Major chocolate traders in Ivory Coast are failing to pay a $400-per-tonne premium on beans aimed at curbing farmer poverty, the country’s cocoa regulator said in a draft letter seen by Reuters on Friday. The Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC) said companies including Mondelēz International Inc(MDLZ.O) were offsetting the Living Income Differential (LID) by offering a negative country differential – normally a premium of 70 to 150 pounds ($99-$212) per tonne to reflect the quality of Ivory Coast’s beans. Mondelēz said it was paying the full LID. “(Mondelēz) does not offer or have any influence over negative country differentials,” the company said in a statement to Reuters. Buyers have been pressing for the country differential to be turned into a country discount, so farmers receive the extra...
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state has described education as the best tool to change the mindsets of the youths and fight insecurity in the land. Speaking at the Grand finale of schools quiz competition organized by a Non Governmental Organization (NGO), Ray Nkemdirim Foundation in Umuahia, Ikpeazu said education play a pivotal role in shaping the youths positively for the future. Ikpeazu, represented by the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Chris Ezem, said dedication to education and hard work were the only route to success. While urging students to be studious and spend lesser times on unnecessary things, Ikpeazu challenged parents to always work hard in training their children and not depend only on teachers. He commended the organizers of the schools quiz competition and urged ...
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has commiserated with the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel over the recent loss of prominent indigenes of the state. Wike described the death of the State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Udo Ekpenyong and the Director-General of Governor Emmanuel’s two terms Divine Mandate organization and Chairman of Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga rtd., as a grave loss not just to Akwa Ibom State but the entire South-South region and the party which, he said, is Nigeria’s hope. The Rivers State Governor who was on a condolence visit to Governor Emmanuel at Hilltop Mansion, Government House Uyo, on Thursday said what touches Akwa Ibom touches Rivers state. Hear him, “what I came here is that the Governor Udom ...