By Jabiru Hassan

Farmers from different parts of Nigeria have expressed support for the leadership of Muhammad Magaji Gettado as National President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN).

The farmers, in a joint statement, passed a vote of confidence in Gettado, saying his leadership had contributed to efforts aimed at improving the agricultural sector and making farming more sustainable and profitable. The statement was signed by Alhaji Sulaiman Umar of Gombe State and Malam Abdullahi Mai Nasara of Katsina.

The farmers described AFAN as a platform for promoting unity among farmers and representing their interests in engagements with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and other relevant agencies.They said Gettado’s leadership style had strengthened cooperation among members and promoted greater participation across different categories of farmers.

According to the farmers, his background in agricultural development had informed his approach to addressing challenges facing the sector. They also commended previous AFAN leaders for their contributions to agricultural development and said continuity in efforts to improve farmers’ welfare remained important.

Farmers from the six geopolitical zones also expressed their support for Gettado, pledging to work together to promote food production, economic development and opportunities for farmers.They called for continued collaboration among farmers, government institutions and other stakeholders to address challenges affecting agricultural productivity.

From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

The Kogi State Government has commended the Henry Adetayo Foundation for reconstructing Community Secondary School, Oke Agi, in Mopamuro Local Government Area, and urged more private organisations to support education infrastructure.

The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, gave the commendation on Wednesday during an inspection of the reconstructed school.Fanwo described the project, led by Engr. Adebayo Mike Arayegbemi, as a significant investment in the educational development of the community.

He said the state government was allocating more than 30 per cent of its expenditure to education but could not meet every infrastructure need without support from private individuals and organisations.

Fanwo said the government would consider integrating the school into the state’s public education system and directed the Ministry of Education to assess the possibility of taking over its management.

The reconstructed facility comprises nine classroom blocks, four administrative offices, laboratories, a library, a computer laboratory and a hall for external examinations. It also has a solar power installation designed to provide electricity to the school. Fanwo announced a N1.75 million support package in scholarships and communication gadgets for students of the school.

The Danayangun of Oke Agi, HRH Oba Joshua Are, thanked the foundation for the project, which he said was about 99 per cent complete. The school is expected to be officially commissioned later in the year.

From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

Professor Elijah Ebenehi Ogbadu of Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, has advocated the use of ethical and socially responsible marketing practices to address poverty, insecurity, unemployment and other social challenges in Nigeria.

Ogbadu made the call while delivering the university’s 25th Inaugural Lecture, titled “Marketing, A Societal Saviour: Charting the Course for Future Nigeria,” at the university auditorium on Tuesday.He said marketing had evolved beyond its traditional focus on sales and distribution to encompass broader concerns about quality of life and societal wellbeing.

According to him, marketing organisations should identify consumer needs and provide value in ways that promote both customer satisfaction and the wider interests of society.

Ogbadu said profit remained an important measure of business performance but should not be treated as the sole objective of commercial activity. He identified poverty, corruption, poor governance, insecurity, drug abuse, inadequate healthcare, cultism, communal conflicts, unemployment, examination malpractice, electoral malpractice and unethical business practices among challenges affecting Nigeria.

The professor argued that a socially oriented approach to marketing could help identify social problems and support the development of sustainable solutions. He also emphasised stakeholder engagement, employee welfare, customer satisfaction, social responsibility and long-term value creation as important elements of modern marketing.

The Vice-Chancellor of PAAU, Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman, congratulated Ogbadu on the lecture and described it as another milestone in the university’s academic development. Usman commended the lecturer for linking marketing scholarship with contemporary social challenges.