twenty four million) pieces of chicken would have been consumed in 12 months. From a retail perspective, a piece of chicken average sales price is ₦1,000. So, 1,000 multiplied by 1,224,000,000 will give us a value of about ₦1,224,000,000,000. Now, the question is how much of this money is getting to our farmers? This is one question natnuPreneur seeks to give positive answers; we want to ensure that a good chunk of that figure gets into the pocket of poultry farmers through a reliable off-taking arrangement, effective poultry management trainings and capacity building”.
“Between 2014 and 2017, the programme has onboarded 1,156 farmers, under different categories and clusters; off taken 4,348,640 birds; and paid out N4,352,327,119.80 to famers”. This record, he revealed, has drawn the attention of various financial institutions, like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Bank of Industry (BOI), Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Sterling Bank, Heritage Bank and others, to partner with natnuPreneur and support its famers. Also, because of their well thought out scientific process for broiler farming, natnuPreneur farmers have the ability to do 6 cycles yearly with mortality rate as low as 4%.
“To ensure farmer profitability, we have developed and tested our processes and have a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to guide our farmers on effective poultry farming. We’ve also developed a detailed economic model for our farmers – A Net profit calculator, which guards against pilfer, wastage and fraud. And have developed a Buy Back Price equation to ensure profitability; created a database that is searchable across various parameters; and have designed an effective Customer Satisfaction Centre for support services”.
“Presently, we are working on developing a Broiler Training School for farm managers and owners and based on farm practices, we are in the process of developing a mobile application to ease operations and farmer interaction. We’re putting all these things in place to ensure that our farmers are in business and making enviable profit.
“Our happiness lies in seeing farmers increase in capacity since we have the ability to accommodate their produce” he concluded.
While attending to questions from pressmen, Mr Albert Begerano, COO of the group hinted that the natnuPreneur programme has thrived because of its backbones like, Amo farm which produces about 1,900,000 day olds weekly, with broiler chicks being 800,000 of that number.
Amo Byng, which has storage capacity for 500 metric tonnes of feeds and maize, produces between 600-1,000 tonnes of feeds daily. And natnudO foods, where off taken birds are slaughtered and packaged, daily producing 30,000 frozen chickens in the west, 10,000 in the north and 15,000 in the east, totaling 55,000 birds daily with other facilities for storage and preservation like blast freezers and cold rooms that could take over 600 tonnes of frozen chicken in the west alone.
Also speaking with newsmen during the tour, Mrs Adepeju Cole, a staff of Sandtech Farms, a natnuPreneur farm in Oyo State said “Since we joined the scheme about a year ago, our capacity has increased to 30,000 birds. Presently, we have 20,000 birds on our farm. In fact, this is our 5th cycle with natnuPreneur and it has been quite profitable. Through the help of the FSR in our area, our mortality rate has reduced from 10% to 4% and we’ve also been able to achieve the agreed weight of 1.75 for our broilers” She revealed.
In addition, Mrs Remi Tomori of Honeydew Farms in Arulogun Ibadan said, “Our farm has a capacity of 4,000 birds which are presently in their 5th week. We joined natnuPreneur in October 2014 and till date, only 15 birds mortality has been recorded on our farm. Through training and regular visitation, we realize an average weight of 1.8 as against the 1.7 minimum agreed weight. We’ve also been able to do between 5 – 7 cycles per year”.
“Before we joined natnuPreneur, we were rearing layers but there were too many challenges; pilfering, high mortality, debt, stress and even marketing problems. But, natnuPreneur is taking all these risks and stress off us. The scheme is incomparable in terms of returns on investment as I realize more than 50% profit annually” she added.
Mr Toromade Francis, Group Head, Policy & Strategy, while also addressing newsmen said that the essence of the natnuPreneur scheme is to help farmers use fewer resources to get more results and enhance sustained profitability. He added that, poultry farmers are now more efficient and moribund farms have jerked back to life through the initiative.
Lately, the Federal Government is placing special focus on the agricultural sector to create employment for Nigerians, as a means to alleviate poverty. Recall that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo while addressing guests at the Edo Fertilizer Plant commissioning recently in Edo State mentioned that the private sector contribution is vital to the development of the agriculture and the realization of government’s goal of food security.
Osinbajo also assured that government at all levels will continue to do everything necessary to create an enabling environment for the survival of the private sector.
“The Buhari administration takes private enterprise very seriously. We believe that government resources cannot bring about the rapid roll out we need, especially in the areas of infrastructure and industrial development. It is the private sector that can do so. We are therefore committed to making it easy for businessmen to invest and do business in Nigeria”.
“Every State and Local Government must be involved in the effort to ensure that private businesses thrive and create employment opportunities for our growing youth population. By harnessing private capital and the great entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians, I believe we can seriously leverage on government resources and accelerate economic development” he had included.
Reiterating the importance of private sector involvement in the agricultural sector of the nation, Mr. Aliko Dangote, owner of Dangote Group of Companies asserted that “there is an urgent need for private sector stakeholders in agriculture to work together towards growing Nigeria’s agriculture, diversifying from oil and gas dependency, encouraging agricultural industrialization, and creating an enabling environment for agribusiness to thrive. NABG strives to engage government at all levels in setting policy direction and regulatory reforms to enable sustainable inclusive socio-economic growth by creating systematic linkages between small, medium and large agribusiness enterprises”.
Economy
Nigeria Plans NIN-Credit Score Linkage for Seamless Borrowing

By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The federal government is considering the integration of National Identification Number (NIN) and credit scores of Nigerians to make borrowing seamless.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP), Mr Uzoma Nwagba, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday.
He explained that linking citizens’ credit scores to NIN would create a robust database of every Nigerian’s credit history, ensuring every citizen is accurately scored based on their borrowing and repayment behaviour.
“We aim to tie consumer credit to the purchase of locally manufactured goods. That way, we support local producers, drive demand, and create jobs—ultimately building a sustainable economy,” Mr Nwagba informed newsmen, noting that this would consolidate credit information across all financial institutions, including banks, FinTechs, and microfinance outfits, into a centralised national credit bureau.
“This is a fundamental shift in how credit works in Nigeria. Your NIN will now serve as the anchor for your credit profile. Whether you borrowed from a commercial bank, a microfinance institution, or a digital lender, that data will now be traceable and carry real consequences,” he stated.
Mr Nwagba said the days of loan evasion are fast drawing to a close, as the new system will enforce strict accountability.
“If you default on your loan, it could affect your ability to renew your passport, your driver’s license, or even rent a house. There will be no hiding place,” he stressed.
“More importantly, consequences for defaulters will be structured and deterrent, but not predatory. We are building a system that encourages responsible borrowing and rewards financial discipline,” he added, noting that the effort will also incorporate financial and non-financial data to generate a comprehensive credit scoring algorithm for every Nigerian adult.
“The ultimate goal is for everyone to have a credit score. This is not optional. We are creating a structure where your access to economic opportunities is directly tied to your financial behaviour,” he said.
“The goal is to improve the quality of life. This is President Tinubu’s vision—to give Nigerians access to resources that can uplift their living conditions. The second is to address corruption. Many civil servants and young professionals turn to unethical practices because they lack access to capital to meet life’s basic demands.
He called on all financial institutions to commit to the national credit framework, warning that the magnitude of the country’s credit gap—estimated at N183 trillion—requires full private sector participation.
“No government in the world can provide that kind of money. Financial institutions must step up. With the right infrastructure and transparency, lenders will be more confident, interest rates will drop, and Nigerians will finally have access to affordable credit,” he urged.
Economy
Nigeria, China Deepen Economic Ties at Changsha Investment Dialogue

By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The recently concluded Nigeria-China Investment Dialogue in Changsha presented an opportunity for Nigeria and China to deepen economic ties.
The Director General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), Mr Joseph Tegbe, said the platform allowed both countries to explore new pathways for bilateral engagement.
Referencing President Bola Tinubu’s renewed foreign policy vision, the DG described the evolving Nigeria-China relationship as a deliberate alignment of interests and values.
He urged both nations to move beyond transactional engagements toward deeper, trust-based collaboration, saying, “Let us build a bridge between the Dragon and the Eagle—not only for trade and technology—but for trust, shared values, and a collective commitment to prosperity.”
He outlined a bold and forward-looking vision for a long-term partnership anchored on shared values, strategic alignment, and mutual respect.
Describing Nigeria and China as nations bound by ambition, ingenuity, and a collective will to rise, he drew a compelling parallel between the Eagle and the Dragon—national icons symbolizing strength, vision, and global leadership, noting that Nigeria and China, standing side by side, are not merely emerging economies but purposeful partners shaping the future of global development.
He commended the selection of Changsha as the host city for the dialogue, calling it both symbolic and strategic.
Citing its revolutionary legacy and its transformation into a modern industrial hub, the Director-General drew comparisons with Nigeria’s own developmental trajectory.
Just as Changsha contributed to the rise of modern China, he said, Nigeria’s future is being driven by visionary leadership and a vibrant, youthful population determined to build a strong and prosperous nation.
Mr Tegbe emphasized that Nigeria is not just a land of untapped potentials but a country firmly grounded in purpose. With a population of over 220 million, a GDP exceeding $400 billion, and a median age of just 18, Nigeria is strategically positioned to lead Africa into a new era of digital innovation, agricultural transformation, and industrial growth.
In agriculture, he highlighted Nigeria’s vast comparative advantage, noting that while China feeds 19 per cent of the world’s population using only 7 per cent of global arable land, Nigeria possesses over 70 million hectares of cultivable land—much of it yet to be utilized.
As one of the world’s leading producers of cassava, yam, palm oil, and sorghum, Nigeria offers a robust platform for agribusiness investment that can respond to global food security challenges.
Turning to technology, the DG noted Nigeria’s emergence as Africa’s leading innovation hub. With more than 122 million internet users and a thriving start-up ecosystem, the country accounted for over a quarter of the continent’s venture capital funding in 2024.
Citing companies like Paystack, Flutterwave, and Opay, he underscored Nigeria’s growing influence in the global digital economy. He described the country as a strategic entry point for Chinese investors looking to engage with Africa’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, underpinned by a youthful, tech-savvy population.
Mr Tegbe also pointed to ongoing macroeconomic reforms aimed at creating a more competitive and investor-friendly environment.
Efforts to improve the ease of doing business, streamline regulatory processes, and offer targeted tax incentives have been complemented by focused investment in priority sectors such as healthcare, education, housing, and retail.
These reforms, he explained, are part of a broader strategy to ensure inclusive, long-term development.
“The Nigerian spirit does not falter in the face of adversity. It adapts. It endures. It triumphs,” he affirmed.
Economy
National Assembly Transmits Tax Reform Bills to Tinubu for Assent

By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The four tax reform bills have been transmitted to President Bola Tinubu by the National Assembly for assent after harmonisation by the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr YemiAdaramodu, confirmed this development to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.
“Yes, the bills have now been transmitted. They are out of our hands and on their way to the executive [for asset],” Mr Adaramodu declared.
Recall that the tax reform bills almost divided the parliament after some lawmakers from the north kicked against them, arguing that the bills do not favour the region.
One of the most controversial parts of the bills was an initial proposal allowing tax-generating states to retain 60 per cent of Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue.
The clause triggered fierce opposition, especially from lawmakers representing Northern states who raised concerns over regional economic disparities.
However, a compromise was later reached, reducing the retention rate to 30 per cent and replacing the term “derivation” with the more neutral “place of consumption.”
The bills, comprising the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, and the Nigeria Tax Bill, were submitted to the legislative arm of government by the executive in November 2024.
They were designed to modernise tax collection processes, broaden the tax base, and enhance coordination across all levels of government.
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