News
AstraZeneca and partners Sets to Plant 6m Trees to Restore Degraded Forests for Healthy Environment & Communities

AstraZeneca in collaboration with NGPTA iNovaland partners, through the Global AZ Forest Programme has reinforced its commitment to restoring degraded ecosystems with six million tree planting initiative under the “Atebubu and Wiase Forest Landscape Restoration” project.
The community engagement, training and tree planting ceremony held in Atebubu, Ghana, on 7th June 2024 under the theme; “Promoting healthy environments for healthy communities convened farmers, in the Atebubu and Wiase traditional area, project partners, and environmental sustainability enthusiasts to celebrate reforestation progress and the adoption of sustainable landscape restoration practices. Under this project, five million trees will be planted to restore natural forests, while the remaining one million will be dedicated to community-led agroforestry endeavours.
In the last 3 years, over 4 million trees have been planted through natural forest restoration and Agroforestry. The project, one of the significant contributions to the Green Ghana Day 2024 initiative aims to build ecological and community resilience through nature-positive investments and sustainable practices.
Deepak Arora, Country President – African Cluster at AstraZeneca emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing environmental challenges and promoting community health.
He noted that climate change and ecosystem degradation are not just environmental issues but also public health concerns, adding that AstraZeneca is focused on addressing these environmental factors which ultimately affect public health.
“At AstraZeneca, we recognise the fundamental link between a thriving environment and health. Through our commitment to sustainability and programmes like AZ Forest, we’re driving positive health and environmental impacts, and seeing the positive change such efforts can have on communities.
“Teaming up with NGPTA iNovaland and other key stakeholders, we’re honoured to be collaborating in this tree planting campaign.
“By co-designing this project, we aim to ensure that local communities are at the heart of landscape restoration, delivering natural forest restoration and agroforestry with ecological, economic, and community benefits,” said Arora.
Through AZ Forest, AstraZeneca has committed to plant and maintain 200 million trees globally by 2030. The plan is to restore over 100,000 hectares across six continents as part of a commitment to climate action, investing in nature and biodiversity, and improving human health.
Since the launch of AZ Forest in Ghana in 2022, the project has helped to address local challenges such as deforestation, declining soil fertility, agricultural productivity, unemployment, and forest fires.
So far, more than 3.8 million trees have been planted, contributing to a more resilient food system, higher incomes for farmers, and ultimately stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities.
Speaking on behalf of NGPTA iNovaland Abraham Yelley, Project Coordinator, emphasised the importance of ground-up collaborative efforts in addressing environmental and social challenges.
“In this project, we are not just planting trees—we are transforming lives. By uniting communities and all stakeholders, we have mobilised over 1,000 farmers in agroforestry, provided high-quality mango and cashew seedlings, and delivered technical support to see the trees grow.
“Together, we are addressing food security, enhancing nutrition, and building climate resilience, creating a healthier, more prosperous future for communities.”
Against the backdrop of alarming statistics indicating record-breaking temperatures and ecological threats, programmes like AZ Forest, and national projects like “Green Ghana” are of critical importance in combating the escalating climate crisis and driving environmental sustainability. The initiative will extend beyond a single occasion. Farmer-led tree planting activities will persist for several weeks, adding to the overall tree count initiated on Green Ghana Day. Concurrently, the regular project tree planting efforts will carry on throughout the planting season.
Green Ghana Day is an annual event held in Ghana to highlight the nation’s dedication to environmental stewardship and sustainable development through tree planting to boost green cover, biodiversity, and counter the effects of climate change.
News
Tomato ‘Ebola’ May Disrupt Nigeria’s Agric Value Chain- Rewane

Bismarck Rewane, renowned economist and chief executive officer of the Financial Derivatives Company, has warned that the recent outbreak of the tomato leaf miner, commonly referred to as “Tomato Ebola,” is a disruption to Nigeria’s agriculture value chain.

Bismarck Rewane, CEO, Financial Derivatives Company
Speaking on Channels Television’s Business Morning programme on Thursday, Rewane emphasised that the impact of the outbreak extends far beyond tomatoes, triggering a cost ripple effect across the broader food basket.
“The effect of an increase in the price of tomatoes leads to cost elasticity which means that the price of other substitutes will begin to increase, including the price of carrots, the price of tomato paste, price of tomato puree and other things.
“One for the reddening, two for the effect and the thickening on the sauce you’re making.
“However, because tomato is a perishable commodity, it also means that if there is tomato ebola, then the price has increased, and also the supply has reduced, it has a knock-on effect on so many other things,” Rewane explained.
He added that Nigeria’s lack of food storage and preventive mechanisms has worsened the crisis, causing severe supply chain disruptions.
Rewane’s comments come amid a sharp increase in the price of tomatoes, with a 50-kilogramme basket of the commodity which used to sell for N5,000, now selling for N10,000 to N30,000, thereby compounding food inflation and straining household budget.
The Federal Government said Nigeria has so far lost over N1.3 billion to the outbreak of the invasive pest in key tomato-producing states like Kano, Katsina, and Kaduna.
Abubakar Kyari, minister of Agriculture and Food Security, explained that the outbreak has significantly disrupted tomato supply chains, causing a surge in prices.
He noted that the outbreak of tomato Ebola highlights the fragile nature of Nigeria’s horticultural systems, and that the invasive pest can destroy tomato crops within 48 hours, resulting in catastrophic yield losses.
He added that this crisis highlights the urgent need for integrated pest management strategies, investment in resilient crop varieties, and enhanced support for farmers to safeguard the country’s food supply chains.
News
Loan Controversy: Court adjourns Otudeko, others’ case to June 11

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has adjourned the N12.3 billion loan controversy case involving the Chairman of Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko, and three others, to June 11, 2025.

Oba Otudeko,
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke postponed the case to allow time for either a peaceful settlement or the formal arraignment of the suspects.
The decision followed reports that negotiation are still ongoing between the parties involved for out-of-court settlement as advised by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who is trying to mediate.
During Thursday’s hearing, Otudeko’s lawyer, Bode Olanipekun (SAN), told the court that negotiations for an out-of-court resolution were still in progress.
Similarly, the lawyer for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Bilikisu Buhari, acknowledged the discussions but asked the court to set a new date for arraignment in case the negotiations fail.
It will be recalled that at the last sitting of the court on March 17, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) had informed the judge that a meeting involving all counsel had been convened at the instance of the Attorney General of the Federation.
He said that this was aimed at reaching a peaceful settlement of the case.
Olanipekun had also stated that substantial progress was made, and the AGF directed all parties to refrain from actions that could jeopardize the resolution process, including filing further applications.
The court will reconvene on June 11 to hear the outcome of the settlement talks or proceed with the arraignment if no agreement is reached.
News
Zamfara, Oracle Partner to Drive Digital Skills Development

The Zamfara State government has signed an agreement with Oracle to invest in youth development, workforce capacity building and the digital economy under Oracle University’s Skills Development Initiative (SDI).
The agreement was signed at Oracle’s Offices in London, United Kingdom, with Governor Dauda Lawal representing the Zamfara State government.
A statement on Wednesday by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, explained that the development will foster collaboration between the Zamfara Information and Technology Development Agency (ZITDA) and Oracle.
Secretary to the State Government, two Special Advisers and the Executive Secretary of ZITDA were also present at the event, along with Siobhan Wilson, Oracle UK Country Leader and Senior Vice President, EMEA.
The statement said, “Zamfara State government has signed a strategic agreement with Oracle to drive digital skills development across the state.
“Facilitated through the Zamfara Information Technology Development Agency, the collaboration will use the expertise and learning services of both Oracle Academy and Oracle University in their digital transformation efforts.
“The collaboration signifies a commitment to education and a strategic investment in the future of Zamfara’s youth, workforce and digital economy.
“Oracle Academy, Oracle’s global philanthropic educational programme offers a robust portfolio of technology education teaching and learning resources, including curriculum and software access, to educators and students worldwide.
“With the support of the Zamfara Information Technology Development Agency, these resources will be made available to validate higher education institutions across Zamfara.
“ZITDA will help lead efforts to integrate Oracle Academy offerings into Zamfara’s higher education curriculum, equipping educators with the tools and resources they need to guide students in learning hands-on tech skills and toward Oracle’s professional certifications and foster a new generation of tech-savvy leaders.
“In addition, Oracle University’s Skills Development Initiative, a global programme that provides access to world-class learning and certification programmes at no cost to eligible learners, will further expand opportunities for learners in Zamfara.
“Through a co-branded Learning Portal in collaboration with ZITDA, Oracle University plans to provide free access to digital learning paths and foundational certifications for eligible participants across Zamfara. This includes curated learning journeys offering over 200 hours of professional-level training in high-demand areas such as Cloud, AI, Data Science and APEX development.”
In his remarks at the ceremony, Governor Dauda Lawal restated that the collaboration with Oracle is part of his administration’s commitment to transforming Zamfara into a hub of innovation, education, and digital excellence.
He said, “on behalf of the government and the good people of Zamfara State, I extend my deepest appreciation to Oracle for believing in our vision and for partnering with us on this transformative journey.
“What we are doing today goes beyond technology, it is about giving hope, creating opportunities and unlocking the future. By investing in digital education and innovation, we are offering real alternatives to poverty, to joblessness and to despair. I sincerely thank Oracle for standing with us, believing in the power of partnership, purpose, and shared dreams.
“Today, we are not just signing a document, we are making a promise, promise that every child in Zamfara will have a fair chance to dream, to learn, and to succeed. A promise that technology will be our bridge to a stronger, more inclusive economy. And, a promise that Zamfara will not merely participate in the digital revolution, we will lead it.”
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Zamfara, Oracle Partner to Drive Digital Skills Development