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Moniepoint’s Documentary on Nigeria’s Food Industry Supply Chain Excites FG, Others
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Prominent financial technology (fintech) company, Moniepoint Incorporated, has been given a pat on the back for its 12-minute documentary exploring Nigeria’s food industry supply chain.
The piece focused on the Northeast region, particularly Borno State, highlighting how cultivation and distribution processes connect local farmers to the broader national market.
A key finding from the case study showed that the informal, trust-based networks that power Nigeria’s food chain are not a weakness to be formalized, but a strategic asset to be strengthened. These networks, built on generational knowledge and social capital, have proven more durable and adaptable in crisis than formal institutions.
At the private screening of the documentary titled Inside Nigeria’s Food Chain in Abuja recenrly, the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs in the Office of the Vice President, Mr Tope Fasua, who was among the few guests at the event, said Moniepoint has done well to showcase the resilience of the region’s agricultural value chain and empowering smallholder farmers through innovative digital payment solutions.
The economist said he was impressed that the work captured how digital financial services are driving economic inclusion among rural communities traditionally not associated with technology adoption, even amid ongoing security challenges and cost-of-living pressures across the country.
“I am happy and thrilled at the many things that this documentary and case study captures. It’s an eye opener for people to be able to see all of the operations going on. I have first-hand experience at how Moniepoint is changing the market dynamics for good.
“It was heartwarming to see the economic and financial inclusion x-rayed in the video with a lot of digitization going on at the level with people who you’d not associate with technology adoption,” Mr Fasua stated.
Furthermore he noted that in spite of the challenges with insecurity in the country, “We can see the resilience that our people have demonstrated in churning out grains, livestock and agric produces.
“This work has also shown that our people are embracing modern and subsistence level farming. On the financial inclusion front, it is delightful to watch the confidence that the people have in digital payments and Moniepoint has done a fantastic job in deepening adoption across the country.”
Speaking to the rationale behind the screening and case study and responding to questions from guests, the Vice President for Corporate Affairs at Moniepoint, Ms Edidiong Uwemakpan, noted the project is about real people and real impact.
“In view of the amounts that we process monthly as a business, we sought to peel back the layers on the naira and kobo and uncover the stories behind the transactions and what they mean for Nigeria.
“Moniepoint as a Nigerian company has been able to achieve such impact by adopting hyperlocal support to build trust with its users tailoring our services to fit the existing lifestyle and trading habits of Nigerians,” Ms Uwemakpan said.
She noted that Borno State had often been defined by negative narratives overshadowing its strengths. Therefore, the documentary does not only focus on showcasing Moniepoint’s role in supporting food distribution but also reveal the state’s agricultural diversity, which contributes significantly to feeding millions of Nigerians.
Aligning with these thoughts, a communications expert, Mr Tolu Ogunlesi, expressed his excitement and commended Moniepoint for telling this story – not just because of what it says about food but what it says about our resilience and the country as a whole.
“Watching the documentary, a lot of the towns mentioned became famous not for food but as Boko Haram affected regions. This project allows us to truly appreciate these areas for what they really contribute to the country’s socio-economic development and what they should actually be famous for. This is a part of Nigeria that has been traumatized by insecurity but they have demonstrated remarkable resilience such that when people sit in their homes and they are eating, they are reminded that some of these products come from the North East,” he said.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Young bloggers, online content creators and digital influencers have been charged to embrace ethical journalism, responsible storytelling and fact-based reporting as they shape public opinion in the digital age.
This task was given by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Mohammed Idris, during the Niger State Bloggers, Online Publishers and Content Developers Forum on Monday in Abuja.
In a statement on Tuesday by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Rabiu Ibrahim, the Minister said digital platforms offer enormous opportunities for innovation and civic engagement but must be used responsibly to promote truth, national unity and constructive public discourse.
He urged bloggers and content creators to verify information before publication, reject misinformation and disinformation, avoid sensationalism, and use their platforms to educate, inspire and promote national development.
Mr Idris also encouraged young Nigerians to see digital content creation not only as a source of income but also as a tool for civic engagement and nation-building, stressing that ethical communication is essential to strengthening democracy and public trust.
He further encouraged aspiring bloggers and digital entrepreneurs to continue developing their skills and uphold professional standards that will strengthen the credibility of Nigeria’s online media ecosystem.
“There is no democracy that can thrive without a responsible media. You cannot carry freedom and abandon responsibility,” he stated, adding that the government remains committed to protecting press freedom while encouraging ethical journalism.
The Minister also highlighted the establishment of the International Media and Information Literacy Institute (IMILI), the world’s first UNESCO Category 2 Institute dedicated exclusively to Media and Information Literacy, describing it as a major step in promoting digital literacy and responsible online engagement.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Rabiu Kwankwaso, disclosed that Mr Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate, signed agreements committing himself to serving only one four-year term if elected in 2027.
Mr Kwankwaso explained that the documents comprised a formal agreement involving the political party and a separate personal accord between himself and Mr Obi.
According to Mr Kwankwaso, the deal stipulates that the presidency will return to Northern Nigeria in 2031 upon the completion of an Obi-led administration’s four-year tenure, if elected next year.
“We have agreed to formalise it in writing,” Mr Kwankwaso stated. “We have executed one document for the party and another between the two of us,” he revealed during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today late on Monday.
He reiterated that Mr Obi would honour his pledge and resist pressure to seek a second term, expressing confidence in the former Anambra State governor, noting that his interactions had convinced him that he would respect the agreement.
“I personally believe him, and, based on what I now know about him, I do not believe he will change his mind when the time comes,” he said. “We are all gentlemen.”
Mr Kwankwaso added that he and Mr Obi would continue to collaborate after the proposed administration completes its term.
“The agreement is that after four years, we will continue to work together as a group, as a party, and as friends and brothers,” he said. “After our four-year term, from 2027 to 2031, power returns to the North. That is the consensus.”
The former defence minister did not state that he would be the NDC presidential candidate in 2031; his comments referred broadly to the presidency returning to the North, rather than to his personal political ambitions.
Mr Obi has repeatedly pledged to serve only one term if elected; however, he has yet to publicly confirm the specific details of the documents described by Mr Kwankwaso.
In the 2023 Presidential polls, Mr Obi was the Labour Party presidential candidate while Mr Kwankwaso contested on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Over 1.14 million hectares of degraded land have been restored by the Nigerian government, with more than 1.5 million trees planted across the country in the past year.
This information was revealed by the Minister of Environment, Mr Balarabe Abbas Lawal, at the 2026 Top Management Retreat and National Tree Planting Campaign in Maiduguri, Borno State.
He said these achievements were made through initiatives of the federal government like the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project and the National Agency for the Great Green Wall.
According to him, the restoration of the land and the planting of trees demonstrate a clear national commitment to securing environmental sustainability while advancing economic growth.
The Minister reemphasised that the environment is not an abstract concept, pointing out that “it is the air we breathe, the land that feeds us, the rivers that sustain communities, and the climate that shapes the future.”
He praised Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State for his giant strides in the environment sector in the state, urging other state governors to emulate him by providing sponsorship for their students to the various Federal Colleges of Forestry Resources Management institutions located across the six geo-political zones of the country to encourage and boost Forest education in the country.
He described the decision of Mr Zulum to sponsor 540 indigenes of the state to a forestry college in Maiduguri as commendable.
Mr Lawal also informed the participants of the programme that the Presidential Executive Order on the Prohibition of Exportation of Wood and Allied Products, 2025, is a key policy instrument under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying it protects Nigeria’s forest resources, curbs illegal logging, and encourages tree planting as a national duty.
He pledged the Federal Ministry of Environment’s continued partnership with state governments on afforestation, ecosystem restoration, and other interventions tailored to their needs.
“Nigeria’s environmental future can be secured by protecting natural heritage, strengthening climate resilience, and advancing inclusive and sustainable development for present and future generations,” he declared.
