Nigeria is blessed with great natural resources across the nation. However, its true wealth that can never run dry are its people. A people that can function in the hardest of situations and still come out incredible. This is the character of the Nigerian spirit. Over the years since independence, Nigeria has tried to grow and though the civil war it had to bear left indelible scars on its history, her growing  population and infrastructure has been on the rise, although the level of infrastructure doesn’t meet the expected level by many if not most.

The country’s growth has been the effect of various programs by the government at the Federal, State and Local levels all trying their best to see the betterment of the country and improving lives. In spite of these various programs, the state we’re in today is somewhat confounding when the budgetary expenditure is compared with the results we all see today. 

Severally within past years, engaging in my usual exercise of going through the dailies whether as newspapers or via the Internet, I keep coming across the government talking of Public-Private Partnership driven programmes to boost a certain sector. As the years have gone by, I have come to realize a truly impactful way to achieve radical economic transformation in the State.

Steps Towards Radical Economic Transformation

1. Organization of Business Conferences/Seminars.

One of the best ways to get people engaged and talking is to make an announcement. With the government of a state organizing economic and business seminars or conferences yearly or bi-annually aimed at telling the world the vast potential of the indigenious entrepreneurs or businesses, this will undoubtedly draw attention from various quarters which would include but not limited to aspiring entrepreneurs, investors (firms & individuals), press community, business owners, experts in various fields etc. With these calibre of people in attendance, government will have innovatively created a medium for various actors of the business world to network and connect with one another. Connecting is not enough. More can and should be done.

2. Establishment of Business Incubators

For those who desire to be entrepreneurs, having an idea is not enough even if there is money. The skills to successfully turn a business idea into a profitable business is not something that can be easily acquired from reading textbooks. Experience and practical training from experienced businessmen and business coaches is vital.

Having an idea to disrupt the telecom industry without the necessary skills and expertise to pull it off will end up in utter frustration. For the government to help boost economic activity in the state, as it organizes business and economic conferences, it can also take aspiring entrepreneurs and have them go through a prepared business education programs aimed at exposing them to the necessities of being successful business persons from ideation stage to running corporations.

Though not limited to these, universities and polytechnics presents a starting point for these programmes which will empower students to gain practical skills and be ready to take the world on at the time of graduation.

3. Creation of a Business Funding Commission/Agency

Education is not enough to ensure a radical change in the economic position of our society. No matter the idea or knowledge an individual possesses, without money, there will be no meaningful result.

Although we have lots of commissions or agencies of government, however, from personal experience in my usual criss cross around the country, I have seen several government agency properties over ran by bushes or with private individuals living in them not officially placed. Definitely not a palatable experience, but the need for establishment and proper running of these agencies cannot be overemphasized. For the government to fund a business, there has to be a special unit designated for that purpose. This is to ensure accountability and efficiency. The government must be ready to fund startups after it has trained the founders or entrepreneurs. Anyone could express their disagreement on the viability of such an enterprise, but if the agency is entirely or mostly kept out of politics, transparency, accountability, fairness, independence etc, will be enshrined in the review and funding of start-ups therefore completing the needed aspects of getting businesses standing.

Government through various interventions including but not limited to the BOI has given loans to businesses. This is not the type of financing I am talking about here. In this arrangement, the Government through its agency after initial business funding or subsequent funding could take a certain percentage of the equity of these startups.

This financing arrangement will allow startups to access funds to launch out while giving the government opportunities to invest in the enterprises in its state and gain from the growing economy it is helping to create without having to rely only on Tax from businesses. 

There may be concerns about government interference in the activity of the Startups, but then government will suffer by losing invested funds. Still via the funding arrangement, Startups and Financiers could come to an arrangement on management of the businesses.

Entrepreneurs in Nigeria have continually advocate for business friendly regulations that do not stifle innovation, while government especially during elections and irs usual poluticking promise the business community its unflinching support to business growth, the participation of government via it’s agencies in these type of funding mechanism I propose above could significantly influence the regulatory agencies to provide business enhancing regulations thus promoting a business friendly environment for radical economic growth and transformation.

4. Provision of Post Funding Support After sales services is known to boost sales. 

In this public private business arrangement, offering of business supports to startups after initial funding, will incredibly help to increase the statistics of successful startups. 

I believe if the government can do these, there will be a significant change in the economic position and activities in the state. This can be implemented anywhere across the Federation but, I wish Delta will be one of the first considering its position as one of the leading tax collecting and oil producing states in Nigeria.

Agriculture is a money maker. Agriculture is the cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide food, wool, and other products. We all are conversant with this definition, but only a few understand the implication of this.

Food is a necessity for man, while we wake up with the troubles of the day, the craving for food cannot be killed. Which better way is there to provide food if not farming?

With more than 60% of Sub- Saharan Africa’s population in small scale Agriculture and only 23% of its GDP coming from the Agricultural sector, this simply shows its not exploited well. Be bold to see that food can be exported to other countries of the world. Anambra State in Nigeria exports Vegetable.

Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Tanzania are countries where we have seen the effects of Government intervention in the Agricultural sector. The coming to power of President M. Buhari of Nigeria, promised increased funding to the Agricultural sector to boost its production and change the Narrative of depending on oil. Whether this has been achieved is a question for another day.

Plantain Farming Business

Plantain, otherwise called “cooking bananas” are starchy fruits with a relatively neutral flavor and has a soft texture when cooked. They produce fruit all year round and this makes them a staple food for most families.

The possibilities of making it big in Plantain Farming are much.

As an entrepreneur, you should see it as the most common crop in the country, this spot is shared with cassava. Plantains develop in clusters, while each mature sucker brings forth another sucker, making for easy propagation.

Plantain Farming Business is that agri-business that anybody can try their hands on and smile home with cash. Plantain starts producing fruits from 7-9 months after planting, so you can be assured that if you do it right, your first yield will be enough to cover initial expenses.

How To Start Plantain Farming Business

• LAND 

You need a piece of land to plant on. Else, you are from the year 3030 when plants will be grown on thin air (Lol). While selecting land for this crop, do bear this in mind

Plantains love rich loam soil, avoiding steep slopes and places with a bad water drainage system. In all, if the soil is rich in loam content, not marshy but moderate in holding just the right amount of water, that’s the land you need.

While preparing the land, please avoid compaction of earth, employ manual labor as opposed to mechanical work. Do using organic manure is very welcome.

•  PLANTING RANGE/INTERVALS

According to Alabi Isreal’s Article On Medium,

The recommended spacing is 3 m between the plantain rows and 2 m within the row (in other words. 3 m x 2 m). An alternative is 2.5 m x 2.5 m. If spaced 3 m x 2 m, 1 hectare should contain 1667 plants, but with a spacing of 2.5 m x 2.5 m, it should contain 1600 plants.

This arrangement makes for good spacing, adequate sunlight and air circulation. Also, note that if your land is on a slope, the arrangement should be done in a way that ensures little erosion. This can be done by following the contour lines.

Planting should be done with about “30–60 cm (11.8 in –23.6 in)” deep in the soil.

• SUCKER SELECTION

A good breed of the plantain fruit will better your chances at making the best of it.  While choosing your suckers, it is advised to choose from vigorous plants, they should have small spear-shaped leaves and are about 4ft high.

• PLANTING SEASONS AND CONDITIONS

Plantains develop best during the rainy season, although they produce all year round, do not plant towards the end of the rainy season. The best period to plant is the beginning of the rainy season, these periods give it about 4-5 months of constant water while ensuring you reap the fruits in the 7th/8th  month. Extreme weather conditions can damage your crops.

• FERTILIZING, MULCHING, WEDDING AND PEST CONTROL

Sufficient manure is necessary for proper development. The combined use of Organic and Inorganic manure gives the best result. A month after planting is enough time to add additional nutrients to the plantation.

Mulching should be done around the base of the plant to help the plant conserve nutrients and reduce erosion at the base of the plant.

weeding should be done regularly so that plants don’t compete for nutrients. Schedule for weeding in about 6-8 weeks.

The known pest for Banana and Plantain are bats, monkeys and humans. You should find ways to ensure that plants are adequately protected.

• HARVESTING 

The moment we all have been waiting for, once you see your fruits, harvesting should come in   3 months. Fruits normally appear within 90 to 120 days after the tree flowers. Upon fruiting, plantains are typically ready for harvest within 6 to 8 months.