"Synergy, Commitment Are Key to Global Energy Sustainability, Says Bounour

THE BRAND: PLANTAIN FLOUR: 

VISION: 

(1) TO CREATES AND PROMOTES AN  AWARENESS PROGRAMME FOR  PLANTAIN FLOUR- A CARBOHYDRATE, WHICH  IS GRADUALLY BEING CONSUMED IN MANY PARTS OF NIGERIA, ESPECIALLY SOUTH WESTERN REGION OF THE COUNTRY. 

2) TO CREATE AN UNDERSTANDING THAT PLANTATION FLOUR IS RICH IN DIETARY FIBRE, AIDS DIGESTION, PREVENT ANAEMIA, HYPERTENSION AND DIABETES, WHEN PROPERLY EATEN.

3) TO CREATE AWARENESS THAT PEOPLE, WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM THOSE AILEMENTS, CAN AS A MATTER OF URGENCY, PUT IT IN THEIR ROSTER FOR THEIR GROWTH AND FAMILIES.

3) TO CREATE AN UNDERSTANDING ThAT CAN BUY THE FOOD ITEM RELATIVE TO THEIR NEEDS, SIZES & PRICES. 

NiGERIA'S PRODUCTION CAPACITY FOR PLANTAIN FLOUR

The country's production capacity is put at 25,000 metric tonnes( MT) per annum, while demand is 125,000( MT metric tonnes) leaving a gap of 

99,800 MT, according to a recent plantain report by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation States. 

From the abovementioned, Nigeria has a huge untapped reserves for the plantain flour, a development, which implies the country needs to improve the production of the food item, which if well taken into consideration, will impact positively on the level of consumption and sales of the product in the years ahead.

Experts in the field of agriculture, are  of the opinions that growth in the sales of the plantain flour in  would be more than doubled in the foreseeable future.

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture ( IITA), recently stated that  plantain production  has recorded astronomical increase in the last two or three years, hinging it on the renewed interest created by Nigerians on the issue, which hitherto was hitherto relegated to the background in some parts of Africa. 

With headquarters in Ibadan, Oyo State Capital, the organisation is seeing positive 

growth in the level of production/ sales of  plantain flour in Nigeria, no thanks to the decision of both small and large scale farmers to starting plantain either  for  domestic or  commercial purposes. 

Also, the Association of Agricultural and Allied Products, a Non-Profit Organisation( NGO) maintain similar position on the issue. With offices in Lagos and other parts of South West, the body, has invited applications from Nigerians, who intend to go into the planting, harvesting, exporting and production of plantain into flour for mass consumption by people within and outside Nigeria.

DESCRIPTION OF THE GLOBAL MARKET OF PLANTAIN FLOUR

The world's market for plantain flour  is expected to grow in the forecast period of 2023-2028 at 4.6 per cent, a figure, which would translate several  millions of dollars, when parameters such as increase in population among others, are taken into consideration now in the future.

With global population projected to hit eight( 8) billions in December 2022 and later 10 billions in 2028, according to the United Nations Demographic reports of 2020 and 2021, it is expected that the market for food crops, especially plantain flour would also increased greatly.

Of note is Africa, a continent, which has large expanse of land for production of plantains and ever increasing market for the food item.

In Nigeria, for instance, plantain flour has 

 a market size, that is increasing on yearly basis, a situation, which suggests that more sales are going to be recorded for plantain flour. This is mainly, due to its dietary and health benefits.

Studies by researchers from IITA and Moore Plantation in Oyo state respectively and other stakeholders in the Nigeria's economic space

 lend credence to this assertion. 

A scholar in the maritime and international law Department, Lagos State University, Barrister Alaka urged Nigerians to explore opportunities in agriculture, especially plantain's reduction, adding that the area will yield highly for prospective investors.

According to him, the market for the food item is widening by the day, stressing that Nigerians are bound to reap substantially from plantain flour production, if they do their visibility studies well before they go into it. Plantain flour, Alaka said,  helps improve heart health, reduce cholesterol, and enhance nerve and muscle activities. All these factors are expected to  significantly contribute to the demand for plantain flour in the food and beverage industry.

Continuing further, he said that product has a wider appeal as it is consumed by various ethnic groups such as Yoruba, Ibo,  Hausa,  Efik and others, stating that its market share is increasing as a result of this.

A 10 and 20 kilogrammes of plantain flour, Akala said,  attracts between N7,000 to N15,000 depending on the market, where one is buying either at a retail or wholesale price.

SON at 50: Ex DGs, extol Farouk Salim, present scorecards 

Former Director Generals, Standards Organisation of Nigeria ( SON) have described Salim as one of the best administrators, produced by the agency.

The DGs, who took their turns to speak during the  second leg of the SON's 50th anniversary in Oriental Hotels, Lekki, Lagos recently, said that the institution has recorded some remarkable achievements under the leadership of Mallam Salim. 

They include Dr John Ndanusa Akanya, Mr Joseph Odumodu and Prof Shei Shambe, among others. 

According to them, SON has recorded some achievements in the areas of fighting sub standard goods,  products launch,  certifications, standardisation and international recognitions. 

The DGs further praised Salim for sustaining  the  achievements of his predecessors, stressing that the war against sub standardized products as a classic example.

SON under the leadership of Mallam Farouk Salim,former DGs said, has invigorated campaigns against the use of obsolete gas cylinders, tyres and other items, which are causing injuries and untimely deaths in Nigeria.

" Salim through through his highly trained staff, has supervised destruction( burning) of thousands of fake tyres imported into the country and gas cylinders as part of efforts to assist the growth of local industries and the economy in particular." they said.

Recalling his tenure as SON's Director-General, Akanya noted that Nigerians have been using fake tyres since, stressing that the issue of removing adulterated goods from the market space would help in accelerating the growth of the country's economy. 

He said SON, would forever,continue to stand for production and importation of only  genuine products, in order to move the Nigerian economy forward.

Akanya said: " Let us be frank to ourselves 50 years is a long journey in the history of Standards Organisation of Nigeria. The journey, no doubt, has been tough as evident by difficulties we have encountered along the line. That is why I would not stand or be in support of anything, which would destroy the achievements of SON, especially sub standard products. We( officials and stakeholders of SON respectively) are 

 are celebrating quality. This is the quality, which has no  destination as it is for all generations " 

Continuing further, the former university lecturer,  said that SON stands against the use of sub-standard goods, adding that the institution has never hide its dislikes to the production and importation of such products into the country.

"On the basis of this, I appreciates the policies and programmes of Mallam Salim's administration, which organised this 50th  anniversary of SON. I equally thank the workers, who has played important roles in the history of SON", he added.

Akanya urged both junior and management of staffs of SON to see the agency as a journey which they must go through and succeed, noting he and his colleagues ( DGs) did not hesitate to buy into SON's programmes and policies, since they knowfully that Nigeria's economy must be developed greatly.

He advised Nigerians against dissociating themselves from the fight against sub-standard products, stressing they need to join hands with SON to deal with the issue of non-substandised goods in the country.

According to him, Otunba Adebayo, (Minister of State for Industry and Investments) has tried his best by helping SON to solve many of its problems, urging him not to relent efforts.

This is the period, in which the Minister must open his door widely, immediately he sees officials of SON coming to him to solve industry's problems. 

He called on the members of National Assembly to assist in passing bills, which would help in solving problems faced by SON and other aspects of the economy, adding that the idea would in the long run would help in putting an end to problems such as sub standard goods, improvement in local governments, increase the patronage of locally produced goods at the international market among others.

Similarly, Mr Joseph Odumodu reiterated the need for the stakeholders to strongly SON activities, adding that the current administration led by Mallam Farouk Salim has provided a transparent, open, progressive and economic growth inclined leadership.

He said SON introduced a scheme known as Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) in order to bring about growth in the industry, urging stakeholders to key into it for economic development 

Speaking in the same vein, Prof Shei Shambe, also a former SON's  Director General expressed confidence in the ability of the Federal Government's parastaltal to properly regulate production of products and activities in the nation's economy, 

Shambe said he was not surprised at the ways and manners, which Salim's administration is working tirelessly to rid Nigeria of sub standard goods and services, stressing that the issue is crucial to the nation's economic development. 

He urged the Minister of Trade and Investment in person of Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo and other government appointees to assist in fighting sub standard goods to a logical conclusion in Nigeria

Prof Shei Shambe 

According to them, SON has since since September 26, 2020, when  President Muhammad Buhari appointed Salim as its new Director General and Chief Executive officer has recorded many milesstones in 

Akanya- 50 years is a long journey and when we celebrate it , we are celebrating quality without destination and one thing is that I would not stand here seeing our achievements destroyed by sub standard goods.

There was a day, somebody died along Sagamu road due to fake tyres and I make up my mind, that we are going to fight it and we fought it.

MAN, CUSTOMS will improve collaboration with SON 

Describe Farouk as  achiever 

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) would continue to partner the leadership of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) as part of plans to improve the nation's economy growth. 

The leaders of the two institutions said this during the 50th anniversary of SON in Oriental Hotels, Lekki, Lagos recently.

While MAN is led by its President,  Otunba Francis Mesoye, the Nigerian Customs Service spoke through its Comptroller General, Hammed Ali( retd). Ali was represented at the occasion by his Deputy Controller, .......... 

According to MAN's President, Mr Francis Mesoye, the manufacturers have concluded plans to  strengthening their  partnership with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) as part of efforts to provide a more virile economy in the country.

He said that MAN would achieve this goal, by increasing its levels of participation in SON's activities across the country. 

He said that the two bodies have a history dated

over five decades ago, adding that  it is high time  both institutions improve their  levels of engagements with one another.  

The anniversary, which focused on objectives recorded by SON in order to promotes industrialisation through standardisation in the past five decades, provided ample  opportunities for stakeholders to have a glimpse of what SON has done to move the economy forward.

On the part of MAN,  Meyose said that going forward, manufacturers have agreed to increase their levels of supports in SON's activities, with a view to grow the Nigerian economy to an enviable heights, stressing that of a certainty, Mallam Farouk Salim leadership of SON is thinking  along that line, considering the simboitic relationship, which we have enjoyed from eac other in the past few decades.

In the speech, which he addressed ex-tempore to  stakeholders, who came to felicitate with SON on its golden jubilee anniversary, Meyose recalled that both organisations have 50 years of operations to their credits. 

Meyose said: " While MAN celebrated its 50 years of experience in 2021, SON also was 50 years last year, but decided to mark it in 2022 due to one reason or the other. The event is  worthy of  celebration because marking  fifty years of establishment, as a standards agency is not a joke. Five decades in SON, an organisation, through which performance of entities(private and public) are determined is worthy of commendations.  

Adding that: "Manufacturers Association of Nigeria is an acronym for MAN which celebrate 50 years, while Standards Organisation of Nigeria stands for SON, which  is marking 50th birthday."

Expectedly, Meyose"s statement was punctuated by a round of applause from the escatic  participants, who are drowned with laughter.

Continuing further, the MAN's President, said that SON plays a dual roles of a regulator of the economy and partner with MAN. 

Through this,  MAN and SON were able to work together for years, northwitstsnding the fact that they sometimes have had minor disagreements and resolve them later.

According to Meyose, the rifts between MAN and SON are over as the two bodies have set up structures to bury their hatchets.

The partnership, Meyose said, has over the years been strengthened, a development, which has made it easier for SON to remain focus in its 

mandates to certified  and standardised  activities of companies, adding that the idea has assisted in no small measures, the industrialisation of Nigeria. 

He said manufacturers would henceforth  increase their levels of support for Standards Organisation of Nigeria,  especially in the area of African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA), an institution through which Nigeria would be able to deepening  economic integration activities with other countries and further attracts investments and create jobs for its huge population.

When this happens, the MAN's President said that manufacturers and SON would achieve the objective of their partnership programmes, which is to develop the nation's economy substantially. 

On sub-standard products in Nigeria, Meyose said that the issue is a major concern to manufacturers and SON, stressing that the development would continue to hinder economic growth, if not stopped. 

Similarly, the Nigerian Customs Service ably represented by its Deputy Controller, said that the organisation is strongly committed to its roles of inspection of cargoes, that are coming to the country.  

He said that no cargoes would come to Nigerian water space, without being throughly checked by Customs officials. 

" We( officials) at  Customs would continue with inspection of cargoes coming to Nigeria, as we owed  Nigeria the responsibility of helping to curb the lingering cases of sub-standard products in the country. The issue of reducing drastically, the rates at sub standard products are increasing in Nigeria would help in improving the growth of the  local economy" he said.

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