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General News

ECOCERT Renews WACOT’s Certification to Export Organic Sesame

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In a significant boost for the global organic food market, WACOT Limited, a TGI Group company, has once again secured its prestigious certification from ECOCERT to export organic sesame.

This renewal emphasizes WACOT’s adherence to the highest international standards, and positions Jigawa state as a pivotal organic sesame source for the US and worldwide markets.

ECOCERT, the France-based global leader in organic certification, reaffirmed its confidence in WACOT by renewing the two critical certifications on January 26, 2024.

These certifications validate WACOT’s exceptional processes for preparing, storing, and exporting organic sesame from its facilities in Ikeja, Lagos, and Gumel, Jigawa State. Such endorsements testify to WACOT’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and quality assurance in its extensive operations across Nigeria.

The first certificate, EU Ecocert Organic Standard (EOS), confirms WACOT’s compliance with the  EU  Regulation (EU) 2018/848 on organic production and labelling of organic products facilitating European and Great Britain exports. Concurrently, the second organic certificate, is in compliance with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Organic Program (NOP).

The National Organic Program (NOP), tasked with the responsibility to create guidelines and protocols governing the production, processing, labeling, and oversight of all USDA-certified organic goods, has affirmed WACOT’s compliance with the rigorous organic standards set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Rahul Savara, Group Managing Director of TGI Group, WACOT’s parent company, expressed his pride in this achievement, stating, “This certification renewal from ECOCERT is not just a validation of our dedication to sustainable and organic agriculture but also a milestone that enhances our capability to meet the growing global demand for organic sesame.”

The National President of the Sesame Seed Association of Nigeria, who is also the President, Federation of Agricultural Commodities Association of Nigeria (FACAN), Alhaji Sheriff Balogun, commended WACOT’s renewal of its ECOCERT certification to export organic sesame.

He said, “We are excited that a company like WACOT is putting Nigeria’s sesame on the map. Celebrating WACOT’s ECOCERT certification is not just about recognizing their commitment to organic sesame exports; it’s a testament to Nigeria’s prominence in the global commodities market.

This milestone is a source of encouragement for other players in the Nigerian market to continue to seek ways and seize the opportunity to expand the footprint of Nigeria’s high-quality commodities across the world.”

Yosola Onanuga, Head of Sustainability at TGI Group, highlighted this renewal’s broader impact, noting that “It is a testament to our collective effort in promoting sustainable farming practices and enhancing the livelihoods of over 10,000 farmers through our initiatives in Jigawa State.”

As one of the world’s leading sesame producers, Nigeria sees approximately 80% of its production exported annually, with WACOT at the forefront of this highly demanded crop cultivation.

Over the past six years, WACOT’s approach has improved agricultural practices and yields and established a robust support system for farmers, including the pioneering WACOT Sesame Academy.

In the same period, WACOT disbursed over ₦1 billion in input credit financing for farmers, such as certified seeds, fertilisers, and other crop protection tools. They also provided a guaranteed market for conventional sesame produce through a buy-back arrangement with farmer cooperatives.

With the global sesame market projected to reach USD 21.57 billion by 2028, WACOT Limited’s role is more crucial than ever. This certification renewal marks a significant milestone for WACOT and Nigeria’s agricultural sector, paving the way for continued growth, innovation, and sustainability in the years to come.

 


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General News

Wema Bank Workers, Others Arraigned over Alleged N8.9Bn Cybercrime

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The trial of three employees of Wema Bank Plc and four others accused of orchestrating N8.9 billion cyber heist has been stalled due to the Eid-el-Kabir public holiday.

Wema Bank Workers, Others Arraigned over Alleged N8.9Bn Cybercrime

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned the bank staff—Samuel Asiegbu, Fabian Onyeimachi, and Kingsley Kejim—alongside four alleged accomplices: Hannah Okunlola Adesokan, Hamza Zakariya, Achionu Ubaku, and Sunday Osademe, before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos on May 25, 2025.

The seven defendants face an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, cybercrime, and obtaining money under false pretences. They were accused of hacking into Wema Bank’s computer systems in January 2025 and unlawfully transferring N8,568,090,500 to various accounts.

According  S.O. Larry Peters,  counsel, EFCC, the defendants acted in concert with two other suspects—Nurudeen Ibrahim and Alhaji Sulaiman—who are currently at large. The syndicate allegedly manipulated the bank’s data using sophisticated digital tools to cause financial loss and confer illegal economic gains on themselves.

Peters further revealed that two of the defendants—Hannah Okunlola and Sunday Osademe—provided personal bank accounts for the illicit proceeds. Investigators traced N199 million to Okunlola’s UBA account registered under Search Light Media Concept, and N2.25 million to Osademe’s Union Bank account.

The offences, according to the charge sheet, violate Sections 6(2), 8, 14(1), 14(5), and 27(1)(a) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as well as Sections 17(a)(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004.

All seven defendants pleaded not guilty. Following their plea, the court remanded five of the accused in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services, while Kingsley Kejim continued on existing bail terms.

The court granted a special request by defence counsel to remand Hannah Okunlola in EFCC custody due to medical concerns.

Justice Aneke had adjourned the matter to June 6, 2025, for commencement of trial. However, due to the nationwide Sallah holiday declared by the federal government, the proceedings could not go ahead as scheduled.

A charge reads: “That you, Samuel Ihechukwu Asiegbu, Ejim Kingsley Kelechi, and others now at large, in January 2025, conspired to alter Wema Bank data to cause the loss of N8.568 billion in order to benefit economically, thereby committing an offence under Section 27(1)(a) of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015.”

The case has drawn significant attention as one of the most audacious cybercrime cases involving bank insiders in Nigeria’s recent history.


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Music Stars, Comedians Light Up “Evening with Glo” in Ijebu Ode

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The 2025 Ojude Oba celebrations kicked off on Friday evening with “Evening with Glo,” a special event organized by Globacom and headlined by Juju music legend Evangelist Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi and Fuji maestro Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (KWAM 1)

This year marks a significant milestone: Globacom’s 20th anniversary as sponsors of the Ojude Oba festival, an event it has helped transform into a globally recognized cultural spectacle.

The “Evening with Glo” was a vibrant mix of live music, delicious food, and captivating comedy from Gbenga Adeyinka, Bash, and Kiekie. The Conference Hall venue was packed as guests enjoyed more than two hours of Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi’s timeless hits, with the audience singing along and dancing.

Globacom organized the event as a gesture of appreciation to the Ijebu community for their unwavering support over the past two decades of the Ojude Oba festival. “We decided to bring together great sons and daughters of Ijebuland to celebrate our shared heritage, and indulge in the melodious rhythms that resonate deeply throughout Yorubaland,” the company stated.

The company explained their choice of musical icons, noting that the “ageless icon and Juju music maestro, Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey, has contributed decades of good, sonorous and philosophical songs to our society. His songs are still as fresh and full of inspirational messages as they were yesterday.”

Regarding KWAM 1, the company highlighted that “For decades, King of Fuji, K1 De Ultimate, the Fuji master, has been a great part of the music firmament in Nigeria, with his unique brand of Fuji that has elicited huge interest.”

The event saw a strong turnout of prominent Ijebu figures, including the Olori of Oba Awujale, Chief Mrs. Olukemi Adetona; the Coordinator of Ojude Oba Festival Planning Committee, Professor Fassy Yusuff; and a committee member and Iyalode of Ijebuland, Chief Mrs. Bisi Osibogun.


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NITDA Makes Case for Inclusive Tech for Special Needs

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National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has emphasized the importance of developing policies that intentionally include approximately 35 million persons with special needs in digital literacy and technology empowerment initiatives.

NITDA Makes Case for Inclusive Tech for Special Needs

Ms. Grace Jerry, executive director,  Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) and  Malam Kashifu Inuwa, director-general, NITDA.

This was stated by Malam Kashifu Inuwa, director-general, NITDA, in Abuja during a meeting with a delegation from the Inclusive Friends Association (IFA), a disability advocacy organization led by Ms. Grace Jerry, its executive director.

Inuwa noted that integrating persons with special needs into these programmes supports President Bola Tinubu’s agenda of economic reform and inclusive growth.

“This has brought to my attention the need to be more intentional in the way we design our programmes because there is no way we can achieve 95 per cent digital inclusion if we exclude 35 million Nigerians.”

“The agency has always been conducting targeted training for people with special needs in various parts of the country in the past.

“We will ensure that we expand our initiatives to all parts of country and our office facility have that in consideration but our programmes going forward will reflect this inclusion,” he said.

The Director General recommended including representatives from the disability community in national ICT committees tasked with setting standards, designing training curricula, and shaping policy frameworks.

He emphasized that their participation would ensure adequate representation and facilitate implementation beyond bureaucratic constraints.

He further advocated for the integration of disability-focused initiatives into national programmes such as the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) tech schemes, women’s training cohorts, and other major technology-driven activities. According to him, these platforms offer vital opportunities for networking, skills development, and enterprise support.

“For us, it’s beyond just training. The real goal is empowerment, how we can train people to use IT to expand their businesses and improve their lives,” Inuwa said.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strategic collaboration and invited disability-focused organisations to partner with NITDA in shaping an inclusive digital economy.

Earlier, Jerry expressed appreciation to the agency for the engagement and highlighted the digital gap within the disability community.

She said the government’s goal of achieving 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030 would only be realistic if it was truly inclusive.

“Digital literacy is fast becoming a foundational skill for employment, and without deliberate inclusion, millions will be left behind,” Jerry said.

The meeting highlighted NITDA’s growing commitment to inclusive policy development, aligned with the nation’s economic reform agenda.

 

 


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