EXPANDING TRADE BETWEEN DENMARK AND NIGERIA THROUGH ADRA BUSINESS

Lagos - Nigeria, Thursday 19 May, Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Denmark signed its second Ingrower Supply Agreement in Nigeria with Global Falcons Nigeria Limited (GF), owners of the Oganiru Ingrower Project located in Enugu state.

The agreement was signed on behalf of ADRA by Lehnart Falk, Director General of ADRA Denmark while Mr Frank Nweke II signed on behalf of Global Falcons Nigeria Limited.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Erik Buch Procida, Director ADRA Business, Nosa Aigiomawu, ADRA Business Manager Nigeria and members of the expanding ADRA Business Forum stakeholders in Nigeria, including Professor Yetunde Makinde, Managing Director of the Babcock Investment Group, owners of the Babcock Ingrower Project at Babcock University, Ilisan Remo, Ogun State.

ADRA is a development agency of the 7th Day Adventist Church founded in 1956 to provide emergency relief to vulnerable communities and support long term development for sustainable social impact and improved quality of life in rural communities.

Under the technical support agreement signed between the two organizations, ADRA working with its partners, danishknowhow (DKH), will work with GF to conduct detailed feasibility study and develop a business plan for the Oganiru Ingrower project and other agricultural initiatives planned for the 850 hectare farm settlement, amongst other things.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Nweke lamented the fact that Nigeria spends over $4bn annually on importation of food when it has unused arable land and clement weather that can support all season farming and food production to feed its huge population. He described the current economic challenges in the country as a blessing because it provides yet another opportunity for Nigeria to diversify its economy and ensure food security for its people. Mr Nweke drew a correlation between the increasing conflict between herdsmen and farmers in Nigeria and increasing hunger due to the deteriorating security situation in the country. He therefore expressed delight at the opportunity that Global Falcon has to work with ADRA and DKH to progress his interest in agriculture, create jobs and build skills while catalyzing significant social impact in the lives of rural dwellers and making a modest contribution to the improved nutritional status of the population and Nigeria’s food security.

Lehnart Falk, Director General of ADRA Denmark, said the agency was pleased to sign their second Ingrower agreement in Nigeria with such a reputable Nigerian group and reiterated that ADRA will continue to work to provide humanitarian and development support to Nigeria and its communities using transparent and accountable mechanisms.

Erik Buch Procida, Director of ADRA Business thanked members of the forum for their growing commitment to the work of ADRA Business and their interactive participation in the discourse. He restated that “ADRA Business intends and aims to act as a very responsible Civil Society Organization with a stake in pivoting and assuring implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals with special interest in poverty eradication, elimination of hunger, promotion of education and health through private-public-partnership approach and Denmark taking their stake in this in Nigeria”.