Lessons from African nations powering up the business rankings.

Lessons from African nations powering up the business rankings. The World Bank Group recently launched its annual Doing Business report. In its 15th edition, the report investigates regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it in 190 countries. These regulations include starting a business, obtaining construction permits, availability of electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency.

As has been the case in the last several years, African countries were among the most improved nations on the list. Nigeria, Djibouti, Zambia and Malawi were amongst the top-10 reformers in this year’s edition. Nigeria (Africa’s largest economy, but currently facing strong economic headwinds) moved up 24 places to the 145th position, and so is by default a case study for this year’s report.

STARTUP : Entrepreneur quits Nike job to start food business in Rwanda.

STARTUP : Entrepreneur quits Nike job to start food business in Rwanda. When Lauren Russell Nkuranga arrived in Rwanda with the Nike Foundation in 2012, she had the clichéd western belief that Africa is predominantly a place of war, poverty and disease, and is desperate for foreign-funded charity. 

 STARTUP : Entrepreneur quits Nike job to start food business in Rwanda. 

She quickly discovered that many countries on the continent were in fact growing at a rapid pace. For instance, Rwanda’s economy has expanded by an average annual rate of 7.6% between 2007 and 2016. She saw transformation in Rwanda such as new roads, new buildings, new businesses, new restaurants, new national parks.

 STARTUP : Entrepreneur quits Nike job to start food business in Rwanda. When Nike asked her to return to the US, she made the bold move to leave her job and stay in Rwanda to pursue a business plan she had been nursing since moving there. The idea? A food distribution company.

Agriculture can sustain Nigerian economy.

Agriculture can sustain Nigerian economy. In a bid to break the monoculture system and widen the resource base of the economy, agricultural experts have advised that Nigeria should return to agriculture fully as it can sustain the economy. Speaking at the 2017 Agra Innovate West Africa conference in Lagos, the President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Nike Akande, said that agriculture had the potential to become the most significant way to achieve economic development in Nigeria. Akande, who described agriculture as a very significant sector, said more attention should be paid to the industry as it could provide employment for more than 75 per cent of the unemployed population in Nigeria.

The new canine rabies research: One vaccine to save them all.

The new canine rabies research: One vaccine to save them all.A new study finds that rabies vaccines may have a protective effect beyond just the dreaded deadly virus in dogs. Canine rabies is common in many parts of the world. In Asia and Africa, rabies from dog bites kills more than 50,000 people each year. Large international efforts are dedicated to this public health crisis, including mass rabies vaccination of dogs. A recent publication suggests the canine rabies vaccine may have additional benefits to dog health beyond protection from rabies. That’s right—vaccinate for rabies, get rabies protection PLUS additional dog health benefits.

The study followed 2,500 households in South Africa over four years and found that dogs vaccinated for rabies had a reduced risk of canine death from any cause as compared to dogs not vaccinated for rabies. The greatest reduction was noted in very young dogs with a 56% reduced risk of death. This decrease in canine mortality was not explained by a reduction in deaths due to rabies alone. The researchers proposed that rabies vaccination boosted the immune system and may have provided enhanced defense against other diseases unrelated to rabies. Previous studies have similarly identified this nonspecific protective effect by rabies vaccination in children and animals, providing further support for the research team’s current findings.

Farmers/Herdsmen feud: Veterinary association backs establishment of ranches to end crisis

Farmers/Herdsmen feud: Veterinary association backs establishment of ranches to end crisis.Following the lingering crisis between farmers and Fulani herdsmen, the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) has thrown its weight behind plans by the government to resolve this crisis through the establishment of ranches across the country. This was contained in a Communique issued at the end of the 5th Annual Congress of Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, held in Kano.

Bovine birthing simulator used to educate veterinary students on display at Agribition.

Bovine birthing simulator used to educate veterinary students on display at Agribition.Meet Agnes — she's a full-size cow, with a working udder, a uterus and a full-size calf but she's not quite a real cow. Instead, the bovine specimen is used to educate veterinary students and cattle producers about the cattle birthing process.#bovine "We can actually use her, mainly to educate ... in the birthing process, and how to deal with any sort of malpresentations at the birthing time," said Chris Clark, associate dean of the college of veterinary medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. #bovine

25 artistes selected for agriculture song.

25 artistes selected for agriculture song.The Presidential Initiative on Operation Wealth Creation has selected 25 local musicians to compete in composing a song promoting agriculture. The National Co-ordinator of OWC, Gen. Salim Saleh, tasked musicians in the central region with composing the song. The song will educate the masses about the benefits of engaging in Agriculture. The deputy co-ordinator of OWC Lt. Gen. Charles Angina, says the final competitions will be held on December 16 at Kololo Airstrip, where the winner will walk away with sh50m. 25 artistes selected for agriculture song. #agriculture #music #N-Power